Monday, December 31, 2012

TROUBLE WITH THE CURVE





PRINCIPAL CAST MEMBERS
Clint Eastwood: aging baseball scout Gus Lobel
John Goodman: his boss Pete Klein
Robert Patrick: team owner Vince
Matthew Lillard: his assistant Tom Silver
Amy Adams: Gus’s daughter Mickey
Justin Timeberlake: rival team’s scout Johnny Flanagan
Joe Massingill: hot high school player Bo Gentry

REVIEW
For the totally dedicated baseball fan who can’t get enough of the game this one is a winner. For the rest of us it is very much a “déjà-vu movie” following a proven formula to the point there is no doubt about the outcome, much less what transpires prior to that.

However even with all its shortcomings, it is entertaining and enjoyable, something that cannot be said for a lot of offerings out there.

CLASSIFICATION
for language, sexual references, some thematic material and smoking.

Sunday, December 30, 2012

2012 Top Ten + Two

 
There’s always hope: that’s the message we take away after seeing this small scale film about the on-going situation in the Gaza strip, an area surrounded by Israel. The acting is uniformly good and the story is a credible one taking time to portray the contrasts such as rich/poor, freedom/confinement, Jew/Arab. I know which side I’d pick.





A slightly altered version of the events that took place in Iran with the taking hostage of American diplomatic personnel in 1978 does not diminish the impact of the rescue attempt. Careful attention to period detail and great acting bring the events to life. Even knowing the actual outcome, the tension is palpable as you can never be sure how Hollywood will handle the facts. Riveting stuff.















Set in the South two years before the American Civil War this story about a slave is not for everyone. Despite some terrific acting, great cinematography, lots of humorous situations, some hilarious dialogue with a twist for the dramatic the unremitting violence will be too much for many.  Although some of the violence is almost cartoonish what with all the blood spatters and too much gore, some of it definitely is not. The squeamish like me will have to avert their eyes more than a couple times. And some movie-goers will be offended with the frequent use of the “N” word. Another thing: it’s long. Real long. It runs for 2 hours and 25 minutes, time some people do not have for a movie. However, given that this is definitely a “Quentin Tarantino film” those who enjoy his work will relish every moment of it.



Expectations are high any time there is a movie with Denzel Washington in it: this time he really nails it giving what is probably his best performance. Because the role calls for him to handle a variety of human emotions it’s to his credit he never goes over the top, something lesser actors constantly do. But he is not the only one who puts in a terrific performance; it’s just that he’s the best. Although flying has a lot to do with the movie storyline it’s the human side of things that make it interesting. Questions of morals and ethics abound and that makes for good ol’ fashioned solid entertainment. Despite the fact the running time is in excess of two hours, it is not a minute too long. One movie goer put it this way: “the movie is never too long when Denzel Washington is in it”.


Brilliant. No other term comes close to describing Meryl Streep’s portrayal of a woman who is unhappy with her marriage of some thirty-odd years. Not that the other two principals are slouches, it’s just that she is so much better than they are. The story will resonate with anyone who has been (or still is) in a long term relationship. There is a ring of truth about it and it does not feel fake. Perhaps one of the writer’s went through this or knows someone who did? Clearly geared to the more discerning viewer, one moviegoer so succinctly put it this way: “an interesting movie that caters to a more senior demographic although parts of it made me cringe” because of the explicit and graphic nature of some scenes. Most people will feel the same, being uncomfortable hearing others talk about their intimate personal sex life. However, like me, you can always look away if it becomes too much. But more often than not there is some comic relief, either a titter or a chuckle from someone.


Worthy of an Academy award, the performance by Day-Lewis is but one of many fine character impersonations this film has to offer. It also provides an insight to Lincoln’s interpersonal skills with people and his clear-sighted judgment in face of a terrible dilemma: end slavery or end the war. Lincoln accomplished more in the last four months of his life than most people do in a lifetime. It can be a bit confusing at times while trying to follow the House discussions (more like a yelling match than debate) and understanding the implications of the back room makeovers not to forget the under-the-table deals to outwit his opponents but the effort is worthwhile in order to get the gist of it. (My full review includes important background information.) Production values are first rate and the score by John Williams is one of his best. At 2 hours and 30 minutes it is not a minute too long given that the story being told is such an important one. 



