Welcome to another episode of Lights....Camera....Popcorn!
Today's review is Lincoln.
Directed by Steven Spielberg.
Written by Tony Kushner.
Based in part by the book "Team of Rivals: The Political Genius of Abraham Lincoln" written by Doris Kearns Goodwin.
Review #192
MPAA Rating: PG-13 for an intense scene of war violence, some images of carnage and brief strong language.
Run Time: 147 min
Cast
Daniel Day-Lewis...Abraham Lincoln
Sally Field...Mary Todd Lincoln
David Strathairn...William Seward
Joseph Gordon-Levitt...Robert Lincoln
James Spader...W.N. Bilbo
Hal Holbrook...Preston Blair
Tommy Lee Jones...Thaddeus Stevens
John Hawkes...Robert Latham
Jackie Earle Haley...Alexander Stephens
Bruce McGill...Edwin Stanton
Tim Blake Nelson...Richard Schell
Joseph Cross...John Hay
Jared Harris...Ulysses S. Grant
Abraham Lincoln is unquestionably one of American history's most polarizing figures. No matter what side of the fence you stand on that last statement. The fact remains that it's a fact. Plain and simple. The problem with history in general is that it's very hard to prove or disprove what took place during that time.
It reminds me of two sayings that have stuck with me when it comes to history.
1) History is written by the winners.
The second one comes from the film The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance starring Jimmy Stewart.
2) When the legend becomes fact, print the legend.
That one's my favorite because it's the truest expression and explanation of history. We've all heard stories about historical figures or events that were "tweaked" to improve or weaken the strength of the story and the people involved.
No historical dignitary is immune to this practice. Including one of this countries most famous president's. From the accounts of his height to him slaying vampires. Honest Abe has become a form of pop culture. OK, I was kidding about the vampires. My point is that thanks to three people. Steven Spielberg, Tony Kushner and Daniel Day Lewis.
We all have a movie about Lincoln worth watching.
Plot
As the Civil War continues to rage, America's president struggles with
continuing carnage on the battlefield and as he fights with many inside
his own cabinet on the decision to emancipate the slaves.
So what is is about this film that makes it watchable? Three words.
Daniel Day Lewis.
Of course you all should have seen that coming.
The two-time Oscar winner is known as one of the most selective actors in the film industry, having starred in only five films since 1997, with as many as five years between roles. Does this carry any specific meaning? Yes and no. The bigger point to make is because of Lewis' picky nature, if he does decide to be in your film you are going to get the absolute best out of him. That will automatically give your project some serious credibility. Now I'm not suggesting that he's the only actor that goes the extra mile when performing or taking roles. I am saying that a man who's as talented as he is surely in the highest demand and to be in the position to just sit back and have scripts handed to you is a power that very few in the business carry. It's a power that he deserves to have after turning in some of the finest performances in recent memory.
I'm still scared to death of Daniel Plainview and the man doesn't exist.
As he's done with all of his roles, Lewis completely and absolutely immerses himself in the character. The man truly was Abraham Lincoln in almost every conceivable detail. From his deliberate gait, to the slight hunched over posture to his imposing stature when he does stand at attention. It's as close as you can get to the real man. But the finest part of Lewis performance came from his ability to express impeccable patience in the face of adversity. Adversity that came at him from all fronts. His administration, his family and the dueling parties.
The scene that best exhibits this is one of the many meetings Lincoln has with his people and representatives of the Democratic party. After letting the warring parties go back and forth Lincoln finally loses it and makes his point in as forceful a manner as you could get without flipping over the table in the room. He reminds everyone that even though he needs bi partisan support to get the 13th amendment passed that he's still the commander in chief. He does that with one simple line that resonated through me as he uttered it.
"I'm the president of the United States, clothed in immense power!"
Awesome.
Of course none of this is possible without the support and performances of the rest of the cast. On both sides of the argument, both parties make cases for their support or opposition of the 13th. This is what ultimately drives the film. Lincoln can only do so much here. The momentum of the film is carried through the "fighting" government bodies. What made this movie so good was the feeling of a running clock. Lincoln wanted and needed the amendment to be passed by a certain date. I won't say why but if you remember your history you know the reason. That hustle to get it done was felt throughout the film that at times gets very slow.
Slow in this case doesn't necessarily mean dragging. We're not talking about that horrendous vampire hunter film. Apart from some quick scenes of the civil war going on, there was no action in this film. The true action in Lincoln came from the infighting between political parties and the back alley games that are played to gain or lose favor with swing voters. If the film drags at all, you could make the case that it does when the characters make speeches. The dialogue in Lincoln gets preachy at times. Lincoln among other high profile men pontificate when making their points. It felt like a bit of over kill at some spots but you forget about that when seeing the performance behind the monologue.
If there's a gripe to be had concerning the plot. I would say it's the lack of attention to some other sub plots that play through the main story. This is mainly focus at the mini drama surrounding Lincoln and his family. He has a crisis of conscience when dealing with his oldest son wanting to join the army. The dynamic runs it's course but it feels short changed while the debate over the 13th amendment rages on.
This was a tricky path because Spielberg's latest batch of films all had that one draggy stretch in them that brought down the film's overall stock. Lincoln isn't exempt but it felt like it was. Perhaps it was the subject matter or the time period but it didn't have the same sensation. Another aspect of the film that I really enjoyed was the music or lack of to be more exact. John Williams is one of the best composers in this industry. Having said that Spielberg tends to let his music drive through scenes that in my opinion don't need them. I can't explain why that is other than personal preference but in this case the score was very limited and it did the film a major service. The energy and emotion of some of the scenes that were score less were so compelling that I shutter to think how they would have sounded with Williams' orchestral tones flowing through it.
Bottom line, I liked Lincoln a lot more than I expected to. It's surely in line for Oscar consideration. Best Picture, Best Adapted Screenplay, Best Director and Best Actor are most likely candidates. Normally I would go ahead and anoint Lewis as the Best Actor winner but it's way too early to make that call. H's probably the front runner right now but we all know there's a hidden gem out there that could unseat the favorite. It was a fabulous performance but not the best of his career. He's already had that with Daniel Plainview.
Regardless, this was a film worth watching for Lewis' performance and the sweeping story that surrounded him throughout. Spielberg went back to some of his old school tricks that made him the film maker he is today and it paid off big time here.
On the 5 star scale. Lincoln gets 4 stars with a "Worth Every Penny!" recommendation.
That's a wrap for today. Up next is Red Dawn.
Until Next Episode...."I'll Save You A Seat!"
"D"
Rise of the Guardians
Welcome to another episode of Lights....Camera....Popcorn!
Today's review is Rise of the Guardians.
Directed by Peter Ramsey.
Written by David Lindsay-Abaire.
Based on the book "The Guardians of Childhood" written by William Joyce
Review #191
MPAA Rating: PG for thematic elements and some mildly scary action.
Run Time: 97 min
Cast
Chris Pine...Jack Frost (voice)
Alec Baldwin...North (voice)
Jude Law...Pitch (voice)
Isla Fisher...Tooth (voice)
Hugh Jackman...Bunny (voice)
Dakota Goyo...Jamie Bennett (voice)
Santa Claus, The Tooth Fairy, The Easter Bunny, The Sandman and Jack Frost. At some point in your lives, you believed in some or all of these characters. In one form or another. These characters have become necessities in children's lives. Of course commercialism has tainted the actual power these characters truly wield.
Rise of the Guardians wonderfully reminds you of the true purpose they serve.
Belief.
Plot
When the evil spirit Pitch launches an assault on Earth, the Immortal Guardians team up to protect the innocence of children all around the world.
Belief is a very powerful thing. It can shape the way a child or adult for that matter will act for the rest of their lives. This is the main staple of Rise of the Guardians. The belief in the existence of the the good guys and the bad guys as well. What makes this film work so well is not just it's message and visual majesty. It's the "adjustment" to the look and feel of the main characters.
Have you ever thought of Santa Cluas as a dual sword wielding Russian? How about The Easter Bunny as a boomerang tossing warrior? These were some of the changes made to these classic characters and they all worked to perfection. The guardians are employed to protect children's belief in them. If that belief is threatened then what better response is there but to fight for it and them.
This looked like a very crazy and risky concept but the writers did the smart thing and maintained each characters core components. No matter how different they look, sound or act we all still know who they are because we are given the chance to see all of them in their natural "habitat". It keeps their spirits alive and makes sure that you never forget what they are all about. I really wished I could get deeper into the characters but that would divulge some big story points so I have no choice but to stop here. Rest assured that everything with these figures fit like a glove. It makes this film no pun intended.
Magical.
As always, the animation is stellar and full of excitement. I thankfully saw this in 2D so I have no idea what the 3D version had to offer but I got a pretty good idea. Rise of the Guardians is full of fast and furious action that doesn't involve violence or fighting. There are quite a few scenes that has sweeping camera moves and POV flying. It was a treat to watch. I could tell that the 3D version would have made great use of these actions. This was another plus the film makers deserve credit for. Clearly they followed the source material and realized that if they were going to make this in detestable 3D. It was vital to take full advantage of the gimmick and give the audience their money's worth.
Rise of the Guardians is a fantastic, enchanting, wonderful film that the kids should love. It feels more like a Christmas film but releasing it just before Thanksgiving is just as good. The holiday feel is throughout this one. See this one.
You will believe again.
On the 5 star scale. Rise of the Guardians gets 4 stars with a "Worth Every Penny!" recommendation.
That's a wrap for today. Up next is Lincoln.
Until Next Episode...."I'll Save You A Seat!"
"D"
Today's review is Rise of the Guardians.
Directed by Peter Ramsey.
Written by David Lindsay-Abaire.
Based on the book "The Guardians of Childhood" written by William Joyce
Review #191
MPAA Rating: PG for thematic elements and some mildly scary action.
Run Time: 97 min
Cast
Chris Pine...Jack Frost (voice)
Alec Baldwin...North (voice)
Jude Law...Pitch (voice)
Isla Fisher...Tooth (voice)
Hugh Jackman...Bunny (voice)
Dakota Goyo...Jamie Bennett (voice)
Santa Claus, The Tooth Fairy, The Easter Bunny, The Sandman and Jack Frost. At some point in your lives, you believed in some or all of these characters. In one form or another. These characters have become necessities in children's lives. Of course commercialism has tainted the actual power these characters truly wield.
