Starship Troopers

Movie Name: Starship Troopers

Year of Release: 1997

Director: Paul Verhoeven

Stars: Casper Van Dien, Denise Richards, Dina Meyer, Neil Patrick Harris, Jake Busey, Clancy Brown, Patrick Muldoon, Seth Gilliam, Michael Ironside, Rue McClanahan, Marshall Bell, Matt Levin, Blake Lindsley

Genre: Adventure, Sci-Fi

Score out of ten (whole numbers only): 6
Watch it on Amazon.

Synopsis & Review:

Dutch director Paul Verhoeven, familiar with controversy surrounding his films (among his north american films are "Flesh + Blood", "Robocop", "Total Recall", "Basic Instinct" and "Showgirls"), was met once again with more criticism when his big budget sci-fi extravaganza, "Starship Troopers" premiered in 1997. The film takes place in the future, in a somewhat militarized society, and focuses on the story of Johnny Rico, a young man from rich families, who volunteers to the military, following the footsteps of the girl he's interested in, Carmen. The aim of this frantic increase of military force and strength is to engage war with an alien species (giant insects), who destroy everything in their path. Rico, Dizzy, and all of their colleagues and friends will be met with challenges both during training and on the field that will test their resilience and endurance.
Paul Verhoeven has always been a director who is able to subvert the most common and cliche ridden screenplay. He's interested in what truly drives and compels his characters (and men and women in general), and isn't afraid to showcase the less than estimable side of the human nature. Though seemingly miles away from David Cronenberg, in terms of aesthetic and focus, they both are driven by an interest of the human body, and how it relates to others and within themselves. "Starship Troopers" is based on the book by Robert A. Heinlein, and behind the facade of the big special effects extravaganza with lots of special effects and battles, Paul Verhoeven places concepts, and depicts how a fascist state coerces and manipulates their citizens. It's a film that takes the concept of an apparently innocuous entertainment, and introduces subversion and some disruptive questioning into our own society. The film ends up lacking more substance in terms of the cast, who with the exception of Michael Ironside and Neil Patrick Harris, are all quite mediocre. This is a somewhat underrated film from an interesting (and somewhat irregular) film maker.

Grandma

Movie Name: Grandma

Year of Release: 2015

Director: Paul Weitz

Stars: Lily Tomlin, Julia Garner, Marcia Gay Harden, Judy Greer, Sam Elliott, Laverne Cox, Elizabeth Pena, Nat Wolff, John Cho, Colleen Camp, Frank Collison

Genre: Comedy

Score out of ten (whole numbers only): 7

Synopsis & Review:

Director Paul Weitz, better known for having started the "American Pie" franchise, and the more interesting "About a Boy" (both alongside his brother Chris Weitz), has returned with what has turned out his best feature (so far). "Grandma" premiered to great reviews at the Sundance film festival of 2015, and follows the story of Elle Reid, a middle aged woman, who is the throws of a breakup with her (much younger) girlfriend of four months, Olivia. Elle is a published and well known poet, who has worked in the Academic world for the last years, which have turned out to be quite painful, since the recent death of her partner of 38 years, Violet. On the day of this breakup, Elle has the visit of her granddaughter Sage, who comes asking for money. She wants to have an abortion, and since Elle has no money and they both want to avoid going to Sage's mother (and Elle's daughter), they set out to find alternative ways of getting that money.
Paul Weitz smartly creates a character study with this film, focusing his attention on the dynamics of three generations of women within the same family. The core of the film is Elle, the matriarch, still reeling from the loss of her companion of so many years. She's presented as a fully rounded character/person, with both a loving caring side, as well as one with acerbic wit and sarcasm that cuts through everything. She's a woman who has learnt to live with her choices, and who sees her daughter and granddaughter for who they are, loving them above all. The other women in the family are no quite as well developed as this immense character, but they are nonetheless an illustration of what Elle as a mother and as a woman has built within her family unit. The cast assembled is fantastic, with Lily Tomlin creating a character that distills both her comedy chops, as well as the more dramatic undertones, all of which make her Elle character more than a stereotype. Julia Garner, Judy Greer and Sam Elliott all add an extra dimension to this interesting and heartfelt film. An interesting and well layered film from an irregular director.

