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.

World War Z

Movie Name: World War Z
Year of Release: 2013

Director: Marc Forster

Stars: Brad Pitt, Mireille Enos, Daniella Kertesz, James Badge Dale, Fana Mokoena, David Morse, Ludi Boeken, Peter Capaldi, Pierfrancesco Favino, Ruth Negga, Moritz Bleibtreu, Sterling Jerins, Abigail Hargrove

Genre: Action, Drama, Horror

Score out of ten (whole numbers only): 7

Synopsis:

German director Marc Forster's career continues to be filled with eclectic and different choices. Following the poorly received "Machine Gun Preacher", Forster has tackled the adaptation of Max Brooks' "World War Z", a book that details the zombie epidemic and how humanity handles it's outburst. The film introduces us to the Lane family - Gerry and Karin and their two daughters, who live in Philadelphia. Gerry is a former UN investigator, who quit his job to take care of his kids. This apparent blissful existence is thrown into disarray when a zombie outburst occurs, and quickly topples every big city in existence. Gerry and his family are taken to a safe haven, but as a trade off, Gerry has to go to the hot zones of the outbursts, and hopefully discover how the whole epidemic began and how it can be battled.
"World War Z" is a film that has had it's fair share of shooting issues and problems during production, due to mixed opinions to the ending and overall tone and direction of the film. The result is however surprisingly engaging. The film allows for a perfect analogy to how humanity deals with an epidemic of gargantuan proportions, but also for our current times, with the current economic woes and how everything single movement that one country does is echoed everywhere and resonates elsewhere. The zombies in this film are also quite different from have been detailed in other excursions on this theme: these creatures function very much like a virus that wants to spread as much and as quickly as possible. In that sense the film perfectly captures the sense of urgency, fear and sheer dimension of what an event like this can create. Forster smartly balances the big action set pieces, with a more confined point of view, which in this case focuses on Gerry and his quest to return to his family - his frantic need to do the right thing, but also remain alive and safe for the sake of his loved ones, gives the film it's heart. The film does have underdeveloped and underused characters, but it's tone and aesthetic are fantastically adequate for what the film presents and stages. Brad Pitt again commands the screen in an adequate performance. A suspenseful, smartly conceived film worth watching.

Man of Steel

Movie Name: Man of Steel
Year of Release: 2013

Director: Zack Snyder

Stars: Henry Cavill, Amy Adams, Michael Shannon, Diane Lane, Russell Crowe, Kevin Costner, Antje Traue, Laurence Fishburne, Christopher Meloni, Harry Lennix, Richard Schiff, Ayelet Zurer, Dylan Sprayberry

Genre: Action, Adventure, Fantasy

Score out of ten (whole numbers only): 3

Synopsis:

After the disappointment that was "Sucker Punch", director Zack Snyder is back with the adaptation of a comic book, something he has dabbled in before, though previously he adapted graphic novels, which resulted in his films "300" and "Watchmen". "Man of Steel" follows the well known story of Superman - we are presented with the collapse of his home planet, Krypton. His parents save him from the destruction of their home planet, and also from the ire of General Zod, someone who sees his pursuits as the ultimate goal and who stops for nothing or for no one. Kal El is sent to Earth where he's raised in a small farm in Kansas, by the Kents, who raise the young Clark/Kal El with the knowledge he is special and whose destiny will change the human race. Clark eventually goes on a quest for himself, until he comes to terms with his alien origins. That acknowledgement also awakens the pursuit of a lost enemy - Zod. He comes to Earth to claim Kal El and the planet itself.
Zack Snyder is a director who has always primed for being visually virtuoso and for bringing a specific aesthetic to his films. His experience as a commercials director has always been clearly present in most of his features, which thus far has produced results that have been both interesting - "Dawn of the Dead" and "Watchmen", and also less interesting - "Sucker Punch". "Man of Steel" tries a different approach to the Superman legacy - it tries to create the hero as a young man coming to terms with a sense of belonging - someone who is just trying to find who he is and who his real family is. That is the concept that permeates the film - the heritage of who who we are and how we preserve a sense of identity. However these themes, as ambitious as they may be, are tossed aside for the greater spectacle of an endless digital effects showcase, which engulfs the story altogether. The last section of the film becomes a doppelganger of Lana and Andy Wachowski's "Matrix Revolutions", with endless fight scenes and special effects that though visually enticing, are hollow and meaningless after the viewer is bombarded with them endlessly. The actors end up having little to do, and feel a bit sidetracked in the middle of all the rubble and destruction that is on screen - Amy Adams and Michael Shannon have little to do, and ultimately is Kevin Costner, Diane Lane and Russell Crowe who give the film it's heart. An assault on the senses that is ultimately unrewarding. 