Rise of the Guardians wonderfully reminds you of the true purpose they serve.
Belief.
Plot
When the evil spirit Pitch launches an assault on Earth, the Immortal Guardians team up to protect the innocence of children all around the world.
Belief is a very powerful thing. It can shape the way a child or adult for that matter will act for the rest of their lives. This is the main staple of Rise of the Guardians. The belief in the existence of the the good guys and the bad guys as well. What makes this film work so well is not just it's message and visual majesty. It's the "adjustment" to the look and feel of the main characters.
Have you ever thought of Santa Cluas as a dual sword wielding Russian? How about The Easter Bunny as a boomerang tossing warrior? These were some of the changes made to these classic characters and they all worked to perfection. The guardians are employed to protect children's belief in them. If that belief is threatened then what better response is there but to fight for it and them.
This looked like a very crazy and risky concept but the writers did the smart thing and maintained each characters core components. No matter how different they look, sound or act we all still know who they are because we are given the chance to see all of them in their natural "habitat". It keeps their spirits alive and makes sure that you never forget what they are all about. I really wished I could get deeper into the characters but that would divulge some big story points so I have no choice but to stop here. Rest assured that everything with these figures fit like a glove. It makes this film no pun intended.
Magical.
As always, the animation is stellar and full of excitement. I thankfully saw this in 2D so I have no idea what the 3D version had to offer but I got a pretty good idea. Rise of the Guardians is full of fast and furious action that doesn't involve violence or fighting. There are quite a few scenes that has sweeping camera moves and POV flying. It was a treat to watch. I could tell that the 3D version would have made great use of these actions. This was another plus the film makers deserve credit for. Clearly they followed the source material and realized that if they were going to make this in detestable 3D. It was vital to take full advantage of the gimmick and give the audience their money's worth.
Rise of the Guardians is a fantastic, enchanting, wonderful film that the kids should love. It feels more like a Christmas film but releasing it just before Thanksgiving is just as good. The holiday feel is throughout this one. See this one.
You will believe again.
On the 5 star scale. Rise of the Guardians gets 4 stars with a "Worth Every Penny!" recommendation.
That's a wrap for today. Up next is Lincoln.
Until Next Episode...."I'll Save You A Seat!"
"D"
Flight
Welcome to another episode of Lights....Camera....Popcorn!
Today's review is Flight.
Directed by Robert Zemeckis.
Written by John Gatins.
Review #190
MPAA Rating: R for drug and alcohol abuse, language, sexuality/nudity and an intense action.
Run Time: 138 min
Cast
Denzel Washington...Whip Whitaker
Nadine Velazquez...Katerina Marquez
Tamara Tunie...Margaret Thomason
Brian Geraghty...Ken Evans
Kelly Reilly...Nicole
Bruce Greenwood...Charlie Anderson
John Goodman...Harling Mays
James Badge Dale...Gaunt Young Man
Don Cheadle...Hugh Lang
Peter Gerety...Avington Carr
Garcelle Beauvais...Deana
Justin Martin...Will
Melissa Leo...Ellen Block
For as long as I can remember. Denzel Washington has played likeable characters. Even his character in Training Day has some likeable qualities. I can't think of a role Washington played where he was just a bad person throughout.
Until now.
Plot
An airline pilot saves a flight from crashing, but an investigation into the malfunctions reveals something troubling.
The trailers don't accurately cover what actually goes on in this film. That was both a good and bad thing. Focusing on the plane crash and the subsequent investigation was a small sampling of Flight. The movie deals primarily with Washington's character and his personal demons before, during and after the plane crash. This was also both a good and bad thing. Centralizing the film around Whip was necessary. However, in doing so the rest of the film gets cheated and loses it's chance to develop around Whip's "issues".
In addition, Flight employs some supporting characters that in the grand scheme of things were important but don't play so well. There was a disconnect somewhere between taking us on Whip's journey with the people that surrounded him as he goes through it. Some of the issues that Whip goes through also border on the absurd at times. Again, some of the craziness is necessary and part of the character but the timing and some of the actions feel a bit over the top.
You'll see where. It's obvious.
There is a lot to like with Flight. The first being the plane crash. It was one of the most intense and surreal crashes I have seen in a very long time. It reminded me of the crash in Cast Away. Another Zemeckis film. The image of Tom Hanks looking in fear as the plane is about to slam into the ocean is as terrifying as you can get. Flight captures that same intensity and fear. You get an amazing view of the plan nose diving toward the ground surrounded by houses and people.
The scene was also perfectly timed as Whip and the co pilot communicate with air traffic control with the chaos going on with the passengers and crew. The scene also showed Whip's ability to handle a crisis under pressure. His co pilot is freaking out and he continues to bark directions in a calm, smooth & deliberate tone. The most chilling and realistic part of that scene was so subtle it sent chills down my spine. Whip tells one of the flight attendants to tell her son that she lovers her so the black box can record a final message in case they don't make it.
High drama at it's finest.
That may have been the visual highlight of the film but the best part of Flight is the debate it brings up.
How much forgiveness does a heroic act buy a person who's the exact opposite of how he's being portrayed?
It's a fascinating question that Flight does a terrific job exposing. Whip is to be nice flawed person. He as responsible as Honey Boo Boo's mother. The man lives for himself and looks to enjoy what he can when he can and deal with the consequences later. Seeing him as the film progresses you dislike him more and more. The fact that he could care less about the welfare of his passengers on the flight tells you all you need to know about his character.
Personal demons be damned.
Then just as the film leans toward you going against Whip, the page is flipped and stresses how his uncanny skills saved 90% of the people on that plane. Your opinions of him being to waver just a bit. Just a bit. After you start to rethink your position concerning Whip he returns to his old self and whatever sympathy he may have earned goes right out the window.
The final act of the film sets itself up for a predictable finish. What made the ending worthwhile for me at least was that there was no redemption. It gives Flight the closure it needed. The problem here is that it doesn't completely redeem the film. The movie overall is mired in subplots and underdeveloped supporting characters that don't add enough to the story for me to stay with it. Denzel and John Goodman were as expected but the rest of the cast though impressive at times just felt in the way.
Flight was a good film that took it's main character to some pretty deep places and I loved the question the film posed. I felt there was too much underdevelopment in other areas. This prevents the film from being something special.
On the 5 star scale. Flight gets 2.5 stars with a "Go See It!" recommendation.
That's a wrap for today. Up next is Rise of The Guardians.
Until Next Episode...."I'll Save You A Seat!"
"D"
Today's review is Flight.
Directed by Robert Zemeckis.
Written by John Gatins.
Review #190
MPAA Rating: R for drug and alcohol abuse, language, sexuality/nudity and an intense action.
Run Time: 138 min
Cast
Denzel Washington...Whip Whitaker
Nadine Velazquez...Katerina Marquez
Tamara Tunie...Margaret Thomason
Brian Geraghty...Ken Evans
Kelly Reilly...Nicole
Bruce Greenwood...Charlie Anderson
John Goodman...Harling Mays
James Badge Dale...Gaunt Young Man
Don Cheadle...Hugh Lang
Peter Gerety...Avington Carr
Garcelle Beauvais...Deana
Justin Martin...Will
Melissa Leo...Ellen Block
For as long as I can remember. Denzel Washington has played likeable characters. Even his character in Training Day has some likeable qualities. I can't think of a role Washington played where he was just a bad person throughout.
Until now.
Plot
An airline pilot saves a flight from crashing, but an investigation into the malfunctions reveals something troubling.
The trailers don't accurately cover what actually goes on in this film. That was both a good and bad thing. Focusing on the plane crash and the subsequent investigation was a small sampling of Flight. The movie deals primarily with Washington's character and his personal demons before, during and after the plane crash. This was also both a good and bad thing. Centralizing the film around Whip was necessary. However, in doing so the rest of the film gets cheated and loses it's chance to develop around Whip's "issues".
In addition, Flight employs some supporting characters that in the grand scheme of things were important but don't play so well. There was a disconnect somewhere between taking us on Whip's journey with the people that surrounded him as he goes through it. Some of the issues that Whip goes through also border on the absurd at times. Again, some of the craziness is necessary and part of the character but the timing and some of the actions feel a bit over the top.
You'll see where. It's obvious.
There is a lot to like with Flight. The first being the plane crash. It was one of the most intense and surreal crashes I have seen in a very long time. It reminded me of the crash in Cast Away. Another Zemeckis film. The image of Tom Hanks looking in fear as the plane is about to slam into the ocean is as terrifying as you can get. Flight captures that same intensity and fear. You get an amazing view of the plan nose diving toward the ground surrounded by houses and people.
The scene was also perfectly timed as Whip and the co pilot communicate with air traffic control with the chaos going on with the passengers and crew. The scene also showed Whip's ability to handle a crisis under pressure. His co pilot is freaking out and he continues to bark directions in a calm, smooth & deliberate tone. The most chilling and realistic part of that scene was so subtle it sent chills down my spine. Whip tells one of the flight attendants to tell her son that she lovers her so the black box can record a final message in case they don't make it.
High drama at it's finest.
That may have been the visual highlight of the film but the best part of Flight is the debate it brings up.
How much forgiveness does a heroic act buy a person who's the exact opposite of how he's being portrayed?
It's a fascinating question that Flight does a terrific job exposing. Whip is to be nice flawed person. He as responsible as Honey Boo Boo's mother. The man lives for himself and looks to enjoy what he can when he can and deal with the consequences later. Seeing him as the film progresses you dislike him more and more. The fact that he could care less about the welfare of his passengers on the flight tells you all you need to know about his character.
Personal demons be damned.
Then just as the film leans toward you going against Whip, the page is flipped and stresses how his uncanny skills saved 90% of the people on that plane. Your opinions of him being to waver just a bit. Just a bit. After you start to rethink your position concerning Whip he returns to his old self and whatever sympathy he may have earned goes right out the window.
The final act of the film sets itself up for a predictable finish. What made the ending worthwhile for me at least was that there was no redemption. It gives Flight the closure it needed. The problem here is that it doesn't completely redeem the film. The movie overall is mired in subplots and underdeveloped supporting characters that don't add enough to the story for me to stay with it. Denzel and John Goodman were as expected but the rest of the cast though impressive at times just felt in the way.
