Friday July 22, 2011

The Rocketeer- Joe Johnston directs this film in the same way he directed 'Jurassic Park 3'. With humor and a great sense of both pace and adventure. The meta aspects of the ending where 'the bond guy' (who plays an actor) fights the main dude and states that he "does all his stunts" gave me something to think about and Jennifer Connelly is great in her role as the love interest. She doesn't do much in terms of acting, but everything she does do makes me like the really boring lead way more (a solid Alan Arkin comedic bit helps as well). It seems to me that in our day and age, we misuse her, since I've seen her play the "wife who gets cheated on" character in at least 2 or 3 films in the last couple of years (I exaggerate, it's 2: 'Little Children' and 'He's Just Not That Into You', but 'The Dilemma' really ought to count for something). Rethink, Hollywood.



Captain America: The First Avenger- Without planning on seeing this film today (being pretty much dragged by friends to pay for it since the can't go to free movie tuesday this week), I realized I would be celebrating Johnston's career by watching 2 of his films in one day. Sweet. And honestly, it's kind of tough to decide which was better. They both take place in that lovable WWII era, so they both look great, but clearly where 'The Rocketeer' slows down (less action, but then again, it is an older film), 'America' kicks into gear and doesn't slow down. It has humor, action, drama, and plenty of tragedy, and overall may be my favorite of the individual Avengers films. That means I may be calling you out, 'Iron Man'. Though its arguable and I may just be speaking out of after viewing jitters (since it's not all that original of a film, but it's hella fun). Evans' performance may not be as good as Downey Jr.'s, but then again, Jr.'s reinvigorated his career, so it's not exactly fair. Still, Evans does a fine job portraying the heroic and noble type and makes use of sweet time for Romantic banter with the gorgeous Hayley Atwell. Also, Hugo Weaving does a fine job as well, only, it's no Agent Smith, and it's really nothing memorable. Tommy Lee Jones and Stanley Tucci get some good comic lines, and the action sequences are fast paced and beautiful to look at. Especially all the mud and debris exploding in craters from the ground due to grenades. Also, there is something about blue explosions of light that look a little bit cooler than normal red ones. I even enjoyed the somewhat unfulfilling ending, though it kind of just seemed like poor setup for The Avengers flick.

- Jeff Bassin

Rango Review

I recently had the opportunity to view a pre screening for Rango and therefore owe it to the world to share my thoughts about the film. Coming into the film I knew about the amazing techniques and technology the put into making the film but I never imagined how great the animation would be. In saying this, the animation was positively revolutionary and I definitely see the style and artistry of the animation being used in other films in the future.

Rango: Why don’t you just wait until the cars pass before you cross?
"It’s a metaphor"

This film really was just a metaphor and not even a complicated one. The entire movie was just about Rango adjusting to a life outside a cage and learning about the importance of friendship and never giving up on ones own goals. With its straightforward plot it somehow was made to be a fantastically fun film. Rango was a very intricate character with a great deal of personality. He was a quirky actor type (like someone else we know). He runs around, makes funny faces, and acts like the animals around him. Unfortunately, other than Rango, every other character in the film fell short. Every two-dimensional character after the other could have been summed up in one sentence from a indepentent girl who freezes randomly to a deputy native American. Also, Rango had plenty of quirky lizard attributes from the sheding of his skin to him randomly eating bugs but no other animals added anything to anyone else’s character. If the characters had been other animals it would have made no difference, which is why I feel there really needed to be more to the supporting characters in the film.

With every great animation film there is always a dimension of comedy. Without any kind of humor many older audiences would not appreciate an all-childish plot. What animation writers don’t realize is that a cheap joke definitely gets noticed. The humor for this film was very steryotypical from every joke. That is not to say using word play by saying Thesbians (lesbians) are illegal in 7 states isn’t an effective way to make me laugh but that there was a great deal of adult humor. Most jokes ranged from verbal irony to a series of references including encounters with Clint Eastwood and an alternate persona of Johnny Depp as Raoul Duke in Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas.
Overall, it was a cute film with a great deal going for it. Considering the cast of the film actually acted out the film to capture the animated characters emotions, it was directed fabulously by Gore Verbinski (Pirates of the Caribbean Films, The Weather Man, The Ring). Johnny Depp did a fantastic job capturing the personality of a western lizard and there was no true slow point in the film. I would definitely recommend viewing it.
***1/2

- Jay Bassin

Due Date... or Remake

The new highly anticipated comedy from 'Hangover' director Todd Phillips is by far, a remake. Has every idea already been thought of? Maybe so, maybe not. Anyways, Due Date, the film from the people with the most original comedy film in years comes the movie everybody saw in 1987...or any time past then. That movie is Planes, Trains, and Automobiles. Yes, that John Hughes movie. Downey Jr. is to Martin as Galifianakis is Candy.
Let's describe the plot. One guy, an 'everyman' of sorts must make a journey all the way back home to his family, only, in order to do this, he is going to have to make this journey with an obnoxious, annoying overwieght male. Say hello to Zack/John Galifianakis/Candy. Even so, is this a good thing? I don't know if Planes, Trains, and Automobiles needed a remake but I sure hope this is a good one.
Oh well, if its going to be anyone, best it's Hughes.

