My usual excuses … I mean, disclaimers – these are the films I saw at the cinema in 2010. I accept absolutely and utterly no responsibility for movies taking an age to get to New Zealand. 2010 has produced a strong list, with several films vying for film of the year.
In alphabetical order, my top ten of 2010 are:
Animal Kingdom – A gritty, raw, disturbing, shocking, emotional Aussie film. Superb acting by the usual suspects (notably Guy Pearce and Ben Mendelson) and a cracker performance by newcomer James Frecheville. A friend of mine tried to convince me that Mike from Neighbours (Pearce playing the cop) was the most evil person in this story. But for my money, it has to be the family matriarch (played by Jacki Weavers) – what a manipulative witch!
Boy – Film of the year contender #1 is a sentimental, parochial choice I have to admit. But I think this New Zealand film would have wide appeal. Boy is both laugh-out-loud funny and heart-wrenchingly sad. Director/writer/star Taika Waititi has given us a simple but emotional story of family and coming-of-age – it is truly a gem of a film.
Crazy Heart – I simply cannot get enough of Jeff Bridges. I toyed with putting Tron in the top ten simply because there is two of him in it! This slow boiler of a film finally saw Bridges rewarded with an Oscar, and deservedly so. He is supported by some stellar performances, but this is all about Bridges – a fantastic turn as a broken down, hard-living country singer looking for redemption. I also recommend the soundtrack for anyone who is a little bit country.
Easy A – A funny, intelligent teenage comedy, the best I’ve seen in some time. Fantastic dialogue, with some truly inspired one-liners, this film owes much to the teenage flicks of the 80s (to which it pays homage). Emma Stone is charming and spunky and carries this movie with flair. Highly enjoyable.
Four Lions – Truly the most inappropriate and hilarious movie of the year, I simply could not leave this Brit flick out. Written and directed by the brilliant Chris Morris, Four Lions is a clever, farcical and surreal black comedy. At times I audibly gasped at the sheer audacity of it all, while I wasn’t laughing out loud at the comedic brilliance. Not for everyone but certainly for this list.
Inception – You think this is going to be film of the year contender #2 don’t you? Well, you’d be wrong. Although my brother will be utterly dismayed this film has made the list at all, I simply couldn’t leave it out – its originality, visual impact and stellar acting has assured its place here. But Inception is not my film of the year. The more you think about this flawed yet entertaining film, the less you like it. And that’s never good.
Nine – I’m a fan of the musical genre, there’s no escaping it. But Nine is not here as a token entry, no sir. Nine is as entertaining a film as you’ll see all year. Please check your over-sensitive feminism at the door and enjoy this wonderfully European tale of love and lust and genius. Unforgettable musical numbers and some amazing performances (notably Marion Cotillard, who is stunning and fast becoming a favourite of mine) combine to make Nine sublime. It’s even caused me to rhyme.
Scott Pilgrim v the World – I simply LOVED this film. I am convinced it was made especially with me in mind, although I have no proof of that. It just pressed so many of my buttons – it’s funny, sweet, goofy, clever, surprising, action packed, weird, with some utterly unforgettable characters and great acting. Michael Cera is a god, no question. And a wonderful turn from the Culkin kid who has talent, Kieran. Would have been film of the year in a lesser field, but certainly contender #2.
The Social Network – I was expecting a lot from this film. With Fincher at the helm and Sorkin wielding the pen, it didn’t disappoint and is easily contender for film of the year #3. Compelling and fast moving, hugely quotable and superbly acted, this is a riveting movie. Sure, it’s about Facebook and the social networking generation and whatnot. But the story is really much more universal than that: it’s ultimately about friendship and betrayal. I didn’t really care whether it was true or not – it was a hell of a yarn.
Toy Story 3 – Is it time for an animated movie to win Best Picture at the Oscars? I dunno. But, if it is, this film truly deserves the honour. A perfectly paced, utterly compelling, surprisingly emotional film, Toy Story 3 is the best of the trilogy and a joy to watch. Film of the year contender #4.
And the highly commended:
Book of Eli – Clever, dark apocalyptic story with great turns by Denzel Washington and Gary Oldman.
Kick Ass – Hilarious and original comic book-inspired movie, with a wee girl who inflicts bodily harm. Twisted and complete fun.
Precious – Easily the most harrowing movie of the year, this is a brilliant film, but one I wouldn’t see again in a hurry.
The Road – Dark and brooding and tragic, with an excellent performance by Viggo Mortensen, this film is a must-see.
The Tourist – A surprising, refreshingly European caper flick.
The Town – A tense, smart and compelling drama, Affleck is maturing as an actor, director and writer. An especially great turn by Jeremy Renner.
Whip It – I now love roller derby. Enough said.
Wednesday, December 29, 2010
Thursday, December 31, 2009
Top Ten of 2009
My usual disclaimers – these are films I saw at the cinema in 2009. Which, again, wasn’t as many as usual (I blame climate change). And I accept no responsibility for movies taking forever to get to New Zealand … No absolutely clear winner this year, but some fine films indeed.