Flight was a good film that took it's main character to some pretty deep places and I loved the question the film posed. I felt there was too much underdevelopment in other areas. This prevents the film from being something special.
On the 5 star scale. Flight gets 2.5 stars with a "Go See It!" recommendation.
That's a wrap for today. Up next is Rise of The Guardians.
Until Next Episode...."I'll Save You A Seat!"
"D"
Skyfall
Welcome to another episode of Lights....Camera....Popcorn!
Today's review is Skyfall.
Directed by Sam Mendes.
Written by Neil Purvis, Robert Wade & John Logan
Based on the "James Bond" character created by Ian Fleming.
Review #189
MPAA Rating: PG-13 for intense violent sequences throughout, some sexuality, language and smoking.
Run Time: 143 min
Cast
Daniel Craig...James Bond
Judi Dench...M
Javier Bardem...Silva
Ralph Fiennes...Gareth Mallory
Naomie Harris...Eve
Bérénice Marlohe...Sévérine (as Bérénice Lim Marlohe)
Albert Finney...Kincade
Ben Whishaw...Q
Rory Kinnear...Tanner
Ola Rapace...Patrice
The Bond franchise has gone through countless changes. Whether it's the actors who play the super spy. Or the directors who make the films, the franchise has seen it's ups and downs. The Bond universe is currently enjoying a very nice up swing and there's no surprise why. The powers that be have realized that audiences today are a bit more sophisticated and while the laser equipped necktie and Aston Martin loaded with missiles and machine guns are fun. It doesn't play today as well as it used to back in Bond's hey day. So what did they do? In my opinion, they took a page from Christopher Nolan's Batman series.
They didn't just take a page. They plagiarized the whole book.
Plot
Bond's loyalty to M is tested as her past comes back to haunt her. As MI6 comes under attack, 007 must track down and destroy the threat, no matter how personal the cost.
The last three Bond films have a lot in common with Nolan's Dark Knight trilogy. The first being the actors who play the main characters. Daniel Craig and Christian Bale are phenomenal talents who are not known for comedic roles. They have played action heroes and dramatic figures. They have also played two of pop culture's most iconic characters. I don't care who you are, everyone has heard of James Bond and Batman.
Secondly, the choice of these actors to play these roles signified something very important. That being the overall tone of the films. We all know the campy nature of the Bond films and while at first Tim Burton gave us a darker version of the caped crusader. The character in the last two films morphed more into a toy making tool than completing a series of feature films. The last two Batman films were so horrendous that rebooting the franchise was not just a good idea.
It was necessary.
Nolan stripped away the cheese and started from scratch. The end result is his Batman trilogy is regarded as the only Batman series worth talking about in the annals of Tinseltown. The producers of the Bond films followed Nolan's lead and did the same thing. After Pierce Brosnan's departure, The character was taken apart and rebuilt from the ground up with fresh faces. The only holdover being Judi Dench as M. It was a bold move because there was a risk of alienating fans of the campy, silly Bond films.
The move paid off.
Casino Royale gave Bond fans of all types what they wanted. The story and villain Le Chiffre was typical of Bond's usual rogue's gallery. Only both he and his plot was modernized and grounded. This appealed to fans on both sides of the coin. That's what made it work for me. It didn't help that Craig despite his non Bond appearance played the part perfectly. He wasn't supposed to be the dashing master of espionage. He was the newly minted 007 who was still adjusting to his freshly granted license to kill. It was a great approach to the character. Craig played Bond with a lot more reckless abandon which is exactly what the franchise and the character needed. They also took Bond to a territory that hasn't been seen in a long time if ever.
Bond fell in love.
That was a major breakthrough for the character. Up until the day he met Vesper Lynd. Bond was the prototypical ladies man. No attachments to women of any kind other than pleasure. His job had a lot to do with that but he never had legitimate feelings for some one of that scale. Remember, he quit MI6 after Le Chiffre was killed and the money was returned. It was only finding out that Vesper betrayed him that he went back to work. Then in Quantum of Solace his entire motivation was finding and destroying the organization that had a hand in his girl's death. These were major changes to Bond's persona that made him more human than super human. It set things up for a promising sequel.
But then....
Quantum of Solace was not as well received as Casino Royale. I personally loved it but I do see why fans felt it was a poor sequel. Once again the suits rolled the dice and went with a sequel that maintained a form of continuity. Quantum of Solace literally begins right after Casino Royale and continues the story. It was a great idea. It just wasn't executed to it's fullest potential. So when Skyfall was announced I was wondering if they were still going to follow the thread of the first two films and blend the principal story together. They didn't.
What they did do was far more BRILLIANT!
The plot of Skyfall does something that I haven't seen from other Bond films. They took bits and pieces from other films and crafted the main story around the scraps. Here are the films that I came up with that Skyfall has elements of.
The Dark Knight
Mission Impossible
The Bourne Identity
Goldeneye
Normally I would be killing the film makers for cheating and not being original but I'm not this time for two reasons.
1) The blending of those films worked very well.
2) The original parts of Skyfall was so DAMN GOOD that it didn't matter the rest of the film was full of recycled material.
Skyfall deals specifically with M and Bond and the biggest factor that every person in the espionage business has to deal with.
Age.
This Bond film actually has the balls to suggest that the greatest spy in the entire galaxy is getting old. It's a concept that never crossed your mind before but Skyfall makes Bond, M and you come to grips with the fact that sooner or later the game will come to an end. Just like Casino Royale and Quantum of Solace, Bond remains defiant in the face of adversity. No matter who or what is causing it. This time though, M is also part of the equation because the motives of the villain revolve completely around her.
This is where Skyfall begins to establish the plot points that we've seen before. The motivation of the characters are plain as day but again, somehow they inexplicably work. The film begins to drag these been there done that themes for a while when suddenly it takes another surprising and fresh turn. I won't say exactly what.
Let's just say Bond goes home.
This was a great addition to the history and mystery of the character. It gave you a different perspective of what Bond goes through. What motivates him. Why is he so detached. Why he's always the perfect man for the job.
Of course no James Bond will would be complete without action set pieces. Skyfall doesn't disappoint in that area either. The opening sequence while bordered on the absurd (what else would you expect from a Bond film) was awesome to watch. Rest assured I'm never riding a train that I know has a bulldozer attached to it. The best part about the action was that it maintained the underlying theme of the film. Bond seemed to be a bit slow in certain parts of the fights and chases. This was a tell tale sign that the old man was losing a step.
Again another ballsy move. Nobody wants to see our heroes falling from grace. Nolan did the same thing with The Dark Knight Rises. He knew his Batman saga was going to end. So short of killing him he did the next logical thing. He made him vulnerable. That doesn't completely happen here but the signs are there. Another bold move was the "resignation" of a prime character. If you pay attention you can see it coming but it still felt original. This was the only way to go with the story and all the events around it so I applaud Mendes for taking the shot.
Finally, Skyfall introduces some classic characters to the series that we didn't see in the previous Craig starred films. This obviously guarantees a few more sequels on the way. In fact it was reported recently that John Logan who had his hand with this film will write the next two Bond scripts. It will be interesting to see what he comes up with. He's already said that the next two will be one story. A tricky concept but we'll see what happens.
All told. Skyfall was a treat to watch and the best Bond film of the Daniel Craig era. Some critics have labeled this the best Bond film ever. That's just nuts in my opinion. This new set of films have been terrific but Goldfinger is still the undisputed champion. If this direction continues, Daniel Craig might (and I say this very very carefully) supplant Sean Connery as the true James Bond.
He's got a long way to go but the future is very bright for the franchise.
On the 5 star scale. Skyfall gets 4.5 stars. With a "Worth Every Penny!" recommendation.
That's a wrap for today. Up next is Flight.
Until Next Episode...."I'll Save You A Seat!"
"D"
Today's review is Skyfall.
Directed by Sam Mendes.
Written by Neil Purvis, Robert Wade & John Logan
Based on the "James Bond" character created by Ian Fleming.
Review #189
MPAA Rating: PG-13 for intense violent sequences throughout, some sexuality, language and smoking.
Run Time: 143 min
Cast
Daniel Craig...James Bond
Judi Dench...M
Javier Bardem...Silva
Ralph Fiennes...Gareth Mallory
Naomie Harris...Eve
Bérénice Marlohe...Sévérine (as Bérénice Lim Marlohe)
Albert Finney...Kincade
Ben Whishaw...Q
Rory Kinnear...Tanner
Ola Rapace...Patrice
The Bond franchise has gone through countless changes. Whether it's the actors who play the super spy. Or the directors who make the films, the franchise has seen it's ups and downs. The Bond universe is currently enjoying a very nice up swing and there's no surprise why. The powers that be have realized that audiences today are a bit more sophisticated and while the laser equipped necktie and Aston Martin loaded with missiles and machine guns are fun. It doesn't play today as well as it used to back in Bond's hey day. So what did they do? In my opinion, they took a page from Christopher Nolan's Batman series.
They didn't just take a page. They plagiarized the whole book.
Plot
Bond's loyalty to M is tested as her past comes back to haunt her. As MI6 comes under attack, 007 must track down and destroy the threat, no matter how personal the cost.
The last three Bond films have a lot in common with Nolan's Dark Knight trilogy. The first being the actors who play the main characters. Daniel Craig and Christian Bale are phenomenal talents who are not known for comedic roles. They have played action heroes and dramatic figures. They have also played two of pop culture's most iconic characters. I don't care who you are, everyone has heard of James Bond and Batman.
Secondly, the choice of these actors to play these roles signified something very important. That being the overall tone of the films. We all know the campy nature of the Bond films and while at first Tim Burton gave us a darker version of the caped crusader. The character in the last two films morphed more into a toy making tool than completing a series of feature films. The last two Batman films were so horrendous that rebooting the franchise was not just a good idea.
It was necessary.
Nolan stripped away the cheese and started from scratch. The end result is his Batman trilogy is regarded as the only Batman series worth talking about in the annals of Tinseltown. The producers of the Bond films followed Nolan's lead and did the same thing. After Pierce Brosnan's departure, The character was taken apart and rebuilt from the ground up with fresh faces. The only holdover being Judi Dench as M. It was a bold move because there was a risk of alienating fans of the campy, silly Bond films.
The move paid off.
