Friday, December 30, 2011

The Adventures Of Tintin

Two of Hollywood's most popular directors come together to bring to life the works of Belgian writer and artist Herge.
I have known of Tintin most of my life. I have seen his books but never read them. I'm not sure why. Maybe I've found other things to read but these books have never grabbed my interest. I'm beginning to think though that I should have read the books. I'm going to get a lot of criticism for this problem I have. I have no problem with a film that is fast paced and action packed like this one is, however, it should never come at the expense of character development. I know that Tintin is a reporter but I would have liked to have known a bit more about him. Where his sense of adventure comes from and how he came to be a reporter. They could have maybe had him contact his editor. Where does the money come from that lets him travel the world as extensively as he does? He seems to be quite young for someone with so much experience. There are the Thompson twins as well. Where do they come from? Who do they work for? What is their relationship to Tintin? I'm probably asking far too many questions and maybe thinking about it too much but that's what happens when I see a movie.
Otherwise this is an excellent film. It is by far and away the best use of motion-capture I've seen for a fully animated film (this does not include films where a character or characters are animated in a live-action film). Robert Zemekis, who has made many films in this format, had the problem of trying to dazzle you with 3D looking scenes and not caring about story or making the action exciting. Steven and Peter have managed to make a thrilling and exciting film that has some of the best action sequences. The fact they are working in animation seems to have let them move the camera more. A motorbike chase was my favourite sequence. The story is also very well written (aside from character) and it moves quite quickly which is very good. The action comes thick and fast which makes for a very thrilling action adventure film.
Jamie Bell, despite having little character to work with has done an excellent job with Tintin. He makes him a likable hero that you could easily follow in an adventure. While the script lacks some back story this is not Jamie's fault. Andy Serkis is the master of motion-capture. He can make any character fun and exciting. Luckily he is the only one whose character of Haddock has a history that is explored in the film so we learn more about him. This makes him by far the most well rounded character in the film. Simon Pegg and Nick Frost have worked together so often that they make a great bumbling duo. This helps to make their chemistry work for the characters. But as I mentioned above, I'd like to have known more about them. Daniel Craig does not get to play a villain very often so he seems to relish the chance here. He makes a very nasty villain.
My over worked mind may have ruined the film for me a bit. It is still an excellent action adventure film and certainly one of the year's best animated films.

Wednesday, December 28, 2011

The Women On The 6th Floor

Earlier this year we had 'The Help', a film about someone getting to know the people who serve them in America. We now get a similarly themed French version.
There must be something in the nature of French comedies that makes them very charming. The characters are usually delightful and usually feature someone who is a bit naive. In this case we have Jean-Louis Joubert who at the start of the film comes across as not so delightful when he forces his maid of many years to quit. This might seem a bit cynical when he learns to appreciate his maids when his new maid is very good looking. But as mentioned above there is a great deal of charm so you can over look this slight character flaw. Our hero Jean-Louis does help the other maids that live in his building too and not just the pretty ones.I think what really redeems him though is when he is willing to give up so much to help these maids out. The film was also educational with it exploring the use of Spanish maids in the 1960's in France. Through out history there is always one race or country willing to go to another to find work to feed their family.
As Jean-Louis, Fabrice Luchini is certainly very charming and delightful. My only problem is him being so much older than the woman he falls in love with. Natalia Verbeke is excellent as the object of his affection. A nicely feisty character that provides Natalia with some interesting material to work with. Sandrine Kiberlain is also very good as Jean-Louis wife. The woman who still treats maids not quite so well. She give an excellent performance as a rich snob. The most delightful characters are the group of Spanish maids. They are very funny and provide much of the humour in the film.
A great deal of fun and purely delightful. Seeing the rich cut down a peg or two by the lower orders is always fun.