In alphabetical order, my top ten of 2009 are:
Avatar – Yes, it was predictable and preachy, with two dimensional characters. But in 3D, wowsers, it was something else. Cameron has created an amazing visual feast – an incredibly detailed vision that is indeed a joy to watch.
Dean Spanley - The most delightful film of 2009, no question. Strange and superbly acted, a touching tale of a father and son. And some weird Kiwi bloke who thinks he's a dog.
District 9 – Despite the almost unbearable motion sickness during the first half (I actually had to excuse myself at one point), I adored this film. So striking and surprising and fresh. With a brilliant performance by newcomer Sharlto Copley as everyman Wikus. Fingers crossed 2010 brings us another such cinematic treat.
The Escapist – One of those films I saw because there wasn’t much else on, and, boy, was I glad I did. A gritty, compelling and immensely enjoyable prison movie. With a wonderful turn from Brian Cox.
Gran Torino – My film of 2009? Hmmm, perhaps. An amazing performance by Clint – I’m not the biggest fan of his acting, but this film changed that. Surprisingly sweet and funny for a movie about a racist bigot.
Moon – I hope this movie finally proves that Sam Rockwell is a god. Personally, I have known since Lawn Dogs … A pleasingly claustrophobic, tense and compelling film. A throw-back to the classical sci-fi era, this film is a must see for fans of films in space.
Revolutionary Road – Surprisingly, especially to me, I loved this film. And I like surprises. Great performances by Winslet and DiCaprio. Tragic, funny, sexy, sad. Watching this self-indulgent couple’s relationship turn train-wreck was incredibly compelling.
A Serious Man – Can a year go by without a Coen brother’s film in my top ten? Unlikely. There is a lot going on in this film, much of which I fear was lost on a gentile like myself. But I really didn’t mind. This is a wonderful black comedy, with a stunning turn by Michael Stuhlbarg in the lead role. Sublime stuff.
Wolverine – Yeah baby! In a year distinctly lacking great action films, this big budget feast was a welcome treat. Is my love of the film based largely on Hugh Jackman’s physique? Maybe – so, sue me. An utterly entertaining watch, I hope to see more of Wolverine in 2010.
Zombieland – Hands down, the most absolutely and utterly fun movie of the year. Great one-liners, wonderful tricks with graphics, a surprising amount of heart. And, without question, the greatest cameo of the year. It’s kinda gory, so not everyone’s cup of tea. But if zombies and laughs are your thing, you wouldn't have found a better Friday-night-flick in 2009.
And highly commended: Julie & Julia (half of a very good film indeed with a stellar performance by Meryl Streep; pity it couldn’t have just been Julia), The Informant! (possessed of the most unlikeable lead of 2009 – a great turn from Matt Damon), Milk (Sean Penn at his best in years and an interesting history lesson of a film), The Reader (I loved how morally challenging this film was – a thinker), Star Trek (it didn’t disappoint, which it could so easily have done – a fun and entertaining film), Sherlock Holmes (utterly entertaining with Downey at his charismatic best).
In alphabetical order, my top ten of 2009 are:
Avatar – Yes, it was predictable and preachy, with two dimensional characters. But in 3D, wowsers, it was something else. Cameron has created an amazing visual feast – an incredibly detailed vision that is indeed a joy to watch.
Dean Spanley - The most delightful film of 2009, no question. Strange and superbly acted, a touching tale of a father and son. And some weird Kiwi bloke who thinks he's a dog.
District 9 – Despite the almost unbearable motion sickness during the first half (I actually had to excuse myself at one point), I adored this film. So striking and surprising and fresh. With a brilliant performance by newcomer Sharlto Copley as everyman Wikus. Fingers crossed 2010 brings us another such cinematic treat.
The Escapist – One of those films I saw because there wasn’t much else on, and, boy, was I glad I did. A gritty, compelling and immensely enjoyable prison movie. With a wonderful turn from Brian Cox.
Gran Torino – My film of 2009? Hmmm, perhaps. An amazing performance by Clint – I’m not the biggest fan of his acting, but this film changed that. Surprisingly sweet and funny for a movie about a racist bigot.
Moon – I hope this movie finally proves that Sam Rockwell is a god. Personally, I have known since Lawn Dogs … A pleasingly claustrophobic, tense and compelling film. A throw-back to the classical sci-fi era, this film is a must see for fans of films in space.
Revolutionary Road – Surprisingly, especially to me, I loved this film. And I like surprises. Great performances by Winslet and DiCaprio. Tragic, funny, sexy, sad. Watching this self-indulgent couple’s relationship turn train-wreck was incredibly compelling.
A Serious Man – Can a year go by without a Coen brother’s film in my top ten? Unlikely. There is a lot going on in this film, much of which I fear was lost on a gentile like myself. But I really didn’t mind. This is a wonderful black comedy, with a stunning turn by Michael Stuhlbarg in the lead role. Sublime stuff.
Wolverine – Yeah baby! In a year distinctly lacking great action films, this big budget feast was a welcome treat. Is my love of the film based largely on Hugh Jackman’s physique? Maybe – so, sue me. An utterly entertaining watch, I hope to see more of Wolverine in 2010.
