Joao Pedro Canhenha

Best films of 2011

2012-02-05T11:29:00.000-08:00

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 Spielberg.

Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close

2012-02-05T10:46:00.000-08:00

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

2012-01-28T23:58:00.000-08:00

Movie Name: Albert Nobbs

Year of Release: 2011

2011-12-18T22:18:00.000-08:00

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Music With an Impact - 2011

Stars: Rhys Ifans, Vanessa Redgrave, David Thewlis, Joely Richardson, Jamie Campbell Bower, Sebastian Armesto, Rafe Spall, Edward Hogg, Xavier Samuel, Sam Reid, Paolo de Vita, Robert Emms, Derek Jacobi, Mark Rylance

Genre: Drama

Score out of ten (whole numbers only): 6

Synopsis:

Rolland Emmerich, director of such big budget films as "Independence Day", "Godzilla", "The Day After Tomorrow" and "2012", is back with a film that is definitely of a smaller scale, but with a premise that is equally ambitious and epic. The film follows the premise that William Shakespeare, was originally an actor, but not a playwright whatsoever. The film focuses on the story of Edward de Vere, the Earl of Oxford, a prodigy who wrote all the plays that are attributed to Shakespeare. Edward who lost his parents at a young age, is taken in by Sir William Cecil, principal advisor to the queen. Under his tutelage, all the arts are banished from Edward's life, something that he rebels against for most of his life. He continues to produce literary work, and finds an unknown writer through whom he thinks he can place his work to be performed. However this unknown playwright has a voice of his own, and does not wish to silence it, and Shakespeare becomes the front for all this talent. This sets in motion a ripple effect that extends to the court and to a succession battle that is taking place.
Unlike the previous films from Rolland Emmerich, "Anonymous" has a rich screenplay that allows for characters to have depth and substance. The film has a controversial subject matter, but behind the conspiracy theory and the court games, the film is really about the quest for someone to be heard. Edward is an artist who longs to express himself, even if someone else has to be the face of his own words. Rhys Ifans and his sad eyes, convey the longing and despair of a person who has been silenced and denied for a lifetime. The film correctly allows him to be a fully fledged character, unlike William Shakespeare who ends up being more of a caricature - which is where the film also falters. The film is nonetheless riveting, with great acting from Ifans, Vanessa Redgrave and David Thewlis, great cinematography from Anna Foerster. A film worth watching!

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2011-07-10T23:08:00.000-07:00

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Beginners

2011-07-10T23:06:00.000-07:00

Movie Name: Beginners

Year of Release: 2010

Director: Mike Mills

Stars: Ewan McGregor, Christopher Plummer, Melanie Laurent, Goran Visnjic, Kai Lennox, Mary Page Keller, Keegan Boos, China Savers

Genre: Comedy, Drama

Score out of ten (whole numbers only): 8

Synopsis:

Mike Mills is a film director who has made his name as a graphic designer, artist and director of music videos. His feature film debut "Thumbsucker" premiered at the Sundance Film Festival to good reviews and had a great cast which included the talents of Tilda Swinton, Keanu Reeves, Vince Vaughn and Vincent D'Onofrio. His second feature "Beginners", is an autobiographical story and has resulted in a profoundly beautiful and delicate film.
The film follows the story of Oliver, a young man whose father passed away quite recently. Oliver informs us that his father was married to his mother for over 40 years, and that after she passed away, he came out and announced he was gay. He was 75 and had decided to live his life to the fullest and according to his true wishes. Sadly a terminal illness cut his life short. We witness the way Oliver deals with his loss and how upon meeting Anna, his love life changes (as does his sense of happiness).
The film is a delicate mapping of the life of two main characters, namely Hal the father and Oliver the son. Both men were born in completely different times and experienced life very differently, however there is a strong undercurrent of love which unites them both. It's a film that is joyous in the celebration of love between parents and sons and between romantic partners. It shows how people's defenses prevent them from experiencing things fully, which ends up being the big issue in Oliver's life. The film is beautifully edited and shot and has fantastic performances from Ewan McGregor, Christopher Plummer and Melanie Laurent. A true gem worth watching!

Green Lantern

2011-07-10T12:51:00.000-07:00

Movie Name: Green Lantern

Year of Release: 2011

Director: Martin Campbell

Stars: Ryan Reynolds, Blake Lively, Peter Sarsgaard, Mark Strong, Angela Bassett, Tim Robbins, Jay O. Sanders, Taika Waititi, Jon Tenney, Geoffrey Rush, Michael Clark Duncan, Clancy Brown

Genre: Action, Sci-Fi, Adventure

Score out of ten (whole numbers only): 4

Synopsis:

Martin Campbell, a director mostly known for big action films, is back with his first adaptation of a comic book character. Following his most well known films such as "Casino Royale", "GoldenEye" and "The Mask of Zorro", Campbell has decided to tackle one of the most iconic characters of the DC Comics universe. The film follows the story of young and irresponsible Hal Jordan, an air force pilot, who carries and battles a past traumatic family issue that haunts him. Hal is chosen by an intergalactic force to become one of them, a carrier of an emerald ring, that gives huge power to whomever uses it. Hal's first opponent, becomes also one of the deadliest - an entity that uses fear as it's main power source. It's up to Hal to vanquish his own fears and risk everything to save his planet and the woman he loves.
The character of the Green Lantern has existed in the DC Universe since 1940 and has amassed so many different stories and a huge following. The transition into films was only natural, and Warner Brothers has invested tremendously in the film. The problem with the film lies with it's cliche ridden screenplay and the complete wooden performances from some of it's key performers. The film is filled with stunning special effects, however making the story a mix of "Top Gun" & "Karate Kid", adds absolutely nothing in terms of character development. The "rebel" who doesn't conform, who dislikes responsibilities, has been played infinitely. Good actors as Ryan Reynolds and the wonderful Peter Sarsgaard are completely wasted. The romantic component goes absolutely nowhere, since Blake Lively manages to give the worst performance of the film and ruins what could have been a spark of life in a story bogged down by cliches. A sadly missed opportunity!

2011-06-12T19:20:00.000-07:00

Movie Name: Midnight in Paris

Year of Release: 2011

Director: Woody Allen

Stars: Owen Wilson, Marion Cotillard, Rachel McAdams, Michael Sheen, Kathy Bates, Mimi Kennedy, Kurt Fuller, Nina Arianda, Carla Bruni, Alison Pill, Tom Hiddleston, Corey Stoll, Kathy Bates, Adrien Brody, Adrien de Van, Yves Heck

Genre: Comedy, Fantasy, Romance

Score out of ten (whole numbers only): 6

Synopsis:

Woody Allen's new film after "You'll Meet a Tall Dark Stranger", follows a new group of characters in a different European city, this time Paris. The film follows the story of Gil, a screenwriter in Hollywood, who is trying to be a writer and who is engaged to Inez, a beautiful but superficial woman. Both are visiting Paris, a city Gil always wanted to move into, but never had a chance. During their stay, Gil and Inez start going their separate paths, Inez with Paul and Carol on cultural strolls (that result in an affair with Paul) and Gil going on a more fantastical journey through time. Each night as the clock indicates midnight, Gil is taken back to the 1920s where he gets to exchange ideas with luminaries such as Ernest Hemingway, F. Scott Fitzgerald, Pablo Picasso and Gertrude Stein, to name but a few. These meetings have an impact on Gil's relationship with Inez and ultimately his life.
Woody Allen builds a film that is clearly enamored with the city of Paris and with nostalgia - specifically with the 1920s. The film is an ode to Paris, whereas the characters are a continuation of his usual universe, starting with his alter ego Gil, the screenwriter trying to find his own voice through his writing. There's as usual the muse (personified by the beautiful and lovely Marion Cotillard) and the larger than life characters who in this case are well known icons, such as Ernest Hemingway and Pablo Picasso. The film is simultaneously a reflection on the importance of art and also finding one's true voice as a path to real happiness. It's a dream-like film, not as inspired as the Woody Allen from the 70s/80s/90s, but much better than his latest output. A film worth watching.

Super 8

2011-06-12T18:54:00.000-07:00

Movie Name: Super 8

Year of Release: 2011

Director: J. J. Abrams

Stars: Joel Courtney, Kyle Chandler, Elle Fanning, Riley Griffiths, Zach Mills, Ryan Lee, Ron Eldard, Gabriel Basso, Noah Emmerich, Jessica Tuck, Glynn Turman, David Gallagher, Brett Rice

Genre: Mystery, Adventure, Sci-Fi, Thriller

Score out of ten (whole numbers only): 6

Synopsis:

J.J. Abrams has made a name for himself as a screenwriter for both TV (he created "Alias" and "Lost") and Features (he wrote Mike Nichols' "Regarding Henry" and Michael Bay's "Armageddon") and more recently as a producer and director. After the huge hit that was the reboot of "Star Trek", Abrams in association with Steven Spielberg (as a producer), wrote the story for "Super 8", which gets a lot of its inspiration from the early Spielberg films (that he both directed and produced, such as "ET" and "Batteries not Included", directed by Matthew Robbins).
"Super 8" follows the story of young Joe Lamb and his group of friends, who live in a small town in Ohio. Joe is distant with his father, particularly since his mother passed away. Joe and his group of friends are trying to finish a small zombie film, when they accidentally witness the derail of a train carrying a very unusual cargo. The army gets called in and all sorts of strange things start happening in the small town. It's up to Joe and his friends to understand what is going on.
J.J. Abrams is an intelligent writer and director, and in this case in particular he uses the fantasy of films, something the children are doing and embracing, to evoke a time that has gone by. The sense of nostalgia is fueled by the union of this group of children, each one suffering their own losses, who come together for the sheer love of film and adventure. The film is very much a mix of Rob Reiner's "Stand By Me', Steven Spielberg's "ET" and Matthew Robbins' "Batteries not Included" - the creature from the outside is menacing, but never really threatening. In the end, everyone wants to be a part of a loving family (much like Spielberg's films). The only problem this film has, is the fact that where Spielberg's films stay true to his core of having family as a guiding light, "Super 8" feels calculated to elicit reactions and the sense of nostalgia of a time that has gone by. It's an entertaining film, made with a calculating perspective and without a sense of wonder.

