There is something about small towns which seem to bring out odd behaviour in people. But perhaps that is because they are easier to detect in a small town as opposed to big cities where it is easier to hide.
Bernie Tiede is a fascinating character. A man who is incredibly sweet and charming and nice to everyone he meets. His major fault is that he can see only the good in people. Bernie became friends with Marjorie Nugent, a woman who was widely disliked by everyone in the Texas town of Carthage. Despite that Bernie managed to ingratiate himself into her life in a big way. He got power of attourney on her life and would make decisions on her behalf. Bernie's niceness meant that Marjorie trusted him with her life. So it was a pity when he decided to terminate it. But there was the advantage that his trustworthiness meant he could pretend Margorie was still alive even after he had killed her.
A story like this could have been told in many different ways. I can imagine many of the details being changed to make it appeal to a broader audience and made to be a farce or broad comedy. However in the hands of Richard Linklater it has become an excellent black comedy. I am a huge fan of the black comedy genre and the darker side humour. Richard has used a kind of docu-drama approach to this story. The film is punctuated with testimonials from the real people of Carthage. This may have been because Bernie feels like a character that is too good to be true. This is an excellent technique which Richard uses because it lends weight to the story. The only problem with that is that it is only the public image we see and not the private one. We don't see how Bernie managed to become so ingrained into Marjorie's life. Why she trusted him so much. It may have been because she was so hated by everyone that here was a man who liked her despite her nasty personality. The story is the films highlight and because it comes from the behavior of the characters, that makes it so good.
If there was ever a perfect marriage of an actor to a role that would be Jack Black and Bernie Thiede. Some comedy actors like Jack do so many questionable comedic roles that people often over look them when they do something a bit more sensible. This is one such case. Jack Black is brilliant in this role. He is far more subtle in his approach than in most other roles he has taken. It definitely suits the character of Bernie. Shirley MacLaine is also nicely subtle in her performance as Marjorie. She plays the nasty character really well but does not always resort to over the top antics which mostly happens in this type of role. Equally as brilliant is Matthew McConaughey. Matthew keeps getting better in each role that he does. He does run the risk of being over shadowed by his hair in this role though.
There may not be many laugh out loud moments but this is still a brilliant comedy. For those who like their humour a bit dark
The films of writer/director David Cronenberg have had a certain degree of grotesqueness to them. Lately he has toned down his approach.
I am quite fond of films that use a limited amount of locations to tell their story. 'Cosmopolis' mostly takes place in a limoisine as a guy travels across the city to get a hair cut. The film is based on the novel by Don Delillo and to me comes across as one of those books which would have been a challenge to adapt. There is not a lot that happens in the story except the guy, Eric Parker, is visited by various people in his life and he makes a few stops along the way. It is more of a character study and commentary of modern life. This is not only a positive for the film but a negative as well. The people that Eric picks up along the way are used to express various philosphical points of view. We learn about Eric and his point of view as a way of discussing broader views. This has a downside in that there is a lot of information to take in. You have to really pay attention to what people are saying and think about what they are saying. You have to be in right frame of mind to absorb all of what is being said. It may warrant a second viewing to fully appreciate what is being said.
I admire Robert Pattinson for using his fame from the 'Twilight' series to become part of a diverse range of films rather than sticking with the same type of film that made him famous. He is however not the greatest actor around and usually comes across as quite bland. He seems to have the same mood and expression in all situations. That suits his role here as Eric is not the most emotive person around. The rest of the cast are mostly cameo appearances as Eric meets people along the way. I was quite impressed with Samantha Morton, Philip Nozuka and Juliette Binoche.
The simplistic nature of the films setting is offset by the complex nature of the material being expressed. A thought provoking film about today's society that maybe trying to say too much.
It does not happen very often, but 'The Campaign' was one of the few occasions where I laughed at the film's trailer every time I saw it. Considering how often I go to the cinema and have seen the trailer, that is an amazing feat.