Zombieland – Hands down, the most absolutely and utterly fun movie of the year. Great one-liners, wonderful tricks with graphics, a surprising amount of heart. And, without question, the greatest cameo of the year. It’s kinda gory, so not everyone’s cup of tea. But if zombies and laughs are your thing, you wouldn't have found a better Friday-night-flick in 2009.
And highly commended: Julie & Julia (half of a very good film indeed with a stellar performance by Meryl Streep; pity it couldn’t have just been Julia), The Informant! (possessed of the most unlikeable lead of 2009 – a great turn from Matt Damon), Milk (Sean Penn at his best in years and an interesting history lesson of a film), The Reader (I loved how morally challenging this film was – a thinker), Star Trek (it didn’t disappoint, which it could so easily have done – a fun and entertaining film), Sherlock Holmes (utterly entertaining with Downey at his charismatic best).
Thursday, January 8, 2009
Top Ten of 2008
Disclaimers as usual – these are films I saw at the cinema in 2008. Which, disappointingly, wasn’t as many as usual (I blame politics and the recession). I accept no blame for movies taking forever to get to New Zealand …
And apologies for the lack of blogging activity in late 2008. I will endeavour to do better.
In alphabetical order, my top ten of 2008 are:
The Counterfeiters – A compelling, wonderfully acted, not-your-usual-prison-camp film. Cock full of the type of moral dilemmas we hope we never have to face. A worthy Oscar winner.
Dark Knight – Some of you will cry foul at this choice, but I thoroughly enjoyed the latest Batman outing. Loved it’s darkness, it’s creepiness, it’s violence. As good as Batman Begins, if not slightly more entertaining. And, I hate to go along with the crowd, but Heath was truly wonderful.
Frost/Nixon – Some of the best acting you’ll see in a long time, this is a wonderful film. The two leads simply become their roles. A stellar supporting cast in a compelling tale.
In Bruges – Without a doubt the funniest movie of 2008. This black comedy was wonderfully surprising and violent and laugh-out-loud hilarious. Colin Farrell continues to impress me in these off-beat roles.
Iron Man – Absolutely and utterly entertaining. I unashamedly loved this film, in large part due to its brilliant leading man. An on-form Robert Downey Jr is a thrill to watch.
Juno - A supersmart and witty jem of a film. Great acting all round, with especially good turns from Jason Bateman and Allison Janney. And, hands down, the best soundtrack of 2008.
Lars and the Real Girl – An odd and endearing film which, thankfully, avoided the obvious crassness that might have gone along with the subject matter. It’s smart and witty and definitely corny. A delight.
Michael Clayton – The best thriller of 2008, this film is quality, quality, quality. George showing once again that he will be remembered as the James Stewart of his generation. It’s slow burning, it’s intriguing and it’s jolly well acted.
No Country for Old Men – I have talked to several people who walked out of this film. WTF?!? An absolutely brilliant turn from the Coen Brothers. A killer script, with some terrific acting, and as creepy as they come. A strong contender for the top film of 2008.
There Will Be Blood – I have only come across about three people who have seen this film. And while it’s a particularly dark movie which perhaps is not everyone’s cup of tea, I think it’s a crying shame it didn’t get a bigger audience. For me, it was the best film of 2008 – there, I said it. Now, for goodness sake, see it!
Notable mentions: Shine a Light (fantastically filmed & wonderfully intimate), Tropic Thunder (some truly memorable and hilarious moments; Downey Jr was a joy to watch), Wall-E (incredibly cute and beautifully animated), Quantum of Solace (it wasn’t Casino Royale, but it continues to take Bond away from cheese & cliché and places him squarely in high action genre), Burn After Reading (it disappointed many, but I really enjoyed this quirky and surprising Coen Brothers film), Mamma Mia (not quite the musical triumph that was 2007's Hairspray, but a whole lot of fun nonetheless)
Worst of 2008: The Happening (what has happened to the M Night Shyamalan?!?)
And apologies for the lack of blogging activity in late 2008. I will endeavour to do better.
In alphabetical order, my top ten of 2008 are:
The Counterfeiters – A compelling, wonderfully acted, not-your-usual-prison-camp film. Cock full of the type of moral dilemmas we hope we never have to face. A worthy Oscar winner.
Dark Knight – Some of you will cry foul at this choice, but I thoroughly enjoyed the latest Batman outing. Loved it’s darkness, it’s creepiness, it’s violence. As good as Batman Begins, if not slightly more entertaining. And, I hate to go along with the crowd, but Heath was truly wonderful.
Frost/Nixon – Some of the best acting you’ll see in a long time, this is a wonderful film. The two leads simply become their roles. A stellar supporting cast in a compelling tale.
In Bruges – Without a doubt the funniest movie of 2008. This black comedy was wonderfully surprising and violent and laugh-out-loud hilarious. Colin Farrell continues to impress me in these off-beat roles.
Iron Man – Absolutely and utterly entertaining. I unashamedly loved this film, in large part due to its brilliant leading man. An on-form Robert Downey Jr is a thrill to watch.
