Yeah. Been slack. Too busy watching The Wire (it IS the greatest TV show of all time. If you disagree you're just plain wrong.) I think I'll just look at three films, even though I've seen more. Can't be stuffed with the other ones 'eh.
A Separation
As I already said in my last post on my top 10 from 2011, this film is amazing. Beginning with an Iranian couple (cause, you know, this is an Iranian film) explaining their reasons for separating to a judge (which immediately draws the viewer in as they speak directly to the camera) the focus soon shifts as the male in the relationship is involved in an incident with his new housekeeper which has far reaching consequences for his family and his housekeepers family as the matter goes through court. From here the journey is best experienced spoiler free, so I wont mention any other plot elements.
What I will mention however is the incredible depth in which A Separation explores the nature of truth as viewed by the different characters, how their circumstances mould their perspective of it and how far they are willing to bend the truth, especially given their religious and family values. The film offers a study of your average family and how they are affected by illness, separation and tragedy, and does so with both subtlety and poignancy.
A Separation is a film so thematically rich yet at the same time instantly accessible that it would undoubtedly be studied in English classes for years to come, if only it were in English. I'm not sure that this is still actually showing at the cinema but be sure to pick it up the first week it come out as a new release. Or illegally download it if you have no conscience. Just make sure you see it.
***** out of *****
The Raid
Unlike the above movie, The Raid has no philosophical musings on the nature of truth and will never be studied in any depth whatsoever, but it completely kicks arse. This Indonesian action film is about a group of cops trying to take down a major crime boss who's created a fortress for himself in a high rise building, so full of henchman that no one has had the balls to try and topple his empire. Until now.
As far as story goes, that's all you really need to know. Then settle yourself in for some of the most over the top, beautifully choreographed action set pieces you're likely to see. The real beauty of the whole thing though is that even though the action is relentless and non-stop it never feels chaotic, there is an order to it and you can always tell what's going on. There's also an incredible amount of thought put into actually making the action scenes mean something. For example, toward the end of the movie the big baddie's number one henchman has a lengthy fight scene with one of the top cops. Due to the length of the fight you may think it's a climatic battle, however, nope, it instead demonstrated how much of a complete bad arse this guy is and made the final fight mean all that much more.
Despite the majority of the focus being on the action, there was also enough effort put in to make you actually care about what is going on. The opening scene shows our protagonist training hard, leaving his pregnant wife reluctantly to go to the job, establishing him as a hard working, caring man wanting to provide for his family. We want him to succeed. A subsequent shot shows the main antagonist brutally slaughtering three men he has tied up for no apparent reason. We hate him. These two simple scenes achieve more in the way of actually getting us to give a damn in five minutes than most action movies do in the entire film ***cough*** Expendables ***cough*** Actually, no need for the coughing, The Expendables was terrible.
The storyline was basic, but surprisingly not terrible, and there are actually a couple of nice twists thrown in for good measure. If you haven't already got the picture, this is a completely bad arse action movie (no I can't think of a better expression), again proving that for some reason Asia just completely blows Hollywood out of the water when it comes to the genre.
**** out of *****
21 Jump Street
Based on an old American cop drama that I've never seen, so no nostalgia for me. The TV show was apparently quite serious. The film is co-written by Jonah Hill (who also stars), so you know it's not. Hill and Channing Tatum (in the first role he's played where he's not completely wooden) play a pair of idiotic beat cops who get re-assigned to a project requiring them to go undercover at a high school to expose a drug dealing operation. While Hill was the nerdy outcast and Tatum was the jock when they were at school together, things have changed since their days as students, and the cool kids are now the environmentally minded hippie types who Hill finds it easier to bond with.
While 21 Jump Street probably doesn't break any new ground when it comes to the buddy cop/comedy genre, it does provide plenty of laughs including some clever self referential humour, and actually delivers some decent action toward the end. The characters a likable and make you care, the relationship between the two leads is developed adequately. Pretty good.
***1/2 out of *****
And that'll do for now. Other new movies I've seen lately but can't be bothered writing about are th US remake of Girl With the Dragon Tattoo (four stars), Another Earth (three and a half), and John Carter (lets call it three). Wont be so slack with future new film.... for real.
Wednesday, 18 April 2012
Tuesday, 20 March 2012
Best & Worst of 2011
So yeah, this has been a long time coming, but I've finally gotten around to it. This is going by the official release dates of the below movies, as I think ranking them according to Australian year of release is kinda pointless. Anyway....
Top Films 10 of 2011
1. The Tree of Life
A rare film that only comes around every so often that not only lives up to it's ambitious nature but exceeds it. Completely moving, surreal and other worldly experience, this could well end up being the film of the decade.
2. Burning Man
Australian brilliance. Not only an artistic triumph but succeeds in telling an extremely engaging and, apparently, very personal story for director Jonathan Teplitzky about dealing with personal tragedy, all the while resisting the urge to add even a hint of sentimentality. Kudos.
3. A Separation
I haven't written about this one yet (although will soon), this Iranian film offers up a fascinating multi layered exploration of family, truth, lies and religion while not becoming preachy, and sympathising with every character and presenting all different points of view on display fairly and equally. With such a rich variety of character and themes this one would be studied in English classes for the rest of eternity, if only the film were in English.
4. Hugo
Martin Scorsese's passionate and wholly original work about childhood and the beauty of film making is a visual stunner that has the storyline to back it up. Shame that you'll need a 3D TV to recapture that magic from cinema.
5. Shame
Unsettling, yet powerful and honest portrayal of a man who has become a complete slave to his sex and pornography addiction. This exploration of what happens when men lose their way is difficult to watch and recommend due to it's graphic content, but is undoubtedly a near masterpiece.
6. The Descendants
Dubbed as the sentimental favourite of 2011, probably due to it's heart warming story that just about anyone can enjoy about family bonding together during crisis. Excellent characterisations, funny script and a plot that starts strong and loses no momentum along the way.
7. Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy
Complex yet masterfully crafted spy film that will, if there's any justice, be recognised as a classic of the crime genre somewhere down the track. Will probably require a couple of viewings due to the complex narrative, but it's worth it.
8. Melancholia
Lars Von Trier's flawed masterpiece about the end of the world is like no other Armageddon film you're likely to see. No pointless love stories or sappy farewell speech's, but rather a look at how two sisters deal with their impending doom differently based on their mental state. The use of Wagner's prelude to Triston and Isolde is used to great effect, especially when blasting through the speakers to signify that the end is nigh.
9. Moneyball
The combination of Brad Pitt in a lead role and an Aaron Sorkin script had all the markings of being a winner, and didn't disappoint with Sorkin providing his usual witty and intelligent dialogue and Pitt providing the acting goods to bring this intimate character study to life.
10. The Guard
Rounding out the top 10, this Irish film works well as a comedy, a crime/action film and a serious character study. On top of that, Brendan Gleeson gives a brilliant performance, so what's not to like?
Five Worst Films of 2011
This part is by no means an exhaustive list. For obvious reasons, I usually avoid films that receive bad reviews from critics and the public, and therefore I'm sure there are a lot of duds I haven't seen. However, every now and then I have the misfortune of coming across some stinkers for whatever reason, and these are the five worst from last year.
1. (Being the absolute worst) Jack and Jill
Adam Sandler has clearly come to the point in his carer where he has realised he can sell a film base solely on his name and nothing else, so putting any actual effort into the movie would be a waste of his time. And no, putting on a wig and playing his own twin sister doesn't qualify as effort, it qualifies as completely moronic. No laughs to speak of, no plot or characters to care about, loads (and I mean LOADS) of product placement, and Al Pacino playing an insane version of himself confirming the sad reality that his star has fallen, this is one huge steaming garbage pile.
