http://www.imdb.com/title/tt2265398/?ref_=nv_sr_1
A summer romance/friendship story that is smart, warm and funny, with excellent performances and a delightful ending. The romantic tension is great, and the relationship issues will be recognizable for anyone who's been through the struggle of do-we-or-don't-we romance with a good friend.
January 5, 2014
Captain Phillips (2013)
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1535109/?ref_=nv_sr_1
Surprising compelling thriller, this is Tom Hanks at his best - an ordinary man demonstrating ingenuity and humanity in extraordinary circumstances. For much of the film, you are waiting for things to happen, but as the ending draws near you realize things have been happening - you are involved, engaged, on the edge of your seat without any of the usual movie trappings. As the climax occurs, you feel the release of tension and the burst of emotions from characters and audience are authentic and cathartic. Tom Hanks for Best Actor nomination - guaranteed. This film is worth watching for that climax and release, and for the brilliant performance of Hanks, reminding us why is is one of the greats.
Surprising compelling thriller, this is Tom Hanks at his best - an ordinary man demonstrating ingenuity and humanity in extraordinary circumstances. For much of the film, you are waiting for things to happen, but as the ending draws near you realize things have been happening - you are involved, engaged, on the edge of your seat without any of the usual movie trappings. As the climax occurs, you feel the release of tension and the burst of emotions from characters and audience are authentic and cathartic. Tom Hanks for Best Actor nomination - guaranteed. This film is worth watching for that climax and release, and for the brilliant performance of Hanks, reminding us why is is one of the greats.
Europa Report (2013)
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt2051879/?ref_=nv_sr_2
An interested "found footage" movie, with shades of The Abyss and Alien, this space exploration story is very well done. Tense, well acted, and beautifully shot and told, it is unfortunate that this film did not garner a bigger audience. Exceptional players include Anamaria Marinca in the lead role, and Michael Nyqvist as one of the scientists on the expedition. A good counterpoint to Gravity (2013).
An interested "found footage" movie, with shades of The Abyss and Alien, this space exploration story is very well done. Tense, well acted, and beautifully shot and told, it is unfortunate that this film did not garner a bigger audience. Exceptional players include Anamaria Marinca in the lead role, and Michael Nyqvist as one of the scientists on the expedition. A good counterpoint to Gravity (2013).
Blue Jasmine (2013)
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt2334873/?ref_=nv_sr_1
Saved up for a birthday treat for myself, this film did not disappoint. Woody Allen proves again that he can write and portray complex characters with the best combinations of pathos, comedy and tragedy, even miles away from the beloved New York streets that have served him well. While Jasmine is not a person anyone would want to know or love, she embodies elements that we can all recognize and empathize with, even if we don't like it. The surprise twist only complicates your feelings towards her, and the ending leaves you with enough space to consider multiple futures for everyone. An excellent addition to the Woody Allen canon, and a breathtaking performance from Cate Blanchett.
Saved up for a birthday treat for myself, this film did not disappoint. Woody Allen proves again that he can write and portray complex characters with the best combinations of pathos, comedy and tragedy, even miles away from the beloved New York streets that have served him well. While Jasmine is not a person anyone would want to know or love, she embodies elements that we can all recognize and empathize with, even if we don't like it. The surprise twist only complicates your feelings towards her, and the ending leaves you with enough space to consider multiple futures for everyone. An excellent addition to the Woody Allen canon, and a breathtaking performance from Cate Blanchett.
The Hunt (2013)
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt2106476/?ref_=nv_sr_1
Well done story about a scary subject - a teacher wrongfully accused of sexually abusing a young girl. All of the things you imagine would happen do, and the pain endured by everyone is excruciating and heart-wrenching. The miracle of the story is the final resolution, which is made tragic, lovely and believable in this film. Wonderful performance by often overlooked Mads Mikkelsen. A fine example of wonderful filmmaking from outside of Hollywood.
Well done story about a scary subject - a teacher wrongfully accused of sexually abusing a young girl. All of the things you imagine would happen do, and the pain endured by everyone is excruciating and heart-wrenching. The miracle of the story is the final resolution, which is made tragic, lovely and believable in this film. Wonderful performance by often overlooked Mads Mikkelsen. A fine example of wonderful filmmaking from outside of Hollywood.