Juno - A supersmart and witty jem of a film. Great acting all round, with especially good turns from Jason Bateman and Allison Janney. And, hands down, the best soundtrack of 2008.
Lars and the Real Girl – An odd and endearing film which, thankfully, avoided the obvious crassness that might have gone along with the subject matter. It’s smart and witty and definitely corny. A delight.
Michael Clayton – The best thriller of 2008, this film is quality, quality, quality. George showing once again that he will be remembered as the James Stewart of his generation. It’s slow burning, it’s intriguing and it’s jolly well acted.
No Country for Old Men – I have talked to several people who walked out of this film. WTF?!? An absolutely brilliant turn from the Coen Brothers. A killer script, with some terrific acting, and as creepy as they come. A strong contender for the top film of 2008.
There Will Be Blood – I have only come across about three people who have seen this film. And while it’s a particularly dark movie which perhaps is not everyone’s cup of tea, I think it’s a crying shame it didn’t get a bigger audience. For me, it was the best film of 2008 – there, I said it. Now, for goodness sake, see it!
Notable mentions: Shine a Light (fantastically filmed & wonderfully intimate), Tropic Thunder (some truly memorable and hilarious moments; Downey Jr was a joy to watch), Wall-E (incredibly cute and beautifully animated), Quantum of Solace (it wasn’t Casino Royale, but it continues to take Bond away from cheese & cliché and places him squarely in high action genre), Burn After Reading (it disappointed many, but I really enjoyed this quirky and surprising Coen Brothers film), Mamma Mia (not quite the musical triumph that was 2007's Hairspray, but a whole lot of fun nonetheless)
Worst of 2008: The Happening (what has happened to the M Night Shyamalan?!?)
Sunday, September 7, 2008
Then She Found Me
Helen Hunt, Colin Firth, Bette Midler, Matthew Broderick, Ben Shenkman
Dir. Helen Hunt
Scr. Alice Arlen, Victor Levin & Helen Hunt
I have been seeing a lot of action movies of late, so welcomed the chance to catch an emotional chick-flick-ish dramedy. Well, that’s what I thought I was seeing. Then She Found Me is despairingly lacking in humour. I was a victim of a highly misleading trailer. But all is not bleak. This film has a shaky plot but some very good acting. It’s nicely shot – kudos to first time director Hunt. And, errrrrrrrrrrrrr, that’s about it. Not a great film, but not quite a train wreck either.
Then She Found Me is the story of April Epner (Hunt), a primary school teacher desperate for children of her own, who in the space of what seems like just a few minutes is left by her husband, has her adoptive mother pass away, develops a crush on the father of one of her pupils, and discovers the identity of her birth mother. There’s a lot going on. And even more to come. April finds out she is pregnant, her hopeless ex the father, and tries to juggle her new condition, her ex, her new suitor and a highly egotistical new mother. There are a variety of twists and turns in this film (none of which I will spoil), not all particularly realistic or welcomed, although we do get to see the characters in all sorts of dire straits.
What stayed with me after seeing this film was some of the highly unconvincing behaviour the writers imposed on these characters, and some just plain bad characterisation. Broderick, playing April’s ex Ben, was an unlikeable, unbelievable character. Firth, as April’s new love interest Frank, was (for the most part) completely too good to be true and at times very one-dimensional. Midler, April’s birth mother Bernice, for parts of the film was not much more than a caricature. Hunt herself had more to work with, but even the dour and depressing April was simply too much to bear at times.
I think the actors deserve a great deal of credit for drawing out of these badly written characters at least some humour, humanity and realism. Broderick simply didn’t have enough to do, but what he did do was solid. I pitied his character – so immature and emotionally stunted – and he managed this well. Midler was mostly on fine form, playing the bravado of Bernice with ease, and the more flawed side of her character with compassion. The interplay between Midler and Hunt took a while to get started but, when it did, they complemented each other quite well. Firth was in danger of slipping completely into the type-cast role he usually plays, but thanks to a couple of great scenes, really did surprise and impress. The scene in which he gives Hunt’s character a good telling off is perhaps the best I’ve ever seen from him. I’ve always suspected there was more to Firth than brooding good looks. Hunt’s performance is a mixed bag. She’s not a particularly likeable lead character, but this isn’t necessarily essential to a good film. More fatal is the fact that Hunt’s April didn’t always ring true as a person, even a highly flawed and confused one, and this annoyed me. Therefore, she annoyed me. Some slightly surreal casting resulted in Salman Rushdie playing Hunt’s gynaecologist which was, in a word, intriguing.
Then She Found Me wasn’t a terrible film, but it wasn’t great either. I don’t regret seeing it, but I don’t recommend it. If you want a real tear-jerker of a dramedy buy some tissues and rent Terms of Endearment or Beaches instead.
Dir. Helen Hunt
Scr. Alice Arlen, Victor Levin & Helen Hunt
I have been seeing a lot of action movies of late, so welcomed the chance to catch an emotional chick-flick-ish dramedy. Well, that’s what I thought I was seeing. Then She Found Me is despairingly lacking in humour. I was a victim of a highly misleading trailer. But all is not bleak. This film has a shaky plot but some very good acting. It’s nicely shot – kudos to first time director Hunt. And, errrrrrrrrrrrrr, that’s about it. Not a great film, but not quite a train wreck either.
