Skyfall

50 years ago we were introduced to Bond, James Bond. Over that time we have been on many adventures with this distinguished spy.
I have long been a fan of the James Bond 007 franchise. I think the first film of the series I saw was 'A View To A Kill'. I remember loving the film and finding it exciting. Then came the Timothy Dalton phase which I did not see until later. So it was not until the Pierce Brosnan era that I really got into Bond. Many people ask you 'what is your favourite Bond?' To me that is like asking who your favourite Dr. Who is. It is not a question that I can answer. While I like Pierce, I like the character and think he is great who ever is playing him. Each actor brings their own qualities to the character and makes him so diverse and such an endearing figure in cinema history. I think it is a testament to Eon Productions  once headed by Cubby Broccoli and now lead by Barbara Broccoli and Michael J. Wilson that the character has managed to survive so long. They have fought many hard battles to keep the integrity of the character intact and they have to be admired for that. While I admit that sometimes the series has gotten silly and out of control, they have generally been able to steer it back to sensible waters.
I may not be the best person to judge a James Bond film. Whatever the film I always love it the first time I see it. I get so caught up in the thrill of seeing a James Bond film that I over look any flaws the film may have. But I do think that there are very few flaws in 'Skyfall'. On reflection there is just so much going on in the film with the story having so many layers and themes being touched on. The opening action scene certainly sets the pace for the rest of the film. It has one of the best moments in the film, which is in the trailer, when Bond lands on the back of a train and adjusts his cuffs before continuing the chase. For me that moment encapsulates the entire character of James Bond. Despite all the crazy stuff going on around him he is so swave and sophisticated to make sure he looks good while doing it. What I also loved was a greater involvement of M in this film. While M's bosses in British parliament have always been a normally unseen presence in previous films they have a greater influence now. M is under pressure not just politically but personally as well. Other Bond films have tackled personal issues with Bond but this one has him helping out someone else. A someone who is like a surrogate parent to Bond. We then also have the villain reeking havoc on MI6 with his maniacal plans. Perhaps because of MGM's financial woes the writers Neal Pervis, Robert Wade and John Logan had time to work on the script and get it right. Sam Mendes I think is one of those directors that can do no wrong. All his films have been great. He was the perfect choice to direct this film and has the skill to not only make spectacular action but to develop the characters so you care for them more. This is especially true of Bond as we learn more about his history and origins.
As mentioned above I am a fan of Pierce Brosman's version of James Bond, but I do have respect for Daniel Craig's interpretation. It is true what they say that he is more gritty and raw and does not go in for some of the silliness that other Bond's have had to go through. So while he comes across as a killing machine, 'Skyfall' has given Daniel more to work with. He is no longer just a man on a mission but one with a history that shapes who he is. Judi Dench is an actress of such skill and grace that she adds dignity to any film she is in. That is certainly true here and finally she is given more material to work with. Dench encapsulates the role of M so perfectly here with her toughness when she needs to be, as evidenced by a tough decision she needs to make in the beginning of the film. To the soft side when she must put her life in the hands of the man who she possibly unconsciously sees as her son. Javier Bardem has proven before what a skilled actor he can be at playing villains. He is so menacing and evil. Without giving too much away he plays that evil so well once again but with a slightly more flamboyant touch. His opening scene would have to go down as one of the best entrances of a villain in Bond history. Ralph Fiennes makes an excellent introduction as M's boss. He is very good at playing the tough boss role as well as being one who is sympathetic as well. Ben Wishaw is excellent as the new Q. Making the role younger was a wise choice. Also wise was introducing another Bond regular. Although I felt the reveal was a bit forced.
It might be a brilliant Bond film but it is a brilliant film. I plan on seeing it several times in cinemas to fully digest all that is going on. I don't think you need to be a Bond fan to appreciate the greatness. 