Men In Black

Movie Name: Men in Black

Year of Release: 1997

Director: Barry Sonnenfeld

Stars: Tommy Lee Jones, Will Smith, Linda Fiorentino, Vincent D'Onofrio, Rip Torn, Tony Shalhoub, Mike Nussbaum, Jon Gries, Siobhan Fallon

Genre: Comedy, Adventure, Sci-Fi

Score out of ten (whole numbers only): 7
Watch it on Amazon.

Synopsis & Review:

Barry Sonnenfeld's 90s winning streak hit its peak with "Men in Black" in 1997, the second biggest hit of the year behind James Cameron's "Titanic". The film is an adaptation of Lowell Cunningham's comic book and focuses on the story of the agency MiB, the Men in Black, an agency who tracks extra terrestrial existence on Earth. One of his senior agents, by the name of Kay, recruits a young and impulsive New York officer, who becomes his partner, by the name of Jay. Their first mission is to save the universe and the galaxy from an alien entity under the name of "Bug".
Barry Sonnenfeld's most successful films have, thus far, found the perfect balance between comedy and action, making for a fresh and unique take on genres that fall prey to generic cliches much too often. "Men in Black" is by far his most well known franchise (closely followed by "The Adams Family"), and achieves the perfect balance of having the sleuth and detective type of story, combined with the allure of science fiction, which brings the whole undercurrent of irony and comedy to the front. The film doesn't take itself seriously, and has fun playing with conventions and expected scenarios, twisting both of them and throwing everything into disarray. This allows for the actors, particularly Tommy Lee Jones, and his traditionally intense and monolithic persona to shine through in a role that is tailor suited for him. The film also benefits from the fantastic effects from Rick Baker (who won another Oscar for this film), production design from the awesome Bo Welch (who has worked with Tim Burton) and score from Danny Elfman (another Tim Burton collaborator). A very good film always worth checking out!

Black Mass

Movie Name: Black Mass

Year of Release: 2015

Director: Scott Cooper

Stars: Johnny Depp, Joel Edgerton, Rory Cochrane, Jesse Plemmons, Benedict Cumberbatch, Peter Sarsgaard, Kevin Bacon, Adam Scott, Julianne Nicholson, Dakota Johnson, Corey Stoll, Juno Temple, W. Earl Brown, Bill Camp, David Harbour, Lonnie Farmer

Genre: Drama, Crime

Score out of ten (whole numbers only): 7

Synopsis & Review:

On his third feature, director Scott Cooper achieves something that his previous films only hinted at: something truly galvanizing and powerful. The film depicts the events that surrounded the life of convicted criminal James "Whitey" Bulger, a Boston based criminal, since 1975 throughout his apprehension in Santa Monica in 2011. The film depicts the progression of Bulger's criminal doings in South Boston, and his ongoing relationship with the FBI, in the capacity of informant, and how he manipulated the situation in order to get traction over his rivals and dominate the Boston criminal underground. In the process, Bulger's brother, a politician of the highest level also got dragged into the situation.
Scott Cooper, himself an actor, has built a directorial career thus far anchored in stories that though not priming for originality, allow for actors to bring their characters to life. This has allowed for his films to have an inner life that the contrived screenplays only hint at (that was the case for instance of "Out of the Furnace"). His films feel very much indebted to the 70s directors that he seems to try to emulate, such as Sidney Lumet. "Black Mass" may be his best feature yet: the director focuses on a specific time frame in the life of a well known criminal, James Bulger, and how his ongoing relationship with the FBI allowed him to have considerable power over the Boston area. The relationships between the characters are sufficiently drawn out to understand the neighborhood mentality and the allegiances made between these endless array of criminals and of course, the agents tracking them. There are influences of Sidney Lumet, but also and of course, of Martin Scorsese's "Goodfellas", though Scott Cooper has a truly fantastic and indelible ace with the performance of Johnny Depp, who creates a character who is reptilian, menacing and controlled in every nuance. It's a fantastic portrayal, never falling into caricature. The rest of the cast is equally top notch, with highlights going to Joel Edgerton and Julianne Nicholson. A riveting film worth watching.