Then She Found Me is the story of April Epner (Hunt), a primary school teacher desperate for children of her own, who in the space of what seems like just a few minutes is left by her husband, has her adoptive mother pass away, develops a crush on the father of one of her pupils, and discovers the identity of her birth mother. There’s a lot going on. And even more to come. April finds out she is pregnant, her hopeless ex the father, and tries to juggle her new condition, her ex, her new suitor and a highly egotistical new mother. There are a variety of twists and turns in this film (none of which I will spoil), not all particularly realistic or welcomed, although we do get to see the characters in all sorts of dire straits.
What stayed with me after seeing this film was some of the highly unconvincing behaviour the writers imposed on these characters, and some just plain bad characterisation. Broderick, playing April’s ex Ben, was an unlikeable, unbelievable character. Firth, as April’s new love interest Frank, was (for the most part) completely too good to be true and at times very one-dimensional. Midler, April’s birth mother Bernice, for parts of the film was not much more than a caricature. Hunt herself had more to work with, but even the dour and depressing April was simply too much to bear at times.
I think the actors deserve a great deal of credit for drawing out of these badly written characters at least some humour, humanity and realism. Broderick simply didn’t have enough to do, but what he did do was solid. I pitied his character – so immature and emotionally stunted – and he managed this well. Midler was mostly on fine form, playing the bravado of Bernice with ease, and the more flawed side of her character with compassion. The interplay between Midler and Hunt took a while to get started but, when it did, they complemented each other quite well. Firth was in danger of slipping completely into the type-cast role he usually plays, but thanks to a couple of great scenes, really did surprise and impress. The scene in which he gives Hunt’s character a good telling off is perhaps the best I’ve ever seen from him. I’ve always suspected there was more to Firth than brooding good looks. Hunt’s performance is a mixed bag. She’s not a particularly likeable lead character, but this isn’t necessarily essential to a good film. More fatal is the fact that Hunt’s April didn’t always ring true as a person, even a highly flawed and confused one, and this annoyed me. Therefore, she annoyed me. Some slightly surreal casting resulted in Salman Rushdie playing Hunt’s gynaecologist which was, in a word, intriguing.
Then She Found Me wasn’t a terrible film, but it wasn’t great either. I don’t regret seeing it, but I don’t recommend it. If you want a real tear-jerker of a dramedy buy some tissues and rent Terms of Endearment or Beaches instead.
Sunday, August 31, 2008
Hellboy II: The Golden Army
Ron Perlman, Selma Blair, Doug Jones, Jeffrey Tambor, Luke Goss, Anna Walton, John Hurt, Seth McFarlane (voice)
Dir & Scr. Guillermo del Toro
Well, del Toro has done it again – created a slew of visually exciting and wonderfully realised creatures in a fantasy world just on the edge of our own. Perhaps it isn’t as much of a feat in a superhero, comic book movie as it was in Pan’s Labyrinth, where we have come to expect a visual treat. Nevertheless, del Toro’s vision makes Hellboy a cut above most movies of this genre. Some clichéd dialogue and about 20 minutes too many doesn’t detract too much from this stunning, witty film.
Hellboy II picks up where the first film in the franchise left off. Hellboy, Abe Sapien and Liz Sherman are the key players at the Bureau for Paranormal Research and Defence, a secret organisation doing its best to keep the human world and the mythical world separated. When the prince of a magic elfin race starts a rebellion against humanity, and tries to unleash the Golden Army (thousands of indestructible soldiers) to gain power over Earth, Hellboy and company are called in. Along the way, Hellboy and Liz have some domestic troubles, Abe falls in love, we are introduced to a new member of the team (containment suit proportioned like a man holding pure ectoplasmic energy), and (predictably but reassuringly) the world is saved.
The film clips along at a satisfying pace, perhaps a little long (the end is especially drawn out). But I don’t begrudge getting to spend time with the likeable and visually interesting characters in Hellboy. The addition of Krauss (the man-shaped ectoplasm) brings some comic relief but his character is hugely clichéd and hard to connect with, understandably so. However the host of other characters we meet along the way are a treat. Del Toro has an imagination like no other writer/director working today. His creations are frightening and enchanting, other simultaneously. The Angel of Death is particularly breathtaking. You just never quite know what you’re going to see in a del Toro film.
It would be easy for the acting to take to back seat in this film, but there are some very solid performances in Hellboy. Doug Jones is again brilliant as Abe Sapien. For me, Selma Blair (playing Liz) is always a little wooden, and the same is true in Hellboy. Luke Goss (of Bros fame) gives an outstanding performance as Prince Nuada, and Walton’s performance (playing the Prince’s sister, Nuala) is equally compelling. But the star of the show is Hellboy himself, and Ron Perlman looks to be having the time of his life in this role.