Casino Royale gave Bond fans of all types what they wanted. The story and villain Le Chiffre was typical of Bond's usual rogue's gallery. Only both he and his plot was modernized and grounded. This appealed to fans on both sides of the coin. That's what made it work for me. It didn't help that Craig despite his non Bond appearance played the part perfectly. He wasn't supposed to be the dashing master of espionage. He was the newly minted 007 who was still adjusting to his freshly granted license to kill. It was a great approach to the character. Craig played Bond with a lot more reckless abandon which is exactly what the franchise and the character needed. They also took Bond to a territory that hasn't been seen in a long time if ever.
Bond fell in love.
That was a major breakthrough for the character. Up until the day he met Vesper Lynd. Bond was the prototypical ladies man. No attachments to women of any kind other than pleasure. His job had a lot to do with that but he never had legitimate feelings for some one of that scale. Remember, he quit MI6 after Le Chiffre was killed and the money was returned. It was only finding out that Vesper betrayed him that he went back to work. Then in Quantum of Solace his entire motivation was finding and destroying the organization that had a hand in his girl's death. These were major changes to Bond's persona that made him more human than super human. It set things up for a promising sequel.
But then....
Quantum of Solace was not as well received as Casino Royale. I personally loved it but I do see why fans felt it was a poor sequel. Once again the suits rolled the dice and went with a sequel that maintained a form of continuity. Quantum of Solace literally begins right after Casino Royale and continues the story. It was a great idea. It just wasn't executed to it's fullest potential. So when Skyfall was announced I was wondering if they were still going to follow the thread of the first two films and blend the principal story together. They didn't.
What they did do was far more BRILLIANT!
The plot of Skyfall does something that I haven't seen from other Bond films. They took bits and pieces from other films and crafted the main story around the scraps. Here are the films that I came up with that Skyfall has elements of.
The Dark Knight
Mission Impossible
The Bourne Identity
Goldeneye
Normally I would be killing the film makers for cheating and not being original but I'm not this time for two reasons.
1) The blending of those films worked very well.
2) The original parts of Skyfall was so DAMN GOOD that it didn't matter the rest of the film was full of recycled material.
Skyfall deals specifically with M and Bond and the biggest factor that every person in the espionage business has to deal with.
Age.
This Bond film actually has the balls to suggest that the greatest spy in the entire galaxy is getting old. It's a concept that never crossed your mind before but Skyfall makes Bond, M and you come to grips with the fact that sooner or later the game will come to an end. Just like Casino Royale and Quantum of Solace, Bond remains defiant in the face of adversity. No matter who or what is causing it. This time though, M is also part of the equation because the motives of the villain revolve completely around her.
This is where Skyfall begins to establish the plot points that we've seen before. The motivation of the characters are plain as day but again, somehow they inexplicably work. The film begins to drag these been there done that themes for a while when suddenly it takes another surprising and fresh turn. I won't say exactly what.
Let's just say Bond goes home.
This was a great addition to the history and mystery of the character. It gave you a different perspective of what Bond goes through. What motivates him. Why is he so detached. Why he's always the perfect man for the job.
Of course no James Bond will would be complete without action set pieces. Skyfall doesn't disappoint in that area either. The opening sequence while bordered on the absurd (what else would you expect from a Bond film) was awesome to watch. Rest assured I'm never riding a train that I know has a bulldozer attached to it. The best part about the action was that it maintained the underlying theme of the film. Bond seemed to be a bit slow in certain parts of the fights and chases. This was a tell tale sign that the old man was losing a step.
Again another ballsy move. Nobody wants to see our heroes falling from grace. Nolan did the same thing with The Dark Knight Rises. He knew his Batman saga was going to end. So short of killing him he did the next logical thing. He made him vulnerable. That doesn't completely happen here but the signs are there. Another bold move was the "resignation" of a prime character. If you pay attention you can see it coming but it still felt original. This was the only way to go with the story and all the events around it so I applaud Mendes for taking the shot.
Finally, Skyfall introduces some classic characters to the series that we didn't see in the previous Craig starred films. This obviously guarantees a few more sequels on the way. In fact it was reported recently that John Logan who had his hand with this film will write the next two Bond scripts. It will be interesting to see what he comes up with. He's already said that the next two will be one story. A tricky concept but we'll see what happens.
All told. Skyfall was a treat to watch and the best Bond film of the Daniel Craig era. Some critics have labeled this the best Bond film ever. That's just nuts in my opinion. This new set of films have been terrific but Goldfinger is still the undisputed champion. If this direction continues, Daniel Craig might (and I say this very very carefully) supplant Sean Connery as the true James Bond.
He's got a long way to go but the future is very bright for the franchise.
On the 5 star scale. Skyfall gets 4.5 stars. With a "Worth Every Penny!" recommendation.
That's a wrap for today. Up next is Flight.
Until Next Episode...."I'll Save You A Seat!"
"D"
Cloud Atlas
Welcome to another episode of Lights....Camera....Popcorn!
Today's review is Cloud Atlas.
Written & Directed by Lana Wachowski, Andy Wachowski & Tom Tykwer.
Based on the novel "Cloud Atlas" by David Mitchell.
Review #188
MPAA Rating: R for violence, language, sexuality/nudity and some drug use.
Run Time: 172 min
Cast
Tom Hanks...Dr. Henry Goose / Hotel Manager / Isaac Sachs / Dermot Hoggins / Cavendish Look-a-Like Actor / Zachry
Halle Berry...Native Woman / Jocasta Ayrs / Luisa Rey / Indian Party Guest / Ovid / Meronym
Jim Broadbent...Captain Molyneux / Vyvyan Ayrs / Timothy Cavendish / Korean Musician / Prescient 2
Hugo Weaving...Haskell Moore / Tadeusz Kesselring / Bill Smoke / Nurse Noakes / Boardman Mephi / Old Georgie
Jim Sturgess...Adam Ewing / Poor Hotel Guest / Megan's Dad / Highlander / Hae-Joo Chang / Adam / Zachry Brother-in-Law
Doona Bae...Tilda / Megan's Mom / Mexican Woman / Sonmi-451 / Sonmi-351 / Sonmi Prostitute
Ben Whishaw...Cabin Boy / Robert Frobisher / Store Clerk / Georgette / Tribesman
Keith David...Kupaka / Joe Napier / An-kor Apis / Prescient
James D'Arcy...Young Rufus Sixsmith / Old Rufus Sixsmith / Nurse James / Archivist
Xun Zhou...Talbot / Hotel Manager / Yoona-939 / Rose
David Gyasi...Autua / Lester Rey / Duophsyte
Susan Sarandon...Madame Horrox / Older Ursula / Yusouf Suleiman / Abbess
Hugh Grant...Rev. Giles Horrox / Hotel Heavy / Lloyd Hooks / Denholme Cavendish / Seer Rhee / Kona Chief
Brody Nicholas Lee...Javier Gomez / Jonas / Zachry's Older Nephew
After their failed adaptation of Speed Racer, the Wachowski's went AWOL for a couple of years. Instead of making films they lent their talents in the producer capacity. Then came the surprising news that Larry Wachowski became Lana Wachowski. He had the transgender procedures done after Speed Racer. This could have explained the 4 year hiatus. Nevertheless. It's great to have them back because with the help of Tykwer.
They created one of the best films I've seen this year!
Plot
An exploration of how the actions of individual lives impact one another in the past, present and future, as one soul is shaped from a killer into a hero, and an act of kindness ripples across centuries to inspire a revolution.
Before I dig into this review I have three words of advice if you decide to see this film.
STAY WITH IT!
Cloud Atlas does it's absolute best to make you hate it by applying confusion and a feeling of it never ending. This was an unfortunate result for 2 people that were in the theater with me. They didn't last 25 minutes. It's really too bad cause not only did they just burn $13 apiece.
They missed out on amazing adventure.
As always, I try to not reveal too much plot info in my reviews. Rest assured that won't happen with Cloud Atlas. Not because I care about the integrity of the plot or keeping thins spoiler free. It's because I have no idea how to describe it. The general plot that's highlighted in this review doesn't come close to cover everything that happens in this movie. And it's that fact that makes this movie such a joy to watch.
There have been many reviews and opinions that say Cloud Atlas falls into my coined S.O.S category. That is a valid point but I venture to guess that some of the critics that feel this way didn't see the same film that I did. That's not their fault. Like I mentioned earlier, the movie doesn't make it easy for you to get a grasp on and follow. Cloud Atlas requires two very important things.
Patience and bladder control.
At just under 3 hours, this film makes you feel it. This is where Cloud Atlas falls a bit for me. Now I have nothing against long films when they are paced properly. This movie lacks in that department. A lot of that can be attributed to the length of some scenes. The movie jumps around between the different time periods and characters. As a result you will not get a lot of continuity. Adding to the "broken" feel of the narrative, some of the scenes will vary in length which can also mess with your mental puzzle construction. However, if you follow my advice, your patience will be rewarded because the film comes full circle in the end. Tying all of the stories and time periods together and wrapping them all up to a satisfying conclusion.
Moving on to the other part of the opinions the critics had of this film.
The visuals in Cloud Atlas are stunning. Particularly in the future world of Neo Seoul. The world created there is just amazing to look at. The rest of the film has magnificent set pieces and locations as well. In a film like this that travels all over the world and time for that matter needs to display a large degree of authenticity. That happens in massive quantities here. Every time period and locale was well designed and presented down to the smallest detail. This is a quality that the Wachowski's are known for. They pay attention to the little things because it's those things that can make or break as scene.
The cast in this film is remarkable. Not just in their performance but in the number of characters they play. This is also a testament to the incredible makeup department. I dare you to tell me that you knew Halle Berry was the Korean doctor. OK. Minor spoiler. Sue me. It won't take away from your viewing experience. Speaking of Koreans the show stealer in this one was unquestionably Doona Bae. Her performance as Sonmi-451 was captivating. Her character requires her to be very subdued and introverted so her eyes have to tell most of the story and she pulls it off beautifully. It didn't hurt that she was easy on the eyes either.
It's really a shame that Cloud Atlas is flopping. By most accounts it will take a miracle for the film to recoup it's $100 million plus budget. The Wachowski's and Tykwer showed some serious balls and made a movie that's not considered down the beaten path. They deserved some attention for the effort because the effort was a valiant one.
The problem is what makes Cloud Atlas so strong also makes it weak.
