The Hunger Games: Catching Fire

Welcome to another episode of Lights....Camera....Popcorn!

Today's review is The Hunger Games: Catching Fire.

Directed by Francis Lawrence.

Written by Simon Beaufoy & Michael Arndt.

Based on the novel "Catching Fire" written by Suzanne Collins .

Review #237

MPAA Rating: Rated PG-13 for intense sequences of violence and action, some frightening images, thematic elements, a suggestive situation and language.

Run Time: 146 min

Hulk Spoils Hollywood Podcast Page

Cast

Jennifer Lawrence...Katniss Everdeen

Liam Hemsworth...Gale Hawthorne

Woody Harrelson...Haymitch Abernathy

Josh Hutcherson...Peeta Mellark

Paula Malcomson...Katniss' Mother

Willow Shields...Primrose Everdeen

Donald Sutherland...President Snow

Elizabeth Banks...Effie Trinket

Lenny Kravitz...Cinna

Stanley Tucci...Caesar Flickerman

Philip Seymour Hoffman...Plutarch Heavensbee

The Hunger Games was a worldwide success. The film of course did not go without some controversy and haters but all in all the film was enjoyable. With the sequel well on the way after the debut of the first film the world held it's collective breath in anticipation of the next installment. Having not read any of the books I was very curious to see how they were going to continue the story of Katniss Everdeen and company. I can sum it up by simply saying that this film was not only better than it's predecessor in every way. It parallels another famous film trilogy that I hold very dear to my heart.

It takes place in a galaxy far far away a long time ago. Get the hint?

Plot

Katniss Everdeen and Peeta Mellark become targets of the Capitol after their victory in the 74th Hunger Games sparks a rebellion in the Districts of Panem. 

Now let me begin by saying that I am in no way comparing The Hunger Games to the Star Wars Trilogy. What I am saying is that this film contained a lot of themes and elements that reminded me of the franchises greatest film. The Empire Strikes Back. What makes this movie so good is Jennifer Lawrence. Her acting ability was evident in the first film and since then she has risen her game to another level.

Her performance here was ferocious.

Picking up after the first film. Katniss remains defiant of the established order. Refusing to embrace her celebrity after winning The Hunger Games. She's forced to parade around and accept coaxed adulation from the oppressed people that she yearns to be among and free. Lawrence makes no attempt to mask her hatred for the president and the government he presides over. The president realizing that Katniss' popularity is weakening him from the inside so he must find a way to uproot her bond with the people.

This is where the film got very interesting for me. Since Katniss had won the games I was wondering how in the world was she going to get back into the tournament. The film according to sources that read the book stayed pretty faithful to the scenario that gets Katniss back in the games. Prior to that however there's a lot of political posturing mixed with a lot of what I like to call Katniss angry face. There's a great moment that expresses what I mean perfectly. It's a minor spoiler but I assure you it will not ruin the plot in any way.

After Katniss is chosen to go back into the games she does the same routine as in the first movie. She is forced to show the council her best skill. So instead of firing an arrow at their balcony she proceeded to take a combat dummy and write the name of the man who was in charge of running the games when Katniss was there the first time. He was executed for allowing her to live. In a not so subtle way she was telling the people that she got one game rigger killed she can do the same to the next one. Very clever scene and it established nicely how scorned this young woman is and will be the rest of the way.
As per usual I can't get into any more detail about this film here but you I will be doing a podcast on this film with The Ranger. So be on the look out for that episode as we will get into the nitty gritty of this fine sequel. As expected this film sets up the final chapter of the trilogy in open ended fashion. I was disappointed in the landing spot for the close of this film but that was only because I wanted more. This sequel was so much better than the first film in almost every way that it was tough to watch the end credits. The only thing that I don't look forward to with the final installment of this trilogy is that it's not a trilogy anymore. As it seems to be the case with these blockbusters based on books, the final film is split up into two parts. I absolutely HATE this decision but we all know what rules in the cinema world.

The bottom line is The Hunger Games: Catching Fire was a really good film that surpassed my expectations by leaps and bounds. If the final film The Hunger Games: Mockinjay is anything like it's predecessor that we could be talking about The Lord of The Rings territory when it comes to films adapted from books. That's a very bold statement to make especially since I am a Rings NUT. That being said, The Hunger Games has gotten my attention and is worth yours.

On the 5 star scale. The Hunger Games: Catching Fire gets 4 stars. With a "Worth Every Penny!" recommendation.

That's a wrap for today.

Until Next Episode...."I'll Save You A Seat!"

"D"

Oldboy

Welcome to another episode of Lights....Camera....Popcorn!

Today's review is Oldboy.

Directed by Spike Lee.

Written by Mark Protosevich.

Based on the 2003 film "Oldboy" Directed by Chan-wook Park.

Based on the manga written by Garon Tsuchiya & Nobuaki Minegishi.

Review #236

MPAA Rating: Rated R for strong brutal violence, disturbing images, some graphic sexuality and nudity, and language.