Mud (2013)
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1935179/?ref_=nv_sr_3
It would be easy to dismiss this as a summer-boys-movie, but the the additional complications of love story and bounty hunters make this a great drama. Matthew McConaughey is exceptional here, as the mysterious man on the island. The boys' discovery of him and their adventures with and for him, while they search for love and life, are enthralling and enjoyable. The atmosphere of the location - one of those expansive yet closed in areas along the Mississippi - combines with the various threads of the story to make a film that succeeds on many levels.
It would be easy to dismiss this as a summer-boys-movie, but the the additional complications of love story and bounty hunters make this a great drama. Matthew McConaughey is exceptional here, as the mysterious man on the island. The boys' discovery of him and their adventures with and for him, while they search for love and life, are enthralling and enjoyable. The atmosphere of the location - one of those expansive yet closed in areas along the Mississippi - combines with the various threads of the story to make a film that succeeds on many levels.
Ain't Them Bodies Saints (2013)
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt2388637/?ref_=nv_sr_1
Beautifully told fable about love and fate in a dusty midwest small town. The cast is exceptional here, and although the story itself has some holes, the drama is compelling and the story taught right through to the end. The film may be a bit arty for some, as the setting is both familiar and non-descript and many details are left untold or unexplained, but overall it is a lovely tragic tale of love, loss and near-redemption.
Beautifully told fable about love and fate in a dusty midwest small town. The cast is exceptional here, and although the story itself has some holes, the drama is compelling and the story taught right through to the end. The film may be a bit arty for some, as the setting is both familiar and non-descript and many details are left untold or unexplained, but overall it is a lovely tragic tale of love, loss and near-redemption.
The Spectacular Now (2013)
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1714206/?ref_=nv_sr_1
A modern day "Say Anything", this is a nice little story about high school misfits, first loves and first times, and growing up. The actors are great, and the story is both compelling and troubling (a surprising amount of drinking goes on - but perhaps I'm naive in thinking this is unusual?) enough to engage you from start to finish. True love prevails, which is lovely. Recommended companion piece: The Kings of Summer (2013).
A modern day "Say Anything", this is a nice little story about high school misfits, first loves and first times, and growing up. The actors are great, and the story is both compelling and troubling (a surprising amount of drinking goes on - but perhaps I'm naive in thinking this is unusual?) enough to engage you from start to finish. True love prevails, which is lovely. Recommended companion piece: The Kings of Summer (2013).
Prisoners (2013)
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1392214/?ref_=nv_sr_1
A taught mystery with great performances all round. The twists and reveals in the story are very well done, and resolution is very satisfying. The best is Jake Gyllenhaal as the detective, the dedicated and caring cop with clearly more troubles in his past than he's willing or able to reveal, his balance of passion and procedure are compelling and very well done. Hugh Jackman as the father of one of the missing girls is good but often pathetic and unsympathetic in his recklessness and abuse of the police; perhaps all of his actions are a plausible response to the situation, but I felt neither support nor sympathy for him, and much more compassion for the victim of his rage than I did for him as the victim himself. A good popcorn movie for a dark, rainy evening.
A taught mystery with great performances all round. The twists and reveals in the story are very well done, and resolution is very satisfying. The best is Jake Gyllenhaal as the detective, the dedicated and caring cop with clearly more troubles in his past than he's willing or able to reveal, his balance of passion and procedure are compelling and very well done. Hugh Jackman as the father of one of the missing girls is good but often pathetic and unsympathetic in his recklessness and abuse of the police; perhaps all of his actions are a plausible response to the situation, but I felt neither support nor sympathy for him, and much more compassion for the victim of his rage than I did for him as the victim himself. A good popcorn movie for a dark, rainy evening.
Out of the Furnace (2013)
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1206543/
I wanted to like this movie, but eventually everything about it - the characters, the story, the ending - were predictable and not very likeable. The penultimate actions - the murders of the brother and friend - are completely pointless, and so the final act of the story feels contrived and silly. The romantic sidebar is similarly ridiculous, providing nothing to the movie other than a role of some kind for Forrest Whitaker. Not very good at all.
I wanted to like this movie, but eventually everything about it - the characters, the story, the ending - were predictable and not very likeable. The penultimate actions - the murders of the brother and friend - are completely pointless, and so the final act of the story feels contrived and silly. The romantic sidebar is similarly ridiculous, providing nothing to the movie other than a role of some kind for Forrest Whitaker. Not very good at all.
The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug (2013)
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1170358/?ref_=nv_sr_1
Make it stop, already. While a lovely and detailed presentation of this beloved story, it is also artless and tedious, dragging out meaningless conversation, extending battle and action scenes and showing countless overhead panoramas of the group trekking through, over or across more of New Zealand's lovely lands. Boring.