There are more than a few chuckles and laughs in the telling of this rather unusual story including the premise itself of sport fishing in the desert. The acting is first rate and some of the scenery is pretty impressive. It is thoroughly entertaining even though the British accent keeps you on your toes so as not to miss any of the dialogue. In the words of one movie-goer “it’s a charming gem of a movie with almost unbelievable challenges facing them with great acting by all the principals”.


 

Unlike most movies of this sort, this one is not aimed at the younger crowd. With some serious issues, it is anything but fluff. In fact, some scenes are difficult to watch as they are that real.
With a strong storyline and some great acting by Cooper and Lawrence (De Niro too) it is at times funny, inspiring, unsettling and engaging. That makes for a strong contender for recognition of some sort, maybe at the time they give out the Academy Awards?


 The action sequences are nothing short of spectacular with some of the “traditional” elements clearly in evidence (think fruit stands) which pretty well sums up this latest version of the series: a mix of the old and the new. Beautiful locations which are a trademark of the series include Istanbul, London, Shanghai, Macau and the Scottish Highlands. The beautiful girls (another Bond staple) are there as well. The acting is uniformly good with less tongue-in-cheek than in some earlier editions. To me, this is the best Bond yet in part because of the strong cast along with the work of Sam Mendes as Director and Roger Deakins in charge of cinematography. Although a tad long at 2 hours and 23 minutes, there are very few slow spots that could be left on the editing floor.


The film takes place over a 24 hour period while former British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher is clearing out her husband's belongings. Her life unfolds through a series of flashbacks sometimes with actual period television footage. It’s a huge undertaking as it covers almost her entire life chronologically from when she was a teenager at the outbreak of WWII up to the year 2005. The producers have wisely chosen not to dwell too long on any of the key events that took place during her career. To have done so would have resulted in a film three or four times longer than it is and who wants that? Another good choice is to have Meryl Streep portray the Prime Minister. Streep's performance is nothing short of remarkable. She really nailed it this time, not only in the voice (and accent) but with the mannerisms and facial expressions. Streep holds the record for the most Academy Award nominations of any actor, having been nominated sixteen times. There is no doubt in my mind she will up that count by one. Production values are top notch including costume design, set decoration, makeup (the best I’ve seen in years) and cinemaphotography all contributing to its elegant look.


The discriminating viewer will be rewarded with learning more about a charismatic world-class leader who was faced with having to decide between personal happiness and her people. During the first fifteen minutes or so the movie jumps back and forth in time but these flashbacks serve only to confuse the issue since at that stage we are not yet familiar with the characters on screen. But apart from that, the film has so much going for it: great acting, beautiful cinematography, excellent pacing, a well written story and a lovely score. Although the running time is just over two hours, it is not a minute too long as this is one film with a lot to say and that should not be rushed.

This latest IMAX documentary covers some very familiar ground: global warming and the daily struggle just to survive in this harsh environment. By focusing on a mother polar bear and her twin seven-month-old cubs their plight becomes evident but the solutions are not. Meryl Streep narrates with feeling and Sir Paul McCartney has written some new songs that almost overwhelm the viewer. But not quite, as the majestic landscape draws our attention to what is indeed a serious problem. Although the producers have avoided including anything of a gory nature, that does not mean to say the film is without some sense of pending doom. By contrast, the cubs provide more than a few moments of levity so it’s a nice balance.

Saturday, December 29, 2012

DJANGO UNCHAINED



Western drama

PRINCIPAL CAST MEMBERS
Jamie Foxx: Django, a slave
Christoph Waltz: Dr. King Schultz, a dentist
Leonardo DiCaprio: plantation owner Calvin J. Candie
Samuel L. Jackson: Candie’s trusted head slave Stephen
Kerry Washington: Broomhilda Von Shaft, a slave

REVIEW
Set in the South two years before the American Civil War this story about a slave is not for everyone. Despite some terrific acting, great cinematography, lots of humorous situations, some hilarious dialogue and a twist for the dramatic the unremitting violence will be too much for many.