Run Time: 104 min

Hulk Spoils Hollywood Podcast Page

Cast

Josh Brolin...Joe Doucett

Elizabeth Olsen...Marie Sebastian

Sharlto Copley...Adrian / The Stranger

Samuel L. Jackson...Chaney

Michael Imperioli...Chucky

Pom Klementieff...Haeng-Bok

James Ransone...Dr. Tom Melby

Max Casella...James Prestley

Elvis Nolasco...Cortez

Rami Malek...Browning

Lance Reddick...Daniel Newcombe

10 years ago Chan-wook Park made a stunning film. Oldboy took the revenge genre and turned it upside down. It was able to balance the power between the hero and the villain while blurring the lines between them both. It also had a twist that was as shocking as you could get in a revenge film. The popularity of this film was so big that it was a matter of time before it was remade for the U.S. of A. Why it took a decade to remake is questionable. Nevertheless here we are and here it is. The Americanized version of the Korean classic.

Does it match up? Of course the answer is always NO!

Plot

Obsessed with vengeance, a man sets out to find out why he was kidnapped and locked into solitary confinement for 20 years without reason. 

The first factor against this movie is the subject matter. Not the genre. The twist at the end. I can't and won't reveal what it is. What I will say is that since this film is based on a comic book from Korea then adapted to a film from Korea, there's a big possibility that the film could get lost in translation. And I'm not talking about the language. There are just some films that other countries do better. There are less boundaries to overcome and the films excel as a result. Oldboy serves as a prime example of that. The principle story of Oldboy is WAY out there and while it works brilliantly in the Korean adaptation, major questions were raised by me if the American version would be bold enough to go the same way or chicken out and strip away what made the original so powerful.

I'd love to say if this remake does that but I won't. What I will say is that of all the directors out there to helm this property.

The worst one was chosen.

In my opinion, Spike Lee barely qualifies as a film maker. In the interest of full disclosure I will man up and admit that I am not a big fan of his films and I don't like the man personally. I have very strong opinions about his opinions and when he strategically expresses them. I feel that when he goes after other film makers like Tyler Perry or Quentin Tarantino it's based solely on jealousy and spite. It's no secret that Lee loves to stir the pot from time to time and many of his comments are designed to take the spotlight from the ones who deserve it and place it on him. I don't want to turn this into a Spike Lee hater review but I can't ignore the fact that despite his diminutive stature, his ego is MASSIVE and it comes through in a lot of his films.

Especially the ones he writes.
Thankfully he didn't write this film but he couldn't resist implementing some of his signature tricks. Like the POV shot where the camera is strapped to the actor so you get the sense of what he or she is feeling physically. Or the equally annoying treadmill shot. The one he used in his last 90's film where the actors are stationary but appear to be moving forward. It was unique back when he first used it. 20 PLUS YEARS AGO! He doesn't abuse those shots but they stick out and scream out this is a Spike Lee film. It's not about you man.

Get over yourself and make the damn movie properly.

That being said, the flaws in this remake are not all Lee's fault. Screenwriter Mark Protosevich needs to shoulder some of the blame here. While he did make some nice changes to the story, he failed at one of the biggest ones. The relationship between Joe and Marie was CRUCIAL to the plot and their introduction was ridiculous. The motivation for their relationship was equally moronic. This bond needed to be developed and Lee does not give the film the time for that to happen. This was a colossal error that does irreparable damage to their story line going forward. According to Protosevich a lot of that was left on the cutting room floor. Who knows what to believe. The fact remains that their relationship flourishes from nothing and it doesn't pass the smell test.

Now comes the moment of truth. Anyone who's seen the original knows what I'm talking about. The hallway fight. Aside from the ending, this was the one moment that I among many others were curious to know if and how Lee was going to screw it up. In the original, there's a 4 minute fight scene that's one continuous shot of the hero mauling through a gauntlet of bad guys with a hammer. You watch this scene and it looks like something that any one of us could do with an I phone and 20 guys. The choreography appears to be non existent but don't let be fooled. This scene contained some of the best fight choreography displayed in quite some time. The scene is just exhausting to watch and was one of the most iconic moments in the movie. You instantly respect the performers in this scene because they are literally out of gas as the scene comes to it's inevitable climax.

So you know Lee's gonna F##K this up right? You bet your A$$ he does and he does so by using the worst tactic possible.

He cheats.

The scene starts out promising. As Joe is going through the henchmen it's one complete tracking shot going from left to right just like in the original. Then he cheats by moving Joe down a level. The fight doesn't take place in one hallway. Lee breaks it up by having Joe move down. He tries to hide that the fight is not one full shot by using editing tricks. I was super pissed at this. There was no reason to do this. It takes away from the emotion that the fight was supposed to create. It also showed Lee's inability to shoot an action scene.

Why was I surprised?

He also insulted my intelligence by making Joe a superhuman in this fight. What made the original fight so much fun to watch was not the fact the hero beat the crap out of all those guys. It was that he got just as much as he gave if not more since the numbers were against him. The fight though ridiculous maintained a feeling of reality because those stuntmen were giving it all they had and these guys literally took breaks in between hacking and slashing just to catch their breaths. The remake doesn't come close to reminding you of the effort those Korean performers put forth.

