Wednesday, September 25, 2013

The Best Offer

Director Giuseppe Tornatore came to prominence for making 'Cinema Paradiso'. While he has not had the same success he still makes quality films.
Ever since watching this film I have had trouble trying to work out how to describe my reaction to it. The film is well made and it has an intriguing story which keeps you interested in where it is going but it just felt a little 'off'. I don't like to use the words 'strange' or 'weird' as that does not quite accurately describe it but the tone just felt different. I normally pride myself on liking films that are a bit different to the norm but this film felt a little bit unusual even for me. The story though is a very good one and as I said kept me interested in where it was going. Giuseppe also added a few nice subplots that add nicely textured elements to not only the plot but its conclusion as well.
I'm not sure if part of my being uncomfortable with this film was the casting of Geoffrey Rush. Up until now he has not really played roles that require him to have a romantic element, so I have not considered him in that way. I'm not saying he does not deserve to find love but it just may take me time to thing of Geoffrey as a sexual being. Other than that he is very good in his role. He plays the sophisticated and refined elements rather well. I have not been a fan of Jim Sturgess in the past but this would have to be his best performance yet. He plays the role very understated which suits the character and means he comes across as less annoying than he usually is. Sylvia Hoeks does is very good as the object of Geoffrey's desire. Donald Sutherland adds some dignity to the film as well.
It's well made and has a well paced story but the tone of the film is a little bit strange and unusual.

Sunday, September 22, 2013

White House Down

This year Hollywood has declared war on the White House. We've had the hardcore version earlier this year and now get the softer version of the White House War II.
It seems perfectly natural that Hollywood would want to make a film about an attack on the White House. It is supposedly the most fortified building in the world. Why wouldn't you want to see how someone would try to attack it? Earlier this year Mike Banning was the one to save the President from attack. This was a really violent film which I did not like for it's nasty streak cause it felt so mean. I know that an attack is not meant to be pleasant but it should not make you feel uncomfortable. Which is why I liked 'White House Down' more. It was able to make the situation enjoyable and fun. With this film I think I was more aware of the comparisons to 'Die Hard'. I could see so many similarities and became more aware of how 'Die Hard' se the standard for action film and especially those where there is a hostage situation. But as great as 'White House Down' is it does lack that spark of brilliance that could have brought it to the level of 'Die Hard'. I think part of the problem is the director. Roland Emmerich is an excellent director and has made many spectacular action films but he feels very restrained here. His other films, with the exception of the non-action 'Anonymous', have been big action films on a global scale, where as 'White House Down' has all its action contained to one location. Roland feels so restrained here that you get the feeling that he wants to break out any moment but can't due to the restraints of the story.
Channing Tatum certainly knows how to fill out a singlet. Sadly it too him a while to strip down. Other than that he does a very good job. He is able to play the role as more of an average guy who must step up in a difficult situation. He plays humble so well. I was surprised Jamie Foxx would take a role like this considering he is essentially playing the damsel in distress role. He is probably there for his likeness to President Obama but I would have liked him to be a bit less bumbling and more active in the action. The best thing about the film for me was seeing James Woods back on the big screen again. I wish he was in more films. The rest of the cast are good and serviceable in the roles.
The lighter tone taken with this film certainly made it more enjoyable than the last White House attacked film. But needed a director who feels more comfortable being restrained.