Seven Psychopaths

A couple of years ago Martin McDonagh took us on an obscenity filled trip to Bruges. He now takes us to LA.
A popular saying amongst writers is to 'write what you know'. Which is why we get films like this one about writers. Some script writers have taken that adage and made something of it by subverting the subject. Charlie Kaufman did it brilliantly in one of my favourite films 'Adaptation'. Martin McDonagh seems to be doing something similar here by having the lead character be a script writer and comment on the films action as if it was a film. It is quite clever and Martin does a very good job with the devise. It also feels a little bit autobiographical with Martin being like Marty and coming up with idea of a movie with seven psychopaths and then working that into a film script. Martin is very good at writing dialogue which is something I'm very jealous of. The film's dialogue is clever and very witty with some hilarious lines. The characters are also nicely crazy, much like the film's plot. That's the thing I liked most about it was the unpredictability of the plot. You never really knew where it was going and that is refreshing these days. I did find the second half a little slow going at times. I also thought that there were a few twists in the plot that could have been revealed at different times.
I think Colin Farrell does his best work when he is in smaller budget films. He is quite funny as he gets continually frustrated by all the crazy events going on around him. Sam Rockwell is one of those actors who is excellent in everything he does and this role does not let him down. Woody Harrelson is equally as good. He plays crazy so well. The best performance though is from Christopher Walken. His role is not only hilarious but his character has a softer side which gives him an emotional edge.
Martin McDonagh has once again made a clever, witty and violent comedy. Not quite as good as 'In Bruges' but still excellent.

The Sessions

I think it must be pure coincidence that we are getting two films at the same time which are about men who are paralyzed.
I know it is wrong for me to compare but I found 'The Sessions' a better film than 'The Intouchables'. While 'The Intouchalbe' is a conventional story about a friendship, 'The Sessions' explores a unique issue which many of us would rather not think about. Sex  is not a topic which many people like to talk  about so to see a film about sex and the disabled is a pretty major achievement. 'The Sessions' explores the issue in a very sensitive and heartfelt way. Writer/director Ben Lewin infuses the film with some humour which helps to lighten the mood and make the audience feel less uncomfortable about the topic which is discussed. I liked how the story was not as simple as a man finding someone to have sex with him, but you had into the mix his religious issues and you get a story which has a lot of substance. My only minor criticism is that Ben staged a few scenes in unusual ways which felt a bit weird to me.
John Hawkes may not be very popular but he is one of the best actors working in films today. John gives a nicely nuanced performance as Mark. This is another role where an actor can not perform physically and John makes more of the role than his limited capabilities. This is by far and away the best performance that Helen Hunt has ever given. She is very raw and reveals quite a lot which she should be commended for. But she does it with such ease that you have to remind yourself that it is and actor playing a role. William H. Macy provides much of the film's humour with his confessional session with John. Moon Bloodgood has mostly done action films so far in her career so it is nice to see her doing a role with more sensitivity and emotion.
An uncomfortable subject matter has been given a new lease on life in this brilliant film. It also features some of the best performances you are likely to see this year.

The Intouchables

It is the most popular French film in France and is now slowly taking over the world.
Hype can be a funny thing. There are films which come out that you hear so many good reports about a film that you almost feel as if you must enjoy it. While I did think 'The Intouchables' was a good film, I did not think it was as wonderful as everyone has been raving about. For me when I see a French film I have a certain expectation that they will take a fairly conventional story and make it feel fresh. Writers/directors Olivier Nakache and Eric Toledano have not done much to make the film unique. I admit that it is charming and a really feel good story but I think I just expected something more. I did like the inspirational story about not taking people at face value. One other criticism is that Driss's family life was not explored enough. To me it felt a little bit tacked on and was not intergrated well into the main story. Plus it felt very clichéd.
Francois Cluzet does an excellent job by doing very little. He is paralyzed so all the expression comes from his face and he cannot move. Francois manages to be expressive with very little movement. He leaves all the big movements up to his co-star Omar Sy. Omar is a whirlwind of energy in this film and gives it a great deal of its charm. He is brilliant in the role and is the biggest reason to see the film. I also liked Anne Le Ny who plays the housekeeper. 
I am in the minority here with my opinion so perhaps you should go judge it for yourself. For me it was a good film but not as great as everyone has been raving about. 