If there's one thing I can credit the remake for it's the ending. Not the twist, the literal ending. The original film's end was weak to be nice. Protosevich updated it and made it much more plausible. It doesn't wash away some of the films other story flaws but he was able to give Joe a much better send off here than in the original.

The bottom line is Spike Lee should have NEVER touched this film. Oldboy would have been better suited in the hands of someone like David Fincher, Darren Aaronofsky or my personal choice Quentin Tarantino. Regardless, the poor choice of director doesn't mask the undeniable truth that this film should not have been made at all.

Judging by the poor box office returns, the people agreed with me. 

On the 5 star scale. Oldboy gets 1.5 stars with a "Netflix It!" recommendation.

That's a wrap for today.

Until Next Episode...."I'll Save You A Seat!"

"D"

Thor: The Dark World

Welcome to another episode of Lights....Camera....Popcorn!

Today's review is Thor: The Dark World.

Directed by Alan Taylor.

Written by Christopher Yost, Christopher Markus & Stephen McFeely.

Screen Story by Don Payne & Robert Rodat.

Based on the comic book character created by Stan Lee, Jack Kirby & Larry Leiber.

Review #235

MPAA Rating: Rated PG-13 for sequences of intense sci-fi action and violence, and some suggestive content.

Run Time: 112 min

Hulk Spoils Hollywood Podcast Page

Cast

Chris Hemsworth ...Thor

Natalie Portman ...Jane Foster

Tom Hiddleston ...Loki

Anthony Hopkins ...Odin

Christopher Eccleston ...Malekith

Jaimie Alexander ...Sif

Zachary Levi ...Fandral

Ray Stevenson ...Volstagg

Tadanobu Asano ...Hogun

Idris Elba ...Heimdall

Rene Russo ...Frigga

Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje ...Algrim / Kurse

Kat Dennings ...Darcy Lewis

Stellan Skarsgård ...Erik Selvig

The first Thor film had a lot on it's plate. It had to continue the story continuity that would eventually lead into The Avengers. More importantly, it had to introduce a character that wasn't well known outside of the geek community. Even tougher, the film had to make it's titular character popular enough so his appearance is The Avengers is met with smiles instead of smirks.

I know that many didn't enjoy what the final product was. I for one enjoyed the film very much. Mostly for the simple fact that it was different. The character is different from the main roster of Marvel heroes. His origin, his back story, his home and villains all come from different places but can be easily intertwined with the rest of Marvel's mythology and characters. This was something that the first film didn't really expand on and that could be reason for some disdain.

Obviously the first film not just set up The Avengers, it set itself up for a sequel. I was excited to see where they would take the Thunder God. Would he remain in Asgard? Would he be stay on Earth or a combination of the two.

The answer helped and hurt the film.

Plot

Faced with an enemy that even Odin and Asgard cannot withstand, Thor must embark on his most perilous and personal journey yet, one that will reunite him with Jane Foster and force him to sacrifice everything to save us all.

First things first. I liked this movie. As sequels go, Thor: The Dark World was good. I do however prefer Thor over this one. Why? Simply because this film did very little to separate itself from it's predecessor. A lot of what happens in this movie is recycled from the first one. Even down to the very beginning. Thor began with Odin's V.O. explaining what we were about to see in the form of a story he was telling Thor and Loki when they were boys. The same thing happens here only this time we are the kids being told the story. I get that some back story is needed to give us a sense of what our heroes will be facing but there are other ways to present that as opposed to giving us the exact same thing the first film gave us.

The next two issues I had go hand in hand so I will combine them. They revolve around Thor's relationship with Odin. In the first film, Thor's arrogance and ego forces Odin to banish him to Earth so he can learn humility and earn the right to rule. This created a disconnect between father and son. Then before credits rolled they patched things up and things seemed hunky dory. Fast forward to this film. Thor and Odin deal with the same issues. It's not exactly the same but at it's core their discord stems from elements we've seen before. Odin is at odds with Thor after a major disagreement over his feelings for Jane. Odin's disapproval forces Thor to defy his father in more ways than one and all I thought as I was watching this was....

Wash....Rinse....Repeat.

This comes to a head later in the film which doesn't help it's case as a true sequel.

Finally, the relationship between Jane and Thor felt more tacked on than legitimate. This could have been a byproduct of the several writers on this project. It's no secret that this script went through several revisions and that's never a good thing. It definitely shows here. At times the story feels disjointed and bare bones. There were clear examples of scenes trimmed either in the writing or in the edit room that give the overall structure weak legs. The time Thor and Jane spend with each other feel like the biggest victim of the countless twists and turns the script went through.

Now it's time to get into what's good about this movie. By far, the best part is Loki. The man almost stole the show in The Avengers and he unquestionably steals it here. His popularity is growing by leaps and bounds and it was clear that the people love this character. So that's what we got. In fact you know right away where the film is going with Loki from the beginning.

VERY VERY minor spoilers.

Loki is being brought to Odin in shackles. Presumably right after The Avengers when he and Thor returned to Asgard with the Tessaract. Loki slowly walks to Odin's throne surrounded by guards waiting to pounce in case he gets out of hand. Odin looks at Loki. Loki looks back at him and delivers one of the best jokes of the film. I'm paraphrasing here but it went something like....

