Chronicle

Movie Name: Chronicle

Year of Release: 2012

Director: Josh Trank

Stars: Dane DeHaan, Alex Russell, Michael B. Jordan, Michael Kelly, Ashley Hinshaw, Bo Petersen, Anna Wood, Rudi Malcolm

Genre: Action, Drama, Sci-Fi

Score out of ten (whole numbers only): 6

Synopsis:

Josh Trank's feature directorial debut, follows the lives of three high schoolers who upon finding some unknown device in the woods, become possessed of super powers. What appears to be a blessing at first for all three of them, slowly erodes their lives, until Andrew, the most introverted of the three, becomes increasingly more violent and a series of violent events occur.
Josh Trank uses the "homemade" video style, much like Matt Reeve's "Cloverfield", to create a sense of discovery and closeness to the lives of the young men of the film. His seemingly different teenagers, are confronted with abilities that allow them to live the lives they always wanted. Little by little they become more confident, until their power corrupts one of them. The film focuses on the dynamics of the group, showcasing the difficult life of Andrew, the social awkward one, for whom the power allows for an opportunity to defend himself. The downward spiral of Andrew, the corruption of his character and the family dysfunction that he has experienced, sets him on a path of destruction, that the film illustrates very realistically. The film, though scarce in terms of budget, manages to make very good use of the visual effects, creating an engaging and dynamic story (though populated with the traditional cliches ever seen in all high school films). A very good first effort!

Best films of 2011

2011 was a film dominated by big spectacle, but few remarkable films. That being said, there were great works from fantastic directors. 3D continued to pave the way for higher ticket prices, but not necessarily for better film experiences. Here is a list of what I found truly amazing during the year of 2011.

The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo
Director: David Fincher
Cast: Rooney Mara, Daniel Craig, Christopher Plummer, Stellan Skarsgard, Joely Richardson, Robin Wright, Yorick Van Wageningen, Geraldine James, Goran Visnjic, Donald Sumpter

Hugo
Director: Martin Scorsese
Cast: Ben Kingsley, Sacha Baron Cohen, Asa Butterfield, Chloe Grace Moretz, Emily Mortimer, Ray Winstone, Jude Law, Christopher Lee

La Piel que Habito/The Skin I Live In
Director: Pedro Almodovar
Cast: Antonio Banderas, Elena Anaya, Marisa Paredes, Jan Cornet, Robert Alamo, Eduard Fernandez

Moneyball
Director: Bennett Miller
Cast: Brad Pitt, Philip Seymour Hoffman, Jonah Hill, Robin Wright, Spike Jonze, Chris Pratt, Stephen Bishop, Brent Jennings

Beginners
Director: Mike Mills
Cast: Ewan McGregor, Christopher Plummer, Melanie Laurent, Goran Visnjic, Kai Lennox, Mary Page Keller

X-Men: First Class
Director: Matthew Vaughn
Cast: James McAvoy, Michael Fassbender, Kevin Bacon, Jennifer Lawrence, Nicholas Hoult, January Jones, Zoe Kravitz

Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy
Director: Tomas Alfredson
Cast: Gary Oldman, Colin Firth, Tom Hardy, Mark Strong, Kathy Burke, Toby Jones, John Hurt, Stephen Graham, Christian McKay

Mission Impossible: Ghost Protocol
Director: Brad Bird
Cast: Tom Cruise, Jeremy Renner, Paula Patton, Simon Pegg, Michael Nyqvist, Lea Seydoux

Drive
Director: Nicolas Winding Refn
Cast: Ryan Gosling, Carey Mulligan, Bryan Cranston, Albert Brooks, Ron Perlman, Oscar Isaac, Christina Hendricks

Special mentions should go for the following films. "Shame" from Steve McQueen, "Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close" from Stephen Daldry, "Rango" from Gore Verbinski, "Young Adult" from Jason Reitman and "Contagion" from Steven Soderbergh.

Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close

Movie Name: Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close

Year of Release: 2011

Director: Stephen Daldry

Stars: Tom Hanks, Sandra Bullock, Thomas Horn, Max Von Sydow, Viola Davis, Jeffrey Wright, Zoe Caldwell, John Goodman

Genre: Drama

Score out of ten (whole numbers only): 7

Synopsis:

Stephen Daldry's new film after "The Reader" is a new literary adaptation, this time from Jonathan Safran Foer's book of the same name. The film follows the story of Oskar Schell, a young boy whose life is changed dramatically after his dad dies in the attacks of September 11th. Oskar finds a key in his father's belongings, and believes that the key is part of one of their intricate discovery games. He sets out to find where that key belongs, in the hopes of making the memory of his father persist more in his life. Through his quest he touches the life of many people in New York who were all affected by those attacks.
Stephen Daldry is a very intelligent director. In his previous efforts, from "Billy Elliot", through "The Hours" and "The Reader", he is a director who has always been able to allow actors to create real characters, not just types or uni dimensional compositions. "Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close" deals with a very painful and still recent event, who affected the lives of so many people in the US and in the world in general. Focusing the aftermath of those events on the lives of a small family, allows to realize how the pain of one is actually something shared by so many. How someones quest sometimes leads people to unexpectedly help others. This is a film about the redemptive power of relationships, between parents, between disparaging people united by a common thread of finding peace. The film has great performances from Thomas Horn, Sandra Bullock and Max Von Sydow, and features a stunning cinematography from Chris Menges. A very good film not to be missed.

Albert Nobbs

Movie Name: Albert Nobbs

Year of Release: 2011

Director: Rodrigo Garcia

Stars: Glenn Close, Mia Wasikowska, Aaron Johnson, Janet McTeer, Pauline Collins, Brendan Gleeson, Jonathan Rhys Meyers, Maria Doyle Kennedy, Brenda Fricker, Mark Williams, Phyllida Law, Bronagh Gallagher

Genre: Drama

Score out of ten (whole numbers only): 5

Synopsis:

Rodrio Garcia's new film, following "Mother and Child", is an adaptation of a short story from George Moore. This story had been played in the theater by Glenn Close, who championed this story for over twenty years and was crucial in the development and realization of the film. Albert Nobbs is a waiter in a small hotel, where he is impeccable in his attire and service. Albert saves all his money and extra tips in the hopes of saving enough in order to buy a little shop for himself. However, Albert is in reality a woman who has been in disguise for most of her life. When she accidentally meets someone in an identical situation, Albert devises a plan to find some happiness in life.
"Albert Nobbs" is a film that lives of the creation of the main character by Glenn Close. Glenn Close who has always been an actor associated with characters of extreme traits, such as Adrian Lynne's "Fatal Attraction" and Stephen Frears' "Dangerous Liaisons", opts to create a character who is quiet and almost invisible. Albert does not call attention to himself, is non confrontational, and therefore almost imperceptible. The film itself almost falls to the same fate as the character - for a story who had such potential, the film feels remarkably devoid of conflict, spark or drama. Janet McTeer is an exception - she imbues her character with an energy and vivacity, which is something that the film itself also needs. The production design and overall acting are impeccable, but the film itself sadly falls short of something dramatically poignant.

Oscar nominations announced

The Oscar nominations for the best films of 2011 are out and leading the pack is Martin Scorsese's "Hugo", a fantastic film worthy of all the accolades. Sadly missing are brave films and performers such as Steve McQueen's "Shame" with great performances from Michael Fassbender and Carey Mulligan, Jason Reitman's "Young Adult" with the fantastic Charlize Theron and Patton Oswalt and "We Need to Talk About Kevin" from Lynne Ramsay with the amazing Tilda Swinton.  Check the full list here.