The Master

In the art house cinema world Paul Thomas Anderson is highly respected. He is one of the few auteurs whose entire resume is highly respected. His new films are always highly anticipated.
It does not matter what subject he is exploring, whether it be pornography or an oil magnate, his films are a work of art. 'The Master' is no exception. I've always loved Paul and his films. He really feels like a clever film maker who knows how to use the medium to tell his story. The opening of the film where we learn about our lead character Freddie is mostly done without dialogue. Just a series of sequences that shows how disenfranchised Freddie is with his life. He was not much of a soldier. Continually making moonshine and getting drunk. His life after the war is not much different. Then he stumbles across Lancaster Dodd, a guru who runs a type of cult. Supposedly the film is based on Diane tics and the early days of Scientology. While that might be the case I do not think that is the important issue. For me it could have been about any religion. Freddie seems so lost in his life journey that it any religion would have sufficed.
Joaquin Phoenix returns after his 'retirement' from acting. He could not have picked a better film to make his return. While he does have the annoying habit of talking out of the corner of his mouth, he is still brilliant in the role. I did get the feeling that if he was 20 years younger that Paul would have cast Daniel Day Lewis in the role. Joaquin seems to be playing it like Daniel. Equally as brilliant is a frequent Paul Thomas Anderson collaborator Philip Seymour Hoffman. He is perfect as The Master. There is one scene where Lancaster interviews Freddie which had me completely mesmerized and that is because of the brilliance of these two actors. Amy Adams fits nicely with these two. Amy seems to be very different in every role she does and that's what makes her so great. I also quite liked Jesse Plemons who plays Lancaster's son in the film. He seems to be the only voice of reason in the cult.
A film for those who enjoy classy cinema that is a work of art. It will make you think and give you something to discuss with your friends afterwards. Paul Thomas Anderson is one of the best film makers working in cinema today.

End Of Watch

Writer/ director David Ayer seems to have a big obsession with the LA police force. This time he uses the new 'found footage' format.
For me the found footage format can be very hit and miss. Strangely this film is both hit and miss. What I liked was the documentary like view meant we got to see the characters in a realistic way. This made them seem more real and not just actors playing the roles and so we care more about the characters. The scenes of Brian and Mike chatting in the car as they patrol were the best parts of the movie. They feels so relaxed and natural. I did think that David elevates his characters up a little bit too much. He makes them seem so wonderful winning awards, etc. But it just lessons their reality. I know we should not believe film synopsis but I thought the film was supposed to be about Brian and Mike coming under attack from a drug cartel but that sub plot did not play much of a role in the film. Speaking of the drug cartel. I found those characters to be very ridiculous. I am not a prude when it comes to swearing but the way these people swore was too much. they come across as charactures and not real people. These people might speak that way but the way they talk is more like parody.
Jake Gyllenhaal once again proves he is and excellent actor. So does his partner Michael Pena. The two of them make an excellent duo with their friendship seeming very real and not just made up for the movie. Natalie Martinez and Anna Kendrick do a very good job as the boys wives. It was nice to see America Ferrera doing a touch chick role after all the sweet roles she normally plays.
One of the better found footage style films. It works to give us a better look at two average cops in a tough area. But is let down by some unrealistic plot elements and characters.  

Bachelorette

Finally women are receiving equal opportunity when it comes to making crude comedies. With 'Bridesmaids' last year we now get another similarly themed film.
I think it is great that women are now having the chance to prove they can be just as crass as their male counterparts. It is a long time coming and something that I look forward to. And I mean 'forward to' as so far we have not had a decent crude comedy featuring a mostly female cast. I was not impressed with 'Bridesmaids' last year because like most Judd Apatow produced films it was too long and boring for a comedy. Now we get this one which is the right length but was still not funny. This time around the problem is the characters. The one thing that 'Bridesmaids' proved was that you can have likable female characters and still be rude and crude. Leslye Headland, the writer/director of 'Bachelorette' does not think the same thing. The three lead characters of Regan, Katie and Gena are not very nice women. Their motives are not very nice either. I'm not sure exactly why they are friends with Becky to begin with. All they seem to do is make fun of her and belittle her for her weight. Regan seems to be the one closest to Becky and is the most resentful of Becky. Which makes me wonder how Becky can not notice how much these women hate her. You can make the argument that Regan is nice enough to sacrifice a lot of her time to help Becky get ready for the wedding but her motive for doing it, out of spite, does not seem like a good reason. Gena was the only character of the trio that I liked because I liked her plot of trying to get back with an old boyfriend. The crude behavior also needs to come from an innocent place. Good women who stumble into bad behavior it more endearing than bad women making bad behavior.
I love the fact that Kirsten Dunst is doing a comedy but I just wish she made a decent one. She plays the bitch character really well though. Lizzy Caplan is great as Gena, the only nice character. Isla Fisher does play the continually drunken woman well but it is not a nice character. Rebel Wilson is excellent as Becky. I love how Rebel is becoming so popular in movies at the moment.
You can have unlikable characters in films but they have to be handled in a special way. You need to understand why they are so unlikable. Sadly Leslye Headland does not understand that.