If the film had been shaved by at least 30 minutes then perhaps it might have been better received. That's saying a whole lot when I'm suggesting to cut out the equivalent of an entire third of a "normal" film's running time. Cloud Atlas may not have gotten it's desired response. It got one out of me.
I loved this film and I will continue to support it and be in it's corner.
On the 5 star scale. Cloud Atlas gets 4 stars. With a "Worth Every Penny!" recommendation.
That's a wrap for today. Up next is Skyfall.
Until Next Episode...."I'll Save You A Seat!"
"D"
Today's review is Cloud Atlas.
Written & Directed by Lana Wachowski, Andy Wachowski & Tom Tykwer.
Based on the novel "Cloud Atlas" by David Mitchell.
Review #188
MPAA Rating: R for violence, language, sexuality/nudity and some drug use.
Run Time: 172 min
Cast
Tom Hanks...Dr. Henry Goose / Hotel Manager / Isaac Sachs / Dermot Hoggins / Cavendish Look-a-Like Actor / Zachry
Halle Berry...Native Woman / Jocasta Ayrs / Luisa Rey / Indian Party Guest / Ovid / Meronym
Jim Broadbent...Captain Molyneux / Vyvyan Ayrs / Timothy Cavendish / Korean Musician / Prescient 2
Hugo Weaving...Haskell Moore / Tadeusz Kesselring / Bill Smoke / Nurse Noakes / Boardman Mephi / Old Georgie
Jim Sturgess...Adam Ewing / Poor Hotel Guest / Megan's Dad / Highlander / Hae-Joo Chang / Adam / Zachry Brother-in-Law
Doona Bae...Tilda / Megan's Mom / Mexican Woman / Sonmi-451 / Sonmi-351 / Sonmi Prostitute
Ben Whishaw...Cabin Boy / Robert Frobisher / Store Clerk / Georgette / Tribesman
Keith David...Kupaka / Joe Napier / An-kor Apis / Prescient
James D'Arcy...Young Rufus Sixsmith / Old Rufus Sixsmith / Nurse James / Archivist
Xun Zhou...Talbot / Hotel Manager / Yoona-939 / Rose
David Gyasi...Autua / Lester Rey / Duophsyte
Susan Sarandon...Madame Horrox / Older Ursula / Yusouf Suleiman / Abbess
Hugh Grant...Rev. Giles Horrox / Hotel Heavy / Lloyd Hooks / Denholme Cavendish / Seer Rhee / Kona Chief
Brody Nicholas Lee...Javier Gomez / Jonas / Zachry's Older Nephew
After their failed adaptation of Speed Racer, the Wachowski's went AWOL for a couple of years. Instead of making films they lent their talents in the producer capacity. Then came the surprising news that Larry Wachowski became Lana Wachowski. He had the transgender procedures done after Speed Racer. This could have explained the 4 year hiatus. Nevertheless. It's great to have them back because with the help of Tykwer.
They created one of the best films I've seen this year!
Plot
An exploration of how the actions of individual lives impact one another in the past, present and future, as one soul is shaped from a killer into a hero, and an act of kindness ripples across centuries to inspire a revolution.
Before I dig into this review I have three words of advice if you decide to see this film.
STAY WITH IT!
Cloud Atlas does it's absolute best to make you hate it by applying confusion and a feeling of it never ending. This was an unfortunate result for 2 people that were in the theater with me. They didn't last 25 minutes. It's really too bad cause not only did they just burn $13 apiece.
They missed out on amazing adventure.
As always, I try to not reveal too much plot info in my reviews. Rest assured that won't happen with Cloud Atlas. Not because I care about the integrity of the plot or keeping thins spoiler free. It's because I have no idea how to describe it. The general plot that's highlighted in this review doesn't come close to cover everything that happens in this movie. And it's that fact that makes this movie such a joy to watch.
There have been many reviews and opinions that say Cloud Atlas falls into my coined S.O.S category. That is a valid point but I venture to guess that some of the critics that feel this way didn't see the same film that I did. That's not their fault. Like I mentioned earlier, the movie doesn't make it easy for you to get a grasp on and follow. Cloud Atlas requires two very important things.
Patience and bladder control.
At just under 3 hours, this film makes you feel it. This is where Cloud Atlas falls a bit for me. Now I have nothing against long films when they are paced properly. This movie lacks in that department. A lot of that can be attributed to the length of some scenes. The movie jumps around between the different time periods and characters. As a result you will not get a lot of continuity. Adding to the "broken" feel of the narrative, some of the scenes will vary in length which can also mess with your mental puzzle construction. However, if you follow my advice, your patience will be rewarded because the film comes full circle in the end. Tying all of the stories and time periods together and wrapping them all up to a satisfying conclusion.
Moving on to the other part of the opinions the critics had of this film.
The visuals in Cloud Atlas are stunning. Particularly in the future world of Neo Seoul. The world created there is just amazing to look at. The rest of the film has magnificent set pieces and locations as well. In a film like this that travels all over the world and time for that matter needs to display a large degree of authenticity. That happens in massive quantities here. Every time period and locale was well designed and presented down to the smallest detail. This is a quality that the Wachowski's are known for. They pay attention to the little things because it's those things that can make or break as scene.
The cast in this film is remarkable. Not just in their performance but in the number of characters they play. This is also a testament to the incredible makeup department. I dare you to tell me that you knew Halle Berry was the Korean doctor. OK. Minor spoiler. Sue me. It won't take away from your viewing experience. Speaking of Koreans the show stealer in this one was unquestionably Doona Bae. Her performance as Sonmi-451 was captivating. Her character requires her to be very subdued and introverted so her eyes have to tell most of the story and she pulls it off beautifully. It didn't hurt that she was easy on the eyes either.
It's really a shame that Cloud Atlas is flopping. By most accounts it will take a miracle for the film to recoup it's $100 million plus budget. The Wachowski's and Tykwer showed some serious balls and made a movie that's not considered down the beaten path. They deserved some attention for the effort because the effort was a valiant one.
The problem is what makes Cloud Atlas so strong also makes it weak.
If the film had been shaved by at least 30 minutes then perhaps it might have been better received. That's saying a whole lot when I'm suggesting to cut out the equivalent of an entire third of a "normal" film's running time. Cloud Atlas may not have gotten it's desired response. It got one out of me.
I loved this film and I will continue to support it and be in it's corner.
On the 5 star scale. Cloud Atlas gets 4 stars. With a "Worth Every Penny!" recommendation.
That's a wrap for today. Up next is Skyfall.
Until Next Episode...."I'll Save You A Seat!"
"D"
Wreck It Ralph
Welcome to another episode of Lights....Camera....Popcorn!
Today's review is Wreck It Ralph.
Directed by Rich Moore.
Written by Phil Johnston & Jennifer Lee.
Screen Story by Rich Moore, Phil Johnston & Jim Reardon.
Review #186
MPAA Rating: PG for some rude humor and mild action/violence.
Run Time: 101 min
Cast
John C. Reilly...Ralph (voice)
Sarah Silverman...Vanellope (voice)
Jack McBrayer...Felix (voice)
Jane Lynch...Calhoun (voice)
Adam Carolla...Wynnchel (voice)
Alan Tudyk...King Candy (voice)
Mindy Kaling...Taffyta Muttonfudge (voice)
Joe Lo Truglio...Markowski (voice)
Ed O'Neill...Mr. Litwak (voice)
Dennis Haysbert...General Hologram (voice)
Edie McClurg...Mary (voice)
Raymond S. Persi...Gene / Zombie (voice)
Video games is a multi billion dollar industry. They are not only entertaining but contain some of the best stories that you will ever see. There are seriously creative people behind these games. It makes me scratch my head to no end how the film industry never follows the model the game creators use to make these amazing adventures. Oh wait, I know why they don't follow the model.
IT'S BECAUSE THEY'RE STUPID!!!!
Since the video game boom, there have been hundreds upon hundreds of film options and adaptations. Of those many films I can only think of two that even come close to being good enough to watch. Mortal Kombat and Resident Evil. Those two films were pretty close to the games origin and had some popular characters for us all to enjoy. Ironically they were both written and directed by Paul W.S. Anderson who by most accounts (including mine) is one of the WORST directors in the WORLD!
So here we are with another video game movie. With a twist. Instead of adapting a popular game, an original story was created which surrounded classic games around it.
What a novel idea.
Plot
A video game villain wants to be a hero and sets out to fulfill his dream, but his quest brings havoc to the whole arcade where he lives.
The first thing I realized that while watching this movie was that while it was made for kids. It was made for kids like me. Meaning this film appeals to the days when I used to go to the arcade and play games like Q Bert, Pacman, Street Fighter and Mortal Kombat. Many characters from these classic games appear in this movie. Kids today have no idea who these characters are but they are funny so it works for them. It was nostalgic for me which gave the film a much bigger impact and entertainment value.
What made this film so cool was the simplicity of it's concept. Video game characters actually live in the game and act like it's a job until the arcade closes. It's such a simple idea it's brilliant.Watching the characters live like us. Going to bars and hanging out among each other was so cool to see. Just picture Ryu fighting Ken from Street Fighter then just as Ryu throws a dragon uppercut, the arcade closes. The fight stops then Ryu asks Ken if he wants to have a beer and they casually walk off the screen together. That scene was in the movie and made my heart sing. My only gripe is that I wished there were more scenes like that. The game characters are spread throughout but are seen sparingly. This is obviously because they needed the time to get the main story involving Ralph going.
Moving on to the main story. Again this was a simple yet really cool concept. Imagine a video game villain who doesn't want to be one anymore. Now the trailers depict the film as that plot point being the main portion of the story. It's only the motivation and jumping off point for what happens the rest of the way. In many respects Ralph is the supporting character with Vanellope being the main one. The movie shifts from Ralph's motivations to what Vanellope deals with and how Ralph plays a role in her quest.
As always in films like this, the animation is top notch. Fast and smooth. The character designs are really detailed and defined. This gives them a more life like quality which makes the voice acting crucial. The cast does a really good job bringing these characters to the world they're supposed to be a part of and injecting life into them. John C. Reilly and Sarah Silverman highlight the cast. Since the film revolves around their characters it's important they own their characters and they do. John C. Reilly doesn't do anything special to Ralph's voice. He pretty much reads his dialogue naturally but his voice is so comical in nature anyway that it works which is very rare.