Monday, December 26, 2011

Melancholia

Much like Pedro Almodovar, a Lars Von Trier film is a major cinematic event. In some cases it is more because of what goes on behind the scenes than what's on the screen.
Also like Almodovar, I'm a bit late in coming to the Von Trier train. His films are really polarising and you get many varied opinions. But you cannot deny that he is an artist. We get so bombarded with films that are made for entertainment that we forget that film is also an art form. Von Trier films are really well made works of art. Especially with this film where each frame is so carefully composed that is is like watching moving art. This is mostly true of the open sequence which nicely gives you a preview of what's going to happen in the film. The film is divided into two parts with the first section about Kirsten Dunst's character Justine and the second about Charlotte Gainbourg's character Claire. The Juntine story I found more interesting than Claire's. Justine's story is almost like a romantic comedy but not in a very obviously funny sense. There are no laugh out loud moments but the situation lends itself to some amusing moments. The Justine story is a bit more serious and a little bit uninteresting. I found it dragged too much and almost got boring. I think because you know what then ending is going to be and you really want to see it happen that you get too anxious.
Kirsten Dunst is an excellent actress and certainly proves that right here. She is so brilliant and wonderful at playing the many emotions here character has to go through. This is a very challenging story and she rises to the occasion. Charlotte Gainsbourg got off quite easy with this film compared to the last time she worked with Von Trier. She is not the most cheery of actresses but still does a very good job. Kiefer Sutherland is excellent playing Charlotte's husband. He is funny in a deadpan way in the first half of the film. Also funny is Stellen Skarsgard with his funny sub plot in the first half of the film. Charlotte Rampling gives some great funny moments too.
An excellent reason to go to the movies to see something not only visually beautiful but challenging in an intellectual way. A good reminder that not all films are made for entertainment value.

Friday, December 23, 2011

The Skin I Live In

When Spanish writer/director Perdo Almodovar releases a film it always a big event for lovers of quality cinema.
I've been a fan of Almodovar for a while now. He has a style that makes you know you are watching a quality film. He is a director who is so skilled at making films that while they may not be completely perfect they are still of a much higher standard than a lot of other films. The Almodovar name is a mark of cinematic quality. This film is no different.
The story for this film is very different to say the least. There is a plot twist that is not revealed until half way through the film and when you find out what it is, you will be amazed. I'm not familiar with the book on which the film is based but it is a really clever and interesting story. We have seen so many variations on the Frankenstein story that it is great to see someone do something very unique with it. Because of the twist it is told in a non-linear way. It did mean for me though that I got confused over the identity of a couple of characters but I did not mind too much. Then Almodovar has told the story with a great deal of skill. You just know you're in the hands of a master. He really knows how to film a scene and how to create a certain look.
Antonio Banderas has not been in many films lately so it is great to see him in something of such great quality. This is by far the best thing Antonio has done in ages. In the past he has over-acted quite bit but here he gives such a subtle and subdued performance. This is despite the fact he is playing such a crazy man. Elena Anaya is excellent at the 'creation'. Her character goes through many changes in the film and it is a testament to Elena that she can convey all those changes. Marisa Paredes is equally as good as Dr. Ledgard's maid. You really get a sense of how strong their relationship is, that despite what he is doing that she is willing to go along with it. Equally as good is Jan Cornet in a small but very pivotal role.
If you are a bit sick of the same old ordinary films being released and want to see something unique and different then make sure you check this out. Sometimes cinema needs to challenge your thinking.

