Wow is all. Totally not what i was expecting. Fantastically directed by Scorsese, those expecting ultra-violence will be disappointed, for this is a thinking man's film. To say too much would give away a scintillating experience, but suffice to say, this is a must see film. DiCaprio (annoyingly) is growing on me more each film. Each collaboration with Scorsese improving (this is their best outing so far).
The tension and atmosphere is supremely crafted and maintained by Scorsese, as you would come to expect from a veteran with almost forty years experience in the industry. MArty knows what works, not least the fantastic score penned by The Band guitarist Robbie Robertson. The score compliments the tone of the movie superbly and builds tension to a climax to the extent that the viewers is constantly expecting something to happen, even in scenes where it doesn't.
There are fine supporting turns from Ben Kingsley, Michelle Williams and the constantly under-rated Mark Ruffalo, but the film is completely DiCaprio's. The best film of his career is also the best role of his career. As US Marshall Teddy Daniel's he immerses himself into the role of a man with a troubled past, trying to solve a routine missing persons case and at the same time battling to keep his wits and senses about him on the eponymous island, a place where things seem to make no sense. Sure, the subject matter tackled by a less gifted film-maker may have sagged and dragged in places, luckily, being Scorsese it does anything but. (i didn't look at my watch once).
Some may grumble that the ending is obvious etc and they saw it coming from the start, but they've missed the point. It isn't how the film ends, it's the way it's done that is such a treat. And for Scorsese to coax that kind of a performance from Di Caprio is simply astounding.
A tightly woven and captivating tale, expertly told by its director and carried by a powerhouse performance from DiCaprio (touche Leo, touche). Great cinematography, fine supporting turns and an ending that floors you like a kick to the stomach (but a good one).
Must see.
4.5 out of 5
Friday, 2 July 2010
Monday, 21 December 2009
Avatar (James Cameron, 2009)
So, after much hype, James Cameron's first feature film in a little over a decade was finally released on December 17th. A screening which this writer duly attended, to view the so-called "future of cinema" in all its 3-D glory. So, is it any good?
Well, lets start off by saying, Cameron knows how to hype himself and his film up and as a revered director it was fairly obvious that the wait for this film would ensure its success. It looks unbelievable. Honestly. I have never seen anything like it in my life and it will surely change the way that visually significant movies are made from now on. However, in many ways the film is very much a victim of its own hype. The storyline is fairly rudimentary (think or Dances With Wolves or The Last Samurai, but set in space, with aliens).
This is nothing we haven't seen before in terms of narrative and acting. A mix and match cast perform fairly well, with Zoe Saldana a highlight. I was disappointed in how under-used Sigourney Weaver (legend) was though.
The writing is shaky in places and gets too sentimental and cheesy in the emotional climaxes of the film. And it seems unfortunately, that 12 years out has left Cameron rusty in his film pacing, at a bum-numbing 2hrs 45 mins I thought the film was too long. I fear Cameron will fall into the Peter Jackson post-LOTR trap (i.e. will never make a film under 2 1/2 hrs for the rest of his career). So yes, very self-indulgent in places, however, Cameron can still direct a battle, don't forget this is the guy who made The Terminator and Aliens. The fights/battles are as breath-taking as the scenary, though one has to wonder whether all this visual feasting is a way of distracting viewers from the average plot.
The best way that I can sum up Avatar is that it is the cinematic equivalent of dating a porn-star. Sure, it looks amazing and will do for sometime. Everyone who sees it will say how amazing it looks, but when you strip away the superficial, external beauty, the film doesn't really have that much to offer you in terms of intellectual food for thought.
The Chinese Democracy of modern cinema. Cameron, I expect better.
3.5 out of 5 (were it not for the visual spectacle it would barely scrape a 3)
Well, lets start off by saying, Cameron knows how to hype himself and his film up and as a revered director it was fairly obvious that the wait for this film would ensure its success. It looks unbelievable. Honestly. I have never seen anything like it in my life and it will surely change the way that visually significant movies are made from now on. However, in many ways the film is very much a victim of its own hype. The storyline is fairly rudimentary (think or Dances With Wolves or The Last Samurai, but set in space, with aliens).
This is nothing we haven't seen before in terms of narrative and acting. A mix and match cast perform fairly well, with Zoe Saldana a highlight. I was disappointed in how under-used Sigourney Weaver (legend) was though.
The writing is shaky in places and gets too sentimental and cheesy in the emotional climaxes of the film. And it seems unfortunately, that 12 years out has left Cameron rusty in his film pacing, at a bum-numbing 2hrs 45 mins I thought the film was too long. I fear Cameron will fall into the Peter Jackson post-LOTR trap (i.e. will never make a film under 2 1/2 hrs for the rest of his career). So yes, very self-indulgent in places, however, Cameron can still direct a battle, don't forget this is the guy who made The Terminator and Aliens. The fights/battles are as breath-taking as the scenary, though one has to wonder whether all this visual feasting is a way of distracting viewers from the average plot.
The best way that I can sum up Avatar is that it is the cinematic equivalent of dating a porn-star. Sure, it looks amazing and will do for sometime. Everyone who sees it will say how amazing it looks, but when you strip away the superficial, external beauty, the film doesn't really have that much to offer you in terms of intellectual food for thought.
The Chinese Democracy of modern cinema. Cameron, I expect better.