The Lost World: Jurassic Park

Movie Name: The Lost World: Jurassic Park

Year of Release: 1997

Director: Steven Spielberg

Stars: Jeff Goldblum, Julianne Moore, Pete Postlethwaite, Arliss Howard, Richard Attenborough, Vince Vaughn, Vanessa Lee Chester, Peter Stormare, Harvey Jason, Richard Schiff, Joseph Mazzello, Ariana Richards, Camilla Belle, Thomas F. Duffy

Genre: Action, Adventure, Sci-Fi

Score out of ten (whole numbers only): 7
Watch it on Amazon.

Synopsis & Review:

On the heels of one of his most celebrated and successful years (that being 1993), director Steven Spielberg followed "Jurassic Park" with a sequel that was another success. The film focuses on Ian Malcolm, the surviving chaotician from the original film, who finds out there was a second island where dinosaurs were bred before being transported to the main island. There are efforts taking place by Hammond's nephew to bring some of those animals to the mainland, and though initially reluctant to go, Ian finds out his girlfriend Sarah is part of a team already there, which prompts him to go back immediately. As things quickly take a bad turn, and very dangerous dinosaurs are left unchecked in downtown San Diego, it's up to Ian to figure out a way to lure the predators back to the island and save the city and his loved ones.
Steven Spielberg is in all fairness one of the most celebrated directors and film makers of the last 40 years. Throughout the years, his cinematic language has constantly evolved and refined, and between his most epic and action driven films, and his most intimate dramas, there's always a distinct auteuristic touch that clearly distinguishes his films. "The Lost World: Jurassic Park" is an example where the director once again places the family unit under the menace of an outside factor that looms as a factor of eminent destruction. It's always thanks to the integrity and decency of his lead characters, that the lead characters always prevail. "Jurassic Park" always posed the question of the extent of technology manipulation and the relationship with nature (which is something more akin to Michael Crichton's universe) and how this produces less than ethical results. Spielberg has managed to anchor this perspective, with his more humane interests, focusing on characters that are dynamic, flawed and yet ultimately decent. The special effects are fantastic, as is the cast, with Jeff Goldblum, Julianne Moore and Vince Vaughn adding the extra thrills to a very enthusiastic ride. Worth watching.

The Visit

Movie Name: The Visit

Year of Release: 2015

Director: M. Night Shyamalan

Stars: Olivia DeJonge, Ed Oxenbould, Deanna Dunagan, Peter McRobbie, Kathryn Hahn, Celia Keenan-Bolger, Patch Darragh

Genre: Suspense, Horror

Score out of ten (whole numbers only): 3

Synopsis & Review:

Director M. Night Shyamalan returns after his reviled latest directorial efforts (specifically "The Last Airbender" and "After Earth", both of which were met with indifference and harsh reviews). "The Visit" follows the story of two siblings, Becca and Tyler, both of whom are sent to spend a week with their maternal grandparents, whom they've never met. There is some tension in the past between their grandparents and mother, and their mother seizes this opportunity for everyone to know each other, while simultaneously she goes on vacation with her new boyfriend. The kids entertain each other shooting a documentary of this familiar healing process, but start noticing the awkward, erratic and outright bizarre behavior from their grandparents. This starts to escalate progressively until they become fearful of their safety.
M. Night Shyamalan has built a name for himself as a director who likes to rethink the premises of the typical suspense film. He builds an intricate web of family relationships, upon which a dark menace is released (the alien invasion of "Signs" or the outsiders of "The Village" for instance), forcing the family nucleus to deal with that menage. "The Visit" is a smaller effort, both in terms of budget and scope, when compared with his earlier efforts, but again uses the dynamics of a family in danger to bring out situations of tension and fear. Unlike his other films though, there's never a definite investment in the characters we're following - both central narrators are kids who are suffering from their parental abandonment (their father left), while the menace comes from a situation that is quickly perceived. The film never probes deep into motivations and in the end feels contrived and devoid of real substance (or menace). Another wasted effort from a once inspired director.

Lost Highway

Movie Name: Lost Highway

Year of Release: 1997

Director: David Lynch

Stars: Bill Pullman, Patricia Arquette, Balthazar Getty, Robert Blake, Robert Loggia, Gary Busey, Lucy Butler, Michael Massee, Richard Pryor, Natasha Gregson Wagner, Jack Nance, Scott Coffey, Giovanni Ribisi, Henry Rollins

Genre: Drama, Thriller

Score out of ten (whole numbers only): 7

Synopsis:

In the early 90s David Lynch was at the peak of his popularity, with a successful show by the name of "Twin Peaks", a Palm D'Or winning film by the name of "Wild at Heart". This wave of accolades quickly subsided, with the quick fade of the tv show and the subsequent "Twin Peaks: Fire Walk with Me" - a remarkable feature that sadly not many people saw. "Lost Highway" was his next feature, which saw the light of day in 1997. The film, co-written with Barry Gifford (whom had written the novel "Wild at Heart", adapted by David Lynch in 1990), has an enigmatic tone: we're introduced to Fred Madison, a successful saxophone player, married to the beautiful Renee. This couple starts receiving disturbing videotapes at their front door, upon which they contact the police to help them out. Much to Fred's horror, one of the videotapes shows him killing Renee, and the police uses it to arrest and convict him. While on death row, the prison guards are shocked to find that the man in Fred's cell is no longer him: it's in fact Pete Dayton, a young auto mechanic. Since he has not committed a crime, he's released to the custody of his parents, and resumes his every day life. Pete is soon being followed by the same police detectives, and he also comes across a beautiful woman, a doppelganger for Renee, by the name of Alice, who turns out to be the mistress of a crime boss. Things quickly spiral out of control.
As usual in David Lynch's films, the director is more interested in the journey and path of the characters, he also focuses in creating a universe that borderlines the surreal, as a metaphor to underline the horrible events of every day life. "Lost Highway" features many of his usual trademarks, from the duality of personalities (something also featured on "Mulholland Drive"), to the extreme violence, sensuality, odd sense of humor and abstract concepts of time and space where characters seem to exist as a catalyst for a specific event. The cast is as usual eclectic and talented, with Bill Pullman and Patricia Arquette creating indelible characters. The cinematography from Peter Deming is fantastic as is the phenomenal soundtrack. A unique film from one of the most distinct voices in American film.

A Life Less Ordinary

Movie Name: A Life Less Ordinary

Year of Release: 1997

Director: Danny Boyle

Stars: Ewan McGregor, Cameron Diaz, Holly Hunter, Delroy Lindo, Ian Holm, Stanley Tucci, Dan Hedaya, Tony Shalhoub, Maury Chaykin, Ian McNeice, Timothy Olyphant, Judith Ivey

Genre: Comedy, Crime, Drama

Score out of ten (whole numbers only): 7
Watch it on Amazon.