Underworld: Awakening

Movie Name: Underworld: Awakening

Year of Release: 2012

Director: Mans Marlind, Bjorn Stein

Stars: Kate Beckinsale, Stephen Rea, Michael Ealy, Theo James, India Eisley, Sandrine Holt, Charles Dance, Kris Holden-Ried, Wes Bentley

Genre: Action, Fantasy, Horror

Score out of ten (whole numbers only): 5

Synopsis:

The "Underworld" franchise is back, following the prequel "Rise of the Lycans", making the character embodied by Kate Beckinsale the center of the story again. The film follows Selene, a vampire, and her partner Michael, a hybrid. While the vampires and lycans have always been hidden from human view (and fought against each other for centuries), the reality has changed, and both find themselves hunted by humans. Selene is captured and kept frozen in a lab for testing for 12 years, upon which she's liberated by a fellow incarcerated person. Upon her release it's up to Selene to understand what happened to her species, to her partner and who is this young girl who freed her.
The "Underworld" series has by now clearly established Kate Beckinsale's character as her main focus point. Selene is a character that is meant to be cold and rational, but also emotional towards her partner Michael, who started as a human and was later "transformed". The films live from the battle/feud between vampires and werewolves, and of course of the elaborate action set pieces that allow to showcase special effects. The stories have been gaining further momentum as the series continues, but the characters continue to be non-existent in their depth or dynamics. Kate Beckinsale who is clearly an actress of talent, showcases her luminous beauty and not much else in this series. As is these are films that retain their entertainment value for the  industry of their teams.

Haywire

Movie Name: Haywire

Year of Release: 2011

Director: Steven Soderbergh

Stars: Gina Carano, Ewan McGregor, Michael Douglas, Michael Fassbender, Michael Angarano, Channing Tatum, Antonio Banderas, Bill Paxton, Mathieu Kassovitz, Aaron Cohen

Genre: Action, Thriller

Score out of ten (whole numbers only): 6

Synopsis:

The prolific and talented Steven Soderbergh is back after the solid "Contagion" and "The Informant!". "Haywire" follows the story of Mallory, a woman who works for a private agency, extracting people from dangerous situations. Mallory is a former Marine and is very good at what she does - she's resourceful, athletic and violent when needed. When she is betrayed by her former employer after a mission in Barcelona, Mallory sets out on a revenge mission.
"Haywire" is a film that Steven Soderbergh built around Gina Carano, a mixed martial arts fighter. The film follows the usual procedure of a revenge film, with the difference here being the hero a female and the realism of the fight scenes, which are indeed brutal and very well choreographed. Soderbergh surrounds Gina Carano with fantastic actors, namely Ewan McGregor and Michael Douglas, who play the shady boss and government type respectively, perfectly. The film ends up being a prisoner of it's own cliches (none of the characters have much depth or exist beyond their types), but Steven Soderbergh is a talented filmmaker and creates great action set pieces that allow to maximize the athletic component of his main actor. A solid effort from a director who keeps exploring different ways to tell interesting stories.

The Iron Lady

Movie Name: The Iron Lady

Year of Release: 2011

Director: Phyllida Lloyd

Stars: Meryl Streep, Jim Broadbent, Alexandra Roach, Olivia Colman, Iain Glen, Richard E. Grant, Anthony Head, Roger Allam, Michael Pennington, John Sessions, Harry Lloyd

Genre: Drama

Score out of ten (whole numbers only): 6

Synopsis:

Phyllida Lloyd has made her name as a theatre director, having previously directed for the screen the highly successful and extremely mediocre "Mamma Mia" with Meryl Streep and Pierce Brosnan. "The Iron Lady" follows the story of Margaret Roberts/Thatcher, who rose to prominence in the late 70s to become the prime minister of the UK for 12 years. The film explores the life of Margaret Thatcher, from her humble beginnings, but focuses mostly on her ascension to power, mixing that focus with her current life, retired and struggling with dementia.
Phyllida Lloyd's film lives from the remarkable portrait of Meryl Streep. Meryl Streep embodies the character through and through, creating a woman filled with flaws and self doubts, someone who is alone in her pursuits, but also ferocious in her approach to life. It's a portrait so strong and overwhelming, that the film almost feels like a supporting element to display her amazing performance. The film does falter in the fact that all that made Margaret Thatcher such a polarizing figure is never really broached, the supporting characters are almost non-existent or not really defined, but the film allows for Meryl Streep to paint a rich canvas for a woman, who for better and worse changed the life of England for such a long time. A film worth watching!

War Horse

Movie Name: War Horse

Year of Release: 2011

Director: Steven Spielberg

Stars: Jeremy Irvine, Emily Watson, David Thewlis, Peter Mullan, Niels Arestrup, Tom Hiddleston, Benedict Cumberbatch, Celine Buckens, Toby Kebbell, Patrick Kennedy, David Kross, Eddie Marsan

Genre: Drama

Score out of ten (whole numbers only): 5

Synopsis:

Steven Spielberg is back, adapting the book from Michael Morpurgo, which has also been transposed to a very successful play. The film follows the story of Joey, a beautiful horse who is brought up in a small farm by a young man named Albert. Joey gets sold and goes through the horrors of the First World War, touching the lives of multiple people, and at the end of the war, reunites with Albert (who has also enlisted as part of the British Army).
Steven Spielberg has always been a director who knows how to create emotional scenes that resonate with the audience. In his best moments, such as "Schindler's List" or "Raiders of the Last Ark" for instance, there is the perfect combination of pure cinematic pleasure with a story that is engaging and resonating. "War Horse" however, is built almost exclusively as bait for awards season. The characters are barely defined, being none more than just archetypes, namely the strong mother, the young hero who goes to war, the alcoholic father with a good heart, the bad landlord and his selfish son, and the list goes on. There is nothing new in this film, and though Spielberg tries to create an old style (almost John Ford style), the film ultimately feels manipulative in the worst sense of the word. The pleasures from the stunning cinematography from Janusz Kaminski or the score from John Williams, don't hide the fact that ultimately this is a film that has already been done and seen, without the overly awards-pretense stigma that comes attached to it. A lesser effort from a great director.

Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy

Movie Name: Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy

Year of Release: 2011

Director: Tomas Alfredson

Stars: Gary Oldman, Colin Firth, Tom Hardy, Mark Strong, Benedict Cumberbatch, Kathy Burke, Toby Jones, John Hurt, Ciaran Hinds, David Dencik, Stephen Graham, Stuart Graham, Simon McBurney, Christian McKay

Genre: Suspense, Thriller

Score out of ten (whole numbers only): 7

Synopsis:

Following the celebrated "Let the Right One In", director Tomas Alfredson is back with a new adaptation of John Le Carré's novel of the same name. The film takes place in the 70s, during the Cold War, and follows the story of George Smiley and his attempts to discover a mole in the British secret services. Smiley follows a thread of suspicion and  as he probes deeper, he realizes the mole is within the high ranks of the British Intelligence.
The film by Tomas Alfredson is a fantastic adaptation of the novel from John Le Carré, which had already been adapted in 1979 for a mini series, featuring Ale Guiness as George Smiley. The film follows the intricacies of the spy games during the Cold War, building a scenario of constant doubt and mystery that makes it possible for any of the characters to be the "mole" currently being chased. Tomas Alfredson smartly and deftly anchors the film in the decade in which it takes place, using the great cinematography from Hoyte Van Hoytema, and has a great cast to work with. Gary Oldman is as usual superb, disappearing into the skin of Smiley, a man who has seen it all, one who is collected and whose intellect and attention to details lead him in the right direction. Colin Firth, Benedict Cumberbatch, Toby Jones, Mark Strong and Tom Hardy all create equally strong characters. This is a great film worth watching!