2. Your Highness
The aim of the game in this fantasy comedy is to use the F word as much as possible in each sentence, and apparently that automatically equals laughs. The special effects are lame, the story is utterly pointless and none of the jokes work. Pathetic.
3. Battle: Los Angeles
To save you the pain of sitting through Battle: Los Angeles I'll sum up this snooze fest in a few words; Army guys are introduced briefly - aliens invade - BANG BANG BANG - generic war speech 1 - BANG BANG BANG - generic war speech 2 - BANG BANG BANG - the end. Next.
4. Transformers: Dark of the Moon
The worst entry in this insipid trilogy (ok, the first one was actually not bad) obviously has no substance to it, but I've heard many appeals made to the fact that the final battle was worth sitting though the other mindless two or so hours for. But I can't understand why. The battle goes on forever, it's all over the place and has no flow to it whatsoever, and with nothing invested in the story or characters I couldn't give a stuff who ends up winning.
5. Sleeping Beauty
It's a shame that this was the film to effectively represent Australia at Cannes last year. Slow, boring and pretentious, the director seems confused between subtle character development and not giving enough information for the audience to care.
Most Underrated Film of 2011
The Ides of March
The critics didn't seem to think all that much of George Clooney's latest directorial effort, however I was compelled by this political story of shifting loyalties and loss of innocence from beginning to end. A tad contrived perhaps, but no more so than any other film of it's type.
Most Overrated Film of 2011
Warrior
Cliched, heavy handed and unrealistic, this MMA film's only saving grace is it's performances, which although prevent it from becoming a disaster, certainly don't propel it to a level worth of the critical praise it's received.
Top Films 10 of 2011
1. The Tree of Life
A rare film that only comes around every so often that not only lives up to it's ambitious nature but exceeds it. Completely moving, surreal and other worldly experience, this could well end up being the film of the decade.
2. Burning Man
Australian brilliance. Not only an artistic triumph but succeeds in telling an extremely engaging and, apparently, very personal story for director Jonathan Teplitzky about dealing with personal tragedy, all the while resisting the urge to add even a hint of sentimentality. Kudos.
3. A Separation
I haven't written about this one yet (although will soon), this Iranian film offers up a fascinating multi layered exploration of family, truth, lies and religion while not becoming preachy, and sympathising with every character and presenting all different points of view on display fairly and equally. With such a rich variety of character and themes this one would be studied in English classes for the rest of eternity, if only the film were in English.
4. Hugo
Martin Scorsese's passionate and wholly original work about childhood and the beauty of film making is a visual stunner that has the storyline to back it up. Shame that you'll need a 3D TV to recapture that magic from cinema.
5. Shame
Unsettling, yet powerful and honest portrayal of a man who has become a complete slave to his sex and pornography addiction. This exploration of what happens when men lose their way is difficult to watch and recommend due to it's graphic content, but is undoubtedly a near masterpiece.
6. The Descendants
Dubbed as the sentimental favourite of 2011, probably due to it's heart warming story that just about anyone can enjoy about family bonding together during crisis. Excellent characterisations, funny script and a plot that starts strong and loses no momentum along the way.
7. Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy
Complex yet masterfully crafted spy film that will, if there's any justice, be recognised as a classic of the crime genre somewhere down the track. Will probably require a couple of viewings due to the complex narrative, but it's worth it.
8. Melancholia
Lars Von Trier's flawed masterpiece about the end of the world is like no other Armageddon film you're likely to see. No pointless love stories or sappy farewell speech's, but rather a look at how two sisters deal with their impending doom differently based on their mental state. The use of Wagner's prelude to Triston and Isolde is used to great effect, especially when blasting through the speakers to signify that the end is nigh.
9. Moneyball
The combination of Brad Pitt in a lead role and an Aaron Sorkin script had all the markings of being a winner, and didn't disappoint with Sorkin providing his usual witty and intelligent dialogue and Pitt providing the acting goods to bring this intimate character study to life.
10. The Guard
Rounding out the top 10, this Irish film works well as a comedy, a crime/action film and a serious character study. On top of that, Brendan Gleeson gives a brilliant performance, so what's not to like?
Five Worst Films of 2011
This part is by no means an exhaustive list. For obvious reasons, I usually avoid films that receive bad reviews from critics and the public, and therefore I'm sure there are a lot of duds I haven't seen. However, every now and then I have the misfortune of coming across some stinkers for whatever reason, and these are the five worst from last year.
1. (Being the absolute worst) Jack and Jill
Adam Sandler has clearly come to the point in his carer where he has realised he can sell a film base solely on his name and nothing else, so putting any actual effort into the movie would be a waste of his time. And no, putting on a wig and playing his own twin sister doesn't qualify as effort, it qualifies as completely moronic. No laughs to speak of, no plot or characters to care about, loads (and I mean LOADS) of product placement, and Al Pacino playing an insane version of himself confirming the sad reality that his star has fallen, this is one huge steaming garbage pile.
2. Your Highness
The aim of the game in this fantasy comedy is to use the F word as much as possible in each sentence, and apparently that automatically equals laughs. The special effects are lame, the story is utterly pointless and none of the jokes work. Pathetic.
3. Battle: Los Angeles
To save you the pain of sitting through Battle: Los Angeles I'll sum up this snooze fest in a few words; Army guys are introduced briefly - aliens invade - BANG BANG BANG - generic war speech 1 - BANG BANG BANG - generic war speech 2 - BANG BANG BANG - the end. Next.
4. Transformers: Dark of the Moon
The worst entry in this insipid trilogy (ok, the first one was actually not bad) obviously has no substance to it, but I've heard many appeals made to the fact that the final battle was worth sitting though the other mindless two or so hours for. But I can't understand why. The battle goes on forever, it's all over the place and has no flow to it whatsoever, and with nothing invested in the story or characters I couldn't give a stuff who ends up winning.
5. Sleeping Beauty
It's a shame that this was the film to effectively represent Australia at Cannes last year. Slow, boring and pretentious, the director seems confused between subtle character development and not giving enough information for the audience to care.
Most Underrated Film of 2011
The Ides of March
The critics didn't seem to think all that much of George Clooney's latest directorial effort, however I was compelled by this political story of shifting loyalties and loss of innocence from beginning to end. A tad contrived perhaps, but no more so than any other film of it's type.
Most Overrated Film of 2011
Warrior
Cliched, heavy handed and unrealistic, this MMA film's only saving grace is it's performances, which although prevent it from becoming a disaster, certainly don't propel it to a level worth of the critical praise it's received.
Wednesday, 14 March 2012
It's been a white part 2
So here's the conclusion to the previous entry, containing the rest of what I meant to include.
Warrior
Warrior is a mixed martial arts film about two estranged brothers with an alcoholic father who both enter the same multi million dollar tournament. I've written a bit about my thoughts on this one elsewhere, so allow me to take a moment and make use of ctrl+c followed by ctrl+v....
In response to Mr. Ben Hobson's positive review of the film I said
"..... It started out well introducing the characters but got progressively worse as it went on. What I didn't like about it;
- The relationship between the brothers wasn't developed in any great depth, certainly not enough for me to care about the end. I think there was one brief confrontation between them before the ending.
- The dialogue was pretty weak.
- I disagree with you regarding the cheese. The whole last hour or so which comprised of the tournament was rife with cheesiness and cliche. From the completely unsubtle way the commentators narrated the story and gave us vital information, to the annoying music stirring up cheap sentimentality, to the crowds reactions to the fights, slowly warming to the protagonists.
- For that matter, the entire way they developed the characters was about as subtle as a sledgehammer.
- SPOILERS - The way the tournament was set up and played out was extremely unbelieveable. As if a washed up UFC fighter and a no name would gain entry to a major tournament worth $5,000,000. The fact that the washed up fighter then beat the Russian fighter who was unbeaten and at the top of his game without us (the viewer) seeing his journey through intense training was pretty unsatisfying."