Director Jay Roach has been working in television lately, directing films about real life political events. Therefore it seemed appropriate that he direct this film about a political campaign. Jay's knowledge of real life politics makes this film seem so real despite all the silly behaviour that is going on. The plot of politicians trying to get cheap Chinese labour to be used in the USA may seem outrageous, but with the way some politicians behave it seems totally plausible. The film brilliantly uses this plot to parody the way corporations influence government to help increase their profits. There is lots of crazy behaviour by the lead characters but underneath is a very clever message about the state of the American government. Jay manages to keep the film moving along a nicely brisk pace so it does not seem to drag. Something that lot of comedies are guilty of these days. I also liked how he changed some of the funny lines used in the trailer so you don't have them repeated in the film. Which means that not all of the good stuff was used in the trailer.
Stars Will Ferrell and Zac Galifianakis were both producers of the film which indicates that they had a hand in the film's development and the creation of their characters. I think that is the secret to its greatness. The plot might be fairly conventional and one which we have seen countless times before in films about the race for political office, but in this film it is the great characters which makes it funny. Cam Brady is a typically pompous politician that you see a lot of in real life. There are certain exaggerations made for comedic effect but he still feels fairly real. You can imagine a few real politicians behaving the way he does behind the scenes. Marty Huggins is his polar opposite, not being from the political sphere and in public life. So far away to the point of being very introverted and socially awkward. Which is why the clash of these two polar opposites is so hilarious. I particularly loved the voices Will and Zac use for their characters. They helped add an extra bit of silliness to proceedings.
Will Farrell is not only one of the best comedic actors he is also an excellent actor as well. While not all of his performances are great, he does quite a lot of good ones. For me this is one of his best. He knows how to play over blown characters that think they are better than they are really well. While he does resort to many of his trademark moves it is still hilarious. Zac Galifianakis is also a great comedic actor and I loved him here too. He is hilarious and he plays Marty so well. There is one scene where his family are making confessions to him which gave me the biggest laugh I've had in a film in a while. The rest of the cast do an excellent job as well but are mainly there as straight people to the silliness of Will and Zac. I particularly liked Katherine LaNasa as Cam's wife. She had so many little subtleties to her performance which made it that extra bit funny. I also liked Karen Maruyama as a maid in a very racist situation.
I saw this film with only a few people in the audience and I still laughed out loud quite a lot. I think in this day and age that is a great sign for a comedy that you don't need the support of anyone around you to find something funny. Highly recommended.
With Universal Studios celebrating its 100th Birthday this year, a selection of their films have been screening at Sydney's State Theatre.
It was some time in 1982/83 that my grandmother took my brother and myself to the State Theatre to see 'E.T.: The Extra Terrestrial'. It was one of my earliest film-going memories. So it was very exciting to be able to return to the State Theatre to see the film again.
Except for a few pieces of technology the film holds up quite well after all these years. Most films these days that involve aliens coming to earth are all about and invasion with big ugly creatures. You very rarely get a an alien that looks as cute as E.T. The story's focus is small and intimate which makes it more emotional. Melissa Mathison has written an excellent film with great characters which you really come to care about over the film. It helps that E.T. was abandoned by his fellow aliens as it makes his plight all the more emotional. There is a very universal theme of someone (or something) being trapped in a strange place far from their home. E.T. has a very simple mission which is to get back home. It is a very sweet story too but Steven and Melissa manage to keep it from getting to saccharine. An effective technique is the way the government is handled. Keys is the government character who we only see from the perspective of his key chain. They are a shadowy presence who are only seen sparingly and so it makes them all the more menacing.
The kids in the film were all fairly unknown but all give excellent performances. They feel like real kids, their performances were that natural. Henry Thomas was very relatable as Elliot. We all felt as Elliot did because we were an outsider always trying to get in on the action. Then we find something which puts us into the action. Henry makes you want to be Elliot and help him get his friend rescued. Equally as realistic is Drew Barrymore. She is so sweet and adorable as Gertie. Robert MacNaughton is excellent as the bullying older brother. The adults play a very supporting role in the film. The only one we see a great deal of is the kid's mother played by Dee Wallace. As a single mother trying to look after her kids and juggle work she is wonderful. Peter Coyote is also excellent in a role where we hardly see him. He jiggles keys very effectively.