Thursday, December 22, 2011

New Year's Eve

The success of 'Valentine's Day' has lead to another romantic comedy crammed full of famous actors.
The problem I had with 'Valentine's Day' was that there seemed to be more time taken to see how many famous faces they could cram into the film rather than anything else. There was too much going on. The aim seemed to be to emulate 'Love Actually' but they failed because Richard Curtis is a far superior writer and can handle multiple story lines at once. There were some interesting stories but most were pretty forgettable.
This film is even worse to some extent. Obviously there was a rush on to get this film out. No time seemed to have been spent on a decent script. The stories are really ordinary and boring. Cliched and the type of thing you expect in a film set on New Year's Eve. Once again the cast has been assembled to try and hide the fact that the script is no good. People will be dazzled by all the stars on display. I think it would have been better if they chose a few writers to try and work on a story each. That way the stories might have been more interesting. Rather than have one person do everything at once.
The acting is not all that crash hot either. But then again this is not the greatest material for these actors to have to work with. There are some excellent actors here but this is not their finest work. A lot of these actors have won Oscars but you'd never know it after watching this film. Out of the whole cast Michelle Pfeiffer was the only one for me who stood out. Her story as OK but her character seemed a bit more interesting than most of the others. I did like some of the quick surprise cameos too.
Maybe worth a look if you have nothing else on earth to watch and you are looking for something to not have to think over.

Saturday, December 17, 2011

Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy

Author John LeCarre is highly acclaimed for his spy novels. The most highly acclaimed is 'Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy'. So is the TV mini-series that was adapted from the novel. Which means this film had a lot to live up to.
As I sometimes do, I read the novel of this film before it was released. I found the book a little hard to read. LeCarre wrote it with slang terms for the people and places with in the spy agency. While I had a general idea of what was going on, I think I missed some of the details. It was still an excellent book but I don't think I enjoyed it as much as I'd liked.
The film did help with its visual representation of events and people. The great thing about the film is that not all everything is explained. You have to look carefully and listen to what people are saying to get the full understanding of what is going on. Most films these days go out of their way to explain things and hammer certain points home so people understand them. It is the dumbing down of film making so that no one feels left out. Tomas Alfredson, who directed the brilliant 'Let The Right One In', has crafted a clever and intelligent film that makes you think about what is going on. The way he stages scenes and tells the story makes you feel like your in the hands of a skilled film maker. The look of the film with its costume and production design really make it look like it is not only set in the 1970's but made then as well. Writers Bridget O'Connor and Peter Staughan must also get credit for writing an excellent script. They have managed to keep all the important details and still make it a relatively short film considering the source material.
It is a testament to an actor when they play a role in a subtle way yet still have such a commanding performance. Gary Oldman does not do or say very much in the film. But he has a strong presence as he listens to people and gathers the information. He does not need to do much to let you know what he is thinking. Just little gestures and movements speak volumes. The suspects are an all equally shifty bunch. Colin Firth, Toby Jones and Ciaran Hinds all give excellent performances that make you suspect each of them equally. Tom Hardy is very good as is Mark Strong. Benedict Cumberbatch is starting to emerge into the spotlight now and he is excellent here.
If you're sick of all the big dumb blockbusters then make sure you check this film out. A smart, clever and intelligent film that forces you to think about what is going on. The information is not always given to you in an obvious way but subtly.

Restless

People come in all different varieties and the ones we fall in love with can sometimes be a bit unconventional.
Death is not exactly the most happiest of subjects with which to base a romantic story. And Gus Van Sant is the type of director to make unconventional love stories. This is an incredibly sweet story of two different types who meet and fall in love. Both have been affected by death in some way. It is this connection that brings them together. Fans of Van Sant might expect something a bit more from the story so you maybe disappointed. The plot is very typical of this type of story but it is the interesting characters that make it different to what you normally see in the standard Hollywood romance. Enoch is a troubled young man and he finally finds someone who understands him and his quirks. The ways that Annabel comes to accept his quirks is really wonderful. The perfect example is a scene where they visit the graves of Enoch's parents. Some might find his friendship with a ghost a bit weird, but that's why you see a film like this is to experience something different.
I've not seen Henry Hopper in anything else yet so it is a little to early to judge him. Here he plays the quiet loner really well. He gives a very heartfelt performance as Enoch. Mia Wasikowska once again proves what a great young actress she is. Her character's acceptance of her situation is wonderful and you can easily see why Enoch falls in love with her.
A movies for those who would like something a little different. If your sick of being bombarded by the run of the mill Hollywood romances then check this out.