Post Viewing: Of course it takes elements of "Planes, Trains..." but don't worry, it's not similar enough to spoil the classic. It actually pays homage to a bunch of road movies. Too bad, its not as good as any. The performances by Downey Jr. and Galifianakis are fine, but its not an enjoyable experience, for them or us. It doesn't feel unique enough to be rewatchable, and there are so many unnecessary sequences (one with Jamie Foxx that seriously led to nothing) that it causing one to be stupified by what you watched. Not hilarious, some funny moments, but not really worth checking out.

- Jeff Bassin

The Disappearance of Alice Creed- Review

Not too shabby, certainly great for a first feature. Director J. Blakeson (previously wrote 'The Descent: Part 2') has created a visually assaultive, intriguing thriller with the use of little to no locations. Shows how important a good cast and editor are. This cast includes the up and coming british actress Gemma Arterton, who you may have noticed as a stand out in Prince of Persia, Quantum of Solace, and the new Clash of the Titans (I certainly did). Although she really isn't anything special here. But maybe that's just because her character is dumbed down to a whiny rich girl who is naked all the time, cries a bunch, then yells a ton, and then screams some more all throughout the entire film. I, in particular, really enjoyed the performances from the two other leads (the only other characters in the film), Eddie Marsan (a great character actor who is less known than he should be) and Martin Compston. Their back and forth dialogue is the only thing that actually helps the film move along really, and move along it does...and move along I will. A bunch of criminals kidnap a rich girl and hold her ransom. But as their crime heads down the road, details are revealed and the situation at hand alters quite a bit. I won't say more than that. Also I liked the cinematography toward the end. Check this out:



Nothing like a burning car to knock some symbolism into your head. Overall, this is a good film and I look forward to seeing whatever Blakeson comes up with next. But there is no need to rush to this one.

- Jeff Bassin

A Few New (and more unknown) Films to Look Out For and Why

Catfish- A "documentary" with some incredible buzz. It's about some guy who starts a relationship with some chick and her family on facebook, and eventually he finds out she lying about herself so he travels to accuse her of this. Reason to watch: Think Dateline the Movie, but way more interesting.

Post Viewing: Awesome. It's not the "Hitchcockian" thriller it suggests, but it is very interesting and very modern. Watch it.



Enter The Void- Gaspar Noé's trippy ambitious film about a dead drug addict who's ghost looks over his sister because of tragedy in their past. Blah, blah, blah, incredible visuals, blah, blah, blah, acid trip. Reason to watch: "What's going on? (Pause) Woah, pretty colors"

Post Viewing: Weird as it seems, maybe even more, but it's striking, original, and very great would be the words to think of before watching it. Take out the 3 hours required to view this (it's only 2 hours and 40 minutes, I think, but you'll need the 20 to recover) though don't watch it with friends (or at least don't talk during it). This is a movie to take on by yourself, but then to discuss like crazy nonstop afterwards.



Monsters- While Gareth Edwards' new sci fi film may seem like the next Cloverfield with a more natural shooting environment (Mexico), it is actually a drama/love story so don't go crazy if it wasn't like you expected it to be. Reason to watch: Edwards is a skilled FX man, who shot this feature for only 7K. It looks great. Plus, the man released it on iTunes rental early, so why not? CON: Well, it's 10 bucks for the rental, so maybe you can wait.

Post Viewing: Not great. I mean, it's mostly cool sites around Mexico, with some talking placed in. There is only like one or so Alien bits, but that's not really my complaint. It's that I just couldn't believe the love story, and I think that should have been the first concern of the film. You would think that a movie focusing on a relationship would be able to paint one you wanted to happen, but really, I just didn't care. I was just wishing for an alien to attack them already. It's not terrible. Just not great. I really would only recommend this to people who want to see how Edwards uses effects to even alter props in the scene, changing a sign saying "Stop" to "Contamination (or something)".



127 Hours- Danny Boyle's Slumdog follow up with James Franco. Well see how it lives up. Reason to watch: Boyle's fast paced kinetic style in a scenario of James Franco trapped under some rocks. Wonder if it will show him amputating his lower right arm with a dull knife in order to escape like the true story it is based on. Interesting.

Post Viewing: Really great editing makes Franco entertaining and keeps the movie fast paced and fun (maybe not the right choice of words). I enjoyed it. Although, since you kind of know what's going to happen, either from movie hype or just plain old knowledge of Aron Ralston's amazing story, you might as well skip to the Arm Cutting Scene that everybody wants to see so bad. But then again, if you want to see how he got to that point (which is pretty interesting), I will certainly be the one to push on that idea.



Miral- Julian Schnabel, director of The Diving Bell and the Butterfly, has got a lot to live up to after his 92 metacritic score and world wide acclaim, and he chose to direct a drama about a orphan Palestinian girl during the Arab-Israeli war. Reason to watch: It's apparently going to be in English.