Seeing this film again in the same place I first saw it was a very emotional experience. This is very much a story that works well on the big screen.
Royalty are a group of people who are held in very high regard. It seems they all have the same sorts of problems regardless of which part of Europe they come from.
Does anyone in a royal family actually fall in love with the person they marry? Because of their high status the person that marries into the family must go through a lot of scrutiny and so meet with high standards. This can be very intimidating for people. 'A Royal Affair' follows the pretty cliched story of a person forced into a marriage with the hopes of greatness and their lives being far from it. Caroline Mathilde was nervous about her marriage to King Christian VII but she was optimistic that she would come to love him. But as is common in these situations her life is not what she expected. What is also common is that she falls in love with someone who shares her views more closely. The love affair is dealt with nicely I thought. The two lovers do not jump into bed right always as they normally do but there is a bit of subtle flirting before they fall in love. The other cliche the film has is a mentally unstable member of the royal family. But what I liked about this film is that it presents all these cliches in a fresh way. The writers and director Nikolaj Arcel have managed to make the story really interesting a gripping despite all these familiar aspects. The one aspect they handle really well is the Kings mental instabilities. His mental illness is portrayed with a great deal of dignity and respect, rather than as a comedic punchline like it can be done in some films. To me the King is not really mentally challenged just someone who is unable to handle the pressures of high office and so acts out in strange ways. You come to feel a great deal of sympathy for him. As is the case with most period film it look magnificent with gorgeous sets and costumes.
With his roles in 'Casino Royal' and a few other Hollywood films, Mads Mikkelsen has come to prominence of late. He is excellent in this film and portrays Dr. Johann Struensee in a dignified way. Although he has political aspirations and uses the King to get them he does not do it in an obvious way. Alicia Vikander is also wonderful as the badly done by Queen. You feel bad for her and her situation, which helps when she has the affair. Mikkel Boe Folsgaard is brilliant as the mad King. As mentioned above I did not feel he was typically insane and this has a lot to do with Mikkel's brilliant performance. Also great is David Dencik as one of those opposed to the Kings' new found rebellion. He is suitably creepy and slimy.
The story might be familiar but the way it is told is not. Well worth seeing for not only a great story but for excellent performances from a wonderful cast.
"Women are silly, frivolous, empty-headed creatures. I admit their useful and decorative, like a teapot. But you wouldn't let a teapot decide who it goes out with."
Women have not always been given a fair go. Even today there are places where women are not equally treated. These types of things amaze me. Men have always been confounded by women's health. It is because of this that, in the past, they have not always been as fair in their judgements of a woman's health. Like men women get horny. They have sexual urges like all humans. However in 1880 when a woman acted strange because she was horny it was considered a mental condition. It took a forthright doctor to realise that pleasuring a woman would help cure them. It then took another doctor to create a devise that let women cure themselves. The vibrator is now one of the most popular and widely used sex toys in the world. It is amazing to thing that it started out as a medical device. But would only have been invented because of the shortsightedness of the men in the medical profession. This film convincingly presents how men were arrogant and ignorant of some of the most basic medical facts that we take for granted these days. It is amazing to think they were so ignorant. The writers have made a nicely humorous film about this true story. The humour mostly comes from the outrageousness of the story. It is a serious subject but told in a nicely lighthearted way.
Hugh Dancy does a nice job as the under appreciated doctor who makes this simple discovery. Hugh plays Dr. Granville as charming and sweet so that despite the unsavory nature of the material you see him as real crusader of women's health. Maggie Gyllenhaal once again is the headstrong female character she plays so well. Jonathan Pryce does an excellent job as the stuffy doctor. Although he has managed to find a way to help these women he has not been able to take that final step to make it a little bit more dignified. Rupert Everett is his usual hilarious self.
The amazing true story of the invention of one of the world's most commonly used devices which we never really talk about.