X-Men: First Class

2011-06-05T19:43:00.000-07:00

Movie Name: X-Men: First Class

Year of Release: 2011

Director: Matthew Vaughn

Stars: James McAvoy, Michael Fassbender, Kevin Bacon, Rose Byrne, Jennifer Lawrence, Nicholas Hoult, January Jones, Jason Flemyng, Zoe Kravitz, Caleb Landry Jones, Edi Gathegi, Lucas Till, Matt Craven, Glenn Morshower, James Remar, Ray Wise, Alex Gonzalez, Michael Ironside, Jason Teghe, Brendan Fehr, Tony Curran

Genre: Action, Adventure, Sci-Fi, Thriller

Score out of ten (whole numbers only):7

Synopsis:

The "X-Men" universe is back after the disappointing last outings that were "X-Men: The Last Stand" directed by Brett Ratner and "X-Men Origins: Wolverine" directed by Gavin Hood, both of which had mediocre results. "X-Men: First Class" comes with a new director and with the association and touch of Bryan Singer, who directed thus far the two best films in that specific universe, namely "X-Men" and "X-Men: United". The film follows the story of two men, Charles Xavier and Erik Lehnsherr. While Charles is born into a family of wealth, Erik on the other hand, loses his family in the Holocaust and ends up being the target of experimentation at the hands of Stan Shaw, a mutant himself. Twenty years go by and Erik is now chasing the Nazis responsible for the demise of his family, including Shaw. Xavier on his side, is associated with the CIA when his talents are used to identify potential threats from the soviets. These two men join forces, alongside with young mutants to battle the common threat that is Stan Shaw, his Hellfire Club and the looming nuclear holocaust.
Following the success of "Kick Ass", Matthew Vaughn returns to the comic book universe, with some of the most iconic characters of the Marvel Universe. Whereas the last two films of the "X-Men" universe faltered under the mediocre hands of two disappointing directors, Vaughn clearly knows and understands the opportunity he has with these characters. The story cleverly mixes the Cold War tension, with the fear of Nuclear Holocaust and the mutant agenda - ultimately the common thread to all the "X-Men" films has been the lack of tolerance towards those who are different (something that "X-Men:Last Stand" and "X-Men Origins: Wolverine" completely disregarded). Matthew Vaughn also has fun inserting elements from the classic James Bond films, something that adds an extra layer of sophistication to the film. The cast is uniformly good, from James McAvoy, Michael Fassbender and Kevin Bacon who makes a perfect villain. A fantastically entertaining film!

Kung Fu Panda 2

2011-05-29T21:51:00.000-07:00

Movie Name: Kung Fu Panda 2

Year of Release: 2011

Director: Jennifer Yuh

Stars: Jack Black, Angelina Jolie, Dustin Hoffman, Gary Oldman, Jackie Chan, Seth Rogen, Lucy Liu, David Cross, James Hong, Michelle Yeoh, Danny McBride, Dennis Haysbert, Jean-Claude Van Damme, Victor Garber

Genre: Action, Animation, Adventure, Comedy

Score out of ten (whole numbers only): 7

Synopsis:

Following the huge success of "Kung Fu Panda", Dreamworks animation returns with the inevitable sequel. The sequel continues to follow the story of Po and the fantastic five, as their battle a new enemy, this time a peacock by the name of Shen. Shen wants to dominate China using canons that he developed. It's up to Po, to find his inner truth and peace, in order to battle his opponents and return peace to his country and small town.
Jennifer Yuh, has a career developed in the art direction department as a storyboard artist, and that comes across loudly in this film. As the previous film, this one is luscious in terms of the visuals and transitions - the film is incredibly dynamic, with bold colors and perfectly designed. It's a pure visual pleasure to see a film as rich as this one. The story, though nothing new, is also a perfect metaphor for the target crowds: growth comes with inner peace and knowing who you are. A good film worth checking out.

The Hangover Part II

2011-05-29T21:43:00.000-07:00

Movie Name: The Hangover Part II

Year of Release: 2011

Director: Todd Phillips

Stars: Bradley Cooper, Ed Helms, Zach Galifianakis, Ken Jeong, Justin Bartha, Paul Giamatti, Jeffrey Tambor, Jamie Chung, Mason Lee, Sasha Barrese

Genre: Comedy

Score out of ten (whole numbers only): 3

Synopsis:

After the disappointing "Due Date", director Todd Phillips returns, and like that effort, this is another film that delivers a lot less laughs than the original. The film follows the same group of friends from the original "The Hangover": Phil, the schoolteacher wanting to lead a wilder life, Stu, the dentist who is getting married after the crazy times in Las Vegas and Alan, the odd and socially awkward one who lives with his parents. Stu is getting married in Thailand, and they all decide to have a night of relaxation before the wedding - the following morning all of them wake up in Bangkok, with no recollection of what occurred the night before and missing Teddy, the younger brother of the future wife of Stu. They all panic and decide to trace what happened the night before.
"The Hangover Part II" is basically a remake of the first film, with a different location. The action has been transferred to Thailand, and there are some inserts of crude humor that are unexpected, but sadly, the humor is largely missing. What the original film had going for it, were the unexpected situations and the premise of this group of people tracking their own steps: these ordinary men turned out to be complete fish out of water in Las Vegas, and from that came the comedy. The sequel tries to capture that sense in Thailand, but it never feels original or in the case of a comedy, funny. All the actors try their best to bring some life to the film, particularly the always funny Ed Helms, but that's not enough. The film needed some originality and some bite, which simply isn't there. Avoidable.

Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides

2011-05-22T19:35:00.000-07:00

Movie Name: Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides

Year of Release: 2011

Director: Rob Marshall

Stars: Johnny Depp, Penelope Cruz, Geoffrey Rush, Ian McShane, Kevin McNally, Sam Claflin, Astride Berges-Frisbey, Richard Griffiths, Stephen Graham, Damian O'Hare, Keith Richards

Genre: Action, Adventure, Fantasy

Score out of ten (whole numbers only): 6

Synopsis:

The new "Pirates of the Caribbean" marks a depart in the hugely successful franchise: for the first time there's a plot that actually makes sense as opposed to gratuitous special effects that serve absolutely no purpose. The film introduces Captain Jack Sparrow in a situation where he has to save a friend from being hanged - Jack flees a possible capture, but ends up having to go with the malefic Blackbeard in pursuit of the famed Fountain of Youth. There are of course adversaries on his track, namely his old enemy Captain Barbossa and the Spanish Armada. It's up to Jack, this time with the help of an old love interest, Angelica, to outcome his enemies and get back to his old ship, the Black Pearl.
Rob Marshall, a director mostly known for his musicals (he has directed both the academy award winning "Chicago" and more recently "Nine"), has wisely chosen, to let the characters be the main driving point for the film. Whereas both "Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest" and "Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End" from Gore Verbinski, were hugely successful, the films were in itself mediocre, with plots that went nowhere, where the special effects overly compensated for an absolute lack of direction. Marshall creates an adventure film that owes and breathes from Michael Curtiz's "Captain Blood": a film that is an action-adventure with humor and over the top characters. Johnny Depp continues to reign as Jack Sparrow. The character has become like a second skin for him, and he has plenty of fun with it. Penelope Cruz is as usual beautiful and intense, and Ian McShane and Geoffrey Rush are fantastic. This is a good entertaining film worth checking out.

Bridesmaids

2011-05-15T15:53:00.000-07:00

Movie Name: Bridesmaids

Year of Release: 2011

Director: Paul Feig

Stars: Kristen Wiig, Maya Rudolph, Rose Byrne, Jon Hamm, Melissa McCarthy, Jill Clayburgh, Matt Lucas, Wendi McLendon-Covey, Ellie Kemper, Chris O'Dowd, Rebel Wilson, Ben Falcone

Genre: Comedy

Score out of ten (whole numbers only): 6

Synopsis:

The new comedy produced by Judd Apatow, comes courtesy of the screenplay written by the wonderful Kristen Wiig and Annie Mumolo, with Wiig also playing the lead role. The film follows the story of Annie and Lilian, best friends since both were children. Lilian gets engaged and asks Annie to be her bridesmaid, which Annie accepts, though her life is unraveling, with a bad job, bad housing situation and bad relationship. When Annie meets the remaining bridesmaids, she sparks immediately with Helen, the super competitive and super superficial new friend of Lilian. Through the arrangements for the wedding, from the choice of the bridesmaids gowns, to the bachelorette party, things always take a twist for the wrong turn, till Annie finally snaps, with unknown consequences for her relationship with Lilian.
The raunchy comedy from Paul Feig, who is also known for his acting work and directing episodes for TV Shows such as "The Office" and "Weeds", follows the path of a group of women trying to celebrate a marriage/wedding, but also tries to probe a bit deeper into to the bonds of friendship between such a disparate group. Kristen Wiig wrote a story that is filled with hilarious situations, mostly coming from the awkward times her character, Annie, just seem to find herself in. Annie tries to be so happy for everyone, though her life is a complete mess. There's a sadness at times in Annie, that really gives insight to the character and that makes her not just a uni-dimensional joke, but a person going through some hardship and real fears. The film does fall prey to some inevitable cliches, but the acting from Wiig and Melissa McCarthy make this a film definitely worth checking out.