Lawless

Aussies John Hillcoat and Nick Cave have teamed up on some great Australian crime films. They now cross the Pacific to look at some American criminals.
John Hillcoat is a skilled film director who has made an interesting look at one of the low grade crime families. While most criminals become rich and successful, the Bondurant boys just pretty much stay as they are. It's only the younger brother Jack who goes around flaunting his wealth and that is so he can impress a girl. The only disappointing thing about the film is that the story is pretty conventional. Perhaps the story of criminals does not have many variations and so there are no new ways to tell it. But director Hillcoat does make the film very thrilling. Largely because of the interesting characters that writer Nick Cave has recreated.
John has managed to assemble a very prestigious cast for his down and dirty film. Tom Hardy once again plays his stoic, hulking role. He is not very lively but manages to be a big presence in the film. But still mumbles a lot sadly. Shia LaBeouf took me completely by surprise and gave an excellent performance. He is well suited to playing the cocky young guy but he has a bit more substance to his character this time. Mia Wasikowska does a sweet job as the Amish girl being turned by Shia's character. Jessica Chastain is a gorgeous oasis in the sea of grubbiness that is the film. So graceful and lovely. Her character nicely offsets the dirtiness of the setting and other characters. Gary Oldman has a nice cameo appearance. The real star of the film and the one person that makes it well worth seeing is Guy Pearce. Guy has been in several films this year but this is by far and away his best performance. He is so creepy and scary.
The basic plot might be familiar but in the hands of director John Hillcoat it becomes a more visceral and thrilling experience.

Frankenweenie

In 1984 Tim Burton made a short film called 'Frankenweenie' for Disney. They did not like it. In 2010 Tim made 'Alice In Wonderland' for Disney which made over $1 billion for the company. This gave him the chance to expand his short film into feature length like he always wanted to.Long time readers will know that Tim Burton is my favourtie director, so you may need to take my reviews of his films with a grain of salt. I can be critical but perhaps not as much as I should.

 

I was so proud when 'Alice In Wonderland' made so much money at the box office. While I can admit that it is by no means the best Burton film, I was pleased that it meant Tim got a lot more creative freedom because of this.I believe it gave him the chance to make 'Dark Shadows' and this film. This is a stop-motion animated film which has not been a successful animated medium lately. The subject matter is very weird and macabre. Then when you add to this that the film is in black and white, these are not elements which make a major film studio like Disney want to make a film.

One criticism that Tim Burton gets is that he mostly makes films that are adaptations of existing works. He rarely does original films based on his own ideas. 'Frankenweenie' is one of those rare occasions and it really shows. As you know my favourite film of all time is 'The Nightmare Before Christmas', so I was really excited for this film. I was not disappointed. The one thing that made me love the film more was that this feels like a very personal film for Tim. I can see so much of Tim in the character of Victor. While he probably did not bring his dead dog back to life, I can imagine Tim doing just about everything else in this film. I have already spoken of my love for stop-motion animation and this film is no exception. The black and white cinematography just adds to the beauty of the puppets. Tim is obviously a fan of old horror films which were mostly filmed in black and white so it is his way of honouring these classics. The story is also brilliantly done too. It is very sweet as well as being funny and weird. All the elements I look for in a film. 