"Honestly, I really don't know what all the fuss is about."

I laughed pretty hard at that joke. It showed Loki's charm and sense of humor which was on full display in The Avengers. It also established Loki as a fearless prisoner. His presence throughout provided a nice break between the poorly constructed romance between Jane and Thor. This was a major flaw in the film. The relationship between the two leads are important but they found a way to make it irrelevant to the story. It felt like a specific situation was written for Jane to get into just so her presence was justified. It didn't make a lot of sense.
Another thing that made little sense was the villain. Primarily his motivation for destroying Asgard. The first film had everything you needed when it came to the villain and his reasons for defiance against the hero. That was paper thin here. Even more of a crime, Malekith didn't inspire any fear or prowess. He spent a lot of the time relying on his underlings to either fight and or die for him. In fact the first time he actually fights Thor he gets his ass kicked. That can't work in a film like this. Thor is a deity. His power though limited is strong enough to vanquish evil doers. You have to give the hero that moment of failure or feeling of despair before he can triumph in the end. That wasn't executed properly here. The first film gave us that nicely. Thor was not only banished to Earth, he lost his ability to wield Mjolnir. This gave him multiple challenges to overcome before regaining his power to save the day.

The setbacks here were much weaker and transparent to accept as commonplace for a Thor film. 

There was one thing that Thor: The Dark World tried to do that worked nicely in spots. The film infused some comedy that screamed of The Avengers. It was clear that the writers of this film (and there were MANY) followed Joss Whedon's blueprint and tossed in some well timed and not so well timed chuckles to break the monotony of action and exposition. It made sense big picture wise since this film is not just setting up the next round of films leading up to The Avengers: Age of Ultron. It's also continuing the continuity that The Avengers started. That being said, the film would have been better served if the script had more weight to the plot and a few less yucks.
The action was pretty standard. Not very exciting or groundbreaking. Disappointing since the opening fights had some impressive set pieces. The finale was pretty lackluster. These are small nitpicks to what was overall a decent film and a suitable sequel. The problem is that the sequel is supposed to advance past the original and if you don't look beyond it's predecessor then a lot of it's power is gone. Thor: The Dark World unfortunately suffers from this typical side effect of sequels.

On the 5 star scale. Thor: The Dark World gets 3.5 stars with a "Go See It" recommendation.

That's a wrap for today.

Until Next Episode...."I'll Save You A Seat!"

"D"

Ender's Game

Welcome to another episode of Lights....Camera....Popcorn!

Today's review is Ender's Game.

Written & Directed by Gavin Hood.

Based on the book - "Ender's Game" written by Orson Scott Card.

Review #234

MPAA Rating: Rated PG-13 for some violence, sci-fi action and thematic material..

Run Time: 114 min

Hulk Spoils Hollywood Podcast Page

Cast

Asa Butterfield ...Ender Wiggin

Harrison Ford ...Colonel Graff

Hailee Steinfeld ...Petra Arkanian

Abigail Breslin ...Valentine Wiggin

Ben Kingsley ...Mazer Rackham

Viola Davis ...Major Gwen Anderson

Aramis Knight ...Bean

Suraj Partha ...Alai

Moises Arias ...Bonzo Madrid

Khylin Rhambo ...Dink Meeker

Jimmy 'Jax' Pinchak ...Peter Wiggin

Nonso Anozie ...Sergeant Dap

Gavin Hood has become notoriously famous for one thing. He directed the disgustingly bad X-Men Origins: Wolverine. That movie was so bad it not only killed whatever momentum Hugh Jackman had from playing Wolverine in a solo film. It killed a potential Marvel franchise. Now in his defense he directed that film off a script written by David Benioff. Which is stunning to think how bad it was  since he's done such great work on Game of Thrones. However, the script was so jumbled and off with it's mythology that it appeared that the indestructible mutant did in fact have a kill spot.

Fast forward a few years later. Jackman and James Mangold went on to do a much better Wolverine film and Gavin Hood set out to adapt a very popular young adult book series. Starting with the first title. Ender's Game.

The trailers and story concept were very intriguing and then I saw the credits and noticed that Hood was not only the director. He also wrote the script. So does Hood do a better job with Ender's Game than he did with X-Men Origins: Wolverine?

It depends on who you ask but for me the answer for me is surprisingly yes.

Plot

Young Ender Wiggin is recruited by the International Military to lead the fight against the Formecs, a genocidal alien race which nearly annihilated the human race in a previous invasion. 

The first thing the film does is establish a rather expansive back story. This is of course common when adapting books into movies. So to avoid being bogged down we get the also common 10-15 minute montage that scrolls through several decades of the film's history through the use of imagery and the ever popular voice over. It's a major cheat but sometimes it can't be avoided and in this case it was just the right length to get the point across and move on with the rest of the narrative.

We then get to meet our hero Ender. His back story is also microwaved but it was presented in a way that makes you feel like you've known him forever. They do this by showcasing what makes him so special which is his gift for strategy. This kid is to be blunt a pip squeak. He's got zero physical prowess. This could be a side effect of his younger age to the other children in the film but that clearly was the point. Ender's true strength comes from the muscles between his ears and it's here where the film does a good job of showing us this. Ender's application of strategy combined with basic psychology sets a tone for what he and us as the audience are going to experience.