However, on a more positive note what I did like about the film were the performances, particularly Tom Hardy. His relationship with his alcoholic father, played by Nick Nolte is quite nice, and there's a brilliant scene between them that almost single handily redeems the film. But it doesn't. This isn't any better than average.
**1/2 out of *****
Shame
The second film from British director Steve McQueen (so no, not the Steve McQueen you're thinking of) paints the portrait of a man named Brandon, played by Michael Fassbender. On the outside Brandon appears to be a confident, successful guy having it all together with a respectable job, nice apartment and living a comfortable life. This is the image he presents to those around him and no one suspects any different. On the inside, however, he's a man who's completely lost his way, living hollow existence as a slave to his sex and pornography addiction.
When his sister, played by Carey Mulligan shows up at his apartment to stay carrying the same amount of baggage as Brandon, and possibly more, it throws more than a simple spanner in the works. Through a number of confrontations between the two we begin to learn that their childhood was not a Rosy one, and it has inevitably damaged them both, but is the damage irreparable?
As far as I'm aware this is the first film to take a serious look a sex and pornography addiction and the destructive effect it can have on a person's humanity, and it's powerful one at that. From the goose bump inducing score, to the brilliant performance of Michael Fassbender to the subtle, somewhat ambiguous journey into the depths of Brandon's soul that is none the less extremely deep and, I'll admit, a little tear jerking. I have to be honest and say I was extremely moved by this very raw, very honest, yet extremely stylish look at what happens to men when they lose their way.
It's s tough film to recommend due to it's graphic nature, so some research into the content is suggested by yours truly before choosing to watch it. It's a touch uneven, with the last 20 minutes or so packing the most punch, where as earlier the film feels like it looses momentum occasionally. But that's nit picking, this was an otherwise amazing, powerful experience.
****1/2 out of *****
My Week With Marilyn
I don't really feel like talking about this one much, so I wont. In short, good movie, not great. If you have any interest in Marilyn Monroe you'll probably like it, but even if you don't the story about her brief fling with a guy working on her first British film, who wasn't anyone particularly noteworthy for that matter, is fairly engaging. Michelle Williams is fantastic as Marilyn and could have carried a script written by a fourth grader anyway.
***1/2 out of *****
Carnage
Roman Polanski's latest (yes he's still making movies) is set pretty much entirely in one apartment and the adjoining corridor. Jodie Foster and John C Reilly play the residents of said apartment, and are playing host to Kate Winslet and Christoph Waltz, who's son has hit their hosts son in the head with a stick. The two couples meet to discuss the matter, and although the meeting at first appears as if it will be brief a number of incidents keep stopping Kate and Christoph from leaving. What ensues are numerous conflicts, resolutions, shifting loyalties and clashes of over differing values as the two couples learn more about each other than the wanted or needed to.
The concept of Carnage was probably more interesting than the execution, and it may have worked better as a play. I am a fan of all four actors, however, and what is interesting to watch is how their characters a developed over such a short period of time (79 minutes) in a confined space. Watching four adults begin proceedings in a civil meeting and slowly degenerate into a childish, chaotic mess is also somewhat amusing, while at the same having perhaps a few too many doses of reality to instead be rather alarming. Again, a good, but not great film that you can probably skip at the cinema but well worth checking out on DVD.
***1/2 out of *****
Warrior
Warrior is a mixed martial arts film about two estranged brothers with an alcoholic father who both enter the same multi million dollar tournament. I've written a bit about my thoughts on this one elsewhere, so allow me to take a moment and make use of ctrl+c followed by ctrl+v....
In response to Mr. Ben Hobson's positive review of the film I said
"..... It started out well introducing the characters but got progressively worse as it went on. What I didn't like about it;
- The relationship between the brothers wasn't developed in any great depth, certainly not enough for me to care about the end. I think there was one brief confrontation between them before the ending.
- The dialogue was pretty weak.
- I disagree with you regarding the cheese. The whole last hour or so which comprised of the tournament was rife with cheesiness and cliche. From the completely unsubtle way the commentators narrated the story and gave us vital information, to the annoying music stirring up cheap sentimentality, to the crowds reactions to the fights, slowly warming to the protagonists.
- For that matter, the entire way they developed the characters was about as subtle as a sledgehammer.
- SPOILERS - The way the tournament was set up and played out was extremely unbelieveable. As if a washed up UFC fighter and a no name would gain entry to a major tournament worth $5,000,000. The fact that the washed up fighter then beat the Russian fighter who was unbeaten and at the top of his game without us (the viewer) seeing his journey through intense training was pretty unsatisfying."
However, on a more positive note what I did like about the film were the performances, particularly Tom Hardy. His relationship with his alcoholic father, played by Nick Nolte is quite nice, and there's a brilliant scene between them that almost single handily redeems the film. But it doesn't. This isn't any better than average.
**1/2 out of *****
Shame
The second film from British director Steve McQueen (so no, not the Steve McQueen you're thinking of) paints the portrait of a man named Brandon, played by Michael Fassbender. On the outside Brandon appears to be a confident, successful guy having it all together with a respectable job, nice apartment and living a comfortable life. This is the image he presents to those around him and no one suspects any different. On the inside, however, he's a man who's completely lost his way, living hollow existence as a slave to his sex and pornography addiction.
When his sister, played by Carey Mulligan shows up at his apartment to stay carrying the same amount of baggage as Brandon, and possibly more, it throws more than a simple spanner in the works. Through a number of confrontations between the two we begin to learn that their childhood was not a Rosy one, and it has inevitably damaged them both, but is the damage irreparable?
As far as I'm aware this is the first film to take a serious look a sex and pornography addiction and the destructive effect it can have on a person's humanity, and it's powerful one at that. From the goose bump inducing score, to the brilliant performance of Michael Fassbender to the subtle, somewhat ambiguous journey into the depths of Brandon's soul that is none the less extremely deep and, I'll admit, a little tear jerking. I have to be honest and say I was extremely moved by this very raw, very honest, yet extremely stylish look at what happens to men when they lose their way.
It's s tough film to recommend due to it's graphic nature, so some research into the content is suggested by yours truly before choosing to watch it. It's a touch uneven, with the last 20 minutes or so packing the most punch, where as earlier the film feels like it looses momentum occasionally. But that's nit picking, this was an otherwise amazing, powerful experience.
****1/2 out of *****
My Week With Marilyn
I don't really feel like talking about this one much, so I wont. In short, good movie, not great. If you have any interest in Marilyn Monroe you'll probably like it, but even if you don't the story about her brief fling with a guy working on her first British film, who wasn't anyone particularly noteworthy for that matter, is fairly engaging. Michelle Williams is fantastic as Marilyn and could have carried a script written by a fourth grader anyway.
***1/2 out of *****
Carnage
Roman Polanski's latest (yes he's still making movies) is set pretty much entirely in one apartment and the adjoining corridor. Jodie Foster and John C Reilly play the residents of said apartment, and are playing host to Kate Winslet and Christoph Waltz, who's son has hit their hosts son in the head with a stick. The two couples meet to discuss the matter, and although the meeting at first appears as if it will be brief a number of incidents keep stopping Kate and Christoph from leaving. What ensues are numerous conflicts, resolutions, shifting loyalties and clashes of over differing values as the two couples learn more about each other than the wanted or needed to.
The concept of Carnage was probably more interesting than the execution, and it may have worked better as a play. I am a fan of all four actors, however, and what is interesting to watch is how their characters a developed over such a short period of time (79 minutes) in a confined space. Watching four adults begin proceedings in a civil meeting and slowly degenerate into a childish, chaotic mess is also somewhat amusing, while at the same having perhaps a few too many doses of reality to instead be rather alarming. Again, a good, but not great film that you can probably skip at the cinema but well worth checking out on DVD.