Beginners- Thumbsucker director Mike Mills' first narrative based since the former, and he's got a rockin' cast to boot. Ewan McGregor, Christopher Plummer, and Mélanie Laurent. Also, look at the cute dog.



- Jeff Bassin

More the Book of Kells, Less the Secret of Kells- Review

This oscar nominated animated film from Cartoon Saloon and first time director Tomm Moore is full of tragedy but it's also hopeful, full of color imagery and a stylistic sense of animation. This is a unique film, with an interesting premise and a beautiful surrounding fantastical world. Although the Vikings really get a bad reputation here.

The film begins with Brendan, an Abbot in training under his uncle Abbot Cellach (the fairly noticeable voice of Brendan Gleeson) chasing after a rooster (pretty funny). After having lived in the Abbey fortress of a place called Kells his entire life, he begins to feel contained inside of its walls. And so drops in Aidan of Iona, a illuminating wanderer who carries with him an unfinished but mythical book and a cat Pangur Bán (which is based on a poem that is very evident in the film). Aidan tempts Brendan to leave Kells and enter the forest, despite the fact that there is an evil dark force (actual black figures, pure evil) that is contained in the forest and a slowly approaching army of barbarians. The rest of the movie centers around Brendan's training as Aidan's apprentice and his friendship to a fairy/wolf spirit named Aisling (sounded like Ashley in the theater).

The animation is beautiful, shown through this sequence of war:


and this portrait shot of Brendan meeting with Aisling at one point:


While not greater than Up or Coraline, (Liked it more than Fantastic Mr. Fox, despite it being a Wes Anderson film, and The Princess and the Frog), I loved it all the same. 2010 was a good year for animation and I would recommend this film to most people. There is an interesting 2D animation against some 3D backdrop that provides an interesting look to the film, if that were the only reason to see it. Overall the plot seems like it would have been better if it were extended, as the film manages to skip ahead in time to show an adult Brendan. While the whole film centers on Brendan's innocence, he suddenly becomes an adult and then the film is over. But then again, maybe that was a point the film was trying to reveal. The fact that innocence is fleeting, and it is always over before we want it to. Only, behind the christian ideology, strong imagery, traditional irish music, this concept could be lost.

- Jeff Bassin

Buried with Suspense!

"Buried", a film by Rodrigo Cortés and written by Chris Sparling was released January 23 at the Sundance film festival and has yet to be released to general audiences. While I wasn't able to make it down to Utah for the fest, I was recently able to read the screenplay. First things first, here's the general plot, as long as you haven't seen the trailers.

The story opens in complete darkness with Ryan Reynolds' character Paul Conroy, your hardworking truck driving everyman, buried in a small casket deep under Iraqi ground (OHhHhhh, the that's what the title refers to). Inside of this small prison, Conroy finds only a few things: a pen, lighter, cellphone, and eventually a box provided by his captors. Without revealing to much of the plot, the rest of the film explores Conroy's struggle to escape this sand surrounded death with only a few minutes to breathe. Conveniently enough for the plot's sake, Conroy has one bar of reception for the cell phone so he can use the phone to make outgoing calls. Throughout the journey, Conroy makes calls to his work, family, friends, and even his alzheimer stricken mother, only to find hope in a leader of a search and rescue team, Dan Brenner, played by Robert Paterson (No, not Robert Pattinson, this is not a typo). He also eventually learns this cellphone was provided by his captors, a group of mysterious men that provide the political agenda of this film. While the movie never really addresses all its characters to properly, we are, in every sense of the words, given a very suspense film that plays with the audiences desire for Conroy to survive. Test after test, call after call, Conroy never seems to lose hope, and thus the audience keeps its head held high while he struggles with a lack of oxygen, fire ants, and the demands of the captors, led by the kind of stereotypical Jabir, played by José Luis García Pérez (although I suppose that is the point). At the center of this film is the conflict with mankind's resources and because of this, the film makes one question how many would be able to save you if you were in the same situation. Also there is a claustrophobic feel to Conroy's lack of an ability to move.

Despite the complaints that this film steals the idea from Quentin Tarantino's implementations in movies like Kill Bill vol. 2 and the episode of CSI episode "Grave Danger", this film comes out on its own, much more like that movie "Phone Booth" with Colin Farrell. I was especially surprised and relieved that the entire film was set in the box because this film also then becomes a test of the budget constraints versus the entertainments factor. As an independent film, it does everything it can to make itself as professional as it can, and after reading the script's fast paced style, realism definitely becomes a factor.

"Every minute counts" would have made a good tagline for this movie, especially since it would have been a double entendre for the style this film creates. Conroy is always on the move (figuratively, of course) and is doing his best throughout the movie to survive. Despite some scenes depicting Conroy's frustration and anger towards the box (completely understandable frustration and anger, I mean, he is trapped in a box and slowly suffocating), Sparling's script excites for every moment he can get out of the 80 paged script.

- Jeff Bassin