Monday, December 12, 2011

We Have A Pope

As many of you know the Pope is chosen by a group of Cardinals locking themselves away in a room and voting for one of them to take the top job. But what if the one chosen did not really want the job.
The most interesting thing about this film is that despite being set in the Vatican it is not a very religious film. The story is presented in such a way that it could be about anyone who is thrust into a job that he/she does not feel confident in doing. This job, however, is an incredibly important one and so the pressure can be really intense. In some ways this makes you question the voting process for Pope. Obviously they do not lobby each other for the job and so you may get it when you don't really want it. After the cardinal in this film is chosen he is asked if he accepts the job but he says 'yes'. I think because he is just so shocked at having been chosen. He then has to struggle with his decision and what he's going to do. Thankfully he is able to sneak away from The Vatican and go explore his old life to find out if he can work out what to do. The strange thing is that he doesn't really ask for God's help in making the decision. He does go to a church but he as I said there is very little religion.
The film is not all serious soul searching as there is some humour in it too. The Cardinals bring in a psychologist to help the new Pope but because of the rules of choosing the Pope he cannot leave until the new Pope goes to the balcony and announces himself. So this poor guy is stuck in The Vatican with a bunch of Cardinals. He does come up with a very funny way to pass the time. The media officer is also the only one who knows The Pope has escaped and he comes up with a funny rouse to make it seem like The Pope is still there.
Michel Piccoli is excellent as the poor man thrust into this position that holds so much responsibility. His performance is excellent and really heartbreaking. You come to understand his plight and the tough decision he has to make. Jerry Stuhr is very good as the media officer who must hide this secret. A very typical marketing type trying to spin the bad situation in a good way. Nanni Moretti is very funny as the poor psychologist who gets stuck in the Vatican.
Don't let the fact that the film is set in The Vatican turn you off. The story is a very universal one about being put in a position you're not comfortable with. It is also told really well too.

Sunday, December 11, 2011

Arthur Christmas

There have been many films about Santa Claus over the years and how he is able to deliver all those presents in one night. Film makers love to play with the Santa Claus myth and how his legacy is carried on through the generations.
Aardman animation is one of the best animation companies. They are like an English version of Pixar. However sadly they have not had the same success as Pixar. They are excellent at crafting great stories to go with the wonderful looking animation. It is not all about wise-cracking characters and spectacular stunts. They have created a lovely character in Arthur. He has that goofy, clumsy quality that makes him very endearing. His determination to do well despite not having the best job in the family is adorable. He worships his father and would do anything to have some role in what his father does. There is the cliched element of Arthur's older brother Steve being upset by his father not willing to give up the job but you don't really mind. This version of Santa is very cleverly realised. The use of technology and the military type precision with which he delivers presents is very funny. And while all that is well and good, there is still space for the old style present delivery. The middle of the film does drag a little bit but not enough to make you loose interest.
James McAvoy is certainly having a great year with animation and live-action films. Here he brings a lovely goofy quality to his vocal delivery that makes you love Arthur. Jim Broadbent also has great vocal skills and brings a great fatherly quality to his vocal performance. His tone is nicely old-age too. The biggest delight though is Bill Nighy. He is hilarious as Gandsanta. He has the funniest lines in the film. I was however disappointed with Hugh Laurie. Don't get me wrong, I love Hugh and think he is one of the best actors working today. But I do not think his voice suited the type of character he was playing. I think they should have cast someone who sounded gruffer and more militaristic.
A great Christmas film that will make you believe in Santa all over again. Even adults who may not have lost the faith a long time ago.

