The Mortal Instruments: City of Bones/Beautiful Creatures

Movie Name: The Mortal Instruments: City of Bones
Year of Release: 2013

Director: Harald Zwart

Stars: Lilly Collins, Jamie Campbell Bower, Robert Sheehan, Kevin Zegers, Kevin Durand, Lena Headey, Godfrey Gao, Jemima West, CCH Pounder, Jared Harris, Jonathan Rhys Meyers, Aidan Turner

Genre: Action, Aventure, Drama

Score out of ten (whole numbers only): 1

Movie Name: Beautiful Creatures
Year of Release: 2013

Director: Richard LaGravenese

Stars: Alden Ehrenreich, Alice Englert, Jeremy Irons, Viola Davis, Emmy Rossum, Thomas Mann, Emma Thompson, Eileen Atkins, Margo Martindale, Zoey Deutch, Tiffany Boone, Pruitt Taylor Vince

Genre: Drama, Fantasy, Romance

Score out of ten (whole numbers only): 4

Synopsis:

The success of "Twilight" has opened the door for a series of adaptations of young adult novels. This year's crop already includes "The Mortal Instruments:City of Bones" and "Beautiful Creatures". Both films, though with different pedigrees and talent involved, definitely have quite mediocre results. On both counts, the story is quite standard - there's a young brooding female hero, who is either an outcast, or misunderstood by everyone, who comes to realize that she's the bearer of special powers. These powers, unbeknownst to her, set her aside from everyone, and of course, during the narrative, she comes to realize that the salvation of Earth relies on her shoulders. In parallel with this coming of age story, there's a forbidden romance, that comes in the shape of a mysterious young man, who is either a supernaturally gifted man, or a sensitive young man who looks beyond our heroine's conflicts. Both of these films also feature a diversified array of supporting characters, that supposedly create a conflicting context for the two young lovers to overcome obstacles.
Harald Zwart has made a career for himself directing films that are targeted primarily to a younger audience, such as "The Karate Kid" and "Agent Cody Banks". His adaptation of "The Mortal Instruments" is a complete mess, with characters that are never quite fully explained (such as the main antagonist, played by Jonathan Rhys Meyers), or ever fully dimensional. It's difficult for an audience to be invested in anything that happens on screen, when the characters are so clumsily created. The actors don't really help much. Richard LaGravenese comes from a different pedigree - an accomplished screenwriter, turned director (he wrote Terry Gilliam's "The Fisher King" and Clint Eastwood's "The Bridges of Madison County" before directing his debut "Living Out Loud", to name but a few), his adaptation of "Beautiful Creatures" doesn't fare much better, but has a great cast that elevates the flimsy material. Jeremy Irons brings his usual gravitas and depth to any part, as does Viola Davis. Emma Thompson however is poorly cast as the villain, overacting and feeling out of place in a film that is otherwise quite placid and also forgettable. The young leads are engaging, but the film never goes beyond the typical cliches.
Summarizing these adaptations - both films feel devoid of substance and of authenticity (and enthusiasm) of any kind. What elevated the "Harry Potter" series for instance, was the creation of a universe filled with magic, where the spark of the unknown and wonder/menace was always present. These current films try to be angst filled, but end up portraying their young ingenue leads as vapid and selfish heroines, stuck in a two dimensional world where their antagonists are as paper thin as the depth of their feelings.

The World's End

Movie Name: The World's End
Year of Release: 2013

Director: Edgar Wright

Stars: Simon Pegg, Nick Frost, Paddy Considine, Martin Freeman, Eddie Marsan, Rosamund Pike, Reece Shearsmith, Bill Nighy, Pierce Brosnan, David Bradley

Genre: Action, Comedy

Score out of ten (whole numbers only): 7

Synopsis:

Following "Scott Pilgrim Vs. The World", director Edgar Wright is back to his UK based stories, this one again devised with Simon Pegg, whom he worked with on "Shaun of the Dead" and "Hot Fuzz". "The World's End" follows the story of 5 high school friends, all of whom come from the same small town. 20 years after they all finished school, the leader of the pack, Gary King, decides to reunite the group, so they can celebrate an alcoholic itinerary through all the pubs that are part of their hometown. Gary has never outgrown his high school days, and desperately wants to relive those glory days. When this diversified group comes to town, they start realizing that things have changed with their inhabitants. What they discover leads them on a bigger adventure than they expected.
Edgar Wright and his frequent collaborator, actor Simon Pegg, have smartly been deconstructing genres with their previous films. "Shaun of the Dead" and "Hot Fuzz" smartly mixed their original genres (horror and action respectively) and infused them with a sense of humor that makes them unique and unlike anything else. "The World's End" again uses this genre mix, this time with the "end of the world"/"alien invasion" concept, mixed with a comedy ensemble component that makes this film a riot to witness. The cast is uniformly good, with Simon Pegg making the best of his character's lunacy, whereas Nick Frost this time around gets the more serious, responsible part. The film ends up faltering a bit towards it's epilogue (which ultimately ends up being unnecessary), but it's nonetheless a fun film to watch.

The Grandmaster

Movie Name: The Grandmaster
Year of Release: 2013

Director: Wong Kar Wai

Stars: Tony Leung, Ziyi Zhang, Chen Chang, Jin Zhang, Darren Leung, Qingxiang Wang 

Genre: Action, Drama

Score out of ten (whole numbers only): 7

Synopsis:

Director Wong Kar Wai's first full length feature after his american movie "My Blueberry Nights", is a biographical story focusing on legendary kung fu master, Ip Man. The film follows the story of the renowned master, as he gains his iconic status, through his hardship (and his family's) with the japanese occupation of China and his ultimate escape to Hong Kong (where he ultimately becomes the teacher of Bruce Lee).
Wong Kar Wai has made a name for himself since the early 90s with films that impressed both stylistically and aesthetically, but also for his renowned focus on shooting for quite some time, to get exactly what he wants from the performers and from each scene (his celebrated "In the Mood for Love" had a shooting time of 15 months). "The Grandmaster" though apparently distinct in tone from his previous films, ends up being a kung fun film that has a love story at it's core. The forbidden love of master Ip Man and Gong Er, gives the film it's beating heart, which is surrounded by the fantastically well choreographed kung fu scenes. It's a romantic film, stylized, but rewarding in terms of the characters it presents. The film also benefits from the incredible cinematography of Philippe Le Sourd, which gives the film an almost abstract tone, from the color, to the details it captures (and also the visual trademarks from the director, with slow motion sequences). A good film worth watching.

Elysium

Movie Name: Elysium
Year of Release: 2013

Director: Neill Blomkamp

Stars: Matt Damon, Jodie Foster, Sharlto Copley, Alice Braga, Diego Luna, Wagner Moura, William Fichtner, Brandon Auret, Josh Blacker, Emma Tremblay, Faran Tahir

Genre: Sci-Fi, Action, Drama

Score out of ten (whole numbers only): 7

Synopsis:

Neill Blomkamp's second feature after the success of his debut "District 9", is another futuristic story. The film introduces us to a future where Earth is overpopulated and where the rich have left the planet and created an orbiting station named "Elysium", where there's no sickness and where few people are in fact allowed in. This "privileged moon" is overrun by Delacourt, a ruthless leader who wants to instate her iron will and control the destiny of Elysium and to a certain extent, Earth. A young man named Max challenges her plans - Max grew up wanting to go to Elysium, but after a life of petty crime is stuck working in a plant. After an accident occurs, Max is given 5 days to live, which propels him to find help to get to Elysium. He gets the help he needs, but also gets a new chaser in the shape of Kruger, a psychotic henchman under the orders of Delacourt.
Neill Blomkamp knows how to create realities that though apparently remote, reflect a lot of the current concerns of society. "Elysium" tackles a lot of current issues related to healthcare, immigration and class struggle. The film is pertinent in it's depiction of a world that is more universal: language itself has altered to reflect the multiple ethnic groups that populate it, the scenery itself is a mix of "District 9" but also Pete Travis' "Dredd" - bleak and chaotic. And of course, the film is extremely successful in it's visual style, special effects and action set pieces. The cast is uniformly good, with Matt Damon and Jodie Foster creating good characters, even if a bit unidimensional, but nonetheless serving the film's narrative perfectly. A very good film worth watching.