The film proceeds to go through the expected arc of Ender's story. He goes to military school. He trains. He gets promoted. He trains some more. The one constant throughout this entire tale is the presence of Colonel Graff. He has a a lot invested in Ender's growth as a person and as a soldier. The second part is what makes his character such a colossal prick. This guy is a A-1 jerk off to Ender and pretty much everyone else in the film. Which was a tricky thing to deal with. His motives were sound and understandable but his execution was questionable at best. Especially with Ender. This film poses a very interesting debate.

Graff sees the big picture and doesn't care what it takes because without Ender the world will end. This is the dilemma he and the film faces. The other side of the coin is the blatant reality that Ender is just a kid and no human being should be subjected to the kind of pressure that is placed on him. Regardless of age. It's a delicate balance that Graff tries to maintain but fails at miserably. You'll see how towards the end but the signs were beginning to show way before the final scenes. Despite the prickly performance by Ford, he's countered nicely by Butterfield. Hood does a nice job reminding us that Ender sees through people and follows patterns. Including his superior military officers. This creates a nice dynamic between him and his authoritarians. His incessant questioning of the established order and chain of command give us a glimpse of what Ender is truly capable of and why he's seen as the world's last hope.

There are plenty of other satisfying moments in this film but it's pointless to delve into them for the obvious reasons. Rest assured that Ender's Game does do it's part to keep you entertained and interested in the path of the film's hero. That being said, the film isn't perfect by any means. There were some sub plots that I felt required more fleshing out or complete removal. Particularly with Ender's family. It's a focal point with the character. Primarily the relationship with his sister and brother but it was shortchanged at the expense of the main plot. Now I'm not sure if this is because the book handled it the same way. I highly doubt that but it's not out of the realm of possibility considering there are multiple books in this series. The film plays it as if sequels are already in the bank and that is not a wise tactic.

The money seems to tell a different story. As of this writing. The film has made $62,730,921 worldwide. The film's only been out a few weeks but that's not a promising figure with a budget that exceeded over $100 million. Who knows what the future holds for the Ender's Game series. They may take another shot at it. The film left itself for another installment. What's curious to me is the possibility that the lack of return on this film is from a result of angry fans who didn't care for the adaptation. My co host on my podcast Hulk Spoils Hollywood (shameless plug) is a HUGE fan of the book and couldn't wait to see this film. If you've listened to our show you would have come across us talking about it several times (another shameless plug). I'm interested to see what his reaction was to the film as I'm sure he's interested to know my thoughts. Be sure to keep an eye for our Ender's Game episode coming soon.

Final shameless plug.

On the 5 star scale. Ender's Game gets 3.5 stars with a "Go See It!" recommendation.

That's a wrap for today.

Until Next Episode...."I'll Save You A Seat!"

"D"

12 Years a Slave

Welcome to another episode of Lights....Camera....Popcorn!

Today's review is 12 Years a Slave.

Directed by Steve McQueen.

Written by John Ridley.

Based on the book - "Twelve Years a Slave" written by Solomon Northup.

Review #233

MPAA Rating: Rated R for violence/cruelty, some nudity and brief sexuality.

Run Time: 134 min

Hulk Spoils Hollywood Podcast Page

Cast

Chiwetel Ejiofor...Solomon Northup

Kelsey Scott...Anne Northup

Quvenzhané Wallis...Margaret Northup

Cameron Zeigler...Alonzo Northup

Scoot McNairy...Brown

Taran Killam...Hamilton

Christopher Berry...Burch

Bill Camp...Radburn

Adepero Oduye...Eliza

Michael K. Williams...Robert (as Michael Kenneth Williams)

Rob Steinberg...Parker

Paul Giamatti...Freeman

Benedict Cumberbatch...Ford

Paul Dano...Tibeats

Michael Fassbender...Edwin Epps

Sarah Paulson...Mistress Epps

Lupita Nyong'o...Patsey

Alfre Woodard...Mistress Shaw

Garret Dillahunt...Armsby

Brad Pitt...Bass

Steve McQueen is on a roll. Coming off the heels of his mega drama Shame. He follows up with a period piece that deals with the most deplorable act in human history. Slavery is in a word detestable but what happens in this film is quite possibly worse.

Plot

In the antebellum United States, Solomon Northup, a free black man from upstate New York, is abducted and sold into slavery.

There are so many things about this film that make it exceptional. Performances. Direction. Writing. That being said the one thing that stayed with me after leaving the theater was the undeniable reality that this film is not fiction. Watching Solomon Northup live his life with his family in peace and most importantly in acceptance as an equal, suddenly be taken away to live as a slave was just heartbreaking. Not to mention ANGER inducing. The utter arrogance and entitlement of these racist animals to just kidnap and sell people into servitude was beyond appalling. It was extremely tough to watch Solomon's journey from riches to rags.