The film does it's predictable turn which sets up the heoric finale. However, like it's concept, the final act feels and plays fresh and new. It also brings the story full circle whcih felt a bit draggy in the middle. Wreck It Ralph doesn't redefine the genre of CG animated movies. It does however give fans of the genre like me excitement that future homages of old school stuff that I used to like as a kid resurfaces. The opportunities are limitless.
On the 5 star scale. Wreck It Ralph gets 4 stars with a "Worth Every Penny!" recommendation.
That's a wrap for today. Up next is Cloud Atlas.
Until Next Episode...."I'll Save You A Seat!"
"D"
Today's review is Wreck It Ralph.
Directed by Rich Moore.
Written by Phil Johnston & Jennifer Lee.
Screen Story by Rich Moore, Phil Johnston & Jim Reardon.
Review #186
MPAA Rating: PG for some rude humor and mild action/violence.
Run Time: 101 min
Cast
John C. Reilly...Ralph (voice)
Sarah Silverman...Vanellope (voice)
Jack McBrayer...Felix (voice)
Jane Lynch...Calhoun (voice)
Adam Carolla...Wynnchel (voice)
Alan Tudyk...King Candy (voice)
Mindy Kaling...Taffyta Muttonfudge (voice)
Joe Lo Truglio...Markowski (voice)
Ed O'Neill...Mr. Litwak (voice)
Dennis Haysbert...General Hologram (voice)
Edie McClurg...Mary (voice)
Raymond S. Persi...Gene / Zombie (voice)
Video games is a multi billion dollar industry. They are not only entertaining but contain some of the best stories that you will ever see. There are seriously creative people behind these games. It makes me scratch my head to no end how the film industry never follows the model the game creators use to make these amazing adventures. Oh wait, I know why they don't follow the model.
IT'S BECAUSE THEY'RE STUPID!!!!
Since the video game boom, there have been hundreds upon hundreds of film options and adaptations. Of those many films I can only think of two that even come close to being good enough to watch. Mortal Kombat and Resident Evil. Those two films were pretty close to the games origin and had some popular characters for us all to enjoy. Ironically they were both written and directed by Paul W.S. Anderson who by most accounts (including mine) is one of the WORST directors in the WORLD!
So here we are with another video game movie. With a twist. Instead of adapting a popular game, an original story was created which surrounded classic games around it.
What a novel idea.
Plot
A video game villain wants to be a hero and sets out to fulfill his dream, but his quest brings havoc to the whole arcade where he lives.
The first thing I realized that while watching this movie was that while it was made for kids. It was made for kids like me. Meaning this film appeals to the days when I used to go to the arcade and play games like Q Bert, Pacman, Street Fighter and Mortal Kombat. Many characters from these classic games appear in this movie. Kids today have no idea who these characters are but they are funny so it works for them. It was nostalgic for me which gave the film a much bigger impact and entertainment value.
What made this film so cool was the simplicity of it's concept. Video game characters actually live in the game and act like it's a job until the arcade closes. It's such a simple idea it's brilliant.Watching the characters live like us. Going to bars and hanging out among each other was so cool to see. Just picture Ryu fighting Ken from Street Fighter then just as Ryu throws a dragon uppercut, the arcade closes. The fight stops then Ryu asks Ken if he wants to have a beer and they casually walk off the screen together. That scene was in the movie and made my heart sing. My only gripe is that I wished there were more scenes like that. The game characters are spread throughout but are seen sparingly. This is obviously because they needed the time to get the main story involving Ralph going.
Moving on to the main story. Again this was a simple yet really cool concept. Imagine a video game villain who doesn't want to be one anymore. Now the trailers depict the film as that plot point being the main portion of the story. It's only the motivation and jumping off point for what happens the rest of the way. In many respects Ralph is the supporting character with Vanellope being the main one. The movie shifts from Ralph's motivations to what Vanellope deals with and how Ralph plays a role in her quest.
As always in films like this, the animation is top notch. Fast and smooth. The character designs are really detailed and defined. This gives them a more life like quality which makes the voice acting crucial. The cast does a really good job bringing these characters to the world they're supposed to be a part of and injecting life into them. John C. Reilly and Sarah Silverman highlight the cast. Since the film revolves around their characters it's important they own their characters and they do. John C. Reilly doesn't do anything special to Ralph's voice. He pretty much reads his dialogue naturally but his voice is so comical in nature anyway that it works which is very rare.
The film does it's predictable turn which sets up the heoric finale. However, like it's concept, the final act feels and plays fresh and new. It also brings the story full circle whcih felt a bit draggy in the middle. Wreck It Ralph doesn't redefine the genre of CG animated movies. It does however give fans of the genre like me excitement that future homages of old school stuff that I used to like as a kid resurfaces. The opportunities are limitless.
On the 5 star scale. Wreck It Ralph gets 4 stars with a "Worth Every Penny!" recommendation.
That's a wrap for today. Up next is Cloud Atlas.
Until Next Episode...."I'll Save You A Seat!"
"D"
The Man With The Iron Fists
Welcome to another episode of Lights....Camera....Popcorn!
Today's review is The Man With The Iron Fists.
Directed by The RZA.
Written by Eli Roth & The RZA.
Screen Story by The RZA.
Martial Arts Choreography by Corey Yuen.
Review #185
MPAA Rating: R for bloody violence, strong sexuality, language and brief drug use.
Run Time: 95 min
Cast
RZA...Blacksmith
Rick Yune...Zen Yi, The X-Blade
Russell Crowe...Jack Knife
Lucy Liu...Madam Blossom
Dave Bautista...Brass Body
Jamie Chung...Lady Silk
Cung Le...Bronze Lion
Byron Mann...Silver Lion
Daniel Wu...Poison Dagger
Zhu Zhu...Chi Chi
Chia Hui Liu...Abbott (as Gordon Liu)
Kuan Tai Chen...Gold Lion
Grace Huang...Gemini Female
Andrew Lin...Gemini Male
Pam Grier...Jane
Dennis Chan...Dragon Innkeeper
Terence Yin...Governor
The Wu Tang Clan is now and will forever will be one of my favorite rap groups. When they burst on the scene back in 1992, they changed the rap game with their ingenious blend of hypnotic beats and rhymes with old school kung fu films.
Pure entertainment at it's utter finest.
One of the architects of the Clan was The RZA. He designed practically every beat The Wu spit to. They are iconic rhythms. The influx of 70's kung fu films also added a fresh perspective to a very specific genre of music. It was evident that the groups love of kung fu films permeated throughout their records. They sampled audio clips of some of the genre's most iconic films. From 5 Deadly Venoms to Lone Wolf and Cub to The 36th Chamber of Shaolin. These guys were not just using the films to promote their unique group.
They were aficionados.
Fast forward 20 years and while sadly The Wu no longer exists, the master still continues to influence other artists in both the studio and screen. The RZA has gone on to produce tracks and beats for many of hip hop's best and after doing some light acting. He's taken a crack at film making. Which brings us to his writing and directing debut of The Man With The Iron Fists. An appropriate title for his first film. It resembles so many of the movies that inspired the amazing music and albums that he helped produce.
There's just one problem.
If he was trying to make a movie that was worthy of being mentioned in the same breath as the classic kung fu wu xia films of yesteryear.
He FAILED miserably.
If he was trying to homage those films while putting his own touches on it then he SUCCEEDED.
Plot
On the hunt for a fabled treasure of gold, a band of warriors, assassins, and a rogue British soldier descend upon a village in feudal China, where a humble blacksmith looks to defend himself and his fellow villagers.
There were some glaring issues with this film. The first was RZA casting himself as the blacksmith. Putting his acting skill aside. He just didn't look the part. There was very little life to his character. The blacksmith was by nature under the radar but you combine that with RZA's lack of emotion the character becomes more cardboard then stoic.
Secondly, the story is a bit disjointed. Particularly concerning the blacksmiths back story. It felt very out of place. Here he is in this world of fighters and warlords and his origins come from a completely different place that takes you away from the cool world that he created. It's a small flashback scene but it takes you out of the setting that makes the film interesting. The other parts of the story is pretty self explanatory and quite weak. The motives of the villain are pretty transparent which is no surprise when dealing with a film of this genre.
The cast was pretty impressive. Including some old school kung fu heavyweights which was a nice sight to see. This was one part of the film that RZA got right. He employed some names from the past that brought some validity and authenticity to the film. I only wished that they had more screen time. Most of these actors were subjected to cameos during fights or quick exposition scenes.
Shame.
There was another thing that RZA got right. Or half right. He got a Hong Kong veteran to choreograph the action. Corey Yuen is a major name in the industry. Having gone to the same Peking Opera School as Jackie Chan, Sammo Hung and Yuen Biao. He went on to direct and choreograph some of the genres finest films.
The part that went wrong was that Yuen's talents were wasted here.
The fights were well choreographed but they at times were too stylized to the point that all you saw was mass chaos. It was reminiscent of Hackael Bay's Transformers fights. Just a mass of metal fighting, destroying things. All you saw was the explosions and broken glass. There was an element of that here. Instead of seeing a nicely executed one on one battle full of intricate moves and sequences. You got a sliver of that then mass hysteria followed. Chaos aside you do see blood. A TON of blood. The violence is ramped up here as to be expected so don't wear white to the theater.
It's really too bad because even the non martial artists like Lucy Liu, Rick Yune, Byron Mann, Russell Crowe and RZA himself all made a grand effort to look the part. The editing was also choppy and whimsical. This was something that surprised me a little. RZA of all people knew what kung fu films were famous for. Bad ass fights and sharp crisply edited fights. That was not the case in either avenue and that is unacceptable for a true fan of the genre.
The characters with exception of the blacksmith were very cool. The coolest being Brass Body. RZA clearly nailed this part of the film. He realized that this type of kung fu film throws all logic out the window when it came to the characters' abilities and fighting styles. Brass Body was the embodiment of that philosophy and it gave the film a nice look and attitude.
For a first effort. RZA did a good job. He wasn't trying to reinvent the wheel here. He was trying to make a film that resembled the ones he knows and loves. He accomplished his mission in that regard. If he had only taken a few more steps and followed the blueprint a little more to the letter. We could have been talking about a new age Shaw Bros entry.
So close yet so far.