Blue Jasmine

Movie Name: Blue Jasmine
Year of Release: 2013

Director: Woody Allen

Stars: Cate Blanchett, Alec Baldwin, Sally Hawkins, Andrew Dice Clay, Bobby Cannavale, Peter Sarsgaard, Louis C.K., Michael Stuhlbarg, Alden Ehrenreich, Max Casella, Tammy Blanchard, Annie McNamara

Genre: Drama

Score out of ten (whole numbers only): 8

Synopsis:

Woody Allen's anual film output is out and follows the tepidly received "To Rome with Love". "Blue Jasmine" focuses on the life of Jasmine, a socialite from New York, who sees her life unravel when her husband Hal gets accused of all sorts of financial wrongdoings, and ends up arrested and eventually killing himself in prison. Jasmine finds herself completely bankrupt and forced to go to San Francisco, and live with her more humble sister Ginger, and her two young sons. Ginger and her ex husband were affected by Hal's financial miscalculations, and though Ginger has moved on, she continues to be involved with men who are of dubious taste and nature. Jasmine on her hand, is going through a complete nervous breakdown, and is trying to restart her life, with some encouraging results, that come in the form of a diplomat who shows a romantic interest in her.
Woody Allen's latest films have been of uneven pertinence and interest. Though his depiction of some of the emptiness of the lives of the privileged continues to be on the spot, there has been a distinct lack of depth to some of his more recent efforts, including "Midnight in Paris" and "You Will Meet a Tall Dark Stranger". His universe continues to be very familiar, but has also felt contrived and in films such as "Match Point", like a distant echo from some of his masterpieces from the 80s. "Blue Jasmine" manages to overcome some of his traditional pitfalls, and becomes a fantastic display for one of the most talented actresses currently working, Cate Blanchett. Her performance encapsulates the dynamic of the film, truly giving the narrative the raw nerve that seems to be at it's core. She manages to create the central character as someone who is just barely surviving, scraping whatever sanity she has left to keep going. It's a character that is not entirely likable, and Blanchett makes her feel alive and to a certain extent, relatable. The supporting cast, has somewhat less developed characters, but Sally Hawkins, Andrew Dice Clay and Bobby Cannavale, all manage to create good companions to Cate Blanchett's solo tour de force. A very good film worth watching.

The Conjuring

Movie Name: The Conjuring
Year of Release: 2013

Director: James Wan

Stars: Patrick Wilson, Vera Farmiga, Lili Taylor, Ron Livingston, Shanley Caswell, Hayley McFarland, Joey King, Shannon Kook, John Brotherton, Sterling Jerins, Kyla Deaver

Genre: Thriller, Horror

Score out of ten (whole numbers only): 7

Synopsis:

Following the highly successful "Insidious", director James Wan is back, with another horror story that builds upon on atmosphere and tension, this one in particular based on true events. The film follows the story of Lorraine and Ed Warren, paranormal investigators, who in the 1970s were involved in examining and detailing paranormal events. They are confronted with a particularly dire situation: the Perron family, having bought a house, see themselves confronted with a presence that is haunting them tirelessly. The attacks grow in intensity, until Lorraine and Ed start unveiling the story of the house and of how those presences started to exist.
James Wan is a resourceful director: he builds tension and atmosphere, relying on suggestion to create a sense of unease. He also deftly details the existence of a peaceful and familiar existence that is menaced by something clearly overwhelming. His films are smartly constructed, almost classic in their approach to the hidden menace that makes itself known but not exactly visible. It's a way of creating films that do not rely on gore or extreme violence to entertain the audience. The film has an impeccable production design that recreates the feel of the 70s perfectly. The cast is uniformly good as usual, with highlights going to Vera Farmiga and Patrick Wilson (he is also part of the "Insidious" franchise). A tense film worth watching.