Many will enjoy Hellboy, not just your usual set of graphic novel junkies. This film is truly a visual treat. It will help if you’ve seen the first Hellboy movie, but it’s not fatal if you haven’t. I happily recommend this film.
-------------------------------------------
Hellboy: You're in love. Have a beer.
Abe Sapien: Oh, my body's a temple.
Hellboy: Now it's an amusement park.
Dir & Scr. Guillermo del Toro
Well, del Toro has done it again – created a slew of visually exciting and wonderfully realised creatures in a fantasy world just on the edge of our own. Perhaps it isn’t as much of a feat in a superhero, comic book movie as it was in Pan’s Labyrinth, where we have come to expect a visual treat. Nevertheless, del Toro’s vision makes Hellboy a cut above most movies of this genre. Some clichéd dialogue and about 20 minutes too many doesn’t detract too much from this stunning, witty film.
Hellboy II picks up where the first film in the franchise left off. Hellboy, Abe Sapien and Liz Sherman are the key players at the Bureau for Paranormal Research and Defence, a secret organisation doing its best to keep the human world and the mythical world separated. When the prince of a magic elfin race starts a rebellion against humanity, and tries to unleash the Golden Army (thousands of indestructible soldiers) to gain power over Earth, Hellboy and company are called in. Along the way, Hellboy and Liz have some domestic troubles, Abe falls in love, we are introduced to a new member of the team (containment suit proportioned like a man holding pure ectoplasmic energy), and (predictably but reassuringly) the world is saved.
The film clips along at a satisfying pace, perhaps a little long (the end is especially drawn out). But I don’t begrudge getting to spend time with the likeable and visually interesting characters in Hellboy. The addition of Krauss (the man-shaped ectoplasm) brings some comic relief but his character is hugely clichéd and hard to connect with, understandably so. However the host of other characters we meet along the way are a treat. Del Toro has an imagination like no other writer/director working today. His creations are frightening and enchanting, other simultaneously. The Angel of Death is particularly breathtaking. You just never quite know what you’re going to see in a del Toro film.
It would be easy for the acting to take to back seat in this film, but there are some very solid performances in Hellboy. Doug Jones is again brilliant as Abe Sapien. For me, Selma Blair (playing Liz) is always a little wooden, and the same is true in Hellboy. Luke Goss (of Bros fame) gives an outstanding performance as Prince Nuada, and Walton’s performance (playing the Prince’s sister, Nuala) is equally compelling. But the star of the show is Hellboy himself, and Ron Perlman looks to be having the time of his life in this role.
Many will enjoy Hellboy, not just your usual set of graphic novel junkies. This film is truly a visual treat. It will help if you’ve seen the first Hellboy movie, but it’s not fatal if you haven’t. I happily recommend this film.
-------------------------------------------
Hellboy: You're in love. Have a beer.
Abe Sapien: Oh, my body's a temple.
Hellboy: Now it's an amusement park.
Monday, August 25, 2008
Wanted
James McAvoy, Morgan Freeman, Angelina Jolie, Terence Stamp, Thomas Kretschmann
Dir. Timur Bekmambetov
Scr. Michael Brandt, Derek Haas & Chris Morgan (based on the graphic novel series of the same name)
I was very excited by the Wanted trailer – it made me go “whoa” in Keanu Reeves fashion. Stellar cast (well, mostly; I would have put up with Jolie), great special effects, morally dubious premise – fantastic! And while I was thoroughly entertained by Wanted, to be so requires you to check all common sense, ethics and reality at the door. This is great when you’re in the mood for a Friday night action outing; not so good if you want something of substance. But substance can be highly overrated in my opinion – this movie is a ball to watch and I recommend it.
Wanted tells the story of Wesley Gibson (McAvoy), a man completely sleep-walking through his life. His girlfriend is cheating on him with his best friend. His boss is a bully. His job is a bore. He has no money and isn’t special. Or so he assumes, until the day The Fraternity show up in his life and convince him he is. The Fraternity is a 1000-year old organisation of assassins, who have tasked themselves with keeping world order by taking out bad guys. Who decides, you might be asking? Well, I won’t spoil the utter ridiculousness of how victims are chosen, so let’s just say fate decides. The Fraternity convince Wesley to join to avenge the death of his recently murdered father, a Fraternity member, and much action ensues. And, boy, it’s some top-notch action.
Although the script is full of holes and unintentional hilarity, it fires along at a satisfyingly brisk pace and has some cracker dialogue, mostly courtesy of Wesley. The film looks great too, surely due to the influence of Russian director Bekmambetov. Wanted is Bekmambetov’s first American film – he is best known for the highly successful Russian vampire franchise Night Watch. Wanted is dark and dirty and brooding, not afraid to visually surprise the viewer. The effects, reminiscent at times of The Matrix, are a pleasure to watch, despite how ridiculous they might be. NO ONE would survive that train wreck – sheesh! And everyone is undeniably cool, even Wesley by the end. And how could you not be with names like Sloan, Fox, Cross, The Repairman, The Butcher and The Exterminator.
