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"

Gravity

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

Today's review is Gravity.

Directed by Alfonso Cuarón.

Written by Alfonso Cuarón & Jonás Cuarón.

Review #231

MPAA Rating: Rated PG-13 for intense perilous sequences, some disturbing images and brief strong language.

Run Time: 90 min

Hulk Spoils Hollywood Podcast Page

Cast

Sandra Bullock...Ryan Stone

George Clooney...Matt Kowalski

Ed Harris...Mission Control (voice)




The man pictured above is Alfonso Cuarón and he is a GENIUS! A certified GENIUS! The man has always been a phenomenal story teller with a filmography that speaks for itself. Y Tu Mamá También, Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban (the best of the series) and Children of Men are his claims to fame. Cuarón combines razor sharp writing with stunning visuals and camera work. Not to mention dramatic and profound performances from his cast. Every film he's made has been better than his last.

Gravity is by far his best film and right now my pick for BEST FILM OF THE YEAR!

Plot
A medical engineer and an astronaut work together to survive after an accident leaves them adrift in space. 
There's really nothing to spoil for this review with exception to the ending. Gravity pretty much explains itself from the massive promotional campaign that was put out. The big question to ask was how in the world were these people going to get out of this unbelievable situation.The biggest question asked at the end of this film is the same one you ask a magician after a trick is performed.

How did they do that?

Gravity is a visual MARVEL in every conceivable way. This is normally a pet peeve of mine but this is the exception to the rule. S.O.S doesn't apply here. In fact the style is what makes this film so amazing to behold. One aspect of Cuarón's work that I truly admire is his penchant for tracking shots. He used them expertly in Children of Men in two specific scenes.

The first coming when Clive Owen's character escapes with the pregnant girl and drives away from the compound. The escape and subsequent chase was done at least by my eyes in one take and it was a tense and masterful sequence.

The second one was when Owen was guiding the pregnant girl through this unreal gun battle in the middle of a city. The camera follows them as they were dodging bullets and avoiding detection. All while the girl was going into labor.

Just unreal stuff.

The other factor that made those scenes so powerful was the countless waves of emotions you felt while watching them. Your soul pretty much ran the gamut. Fear, tension, exhilaration, relief. Cuarón knew exactly what buttons to push and when to push them. The end result was a rich movie going experience.

Gravity does the exact same thing here only BETTER!
As previously mentioned, the reason for the crew to be in space is irrelevant but watching this film makes you feel like your in space. This is in large part to the incredible cinematography and visual FX. When the accident takes place and both Clooney and Bullock are drifting away, Cuarón finds a way to put you in that moment through some very intricate camera moves and changes of P.O.V. Several times the scene changes the perspective of what you're seeing by going into a first person view of inside Bullock's helmet. Seeing what she's seeing while spinning and floating away or watching her lunge for any part of the ship or structure to keep her from completely floating away was utterly terrifying.
All of this is magnified if seen in 3D. I know you guys have read me say that 3D is the bane of my cinema existence, but I bit the bullet and saw it in IMAX 3D and it was WORTH EVERY PENNY! Cuarón uses the technology better than Cameron used it in Avatar. The biggest advantage Cuarón had compared to Cameron was simply the realistic world his film was set in. Now some of the aspects of the film are over the top and not plausible. That being said, the world Gravity takes place in is real.

Pandora doesn't exist.
This helps the film's cause when the S#@T goes down. You can believe a scenario like this happening. The question asked next is how do they survive? Of course I'm not telling but I will say that there are aspects of this film that I didn't see coming that once again adds to the drama and intrigue. Cuarón finds a way to pack a ton of emotion and action in a very simple story. It's simply complex. Combined with absolutely stunning visuals and camerawork you have yourself the runaway hit it has become.
If there is one flaw with the film it's the simple reality that as you're watching it, you can get caught up in the "how did they do that" mindset. Which in turn causes you to lose a lot of the energy and power the film gives you. This would be a damaging blow to other films but Cuarón does such a great job of reeling you back in from the wonder and amazement he provides your eyes with the gripping truth that these people are FU@%ED and it will take a miracle to get them home. Of course I had to know so I looked up articles and interviews on the making of this film and came across one from the NY Daily News that details one of the contraptions created to showcase some of the visuals that take your senses on a hell of a ride.
Cuarón calls it the "Light Box" and it contains 4,096 LED light bulbs. Add a few rigs and cranes and you have Clooney and Bullock in outer space. I"m sure there's a few other tricks to the trade but regardless, Gravity is a sight to behold for all of your senses. Despite all this talk about the orgasm for the eyes this film is. Gravity hits you in other areas. The film begins with a title page that gives you the basic facts about outer space. No oxygen and no sound. Why is that so important besides the obvious?