Although some of the violence is almost cartoonish what with all the blood spatters and too much gore, some of it definitely is not. The squeamish like me will have to avert their eyes more than a couple times. And some movie-goers will be offended with the frequent use of the “N” word.
                                
Another thing: it’s long. Real long. It runs for 2 hours and 25 minutes, time some people do not have for a movie.

However, given that this is definitely a “Quentin Tarantino film” those who enjoy his work will relish every moment of it.

CLASSIFICATION
for strong graphic violence throughout, a vicious fight, brief nudity and language.

FOR NITPICKERS ONLY
  • While camping two horses are a short distance away from Dr. Shultz but then the camera cuts to a close-up and now one horse is directly behind him.
  • On the way to see Candie, one of his henchmen angers Django so he pulls on the saddle resulting in both rider and horse falling to the ground. In a medium shot we see the henchman struggling to get up but the horse is standing there like nothing happened.
  • As Django and Dr. Schultz approach Candie’s villa, the long shadows of the entranceway sweep across the path in front of them. But when they stop in front of the porch steps the shadows are short, like those seen around noon.
  • While talking with Candie, Django and his horse are in a different location from one shot to another, sometimes besides the horses pulling Dr. Schultz’ wagon, sometimes back beside it.
  • Dynamite is used a couple of times throughout the movie but it did not exist when these events took place. The Swedish chemist Alfred Nobel took out a patent for his new invention in 1867.
  • One of the slave drivers is wearing a Confederate style kipi hat, some 2 years before the outbreak of the American Civil War in 1861 when they were first issued.

P.S.
The word nigger (the so-called “N” word) as a term to refer to black people is a variation of the Spanish noun negro. It was not always considered derogatory: it simply meant a person who was black-skinned. Nineteenth-century English language literature features the usage of nigger without raciest connotation. For example Mark Twain’s Adventures of Huckleberry Finn published in 1885 refers to Misto’ Brandish’s nigger, a straight-forward description of the relationship between the two men. But by the 1900’s nigger had become a pejorative word and today the term black has become a mainstream alternative.

Friday, December 21, 2012

LIFE OF PI





PRINCIPAL CAST MEMBERS
Irrfan Khan: middle-aged Piscine “Pi” Molitor Patel
Rafe Spall: a Canadian author
Ayush Tandon: Pi as the 11-year-old son
Adil Hussein: Pi’s father Santosh, owner of a zoo
Tabu: Pi’s mother Gita
Suraj Sharma: 16-year-old Pi

REVIEW        
To my mind movies told in flashback many times take away the essence of the story by telling us the ending so I don’t know why they do it so often. Case in point: before we even learn about the epic struggle of Pi as a teenager, we know he survives. So the key element is gone. I wish I had missed the first fifteen minutes because this is really a simple story about survival with frequent references to spirituality thrown in.

Despite some beautiful images they only serve to break up the monotony during the second half of the movie and do nothing to move the narrative along. Consequently it is over two hours long and overstays its welcome by at least 20 minutes.

However the director seems to have switched gears somewhere because the ending is told without any visual references at all and that’s where they could have helped in telling the story. How odd.

CLASSIFICATION
for emotional thematic content, some scary action sequences and scenes of peril.

Thursday, December 13, 2012

HITCHCOCK



 Drama

F.Y.I.
Alfred Joseph Hitchcock (August 1899 – April 1980) was a film director and producer who pioneered many techniques in the suspense and psychological thriller genres. He was first to have the camera move to mimic a person’s gaze, and often framed shots to maximise anxiety, fear or empathy. His innovative film editing and twist endings made for engaging entertainment as did his cameo appearances in his own film.

PRINCIPAL CAST MEMBERS
Anthony Hopkins: Alfred “Hitch” Hitchcock
Helen Mirren: his wife and collaborator Alma
Toni Collette: Hitch’s assistant Peggy
Danny Huston: screenwriter Whitfield “Whit” Cook
Jessica Biel: actress Vera Miles
Scarlett Johansson: actress Janet Leigh
James D’Arcy: actor Anthony Perkins

REVIEW
Having already met with much success, Hitch wanted to make a horror movie but encountered a lot of resistance. How he overcomes these obstacles and at the same time deals with his troubled marriage makes for an interesting look at one of the most influential filmmakers of the last century. Both Hopkins and Mirren put in wonderful performances which makes it all that more real.