3.5 out of 5 (were it not for the visual spectacle it would barely scrape a 3)
Friday, 27 November 2009
I Love You, Man (John Hamburg, 2009)
This film centre's around Peter Klaven (Paul Rudd), a real-estate salesman who is set to marry his long-term girlfriend Zooey (Rashida Jones). The only problem is, Peter is going to struggle to fnd a best man for his wedding as he has NO male friends to speak of. His family and Zooey inform him he has always been a "girlfriend guy", he brushes this off as a small issue, however, after hearing Zooey confess concerns to her girl friends, he decides it's time to take action and get himself a male friend. After several mis-haps, taking random guys on "man dates" on the advice of his gay younger brother, it appears Peter's quest is se to be fruitless. Enter Sydney Fife (Jason Segel) a batchelor, who could just be the friend Peter always needed, but will this jeapordize the wedding?
I Love You, Man - helmed by Meet The Fockers director John Hamburg is a feel-good buddy comedy aimed squarely at the young male audience. We can all relate to Peter and Sydney's shenanigans and there are many laugh's to be had. The supporting cast do their job well - John Favreau, in a break from his directorial duties on Iron Man 2, is a particular highlight, as is Lou Ferrigno, laying hmself (when does he not?).
Hamburg handles the direction well and also re-wrote the script for the film. And whilst it's funny, and very relateable in places, I'll be honest, I was disappointed. There are amusing scenes - Sydney's scrap with Ferrigno, the scens in the "man cave", Peter's awkwardness, being a few key ones - but this is nothing we are unfamiliar with. Segel and Rudd are comedy pedigree and, whilst they riff off one another well, we don't ever get that true sense of chemistry between them... of real friendship.
Overall, a fun, harmless look at male adolescence, with a good cast and a lingering feel-good factor. There are a few laugh-out-loud moments and many cringe inducing moments, but from the two leads I expect better.
3 out of 5
I Love You, Man - helmed by Meet The Fockers director John Hamburg is a feel-good buddy comedy aimed squarely at the young male audience. We can all relate to Peter and Sydney's shenanigans and there are many laugh's to be had. The supporting cast do their job well - John Favreau, in a break from his directorial duties on Iron Man 2, is a particular highlight, as is Lou Ferrigno, laying hmself (when does he not?).
Hamburg handles the direction well and also re-wrote the script for the film. And whilst it's funny, and very relateable in places, I'll be honest, I was disappointed. There are amusing scenes - Sydney's scrap with Ferrigno, the scens in the "man cave", Peter's awkwardness, being a few key ones - but this is nothing we are unfamiliar with. Segel and Rudd are comedy pedigree and, whilst they riff off one another well, we don't ever get that true sense of chemistry between them... of real friendship.
Overall, a fun, harmless look at male adolescence, with a good cast and a lingering feel-good factor. There are a few laugh-out-loud moments and many cringe inducing moments, but from the two leads I expect better.
3 out of 5
Wednesday, 25 November 2009
Overnight (Mark Brian Smith, Tony Montana, 2004)
This compelling documentary chronicles the rise and astonishing fall of would-be American film maker Troy Duffy. You may know Duffy as writer/director of cult indie film The Boondock Saints. What you may not know is, upon penning the script Duffy was offered a deal by Miramax bigwig Harvey Wide-stein (sorry I mean Weinstein), then, probably the most powerful man in American cinema. He was given a budget of $15million to direct the movie. As well as this Duffy's band, comprising of himself, his brother and some friends were handed a 5 album record deal and would complete the sound track for the film.
Somewhere along the line it all went wrong. Horribly wrong. Like, Reservoir Dogs wrong. So what happened? Well simple...Troy Duffy is an ENORMOUS twat. He succeeds in ego tripping his way out of the Miramax deal and pissing off Weinstein so much he gets blacklisted in Hollywood. But it doesn't stop there, the band sell a disasterous 649 copies of their album and are promptly dropped quicker than third period French by their label.
The dellusions of Duffy know no limits - he claims Weinstein wants to be him, Miramax are scared of him, and, perhaps most laughably, he thinks he can get Di Niro.
Anyway, Boondock Saints was eventually picked up by an independent studio and, given limited screening, flopped at the box office. Though it did develop a cult following on cable tv, dvd and vhs, making $50 million, however, a deal Duffy signed with distributors meant he made no money from that. What a shame.
Simply put Troy Duffy is a talentless, potty-mouthed, drunken bully who never deserved the chance he was given and i'm glad he fell flat on his fat ass in the face of potential success. The only shame is he dragged his friends and family down with him, destroying their lives and any hope of future careers for any of them.
Maybe THIS film should have been called How To Lose Friends and Alienate People.
4 out of 5
Somewhere along the line it all went wrong. Horribly wrong. Like, Reservoir Dogs wrong. So what happened? Well simple...Troy Duffy is an ENORMOUS twat. He succeeds in ego tripping his way out of the Miramax deal and pissing off Weinstein so much he gets blacklisted in Hollywood. But it doesn't stop there, the band sell a disasterous 649 copies of their album and are promptly dropped quicker than third period French by their label.
The dellusions of Duffy know no limits - he claims Weinstein wants to be him, Miramax are scared of him, and, perhaps most laughably, he thinks he can get Di Niro.
Anyway, Boondock Saints was eventually picked up by an independent studio and, given limited screening, flopped at the box office. Though it did develop a cult following on cable tv, dvd and vhs, making $50 million, however, a deal Duffy signed with distributors meant he made no money from that. What a shame.
Simply put Troy Duffy is a talentless, potty-mouthed, drunken bully who never deserved the chance he was given and i'm glad he fell flat on his fat ass in the face of potential success. The only shame is he dragged his friends and family down with him, destroying their lives and any hope of future careers for any of them.
Maybe THIS film should have been called How To Lose Friends and Alienate People.
4 out of 5
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)