***1/2 out of *****
Saturday, 10 March 2012
It's been a while....
so lets get into it.
The Grey
Or Liam Neeson vs the wolves. After sitting through a opening scene introducing Liam Neeson's character as a sad loner who's given up on life followed by a intense and well, frankly awes me plane crash, that's essentially what the movie is. Neeson and some fellow co-workers find themselves stuck somewhere in Alaska as a pack of wolves pick them off one by one. Sound boring? You'd be wrong. There are plenty of nicely staged scenes of nail biting action/suspense for fans of the genre, plus just enough philosophical musing to justifiably say this is deeper than you're average popcorn movie fare. The end result is a horror survival story that (almost) smoothly blends with an exploration of man's struggle with his inevitable journey toward death and questions of where God fits into the whole mess. I just can't help but feel that this is a good movie that could have been a great one had a little bit more time been spent fleshing out the secondary characters rather than them just being wolf fodder and a vessel to convey the central themes.
***1/2 out of *****
Tinker Tailor Solider Spy
British spy movie that plays out a bit like a realistic James Bond, Tinker Tailor follows agent George Smiley as he comes out of retirement to try to unmask a mole working in the inner sanctum of British Intelligence known as The Circus, supposedly supplying British secrets to the soviets during the cold war.. Painting a vivid picture of the 70s and cold war paranoia, the film makes excellent use of flashbacks throughout in what is a masterfully told story.
The character development is subtle yet offers deeper insight through a brief exchange than pages of dialogue do in many other movies. The mini characters arcs and sub plots all intertwine seamlessly with the major plot to bring about one of the best movies of 2011. A complex narrative will mean that those unfamiliar with the source material may have to check it out twice to fully appreciate it (I enjoyed it more the second time around) but it's worth it. Don't expect loads of action, just brilliant film making.
**** 1/2 out of *****
This Means War
A romantic comedy that, for some reason, I saw with two other guys. Not really sure how that happened, although I guess because it had action elements as well that makes it acceptable. Reece Witherspoon, for some reason, decides it's good idea to two time two guys. The fact that those two guys are fellow CIA agents and best friends means, of course, they quickly find out about it and decide to outdo each other.
So, being an romantic, action comedy obviously the success of the film will rest on how those three elements hold up. As a romance? Fail - there is bugger all chemistry between Witherspoon and the two male leads (Tom Hardy & Chris Pine), and I couldn't have cared less who she ended up with. Action? The action scenes are pretty tame and run of the mill, and certainly wouldn't satisfy anyone who watched the movie for that aspect alone. Comedy? Well, yeah, it is funny. Not belly aching funny but funny enough. This Means War is not a great movie but it is, dare I say, a bit of popcorn fun. As long you're not expecting a masterpiece then there's no reason not to enjoy this slightly guilty pleasure.
*** out of *****
The Hunter
Another Australian film with an international star at the helm, this time it's Willem Dafoe. Not sure what's up with that, but anyway. Dafoe's character has been sent on a mission by his employer to hunt for the long thought to be extinct Tasmanian Tiger (no guesses for where the film is set) for reasons that are first unclear but unravel as the film goes on. What at first seems like interesting idea soon turns into a fairly tired environment vs industry story (and as usual environmentalists = good, big corporations = evil) and even some really nice cinematography showcasing the Tasmanian wilderness can't hide the fact there's zero character development to be found anywhere. Still, the film has a fresh and natural feel to it, and I like the concept, so I'll score it generously.
*** out of *****
Terri
Terri is an overweight high school student. He has no friends, is cared for by his crazy and sick uncle who actually needs Terri to care for him, and wear pyjamas to school because they are "comfortable." During the course of the film he is taken under the wing of the high school principal, played by John C Reilly, who realises Terri needs help, and also ends up befriending the used-to-be-the-most-popular-girl-in-school until she fell from grace and the school's resident juvenile delinquent. The incredible amount of sympathy that is generated for Terri makes this one hard not to like, and and as a character study the movie works. However, at the same time the story feels unfinished, and once we arrive at the end Terri's journey only seems about half of the way there. Had they added an extra 20 minutes or so to tie things up in a more satisfying way this would have been better, but as it is Terri is still well worth a watch.
***1/2 out of *****
Well I had planned to write more but I might save that for tomorrow. I'm tired and going to bed.
The Grey
Or Liam Neeson vs the wolves. After sitting through a opening scene introducing Liam Neeson's character as a sad loner who's given up on life followed by a intense and well, frankly awes me plane crash, that's essentially what the movie is. Neeson and some fellow co-workers find themselves stuck somewhere in Alaska as a pack of wolves pick them off one by one. Sound boring? You'd be wrong. There are plenty of nicely staged scenes of nail biting action/suspense for fans of the genre, plus just enough philosophical musing to justifiably say this is deeper than you're average popcorn movie fare. The end result is a horror survival story that (almost) smoothly blends with an exploration of man's struggle with his inevitable journey toward death and questions of where God fits into the whole mess. I just can't help but feel that this is a good movie that could have been a great one had a little bit more time been spent fleshing out the secondary characters rather than them just being wolf fodder and a vessel to convey the central themes.
***1/2 out of *****
Tinker Tailor Solider Spy
British spy movie that plays out a bit like a realistic James Bond, Tinker Tailor follows agent George Smiley as he comes out of retirement to try to unmask a mole working in the inner sanctum of British Intelligence known as The Circus, supposedly supplying British secrets to the soviets during the cold war.. Painting a vivid picture of the 70s and cold war paranoia, the film makes excellent use of flashbacks throughout in what is a masterfully told story.
The character development is subtle yet offers deeper insight through a brief exchange than pages of dialogue do in many other movies. The mini characters arcs and sub plots all intertwine seamlessly with the major plot to bring about one of the best movies of 2011. A complex narrative will mean that those unfamiliar with the source material may have to check it out twice to fully appreciate it (I enjoyed it more the second time around) but it's worth it. Don't expect loads of action, just brilliant film making.
**** 1/2 out of *****
This Means War
A romantic comedy that, for some reason, I saw with two other guys. Not really sure how that happened, although I guess because it had action elements as well that makes it acceptable. Reece Witherspoon, for some reason, decides it's good idea to two time two guys. The fact that those two guys are fellow CIA agents and best friends means, of course, they quickly find out about it and decide to outdo each other.
So, being an romantic, action comedy obviously the success of the film will rest on how those three elements hold up. As a romance? Fail - there is bugger all chemistry between Witherspoon and the two male leads (Tom Hardy & Chris Pine), and I couldn't have cared less who she ended up with. Action? The action scenes are pretty tame and run of the mill, and certainly wouldn't satisfy anyone who watched the movie for that aspect alone. Comedy? Well, yeah, it is funny. Not belly aching funny but funny enough. This Means War is not a great movie but it is, dare I say, a bit of popcorn fun. As long you're not expecting a masterpiece then there's no reason not to enjoy this slightly guilty pleasure.
*** out of *****
The Hunter
Another Australian film with an international star at the helm, this time it's Willem Dafoe. Not sure what's up with that, but anyway. Dafoe's character has been sent on a mission by his employer to hunt for the long thought to be extinct Tasmanian Tiger (no guesses for where the film is set) for reasons that are first unclear but unravel as the film goes on. What at first seems like interesting idea soon turns into a fairly tired environment vs industry story (and as usual environmentalists = good, big corporations = evil) and even some really nice cinematography showcasing the Tasmanian wilderness can't hide the fact there's zero character development to be found anywhere. Still, the film has a fresh and natural feel to it, and I like the concept, so I'll score it generously.