Of course this comes across brilliantly by the performance of the film's lead. Chiwetel Ejiofor is a very good actor who has come on the scene with a vengeance. His portrayal of Northup here is both demoralizing and uplifting. The man is educated and well versed in the way of the world. His sophistication comes through before his abduction. As a slave he maintains his dignity any form he could which I felt while watching this film was the only way he was able to preserve his sanity and his life. The film goes through the 12 years he was living as a slave and in that time you saw the progression from one master to the other.

It's that moment where the film both sours and shines.

About midway between acts two and three. 12 Years a Slave dives into very rough waters. Northup is sold to a very maniacal man played by Michael Fassbender. Fassbender is fastly becoming a McQueen muse. After directing him in Shame. He immediately cast him in this film before the production was even announced. The dynamic between Fassbender and Ejiorfor was combustible. Northup did his best to keep his head down but couldn't avoid the immense disdain Fassbender's Epps had for him. This became the crux of the film prior to it's conclusion.

Epps spends many days and nights making Northup's life a living hell in pursuit of breaking him. Solomon does what he can to keep that from happening. The back and forth was tense to watch and in the end Epps has his moment and it's in that moment where I felt that Northup was going to lose it all. Until a chance encounter with a stranger working on Epps' property changes everything and everyone the rest of the way.
I haven't read the book that this film is based on. However, it's pretty obvious how it ends. Having said that there is a moment in the film where Ejiofor's performance stands out and he doesn't utter a syllable. It's the scene pictured above and it expresses Northup's out and out despair. McQueen frames this scene with so much angst and emotion behind the backdrop of a beautiful sunny day and the soft sounds of birds singing behind him. It was the perfect balance between gorgeous and grotesque. I really wish I could explain more about this scene. I'll just add that if and when Ejiofor is nominated for Best Actor this year. This moment in the film sells his performance better than any line of dialogue that was written for him.

The rest of the cast was top notch. Highlighted by the actress to the left. Her name is Lupita Nyong'o and she plays Patsey. Her performance was equally brilliant and depending on your feelings about this movie steals the show. I for one did not feel that way. Not because she wasn't any good. Far from that. It's mainly because the film is driven by Northup because it's his story so the emphasis must be put on him. McQueen however does make the case that this film could have been made from Patsey's point of view. Her journey and struggles were on par if not tougher than Northup's.

This is what makes McQueen such a good film maker.

He knows how to balance the weight of the strongest characters in his films. He's done that in all the feature films he's directed. It's a tricky tactic especially when you're dealing with a story that is centrally focused through one person. This film clearly does that and then finds a way to share the exploits of the other slaves and their masters. This could be a byproduct of Northup's book having detailed his experience as a slave. Regardless, McQueen does a great job giving Northup a chance to breathe. His pacing is a bit slow at times but it's designed to give us a chance to breathe as well.

All of this comes to a head when Northup is finally released and it was as uplifting a moment as there could be in a film. As Solomon embraces the man who's come from New York to get him you can see the release of emotions seeping out of him. All those years of torture both physical and mental had taken it's toll on him. Seeing him sit in that carriage on his way home was superbly rewarding. I know I mentioned the moment where I felt that Ejiofor nails his Oscar nomination but a strong case can be made when he's reunited with his family. That scene plays with so much emotion and energy yet through it's rejoicing qualities it's deliberate. Ejiofor gives you so much in that moment that he doesn't have to say a word but when he does, he apologizes to his family for being away so long.

If that doesn't break your soul. Nothing will.

This film is a serious contender for several Academy Awards including the big ones. Who knows what will happen between now and Oscar time. All I do know is that I was glad I saw this film and you will be too.

On the 5 star scale. 12 Years a Slave gets the full house. 5 stars with a "Worth Every Penny!" recommendation.

That's a wrap for today.

Until Next Episode...."I'll Save You A Seat!"

"D"

Blue Is the Warmest Color

Welcome to another episode of Lights....Camera....Popcorn!

Today's review is Blue Is the Warmest Color.

Directed by Abdellatif Kechiche.

Written by Abdellatif Kechiche & Ghalia Lacroix.

Based on the graphic novel - "Le Bleu est une couleur chaude" (Blue is The Warmest Color) written by Julie Maroh.

Review #233

MPAA Rating: Rated NC-17 for explicit sexual content.

Run Time: 179 min

Hulk Spoils Hollywood Podcast Page

Cast

Léa Seydoux...Emma

Adèle Exarchopoulos...Adèle

Love is the greatest emotion we can feel. It's also the most complicated and by far most DANGEROUS! Love makes people feel superhuman and in the blink of an eye make them feel powerless. We've all been through this but what happens when you find that someone. You know who I'm talking about. The ONE and one GIGANTIC mistake cost you more than you could ever imagine.

Ladies and Gentlemen....Welcome to Blue Is the Warmest Color. My new and FINAL choice for BEST FILM OF THE YEAR!

This time of year brings some truly amazing work and I know I've been glowing over some really good films claiming them to be the best of the year. Then I'll see something else that will take over the belt but this time my mind is made up and NOTHING will change it. I realize this is severely unfair to some of the upcoming films I intend to see but this film has done something to me that hasn't happened in a very long time. This film touched me emotionally thus becoming more than a movie.

It was an EXPERIENCE!