It's a heads up for the scenes like this.
When the space station and shuttles are destroyed you don't hear a thing. That was in a word AWESOME! Not hearing the mass chaos and carnage enhanced the tension and fear you felt as these astronauts were trying to survive the countless waves of debris. Not to mention trying to hang on for dear life. In some cases a film would think sound designing these scenes would give them punch and power. They would be dead wrong. Cuarón hits the nail on the head here because he's not giving you what you would see or hear, he's giving you what THEY would see or hear/not hear. That's the important thing to remember when seeing this film. It's at times literally from the point of view of the people involved in the story. Cuarón also uses a very haunting score to inspire fear and tension in the audience.

Gravity is a scary film and should not be taken lightly.
The film isn't perfect. There are some very over the top aspects to navigate through but you'd have to be a rocket scientist to figure them out. That ladies and gents is the mark of a great film. It's a scenario with realistic properties yet unrealistic results and YOU....DON'T....CARE! Cuarón hit another one out of the park.

This one's got some hardware coming it's way for sure!

On the 5 star scale. Gravity 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"

Don Jon

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

Today's review is Don Jon.

Written and Directed by Joseph Gordon-Levitt.

Review #231

MPAA Rating: Rated R for strong graphic sexual material and dialogue throughout, nudity, language and some drug use.

Run Time: 90 min

Hulk Spoils Hollywood Podcast Page

Cast

Joseph Gordon-Levitt...Jon

Scarlett Johansson...Barbara

Julianne Moore...Esther

Tony Danza...Jon Sr.

Glenne Headly...Angela

Brie Larson...Monica

Rob Brown...Bobby

Jeremy Luke...Danny

Paul Ben-Victor...Priest 


Josesph Gordon-Levitt is on quite a roll lately. After some roles in pretty big films, playing Abraham Lincoln's son in Speilberg's masterpiece and of course "Robin" in The Dark Knight Rises. He's taking a stab at both behind and in front of the camera writing, starring and directing his first feature Don Jon. A major undertaking for any film maker let alone a rookie, but if anyone could pull off the Hollywood hat trick.

It's Gordon-Leavitt.
Plot

A New Jersey guy dedicated to his family, friends, and church, develops unrealistic expectations from watching porn and works to find happiness and intimacy with his potential true love.
Don Jon is a pretty good movie. It's not groundbreaking by any means but it definitely stands out as Gordon-Leavitt's brain child. From the first frame to the end credits you can tell that Don Jon has a plan for how the story is told and it's executed rather well. Jon spends his days working out, cleaning his place, hanging out with his boys and hooking up with girls. It's all routine with him and for first time directors it may play out too repetitive. However, Gordon-Levitt does a good job taking that feeling away. How he did it was pretty simple yet sophisticated enough to show off his story telling ability. He also got great performances from his cast.
Tony Danza was hysterical as Jon's dad and you can tell by watching that he and Gordon-Levitt have good chemistry and a solid personal bond. They worked together back in 1994 in the film Angels in the Outfield. Both of them were considerably younger so it was a treat to see them back together acting in much different roles and subject matter. The rest of the cast was good highlighted by Scarlett Johansson as Barbara.
She played her role as the Italian princess perfectly. She had just enough sexy and street to play along side Gordon-Levitt. The film begins to take shape after he's hooked up with Barbara and as their relationship grows, the film grows with it. It's here you get the full effect of what Gordon-Levitt was trying to do with the story. Don Jon is by all accounts a love story and how people experience love. Jon doesn't have the capacity to love like you and I do. He finds that satisfaction from watching internet porn. It's only when he comes across Esther does he find the way to connect emotionally.
It's here where the film shines. Esther teaches Jon the differences between love and sex and how each of them can be used to benefit someone's life. The knowledge dropped on him plays a key role in Jon's development as a man and one scene rings out that thought. Every Sunday he goes to church and confesses his sins which in every scene are the same. However one confession his penance is less than the previous ones so he thinks he's turned a corner. He goes back to confess and when his penance is back to what it used to be he questions the priest. He wonders if there's points for doing better. The priest just drones on realizing that Jon is abusing the faith and the concept of confession. It's a clever way to show the tone and shift the film goes through from time to time.
Once his connection to Esther is made, the film concludes and Jon finally comes to grips with who he is and what his life can actually be like. The only thing I wished happened was Jon being tougher with Barbara after their break up. He has a chance to break her down and it would be deserved but instead he takes a form of the high road and it was unfortunate. I was really looking forward to seeing that moment and it never happened.
Bottom line is Don Jon is a good movie and a great debut for Joseph Gordon-Levitt as writer and director. If he keeps this up, the future will be brighter for a star that is already shining pretty brightly.

On the 5 star scale. Don Jon gets 3 stars with a "Go See It!" recommendation.

That's a wrap for today.

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

"D"