It began with 'Batman Begins'. Continued with 'The Dark Knight'. Now Christopher Nolan being his epic superhero film to an end.
There have been very few film trilogies in history where all three films in the series are so highly regarded. There is usually one film that is not so great. But Christopher Nolan has managed to make a perfect film trilogy. All three films in this series are a work of cinematic brilliance. It was a long held belief that films with comic book heroes could not be taken seriously. Chris has managed to elevate them to a higher level where they can be seen as great crime dramas that just happen to feature a man who dresses up in a bat costume. Chris certainly raised the bar for others who will follow him.
'The Dark Knight Rises' continues the brilliance that was established in the previous two films. Christopher Nolan has brought the epic trilogy to a close with a film that has so much going on. I will need several viewings to fully appreciate its majesty. Chris and his writing team have infused the film with themes and issues which hold so much relevance to us a society today. They were never content in making a film where a good guy just fights a bad guy. There is many different layers to the story and you can read so much into what is going on. The writers have drawn on many different plot elements to bring this story to live. As well as referencing some classic pieces of literature and history. Proving that history does repeat itself. More so than 'The Dark Knight', this film does rely on you having seen the previous film but you should not let you get put off seeing it. It also references elements from 'Batman Begins' so that it really feels like the story has come full circle. Chris also knows how to stage great action sequences and this film is no exception. I think there is a little less of it here than in previous films but you don't feel any worse off. If I had one minor observation it would be in the character of Bane. The Joker was such an iconic villain so anyone who followed him would have a tough time. The Joker is a very grand theatrical villain and he is not restrained by a mask which covers most of his face. Bane is not a bad character and while he suits the plot, you just want more.
Christian Bale is such an amazing actor and once again brings his brilliance to the role of Bruce Wayne and Batman. There is not only the duality of his character but all the elements he has to endure. Michael Caine I thought was particularly great this time around. He brings some sweetness and emotion to Alfred. Morgan Freeman once again gives a nicely distinguished performance. Gary Oldman proves how diverse he can be and is able to display the conflict his character is feeling. I don't know what it is about Anne Hathaway but she just keeps getting better with each role she takes. She is able to bring her own unique take on a character who has been played by many different actresses in the past. The way she can change her characters emotions so quickly is something to behold. Marion Cotillard does a marvelous job with a character who has many different sides. Tom Hardy is excellent as Bane but as mentioned above he is rather restrained in being able to emote. He is really just a creepy voice, but he plays that very well. I was also impressed with Matthew Modine and was pleasantly surprised to see Aussie actor Ben Mendelsohn playing a key role. My favourite performer though was Joseph Gordon-Levitt. I have followed Joseph since he first came to prominence in the TV series '3rd Rock From The Sun'. He is great in every film he does. But here he surpassed himself and manages to make his character that little bit better.
A fitting conclusion to a work of cinematic brilliance. I pity anyone who tries to re-boot Batman in preparation for the inevitable Justice League movie.
The 'Ice Age' franchise continues with this latest effort. Manny, Diego and Sid seem to be getting closer to the end of the Ice Age.
The 'Ice Age' movies are another one of those series which I have had a mixed reaction to. I thought the first film was brilliant and I love it. The second film was a huge disappointment and I don't think much of it. The third film was a bigger improvement and while not as great as the first film was still enjoyable. This film is much the same. I read that the film makers wanted to go back to the first film and create a story was like that with the 3 boys on their own. That was a good idea and the pirate plot is really good. I found it interesting that they are trying to marry off their characters with Diego now getting a girlfriend. The problem with having the 3 guys go off on their own adventure means Ellie and Peaches get left behind and so rather than leave them out the makers have given them a sub plot. Sadly it was a very poor one. Peaches is now a teenager so she has to go through that typical teen story of trying to fit in with cool kids. It was really boring. I was also a bit disappointed with Scrat's scenes. I liked his plot f using a map to find buried treasure but I did not find it very funny.