Thor

2011-05-08T22:42:00.000-07:00

Movie Name: Thor

Year of Release: 2011

Director: Kenneth Branagh

Stars:Chris Hemsworth, Natalie Portman, Tom Hiddleston, Anthony Hopkins, Rene Russo, Stellan Skarsgard, Kat Dennings, Clark Gregg, Idris Elba, Colm Feore, Ray Stevenson, Jaimie Alexander, Josh Dallas, Samuel L. Jackson, Jeremy Renner

Genre: Action, Adventure

Score out of ten (whole numbers only): 5

Synopsis:

Kenneth Branagh has made a career of making interesting choices, both as an actor and as a director. His directorial debut, "Henry V", garnered fantastic reviews and award nominations, but since then, his output has been irregular: he has directed both the really good "Hamlet" and the really bad "Mary Shelley's Frankenstein", to name but a few. "Thor" adapts the Marvel Comics character, introducing the multiple dimensions/parallel universes that exist, namely Asgard and Earth. Thor and Loki are both sons of Odin, the ruler of Asgard - Thor the oldest is the one, chosen to rule after his father steps down, but he is a young man ruled by arrogance, impetuous and with a lack of consideration for others. One of his outbursts threats the peace of Asgard, upon which Odin sends him to Earth in order for him to learn the value of courage, humbleness and kindness. On Earth, Thor meets Jane Foster, an astrophysicist who teaches him the meaning of humanity, while Loki in Asgard prepares a macabre plan.
Kenneth Branagh had with Thor a lot of material to work with. The character has existed for years and the plethora of stories is immense. However, the screenplay opts to introduce the character on Earth and in Asgard, and how both realities exist simultaneously. The main problem with the direction of Branagh, is how he populates the story with cliches that are predictable and add nothing new to the storyline. And of course, as usual in all his films, he overdoes everything, from the soundtrack to the production design - the film almost crosses the line between an interesting aesthetic and kitsch. The actors try their best to do what they can with the meager material. Chris Hemsworth personifies the strong and muscular hero with a great energy, but his transition from arrogant to humble never really makes much sense. Natalie Portman has nothing much to do, the same can be said for Stellan Skarsgard and most of the supporting actors in the film. Tom Hidleston as the villainous Loki, tries to give the film some gravitas, but he's never really menacing, nor convincing. The film ends up living from the fantastic special effects, sadly that is not enough to recommend it.

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2011-05-02T20:48:00.000-07:00

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2011-05-01T10:51:00.000-07:00

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Win Win

2011-05-01T10:23:00.000-07:00

Movie Name: Win Win

Year of Release: 2011

Director: Thomas McCarthy

Stars: Paul Giamatti, Amy Ryan, Bobby Cannavale, Jeffrey Tambor, Burt Young, Melanie Lynskey, Alex Schaffer, Margo Martindale, David W. Thompson

Genre: Drama, Comedy

Score out of ten (whole numbers only): 7

Synopsis:

Thomas McCarthy is one of those rare actor/director cases, where his directorial efforts have all produced very interesting and accomplished films. McCarthy usually plays supporting roles in big budget films, such as Roland Emmerich's "2012", but in his directorial career, from his debut with "The Station Agent", through "The Visitor" and now "Win Win", he has always showed a rare insight and deft perception to showcase the life and interactions of people, not cardboard characters.
Win Win follows the life of Mike Flaherty, a small town lawyer who is struggling to make ends meet since he has very few clients. Mike also has a side activity as a wrestling coach, but much to his dismay, his team isn't doing so well. When one of his clients has to be placed in the care of the state, Mike sees that as an opportunity to make some extra money for himself. When his client's grandson shows up at his doorstep, a series of events starts to unravel, which will change Mike's and his small circle of friends and family lives forever.
Thomas McCarthy knows how to examine and probe the microcosms of life and of the relationships of everyday people. Mike Flaherty is simply trying to stay afloat and maintain the happiness and stability of his family. The film smartly interplays the humor and drama of every day life, something that adds an extra layer to the film, and makes all the characters the more engaging. Paul Giamatti is fantastic as always, creating a man who is struggling and almost overwhelmed by the difficulties of life, but who tries to do the right thing for the people he loves. The supporting actors are equally great, from Amy Ryan, Bobby Cannavale, Jeffrey Tambor, Melanie Lynskey and the young Alex Schaffer. A very good film worth seeing.

Hanna

2011-04-10T15:44:00.000-07:00

Movie Name: Hanna
Year of Release: 2011
Director: Joe Wright
Stars: Saoirse Ronan, Cate Blanchett, Eric Bana, Tom Hollander, Olivia Williams, Jason Flemyng, Jessica Barden, Aldo Maland
Genre: Action, Thriller, Mystery
Score out of ten (whole numbers only): 6

Synopsis:
Following the little seen "The Soloist" with Robert Downey Jr. and Jamie Foxx, Joe Wright changes gears and direction with "Hanna", which can be considered his first action film. The film follows the story of young Hanna, who has been raised in an isolated cabin in the icy areas of Finland, by her father Erik. Erik is a rogue agent who has been training Hanna to be as resourceful and capable as him, in all matters of combat and general capabilities as far as military intelligence goes. Hanna longs to find out more about the world, but she knows she has a formidable foe to tackle: Marissa Viegler, the agent responsible for the death of her mother. Hanna sets out to the world with Marissa on her tail, to the final confontration where Hanna finally knows more about who she is.
Joe Wright is an interesting director with a unique aesthetic and capable of great performances from his casts, which is the case with Hanna. However where the film again falters is in the screenplay. There are scenes that exist and prolong themselves needlessly, which add nothing to uncover the main characters, who remain till the end very thinly expanded (namely Marissa and Eric). Hanna goes through the process of understanding the menaces of the world, but above all, she tries to understand who she is and where she comes from. Joe Wright oscillates between wanting to explore the evolution of a young girl to womanhood and the concept of the ruthless killer that she can be (as if she's a young Nikita). In the end the film doesn't opt for any of those directions, trying to be a hybrid, that never is really solid enough to make the film as compelling as it could have been. Saoirse Ronan and Cate Blanchett are both fantastic and make the film worth watching, though sadly this could have been a much better film.

Insidious

2011-04-10T15:09:00.000-07:00

Movie Name: Insidious
Year of Release: 2011
Director: James Wan
Stars: Patrick Wilson, Rose Byrne, Barbara Hershey, Lyn Shaye, Leigh Whannell, Angus Sampson, Ty Simpkins, Andrew Astor, Corbett Tuck, Joseph Bishara
Genre: Horror, Thriller, Fantasy
Score out of ten (whole numbers only): 6

Synopsis:
James Wan has made a name for himself directing suspense and horror films, namely "Saw" (which started the franchise that spawned 7 films) and "Death Sentence". "Insidious" is his new collaboration with actor/screenwriter Leigh Whannell, who also wrote "Saw" and Oren Peli, who was the director of the hugely successful film "Paranormal Activity".
The film follows the Lambert family as they settle in a new house. Josh and Renai have three children, Dalton being the eldest and the one prone to investigate and get into trouble. Following a small accident in the house, Dalton becomes unconscious and all the medical exams can't seem to figure out what is wrong with him. While taking care of the young child, Renai starts noticing and hearing voices around the house, figures that appear and disappear, scaring her senseless. After their decisions prove worthless, Josh and Renai decide to ask for the help of Elise Rainier, a psychic who they believe can provide the answers they are looking for.
James Wan creates with "Insidious" a smart and suspenseful film, that lives from suggestion and the environment that slowly is created, as opposed to gore and piles of dead bodies. He manages to create a feeling of unease, that slowly showcases the nuclear family being attacked from a supernatural menace. The fact that the main target is a child, makes the film even scarier, as it represents the innocence of a young child being destroyed. The film does have it's weaker moments when Wan decides to bring his ghosts to life, but overall the film is genuinely scary with moments of tension that keep escalating.
The actors are uniformly good, with highlights going to Patrick Wilson, Rose Byrne and the always great Barbara Hershey. Worth watching.

Source Code

2011-04-03T20:46:00.000-07:00

Movie name: Source Code
Year of release: 2011
Director: Duncan Jones
Stars: Jake Gyllenhaal, Michelle Monaghan, Vera Farmiga, Jeffrey Wright, Michael Arden, Russell Peters, Cas Anvar, Craig Thomas
Genre: Action, Mystery, Romance
Score out of ten (whole numbers only): 7

Synopsis:
After his debut with "Moon", director Duncan Jones again impresses with his follow up film, "Source Code", a science-fiction film where the lines of what is real and parallel existences are blurry. The film follows the story of Colter Stevens, a young soldier who finds himself in the body of a man he does not know. His mission is to identify the bomber of a train who is directed towards Chicago. Stevens is confused and unaware of what to do, until Goodwin, his army liaison, explains the details of the mission: the Source Code allows him to experience the final 8 minutes of the life of someone. He can take inhabit that person's life and try to find out who is the catalyst for all the destruction. What follows is Stevens' desperate attempt to save everyone, including in particular Christina, whom he meets on the train.
The film intelligently mixes a story which is vaguely reminiscent of Philip K. Dick with elements of conspiracy theory with a hero who doesn't really know what's going on and to whom the ending is a surprise (very much like the end surprise of M. Night Shyamalan's "The Sixth Sense"). The film also has the touch of Harold Ramis' "Groundhog Day", with the hero forced to relive the same event until he fulfils his mission, but in this case, the mission is a tragic one. Duncan Jones keeps the film continuously interesting and doesn't anchor it in elaborate special effects: everything we see is filtered through the actors, in particular Jake Gyllenhaal, who does a very good job portraying Colter Stevens. His confusion and despair keep propelling him towards the truth and by the end, his sense of peace is also his liberation. Michelle Monaghan and Vera Farmiga have good performances in a film that is extremely well done and paced. Worth watching.

