Melancholia

Movie Name: Melancholia

Year of Release: 2011

Director: Lars Von Trier

Stars: Kirsten Dunst, Charlotte Gainsbourg, Kiefer Sutherland, Alexander Skarsgaard, Charlotte Rampling, John Hurt, Stellan Skarsgaard, Brady Corbet, Udo Kier, Cameron Spurr, Jesper Christensen

Genre: Drama, Sci-Fi

Score out of ten (whole numbers only): 7

Synopsis:

After the controversy surrounding "Antichrist", Lars Von Trier went in a different direction with "Melancholia". "Melancholia" tackles a doomsday scenario, one where a planet named "Melancholia" is on a collision course with Planet Earth. The film is divided in two parts and follows two sisters, Justine and Claire. In part one, Justine is getting married to Michael. During the course of the wedding we're introduced to Justine and Claire's universe, including their divorced parents, Claire's husband John, Justine's boss Jack and a variety of other characters. Justine is depressed and having a difficult time going through the entire wedding, something that becomes progressively more strained as the evening develops. In part two, Claire is confronted with the fear that her family life and life in general is coming to an end, since the impending doom of the planet crashing into Earth. Justine is profoundly depressed and seems unable to cope with anything, but as the impending end nears, she seems to find a new strength and resilience.
Lars Von Trier always uses catalysts outside the characters universes to create the dynamics that propel them, or that bring out their best or worst characteristics. The end of the world, brings out the clarity in Justine, forcing her to surpass her bleak depression state. Claire on the other end, fights to keep her family unit and everyone around her happy and content. Both sisters almost sit on opposing ranges, but come to terms with themselves and each other as the collapse nears. The film is beautifully shot by Manuel Alberto Claro, and the performances are fantastic, as is usual in Von Trier's films. Kirsten Dunst is a revelation, creating a character that goes from wide-eyed and sunny, to someone profoundly depressed and deprived of life. Charlotte Gainsbourg continues her path of portraying pained characters. Both make for an engaging dynamic. Though not one of Lars Von Trier's best, this is still a good film worth watching!

Young Adult

Movie Name: Young Adult

Year of Release: 2011

Director: Jason Reitman

Stars: Charlize Theron, Patton Oswalt, Patrick Wilson, Elizabeth Reaser, Collette Wolfe, Jill Eikenberry, Richard Bekins, Mary Beth Hurt, Kate Nowlin, Louisa Krause

Genre: Comedy, Drama

Score out of ten (whole numbers only): 7

Synopsis:

Jason Reitman is back, following the huge hit that was "Up in the Air" with George Clooney. "Young Adult" teams him back with Diablo Cody, the screenwriter whom he worked with on "Juno", which also garnered lots of accolades and awards. "Young Adult" follows the life of Mavis Gary, a writer for young adult books, who has gone through a divorce and who's an alcoholic. Upon knowing that her high school boyfriend and his wife had a new baby, Mavis decides to go back to her old town and win him back. Mavis wants to get back the life she had when she was popular and younger, and nothing will deter her from it.
Jason Reitman again tackles a character that seems at odds with the world. All the characters from his previous films are either too smart for their environment or uncompromising in their own choices. Mavis is a woman who has never really grown up, who knows she has reached a dead end in her life, but who doesn't want to deal with any problems. Mavis has checked herself out from any type of responsibility for her life. Jason Reitman smartly makes the character interact with Matt Freehauf, an old friend from high school who had troubling issues of his own, and who is a surrogate conscience. Mavis however is not one cliche character who has an epiphany and suddenly her life is transformed - she continues to be flawed and deeply human. That's what makes this film so enticing and interesting. Charlize Theron is fantastic as Mavis Gary, showing the real extent of her delusion and bitterness. As she did in "Monster" (the film from Patty Jenkins that won her the Oscar), she goes beyond her beauty to showcase the depth of a real person. A good film not to be missed.