McAvoy is fantastic in this film, again showing his versatility. He is arguably the most watchable actor working today. His timing is wonderful, and you equally buy him as a nerdy no-hoper and a world-class assassin. Jolie, as assassin Fox, is not as objectionable as I thought she might be. In fact, her character is likable and has a warped integrity that I admired. Nice job. Freeman happily hams it up as Sloan, head of The Fraternity. It’s refreshing to see Freeman play a morally reprehensible character.
It’s not the best action movie ever, but I liked Wanted. You will know straight away whether you are part of this film’s target audience or not, and I certainly was. It’s like watching a normal action movie that’s consumed three too many energy drinks – great stuff. Yes, there are certainly some niggling ethical questions that you might ponder over on the way home, but don’t let that stop you enjoying the Wanted ride.
-------------------------------------
Sloan: Welcome... to the Fraternity. This gun you're holding belonged to your father; he could conduct a symphony orchestra with it.
Dir. Timur Bekmambetov
Scr. Michael Brandt, Derek Haas & Chris Morgan (based on the graphic novel series of the same name)
I was very excited by the Wanted trailer – it made me go “whoa” in Keanu Reeves fashion. Stellar cast (well, mostly; I would have put up with Jolie), great special effects, morally dubious premise – fantastic! And while I was thoroughly entertained by Wanted, to be so requires you to check all common sense, ethics and reality at the door. This is great when you’re in the mood for a Friday night action outing; not so good if you want something of substance. But substance can be highly overrated in my opinion – this movie is a ball to watch and I recommend it.
Wanted tells the story of Wesley Gibson (McAvoy), a man completely sleep-walking through his life. His girlfriend is cheating on him with his best friend. His boss is a bully. His job is a bore. He has no money and isn’t special. Or so he assumes, until the day The Fraternity show up in his life and convince him he is. The Fraternity is a 1000-year old organisation of assassins, who have tasked themselves with keeping world order by taking out bad guys. Who decides, you might be asking? Well, I won’t spoil the utter ridiculousness of how victims are chosen, so let’s just say fate decides. The Fraternity convince Wesley to join to avenge the death of his recently murdered father, a Fraternity member, and much action ensues. And, boy, it’s some top-notch action.
Although the script is full of holes and unintentional hilarity, it fires along at a satisfyingly brisk pace and has some cracker dialogue, mostly courtesy of Wesley. The film looks great too, surely due to the influence of Russian director Bekmambetov. Wanted is Bekmambetov’s first American film – he is best known for the highly successful Russian vampire franchise Night Watch. Wanted is dark and dirty and brooding, not afraid to visually surprise the viewer. The effects, reminiscent at times of The Matrix, are a pleasure to watch, despite how ridiculous they might be. NO ONE would survive that train wreck – sheesh! And everyone is undeniably cool, even Wesley by the end. And how could you not be with names like Sloan, Fox, Cross, The Repairman, The Butcher and The Exterminator.
McAvoy is fantastic in this film, again showing his versatility. He is arguably the most watchable actor working today. His timing is wonderful, and you equally buy him as a nerdy no-hoper and a world-class assassin. Jolie, as assassin Fox, is not as objectionable as I thought she might be. In fact, her character is likable and has a warped integrity that I admired. Nice job. Freeman happily hams it up as Sloan, head of The Fraternity. It’s refreshing to see Freeman play a morally reprehensible character.
It’s not the best action movie ever, but I liked Wanted. You will know straight away whether you are part of this film’s target audience or not, and I certainly was. It’s like watching a normal action movie that’s consumed three too many energy drinks – great stuff. Yes, there are certainly some niggling ethical questions that you might ponder over on the way home, but don’t let that stop you enjoying the Wanted ride.
-------------------------------------
Sloan: Welcome... to the Fraternity. This gun you're holding belonged to your father; he could conduct a symphony orchestra with it.
Sunday, August 24, 2008
Tropic Thunder
Ben Stiller, Robert Downey Jr, Jack Black, Nick Nolte, Matthew McConaughey, Tom Cruise, Steve Coogan, Jay Baruchel, Brandon T Jackson
Dir. Ben Stiller
Scr. Ben Stiller, Justin Theroux & Etan Cohen
This movie is funny, gross, uncomfortable, tasteless, politically incorrect, self indulgent, satirical in spades … the list just goes on and on. And while it doesn’t hit the mark 100% of the time, it does so enough to keep you amused and glued to the screen. The acting is top notch – nothing is more wonderful to see than a bunch of actors refusing to take themselves seriously. I’m not the world’s biggest Ben Stiller fan by a long shot, but he does a solid job with Tropic Thunder. Mostly, one suspects, because he has enough movie star friends who want to lark about as much as he does.
Tropic Thunder is about a trio of hugely successfully actors trying to make the best war movie ever – Tugg Speedman (Stiller), the action hero who has done one too many sequels and is searching for credibility; Jeff Portnoy (Black), the bad boy, bad taste comic who is the king of the fart joke; and Kirk Lazarus (Downey Jr), the multiple-Oscar award winning Aussie actor who takes method acting a little too far. Unable to handle his all-star cast and an out-of-control budget, director Damien Cockburn (Coogan) decides to drop this bunch of overpaid, spoilt actors in the deepest, darkest jungle and truly make a great movie. Convinced their every move is being filmed, the actors are oblivious to the real dangers lying in the jungle. And, well, hilarity ensues. Sometimes.