Sucker Punch

2011-03-27T15:55:00.000-07:00

Movie name: Sucker Punch
Year of release: 2011
Director: Zack Snyder
Stars: Emily Browning, Abbie Cornish, Jena Malone, Vanessa Hudgens, Jamie Chung, Carla Gugino, Oscar Isaac, Jon Hamm, Scott Glenn, Richard Cetrone, Gerard Plunkett
Genre: Action, Fantasy, Thriller
Score out of ten (whole numbers only): 5

Synopsis:
Zack Snyder is a director who has had a consistent output of films since his debut in 2004 with the remake of George Romero's "Dawn of the Dead". He followed that film with the successful "300" who allowed him to tackle "Watchmen" and last year's animated tale "Legends of the Guardians: The Owls of Ga'Hoole". If his films thus far have been met with different levels of success, both critical and of audience, one thing remains undisputed: his visual flair and visual detail are impressive and effective. The major flaw that somehow is also the common thread to all his films seems to always be the same: the screenplays are usually thin as far as character development is concerned.
"Sucker Punch" follows the story of Baby Doll. After the death of her mother, the young woman is left by herself with her younger sister. Both of them are left at the mercy of a monstrous stepfather, who tries to abuse the younger girl, upon which Baby Doll attacks back and is placed against her will in an asylum for mental patients, where she is going to be lobotomized. Before that procedure takes place, Baby Doll has a week to devise a getaway plan. She enlists the help of other young women who are also patients in the asylum. Escaping from the grim reality through her imagination, the young women slowly but steadily try to achieve their goal.
Zack Snyder with "Sucker Punch" tries his hand at writing an original story - one that is about female empowerment and the capability to find your own voice even in the harshest environments. The main problem with this story is how little his main characters are developed. You never understand where they come from, why they are in the asylum, not to mention characters who seem to exist without any purpose besides giving away plot points. To anchor the story in the domain of one's mind is no easy feat - Christopher Nolan did achieve it with "Inception" - but Zach Snyder seems to have forgotten that in order for the viewer to get invested in what's happening, there has to be more than beautiful visuals: there has to be a soul.
The film has a certain depth mostly thanks to Abbie Cornish's performance and character, who seems to be the only one who is trying to give her character some more dimension besides the cliches that seem to populate the story. Visually the film is impressive and beautiful - the cinematography of Larry Fong is stunning and the soundtrack is well chosen. A mixed experience, this is a film that would largely benefit from a far more developed screenplay.

Battle: Los Angeles

2011-03-20T14:41:00.000-07:00

Movie name: Battle: Los Angeles
Year of release: 2011
Director: Jonathan Liebesman
Stars: Aaron Eckart, Michelle Rodriguez, Cory Hardrict, Gino Anthony Pesi, Ne-Yo, Bridget Moynahan, James Hiroyuki Liao, Michael Pena
Genre: Action, Sci-Fi, Thriller
Score out of ten (whole numbers only): 3

Synopsis:
Jonathan Liebesman's career started in his native country of South Africa and afterwards his career moved rapidly within the ranks of Hollywood. He has directed poorly received films such as "Darkness Falls" and "The Texas Chainsaw Massacre: The Beginning", but films who managed to make some decent money at the box office. "Battle: LA" follows the story of Sergeant Michael Nantz and his platoon, who tackle the invasion of LA and Earth from an alien invasion. The aliens have invaded the planet for water and though humans fight back, their resources are fewer and the technology of their opponents is far more advanced. Sergeant's Nantz platoon however finds a way to expose their weaknesses and the humans counter-attack.
"Battle: LA" tries to be several films combined at the same time. Jonathan Liebesman joins elements of Roland Emmerich's "Independence Day", with Kathryn Bigelow's "Hurt Locker" and Ridley Scott's "Black Hawk Down", but this mesh comes across as something that is filled with cliches that have been seen in countless other films. While Neill Blomkamp's "District 9" was original in the depiction of an alien invasion/existence, "Battle: LA" exists solely with the purpose of displaying paper thin characters handling guns. Aaron Eckart tries to create a strong character with his portrayal of Sergeant Nantz, a man with a past, carrying a huge burden, but his efforts are not enough, for a film that is ultimately underwhelming. The special effects, usually the draw for films of this kind, also feel under produced. A sadly missed opportunity.

The Adjustment Bureau

2011-03-20T13:50:00.000-07:00

Movie name: The Adjustment Bureau
Year of release: 2010
Director: George Nolfi
Stars: Matt Damon, Emily Blunt, Anthony Mackie, Michael Kelly, Terence Stamp, John Slattery, Jennifer Ehle, Brian Haley, David Alan Basche, Anthony Ruivivar
Genre: Romance, Sci-Fi, Thriller
Score out of ten (whole numbers only): 7

Synopsis:
George Nolfi's directorial debut, adapts a story from Philip K. Dick, the science fiction author, whose work has been adapted to films like Ridley Scott's "Blade Runner", Steven Spielberg's "Minority Report" and Paul Verhoeven's "Total Recall" to name but a few. George Nolfi has made a name for himself as a writer, having written films as Steven Soderbergh's "Ocean's Twelve" and Paul Greengrass' "The Bourne Ultimatum". "The Adjustment Bureau" follows the story of David Norris, a young congressman who casually meets a woman by the name of Elise. Upon their encounter both of them fall in love, which causes for a strange group of men to appear before David and tell him that their relationship is not to happen. These men, their bureau, controls the fate of men, and the relationship of David and Elise is against their designs. David decides against everything and all odds and goes after Elise.
George Nolfi's debut feature is an elegant film, one where the thriller elements are downsized for the romance that flourishes between the two main characters. David's quest for his true love, goes against everything, against a fate that is established. As in most Philip K. Dick's stories, the lone hero is a voice of antagonism in a world dominated by a larger establishment. George Nolfi's direction is a classic one, elegant and reminiscent of films like Stanley Donen's "Charade". Matt Damon and Emily Blunt are great in their roles, with a visible chemistry that makes the story utterly convincing. The soundtrack from Thomas Newman is beautiful as usual, as is the cinematography of John Toll. A great debut feature.

Rango

2011-03-20T12:46:00.000-07:00

Movie name: Rango
Year of release: 2011
Director: Gore Verbinski
Stars: Johnny Depp, Isla Fisher, Abigail Breslin, Ned Beatty, Alfred Molina, Bill Nighy, Stephen Root, Harry Dean Stanton, Timothy Olyphant, Ray Winstone, Ian Abercrombie
Genre: Comedy, Animation
Score out of ten (whole numbers only): 8

Synopsis:
Gore Verbinski has made a name for himself with two largely successful franchises, "The Ring" and "The Pirates of the Caribbean". Following the disappointing "Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest" and "Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End", "Rango" is a return to form, in a film that is fantastically well animated and that is a visual stunning experience.
The film follows the story of a domesticated chameleon, who due to an accident, finds himself lost in the middle of the Mojave desert. Rango, as he calls himself, finds a small town called Dirt, where all the creatures living there, are desperate for water. The mayor of the city, controls the city through water rations, but ultimately has other plans for it. Rango showing up and becoming the city's law, changes everything.
The film follows the traditional western genre, clearly utilizing the pattern of the Sergio Leone films with Clint Eastwood: the stranger without a name that comes to town to establish law. The film is also an ode to friendship and overcoming one's self doubts, something that is traditional in Disney films, but here is presented in the western context. The animation from Industrial Light and Magic is stunning, with the details of all the textures simply breathless. All the voices are fantastic, but Johnny Depp clearly relishes his role as Rango and imbues it with a lot of humor. This film is stunning in it's design, storytelling and animation. A gem!

Cedar Rapids

2011-02-27T21:39:00.000-08:00

Movie name: Cedar Rapids
Year of release: 2011
Director: Miguel Arteta
Stars: Ed Helms, John C. Reilly, Anne Heche, Isiah Whitlock Jr., Sigourney Weaver, Stephen Root, Kurtwood Smith, Alia Shawkat, Rob Corddry, Mike O'Malley
Genre: Comedy
Score out of ten (whole numbers only): 6

Synopsis:
Miguel Arteta's new film following "Youth in Revolt", follows the story of insurance salesman Tim Lippe. Tim is an idealistic man, living in a small town, having an affair with his much older, high school teacher Macy, whom he loves. Following the accidental death of a co-worker, Tim gets sent to a convention in Cedar Rapids, where he has to make a presentation and hopefully get an award for his insurance agency. Tim gets roomed with the extroverted Dean Ziegler and with the hard-working Ronald Wilkes and during his stay, he finally sees life from a different perspective and has fun like never before.
Miguel Arteta creates with "Cedar Rapids" a comedy that lives from the observations of people with simple dreams, who maintain their ideals and a certain naivete. Tim Lippe is a man who always lived a sheltered life, and who gets to experience life beyond his limits and boundaries. Tim gets tainted, but remains true to himself and his ideals. The film has a sweet irony to it's core and manages to feel heartfelt, most of it due to the wonderful cast, from Ed Helms, the always fantastic John C. Reilly, Anne Heche and of course, Sigourney Weaver. This film is a small gem waiting to be found.

I Am Number Four

2011-02-22T00:08:00.000-08:00

Movie name: I Am Number Four
Year of release: 2010
Director: D.J. Caruso
Stars: Alex Pettyfer, Timothy Olyphant, Teresa Palmer, Dianna Agron, Callan McAuliffe, Kevin Durand, Jake Abel, Judith Hoag, Garrett M. Brown
Genre: Action, Sci-Fi
Score out of ten (whole numbers only): 3

Synopsis:
The new film from director D.J. Caruso, following the huge hits of "Eagle Eye" and "Disturbia", is again targeted at a young audience. The film follows the story of John Smith, a young man whom we come to find out early on, is an alien possessed of great powers. John and 7 others are a group of selected young men and women, who have been entrusted with those powers to defend their planet of the attack of a hostile species. The first three of this special group are found and killed - John is the next and feeling the menace of exposure, and possibly extermination, he and his protector run off to Ohio. As John enrols in high school and meets the special Sarah, things get increasingly complicated with the appearance of his followers.
D.J. Caruso has made a name for himself as a director, starting with the underrated "The Salton Sea", after which he directed "Taking Lives" with Angelina Jolie. His latest two films were both considerable hits, produced by Dreamworks, who again backed up "I Am Number Four", alongside director/producer Michael Bay. The film is written as part of a serial, which in itself would not be a problem, if the characters existed and not just disappeared or have no consistency. The director tries to build momentum with the good special effects, but there's only so much that can be achieved - creating memorable entertainment requires a solid screenplay which clearly isn't here. There are plenty of cliches throughout the film and the acting for the most part is forgettable. A film not worth visiting.