On the 5 star scale. The Man With The Iron Fists gets 3 stars. With a "Go See It!" recommendation.
That's a wrap for today. Up next is Wreck It Ralph.
Until Next Episode...."I'll Save You A Seat!"
"D"
Today's review is The Man With The Iron Fists.
Directed by The RZA.
Written by Eli Roth & The RZA.
Screen Story by The RZA.
Martial Arts Choreography by Corey Yuen.
Review #185
MPAA Rating: R for bloody violence, strong sexuality, language and brief drug use.
Run Time: 95 min
Cast
RZA...Blacksmith
Rick Yune...Zen Yi, The X-Blade
Russell Crowe...Jack Knife
Lucy Liu...Madam Blossom
Dave Bautista...Brass Body
Jamie Chung...Lady Silk
Cung Le...Bronze Lion
Byron Mann...Silver Lion
Daniel Wu...Poison Dagger
Zhu Zhu...Chi Chi
Chia Hui Liu...Abbott (as Gordon Liu)
Kuan Tai Chen...Gold Lion
Grace Huang...Gemini Female
Andrew Lin...Gemini Male
Pam Grier...Jane
Dennis Chan...Dragon Innkeeper
Terence Yin...Governor
The Wu Tang Clan is now and will forever will be one of my favorite rap groups. When they burst on the scene back in 1992, they changed the rap game with their ingenious blend of hypnotic beats and rhymes with old school kung fu films.
Pure entertainment at it's utter finest.
One of the architects of the Clan was The RZA. He designed practically every beat The Wu spit to. They are iconic rhythms. The influx of 70's kung fu films also added a fresh perspective to a very specific genre of music. It was evident that the groups love of kung fu films permeated throughout their records. They sampled audio clips of some of the genre's most iconic films. From 5 Deadly Venoms to Lone Wolf and Cub to The 36th Chamber of Shaolin. These guys were not just using the films to promote their unique group.
They were aficionados.
Fast forward 20 years and while sadly The Wu no longer exists, the master still continues to influence other artists in both the studio and screen. The RZA has gone on to produce tracks and beats for many of hip hop's best and after doing some light acting. He's taken a crack at film making. Which brings us to his writing and directing debut of The Man With The Iron Fists. An appropriate title for his first film. It resembles so many of the movies that inspired the amazing music and albums that he helped produce.
There's just one problem.
If he was trying to make a movie that was worthy of being mentioned in the same breath as the classic kung fu wu xia films of yesteryear.
He FAILED miserably.
If he was trying to homage those films while putting his own touches on it then he SUCCEEDED.
Plot
On the hunt for a fabled treasure of gold, a band of warriors, assassins, and a rogue British soldier descend upon a village in feudal China, where a humble blacksmith looks to defend himself and his fellow villagers.
There were some glaring issues with this film. The first was RZA casting himself as the blacksmith. Putting his acting skill aside. He just didn't look the part. There was very little life to his character. The blacksmith was by nature under the radar but you combine that with RZA's lack of emotion the character becomes more cardboard then stoic.
Secondly, the story is a bit disjointed. Particularly concerning the blacksmiths back story. It felt very out of place. Here he is in this world of fighters and warlords and his origins come from a completely different place that takes you away from the cool world that he created. It's a small flashback scene but it takes you out of the setting that makes the film interesting. The other parts of the story is pretty self explanatory and quite weak. The motives of the villain are pretty transparent which is no surprise when dealing with a film of this genre.
The cast was pretty impressive. Including some old school kung fu heavyweights which was a nice sight to see. This was one part of the film that RZA got right. He employed some names from the past that brought some validity and authenticity to the film. I only wished that they had more screen time. Most of these actors were subjected to cameos during fights or quick exposition scenes.
Shame.
There was another thing that RZA got right. Or half right. He got a Hong Kong veteran to choreograph the action. Corey Yuen is a major name in the industry. Having gone to the same Peking Opera School as Jackie Chan, Sammo Hung and Yuen Biao. He went on to direct and choreograph some of the genres finest films.
The part that went wrong was that Yuen's talents were wasted here.
The fights were well choreographed but they at times were too stylized to the point that all you saw was mass chaos. It was reminiscent of Hackael Bay's Transformers fights. Just a mass of metal fighting, destroying things. All you saw was the explosions and broken glass. There was an element of that here. Instead of seeing a nicely executed one on one battle full of intricate moves and sequences. You got a sliver of that then mass hysteria followed. Chaos aside you do see blood. A TON of blood. The violence is ramped up here as to be expected so don't wear white to the theater.
It's really too bad because even the non martial artists like Lucy Liu, Rick Yune, Byron Mann, Russell Crowe and RZA himself all made a grand effort to look the part. The editing was also choppy and whimsical. This was something that surprised me a little. RZA of all people knew what kung fu films were famous for. Bad ass fights and sharp crisply edited fights. That was not the case in either avenue and that is unacceptable for a true fan of the genre.
The characters with exception of the blacksmith were very cool. The coolest being Brass Body. RZA clearly nailed this part of the film. He realized that this type of kung fu film throws all logic out the window when it came to the characters' abilities and fighting styles. Brass Body was the embodiment of that philosophy and it gave the film a nice look and attitude.
For a first effort. RZA did a good job. He wasn't trying to reinvent the wheel here. He was trying to make a film that resembled the ones he knows and loves. He accomplished his mission in that regard. If he had only taken a few more steps and followed the blueprint a little more to the letter. We could have been talking about a new age Shaw Bros entry.
So close yet so far.
On the 5 star scale. The Man With The Iron Fists gets 3 stars. With a "Go See It!" recommendation.
That's a wrap for today. Up next is Wreck It Ralph.
Until Next Episode...."I'll Save You A Seat!"
"D"
Seven Psychopaths
Welcome to another episode of Lights....Camera....Popcorn!
Today's review is Seven Psychopaths.
Written & Directed by Martin McDonagh.
Review #184
MPAA Rating: R for strong violence, bloody images, pervasive language, sexuality/nudity and some drug use.
Run Time: 110 min
Cast
In order of apperance
Michael Pitt...Larry
Michael Stuhlbarg...Tommy
Sam Rockwell...Billy
Colin Farrell...Marty
Abbie Cornish...Kaya
Christopher Walken...Hans
Linda Bright Clay...Myra
Harry Dean Stanton...Man in Hat
Joseph Lyle Taylor...Al
Kevin Corrigan...Dennis
Woody Harrelson...Charlie
Gabourey Sidibe...Sharice
Zeljko Ivanek...Paulo
Long Nguyen...Vietnamese Priest
Olga Kurylenko...Angela
Dark/Black comedies are in my opinion one of the toughest films to write. You have to carefully balance the drama and droll. They aren't that funny but they are. It's quite a skill to pull off. The last good one I saw was The Guard with Brendan Gleeson and Don Cheadle. Martin McDonagh has managed to write and direct two of the best dark comedies I have seen in the last 10 years. If not of all time. His first was In Bruges also headlined by Colin Farrell. With Brendan Gleeson and Ralph Fiennes. Walking into this one. I expected the same kind of seriousness that In Bruges gave me. That was a very big error in judgement. It's one that I'm glad I made because this film was so much better.
Plot
A struggling screenwriter inadvertently becomes entangled in the Los Angeles criminal underworld after his oddball friends kidnap a gangster's beloved Shih Tzu.
The first thing to remember here is that Seven Psychopaths and In Bruges are two entirely different films. Almost in every possible way. Tone, depth and comedy. In Bruges was a much more subdued film with a smaller cast. Seven Psychopaths has a great ensemble cast with a plot that is expansive and at times a bit puzzling. Surprisingly, the puzzling parts of the story help make it so entertaining. The problem is that you have to get through the whole film and then it kicks in on you. That is probably the only flaw I saw and it's a minor one. I won't mention what the puzzling parts were but they are obvious.
What separates McDonagh's latest effort from his previous one is the scale and size of Seven Psychopaths. The cast is larger and as such the story gets bigger in spite of it's concise premise. Another aspect is the comedy. This film was much funnier than In Bruges and had more subtle jokes as well. There even were a few jokes that were so bleak that you felt bad for laughing at them. Of course that's the purpose of a black comedy. The high comedy of the film belongs to Sam Rockwell. Billy is so dumb yet brilliant and bad ass that it makes you wonder if he's a real person or a cartoon. Rockwell plays Billy with a subtle craziness that you wait for that snapping moment but what comes next is the punchline. The rest of the cast plays off the tone that Billy sets. It gives the film a nice flow and feel.
The movie is a tad on the violent side but like the rest of the film it's over the top. It can get a bit gratuitous but with the premise the film has, the body count needs to be high anyway.
Overall, Seven Psychopaths is a really good film that is right on par with some of the best dark comedies out there right now. Martin McDonagh is 2 for 2.
On the 5 star scale. Seven Psychopaths gets 4 stars with a "Worth Every Penny!" recommendation.
That's a wrap for today. Up next is The Man With The Iron Fists
Until Next Episode...."I'll Save You A Seat!"
"D"
Today's review is Seven Psychopaths.
Written & Directed by Martin McDonagh.
Review #184
MPAA Rating: R for strong violence, bloody images, pervasive language, sexuality/nudity and some drug use.
Run Time: 110 min
Cast
In order of apperance
Michael Pitt...Larry
Michael Stuhlbarg...Tommy
Sam Rockwell...Billy
Colin Farrell...Marty
Abbie Cornish...Kaya
Christopher Walken...Hans
Linda Bright Clay...Myra
Harry Dean Stanton...Man in Hat
Joseph Lyle Taylor...Al
Kevin Corrigan...Dennis
Woody Harrelson...Charlie
Gabourey Sidibe...Sharice
Zeljko Ivanek...Paulo
Long Nguyen...Vietnamese Priest
Olga Kurylenko...Angela
Dark/Black comedies are in my opinion one of the toughest films to write. You have to carefully balance the drama and droll. They aren't that funny but they are. It's quite a skill to pull off. The last good one I saw was The Guard with Brendan Gleeson and Don Cheadle. Martin McDonagh has managed to write and direct two of the best dark comedies I have seen in the last 10 years. If not of all time. His first was In Bruges also headlined by Colin Farrell. With Brendan Gleeson and Ralph Fiennes. Walking into this one. I expected the same kind of seriousness that In Bruges gave me. That was a very big error in judgement. It's one that I'm glad I made because this film was so much better.