The Hunt/Jagten

Movie Name: The Hunt
Year of Release: 2012

Director: Thomas Vinterberg

Stars: Mads Mikkelsen, Thomas Bo Larsen, Annika Wedderkopp, Lasse Fogelstrom, Susse Wold, Anne Louise Hassing, Lars Ranthe

Genre: Drama

Score out of ten (whole numbers only): 8

Synopsis:

Thomas Vinterberg, director at one point associated with the cinematic movement Dogme 95 (which he co-authored with Lars Von Trier) is back the with celebrated "The Hunt". The film follows the story of Lucas, a divorced father, who is a teacher in a kindergarten, in a small town in Denmark. Lucas is beloved by everyone, and starts a relationship with a fellow co-worker. That relationship comes to a halt when Lucas becomes the target of a serious accusation which stems from the young daughter of his best friend: Klara accuses Lucas of having inappropriate sexual conduct towards her. The police gets involved in the situation, and Lucas' reality worsens by the minute, with the entire community responding with violence to his presence.
"The Hunt" is a film that is relentless in it's approach to detail what occurs when a person's life slowly starts to unravel endlessly. Lucas is a regular man, with an innate kindness towards children and people in general - when the accusation appears, the community who always knew him, rapidly forgets the years of common living, and attacks him endlessly. Thomas Vinterberg smartly creates a reality that is close to anyone, inhabiting this world with people that could live anywhere. Lucas is a man beaten down, hunted in more than one way, and it's devastating seeing the persecution that is created around him. Mads Mikkelsen creates a character that is fully dimensional: a father who's trying to lead a normal life, and yet finds himself cornered by a situation that is overwhelming, abandoned by most of the people he thought were friends. His anguish and sadness are heartbreaking. A devastating film worth watching.

The Wolverine

Movie Name: The Wolverine
Year of Release: 2013

Director: James Mangold

Stars: Hugh Jackman, Tao Okamoto, Rila Fukushima, Hiroyuki Sanada, Svetlana Khodchenkova, Brian Tee, Famke Janssen, Will Yun Lee, Hal Yamanouchi, Ken Yamamura

Genre: Action, Adventure, Sci-Fi

Score out of ten (whole numbers only): 4

Synopsis:

Following the quickly forgotten "Knight and Day", director James Mangold is back, tackling a project that was originally going to be directed by Darren Aronofsky. "The Wolverine" is a sequel to the mediocre Gavin Hood film, "XMen Origins: Wolverine". The film introduces us to Wolverine/Logan, who is in deep isolation after the events of "X-Men: Last Stand" and the death of Jean Grey (for which he feels responsible). Wolverine is tracked by a young resourceful Japanese woman, who is working for a man he saved when Nagasaki was bombed during World War 2. This man is dying, and wants to thank Logan for saving him. When Wolverine arrives in Japan, he is startled to hear that Yashida (the dying man) has become one of the most powerful men in Japan, but also that he can offer him a way to gain his mortality. This is part of a larger plot as Wolverine quickly discovers.
What has always been interesting about the Wolverine character and the XMen stories, is the fact that all these characters are suppose to be outsiders, who though saving mankind, are persecuted by those they save. Wolverine has however always been the rebel and the outsider, even as a part of the XMen. This story in particular tackles a specific series that had Wolverine being in Japan as a Samurai - the film references diverse films, such as Sidney Pollack's "Yakuza", but struggles in finding an identity of it's own. The writers and director, tried to create a mood and provide character development, but ultimately the story feels and looks uninspired, making Wolverine a dull character (again the traditional love story with a woman who barely emotes anything). His quest to find himself and his own mortality feels tired at this point, as does some of the villainous characters in this film (what's the point of having ninjas in a film, if you don't give them much to do). The overall look and feel of the film are again generic and absent of a specific point of view. A wasted effort.

Los Amantes Pasajeros/I'm so Excited

Movie Name: Los Amantes Pasajeros
Year of Release: 2013

Director: Pedro Almodovar

Stars: Javier Camara, Raul Arevalo, Lola Duenas, Hugo Silva, Antonio de la Torre, Jose Luis Torrijo, Cecilia Roth, Penelope Cruz, Antonio Banderas, Blanca Suarez, Paz Vega, Jose Maria Yazpik

Genre: Comedy

Score out of ten (whole numbers only): 6

Synopsis:

The wonderfully gifted director Pedro Almodovar is back after the fantastic "La Piel que Habito". Whereas his previous effort was a dark thriller, "Los Amantes Pasajeros" is definitely a more lighthearted effort. The film follows the events that surround a flight departing Madrid towards Mexico. Due to the negligence of an airport crew member, the plane has problems with the landing gear, which forces the plane to fly around in circles trying to find a nearby airport to land. While this is taking place, the flamboyant crew tries to entertain their diversified first class passengers, which include a runaway banker involved in a financial scandal, a psychic, a high class prostitute and a hired killer, to name but a few.
"Los Amantes Pasajeros" is an attempt by the fantastic Pedro Almodovar to go back to his more lighthearted moments of previous comedies such as "Kika", where there's an outrageous component to the story, which also underlines a deep social commentary and criticism. This film in particular tries to underscore the current financial tribulations and scandals that are dominating Spain's economy. The film has a series of interesting and quirky characters, very typical of the director, but unlike his previous directorial output, none of these characters is particularly drawn out very extensively. Much like John Waters, Pedro Almodovar has always been a director who builds a universe that is thoroughly coherent, from a story, aesthetic and performance point of view - this film lacks a sense of genuine joy and transgression though. It's a lighthearted feature from one of the most distinct and consistent voices currently working in film these days.

The Way Way Back

Movie Name: The Way Way Back
Year of Release: 2013

Director: Nat Faxon, Jim Rash

Stars: Steve Carell, Toni Collette, Allison Janney, Sam Rockwell, AnnaSophia Robb, Maya Rudolph, Liam James, Robb Corddry, Amanda Peet, River Alexander, Zoe Levin, Nat Faxon, Jim Rash, Adam Riegler

Genre: Comedy, Drama

Score out of ten (whole numbers only): 6

Synopsis:

"The Way Way Back" is Nat Faxon and Jim Rash's debut feature - this directing team is mostly known for their acting careers, and also for winning an Oscar for the screenplay of Alexander Payne's "The Descendants". "The Way Way Back" follows the story of 14 year old Duncan, whose parents divorced and who is spending his Summer with his mom, her new partner, an obnoxious man named Trent, and Trent's self-absorbed daughter. Duncan feels isolated from everyone and finds his way to a Water Park, where he starts a friendship with the owner, a wisecracking man by the name of Owen. Duncan slowly builds friendships and starts having fun, until he realizes that Trent isn't all that he presents himself to be.
"The Way Way Back" is a coming of age story for a young man, whose parents have divorced, and who is trying to belong somewhere. Though the story itself isn't exactly something entirely surprising, the directors/writers create interesting characters that give this small film an additional quirk and interest (there are references from films such as Greg Mottola's "Adventureland" or even Chris and Paul Weitz's "About a Boy").  The film knows it has it's fair share of cliches, and tries to insert some nostalgia for the Summer Camps of the 80s, but it also has a heart and you can't help but embark on the trip with these characters. The actors are uniformly good, with Allison Janney, Maya Rudolph and Sam Rockwell creating interesting and funny characters. This is an interesting debut feature, that though not priming for originality, it has the capability of embracing a variety of characters and making us empathize with them. Worth watching.

Pacific Rim

Movie Name: Pacific Rim
Year of Release: 2013

Director: Guillermo Del Toro

Stars: Charlie Hunnam, Idris Elba, Rinko Kikuchi, Charlie Day, Burn Gorman, Max Martini, Robert Kasinski, Diego Klattenhoff, Clifton Collins Jr., Ron Perlman

Genre: Action, Adventure, Fantasy

Score out of ten (whole numbers only): 7

Synopsis:

Director Guillermo Del Toro is back, after his last directorial effort which was "Hellboy II", and his attempt at directing "The Hobbit". "Pacific Rim" is his biggest budget film, and it can safely be said, that the film is a stunning accomplishment. The film takes place in a nearby future, where Earth is being attacked by huge monsters who appear from a ridge that is situated in the Pacific Ocean (which is a portal between dimensions). These monsters destroy everything in sight, until humanity responds by creating huge robots to battle them on an equal measure. Each of these robots require the communion of the mind of their two pilots - one of them, Raleigh, loses his brother in one of the battles. It's up to Raleigh and the few remaining pilots to battle the escalating attacks of these monsters, who are driven to destroy the planet.
Guillermo Del Toro is a deft storyteller, with an incredible eye for the construction of fantastical worlds, populated by conflicts that are very human. The beautifully shot "Pacific Rim" presents us with a world at the brink of destruction, faced with an adversary that is colossal in scale, one that tests every resource that humanity has. What is so smartly woven in this film, are the different stories that create each main character - the creators of the story know that the film can only be as strong as the characters that propel it. The concept of robots vs monsters, enticing as it may be, doesn't make for much of an interesting feature, if the characters behind it aren't as dynamic and plausible as the way these are. The film also benefits from truly stunning visual effects that elevate this concept to a whole different level. The editing, the pacing, the orchestrated action set pieces, everything comes together in a very unified way to really create a fantastical world and entertaining film. Guillermo Del Toro once again proves that no one creates monsters quite like him - a fantastic film worth watching!