*** out of *****
Terri
Terri is an overweight high school student. He has no friends, is cared for by his crazy and sick uncle who actually needs Terri to care for him, and wear pyjamas to school because they are "comfortable." During the course of the film he is taken under the wing of the high school principal, played by John C Reilly, who realises Terri needs help, and also ends up befriending the used-to-be-the-most-popular-girl-in-school until she fell from grace and the school's resident juvenile delinquent. The incredible amount of sympathy that is generated for Terri makes this one hard not to like, and and as a character study the movie works. However, at the same time the story feels unfinished, and once we arrive at the end Terri's journey only seems about half of the way there. Had they added an extra 20 minutes or so to tie things up in a more satisfying way this would have been better, but as it is Terri is still well worth a watch.
***1/2 out of *****
Well I had planned to write more but I might save that for tomorrow. I'm tired and going to bed.
Sunday, 26 February 2012
Oscars Oscars Oscars
Oscars tomorrow. We all know what's going to take out best picture, but we'll talk about that in a moment. First of all, I've seen the last two best picture nominations that I'd up til now neglected,so lets have a look see.
The Help
Set in deep south of the USA during the early 60's, The Help tells the story of African American maids working for white snotty rich folk, well before the current times when Americans lost every racist bone in their body and became tolerant of everyone....... (cough.) Um, yeah, well, at least half the appeal of the film for the high and mighty "tolerant" folk to get on their high horses and look down their noses at this time in history, proudly talking about "how far we've come"and such. Rant over. Emma Stone's character is a budding writer and decides she wants to write a book about the experiences of these women, although the civil rights moment has only just begun so she has to be very careful how she goes about sympathetically portraying African Americans.
Anyway, this movie is actually really good. The trailer would trick you into thinking Emma Stone's character is main focus, but she isn't really. She actually almost serves as a narrator through which the story of the maids are told. And wisely so, as in turn it becomes their story, and not a story about a brave pretty white lady helping out these poor simple Negros (just to be ABSOLUTELY clear - that last part was meant as sarcasm at the expense of people who think in such a manner. Just covering my arse from the PC Nazis.)
The performances of the two maids at the centre of the piece are fantastic, playing strong, sympathetic and courageous women. Emma Stone just keeps getting better, the story is very masterfully told in what is a pretty classical approach to film making. All of the other characters are also very strong, from the town racist that you love to hate to the naive but caring lady played by Jessica Chastain. I don't know what more to say except I liked it alot. See it.
**** out of *****
Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close
So, this one was kinda a bummer. A boy who is clearly suffering from Aspergers (although according to the film the tests to confirm it were "inconclusive") loses his father in September 11.Through a series of flashbacks we see glimpses of their relationship, and how the boy's father liked making riddles for him to solve. When the boy comes across a key with the name "Black" on it he decides that his father set this up as a puzzle for him to solve before he died, and sets out to find what the key opens.
And that's the story. Sound kinda dumb and pointless? Probably because it is. With Tom Hanks and Sandra Bullock staring, this was obviously intended as the wholesome, tug at the heart strings of a nation Oscar bait that everyone would raving about and taking their families to see. Instead what's on offer is a whole lotta over the top sappiness and sentimentality without offering any genuine emotion, a storyline that goes nowhere and has an unsatisfying pay off, and a un-spythametic and, I'm sorry to say, annoying protagonist.
On the other hand, the film is very classily made, the story is told in an engaging manner, and the relationship between the boy and the old man that lives with his grandma is kinda nice. But the movie as whole is just kinda, bleh. Skip it.
**1/2 out of *****
So with that out of the way, lets talk about Oscar best picture. I'll start by making two lists;
Best picture nominees, best to worst
1. The Tree of Life
2. Hugo
3. The Descendants
4. Moneyball
5. The Artist
6. Midnight in Paris
7. The Help
8. War Horse
9. Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close
Best picture nominees, most likely to win to least likely
1. The Artist
2. The Descendants
3. Hugo
4. The Help
5. Moneyball
6. The Tree of Life
7. Midnight in Paris
8. War Horse
9. Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close
In the past it often seems to have come down to a two horse race for the cup. Last year was The Social Network vs The Kings Speech. The year before was Avatar vs The Hurt Locker. This year is The Artist vs Nothing. The Artist will win, end of story. You can put your house on it and it will be the easiest money you'll make all year. I've ranked the other films likelihood of winning merely as formality. It's such a foregone conclusion that The Artist will win I may not even bother watching the ceremony (I probably will.)
I would love to see Hugo or The Descendants win. I'd love love LOVE to see The Tree of Life win. But I'll settle with The Artist winning, as in honesty it's not a bad choice for the prize. And seeing a silent French film take out the glory is kinda cool. The only film that really doesn't deserve it's spot amongst the nominees is Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close, although I'm a little disappointed that War Horse got nominated as well.
I was planning to a top 10 of 2011 list to coincide with the Oscars, however I'm putting it off for a week or two so I can watch more movies I've missed. But that's coming soon.... probably. Enjoy watching people walk down a red carpet and talk rubbish about who designed what and how much they enjoyed making some film they've already forgotten they were in. I'll skip that part thanks.
The Help
Set in deep south of the USA during the early 60's, The Help tells the story of African American maids working for white snotty rich folk, well before the current times when Americans lost every racist bone in their body and became tolerant of everyone....... (cough.) Um, yeah, well, at least half the appeal of the film for the high and mighty "tolerant" folk to get on their high horses and look down their noses at this time in history, proudly talking about "how far we've come"and such. Rant over. Emma Stone's character is a budding writer and decides she wants to write a book about the experiences of these women, although the civil rights moment has only just begun so she has to be very careful how she goes about sympathetically portraying African Americans.
Anyway, this movie is actually really good. The trailer would trick you into thinking Emma Stone's character is main focus, but she isn't really. She actually almost serves as a narrator through which the story of the maids are told. And wisely so, as in turn it becomes their story, and not a story about a brave pretty white lady helping out these poor simple Negros (just to be ABSOLUTELY clear - that last part was meant as sarcasm at the expense of people who think in such a manner. Just covering my arse from the PC Nazis.)
The performances of the two maids at the centre of the piece are fantastic, playing strong, sympathetic and courageous women. Emma Stone just keeps getting better, the story is very masterfully told in what is a pretty classical approach to film making. All of the other characters are also very strong, from the town racist that you love to hate to the naive but caring lady played by Jessica Chastain. I don't know what more to say except I liked it alot. See it.
**** out of *****
Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close
So, this one was kinda a bummer. A boy who is clearly suffering from Aspergers (although according to the film the tests to confirm it were "inconclusive") loses his father in September 11.Through a series of flashbacks we see glimpses of their relationship, and how the boy's father liked making riddles for him to solve. When the boy comes across a key with the name "Black" on it he decides that his father set this up as a puzzle for him to solve before he died, and sets out to find what the key opens.
And that's the story. Sound kinda dumb and pointless? Probably because it is. With Tom Hanks and Sandra Bullock staring, this was obviously intended as the wholesome, tug at the heart strings of a nation Oscar bait that everyone would raving about and taking their families to see. Instead what's on offer is a whole lotta over the top sappiness and sentimentality without offering any genuine emotion, a storyline that goes nowhere and has an unsatisfying pay off, and a un-spythametic and, I'm sorry to say, annoying protagonist.
On the other hand, the film is very classily made, the story is told in an engaging manner, and the relationship between the boy and the old man that lives with his grandma is kinda nice. But the movie as whole is just kinda, bleh. Skip it.