Saturday, September 21, 2013

Blue Jasmine

Woody Allen has joined with Clint Eastwood in being one of those older film makers who still continue to make brilliant films after all these years.
I may not be the right person to critique a Woody Allen film. As a huge fan of his I tend to see the greatness and can sometimes over look the bad stuff. But despite that I still thoroughly enjoy all his films. 'Blue Jasmine' would have to be his best film in recent times. Woody seems to have a real knack for creating such wonderful female characters. I think the awards actresses who have appeared in his films have received is testament to that. Jasmine is such a multilayered character that despite the fact she can be annoying at times you end up feeling a great deal of sympathy for her. She can be seen as someone we would be unable to relate to because of her social status but after a while you come to appreciate her situation. There is also a certain sense of joy in seeing a person of high stature cut down to size. But Jasmine does not wallow in self pity but instead goes out and tries to improve her situation. She does get herself into trouble but she learns from her mistakes and moves on. What I really liked about the film was the way Woody was able to blend so seamlessly the comedy and the drama of the situation. In some scenes he can go from heartfelt drama to funny dialogue. I feel it is his most accomplished and mature work. He has had a great resurgence lately since the success of 'Midnight In Paris' but I think this is by far and away his best recently.
As great as Woody's writing and directing are, the biggest delight in this film is the performance of Cate Blanchett. She is another actress who I think is incapable of giving a bad performance. So powerful is her performance that you do not see Cate Blanchett in this film but Jasmine. As good as Cate is, equally as good is Sally Hawkins. Sally, much like Cate, really inhabits her character so you feel for her character and all the problems she is going through. The men in the film are not too bad either. I was most amazed at Andrew Dice Clay. I did not think he was such a great actor outside the comedy roles he has played but he gives an excellent, more dramatic performance here. Bobby Carnivale is also equally as good, even if his character does border on stereotype and caricature. Alec Baldwin's role is sadly more functional than you'd expect.
Further proof of the brilliance that is Woody Allen. That is coming from a huge Woody Allen fan but I'm sure non-fans can enjoy it too.  

Thursday, September 19, 2013

Elysium

A few years ago Neill Blomkamp blew everyone away with his film 'District 9'. He now returns with his follow up.
'District 9' was a brilliantly directed sci-fi film that had a very serious message. 'Elysium' is pretty much the same but with one exception. The serious message in 'Elysium' is too obvious. In 'District 9' Neill was able to make the film fun and exciting enough so that you did not realize you were being preached to about race relations. In this film it lacks the thrills and sense of fun so the message is far more obvious and so over all the film feels very dull. The message of refugees does feel very relevant to us here in Australia because we are constantly being bombarded by the media and politicians about the huge number of 'boat people' who enter our country so the message felt very relevant. There is also one scene at the beginning of the film with Delacourt (Jodie Foster) dealing with a group of refugees arriving at Elysium which I felt was a very powerful image of how our current leader would like to deal with the situation if he could. Also part of the problem for me was the motivation for the character of Max, our hero. I was a little bit unsure at first as to why he was trying to get to Elysium until later when an old friend turns up. It's a petty thing but a small thing that just really annoyed me.
Matt Damon is a brilliant actor who can play just about any role. He does a decent job here but his character felt pretty bland. As I said above I found his motivation a bit mixed and so I did not become invested in the character and why he was going through his journey. Jodie Foster once again plays the cold hearted bitch role that she seems to be becoming famous for now. As is Sharlto Copley becoming famous for playing the role of crazy people. The best performance for me can from Diego Luna and Wagner Moura who to me had interesting characters to play.
Considering the expectations we had for this film it was a very big let down. I'm all for film makers putting messages into their films but they need to make it fun and exciting as well.