Stories we Tell

Movie Name: Stories we Tell
Year of Release: 2012

Director: Sarah Polley

Featuring: Sarah Polley, Michael Polley, Harry Gulkin, Joanna Polley, Mort Ransen, Mark Polley, Deirdre Bowen, Pixie Bigelow, Geoffrey Bowes

Genre: Documentary

Score out of ten (whole numbers only): 8

Synopsis:

Sarah Polley is of course well known for her acting skills, but since "Away from Her", she has steadily been building a directing career, one that also includes "Take this Waltz".
"Stories we Tell" is a documentary that the director embarked on, to know more about her mother's story, and ultimately her own. Sarah Polley's mother passed away in 1990, and left behind a devastated family and some questions regarding the director's own parenthood. The documentary tries to trace the story of Diane and Sarah Polley's, from multiple and distinct voices (family members, friends, co-workers). The documentary also includes a lot of stock footage, depicting the family's earlier days, where all the key players give us an insight into what that family life was all about. It's interesting that Sarah Polley actually turns the tables on the documentary premise, and she actually stages these scenes with actors portraying her parents and siblings. It is in a way, bringing to life, stories she can only reminisce through the words of others. This is a documentary that probes deep into what makes a family a unique reality, with all their dynamics, secrets, pain and anguish that make every day life so indistinguishably theirs. A great documentary worth watching and reflecting upon.

The Purge

Movie Name: The Purge
Year of Release: 2013

Director: James DeMonaco

Stars: Ethan Hawke, Lena Headey, Max Burkholder, Adelaide Kane, Edwin Hodge, Rhys Wakefield, Tony Oller, Arija Bareikis, Tom Yi, Chris Mulkey, Tisha French, Dana Bunch

Genre: Thriller, Horror

Score out of ten (whole numbers only): 3

Synopsis:

James DeMonaco has made his career as a screenwriter, with the remake of "Assault on Precint 13" being one of his most visible features. "The Purge" takes place in a nearby future, one where unemployment and violence have been almost wiped out from society. This has been accomplished by using "The Purge", a night where everyone can do whatever they want, in terms of violence and mayhem. It's during this night that the Sandin family gets prepared to spend it within the confinements of their protected shelter. That is until Charlie, the young son, lets a hunted man into their household. What follows is a game of resistance, with the captors trying to get their prey.
This low budget film, has a very interesting premise - it questions and raises issues pertaining to the social tissue of society, racial issues, all filled with great potential. However the director opts to make the film more specifically about the violence that surrounds a family and how the gradual realization of the deeply rotten core of a ritual, actually represents the perversity of what lies within that society. What could have been a fantastically accomplished thriller, claustrophobic and filled with tension, quickly degenerates into a series of cliches (and shootouts), which sadly make the film a lot less interesting. Ethan Hawke and Lena Headey try to make the best of their characters, but have sadly little to do, other than act scared and scream when required. An interesting premise wasted in a forgettable film.

Frances Ha

Movie Name: Frances Ha
Year of Release: 2012

Director: Noah Baumbach

Stars: Greta Gerwig, Mickey Sumner, Michael Esper, Adam Driver, Michael Zegen, Grace Gummer, Charlotte d'Amboise, Patrick Heusinger

Genre: Comedy, Drama

Score out of ten (whole numbers only): 7

Synopsis:

"Frances Ha" follows director Noah Baumbach's latest directorial effort "Greenberg", which also featured the performance of Greta Gerwig, who is a co-writer on this feature. The film follows the story of Frances, a 27 year old dancer, who shares an apartment with her best friend Sophie in NY. Frances is honest and outspoken, and seamlessly wandering in random directions (both professionally and personally), something that gets aggravated when Sophie moves out and Frances is forced to find a place to live. The film follows the life of this young woman, who is looking for some meaning and a path to her life that always seems to be going in directions she doesn't quite control.
Noah Baumbach has managed to create a film that is endearing and funny, following the life of a young woman in NY (even including some slapstick moments). The film has a certain touch of Woody Allen, in the way that it captures Frances' socially awkward behavior at times, surrounded by a certain intellectual milieu that prevails in the NY art scene. Greta Gerwig creates a character that is at times annoying, sweet and comical - her Frances is simply eager to find a direction in her life, but doesn't really know how to start. These are the pains of growing up and becoming an adult, even if it is in the bohemian and intellectual scenario of NY (and even if the young men and women in this film come from financially "comfortable" backgrounds). Also to be highlighted, the performance of Mickey Sumner as Sophie and the beautiful cinematography of Sam Levy. A good film to be seen and enjoyed.