**1/2 out of *****
So with that out of the way, lets talk about Oscar best picture. I'll start by making two lists;
Best picture nominees, best to worst
1. The Tree of Life
2. Hugo
3. The Descendants
4. Moneyball
5. The Artist
6. Midnight in Paris
7. The Help
8. War Horse
9. Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close
Best picture nominees, most likely to win to least likely
1. The Artist
2. The Descendants
3. Hugo
4. The Help
5. Moneyball
6. The Tree of Life
7. Midnight in Paris
8. War Horse
9. Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close
In the past it often seems to have come down to a two horse race for the cup. Last year was The Social Network vs The Kings Speech. The year before was Avatar vs The Hurt Locker. This year is The Artist vs Nothing. The Artist will win, end of story. You can put your house on it and it will be the easiest money you'll make all year. I've ranked the other films likelihood of winning merely as formality. It's such a foregone conclusion that The Artist will win I may not even bother watching the ceremony (I probably will.)
I would love to see Hugo or The Descendants win. I'd love love LOVE to see The Tree of Life win. But I'll settle with The Artist winning, as in honesty it's not a bad choice for the prize. And seeing a silent French film take out the glory is kinda cool. The only film that really doesn't deserve it's spot amongst the nominees is Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close, although I'm a little disappointed that War Horse got nominated as well.
I was planning to a top 10 of 2011 list to coincide with the Oscars, however I'm putting it off for a week or two so I can watch more movies I've missed. But that's coming soon.... probably. Enjoy watching people walk down a red carpet and talk rubbish about who designed what and how much they enjoyed making some film they've already forgotten they were in. I'll skip that part thanks.
Tuesday, 14 February 2012
The Muppets & Others
The Muppets
The Muppets according to Jason Segel (he wrote the script and stars) is apparently the first film in the franchise for 12 years. I can't exactly say The Muppets were a massive part of a my childhood, so the appeal to nostalgia wasn't a great one for me, however I've seen the likes of The Muppet Movie and The Muppets Take Manhattan numerous times, and enjoyed them, so I'm well familiar with Kermit and co and what goes toward making a good Muppet tale.
Our journey begin with a look back at Jason Segel's character growing up with his brother Walter, who for some reason is a Muppet. They are both massive fans of The Muppet Show, and Walter dreams of one day meeting The Muppets and visiting Muppet studios. When he gets the change, he finds out that an evil rich dude is planning to tear the studios down to drill for oil, and when Walter convinces Kermit to get the gang back together for fund raiser to save the studios we've got ourselves a run o' the mill Muppets story (which is a great thing).
But never mind all that, actually. What it enjoyable about The Muppets, of course, is all the over the top fun and silliness, musical numbers and self referential humour (even if they do go a bit overboard with it.) The secondary romance storyline about Jason Segel being torn between his friendship with his brother and his love for Amy Adam's character is also a very nice addition, and doesn't feel at all tacked on. A movie that pretty much everybody can enjoy, which is something that doesn't come along all that often.
**** out *****
The Iron Lady
Another year, another biopic contending for Oscar glory. However, while last years film The King's Speech took out the glory, The Iron Lady will probably have to contend with a best actress nod for Meryl Strep (in fact, The Iron Lady hasn't even been nominated for best picture.) This account of the life of British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher is told as series of flashbacks, cutting back and forth constantly between the past and Thatcher's current state of dementia. While this format is at first interesting it soon becomes annoying, and while the approach to classical film making is very capably handled and the story well told, it feels as though we're merely being presented with Thatcher's life in dot point form, with nothing really being fleshed out. Streep's performance alone, however, is worth the price of admission alone, as she approaches the role with this almost reckless abandon that she does all her roles, fully embracing every aspect of her character. Some people don't see to like her much, for what reason I have no idea, as she is without a doubt one of the best of her generation.
***1/2 out of *****
Young Adult
The second collaborative project between director Jason Reitman and screenwriter Diablo Cody, who previously worked together on Juno, Young Adult tells the story of a thirty something woman, played by Charlize Theron, who is the author of a once popular series of books aimed at, well, take a guess (I''ll give you a hint, the answer's in the title.) She lives like a sloth in a apartment with her dog, and her life is going nowhere. When she finds out her ex-boyfriend and his wife have had a baby she decides she wants him back for some reason and sets out on a road trip to see him in her old home town.
What ensues is a fairly tragic and sometimes hard to watch character study about a woman who was popular and the centre of attention during high school and is subsequently still a self indulgent brat well into her 30's, with nothing to show for it but a ghost writing credit on books headed for the bargain bin. Young Adult was a bit hit and miss for me, it was funny, but not THAT funny, it was a solid character study but a bit like watching a car crash, and Theron is very good but can't produce much sympathy for her character. This is probably Reitman's weakest effort so far, but with his other credits being Thank You For Smoking, Juno and Up in the Air that's not really a knock. Good, but not great.
***1/2 out of *****
Crazy Stupid Love
For a lot of people, Crazy Stupid Love seems to be THE romantic comedy of 2011. So lets have a look at why. Steve Carell, Julianne Moore, Kevin Bacon, Marisa Tomei, Emma Stone and Ryan Gosling (who is THE actor of the moment.) So we've good a great cast there. It's very funny. The story is a long way off following the normal romantic comedy formula, is actually quite fresh and original. So with all that considered this one is a sure winner, right? Well, yes, but it's not without it's flaws. The storyline may be original and somewhat unpredictable, however it has a of plot contrivances and massive coincidences which are a bit hard to swallow. Also, the romance between Ryan Gosling and Emma Stone's characters feels a bit tacked on. Still, the mix of good characterisations and legitimate humour should mean this is one of those few rom coms that guys can feel ok about liking. I know I did.
***1/2 out of *****
Win Win
Paul Giamatti is a lawyer/high school wrestling coach struggling to make ends meet for his wife and two daughters, who after kinda screwing over an elderly client of his to make a bit of extra money for his family meets the old man's grandson. The boy is a bit troubled and detached as result of having a drug addicted mother, however Giamatti takes the boy under his wing and as he bonds with him learns is he is an excellent wrestler. He then uses the boy's talents to boost his under performing wrestling team. Win Win is essentially a study of human behaviour and relationships, and while the plot is a bit formulaic and some elements are far fetched, the characters a good, there a few laughs thrown in for good measure and the overall result is a success.
***1/2 out of *****
The Muppets according to Jason Segel (he wrote the script and stars) is apparently the first film in the franchise for 12 years. I can't exactly say The Muppets were a massive part of a my childhood, so the appeal to nostalgia wasn't a great one for me, however I've seen the likes of The Muppet Movie and The Muppets Take Manhattan numerous times, and enjoyed them, so I'm well familiar with Kermit and co and what goes toward making a good Muppet tale.
Our journey begin with a look back at Jason Segel's character growing up with his brother Walter, who for some reason is a Muppet. They are both massive fans of The Muppet Show, and Walter dreams of one day meeting The Muppets and visiting Muppet studios. When he gets the change, he finds out that an evil rich dude is planning to tear the studios down to drill for oil, and when Walter convinces Kermit to get the gang back together for fund raiser to save the studios we've got ourselves a run o' the mill Muppets story (which is a great thing).
But never mind all that, actually. What it enjoyable about The Muppets, of course, is all the over the top fun and silliness, musical numbers and self referential humour (even if they do go a bit overboard with it.) The secondary romance storyline about Jason Segel being torn between his friendship with his brother and his love for Amy Adam's character is also a very nice addition, and doesn't feel at all tacked on. A movie that pretty much everybody can enjoy, which is something that doesn't come along all that often.
**** out *****
The Iron Lady
Another year, another biopic contending for Oscar glory. However, while last years film The King's Speech took out the glory, The Iron Lady will probably have to contend with a best actress nod for Meryl Strep (in fact, The Iron Lady hasn't even been nominated for best picture.) This account of the life of British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher is told as series of flashbacks, cutting back and forth constantly between the past and Thatcher's current state of dementia. While this format is at first interesting it soon becomes annoying, and while the approach to classical film making is very capably handled and the story well told, it feels as though we're merely being presented with Thatcher's life in dot point form, with nothing really being fleshed out. Streep's performance alone, however, is worth the price of admission alone, as she approaches the role with this almost reckless abandon that she does all her roles, fully embracing every aspect of her character. Some people don't see to like her much, for what reason I have no idea, as she is without a doubt one of the best of her generation.