Tropic Thunder does suffer from some truly unfunny, broad humour. But, in this cinema-goers opinion, there are two things that truly save this film from becoming unbearable. The first is the spot-on piss-take of the film industry. The comic star who plays every character in a film. An actor taking “the method” to extremes by becoming black. The aging, failing action star who dumbs himself down in an attempt to win an Oscar. The omnipotent producer. The “he’s-so-hot-right-now” rapper trying his hand at acting. The war movie to top all war movies. These caricatures are so funny because they are so very true. And who better to play them than the likes of Stiller, Black, Downey Jr, McConaughey, Cruise and so on.
Which brings me nicely to reason number two that Tropic Thunder didn’t suck: that miraculous cast list. Stiller sure has friends in high places and friends that don’t mind being the butt of the joke. The stand-outs, by far, are Downey Jr and Cruise. Downey Jr has the most difficult acting job of the movie – playing a dude “playing a dude pretending to be another dude.” And it’s damn funny, especially the scenes between Lazarus and Alpa Chino (the black rapper played wonderfully by Brandon T Jackson), and the memorable sage words of an extreme method actor (“I don't read the script. The script reads me.”) And Cruise, well, what a wonderfully disgusting, disturbing performance he gives as the aptly named producer Les Grossman. He looks to be truly having a ball.
Tropic Thunder will definitely not be everyone’s idea of a good night out. I truly disliked parts of it. But there was certainly enough to keep me giggling and I applaud Stiller’s satirical skills and the whole cast’s willingness to truly ridicule themselves and their industry.
---------------------------------------
Tyra Banks: You're not married, you're on the wrong side of 40, and child-less. Somebody close to you said: One more flop, and it's over.
Tugg Speedman: [pause] Somebody said they were close to me?
Dir. Ben Stiller
Scr. Ben Stiller, Justin Theroux & Etan Cohen
This movie is funny, gross, uncomfortable, tasteless, politically incorrect, self indulgent, satirical in spades … the list just goes on and on. And while it doesn’t hit the mark 100% of the time, it does so enough to keep you amused and glued to the screen. The acting is top notch – nothing is more wonderful to see than a bunch of actors refusing to take themselves seriously. I’m not the world’s biggest Ben Stiller fan by a long shot, but he does a solid job with Tropic Thunder. Mostly, one suspects, because he has enough movie star friends who want to lark about as much as he does.
Tropic Thunder is about a trio of hugely successfully actors trying to make the best war movie ever – Tugg Speedman (Stiller), the action hero who has done one too many sequels and is searching for credibility; Jeff Portnoy (Black), the bad boy, bad taste comic who is the king of the fart joke; and Kirk Lazarus (Downey Jr), the multiple-Oscar award winning Aussie actor who takes method acting a little too far. Unable to handle his all-star cast and an out-of-control budget, director Damien Cockburn (Coogan) decides to drop this bunch of overpaid, spoilt actors in the deepest, darkest jungle and truly make a great movie. Convinced their every move is being filmed, the actors are oblivious to the real dangers lying in the jungle. And, well, hilarity ensues. Sometimes.
Tropic Thunder does suffer from some truly unfunny, broad humour. But, in this cinema-goers opinion, there are two things that truly save this film from becoming unbearable. The first is the spot-on piss-take of the film industry. The comic star who plays every character in a film. An actor taking “the method” to extremes by becoming black. The aging, failing action star who dumbs himself down in an attempt to win an Oscar. The omnipotent producer. The “he’s-so-hot-right-now” rapper trying his hand at acting. The war movie to top all war movies. These caricatures are so funny because they are so very true. And who better to play them than the likes of Stiller, Black, Downey Jr, McConaughey, Cruise and so on.
Which brings me nicely to reason number two that Tropic Thunder didn’t suck: that miraculous cast list. Stiller sure has friends in high places and friends that don’t mind being the butt of the joke. The stand-outs, by far, are Downey Jr and Cruise. Downey Jr has the most difficult acting job of the movie – playing a dude “playing a dude pretending to be another dude.” And it’s damn funny, especially the scenes between Lazarus and Alpa Chino (the black rapper played wonderfully by Brandon T Jackson), and the memorable sage words of an extreme method actor (“I don't read the script. The script reads me.”) And Cruise, well, what a wonderfully disgusting, disturbing performance he gives as the aptly named producer Les Grossman. He looks to be truly having a ball.
Tropic Thunder will definitely not be everyone’s idea of a good night out. I truly disliked parts of it. But there was certainly enough to keep me giggling and I applaud Stiller’s satirical skills and the whole cast’s willingness to truly ridicule themselves and their industry.
---------------------------------------
Tyra Banks: You're not married, you're on the wrong side of 40, and child-less. Somebody close to you said: One more flop, and it's over.
Tugg Speedman: [pause] Somebody said they were close to me?
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