The Wizard Of Oz

It was 75 years ago that a film was released which is still beloved today by many generations.
Something that never ceases to amaze me is that my 4 year-old nephew loves 'The Wizard Of Oz'. But I think it is indicative of the power of this film. That after 75 years it can still fill children with wonder and amazement. I have seen the film several times on DVD but this is the first time I've seen it on the big screen. The film is fill with so much delight and wonder that it can be overwhelming. I saw the film in 3D and while that did look good it did not really add to the experience. I was just pleased to be able to see the film on the big screen. The story is pretty simple and not terribly complex. It has a very pantomime feel to it. But it has that enduring quality of letting us escape from the blandness of our lives. And the use of black and white before going to colour in Oz is one of the film's many strokes of genius. You go from the blandness of our everyday world where we feel downtrodden to the bright colours of the fantasy land that is Oz. One of the other things that makes it so great is the characters. Dorothy has an everyday quality to her that makes her totally relatable to children and adults. This is very important as she acts as our guide to Oz and it makes us feel like we are really there. Then there are the characters of Scarecrow, The Tin Man and The Cowardly Lion who are all looking for qualities we want to possess ourselves. There are lessons to be learnt from their journey in the film but the way the story is told it does not feel like lessons. Then there is the evil Wicked Witch of the West. She has a nasty quality to her but it is not too nasty that makes her too overly scary. But the character does perfectly personify all the bad things we feel in our lives.
The cast are brilliant at conveying these perfectly created characters. As mentioned above the story has a pantomime quality to it and the acting reflects this, it kind of feels a bit stagey. This is not a bad thing but does not have a very natural quality to it. Judy Garland is perfect as Dorothy. She brings just the right amount of sweetness to the character that makes her so charming. She also make Dorothy a very tough and strong willed character so you really want to root for her. She is ably assisted by a trio of wonderful actors who provide most of the films comedic elements. Ray Bolger, Bert Lahr and Jack Haley are very funny and charming. Frank Morgan is also excellent in multiple roles including the title role as the Wizard. The film, though, is stolen by Margaret Hamilton as The Wicked Witch Of The West. I think her performance is what all other performances are judged on with this character. She is simply brilliant at giving just the right amount of evil.
One of those films that should be seen on the big screen if you get the chance. It is also another example of the perfect film.

Monday, September 16, 2013

Jobs

Steve Jobs is a towering figure of our technological age. He is responsible for some of the biggest advances in computers we have seen. This is the first of two films about his life.
As I implied in my introduction Steve Jobs is a highly influential person. It is a shame that he has been given such a lackluster film about his life. While I am not familiar with the development of this film I get the feeling that it was rushed into production shortly after his death in order to capitalize on the publicity that generated. There is another film being developed now written by one of my all time favourite writers Aaron Sorkin, which I think will do Steve's life more justice. To me this film looks and feels like a TV movie and not a cinema film. The one good thing about it is that they do not shy away from portraying the bad side of Steve Jobs. As great as the man is, he seems like he would have been incredibly difficult to work with. The only consistent thing in the film is the way they have portrayed Steve's unpleasant personality. But all great men have some sort of flaw and that would seem to be Steve's.
For many years now Ashton Kutcher has been playing mostly comedy roles and playing lovable clowns. I compliment him on his attempt to get more serious with this role. Sadly though he does not quite make the leap successfully. While he is great at comedy I do not think he is good enough as a dramatic actor to portray such a highly regarded person. He is surrounded by some great performances though. Josh Gad is brilliant as Steve Wozniak and gives the best performance in the film. Dermot Mulroney is quite good as well. J.K. Simmons is always great.
A lackluster film that does not live up to the greatness of its subject matter. I'm sure the next film will be much better. Maybe save your time and money until then.

Red 2

I think it surprised many when 'Red' became so popular back in 2010. It was not a huge blockbuster but was popular enough to warrant a sequel.
There is a certain trepidation with sequels and whether they live up to the original. The first good thing about this film is that the writers Jon Hoeber and Erich Hoeber have come up with a really good story for this sequel. That is probably the key element to a lot of sequels is being able to come up with a story that seems new but is not too similar to the first film. Joe and Erich have come up with one that is great and has some really nice twists.
The second good thing is the fun element of the first film is still maintained here in the sequel. Jon and Erich, with the help of director Dean Parisot, have kept the humour that made 'Red' so wonderful. 'Red 2' is really funny and just really delightful to watch.
The third good thing is the cast. While Bruce Willis is doing the same thing he does in all his other films it is the support cast he has who makes this film so much fun. Mary-Louise Parker is so wonderful as the odd man out in this group of assassins. The rest of the cast are normally such serious actors who mostly do drama, that its great to see them doing such outrageous comedy. John Malkovich looks like he is having such fun with his conspiracy nut character. You can never get sick of seeing Helen Mirren go hardcore action woman. And that is a role which Catherine Zeta-Jones needs to embrace more if this film is anything to go by. Anthony Hopkins has played crazy before but not as wacky as this which was fun. Byung-hun Lee makes a nicely restrained member of the team to all the craziness going on around him.
One of the few sequels that actually lives up to the potential of the first film. The great cast make it so much fun.