My Week with Marilyn

Movie Name: My Week with Marilyn

Year of Release: 2011

Director: Simon Curtis

Stars: Michelle Williams, Kenneth Branagh, Eddie Redmayne, Julia Ormond, Dominic Cooper, Judi Dench, Emma Watson, Michael Kitchen, Toby Jones, Dougray Scott, Zoe Wanamaker, Derek Jacobi, Philip Jackson

Genre: Drama

Score out of ten (whole numbers only): 5

Synopsis:

Simon Curtis has made his career directing TV movies and several television shows for the BBC. His new feature "My Week with Marilyn" is again financed by BBC Films, and adapts a memoir/diary of Colin Clark. Colin was a production assistant on the set of Sir Laurence Olivier's "The Prince and the Showgirl" which featured a young Marilyn Monroe, then at the height of her popularity and with all the problems dealing with her fame and love life. Colin is a young man who becomes a confidante to the beautiful star, and between them both grows an intimate relationship of trust, that is severed when Marilyn finishes the film and goes back to her life in Hollywood.
"My Week with Marilyn" is a brief insight, seen from a distance to the world of Marilyn Monroe when she was in England shooting the film with Sir Laurence Olivier. Simon Curtis allows just a bit of insight as to why Sir Laurence invited Marilyn to be his co-star, and all of her insecurities and problems, when she was at the zenith of her fame. The film however never probes very deep to what is the real dynamics of Marilyn, or for that matter Colin or any of the other characters. The film is very slight in it's approach, never giving much depth and exploring any conflict. As is, it's an interesting illustration of a period that has gone by with a star that fascinated millions. The performances of Michelle Williams and Kenneth Branagh are fantastic, and for that alone the film is worth checking out.

The Descendants

Movie Name: The Descendants

Year of Release: 2011

Director: Alexander Payne

Stars: George Clooney, Shailene Woodley, Amara Miller, Nick Krause, Robert Forster, Beau Bridges, Matthew Lillard, Judy Greer, Michael Ontkean, Matt Corboy, Mary Birdsong, Rob Huebel

Genre: Drama

Score out of ten (whole numbers only): 7

Synopsis:

Alexander Payne's new film is the adaptation of the book "The Descendants" by Kaui Hart Hemmings. The story follows the life of Matt King, a well established lawyer in Hawaii, whose wife suffers a fatal boating accident. Following the accident, Matt has to learn to deal with his young daughters, and discovers his wife had been unfaithful to him. Matt also has a large real estate deal going on that consumes his time and focus.
Alexander Payne is an interesting director whose previous film, "Sideways" had a great critical reception. "The Descendants" continues to explore and expand his universe, with characters who always seem trampled by a reality that is overbearing towards them. These characters somehow always find a way to cope and overcome their discouraging obstacles. That occurred in "About Schmidt" and also "Election". His heroes are every day men, trying to adapt to realities that have changed without them accompanying that change. The film features great performances from George Clooney and Shailene Woodley. Clooney in particular imbues his character with a mix of sadness, surprise and pain that makes his Matt King all the more human and reachable. This is a film that smartly encompasses a theme as dark as death and opposes it with the luxurious joy and life that seems to be all around in Hawaii. A good film worth watching.

Hugo

Movie Name: Hugo

Year of Release: 2011

Director: Martin Scorsese

Stars: Ben Kingsley, Sacha Baron Cohen, Asa Butterfield, Chloe Grace Moretz, Emily Mortimer, Ray Winstone, Jude Law, Christopher Lee, Helen McCrory, Michael Stuhlbarg, Frances de la Tour, Richard Griffiths, Emil Lager, Kevin Eldon 

Genre: Drama, Adventure, Fantasy

Score out of ten (whole numbers only): 9

Synopsis:

After the great "Shutter Island" with Leonardo DiCaprio, Martin Scorsese changes gears again, and tackles a different style of film in his already fantastic career. "Hugo" is an adaptation of Brian Selznick's book "The Invention of Hugo Cabret", and follows the story of young Hugo, who is a lonely orphan in charge of keeping the clocks of the main train station in Paris working (in the 1930s). Hugo's father was a watchmaker and instilled that passion in him. Hugo is also trying to fix an automaton that his father discovered. He believes the machine holds a message from his late father, but it actually leads him down another path. He finds out about George Melies and his young goddaughter. Their encounter changes all their lives.
Martin Scorsese has been a fierce promoter of film preservation for a long time. His encyclopedic knowledge of film history and devotion to classic film has been well known. "Hugo" starts as a story about a young orphan trying to desperately maintain contact with his long lost father, but it slowly becomes an ode to the story of films, the long forgotten masters of silent film, in particular George Melies. The film is touching, heartwarming, beautifully shot and edited, and is a true ode to the joy of filmmaking, to the art of illusion and entertainment. There is an attention to each frame that fills this film with a beauty that only Martin Scorsese can instill within his films. Though the film does have a screenplay that sometimes falls under some cliches (particularly the Sacha Baron Cohen character), the overall experience is one of wonder and beauty. A great film not to be missed.

J Edgar

Movie Name: J. Edgar

Year of Release: 2011

Director: Clint Eastwood

Stars: Leonardo DiCaprio, Naomi Watts, Judi Dench, Armie Hammer, Jeffrey Donovan, Josh Lucas, Dermot Mulroney, Zach Grenier, Ed Westwick, Denis O'Hare, Damon Herriman, Lea Thompson, Christopher Shyer, Josh Hamilton

Genre: Drama

Score out of ten (whole numbers only): 6

Synopsis:

Following his previous effort "Hereafter", Clint Eastwood is back, tackling another period piece, much like what he has previously done in "Bird" and "Changeling" to name but a few of his extensive career. "J Edgar" follows episodes of the life of controversial figure, J. Edgar Hoover, one of they key founders of the Federal Bureau of Investigation. The film oscillates between showing Hoover in his final days as head of the Bureau (in the early 70s) and when he started his official career (immediately following the end of the First World War). The film also focuses on his relationship with Clyde Tolson, his main deputy with whom he had a very close and intimate relationship, and his volatile personality which made him distort and lie about facts in an attempt to seize more attention to himself.
Clint Eastwood is a director who usually focuses his attention on characters that emerge as reluctant heroes, or people thrown in situations that are overwhelming, but that they eventually overcome. Working with a script from Dustin Lance Black, who wrote the fantastic "Milk" (directed by Gus Van Sant), Eastwood focuses his attention on J Edgar Hoover, a man who is for all intended purposes a divisive figure (and not his usual "hero"). The film is not a traditional biopic, since it focuses on specific cases in his life, namely the Lindbergh baby case, and offers not much insight to who the man really was. The screenplay ends up not probing deeply into the man's life and as such, the film feels like a snapshot seen from a distance. There is no conflict or dramatic peak to a story that is ultimately unrewarding. Leonardo DiCaprio gives another fantastic performance as a lonely man, eager to please his mom, while the always excellent Naomi Watts has little to do with her character. This is a film that could have offered much more but that ultimately feels a bit underwhelming.

Weekend

Movie Name: Weekend

Year of Release: 2011

Director: Andrew Haigh

Stars: Tom Cullen, Chris New, Laura Freeman, Vauxhall Jermaine

Genre: Drama

Score out of ten (whole numbers only): 7

Synopsis:

"Weekend" is Andrew Haigh's long feature debut, following shorts and a docudrama and an extensive experience as an assistant editor. The film follows the story of Russell, a young man who while out in a club, meets Glen. What initially starts as a sexual encounter, slowly progresses to something more profound, as both young men start learning more about each other. That process however comes to a halt, once Glen reveals he's moving to America to pursue his art studies.
Andrew Haigh has built with "Weekend" a film that is insightful, naturalistic and intimistic. The viewer becomes almost a third person, viewing a relationship blossom and grow from what is apparently a casual encounter. The film lives from their closeness, their interactions. Both actors are great, Tom Cullen and Chris New, create characters that are flawed, real and anguished. This is a small gem of a film waiting to be discovered.