Freeway

2011-02-13T22:09:00.000-08:00

Movie name: Freeway
Year of release: 1996
Director: Matthew Bright
Stars:Reese Witherspoon, Kiefer Sutherland, Dan Hedaya, Wolfgang Bodison, Brooke Shields, Brittany Murphy, Alanna Ubach, Amanda Plummer, Michael T. Weiss, Tara Subkoff, Conchata Ferrell, Bokeem Woodbine
Genre: Comedy, Crime, Drama
Score out of ten (whole numbers only): 6

Synopsis:
Matthew Bright's career has thus far been a short one, with "Freeway" being his debut feature and his best effort. The film executive-produced by Oliver Stone, is a take/variation on the story of the Little Red Riding Hood, but with a contemporary edge to it. The film follows the story of Vanessa Lutz, a teenage girl with a messed family life. Her mom prostitutes herself and her step dad is trying to abuse her. When her mom and step dad get thrown in jail, Vanessa decides to go stay with her grandmother. On her way, her car breaks down and she hitches a ride with a man, who turns out to be a therapist. Or so he says, since Vanessa knows there's a psycho killing young girls on the road.
Matthew Bright's film is one populated with great character actors that really bring the story to life. Bright manages to create the story vivid, engaging and always dynamic. Though nothing particularly new is happening on screen, the sheer energy and enthusiasm of everyone involved makes the film enthralling. The Red Riding Hood story, which has been used in so many different films, gets a more urban scenario, with the wolf being replaced by a serial killer (which is a departure, considering for example Neil Jordan's "The Company of Wolves" which used the werewolf metaphor). The actors are also really vibrant, particularly Reese Witherspoon, who at this point wasn't known for her mediocre comedies, but for her actual acting talent. She creates a character that is hilarious and unforgettable, whereas Kiefer Sutherland, excels as the creepy killer. A hidden film worth discovering.

Mini Cooper Illustration

2011-02-06T23:06:00.000-08:00

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Winter's Bone

2011-02-06T22:48:00.000-08:00

Movie name: Winter's Bone
Year of release: 2010
Director: Debra Granik
Stars:Jennifer Lawrence, John Hawkes, Sheryl Lee, Garret Dillahunt, Lauren Sweetser, Dale Dickey, Tate Taylor
Genre: Drama
Score out of ten (whole numbers only): 7

Synopsis:
Debra Granik's second film, "Winter's Bone" has been collecting accolades since it premiered at the Sundance Film Festival in January of 2010. With 4 Oscar nominations the film has definitely achieved a critical acclaim that is certain to continue propelling her career forward.
The film follows the story of Ree, a teenage girl who lives with her mom and her two young siblings, in the remote area of the Ozarks. Ree's life suddenly changes when she's given notice that her father has placed their house and property as collateral for his bail, and that since he hasn't shown up for his hearing, her family is going to be evicted. Ree sets upon herself to find her father, trying to ask the unfriendly neighbors and family his whereabouts.
Debra Granik has chosen with "Winter's Bone" to track the life in the Ozarks, a remote area, where life is extremely difficult and where everyone is very closed up in terms of their social interactions. Ree, having grown up in that area, knows the difficulties she will have to encounter in order to get the answers she needs. Her mission is a difficult one, since her mother isn't capable of assisting her and her uncle is unwilling to provide much assistance, and is to a certain extend a menacing figure in the community. The young woman's resilience and her despair in not losing her family keep pushing her forward trying to find answers, placing her in danger, something that is emphasized by the people and by the location itself. Debra Granik chose to cast unknown actors and it pays off. Jennifer Lawrence is fantastic as the stoic Ree, as is John Hawkes as Teardrop. They give the film it's heart and edge. A good film worth watching.

Biutiful

2011-02-06T21:56:00.000-08:00

Movie name: Biutiful
Year of release: 2010
Director: Alejandro González Iñárritu
Stars:Javier Bardem, Maricel Alvarez, Hanaa Bouchaib, Guillermo Estrella, Cheng Tai Shen, Luo Jin, Ruben Ochandiano, Karra Elejalde, Eduard Fernandez
Genre: Drama
Score out of ten (whole numbers only): 7

Synopsis:
Alejandro González Iñárritu's last two films were big critical successes, being nominated for several Oscars - "21 Grams" and "Babel". "Biutiful" comes again in the same vein as the previous ones, having been nominated for the Oscar for best Foreign Picture and best Actor for Javier Bardem. The film follows the story of Uxbal, a Spanish man who lives with his children in a small apartment in Barcelona. Uxbal lives of schemes, namely illegal African immigrants selling on the streets and Chinese immigrants working in construction. His ex-wife is bi-polar and can't control herself about basically anything, while his brother is involved in all sorts of illegal affairs and does drugs/alcohol non stop. Uxbal discovers his health is failing and his life starts to unravel as he tries to find a way to keep his young children safe and protected.
Iñárritu is a director who likes to probe the frailties of life, the apparent disconnections between people. With "Biutiful" he once again, explores a dramatic slice of life in Barcelona, one where corruption, extreme poverty and social decadence exist, as part of every day life (and he shoots it very documentary style). In this film he injects a spiritual/paranormal component that somehow lifts Uxbal from all that gruesome suffering and pain that surrounds him. This is a film where the pain of every day life is only balanced by the joy of small moments with the ones you love, in Uxbal's case, his two young children and the memories of his father. Javier Bardem carries this film with anguish, pain and such sadness, unlike any other role he has played before. He is, as always, excellent. This is a film, that beyond it's bleakness has something not many films these days do: a beating heart.

L'illusionniste/The Illusionist

2011-01-30T22:33:00.000-08:00

Movie name: L'Illusionniste/The Illusionist
Year of release: 2010
Director: Sylvain Chomet
Stars:Jean-Claude Donda, EilidhRankin, Duncan MacNeil, Raymond Mearns, James T. Muir, Tom Urie, Paul Bandey
Genre: Animation
Score out of ten (whole numbers only): 7

Synopsis:
Sylvain Chomet became well known with his awarded animated feature "The Triplets of Belleville", which was nominated for the Academy Award in 2003. His latest film adapts a screenplay from the fantastic Jacques Tati. The film follows the story of a magician who goes from city to city, playing small venues, trying to make ends meet. When he goes to a small town in Scotland, a young girl becomes fascinated with him and follows him to Edinburgh. They decide to stay in a small hotel, where the Illusionist tries to find odd jobs in order to maintain both of them.
Sylvain Chomet uses and designs the characters and situations in an homage to Jacques Tati's work. His Illusionist is trying his best to fit in a world that has moved along, one where magic probably has no place. His young companion for whom magic seems to be the freedom she aspires to, is his last connection to times that have passed by. This is a bittersweet tale, superbly designed and animated, filled with incredible details and a soundtrack that stays with you. A good film!

Somewhere

2011-01-30T21:21:00.000-08:00

Movie name: Somewhere
Year of release: 2010
Director: Sofia Coppola
Stars:Stephen Dorff, Elle Fanning, Chris Pontius, Michelle Monaghan, Laura Chiatti, Amanda Anka
Genre: Drama
Score out of ten: 6.5

Synopsis:
Following the flawed "Marie Antoinette" from 2006, Sofia Coppola went back to familiar territory with her latest film, "Somewhere". The film follows the life of American actor and star, Johnny Marco, as he goes through a series of random encounters with different women, while he stays at the Chateau Marmont. His daughter Chloe comes to stay with him, since her mother decides to take some time "off" without elaborating when she comes back. Left to take care of his daughter, Johnny is forced to reassess his own life.
"Somewhere" touches some similar ground that Sofia Coppola explored with her celebrated effort "Lost in Translation": the characters are drifting aimlessly in life, trying to find a path and a connection with someone. Both films explore the artificiality of the Hollywood life, but "Somewhere" slowly shows the angst and loneliness of the life of Johnny Marco, the big star, who hasn't been present for his daughter's life, and who all of a sudden is required to be there, be an adult and provide a support that he does not know how to deliver. Stephen Dorff does a great job playing the playboy actor who slowly starts to unravel and who feels the emptiness of his life. Elle Fanning does a good job playing his young daughter who is growing up and feels the loneliness of not having a real family support to anchor her life. The film also boasts a great cinematography from the usually fantastic Harris Savides. A good film worth seeing.

New Ski Illustration

2011-01-27T22:36:00.000-08:00

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Oscar 2010

2011-01-27T22:25:00.000-08:00

The Oscar nominations are in. This year the list of films selected is uniformly good. Though the most surprising omission is Christopher Nolan's nomination for best director, the few highlights given to "Fair Game" is also surprising, as is the overload of nominations for "True Grit". You can check the full list of nominees here.

Golden Globes 2010

2011-01-16T17:19:00.000-08:00

The Golden Globes have been awarded. This year most of the praise fell upon David Fincher's "The Social Network". The saddest omission was the foreign film award not going to "I Am Love". Onward to the Oscars. Check the results and winners here.

New Snowboard Illustration

2011-01-16T17:13:00.000-08:00

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New Snowboard Illustration

2011-01-09T22:48:00.000-08:00

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Music With an Impact - 2010

2011-01-09T22:24:00.000-08:00

2010 was a year that saw many great releases and where I discovered really remarkable and rewarding albums. Though the music business has forever changed, fantastic artists are releasing music that is compelling, unique and fantastic. Here is a list of what I heard (and heard) during the year that just went by.

Massive Attack - Heligoland
Madita - Pacemaker
Miami Horror - Illumination
Robyn - Body Talk
Groove Armada - Black Light
Gorillazz - Plastic Beach
Four Tet - There is Love in You
Caribou - Swim
Bonobo - Black Sands
Benoit Pioulard - Lasted

Honorable mentions include "Royksopp - Senior", "Sia - We Are Born", "Jonsi - Go", "Sufjan Stevens - The Age of Adz", "Brian Eno - Small Craft on a Milk Sea", "Ceo - White Magic", "White Hinterland - Kairos" and "Matthew Herbert - One One".