But the infrequent appearance of a ghostly figure of the killer in conversation with Hitch seems out of place. There are better ways than that to provide revealing insights to his thoughts that are not so intrusive.

CLASSIFICATION
for some violent images, sexual content and thematic material.

Sunday, December 9, 2012

KILLING THEM SOFTLY



Crime drama

PRINCIPAL CAST MEMBERS
Scoot McNairy: low life thug Frankie
Ben Mendelsohn: his partner-in-crime Russell
Vincent Curatola: Johnny “Squirrel” Amato
Ray Liotta: Markie Trattman, manager of a mob-controlled poker game
Sam Shepard: legendary enforcer Dillon
Brad Pitt: Mafia hitman Jackie Cogan
Richard Jenkins: Driver, the mob’s lawyer
James Gandolfini: Mickey, a NYC Mafia hitman
and others no doubt

REVIEW
To be honest with you I had no idea this film is a piece of junk. Knowing that Brad Pitt starred in it, I never thought he would in any way be associated with something like this, a fiilm about unsavoury, corrupt, foul-mouthed low-life gangsters whose every second utterance is the f-word with a penchant for describing in lurid detail their sexual encounters.

They all exhibit some bad behaviour but having to watch a brutal up-close beating is revolting. I had to close my eyes and left as soon as I could right after. 

CLASSIFICATION
for violence, sexual references, pervasive language and drug use.

FOR NITPICKERS ONLY
  • Russell holds a half-eaten ice cream bar in his hand as he approaches Frankie but in the next scene it has completely disappeared.
  • Mickey finishes his martini and orders another but before it arrives he picks up the glass which is now full and takes a sip.
  • Mickey downs a beer in one gulp but in the following scene it is now half full. 

P.S.
I was not the first to walk out: six or seven people with better sense than me left before I did. My excuse? I hung in as long as I could.

Wednesday, December 5, 2012

SILVER LININGS PLAYBOOK



 Romantic comedy

PRINCIPAL CAST MEMBERS
Bradley Cooper: former high school teacher Pat Solitano
Chris Tucker: his friend Danny
Jacki Weaver: Pat’s mother Dolores
Robert De Niro: his father Pat Sr. a die-hard Philadelphia Eagles fan
John Ortiz: their neighbour Ronnie
Julia Stiles: Ronnie’s wife Veronica
Jennifer Lawrence: Veronica’s sister Tiffany

REVIEW
Unlike most movies of this sort, this one is not aimed at the younger crowd. With some serious issues, it is anything but fluff. In fact, some scenes are difficult to watch as they are that real.

With a strong storyline and some great acting by Cooper and Lawrence (De Niro too) it is at times funny, inspiring, unsettling and engaging. That makes for a strong contender for recognition of some sort, maybe at the time they give out the Academy Awards?

CLASSIFICATION
 for sexual content, brief nudity and language.

FOR NITPICKERS ONLY
  • The car Dolores is driving does not meet the U.S. Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard 202 so would not be allowed on the road  since both head restraints have been removed.
  • During dinner at Ronnie’s house in the mirrored cabinet behind Veronica a crew member can be seen trying to get out of the camera’s view.
  • While Pat Sr. is explaining his strategy to Dolores and Randy, his gambling friend never stays put; from one shot to another Randy is either behind or beside her.
  • Although Pat and his father are alone in the car and Pat Sr. keeps both hands on the wheel, the back seat window closes all by itself.
  • When Tiffany recaps the Eagles season she mentions that they won both games  against the Seahawks; since these teams are in separate divisions they would not play each other twice in a season.
  • Pat walks into the dance studio with duct tape on his sneakers. He sits down so  Tiffany can wrap duct tape around his now tape-free shoes.
  • While reading the letter in the dance studio, without touching it the pendant on his necklace comes and goes; sometimes it is on the front of his shirt or not and when he walks away it is at the back of his neck.