Saturday, September 14, 2013

Red Obsession

I am not much of an alcohol drinker let alone a wine drinker. But if given a choice I prefer wine over beer. Despite this lack of interest in partaking of wine, I thought I would check out this documentary.
On one level this is a fascinating look at how people can become obsessed over things that will not use. As a film buff I collect movie memorabilia and some of it I keep stored away, like posters. So in some ways I can understand why a person would buy an item and then not use it. It may seem strange that people can spend thousands of dollars in a bottle of wine and then not drink it. But then again when you have spent so much on something it would seem to special to drink.
I did learn quite a bit about wine and wine that comes from the Bordeaux region of France. I was not aware of how highly regarded wine from this area was regarded. And that is the thrust of this film. How wine from one area of the world can become so influential. The amazing thing is that a great wine from Bordeaux is very rare. While I am familiar with many of the types of wine that come from this region I did not know they were held in such high regard.
The current Chinese obsession with French wine is very indicative of China's growing influence around the world. It seems they are becoming more open to outside influences and becoming obsessed with them in the process. My only problem with the film is that I did not find it as thrilling as I had hoped. There were some interesting elements and I did leanr some things but I think I was hoping for more.
Wine lovers will probably get a lot out of this film and enjoy seeing another group of people who share their obsession. Non wine lovers will get some interest in seeing how the world of wine works and its influence in the world.


Sunday, September 8, 2013

The Conjuring

One of the biggest films in the USA this summer was this small horror film about a couple who investigate paranormal activity.
The thing that surprises me about this film was that the lives of Ed and Lorraine Warren have not been made into a movie before. It could have been told in many different ways and I probably would have liked to see the approach where they told the story of Ed and Lorraine's lives. That we get glimpses into the various cases they investigated but essentially the film would be about how this couple came to be investigators and what a toll these took on their lives. We do get some of this in 'The Conjuring' but for me I would have preferred a different approach. As the film is with this story of Perron family and them being attacked by a paranormal force, I did not like that aspect. I think the film is very well made and director James Wan does a brilliant job, but I did not find the film scary. Maybe it is because I do not find ghost stories all that scary. I'm not sure if it because I don't really believe in them and so I don't find them scary. I've not seem or had a supernatural experience so do not have any fear of them. Now while I have not been attacked by an axe wielding maniac I think they feel more real than ghosts and so I am more scared of them.
Patrick Wilson and Vera Farmiga are both excellent as Ed and Lorraine. That is part of the reason why I would have preferred a movie that focused on them rather than a story they are investigating. Lili Taylor and Ron Livingston are also excellent in their roles. They both feel like real people. Shanley Caswell, Hayley McFarland, Joey King, Mackenzie Foy and Kyla Deaver are also good as the children who are subjected to most of the paranormal activity.
While this is a very well made film it did not make me scared as it should have being a horror film. I'd have preferred a film that focused more on Ed and Lorraine and their story.  