Make it stop, already. While a lovely and detailed presentation of this beloved story, it is also artless and tedious, dragging out meaningless conversation, extending battle and action scenes and showing countless overhead panoramas of the group trekking through, over or across more of New Zealand's lovely lands. Boring.
Open Grave (2013)
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt2071550/
A clever little thriller. With several twists and turns in the story, and the puzzle of one character who doesn't speak, this story includes elements of zombie stories, slasher movies, and complex mysteries. Excellent performances from the ensemble, especially Sharlto Copley in the lead, a tight script and well done visuals and effects, keep you engaged and on the edge right through.
A clever little thriller. With several twists and turns in the story, and the puzzle of one character who doesn't speak, this story includes elements of zombie stories, slasher movies, and complex mysteries. Excellent performances from the ensemble, especially Sharlto Copley in the lead, a tight script and well done visuals and effects, keep you engaged and on the edge right through.
Dallas Buyers Club (2013)
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0790636/?ref_=nv_sr_1
Performances - and transformances - by Matthew McConaughey and Jared Leto are at the centre of this movie, and both are excellent but neither rescues the story from tv-movie-of-the-week ordinariness. Intended to be a character study of Ron Woodruff, a roughneck good-old-boy who finds himself on the front line of the war on AIDS in the mid-80s, there is little learned about him or his strange compatriots and certainly nothing about his motivations or expectations. His transition from cowboy to crusader, from hardass to hero, is never explained, nor are any of his close relationships. Jennifer Garner was unbelievable (not in a good way) as the doctor, and the rest of the characters were too typical - evil drug company executives, heartless agents, greedy doctors - to be believable. Again, the physical transformations and performances by McConaughey and Leto are outstanding, but insufficient in this poorly told tale.
January 4, 2014
Rush (2013)
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1979320/
Sometime over the past few years, we've watched a few high-speed documentaries (excellent examples are Senna (2010) and TT3D: Closer to the Edge (2011)). While Rush had the potential to equal those, it somehow fell flat. The story of the rivalry between James Hunt and Niki Lauda was deftly handly by the story and the actors, but the tension between them never translated onto the racetrack in the film; just when things start getting good, the chemistry fizzled like a race cancelled due to rain, undermined by lacklustre cinematography and score. Kudos to the casting directors, as the characterizations of the main and other players was exceptional. Overall, disappointing to see the excitement of racing made boring.
Sometime over the past few years, we've watched a few high-speed documentaries (excellent examples are Senna (2010) and TT3D: Closer to the Edge (2011)). While Rush had the potential to equal those, it somehow fell flat. The story of the rivalry between James Hunt and Niki Lauda was deftly handly by the story and the actors, but the tension between them never translated onto the racetrack in the film; just when things start getting good, the chemistry fizzled like a race cancelled due to rain, undermined by lacklustre cinematography and score. Kudos to the casting directors, as the characterizations of the main and other players was exceptional. Overall, disappointing to see the excitement of racing made boring.
All Is Lost (2013)
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt2017038/
This is man-vs-nature (or man-vs-himself?), with the main man himself, Robert Redford. With no backstory, or real conclusion either, the story is bounded only by the horizons of the ocean that we can see from just above sea-level. Wrecked in the middle of nowhere, he seems both seasoned and ill-prepared at the same time, with the appearance and demeanour of the old-man-at-sea but taken down by one catastrophe after another. As he moves through vexation through frustration to despair, you're often wondering how or why he ended up here, but you're really not that interested, unfortunately. Be it a vision-quest, a mid-life crisis, or a self-imposed exile for penance, you're never really compelled root for any side of the vs., and the ultimate resolution is unsatisfactory and uninteresting.
This is man-vs-nature (or man-vs-himself?), with the main man himself, Robert Redford. With no backstory, or real conclusion either, the story is bounded only by the horizons of the ocean that we can see from just above sea-level. Wrecked in the middle of nowhere, he seems both seasoned and ill-prepared at the same time, with the appearance and demeanour of the old-man-at-sea but taken down by one catastrophe after another. As he moves through vexation through frustration to despair, you're often wondering how or why he ended up here, but you're really not that interested, unfortunately. Be it a vision-quest, a mid-life crisis, or a self-imposed exile for penance, you're never really compelled root for any side of the vs., and the ultimate resolution is unsatisfactory and uninteresting.
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