True Grit

2011-01-09T21:42:00.000-08:00

Movie name: True Grit
Year of release: 2010
Director: Ethan and Joel Coen
Stars:Jeff Bridges, Matt Damon, Hailee Steinfeld, Josh Brolin, Barry Pepper, Dakin Matthews, Elizabeth Marvel, Paul Rae
Genre: Western, Adventure, Drama
Score out of ten (whole numbers only): 7

Synopsis:
Joel and Ethan Coen follow their little seen "A Serious Man" with a remake of Henry Hathaway's "True Grit". Their intention has been to return to the book from Charles Portis and make their own interpretation of the book. The film follows the story of young Mattie Ross, who at 14 comes to a small town by herself to claim the body of her murdered father and take care of his pending businesses. Mattie also takes upon her the resolution of hiring a marshall to help catch her father's murderer, bring him to justice so he can pay for his crime. Mattie finds Marshall Cogburn, a drunken and older law enforcer, who alongside a Texas Marshall named La Boeuf end up being her rescuers. This unlikely trio set upon finding the fugitive through some rough scenarios.
Joel and Ethan Coen are always interesting directors, even in their failed or flawed attempts to create something different, wich was the case of "The Man Who Wasn't There" and "Intolerable Cruelty" to name a few. "True Grit" is their take on the Western genre and follows the conventions that the genre has established. Jeff Bridges' Marshall Cogburn is rough and tough, but with a heart of gold, who helps the young, bossy and talky Mattie find her father's murderer. Theirs is an adventurous task, since it's only three against quite possibly a larger number of adversaries, but they still prevail and go on their quest. Jeff Bridges does a fantastic job, making his Marshall a resourceful, boozy and ultimately, kind hearted man who tries to help the young woman who has lost her father. Hailee Steinfeld creates a spunky and fast talking Mattie, filled with knowledge for her young age and an iron will who makes her find her quest, no matter what the obstacles are. Matt Damon, Josh Brolin and Barry Pepper create good supporting characters, but the film definitely belongs to Jeff Bridges and Hailee Steinfeld. A solid film worth watching.

Blue Valentine

2011-01-09T20:56:00.000-08:00

Movie name: Blue Valentine
Year of release: 2010
Director: Derek Cianfrance
Stars:Michelle Williams, Ryan Gosling, Faith Wladyka, John Doman, Mike Vogel, Ben Shenkman, Eileen Rosen
Genre: Drama
Score out of ten (whole numbers only): 3

Synopsis:
Derek Cianfrance is a director whose previous films have been in the documentary field, and that approach is easily recognizable in his first feature film. The film follows the story of a couple, Dean and Cindy, since they first meet, through the development of their relationship, marriage and finally dissolution of the same bond. Both are young when they marry, and as their lives evolve, so do both of them, but Cindy feels stuck in a relationship where she has to be the mother for two people, their little girl and her husband. Dean on his side, is trying to maintain the relationship going for as long as he possibly can. These two antagonistic sides clash as they both try to move on with their lives.
The film has an interesting premise, and the director tries to emulate the style that John Cassavetes, so perfectly captured in "Faces" and "Husbands". His documentary style approach allows to capture the pains of those two characters, however, both Cindy and Dean are so under-developed that the viewer never really understands where they're coming from. Cindy's sudden lack of interest in maintaining the relationship is seen from her perspective, but never fully explored or understood. Dean's anguish ends up being summarized in a brutish behavior that falls under cliches already seen and explored in countless films. This is a film that unlike the light and breezy "500 Days of Summer" from Marc Webb, tries to be an insightful and ponderous exploration of the dynamics of a couple, but ends up feeling like a rehash of TV films. The best thing about the film is the compelling performance of Michelle Williams and the beautiful score from Grizzly Bear. Sadly, those enough don't make much for a film that is severely under-developed.

Best Films of 2010

2011-01-07T18:48:00.000-08:00

2010 started with James Cameron's "Avatar" dominating the box-office and the attention of moviegoers all around the world. As the year progressed, the 3D films kept on premiering, but sadly all of them were quite mediocre (including Tim Burton's interpretation of "Alice in Wonderland"). The end of the year as usual saw a plethora of good and great films coming out. Here is a list of films that made a striking impact and that prove the great talent of acclaimed directors, such as David Fincher and Darren Aronofsky, to name but a few.

Io Sono L'amore/I Am Love
Director: Luca Guadagnino
Cast: Tilda Swinton, Marisa Berenson, Flavio Parenti, Edoardo Gabbriellini, Alba Rohrwacher, Diane Fleri, Maria Paiato, Pippo Delbono, Gabriele Ferzetti, Mattia Zaccaro

The Social Network
Director: David Fincher
Cast: Jesse Eisenberg, Andrew Garfield, Justin Timberlake, Armie Hammer, Max Minghella, Joseph Mazzello, Rooney Mara, John Getz, Rashida Jones, David Selby, Brenda Song

Black Swan
Director: Darren Aronofsky
Cast: Natalie Portman, Vincent Cassel, Mila Kunis, Barbara Hershey, Winona Ryder, Benjamin Millepied, Sebastian Stan, Toby Hemingway, Mark Margolis

The King's Speech
Director: Tom Hooper
Cast: Colin Firth, Geoffrey Rush, Helena Bonham Carter, Jennifer Ehle, Derek Jacobi, Guy Pearce, Michael Gambon, Claire Bloom, Timothy Spall, Eve Best, Anthony Andrews

The Fighter
Director: David O. Russell
Cast: Mark Wahlberg, Christian Bale, Amy Adams, Melissa Leo, Jack McGee, Mickey O'Keefe, Melissa McMeekin, Bianca Hunter, Erica McDermott, Jill Quigg, Dendrie Taylor, Kate B. O'Brien, Jenna Lamia, Alison Folland

Inception
Director: Christopher Nolan
Cast: Leonardo DiCaprio, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Ellen Page, Tom Hardy, Marion Cotillard, Ken Watanabe, Cillian Murphy, Dileep Rao, Tom Berenger, Michael Caine, Pete Postlethwaite, Lukas Haas

Shutter Island
Director: Martin Scorsese
Cast: Leonardo DiCaprio, Mark Ruffalo, Ben Kingsley, Michelle Williams, Emily Mortimer, Patricia Clarkson, Max Von Sydow, Jackie Earle Hayley, Ted Levine, John Carroll Lynch, Elias Koteas, Robin Bartlett, Christopher Denham

Ghost Writer
Director: Roman Polanski
Cast: Ewan McGregor, Pierce Brosnan, Kim Catrall, Olivia Williams, Tom Wilkinson, Timothy Hutton, Eli Wallach, Jon Bernthal, Robert Pugh, John Belushi

127 Hours
Director: Danny Boyle
Cast: James Franco, Kate Mara, Amber Tamblyn, Clemency Poesy, Treat Williams, Kate Burton, Sean Bott, Lizzy Caplan

Special mentions should go for the following films. "Fair Game" from Doug Liman, "I Love You Philip Morris" from Glenn Ficarra and John Requa, "Scott Pilgrim Vs. the World" from Edgar Wright, "Never Let Me Go" from Mark Romanek and "Hereafter" from Clint Eastwood.

The King's Speech

2011-01-02T21:23:00.000-08:00

Movie name: The King's Speech
Year of release: 2010
Director: Tom Hooper
Stars:Colin Firth, Geoffrey Rush, Helena Bonham Carter, Jennifer Ehle, Derek Jacobi, Guy Pearce, Michael Gambon, Claire Bloom, Timothy Spall, Eve Best, Anthony Andrews
Genre: Drama
Score out of ten (whole numbers only): 8

Synopsis:
Tom Hooper has made his name directing TV shows and mini series that have been showered with awards, namely "Elizabeth I" and "John Adams". "The King's Speech" is another period piece and follows the (true) story of King George VI and his relationship with his speech coach, Lionel Logue. King George VI, also Duke of York had stuttering problems and after trying to get help from a considerable number of specialists, with the aid of his wife, he decided to follow the unusual methods of Lionel Logue, an Australian actor. With a lot of perseverance and with the unusual dynamics between these strong personalities, the Duke starts making progresses with his speech impediments. When the Duke is forced to become King, after his brother's decision to abdicate to marry Wallis Simpson, it's up to Lionel to provide all the assistance and help to the King's speeches in a time of war.
Tom Hooper is clearly someone with a keen eye for good performances and for period pieces. "The King's Speech" is fantastic in the details of the time period and excels in the performances of the actors. Hooper smartly lets the actors be the main thread of the film, in particular Colin Firth's King George VI/Bertie - he creates a man who has a speech impediment, due to his own insecurities, to his emotional losses and who with the help of his loving wife, is trying to overcome his limitations. Bertie is trying to overcome a life ruled by some fears, things that are confronted dramatically when he becomes King and needs to make public speech his second nature. Geoffrey Rush creates a great character in Lionel, a man who looks to find the person behind the impediments, someone who is fearless in his approach, but also sensitive and inquisitive. Helena Bonham Carter is, as always, fantastic, creating a Queen who is loving, supportive and fierce in her approach to her new found position. The cinematography of Danny Cohen is fantastic as is the music of Alexandre Desplat. This is a great film, of triumph of the will over adversity and the meaning of friendship in odd circumstances.