Tim has assembled a voice cast which features a few old favourites. Catherine O'Hara has worked with Tim before on 'Bettlejuice' and 'The Nightmare Before Christmas' and she gives another wonderful performance here. Her range is delightful too as she goes from playing something sweet like Victor's mother all the way to playing the weirdness of Weird Girl. Martin Short worked with Tim on 'Mars Attacks' and also plays a variety of characters brilliantly. Another Burton veteran is Winona Ryder. Her character is very similar to the one she played in her previous Burton film 'Beetlejuice'. The last time Martin Landau worked with Tim Burton is got him an Oscar. While that won't happen again here Martin is still brilliant. Charlie Tahan is excellent as Victor. The best voice for me though is Atticus Shaffer as Edgar. Atticus manages to do a great parody of the Igor character from other Frankenstein films.

Another master work from the genius that is Tim Burton. Being an original work for him this has a more personal touch which makes it all that much better.   

Argo

Everyone thought Ben Affleck's career was over after a string of box office flops. But lately he has revived his career with a string of critically successful films he directed.

It is amazing how people can reinvent themselves. As a director Ben Affleck just keeps on getting better and better with each film he makes. There is already talk of all the awards he will receive for 'Argo'. And they are very deserving. Many of us would know about the American hostages taken in Iran in 1979. But you would not know that there was a second group of people hiding out at the residence of the Canadian Ambassador. Affleck and writer Chris Terrio have made a really tension filled thriller that is also incrediblt funny. With the inclusion of film makers into the plot this lets them add some much needed levity to the film so it is not just all tense moments. Affleck is a skilled director who can nicely balance the humour and the tension so that the hour never compromises the seriousness of the situation which the American workers are in. The film's ending would have to be one of the most tense moments I have experienced in a film in a long time.
Ben Affleck director really knows how to get a good performance out of Ben Affleck the actor. While Ben plays the hero of the film he does not do it in a big showy sort of way. Tony Mendez is a quiet unassuming sort of guy and Ben plays it that way. Ben has also gotten himself some excellent actors to support him. Brian Cranston is finally getting the exposure he deserves and is his usual brilliant self here. As Tony's Hollywood contacts John Goodman and Alan Arkin are hilarious. Especially Alan who seems to be sending up the typical low budget Hollywood producer he has now doubt known over his career. Victor Garber and Tate Donovan are also very good in their roles too.
Another one of those true story films that features a plot which does not seem it could be true. A clever mix of tension and laughs which firmly establishes Ben Affleck as an all round film maker.

Killing Them Softly

Aussie director Andrew Dominik seems to enjoy exploring the dark underside of our world. He re teams with Brad Pitt to look at some more villains.

There has been much written and spoken about the nastiness of this film. Mostly that the men treat women really badly. While that is true, it is because of the world they live in. The men as depicted in this film are bad men. They do bad things. The steal, they kill and they take drugs. Not exactly the actions of nice people. While I am not condoning their behaviour, I'm just saying that it fits in with all their other unsavory behaviour. I think that is also part of the reason why people had trouble watching this film. We are exploring a dirty world with very dirty people so it is not going to be a very pleasant experience. Andrew Dominik does a brilliant job of making this film feel very authentic. All the elements from the script to costume and production design to bring this dirty world to life. These are also violent people and Andrew does not shy away from showing the horrific nature of the violence these people inflict. It is very brutal and not for the faint of heart.
I admire major movie stars who are not afraid to lower themselves and do some lower budget films. Brad Pitt's character of Jackie Coogan is possibly one of the nicer people amongst this group of nasty people. Brad plays it in a nicely cool and smooth way. Scoot McNairy is brilliant as one of the thieves Jackie is hunting down. He really seems at home with the crude dialogue he has to speak. He has a great sidekick in Aussie actor Ben Mendelsohn who is brilliant as the drug addict Russell. You really think he could have taken drugs to play the role. James Gandolfini pretty much plays Tony Soprano but is good at it. Ray Liota is also very effective as a hapless gangster.
This is a very unpleasant film and not for everyone. But if you like a simple story well told that is different to the glossy films you normally see then you should seek this out.

Raiders Of The Lost Ark

With the recent release of the Indiana Jones series on blu-ray, some cinemas have been screening 'Raiders Of The Lost Ark'. It was the perfect opportunity to relive this classic film.