The Lone Ranger

Movie Name: The Lone Ranger
Year of Release: 2013

Director: Gore Verbinski

Stars: Johnny Depp, Armie Hammer, Tom Wilkinson, William Fichtner, Helena Bonham Carter, James Badge Dale, Ruth Wilson, Bryant Prince, Barry Pepper, Mason Cook, James Frain, Damon Herriman

Genre: Action, Western, Adventure

Score out of ten (whole numbers only): 6

Synopsis:

"The Lone Ranger" is the latest action extravaganza from director Gore Verbinski, who has directed the first three "Pirates of the Caribbean" features and also "The Ring", to name but a few. "The Lone Ranger" follows the story of two individuals, seemingly completely different, but who get thrown together by the force of circumstances. These individuals are Tonto, a native American who is on a quest to redeem himself from some sad choices in life, and John Reid, a young man with a law degree, who returns to his hometown in the middle of nowhere. John finds himself aiding his brother, a Ranger, though they all fall - fatally - prey to the machinations of the ruthless Butch Cavendish. With Tonto's resourcefulness, John finds himself being brought back to life, and on a quest to determine why exactly his brother got killed, and what the railroad and his main proponent Cole's role is in this scenario.
Gore Verbinski is a director with an eye for the absurd. His films are punctuated by some spurts of irony and humor in the middle of the narrative. The concept is well on display on his "The Lone Ranger", which tackles the origins of the mythical character and of his sidekick, Tonto. This duo, particularly at the hands of Johnny Depp and Armie Hammer, are definitely going on a humorous ride, very much like what Verbinski created in the "Pirates" films. The film doesn't pretend to bring or present something new or different - it definitely revels in the extremes of being a large entertainment feature, where the villains are just mean, the ladies are innocent and the heroes are dashing, and in this case, quite funny. Johnny Depp is as usual reliably good, bringing a sense of humor that fits the character and allows the material to lose any seriousness that it could possibly have. This clearly isn't a Clint Eastwood opus - you won't find "Unforgiven" or a quest of that dimension here. "The Lone Ranger" is about entertaining a large crowd, with a dash of slapstick, a dash of innocence and a lot of explosions.

Coraline

Movie Name: Coraline
Year of Release: 2009

Director: Henry Selick

Stars: Dakota Fanning, Teri Hatcher, Jennifer Saunders, Dawn French, Keith David, John Hodgman, Robert Bailey Jr., Ian McShane

Genre: Animation, Fantasy, Thriller

Score out of ten (whole numbers only): 9

Synopsis:

Henry Selick is one of the most fantastically gifted directors working in animated features these days. "Coraline" follows the story of young Coraline Jones who moves with her family to a depressing area. Her busy parents have no time for her, but Coraline finds a small and unique door in the house that is a gateway to a different reality, one where her parents are devoted to her, she has fantastic activities all the time, with the only difference being that everyone seems to have buttons for eyes. Coraline becomes increasingly interested in this alternate reality, until the "Other Mother" asks her to permanently stay in this different reality. Upon realizing this, Coraline finds out that this other dimension has more to it than it seems.
"Coraline" is a film that is impeccably realized in all aspects. From the sheer virtuosity of the animation, through the story development and aesthetic, it's a superb feature worthy of multiple viewings. Henry Selick, who previously directed "The Nightmare Before Christmas", creates characters that are relatable - her young hero is not the most perfect little girl, but she is (much like Chihiro from Hayao Miyazaki's "Spirited Away"), someone who is resourceful and intelligent. During the film, Coraline learns an important lesson, and her world (and our own), is enriched by what she sees and experiences. The film is visually superb - the details that differentiate both realities, the richness of color, all align to make this a truly superb gem of a film. Not to be missed!