***1/2 out of *****
Young Adult
The second collaborative project between director Jason Reitman and screenwriter Diablo Cody, who previously worked together on Juno, Young Adult tells the story of a thirty something woman, played by Charlize Theron, who is the author of a once popular series of books aimed at, well, take a guess (I''ll give you a hint, the answer's in the title.) She lives like a sloth in a apartment with her dog, and her life is going nowhere. When she finds out her ex-boyfriend and his wife have had a baby she decides she wants him back for some reason and sets out on a road trip to see him in her old home town.
What ensues is a fairly tragic and sometimes hard to watch character study about a woman who was popular and the centre of attention during high school and is subsequently still a self indulgent brat well into her 30's, with nothing to show for it but a ghost writing credit on books headed for the bargain bin. Young Adult was a bit hit and miss for me, it was funny, but not THAT funny, it was a solid character study but a bit like watching a car crash, and Theron is very good but can't produce much sympathy for her character. This is probably Reitman's weakest effort so far, but with his other credits being Thank You For Smoking, Juno and Up in the Air that's not really a knock. Good, but not great.
***1/2 out of *****
Crazy Stupid Love
For a lot of people, Crazy Stupid Love seems to be THE romantic comedy of 2011. So lets have a look at why. Steve Carell, Julianne Moore, Kevin Bacon, Marisa Tomei, Emma Stone and Ryan Gosling (who is THE actor of the moment.) So we've good a great cast there. It's very funny. The story is a long way off following the normal romantic comedy formula, is actually quite fresh and original. So with all that considered this one is a sure winner, right? Well, yes, but it's not without it's flaws. The storyline may be original and somewhat unpredictable, however it has a of plot contrivances and massive coincidences which are a bit hard to swallow. Also, the romance between Ryan Gosling and Emma Stone's characters feels a bit tacked on. Still, the mix of good characterisations and legitimate humour should mean this is one of those few rom coms that guys can feel ok about liking. I know I did.
***1/2 out of *****
Win Win
Paul Giamatti is a lawyer/high school wrestling coach struggling to make ends meet for his wife and two daughters, who after kinda screwing over an elderly client of his to make a bit of extra money for his family meets the old man's grandson. The boy is a bit troubled and detached as result of having a drug addicted mother, however Giamatti takes the boy under his wing and as he bonds with him learns is he is an excellent wrestler. He then uses the boy's talents to boost his under performing wrestling team. Win Win is essentially a study of human behaviour and relationships, and while the plot is a bit formulaic and some elements are far fetched, the characters a good, there a few laughs thrown in for good measure and the overall result is a success.
***1/2 out of *****
Friday, 10 February 2012
A whole bunch o' stuff
Ok, so here's everything else I've been watching lately. Some of these will be pretty short as in some cases it's been about a month since I saw the movie.
Of Gods and Men
French movie that won the Grand Prix at Cannes in 2010 (Grand Prix being the second highest prize after the Palme d'Or) Of Gods and Men documents a true story about a group of Christian monks living in peace with Muslim majority in Algeria until they start to face threats for Islamic extremists. Beautifully shot and paced, the film explores with passion yet without sentiment the test of faith and character these men go through in their decision whether or not stay and honor the commitment they have made. Perhaps lacking slightly in character development, although an exploration of each individual character isn't really the name of the game here, rather a reflection on how the men bond together to make their decision and an exploration of the inner most part of the human psyche. Haunting, inspirational and highly recommended.
****1/2 out of *****
Hesher
Hesher, the title character of the movie, is a crazy, violent heavy metal fan who one day decides to forcibly move in with a young kid and his family, who are grieving the loss of a family member, by threatening the kid he will hurt him if he tells his dad he doesn't really know him. Yep, bizarre movie which at times feels to be lacking any serious point and the concept alone makes no sense, however the exploration coming to terms with grief and character relationship dynamics is oddly compelling and original. Certainly worth a look.
***1/2 out of *****
Friends with Benefits
The second film of 2011 about a relationship between male and female which they agree will be just sex between friends and no romance (the other being No Strings Attached, which I haven't seen) Friends with Benefits starts out as a comedic send up of the romantic comedy genre, and is actually quite funny. By the end, though, it has of course turned into a pretty standard rom com. The chemistry between Justin Timberlake and Mila Kunis however lifts it above your average rom com fare, so this little film is not bad at all. I kinda hope JT keeps making movies as he's really not a bad actor.
***1/2 out *****
Rango
Oh, man, this is probably the film I've left the longest to write about. So er, what do I remember? It's an animated film about a lizard who gets appointed the sheriff of a town running low on water. It's very cleverly written, and has pays homage to a lot of old Western movies. And it's very good. How's that? Good enough I think. Rent it.
**** out of *****
The Troll Hunter
Norwegian film shot in the style of The Blair Witch Project, being that it's presented as being real footage that was discovered after the filmmakers disappeared. Hunting trolls. Hence the, er, title. The trolls look pretty cool and there's plenty of action, so it should be pretty accessible to anyone deeply rooted in Norwegian folklore and subtitled. Apparently there's an American remake planned. Seems pretty pointless, just watch this one.
***1/2 out of *****
Rare Exports: A Christmas Story
A Finnish Christmas movie in which Santa Claus is actually an evil monster thing and his elves are a bunch of crazy old naked dudes.... Still reading? Original idea, yes. Entertaining and well executed? Only kinda. It was really a strange, silly movie, and only mildly recommended.
*** out of *****
The Beaver
Directed by and staring Jodie Foster, The Beaver features Mel Gibson playing her husband who, dealing with depression and separation from his wife, comes across a beaver puppet and takes on it's personality to help deal with his pain. Silly concept as in the above film, however it's dealt with in such a serious manner that you can (almost) entirely accept it. Quite a nice story about dealing with damaged family relationships, The Beaver really does come close to overcoming premise to be a genuine character study, if perhaps just not quite getting there.
***1/2 out of *****
We Need To Talk About Kevin
Probably the less known about this one before seeing it the better, so all I will say is that it explores a mother's (Tilda Swinton) experiences dealing with a son who is not only extremely difficult to handle but displays violent and manipulative tendencies. Played out like any mother's worst nightmare, this incredibly disturbing account of human behaviour is presented in a very stylish yet frenetic manner, constantly flashing back and forward between past and present. The acting is brilliant, both from Tilda Swinton and Ezra Miller, who plays Kevin, and Swinton especially should have gotten more recognition during award season. I found some elements of Kevin's behaviour quite difficult to believe, however despite this We Need To Talk About Kevin is a very engaging and almost realistic horror story. Prepare yourself for one crazy roller coaster ride of emotion if you do check it out.
**** out of *****
Arrietty
I missed the first few minutes of the newest Studio Ghibli film to hit Australia due to a long line at the cinema and, apparently, barely ads before the film, the one time I actually wished there was an abundance of them. Bit annoying, buy oh well. Arrietty is a tiny person, belonging to a race known as the borrowers, who live under the floorboards of house and "borrow" things from inside the house for their own use. She soon forms a relationship with a terminally ill boy living at the house, who has heard about Borrowers from his auntie, and he wants nothing more than to protect Arrietty and make sure she is safe from the other crazy old hag who lives in the house with them. As with most Ghibli film Arrietty is original, creative and heartfelt. Do I need to say more, it's a Ghibli film. Of course it's good.