The central voice cast of Ray Romano, Denis Leary and John Leguizamo work really well together and so have a great rapor. The new cast is very good. Jennifer Lopez plays it nice and sweet. Nick Frost was very funny. Wanda Sykes plays a good elderly person. It was also nice to hear Rebel Wilson in there. The best one though is Peter Dinklage as the pirate captain. He was excellent and a real highlight in the film.
Enjoyable for fans of the series and followed these characters through all their films. New comers may not be all that impressed. It would be nice to finish the series here but I know they won't. Sid still needs a girlfriend.
Writer Alex Kutzman has made a career being the writer of some very high profile action films like 'Star Trek'. Now he has become the director of an action less comedy/drama.
In movies when a parent dies it is always the start of some huge revelation of a secret the parent was keeping. In this case a son finds out his dad fathered another child. The whole secret keeping thing is then passed on as the son in this film, Sam decides to not reveal his relationship to his recently discovered half-sister. I understand that if he was to tell her the truth then the film would only be half an hour long. But it is one of those annoying things with films like this when a character has a big secret, you know where it is going. You also get that niggling thought of why does he/she not just tell the truth and get it over with. Does the reason the person not reveal their secret a legitimate excuse? In this film you can understand why Sam doesn't tell Frankie about who he really is and that is a fairly sweet reason. Which is how I feel about the film over all. It is fairly sweet and enjoyable. There is nothing terribly great about it but it does have a nice emotional core which gives you a good feeling.
Chris Pine too has been making a career with action oriented films. So it is nice to see him in a story thats a bit more low key. He is an excellent actor and handles the more emotional moments of the film really well. Elizabeth Banks is also excellent at being able to go from comedy to drama so well. She is able to move from drama to comedy in this film real easily. Michelle Pfeiffer brings some dignity and gravitas to the film. Young Michael Hall D'Addario is a good actor but he does stay into the territory of being a little bit smarter than a normal kid that age is.
While the premise of keeping the secret can be a bit annoying this is still a nicely sweet emotional film about a family.
Drugs are something that have become very ingrained into our society. Hollywood has made many films about drug dealers, now it is Oliver Stone's turn.
It seems Oliver Stone has taken a step back from making more politically motivated films and instead directing films which are more interested in entertaining than informing. That is not a bad thing. The basic plot of 'Savages' is fairly routine. In experienced drug dealers become so popular that they attract the interest of more hardcore drug dealers from south of the border. The film is made up of really interesting characters. It also has a very fascinating 3-way relationship. I found the dynamic of Chon, O and Ben is one which you could read a lot into. I may have read into it more than you might expect and perhaps saw something which was not there. Just my dirty thoughts I suppose. Nothing new is presented about the whole drug industry and how it is run. It does reinforce the notion that there is no significant way we can stop drugs from being imported into the USA or even Australia. It is human nature to become addicted to something that makes you feel good. So regardless of the side effects people will always want it. Drug cartels know this and they make huge amounts of money off this addiction, so why would they want it stopped. It also helps that they can bribe law enforcement agents so the authorities don't do anything. Oliver has made a very entertaining film about a familiar subject. I thought it was a refreshing change that a woman was in charge of the drug cartel. I also liked the ending which lets you decide how you want things to turn out.
Finally Taylor Kitsch has made a film which gives him something more substantial to work with. Aaron Johnson seems to be getting better with each film he makes and is radically different in each film. They play two very different characters here and it plays out like two sides of the same coin. Which is perhaps why Blake Lively's character of O falls in love with them both. She can experience both a guy which is sensitive and one which is more manly. Blake is quite good and is certainly growing as an actress. The trio is surrounded by an excellent trio of more experienced actors. John Travolta provides most of the films humour and it is his best performance in a long time. Benicio Del Toro is brilliantly menacing as a drug henchman. His erratic behaviour means you are always on edge each time he comes on screen. The best performance though is Salma Hayek. She has the cool calm nastiness which makes her a great villain. But she also has a sensitive side which leads to her downfall. Salma manages to play both sides of this character so well. I think she could earn some awards nominations at then end of the year.
While it does not tread new territory in the world of drug dealers it does make a great piece of entertainment. It also has some excellent performances.