La Piel que Habito/The Skin I Live In

Movie Name: La Piel que Habito

Year of Release: 2011

Director: Pedro Almodovar

Stars: Antonio Banderas, Elena Anaya, Marisa Paredes, Jan Cornet, Robert Alamo, Eduard Fernandez, Jose Luis Gomez, Blanca Suarez, Agustin Almodovar, Isabel Blanco

Genre: Drama, Thriller

Score out of ten (whole numbers only): 8

Synopsis:

Pedro Almodovar is back, after the great "Los Abrazos Rotos". "La Piel que Habito" is an adaptation of the Thierry Jonquet's book "Tarantula/Migalle" and follows the story of a brilliant surgeon named Robert Ledgard. Robert's life is touched by tragedy, since his wife committed suicide, following a horrible accident, something that ends up touching the life of his daughter, Norma, who eventually comits suicide as well (following a rape attempt). Robert's grief makes him devise a plan to get back at the person who attacked his daughter.
Almodovar is a director who has is own universe. That universe keeps his stories intersecting throughout his directorial career. "La Piel que Habito" has elements from "Matador" and "Law of Desire" and even "Kika", but weaves a story that is simultaneously familiar and unique. Robert's thirst for revenge leads him down the path of recreating someone he lost, to make someone else adapt to another skin. These are themes that Almodovar touches throughout his career, and though "La Piel que Habito" may seem like a vengeance story, in the end, it's more a story about our true identities, what truly defines us. The film is fantastically well directed as usual and features very good performances from Antonio Banderas, Elena Anaya and Marisa Paredes. A great film worth watching!

Immortals

Movie Name: Immortals

Year of Release: 2011

Director: Tarsem Singh

Stars: Henry Cavill, Mickey Rourke, Stephen Dorff, Freida Pinto, Luke Evans, John Hurt, Joseph Morgan, Isabel Lucas, Kellan Lutz, Daniel Sharman, Alan Van Sprang

Genre: Action, Drama, Fantasy

Score out of ten (whole numbers only): 6

Synopsis:

Tarsem Singh has made his name as a director of commercials. His previous two feature films, "The Cell" and "The Fall", have been met with divisive reviews, but one underlying opinion was the unique visuals that populated both films. That unique visual flair is something that is back on "Immortals", which follows the story of Theseus, who is chosen by Zeus, a God from Olympus, to battle the king Hyperion, who is bent on releasing Titans, creatures who can battle and destroy the Gods. Theseus sees his village being destroyed and his mother being killed, which sets him on a path to battle Hyperion, with the aid of a beautiful Oracle named Phaedra. 
"Immortals" is a dynamic and visually ravishing film. The director has mentioned that he tried to create a film that is visually similar to the artwork of Caravaggio, and that comes across clearly in the film. Unlike Zack Snyder's "300" which was hyper stylized and very much an adaptation of the graphic novel (by Frank Miller), "Immortals" tries to build something that is more elaborate and artistically minded. If visually that works fantastically well, on the narrative side that never really is accomplished. The screenplay and all the characters are paper thin - there is no depth or much novelty to the way the characters are presented. Sadly, there's only so much a director can do when the screenplay is populated by cliches. The film has stunning cinematography, art direction, though the actors never really achieve anything beyond mediocrity. A film worth watching for it's aesthetic pleasure and not much else.

Margin Call

Movie Name: Margin Call

Year of Release: 2011

Director: J.C. Chandor

Stars: Kevin Spacey, Zachary Quinto, Jeremy Irons, Stanley Tucci, Paul Bettany, Demi Moore, Penn Badgley, Simon Baker, Mary McDonnell, Aasif Mandvi, Ashley Williams

Genre: Drama

Score out of ten (whole numbers only): 7

Synopsis:

"Margin Call" follows the story of a group of characters who are brought together, by a meltdown in an Investment Bank. The film introduces us to a large corporation that is going through a series of layoffs. One of them is Eric Dale, a senior analyst, who before leaving warns one of his employees that he's been working on a big project that is important for him to finalize. This employee, Peter Sullivan, finishes that project, and much to his shock, verifies that the company itself is in serious problems. In order to salvage the situation, a series of important players are brought in to tackle the ordeal.
J.C. Chandor in his first feature, builds a film that is pertinent, suspenseful and dramatically powerful, anchored in some great performances from a strong cast. The film uses the ripple effect of how a company and the decisions that a few take, can destroy the economy of a country (and ultimately countries). The story is a thinly veiled representation of how the economic meltdown of 2008 came to take place. The high risks of finance, mortgages, which can hardly be considered dynamic, create a sense of impending doom in the film, as the hours pass by and the players that are brought in assess the situation in order to salvage what can be saved. The cast is uniformly great, but special highlight goes to Kevin Spacey and Jeremy Irons, both of whom are superb as the opposing faces of the same quarter. A good film worth watching!