**** out of *****
The Artist
It's been a while since a film has looked so certain to win the Best Picture Oscar. In fact, The Artist may be the surest lock to take the gong since Titanic almost 15 years ago. When you consider that The Artist is a French film that is in black and white and, for the most part, silent, it's almost perplexing. But here we are. So, is it really worth all that hype? Well, no, but it is still very good. The Artist does struggle to rise above it's gimmick (I don't see how anyone could say it's not a gimmick) with a fairly formulaic story about a silent movie star's fall from the spotlight with the birth of the talkie (sounds similar to the storyline of a certain musical about singing during a certain weather pattern, doesn't it?) and a tired morality story about not letting success get to your head. This isn't to say that the storyline isn't engaging, because it is, very much so, and where The Artist DOES rise above it's gimmick is in it's gorgeous black and white cinematography and a number of impressive sequences, in particular a dream scene where all of a sudden sound effects exist. To conclude, The Artist probably doesn't deserve to win the Best Picture Oscar, but it will, and it won't be a travesty in any way, shape or form.
**** out of *****
Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows
Sequel. Not as good as the first. Still some good action and comedy. Still stylish. Overall ok. Meh.
*** out of *****
Now that's all off my chest... Seeing how long this catch up took it should motivate me to post more regular updates (we'll see). Also, I've decided to stop writing about older movies I watch for the first time and just stick to newer ones, from the past 2 - 3 years or so. But I have seen a bunch of older movies lately, with the highlights being Persona and Wild Strawberries by Ingmar Bergman, Rashomon by Akira Kurosawa and Taste of Cherry by Abbas Kiarostami.
Of Gods and Men
French movie that won the Grand Prix at Cannes in 2010 (Grand Prix being the second highest prize after the Palme d'Or) Of Gods and Men documents a true story about a group of Christian monks living in peace with Muslim majority in Algeria until they start to face threats for Islamic extremists. Beautifully shot and paced, the film explores with passion yet without sentiment the test of faith and character these men go through in their decision whether or not stay and honor the commitment they have made. Perhaps lacking slightly in character development, although an exploration of each individual character isn't really the name of the game here, rather a reflection on how the men bond together to make their decision and an exploration of the inner most part of the human psyche. Haunting, inspirational and highly recommended.
****1/2 out of *****
Hesher
Hesher, the title character of the movie, is a crazy, violent heavy metal fan who one day decides to forcibly move in with a young kid and his family, who are grieving the loss of a family member, by threatening the kid he will hurt him if he tells his dad he doesn't really know him. Yep, bizarre movie which at times feels to be lacking any serious point and the concept alone makes no sense, however the exploration coming to terms with grief and character relationship dynamics is oddly compelling and original. Certainly worth a look.
***1/2 out of *****
Friends with Benefits
The second film of 2011 about a relationship between male and female which they agree will be just sex between friends and no romance (the other being No Strings Attached, which I haven't seen) Friends with Benefits starts out as a comedic send up of the romantic comedy genre, and is actually quite funny. By the end, though, it has of course turned into a pretty standard rom com. The chemistry between Justin Timberlake and Mila Kunis however lifts it above your average rom com fare, so this little film is not bad at all. I kinda hope JT keeps making movies as he's really not a bad actor.
***1/2 out *****
Rango
Oh, man, this is probably the film I've left the longest to write about. So er, what do I remember? It's an animated film about a lizard who gets appointed the sheriff of a town running low on water. It's very cleverly written, and has pays homage to a lot of old Western movies. And it's very good. How's that? Good enough I think. Rent it.
**** out of *****
The Troll Hunter
Norwegian film shot in the style of The Blair Witch Project, being that it's presented as being real footage that was discovered after the filmmakers disappeared. Hunting trolls. Hence the, er, title. The trolls look pretty cool and there's plenty of action, so it should be pretty accessible to anyone deeply rooted in Norwegian folklore and subtitled. Apparently there's an American remake planned. Seems pretty pointless, just watch this one.
***1/2 out of *****
Rare Exports: A Christmas Story
A Finnish Christmas movie in which Santa Claus is actually an evil monster thing and his elves are a bunch of crazy old naked dudes.... Still reading? Original idea, yes. Entertaining and well executed? Only kinda. It was really a strange, silly movie, and only mildly recommended.
*** out of *****
The Beaver
Directed by and staring Jodie Foster, The Beaver features Mel Gibson playing her husband who, dealing with depression and separation from his wife, comes across a beaver puppet and takes on it's personality to help deal with his pain. Silly concept as in the above film, however it's dealt with in such a serious manner that you can (almost) entirely accept it. Quite a nice story about dealing with damaged family relationships, The Beaver really does come close to overcoming premise to be a genuine character study, if perhaps just not quite getting there.
***1/2 out of *****
We Need To Talk About Kevin
Probably the less known about this one before seeing it the better, so all I will say is that it explores a mother's (Tilda Swinton) experiences dealing with a son who is not only extremely difficult to handle but displays violent and manipulative tendencies. Played out like any mother's worst nightmare, this incredibly disturbing account of human behaviour is presented in a very stylish yet frenetic manner, constantly flashing back and forward between past and present. The acting is brilliant, both from Tilda Swinton and Ezra Miller, who plays Kevin, and Swinton especially should have gotten more recognition during award season. I found some elements of Kevin's behaviour quite difficult to believe, however despite this We Need To Talk About Kevin is a very engaging and almost realistic horror story. Prepare yourself for one crazy roller coaster ride of emotion if you do check it out.
**** out of *****
Arrietty
I missed the first few minutes of the newest Studio Ghibli film to hit Australia due to a long line at the cinema and, apparently, barely ads before the film, the one time I actually wished there was an abundance of them. Bit annoying, buy oh well. Arrietty is a tiny person, belonging to a race known as the borrowers, who live under the floorboards of house and "borrow" things from inside the house for their own use. She soon forms a relationship with a terminally ill boy living at the house, who has heard about Borrowers from his auntie, and he wants nothing more than to protect Arrietty and make sure she is safe from the other crazy old hag who lives in the house with them. As with most Ghibli film Arrietty is original, creative and heartfelt. Do I need to say more, it's a Ghibli film. Of course it's good.
**** out of *****
The Artist
It's been a while since a film has looked so certain to win the Best Picture Oscar. In fact, The Artist may be the surest lock to take the gong since Titanic almost 15 years ago. When you consider that The Artist is a French film that is in black and white and, for the most part, silent, it's almost perplexing. But here we are. So, is it really worth all that hype? Well, no, but it is still very good. The Artist does struggle to rise above it's gimmick (I don't see how anyone could say it's not a gimmick) with a fairly formulaic story about a silent movie star's fall from the spotlight with the birth of the talkie (sounds similar to the storyline of a certain musical about singing during a certain weather pattern, doesn't it?) and a tired morality story about not letting success get to your head. This isn't to say that the storyline isn't engaging, because it is, very much so, and where The Artist DOES rise above it's gimmick is in it's gorgeous black and white cinematography and a number of impressive sequences, in particular a dream scene where all of a sudden sound effects exist. To conclude, The Artist probably doesn't deserve to win the Best Picture Oscar, but it will, and it won't be a travesty in any way, shape or form.
**** out of *****
Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows
Sequel. Not as good as the first. Still some good action and comedy. Still stylish. Overall ok. Meh.
*** out of *****
Now that's all off my chest... Seeing how long this catch up took it should motivate me to post more regular updates (we'll see). Also, I've decided to stop writing about older movies I watch for the first time and just stick to newer ones, from the past 2 - 3 years or so. But I have seen a bunch of older movies lately, with the highlights being Persona and Wild Strawberries by Ingmar Bergman, Rashomon by Akira Kurosawa and Taste of Cherry by Abbas Kiarostami.
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