Plot
A struggling screenwriter inadvertently becomes entangled in the Los Angeles criminal underworld after his oddball friends kidnap a gangster's beloved Shih Tzu.
The first thing to remember here is that Seven Psychopaths and In Bruges are two entirely different films. Almost in every possible way. Tone, depth and comedy. In Bruges was a much more subdued film with a smaller cast. Seven Psychopaths has a great ensemble cast with a plot that is expansive and at times a bit puzzling. Surprisingly, the puzzling parts of the story help make it so entertaining. The problem is that you have to get through the whole film and then it kicks in on you. That is probably the only flaw I saw and it's a minor one. I won't mention what the puzzling parts were but they are obvious.
What separates McDonagh's latest effort from his previous one is the scale and size of Seven Psychopaths. The cast is larger and as such the story gets bigger in spite of it's concise premise. Another aspect is the comedy. This film was much funnier than In Bruges and had more subtle jokes as well. There even were a few jokes that were so bleak that you felt bad for laughing at them. Of course that's the purpose of a black comedy. The high comedy of the film belongs to Sam Rockwell. Billy is so dumb yet brilliant and bad ass that it makes you wonder if he's a real person or a cartoon. Rockwell plays Billy with a subtle craziness that you wait for that snapping moment but what comes next is the punchline. The rest of the cast plays off the tone that Billy sets. It gives the film a nice flow and feel.
The movie is a tad on the violent side but like the rest of the film it's over the top. It can get a bit gratuitous but with the premise the film has, the body count needs to be high anyway.
Overall, Seven Psychopaths is a really good film that is right on par with some of the best dark comedies out there right now. Martin McDonagh is 2 for 2.
On the 5 star scale. Seven Psychopaths gets 4 stars with a "Worth Every Penny!" recommendation.
That's a wrap for today. Up next is The Man With The Iron Fists
Until Next Episode...."I'll Save You A Seat!"
"D"
Argo
Welcome to another episode of Lights....Camera....Popcorn!
Today's review is Argo.
Directed by Ben Affleck.
Written by Chris Terrio.
Based on the article "Escape from Tehran". Written by Joshuah Bearman.
Review #183
MPAA Rating: R for language and some violent images.
Run Time: 120 min
Cast
Ben Affleck...Tony Mendez
Bryan Cranston...Jack O'Donnell
Alan Arkin...Lester Siegel
John Goodman...John Chambers
Victor Garber...Ken Taylor
Tate Donovan...Bob Anders
Clea DuVall...Cora Lijek
Scoot McNairy...Joe Stafford
Rory Cochrane...Lee Schatz
Christopher Denham...Mark Lijek
Kerry Bishé...Kathy Stafford
Kyle Chandler...Hamilton Jordan
Chris Messina...Malinov
Zeljko Ivanek...Robert Pender
Titus Welliver...Bates
Keith Szarabajka...Adam Engell
Bob Gunton...Cyrus Vance
Richard Kind...Max Klein
Ben Affleck has had a curious career as an actor. He's been in some hits. Good Will Hunting and The Town instantly come to mind. There have been some big time misses too. Reindeer Games, Gigli and my personal favorite car wreck, Daredevil. That movie was so bad that Affleck himself has admitted it's atrocity.
That's big of him but it changes nothing.
So instead of cranking out trash he decided to change things up and go behind the camera. It has worked. Gone Baby Gone was his first shot in the chair and it was a really good film. He upped the ante with The Town which included top notch performances from himself and the rest of the cast. His latest effort tells the amazing true story that until 1997 never happened. Is this Affleck's best film to date? The debate can be made that it is. I personally don't think so.
It doesn't change the fact that Argo is a terrific film.
Plot
A dramatization of the 1980 joint CIA-Canadian secret operation to extract six fugitive American diplomatic personnel out of revolutionary Iran.
Being 4 years old when this actually happened I had no idea what the world was like back then and the coverage that kept people glued to their TV's. Affleck did a great job presenting that while at the same time showing the urgency of the operation. The hostage situation at the US embassy lasted well over a year but the clock was ticking on extracting the 6 refugees in the Canadian ambassador's house. This was well crafted.
Another scene that I particularly enjoyed is a very clever montage between the hostage takers speaking to the press and the table reading of the "Argo" screenplay. The dialogue was conscientiously weaved together to form a free flowing narrative. Well done.
It shows Affleck's growth as a director.
It makes sense when you think about it. Having worked with some of Hollywood's best and brightest directors like Gus Van Sant, Joe Carnahan and John Madden he learned what to do. He also worked with some of the worst like Stephen Sommers and Michael Bay he learned what not to do. Armed with that knowledge he has improved on every film he's made.
There wasn't much to do here story wise with the exception of tweaking a few details here and there to protect classified information. There was also some "Hollywood-ing" of the film. Particularly in the last act. It may seem like a gripe here but it for the most part it played very well. This was another skill that Affleck has honed nicely. He tactically plays through the final scene and paces the tension almost pitch perfect. It loses it's steam right at the end.
You will see where.
The cast like in The Town was top notch and stellar headlined by not Affleck but Alan Arkin. He stole the show in my opinion. A film with subject matter this serious needed some type of relief and Arkin provided it in spades. He also provided some "Hollywood" to the film as the "producer" of Argo. His character was over the top when needed and serious when needed. Typical tinseltown archetype.
The look of the film was also very authentic. I've always marveled at how period films are made. Especially ones that are made in a timeline that I can identify with. You can't just build 1980's Tehran on a sound stage. You have to go on location and being able to make their locale look like the actual spot where this incident took place is very impressive. This is another highlight of Affleck's talent as a director. He respects and pays attention to details. It's always the little things that make the difference.
Ben Affleck has reinvented himself from an actor that I could live without to a director that I am more than happy to live with. He keeps this up he'll be challenging the heavyweights in the biz for a shot at the title.
Just as long as he stays clear away from The Justice League movie that he was rumored to direct.
On the 5 star scale. Argo gets 4 stars with a "Worth Every Penny!" recommendation.
That's a wrap for today. Up next is Seven Psychopaths.
Until Next Episode...."I'll Save You A Seat!"
"D"
Today's review is Argo.
Directed by Ben Affleck.
Written by Chris Terrio.
Based on the article "Escape from Tehran". Written by Joshuah Bearman.
Review #183
MPAA Rating: R for language and some violent images.
Run Time: 120 min
Cast
Ben Affleck...Tony Mendez
Bryan Cranston...Jack O'Donnell
Alan Arkin...Lester Siegel
John Goodman...John Chambers
Victor Garber...Ken Taylor
Tate Donovan...Bob Anders
Clea DuVall...Cora Lijek
Scoot McNairy...Joe Stafford
Rory Cochrane...Lee Schatz
Christopher Denham...Mark Lijek
Kerry Bishé...Kathy Stafford
Kyle Chandler...Hamilton Jordan
Chris Messina...Malinov
Zeljko Ivanek...Robert Pender
Titus Welliver...Bates
Keith Szarabajka...Adam Engell
Bob Gunton...Cyrus Vance
Richard Kind...Max Klein
Ben Affleck has had a curious career as an actor. He's been in some hits. Good Will Hunting and The Town instantly come to mind. There have been some big time misses too. Reindeer Games, Gigli and my personal favorite car wreck, Daredevil. That movie was so bad that Affleck himself has admitted it's atrocity.
That's big of him but it changes nothing.
So instead of cranking out trash he decided to change things up and go behind the camera. It has worked. Gone Baby Gone was his first shot in the chair and it was a really good film. He upped the ante with The Town which included top notch performances from himself and the rest of the cast. His latest effort tells the amazing true story that until 1997 never happened. Is this Affleck's best film to date? The debate can be made that it is. I personally don't think so.
It doesn't change the fact that Argo is a terrific film.
Plot
A dramatization of the 1980 joint CIA-Canadian secret operation to extract six fugitive American diplomatic personnel out of revolutionary Iran.
Being 4 years old when this actually happened I had no idea what the world was like back then and the coverage that kept people glued to their TV's. Affleck did a great job presenting that while at the same time showing the urgency of the operation. The hostage situation at the US embassy lasted well over a year but the clock was ticking on extracting the 6 refugees in the Canadian ambassador's house. This was well crafted.
Another scene that I particularly enjoyed is a very clever montage between the hostage takers speaking to the press and the table reading of the "Argo" screenplay. The dialogue was conscientiously weaved together to form a free flowing narrative. Well done.
It shows Affleck's growth as a director.
It makes sense when you think about it. Having worked with some of Hollywood's best and brightest directors like Gus Van Sant, Joe Carnahan and John Madden he learned what to do. He also worked with some of the worst like Stephen Sommers and Michael Bay he learned what not to do. Armed with that knowledge he has improved on every film he's made.
There wasn't much to do here story wise with the exception of tweaking a few details here and there to protect classified information. There was also some "Hollywood-ing" of the film. Particularly in the last act. It may seem like a gripe here but it for the most part it played very well. This was another skill that Affleck has honed nicely. He tactically plays through the final scene and paces the tension almost pitch perfect. It loses it's steam right at the end.
You will see where.
The cast like in The Town was top notch and stellar headlined by not Affleck but Alan Arkin. He stole the show in my opinion. A film with subject matter this serious needed some type of relief and Arkin provided it in spades. He also provided some "Hollywood" to the film as the "producer" of Argo. His character was over the top when needed and serious when needed. Typical tinseltown archetype.
The look of the film was also very authentic. I've always marveled at how period films are made. Especially ones that are made in a timeline that I can identify with. You can't just build 1980's Tehran on a sound stage. You have to go on location and being able to make their locale look like the actual spot where this incident took place is very impressive. This is another highlight of Affleck's talent as a director. He respects and pays attention to details. It's always the little things that make the difference.
Ben Affleck has reinvented himself from an actor that I could live without to a director that I am more than happy to live with. He keeps this up he'll be challenging the heavyweights in the biz for a shot at the title.
Just as long as he stays clear away from The Justice League movie that he was rumored to direct.
On the 5 star scale. Argo gets 4 stars with a "Worth Every Penny!" recommendation.
That's a wrap for today. Up next is Seven Psychopaths.
Until Next Episode...."I'll Save You A Seat!"
"D"
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