White House Down

Movie Name: White House Down
Year of Release: 2013

Director: Roland Emmerich

Stars: Channing Tatum, Jamie Foxx, Maggie Gyllenhaal, Richard Jenkins, Jason Clarke, James Woods, Joey King, Nicolas Wright, Jimmi Simpson, Michael Murphy, Rachelle Lefevre, Lance Reddick, Matt Craven, Jake Webber, Peter Jacobson

Genre: Action

Score out of ten (whole numbers only): 2

Synopsis:

Director Roland Emmerich is back after his previous directorial effort, the sadly forgotten "Anonymous". "White House Down" follows the story of John Cale, a young father who is trying to get into the Secret Services and be assigned to the President's protection group. John is trying to impress his daughter in the process, but coincidentally, the day of their visit to the White House, there's an attempt to highjack it and take the President hostage. John manages to avoid the President being captured, however his daughter is held captive. What follows is a tense game of hide and seek where John and President try to outsmart their captors and avoid a worldwide nuclear meltdown.
Roland Emmerich has always been a director who has primed for the creation of films that focus on big spectacle, films where the screenplay touches on instantly recognizable plot points. His interest lies in the spectacle that can be achieved with stories that deal with the imminent destruction of popular and iconic locales - he has achieved that in films such as "Godzilla", "The Day After Tomorrow" and "2012". Sadly "White House Down" embeds itself in all possible cliches that have been touched and devised by previous action films, such as John McTiernan's "Die Hard", without any of the inventiveness that have characterized them. The film has pacing issues, and the screenplay offers nothing to the wonderful cast that was assembled to do. James Woods, Jason Clarke and Richard Jenkins, all gifted actors are simply playing cardboard characters, the same can be said for Maggie Gyllenhaal. The one actor who seems to enjoy the whole ride is Channing Tatum, who wears his character with an ironic smirk. A missed opportunity for Roland Emmerich to build a smart action film.

The Bling Ring

Movie Name: The Bling Ring
Year of Release: 2013

Director: Sofia Coppola

Stars: Katie Chang, Israel Broussard, Emma Watson, Taissa Farmiga, Claire Julien, Leslie Mann, Gavin Rossdale, Stacy Edwards, Georgia Rock, Carlos Miranda

Genre: Drama

Score out of ten (whole numbers only): 7

Synopsis:

Director Sofia Coppola's new effort, following "Somewhere", is again a story focusing on disaffected youth. The story is based on the true events that occurred in Calabasas, CA, when a group of teenagers started robbing the houses of celebrities. The film introduces us to Marc, a young man who comes to a new school and befriends Rebecca, a young woman who clearly knows how to navigate the social structure of the school. Rebecca starts bringing Marc on her looting sprees, where they go into people's unlocked cars and just take what they can find. That soon escalates to the houses of celebrities, including Paris Hilton, Rachel Bilson and Lindsay Lohan's. These robberies become a social high for this group of friends that is joined by Chloe, Sam and Nicki. This behavior starts to spiral out of control, as the number of houses and diversity of materials they rob increase, until the group gets caught on camera.
Sofia Coppola is a director with a specific sensibility, aesthetic and universe. She invariably focuses her films on young people who are, to a certain level, thrown into an adult world without being completely prepared to tackle the responsibilities that comes with it. These young adults, are sometimes trying to find their way in the world, through meaningful amorous relationships, through accepted social status and behavior, and of course, through the acceptance of groups of other young people, as is the case of "The Bling Ring". In this film, the director smartly avoids making a caricature of these characters, yet the film feels superficial in the depiction of this group of young people.  The continuous depiction of these robberies, though presenting the progression of the sheer audacity of the group, it does not provide further insight into who they are. The film focuses on the baubles, how these young people obsess on their public persona, in a society which is celebrity focused and where all this information is constantly bombarded (TMZ for instance). It's a film that on a first viewing seems ironic, but that definitely shines an interesting mirror into the core of what currently obsesses people. The cast is uniformly good, with highlights to Emma Watson and Leslie Mann. A film worth watching.