Wednesday, December 7, 2011

The Iron Lady

Between 1979 - 1990 the UK was lead by one of the most formidable women in history. One of the greatest actresses we have takes on the challenge of portraying this woman.
Phyllida Lloyd, the director of 'Mamma Mia', is not the director you'd consider for a film like this. But she has done a brilliant job with this film. The structure is Margaret today looking back over her life and trying to battle with dementia. This is an excellent technique and is a wonderful way to tell the story. Because the modern scenes are set after her husband Dennis has died so he acts as a kind of personification of her conscience. She is getting over her grief and is struggling with not having him there to guide her. While I grew up in the 80's and heard of Margaret, I was too young to know much about her. I did however get the impression that she was not well liked, despite being Prime Minister for 11 years. This film is kind of a sympathetic portrayal of her. It does not shy away from showing her as a bossy woman who does not suffer fools gladly. But you come to understand that she had to be like that in order to get where she was. Being a woman in such a male dominated society, she had to be forceful and tough. That is one important thing you need to know about this film, that it does not focus very much on her political career. There are edited highlights of some of the major events she was involved in but the film is more focused on who she is as a woman. That might be my only very small problem with the film. I would have liked to see more about the politics of what she did. How she came to make the decisions she did and what led to that. It is only a minor quibble but as I said it is not that type of film.
I don't think I need to tell you how good Meryl Streep is. This role merely cements her as the greatest actress who ever lived. You can not imagine anyone else playing this role. Meryl makes it her own. I got really emotional watching her, just from being totally blown away by her brilliance. You forget you are watching an actor playing a role and you feel you are seeing the real Margaret Thatcher. She certainly deserves to win the Best Actress Oscar next year, but I kind of feel that it is far too obvious and so she may not get it. But you never know. Her team mate in this film is the brilliant Jim Broadbent. If there is anyone else that deserves to win awards it is Jim. You needed a really strong actor for Meryl to play off and he steps up to the challenge. Alexandra Roach is wonderful as the younger Margaret Thatcher. It would have been nice to see more of Margaret's earlier days to see more of her. As mentioned above there is very little of Margaret's political side so we don't see much of the men she worked with. Anthony Head is the one who gets the most screen time and is excellent as one of her closest advisers Geoffrey Howe.
While most of the publicity for the film is all about Meryl Streep's brilliant performance, it is still an excellent film in its own right. You may think you know Margaret Thatcher but go see this film to find out more about her. Just don't expect too much about her political career.

Saturday, December 3, 2011

The Inbetweeners Movie

The success rate of films that make the leap from the small screen to the big screen is not always good. For every good one there are several bad. This might be one of the better ones.
Before watching this film I had never seen an episode of the TV series 'The Inbetweeners'. When I heard the movie was coming out I decided to try and see if I could judge the film without any preconceived notions. One of the problems I had with the film is that I should have watched the TV series. I would have liked a bit more character development of the guys. The writers assume that most people would have seen the TV series so therefore know and understand the characters. But they need to take into account there are people out there such as myself who may not have seen the series. But in saying that it is probably not the type of film that needs a lot of character. The story is a fairly typical one of a group of teenage boys on holiday trying to get as much sex as possible. We've seen the story many times before and we know what will happen and what type of guys are involved. This being an English film does help. Not only do the accents make it refreshingly different from the endless American versions of this story that we get but the humour is a little different too. The only other problem I had is with the boys attitude towards women. Or I should say women's attitude towards them. As is typical with films like this the guys do not treat the women all that well. However the women seem to forgive them for their stupidity a little too easily. It would have been nicer if the guys had to work harder at gaining forgiveness from these girls. Their nerdy charm seem to go along way.
These are a very good group of young actors. The years of working on the TV show has made them work well as a group and give them great comedic sensibility. As is the case with groups there is one who gets the short end of the stick, especially with a big group like this. Poor Blake Harrison as Neil does not have much of a story line compared to the rest of the group. All he does is pursue older women. Which can be a bit amusing but it would have been nice of his character had more to do. As Will, Simon Bird I found to be the most interesting. Maybe because that while he is trying to have sex he seems less sleazy about it compared to his friends.
Fans of the TV series will no doubt get more out of this. Those that have not seen it will have a few laughs, even it is a story we've seen many times before.