Plot

Adele's life is changed when she meets Emma, a young woman with blue hair, who will allow her to discover desire, to assert herself as a woman and as an adult. In front of others, Adele grows, seeks herself, loses herself, finds herself.

First things first. This film has created an enormous amount of buzz and controversy. The buzz comes from it's Palme d'Or win at Cannes. The controversy is aimed at the extremely explicit sexual content. So like other critics that have reviewed this film. I will address the elephant in the room right at the top. The sex scenes in this movie are very graphic. Highlighted by the first sexual encounter between the two lead actresses. It methodically toes the line between cinema sex and pornography. This is of course by design by director Kechiche. However, his choice to go this way has created a divide among people in the industry and the public. The film is banned in Iowa and the NC-17 rating has scared theater owners from showing it. 

My take on these scenes is simply complex. On one hand I can see the reason for outrage. The first scene between Adele and Emma is very very VERY LONG. It's raw, uninhibited and erotically charged. It can be uncomfortable to watch and feels gratuitous. On the other hand this scene along with the other ones in this film do more than just showcase two women embraced in carnal desire. They serve a higher purpose which is to enhance the narrative and the chemistry between the characters engaged in the act. Now the stuffy do gooders would say that's just a cop out so the film can show two chicks f***king like animals. Fair point but if that's what you thought watching this scene then you MISSED the point entirely.

The sex in this film depicts physical and emotional growth between the two leads. They are exploring their feelings for each other as well as their bodies which is how I took it. I've read other reviews of this film by several other critics and they all came to the conclusion that in a 3 plus hour film there's about 10-20 minutes of sex. I did think it was a bit creepy that these people felt compelled to time the scenes out but regardless it's a very small amount in the grand scheme of things. This is just a theory but I think part of the reason people have issues with the sexual content in this film is how much of it takes place in succession. After Adele and Emma's first love making session they go at it 2 more times after preceding scenes that showcase the expansion and maturity of their relationship. It feels like it's too much but I have to reiterate that there was much more meaning behind the additional encounters than just the presentation of the physical action.

OK. Now It's time to dive into what made this film so marvelous and it lies primarily behind the performance of Adèle Exarchopoulos as Adèle. For some odd reason her name was changed from the comic book but it doesn't change how powerful her performance was. This girl was put through the emotional ringer in this film and you take that ride with her every step of the way. Exarchopoulos plays Adèle with the deer in the headlights attitude. She spends a lot of the time mousing around and looking intimidated by everything. Even when she's with Emma her demeanor is very muted. This is a byproduct of her character learning how to adjust to her life and experiencing everything it has to offer. She's adjusting to her new found sexuality and coming to grips with all that it entails.

Including her immense love for Emma.

This comes out masterfully in the scene pictured above.

Minor spoilers so consider yourself warned.

This scene takes place when Adèle and Emma hang out for the first time. Adèle's attraction to Emma is all over her face and as they are about to say goodbye to each other Adèle has this expression on her face that is screaming/begging KISS ME! Emma kisses her on the cheek and as you can see in the pic, Adèle is disappointed. The sexual tension between the two of them in this scene was palpable. Especially in Adèle. Her desire for Emma was as blatant as you could get and in this moment it was not returned. This is the beginning of Adèle's introduction to the world of love and relationships. She learns in this scene that her lust for Emma needs to be tempered otherwise failed expectations could have unfortunate consequences.
Now I can't continue this review without giving Léa Seydoux some love as well. Adèle Exarchopoulos is the unquestionable star of the show in my opinion. However, Seydoux is the established actress among the two leads and it showed. Her performance was equally stunning and strong. Emma though butchy in appearance is far from it. Her beauty shines through as much as Exarchopoulos. Seydoux also complements Exarchopoulos when on screen together. At first she's the alpha woman, then as the film moves forward, a balance begins to materialize, and you see how beautiful a couple these two women make. That doesn't happen without the matching performance from Seydoux. She plays Emma with the right amount of maturity while succumbing to the undeniable, raw and unmatched sexual chemistry that these two shared. The scene in the bar towards the end explains what I mean to a "T".

When the film progresses into their relationship you can see the evolution of Adèle's life with Emma. She's much more comfortable in her skin and takes things as they come. Both of their lives travel down the paths they set for each other. Then things change between Act 3 and the end. The film goes into predictable territory and would have been seen by me as problematic but this film was so all consuming for me that I went with it because it was a natural turning point. It's in these moments where Exarchopoulos truly shines. This girl literally wore her heart on her sleeve and it comes through in every frame.

Her performance touches your soul and takes you into her heart.

You feel for her. You care for her. You cry for her. You root for her. The film pushes and pulls her to every conceivable limit which begged the question how in the world is this going to end for her. There were several possible outcomes which seemed logical but the one Kechiche chose was not only the right one. 

It was BRILLIANT!

Of course I won't say how Adèle's story ends. All I will say that it was the only way that would have satisfied me because it depicted how real life changes people and their situations. It was perfect way to stamp out Adèle's emotional journey that I took with her for the 3 hours I was in the art house theater.

The bottom line is simply this. Blue Is the Warmest Color is a film that MUST be seen. This movie is not about the sex. It's about the way two women deal with something much more powerful and equally damaging.

The L Word!