Rabbit Hole

2011-01-02T20:41:00.000-08:00

Movie name: Rabitt Hole
Year of release: 2010
Director: John Cameron Mitchell
Stars:Nicole Kidman, Aaron Eckhart, Dianne Wiest, Miles Teller, Sandra Oh, Tammy Blanchard, Giancarlo Esposito, Jon Tenney, Mike Doyle, Colin Mitchell
Genre: Drama
Score out of ten (whole numbers only): 7

Synopsis:
John Cameron Michell is one of the most interesting directors working these days. He made his feature debut with the fantastic "Hedwig and the Angry Inch", based on his play (and the songs of Stephen Trask), followed by the equally good "Shortbus" and his third feature, "Rabbit Hole", is also the first one to tackle a story that is not originally his. The film is an adaptation of the play with the same name from David Lindsay-Abaire (the play won the Pulitzer Prize in 2007 for Drama, as well as the Tony award). The film follows the story of Becca and Howie, a young couple whose young son tragically died in a car accident. They are both trying to resume their lives after that tragic accident, with their families and friends, each one of them reaching out differently. While Howie tries to be more expansive with his pain, Becca takes a more painful and self contained approach, one that at times explodes in confrontations with family, friends and even strangers.
John Cameron Mitchell takes his unique point of view and adapts it to the intimate and painful story of a couple, dealing with the pain of a loss that is unspeakable. His work is discreet but never trivial or cliche - he allows the silences and the spaces to speak of the loss. The distance between the characters also explains how they relate to each other. It's also a film that is driven by the performances of the main actors. Nicole Kidman uses her icy persona and demeanor to build Becca as a woman shattered by pain and guilt, for a child that she lost, for a life that can never be regained. Aaron Eckhart makes Howie a man who is desperately trying to rebuild his life, whose grief is ever present, as is his love for Becca. Dianne Wiest's Nat, Becca's mother, is a person who has been through loss and tries to reach out to her daughter, but realizes that there's a huge gap between them both. All the actors are fantastic and help create a film that is humane, heartfelt and deeply touching. Also worth highlighting, the cinematography from Frank G. DeMarco, that is warm and captures the actors very naturalistic-style. Worth watching.

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2010-12-26T22:23:00.000-08:00

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Boogie Nights

2010-12-26T19:26:00.000-08:00

Movie name: Boogie Nights
Year of release: 1997
Director: Paul Thomas Anderson
Stars: Mark Wahlberg, Julianne Moore, Burt Reynolds, William H. Macy, John C. Reilly, Heather Graham, Philip Seymour Hoffman, Don Cheadle, Melora Walters, Luis Guzman, Nicole Ari Parker, Joanna Gleason, Thomas Jane, Ricky Jay, Philip Baker Hall, Michael Penn, Alfred Molina, Nina Hartley
Genre: Drama
Score out of ten (whole numbers only): 9

Synopsis:
Paul Thomas Anderson's second film definitely placed him on the map, with a risque screenplay, that probed the porn world of the 70s and was inspired by the life of John Holmes. The film follows the story of Eddie Adams, a young man who is finishing high school and working some small time jobs in order to make some money. Eddie catches the attention of Jack Horner, a director and producer of adult films, and following a dramatic exit from his house's parents, ends up being part of Horner's group of actors/performers who live under the same roof. Eddie experiences a meteoric rise to popularity in the adult films he performs, thanks to his natural endowments, but that crescendo starts to crack rapidly.
Paul Thomas Anderson's ode to the 70s, specifically to the adult movies from that era, comes with an aura of nostalgia - those were the days when the directors working on those films believed they were doing something for the sexual liberation, where there was still a concept of film on the big screen, before the video emerged and pushed adult films to specialized ghettos. The film shows the group within Jack Horner's house as a family that he built - Horner's films were for all intended purposes a family affair, all starring emotionally damaged people, from the beautiful Rollergirl, trying to finish her highschool certification, to Amber Waves, trying to get visitation rights to see her child. Though Mark Wahlberg's Eddie Adams/Dirk Diggler is our narrator, the mosaic structure of the film, allows a glimpse into all the lives of the family that Jack Horner built. The film also perfectly captures the transition of the 70s to the 80s and how mentalities started to change. The film boasts fantastic performances from the entire cast, but the hightlights are mainly Julianne Moore who does a remarkable job playing Amber Waves, creating a woman who is vulnerable, trying to transfer her mother instincts to others since she can't do it with her own child, Heather Graham playing Rollergirl, a young woman who is just trying to find her own place in the world and Burt Reynolds, as Jack, the old patriarch who sees his empire changing but who tries to adapt to the world around him. The cinematography from Robert Elswit is simply stunning. A modern classic worth watching anytime.

The Fighter

2010-12-26T10:29:00.000-08:00

Movie name: The Fighter
Year of release: 2010
Director: David O. Russell
Stars: Mark Wahlberg, Christian Bale, Amy Adams, Melissa Leo, Jack McGee, Mickey O'Keefe, Melissa McMeekin, Bianca Hunter, Erica McDermott, Jill Quigg, Dendrie Taylor, Kate B. O'Brien, Jenna Lamia, Alison Folland
Genre: Drama
Score out of ten (whole numbers only): 8

Synopsis:
David O. Russell is a director who has thus far managed to create a very interesting career, directing films that are personal, even if sometimes a bit flawed. After the debacle that was "I Heart Huckabees" (with his aggressive rants with Lilly Tomlin hitting YouTube) and the problems surrounding "Nailed" (who is still waiting completion and release), Russell decided to tackle the true story of Mickey Ward, a boxer, in a film made with a very small budget (and his third collaboration with star/producer Mark Wahlberg). The film follows the story of Mickey Ward and his family, brother Dicky Eklund, his mom Alice and his sisters. Mickey is a boxer, much like his older brother Dicky, who is now his trainer (while his mom works as his manager). Dicky had his moment of glory some years ago and is now a pale shadow of his former self, always doing drugs and involved in schemes that land him in prison. Mickey on the other hand realizes that for him to have a final shot at reaching something as a fighter he has to navigate his life outside of his destructive family ties. Mickey with the aide of his girlfriend Charlene, manages to start climbing with victories in successive combats.
David O. Russell managed to create with "The Fighter" one of his best films. The screenplay itself is not much different than any boxing film ever done, however Russell manages to infuse the film with an air of authenticity, almost documentary, that gives the story a breath and an energy that are gripping. Most of the film's strength lie in the actors, and this film packs a great punch in that department. Mark Wahlberg does a good job, underacting and making his Mickey a humble and strong person vying for a last chance. Amy Adams shows her range as a person with a strength and character that are truly admirable, but the film really belongs to Christian Bale and Melissa Leo. Christian Bale disappears beneath the character he's creating, showing the vulnerable side of someone who knows his chance has gone by, someone broken by life and by drugs. Melissa Leo also creates a matriarch with a strength that is ferocious, even to her own children. A great film, worth watching.

The Tourist

2010-12-23T23:21:00.000-08:00

Movie name: The Tourist
Year of release: 2010
Director: Florian Henckel von Donnersmarck
Stars:Johnny Depp, Angelina Jolie, Paul Bettany, Timothy Dalton, Rufus Sewel, Steven Berkoff, Christian De Sica, Alessio Boni, Daniele Pecci, Giovanni Guidelli, Raoul Bova
Genre: Action, Romance
Score out of ten (whole numbers only): 5

Synopsis:
Following his fantastic debut with "The Lives of Others" (winner of the foreign Oscar film in 2006), Florian Henckel von Donnersmarck decided to tackle "The Tourist", a project that went through quite a few number of directors. The film is a remake of the french counterpart, "Anthony Zimmer" that starred Sophie Marceau and Yvan Attal, in the parts now taken by Angelina Jolie and Johnny Depp respectively. The film follows Elise Ward, a beautiful English woman who is being surveyed by the police, since she has a connection to a man who stole a huge sum of money from a gangster. Trying to elude them, she strikes a conversation with a man she meets in the train, an American tourist, Frank Tupelo, a math teacher who is trying to overcome the grief of losing a woman. Elise is also following the indications of her former lover, trying to discover where he is and uses Frank to distract her followers. The relationship between Elise and Frank however leads them in a different direction and forces Elise to make some choices.
Florian Henckel von Donnersmarck is clearly trying to capture the glamour and sophistication that Alfred Hitchcock captured to perfection in "To Catch a Thief" (with Cary Grant and Grace Kelly), however, the film falters in the screenplay. The story is clearly overly simplistic and though the actors are stupendous, there's nothing much they can do when the screenplay is very limited to usual cliches. Johnny Depp gets to be a subdued character with none of his usually eccentric elements, whereas Angelina Jolie is simply stunning as a woman in love, quite different from the characters she usually portrays (either strong or emotionally damaged women). The film also boasts a stunning cinematography from John Seale, but no matter how much everyone tries, the film simply feels like something that has been done before, with more ambition and dazzling results. As is, the film is simply watchable but quickly forgettable.

Tron: Legacy

2010-12-19T20:15:00.000-08:00

Movie name: Tron: Legacy
Year of release: 2010
Director: Joseph Kosinski
Stars: Jeff Bridges, Garrett Hedlund, Olivia Wilde, Bruce Boxleitner, James Frain, Beau Garrett, Michael Sheen, Owen Best, Cillian Murphy
Genre: Action, Adventure, Sci-Fi
Score out of ten (whole numbers only): 5

Synopsis:
"Tron: Legacy" is a sequel to the seminal "Tron", directed by Steven Lisberger in 1982, which even though not a major critical and financial success, went on to enjoy a long life as a cult movie, due to the stunning visual work (from the minds of fantastic artists such as Syd Mead and Moebius, to name but a few). "Tron: Legacy" picks up only two characters from the original film, Kevin Flynn and Alan Bradley, respectively played by Jeff Bridges and Bruce Boxleitner. Kevin Flynn was, at the end of of the first "Tron", the new CEO of the company Encom. He disappears when "Tron:Legacy" begins and his son Sam grows by himself. Sam, now an adult, makes his presence felt in his own company, through carefully planned boycotts he deploys every year. Upon investigating his father's former game arcade, Sam gets inserted in the game world, where he finds out that his dad's creation, Clu, has been ruling the network of programs and games and his father has been a prisoner for years. It's up to Sam to rescue his father and alter the network.
The film is devoted to it's original counterpart - visually the film picks up a lot of the elements the original one had, but polishes it. All the surfaces are glossy, the costumes are impeccable. The film visually is simply arresting - the cinematography of Claudio Miranda is stunning, the soundtrack from Daft Punk adjusts itself perfectly, however the screenplay simply isn't as equally compelling. The situations are overly simplified, as are the characters. Jeff Bridges performance manages to bring some depth to both Kevin Flynn and Clu, but it's simply not enough. The film is nonetheless, an interesting action/sci-fi film, one where the action flows and the visuals are compelling. Hopefully next sequel will bring more substance.