Now You See Me

Movie Name: Now You See Me
Year of Release: 2013

Director: Louis Leterrier

Stars: Jesse Eisenberg, Mark Ruffalo, Morgan Freeman, Woody Harrelson, Melanie Laurent, Isla Fisher, Dave Franco, Michael Caine, Michael Kelly, Common, David Washofsky, Jose Garcia, Jessica Lindsey

Genre: Crime, Thriller

Score out of ten (whole numbers only): 5

Synopsis:

Louis Leterrier has made a name for himself directing big action films, namely "The Incredible Hulk" and "Clash of the Titans". His latest feature follows a group of magicians who get assembled by an unknown figure, to perform daring tricks that are surprising and completely unexpected. These tricks increase in scale, and involve some high concept robbery, which places them under the pursuit of the FBI and Interpol. Also on their pursuit is Thaddeus Bradley, a former magician who now makes a living unmasking other people's tricks. Both Thaddeus and the FBI are unprepared for what the final trick of the group turns out to be.
Louis Leterrier is a director more interested in staging frantic and elaborate actions sequences, as can be verified from his directing resume (he also directed the first two "Transporter" films).  "Now You See Me" has an interesting concept - illusionists that are robbers. However throughout the film, the story ends up focusing more on the FBI and Interpol agents that are actively pursuing the group. Nothing much is said about the characters, and there is information thrown in by other characters intending on distracting the viewer for the big final revelation. Sadly though, is difficult to care much about the characters when nothing much is said about any of them - we never really know much of any of the magicians or the people chasing them. It's a cat and mouse chase, whose sole purpose is building ground for the final secret and revelation. The film has a wonderful cast, and Mark Ruffalo creates the most satisfying character, but it's still surprising to see talented actors such as Melanie Laurent, Jesse Eisenberg and Morgan Freeman with little to do. A film that is enjoyable but also quickly forgotten.

Kon-Tiki

Movie Name: Kon-Tiki
Year of Release: 2012

Director: Joachim Ronning, Espen Sandberg

Stars: Pal Sverre Hagen, Anders Baasmo Christiansen, Tobias Santelmann, Gustaf Skarsgard, Odd Magnus Williamson, Jakob Oftebro, Agnes Kittelsen

Genre: Action, Adventure, Biography

Score out of ten (whole numbers only): 6

Synopsis:

"Kon-Tiki" is based on the true story of explorer Thor Heyerdal, a charismatic and fearless young explorer, who takes upon himself to test the theory that South Americans settled Polynesia in pre-Columbian times. For that effect, he and a crew he assembles, build a raft utilizing materials identical to the ones used centuries before. The long journey (100 days) tests the resources and friendship of all these men.
This group of directors, have previously done two films that went by slightly unnoticed, though "Bandidas" featured the talents of Penelope Cruz and Salma Hayek. They both have created a reputation for themselves as directors of commercials. "Kon-Tiki" captures briefly whom Thor was and his intent on proving himself correct, but the definition of the character is so vague that ultimately he comes across more like an arrogant man, intent on getting his point across, sacrificing everything and everyone that crosses his path (including his family). The film is beautifully shot, edited and the actors try the best they can with very little to do, except look exhausted and tired (and bearded). The overall result is one that though entertaining, feels light and superficial considering the herculean task that these real men took upon themselves to achieve. Interesting.

Star Trek Into Darkness

Movie Name: Star Trek Into Darkness
Year of Release: 2013

Director: J.J. Abrams

Stars: Chris Pine, Zachary Quinto, Zoe Saldana, Karl Urban, Simon Pegg, John Cho, Anton Yelchin, Benedict Cumberbatch, Bruce Greenwood, Alice Eve, Peter Weller, Noel Clarke

Genre: Action, Sci-Fi, Adventure

Score out of ten (whole numbers only): 6

Synopsis:

The "Start Trek" franchise continues after the rebirth given in 2009 by director J.J. Abrams, who again tackles the directorial responsibility of the sequel. The film continues to track the story of the crew of the spaceship Enterprise. The impulsive and emotional Captain Kirk finds himself in a difficult situation after saving his friend and first in command, Mr. Spock. All these situations somehow pale, when the Federation comes under the attack of a terrorist under the name of John Harrison. The crew of the Enterprise is tasked with seizing this incredibly resourceful menace, but end up uncovering a lot more than they expected.
J.J. Abrams is currently a one man empire, involved in multiple directorial features, and even more projects that he produces for TV and film. His previous directorial effort, "Super 8", was the homage he created to the sci-fi/monster films of the 80s, celebrating the work of renowned director Steven Spielberg. "Star Trek Into Darkness" follows his previous film from 2009, where he brought a new perspective to the world of the classic TV show, which was created by the late Gene Roddenberry. The first feature introduced the cast of the Enterprise, how they joined efforts and became a team. This sequel goes in a different direction, one that emphasizes more the action thrills (and the spectacle), while discarding the concept of the individual characters of the team (some of the characters have little to do, or basically are one note sidekicks, always mumbling or always worried). The film succeeds in building a momentum and rhythm, thanks to the special effects which allow the construction of fantastical worlds, however most of these elaborate set pieces end up feeling a bit hollow and devoid of feeling. There is an undeniable well oiled machine behind this entertainment, but where does a film of this scale stop feeling generic and start looking more individualistic and dare I say it, artistic. An interesting film worth watching nonetheless.