Thursday, September 5, 2013

Kick-Ass 2

While many credit 'Kick-Ass' with being the film to kick start the 'average person being a superhero' genre, I think it started earlier with 'Mystery Men'.
We had been so conditioned with big budget glossy superhero films that when 'Kick-Ass' came along it was a refreshing burst of lower budget adrenaline. All the other superhero films played it safe with the violence and language to please as many people as possible. But 'Kick-Ass' reveled in the delight of hard core violence and language. Not caring who it offended. The character of Hit Girl probably had a lot to do with the films success, but it also had a nice texture to it which made it so great. It also had a level of clever satire on the superhero genre. All the qualities that are lacking in this sequel. To me it felt like everyone was going through the motions with this film, like they are not really trying. It is a shame considering how great the first film was. The language and violence in the first film seemed to mean something and be more shocking but here just feels ordinary. Writer/director Jeff Wadlow seems to lack the satirical edge that Matthew Vaughn was able to bring. Jeff also had a great opportunity to make something of the revenge story of Chris D'Amico against Kick-Ass. But he squanders that as well and just makes that subplot boring and bland. I also expected a bit more fun and interest with Mindy and her struggle to have a normal teenage life but even there its no fun. There are a couple of funny scenes but largely that aspect is not fully utilized.
Think for an actor like Aaron Taylor-Johnson this is one of those role you play to make some easy money. He is not required to stretch his acting talents too far and no doubt get paid quite handsomely for it. The same can be said of Chloe Grace Moretz. They both do decent work but by virtue of the fact that their roles lack any spark, they themselves lack spark in their acting. Christopher Mintz-Plasse looks to be having some fun but his story does not get the attention it deserves. I also liked seeing John Leguizamo and Donald Faison back on the big screen. The film's real highlight though was Jim Carrey. Once again he plays a small supporting role which steels the whole film. His role is small but his character seems so much more well rounded and interesting than many of the others in the film. 
This is very much a straight-to-DVD film that managed to make its way into cinemas. Further proof that there are some films that did not need sequels.   

Frances Ha

Writer/Director Noah Baumbach teams up with his 'Greenberg' star to create this delightful film.
This is one of those films that is very much character driven. We follow the life of Frances as she struggles with work, friendships and love. That is basically the plot. I found myself not realizing that there was a plot to speak of. This gives the film a more natural feel and the character of Frances feels like a real person. In most films you can see each plot point coming and learn to expect them. But with this film they are pretend in a more free flowing way so that you do not see them coming. Frances is such a delightful character that you love to spend time with her. We come to know her quite well and share her struggles. I admit that she has a very free spirit type life style which scares me but when you have someone who is as charming as this you don't seem to mind. The way Frances pursues her dreams is also one of the more refreshing elements of the film. Do not let the fact that the film was made in black and white turn you off either. It does give a very 'Woody Allen feel' to it but that is a good thing.
Greta Gerwig is a brilliant actress. I admit that her range so far does not seem very large as she plays pretty much the same type of character in all her films but she does have a great deal of natural charm which makes her a delight to witness. I also like her more natural comedy style where she makes jokes in a more offhanded way. The film is mostly about Frances so Greta gets most of the screen time but a few of her co-stars do lend some great support.
If your sick of the carefully choreographed films that where each event feels carefully planned then this is the film for you.  

Sunday, September 1, 2013

Pain & Gain

Finally Michael Bay is taking a break from blowing stuff up to tell a more low-key true story.
I am not a big fan of Michael Bay. He would have to be one of the worst directors working today. His films are always the same. His films always seem to be aimed at 15 year-old boys (straight ones). I do not mind mindless action films but doing the same thing over and over was getting monotonous. I did become intrigued when this film was announced. I thought finally he was doing something different, alas I was mistaken. While he may not be directing huge robots or blowing up buildings or destroying freeways in car chases, Michael Bay is still making terrible films. There is a really great comedic film here which could have been hilarious but in the hands of Michael it is a boring mess. The story sounds very funny but it needed a more comedic director to accentuate the humour of the situation. These are very funny characters but Michael cannot seem to bring out their funny side and they just come off as the big, dumb bodybuilders. Their story is seems funny too but in the hands of Michael Bay it get really boring and dull. His quick cut editing is one of those annoying things that upsets me the most. I also get the feeling that this film might be homophobic too. 
The only thing that Michael Bay did get right with this film was the casting. Mark Wahlberg is excellent as the leader of our group. He can play that dumb but charming character so well. Dwayne Johnson is also very good as groups weak link. His character's inner turmoil regarding his religion is quite a good character trait. Anthony Mackie is very good too and is given the more interesting trait for a body builder to have. Tony Shalhoub plays a sleazy asshole very well but it does come off as a bit stereotypical. Ed Harris seems to be the only one in the film whose character has any kind of dignity.
I suppose it was too much to expect Michael Bay to break away from his tried and true methods of making films for teenage boys. I was willing to give him the benefit of the doubt but he let me down.