There are many memories I have of my dad taking me to see movies when I was young. I remember him taking my brother and myself to see 'Raiders Of The Lost Ark'. It was screening as a double feature at my local cinema with 'Foul Play'. I remember being petrified throughout 'Foul Play'. Being so young I don't think I knew it was meant to be a comedy. I think I just found the big albino man really scary. It is amusing to note that I think I found 'Foul Play' scarier than 'Raiders'.
For me there are some films that are the very definition of the perfect film. The perfect mix of all elements that comes together to create perfection. It is simply the greatest action/adventure film ever made. Writer Lawrence Kasdan has crafted a brilliant script from a story by George Lucas and Philip Kaufman. The character of Indiana Jones is so perfectly realised that he comes fully formed in the film. All his back story is cleverly woven into the film so that you do not notice it. This is mostly done through his relationship with Marion. Some action heroes can be arrogant in their approach but Indy feels so humble that despite his uncanny ability to get out of any situation he comes across as a very average guy. It is also great to see that he has a strong female character to work with. Marion is a tough woman who can handle tough situations. But she occasionally needs Indy's help. The villain Belloc is also very well written too. The great thing is that he is not really the film's major threat. You could think of Hitler as an unseen bad guy who Belloc is working for. Belloc is not unlike Indy but is just passing the Ark onto a bad man. The story is also cleverly done and keeps getting interesting as it goes along. You certainly learn about The Lost Ark from watching the film. The twists and turns that Indy has to go through in protecting the Ark are fun and exciting. Which brings me to the direction. For me this is my all time favourite film directed by Steven Spielberg. The film has a wonderful playfulness which makes the film incedibly fun. Despite the fact that I have seen it numerous times I still get a great thrill out of seeing it. The action scenes especially are what make 'Raiders' so iconic. They are so brilliantly staged and shot. The sound effects are so great to that I always associate them with this film. I should also mention the wonderful music score by John Williams. Everyone knows that theme.
It is hard to imagine that Tom Selleck almost played Indiana Jones. Such is the brilliance of Harrison Ford that he was able to bring that everyman quality to the role, that he will forever be known as that that character. Some will say that he is also Han Solo, but for me he never got any better than he does as Indy. I am surprised that Karen Allen did not do all that much after this film. Her performance as Marion is sublime. While she is almost playing a damsel in distress who Indy has to rescue, Karen manages to still make the character strong enough that she can handle fighting along side Indy as well. John Rhys-Davies is equally as good as Indy's friend Sallah. He provides much of the film's humour and is wonderful at it. As mentioned above Belloq is not really the main villain. But Paul Freeman manges to make Belloq less of a traditional villain. Despite the fact that he plans to give the Ark over to Hitler, he is not all that different to Indy. He does have a very scary henchman played by Wolf Kahler.
Movies do not get any better than this. Simply perfection. Seeing it on the big screen only makes it greater.

Wuthering Heights

Emily Bronte only wrote one book. This book is considered by many to be one of the greatest novels ever written.

The period drama, especially those that are based on classic novels are made in a certain way. They have a dignity and grace with which they are made. Thankfully director Adrea Arnold decided not to do that with her interpretation of 'Wuthering Heights'. Andrea takes a very modern and different look to the film. It will probably upset many people that it was filmed almost like a documentary with the jerky camera moves. Andrea has managed to go for a certain look and feel with the film that sets the right mood and tone for the story. I found the book to be one of the most angry books I have ever read. While at the core of the book is the love story between Heathcliffe and Catherine, there is a great deal of anger between each of the characters. Many have said that moodiness comes from the environment on the Moors where the story is set. Andrea captures that mood nicely with this film. There is very little dialogue and all the action or feelings are expressed through looks and behaviours. The harshness of the landscape also plays a big part with many nature and scenery shots helping to add to the mood of the film.
James Howson is excellent as the older version of Heathcliff. He manages to emote so well without saying anything. You can see all the pain that he feels due to his love for Catherine. James is complimented by Solomon Glave who plays the younger Heathcliff. Shannon Beer gives an excellent performance as the young Catherine. She brings out that fiestiness of the character nicely. As the older Catherine Kaya Scodelario is very good but does not manage to reach the heights of her fellow cast.
A period drama but not as you know it. If you are getting a bit tired of seeing the same old period films then this one is for you. Andrea Arnold has certainly refreshed the genre.