Rum Diary

Movie Name: The Rum Diary

Year of Release: 2011

Director: Bruce Robinson

Stars: Johnny Depp, Aaron Eckhart, Michael Rispoli, Amber Heard, Richard Jenkins, Giovanni Ribisi, Amaury Nolasco, Marshall Bell, Bill Smitrovich, Julian Holloway, Karen Austin

Genre: Drama, Thriller

Score out of ten (whole numbers only): 6

Synopsis:

"The Rum Diary" is an adaptation of a Hunter S. Thompson novel, following another well known book of his that was also adapted to the screen, the infamous "Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas", directed by Terry Gilliam. This project has been a favorite of Johnny Depp, who was a close friend of the writer, and who plays a thinly veiled version of the author in the film. "The Rum Diary" follows the story of Paul Kemp, an American journalist who arrives in Puerto Rico. The newspaper that employs him is chaotic and soon Kemp finds himself immersed in a shady situation with a suspicious man named Sanderson and immersed in alcohol and other substances which don't help him navigate the murky waters of Puerto Rico. With the help of his friend Sala and the unreliable Moburg, Kemp tries to expose some of the truth lying beneath the cool waters and free-wheeling alcohol of Puerto Rico.
Bruce Robinson has made his name as an actor, writer and director, though his output has been few and not very consistent. Prior to "The Rum Diary", Bruce Robinson directed "Jennifer 8" and the well known "Whitnail and I" which made him a well known director. He manages to bring the story of "The Rum Diary" vividly to life, thanks to a good cast (though Amber Heard still has a lot to go). Though the film does not focus on uncharted territory (the eternal alcoholic who barely functions), Johnny Depp makes his Paul Kemp an adorable under-dog, who always finds himself in bad situations. The period the film takes place, 1960, allows it to bring back the feeling of paranoia that was felt (the Russians, the Communists). The film has great humorous moments and that alone makes it a worthwhile watch!

Anonymous

Movie Name: Anonymous

Year of Release: 2011

Director: Roland Emmerich

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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Moneyball

Movie Name: Moneyball

Year of Release: 2011

Director: Bennett Miller

Stars: Brad Pitt, Jonah Hill, Philip Seymour Hoffman, Robin Wright, Chris Pratt, Stephen Bishop, Brent Jennings, Arliss Howard, Tammy Blanchard

Genre: Drama, Sport

Score out of ten (whole numbers only): 8

Synopsis:

"Moneyball" had it's fair share of problems on the way to the screen. The film was originally slated to be directed by Steven Soderbergh, who walked away from the project shortly before it was due to start shooting. Director Bennett Miller, who previously tackled "Capote", took the director's seat and the film followed without any incidents. "Moneyball" follows the story of Billy Beane, General Manager for the baseball team Oakland A's. After another painful season and another loss, Beane realizes he does not have as much money as bigger teams, which makes his job a lot more difficult. He hires a young professional named Peter Brand, a Yale Economics graduate, who has a more analytical and statistical concept of the game. According to Peter, through stats you can build a winning team, with players that are under-used or simply disregarded. Beane decides to follow this concept against everything and everyone.
"Moneyball" is based on a true story, with some additional elements added for dramatic effect, but the film has an authentic and documentary style that makes it gripping and riveting. It's a film that works not just as simple "baseball" film, but as a triumph of intelligence, of initiative over the status quo, over the establishment. The film smartly focuses on Brad Pitt's Billy Beane, a man who had a history in the sport, a man who was trying to make something different, to accomplish more than he ever did as a player. Bennett Miller also gives a glimpse into Beane's personal life, as a father and a ex-husband, someone who treasures his daughter's happiness. The character is a fully rounded one, a character that evolves, also thanks to Brad Pitt's great performance. The cinematography of Wally Pfister is fantastic as is the score of Mychael Danna. A great film worth watching!