On the 5 star scale. Blue Is the Warmest Color gets the full house. 5 stars with a resounding "Worth Every Penny!" recommendation.

That's a wrap for today.

Until Next Episode...."I'll Save You A Seat!"

"D"

Captain Phillips

Welcome to another episode of Lights....Camera....Popcorn!

Today's review is Captain Phillips.

Directed by Paul Greengrass.

Written by Billy Ray.

Based on the book - "A Captain's Duty: Somali Pirates, Navy SEALS, and Dangerous Days at Sea" Written by Richard Phillips & Stephan Talty.

Review #232

MPAA Rating: Rated PG-13 for sustained intense sequences of menace, some violence with bloody images, and for substance use.

Run Time: 134 min

Hulk Spoils Hollywood Podcast Page

Cast

Tom Hanks...Captain Richard Phillips

Barkhad Abdi...Muse

Barkhad Abdirahman...Bilal

Faysal Ahmed...Najee

Mahat M. Ali...Elmi

Michael Chernus...Shane Murphy

Catherine Keener...Andrea Phillips

David Warshofsky...Mike Perry

Corey Johnson...Ken Quinn

Chris Mulkey...John Cronan

Yul Vazquez...Captain Frank Castellano

Max Martini... SEAL Commander

Paul Greengrass seems to be the go to guy for films that deal with retelling of historic current events. He put his name on the Oscar map with the unsettling yet powerful United 93. He's at it again. Only this time his latest story has a happier conclusion. Does this film have gold in it's future? It's possible. The one thing that is for sure is that Captain Phillips is another hit by Greengrass.

Despite it's MAJOR flaw.

Plot

The true story of Captain Richard Phillips and the 2009 hijacking by Somali pirates of the US-flagged MV Maersk Alabama, the first American cargo ship to be hijacked in two hundred years. 

OK. Let's get to it. What is the major flaw that Captain Phillips flaunts. The answer is simple and obvious. Before you leave your house on the way to the theater you know EXACTLY how the movie is going to end. Studios and film makers dedicate part of their lives to avoid spoilers hitting the public before their film comes out. Now films like Captain Phillips are the exception to the rule because they are made from actual events that were covered world wide. The trick people like Greengrass have to employ is making a well known story fresh.

How does he do it?

Simple answer....a LOT of research and who better to get key information from than the man who was directly involved in the incident portrayed in the film.

Richard Phillips is the only source needed to tell this story. Yet some people in the business deem it unnecessary to seek out the people who were actually involved in said story and just work off a published work or worse....they wing it. Greengrass did the right thing going to Phillips and "picking" his brain and getting the major details that chronicled his amazing story. This comes out wonderfully in the film. Even with the full complement of Hollywood embelishments.

The next thing to get into is the stellar cast and how the performances by the two leads drive this film into unexpected territory. Tom Hanks and Barkhad Abdi bring much more to the table than just playing the leads in this film. They provide the emotional strength needed to get through the story. Hanks is obviously terrific but the newcomer Abdi not only holds his own with the Oscar winner but makes a strong case that he steals the show.

A big part of this comes from his back story. I didn't read Phillips book so I have no idea if what we see concerning Muse's life situation in the film was accurate. His character gets some development which gives you some insight as to why he does what he does. It's that development that makes his actions during the hijacking humanizing him and even inspire a little bit of sympathy. A lot of this comes through in his broken english performance. Abdi plays his character with the right amount of balance between his desire to have a better life with his disdain for hijacking.

On the other side of the equation is Hanks and his ability to maintain control throughout the entire film. This is evident at the outset as he goes through his routine before casting off. His detailed run through the ship points out flaws in some of the security measures. Not assuming that the problem will be taken care of he sees to it himself and gets it done. His drill instructor like attitude was a sign that this guy knew the dangers of the job and was going to do whatever he could to make sure that he and his people were safe. When tipped off that pirates were active in the area he was in he ran unannounced rills to prepare the crew for the real thing. Then when it actually happened the crew followed his orders to the letter with the same level of calm and readiness that he exhibited during the attack on the ship.
The final part was Hanks displaying his training and knowledge of what needed to happen in the event he was taken hostage. Phillips kept his cool and more importantly his wits about him while under duress. The film goes great lengths to show the chaos and lack of control the pirates went through once the Navy locked on to their position and surrounded them. It would be easy to just fall into the craziness that followed but Phillips knew that his only chance of survival was to keep himself and his emotions in check. The final moments leading up to Phillips' rescue were tension filled and well paced. The only thing I question is the final strike that took out the pirates. I could be wrong but I'm calling BS on that final assault. It felt way too Hollywood for it to be exactly how it went down. Regardless, it was a fitting conclusion to the rapid fire moments that took place before the pirates were dispatched.

The bottom line is Greengrass and company have once again taken a story plucked from the headlines and given us an adventure worth taking. Despite the undeniable fact that walking in you are spoiled the film's climax.

Captain Phillips gives you more than you could ask or bargain for.

On the 5 star scale. Captain Phillips gets 4 stars with a "Go See It!" recommendation.

That's a wrap for today.

Until Next Episode...."I'll Save You A Seat!"

"D"