Black Swan

2010-12-12T22:29:00.000-08:00

Movie name: Black Swan
Year of release: 2010
Director: Darren Aronofsky
Stars: Natalie Portman, Vincent Cassel, Mila Kunis, Barbara Hershey, Winona Ryder, Benjamin Millepied, Sebastian Stan, Toby Hemingway, Mark Margolis
Genre: Drama, Thriller
Score out of ten (whole numbers only): 8

Synopsis:
Darren Aronofsky continues his triumphant path, following his fantastic last three films, respectively "Requiem for a Dream", "The Fountain" and "The Wrestler". "Black Swan" symbolizes in a way, a crystallization of his themes, namely the obsessions that people possess and for whom they are willing to sacrifice everything, including their sanity and sense of self.
"Black Swan" follows the story of young Nina Sayers, a beautiful ballerina who is the utmost perfectionist, always training and trying her best to be the absolute perfection in everything she does. Nina gets a spotlight when she is chosen by her company's arrogant and seductive choreographer Thomas, to be the Swan Queen in a new interpretation of Swan Lake. Nina starts pushing herself even harder, since Thomas believes she is far too uptight and sheltered to understand the sensuality and looseness of the Black Swan of the ballet. To further complicate things, Nina feels a new rivalry from another dancer named Lily, who has just arrived from San Francisco and to whom everything just seems to flow effortlessly. To Nina she embodies all that she is not - much to her despair, she starts to believe Lily is trying to destroy her. Her attempts to capture perfection lead to unexpected developments.
Much like "The Wrestler", where Mickey Rourke's character Randy tried to an extreme to force his body to be the entertainer he once was, Natalie Portman's Nina Sayers, goes out of her way to capture the Swan Queen she's portraying. The duality of the character starts reflecting on her personality itself, with Nina progressively altering her behavior, being consumed by a personal ambition and obsession that ultimately consumes her altogether. Nina's mother, who always has lived her life for Nina and who projects all her dreams and frustrations on her daughter, ends up being the distorted mirror of all that she once was - a little girl who never grew up. Darren Aronofsky showcases the darkness that progressively taints Nina's world, from her body bruises and changes, to the events that she witnesses, creating an atmosphere that is progressively tenser as the film progresses. The way he and his wonderful cinematographer Matthew Libatique capture the nuances of Nina's world, serve to emphasize her fears and self doubts. The performances from the film are also fantastic, from Vincent Cassel as the narcissistic Thomas, Mila Kunis who excels as the liberated Lily, the always excellent Barbara Hershey as the overbearing mother and Winona Ryder, who freezes everything as the jilted Beth (it's nice to see her in such a great, yet small role). The film however belongs to Natalie Portman, she carries it with such an amount of immersion, from the technique of the dancer, to the duality of her Nina, in the spurts of menace that erupt from within her, that is a true wonder to see her work in this film. A highlight should also be given to Clint Mansell's soundtrack. An altogether fantastic film!

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1

2010-11-28T22:47:00.000-08:00

Movie name: Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1
Year of release: 2010
Director: David Yates
Stars: Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson, Rupert Grint, Ralph Fiennes, Helena Bonham Carter, Bill Nighy, Michael Gambon, Robbie Coltrane, Alan Rickman, Imelda Staunton, Rhys Ifans, Bonnie Wright, Brendan Gleeson, Julie Walters, Jason Isaacs, Peter Mullan, John Hurt, Clemence Poesy, David Thewlis, Sophie Thompson, Toby Jones, Rade Serbedzija
Genre: Action, Adventure, Fantasy
Score out of ten (whole numbers only): 6

Synopsis:
As the "Harry Potter" franchise comes to an end, the final film has been divided in two halves, to allow for a richer story development. The film picks up where "Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince" left: with Dumbledore gone and Voldemort spreading panic and attacking in all directions, in the hopes of catching and killing Harry Potter, the tight unit of friends has to come together in order to protect Harry and their magic world from total annihilation. Harry, Herminone and Ron go on a quest, trying to find objects that are important for Voldemort and can help in his destruction. All the while Voldemort's influence starts to spread to the Ministry of Magic and to the order of their world.
David Yates has managed to hold the title for director who stayed with the franchise for the longest time, having directed two films before and now the final diptych. One thing has become more evident in his films - as the series has progressed in time, the heroes have matured, the danger has become more evident and the tone also has also become darker and more menacing. The first part of the last film, shows the young heroes on the run, literally, since their safety is threatened everywhere they go. They have to find objects that allow for the destruction of their opponent and, more than ever, rely upon each other to survive the whole ordeal. The film has a different pacing than the previous ones, a slower tone, that allows the young actors to show a bit more about their characters and just how far their talents have developed. However the striking parts as always get handled by the wonderful talents of Ralph Fiennes and Helena Bonham Carter, who excel as the villains whom everyone wants to destroy. The film boasts also a great cinematography from Eduardo Serra and a beautiful score from Alexandre Desplat. Though it's a truncated experience, it's still an interesting film worth checking out.

127 Hours

2010-11-21T22:48:00.000-08:00

Movie name: 127 Hours
Year of release: 2010
Director: Danny Boyle
Stars: James Franco, Kate Mara, Amber Tamblyn, Clemency Poesy, Treat Williams, Kate Burton, Sean Bott, Lizzy Caplan
Genre: Drama, Adventure
Score out of ten (whole numbers only): 8

Synopsis:
After the Oscar rain that fell upon his film "Slumdog Millionaire", Danny Boyle returns with another riveting film. "127 Hours" is based on the book by Aron Ralston, that details his harrowing experience of being trapped after a hiking excursion that went terribly wrong. The film starts by introducing the audience to Aron, a young hiker who is about to go explore the canyons near the Moab desert in Utah. During his excursion, he meets two young women, Kristi and Megan, with whom he has a fun time, showing them interesting places to explore. Upon following his solitary path, Aron unexpectedly falls off a cliff and gets his arm stuck and is unable to move. What follows are his desperate attempts to get off that predicament alive.
Danny Boyle is a very talented director: "Trainspotting", "Shallow Grave", "28 Days Later" and "Sunshine" alone proved long before his triumph with "Slumdog Millionaire". What he does with "127 Hours" is pretty riveting: he grabs a story that is told from the point of view of a sole actor/narrator, and he makes it engaging, dynamic and thrilling. Aron goes through a death-trap that is lethal, but we're embarking on that journey with him, thanks to the visual imagination of Danny Boyle, who makes Aron a real person, with aspirations, dreams, fears and regrets. James Franco gives a very good performance, imbuing Aron with an enthusiasm, joy and also fear, that is contagious. This is a film worth watching, not just for the testament to the perseverance of people, but as dazzling film filled with visual ideas.

The Next Three Days

2010-11-21T09:50:00.000-08:00

Movie name: The Next Three Days
Year of release: 2010
Director: Paul Haggis
Stars: Russell Crowe, Elizabeth Banks, Brian Dennehy, Liam Neeson, Olivia Wilde, Helen Carey, Jason Beghe, Daniel Stern, Aisha Hinds, Jonathan Tucker, Lennie James, Kevin Corrigan, Allan Steele, Trudie Styler, Ty Simpkins
Genre: Drama
Score out of ten (whole numbers only): 6

Synopsis:
"The Next Three Days" is a remake of the french film "Pour Elle". Paul Haggis, known for directing the award winning "Crash" (and writing "Million Dollar Baby" and "Casino Royale" to name but a few), tackles the remake with an aura of suspense and drama, which comes in the tradition of his best work, specifically the wonderful and underrated "In the Valley of Elah".
"The Next Three Days" follows the lives of John, Lara, and their son Luke Brenan, whose every day existence is turned upside down when Lara is wrongly imprisoned for the murder of her boss/superior. John, a professor at a community college, becomes discouraged when he finds out the appeal for Lara's verdict can't be overturned, upon which he starts devising a way to liberate her from prison. Through a carefully devised plan, with lots of trial and error, John finally manages to put in action a way to make Lara's escape occur.
Paul Haggis has made a name for himself as a creator of stories with dramatic depth, where characters actually exist and are more than stereotypes. In "The Next Three Days", we watch the life of a middle class couple unravel, as Lara, an innocent woman, is thrown in a situation that is beyond anything she has ever experienced. That is what really interests Paul Haggis - the delicate balance that is life and how that is turned upside down quite unexpectedly. The film vividly depicts the family life of the Brenan's, but where the film falters is in giving Lara more than just a victim role. It would be interesting to see where Elizabeth Banks could take her character. The film bolsters good performances from Russell Crowe, Elizabeth Banks and Liam Neeson and a good soundtrack from the wonderful Danny Elfman. A good solid film worth watching.

Secretariat

2010-11-14T22:32:00.000-08:00

Movie name: Secretariat
Year of release: 2010
Director: Randall Wallace
Stars: Diane Lane, John Malkovich, Nelsan Ellis, Margo Martindale, Dylan Baker, Dylan Walsh, James Cromwell, Fred Dalton Thompson, Scott Glenn, Nestor Serrano, Kevin Connolly, Eric Lange, Drew Roy, Amanda Michalka
Genre: Drama
Score out of ten (whole numbers only): 6

Synopsis:
Randal Wallace is best known for having written the screenplays for "Braveheart", "The Man in the Iron Mask" and "Pearl Harbor", though as a director he has a few films on his resume as well. "Secretariat" follows the story of Penny Chenery, a housewife in Denver, who due to the death of her mother is forced to come back to her family's horse farm to help her dad and secure the financial stability of the farm. When Penny decides to race a horse whom she won in a toss, she secures the services of trainer Lucien Laurin to help her get some victories. Penny and her horse "Secretariat" end up becoming the underdog, the one no one expected to win, but who ends up winning races and people's hearts.
Randall Wallace treats this story quite conventionally, opting for a very traditional and family oriented film. None of these elements that he shoots in this film are particularly new, namely the underdog who beats all the odds, but thanks to the wonderful Diane Lane and the always great John Malkovich, the film ends up having some energy and spark, in what would otherwise be a very standard film. The Disney studio usually releases films very much like this with a certain frequency, but certain casts make all the difference - this is the case. Not an exceptional film, but still worth watching.