The Iceman

Movie Name: The Iceman
Year of Release: 2012

Director: Ariel Vromen

Stars: Michael Shannon, Winona Ryder, Chris Evans, Ray Liotta, David Schimmer, John Ventimiglia, Ryan O'Nan, Danny A. Abeckaser, James Franco, Stephen Dorff, Megan Sherrill, McKaley Miller

Genre: Drama

Score out of ten (whole numbers only): 6

Synopsis:

"The Iceman" introduces us to the real story of Richard Kuklinski, an apparently cold and aloof man, who though capable of romantic behaviors, had psychotic moments just as frequently, where he simply killed people ruthlessly. Kuklinski marries his sweetheart Deborah, who is oblivious to that side of his personality, and they start raising a family in New Jersey. Kuklinski is taken under the wing of a local criminal and embarks on a new trade, one of a hired killer. He becomes very successful in this venture, until problems with his employer arise, which force him to find alternatives means of income, which may jeopardize his family's safety.
Relative newcomer Ariel Vromen tackles the gruesome story of Richard Kuklinski with an attention to detail that is commendable, however the film lacks a spark to a story that, by all rights, is dark and horrific. Focusing more on the details and the process of Kuklinski's "venture", director Ariel Vromen leaves the dynamics of his family life strangely underdeveloped. The film has shades of Martin Scorsese's "Goodfellas", but where this film brought the plethora of characters to life, in "The Iceman", characters such as Deborah, played with restraint by Winona Ryder, feel under defined (the same can be said of her relationship with Kuklinski). The film really benefits from Michael Shannon's indelible performance as the title character - his performance is strong and riveting, and he makes his presence menacing just by a muted glance. The film benefits from a fantastic production design, a strong cast, the only faltering element being a screenplay that needs further depth. An interesting film nonetheless worth checking out.

The Great Gatsby

Movie Name: The Great Gatsby
Year of Release: 2013

Director: Baz Luhrmann

Stars: Leonardo DiCaprio, Tobey Maguire, Carey Mulligan, Joel Edgerton, Isla Fisher, Jason Clarke, Elizabeth Debicki, Adelaide Clemens, Amitabh Bachchan

Genre: Drama

Score out of ten (whole numbers only): 7

Synopsis:

After the disappointing "Australia", director Baz Luhrmann has decided to tackle a classic of American literature, F. Scott Fitzgerald's "The Great Gatsby" (the book itself has been adapted previously, one of the previous incarnations featured Robert Redford as Jay Gatsby and Mia Farrow as Daisy Buchanan). The film introduces us to Nick Carraway, our narrator. Nick recounts the story of how in the early 1920s he went to NY to work in Wall Street. There he reconnects with his cousin, Daisy and her husband Tom, a philanderer. Nick also realizes his neighbor is a man of a certain reputation, one who organizes lavish parties known throughout New York - his name being Jay Gatsby. Nick gets involved with Gatsby and realizes he has a hidden agenda behind all those lavish parties - he is trying to allure Daisy, whom he was involved with years ago, and whom he wants to reconnect with. Nick's involvement is a catalyst for the main duo's reconnection.
Baz Luhrmann is a director with a very discernible and specific aesthetic. He likes to make reinterpretations of classic stories through a pop lens, one where music, production design and costume design are amped up to a degree that threatens to suffocate the film itself. Sometimes this marriage works - such as his adaptation of William Shakespeare's "Romeo and Juliet" - and sometimes it does not - "Australia" simply didn't work. One thing is undeniable - Luhrmann loves film and uses it as a canvas to portray his view of the world (and art). "The Great Gatsby" is a book that though defining an era (the roaring 20s, the excess of the American lifestyle), is also at it's core a doomed love affair. Luhrmann uses this to pair the more flamboyant side of the parties and the excess of that era with the more intimate side of a romance between two very different characters. The film benefits from a beautiful production design and from two great performances, namely Leonardo DiCaprio as Gatsby and Joel Edgerton as Tom Buchanan. The cinematography is equally beautiful, and the director uses different visual elements to make this story engaging and unique to the viewer. Though at times the film feels too tied to it's literary reference, this is nonetheless a vision that is bold, unique, and that breathes with love of film and all that this medium can provide. A film worth visiting.