Synopsis:

Following the very well received diptych that was "Shallow Grave" and "Trainspotting", director Danny Boyle released "A Life Less Ordinary" in 1997, his first co-production with American studios (Fox), featuring a cast of well known American actors. The film focuses on the story of Robert Lewis, a young janitor, filled with dreams and ambitions, who gets fired one day and replaced by a robot. Out of sheer frustration, Robert kidnaps the daughter of his boss, Celine, a spoiled heiress who also happens to have a deranged dentist as a fiancee. Celine suggests that Robert asks for a ransom to return her to her father. This sets off a series of events, that also includes a duo of angels intent on making sure that Robert and Celine end up together, but who end up wreaking havoc everywhere.
Danny Boyle's unique flair and vision continued to gain momentum and further relevance with "A Life Less Ordinary", which again featured his typical anti-hero: an every day man who has to overcome obstacles (some truly surreal ones) in order to attain his dreams and ambitions. Robert is a character who progressively comes into his own, as he deals with all the obstacles that are thrown his way, and these hurdles only serve to reinforce what he truly wants and needs. Danny Boyle is a director who always imbues his films with a momentum and rhythm: his stylistic approach also adds an extra layer of interest to the narrative (always featuring a dynamic editing style). In this particular case, he revisits the screwball comedy genre, and twists it around, featuring edgy and hyperbolic violence and sense of humor that also served him so well in "Trainspotting". The cast in this film is uniformly fantastic, with Ewan McGregor, Cameron Diaz, Holly Hunter, Ian Holm and Stanley Tucci also creating unforgettable characters. The cinematography from Brian Tufano and the soundtrack from David Arnold were also top notch. A very good film from a very talented director.

L.A. Confidential

Movie Name: L.A. Confidential

Year of Release: 1997

Director: Curtis Hanson

Stars: Russell Crowe, Guy Pearce, Kevin Spacey, Kim Basinger, James Cromwell, Danny DeVito, David Strathairn, Ron Rifkin, Matt McCoy, Paul Guilfoyle, Graham Beckel, Simon Baker, Bob Clendenin, Tomas Arana, Michael Chieffo, Jim Metzler, Brenda Bakke, Jack Conley, Symba

Genre: Crime, Drama, Mystery

Score out of ten (whole numbers only): 7

Synopsis:

"L.A. Confidential" is one of the most celebrated films from 1997, hailing many of its accolades from the remarkable origin of the story, specifically the book by renowned writer James Elroy. Curtis Hanson was mostly known at the time as the director of suspenseful and middle of the road films such as "The Hand that rocks the Cradle" and "The River Wild". "L.A. Confidential" changed his visibility and went on to win awards for both him and screenwriter Brian Helgeland alongside actress Kim Basinger. The film focuses on the police department of LA in the 1950s, specifically three very different police officers: Jack Vincennes, a man who has made a career under the glamour of consulting for TV shows in Hollywood (and who craves the limelight), Bud White, a tough, belligerent and deeply honest man and finally Ed Exley, a detective who is ambitious above all, yet with a good heart. The lives of these three men get mixed with a deep and dirty scandal that runs through all the police department, the mayor's office and also involves Hollywood wannabes (and the gossip publications who live from it).
"L.A. Confidential" is a successful film in the way it transposes the engrossing and detailed novel from James Elroy to the screen, and brings to life the dynamics of the relationships between the three central characters. The main focus of the narrative is both Bud White and Ed Exley, two different sides of the police world, and yet, the way Curtis Hanson presents and develops the story, it allows for these two characters to be more than just simple cliches. There is depth, insight, and genuine investment from the director in flushing different threads to the story, allowing for different sides of this intricate scenario to be represented, and also managing to bring it all together for a climax that is both intelligent and rewarding. This is an example of how a truly great team can make a solid film come together, from the actors (with Russell Crowe and Guy Pearce leading the way), through the cinematography from Dante Spinotti and the score from the late Jerry Goldsmith. It's not a film that has a particular point of view (or style for that matter), but it's one that transposes its story in an engaging way (very much like a solid mini-series). Entertaining and well done.

American Ultra

Movie Name: American Ultra

Year of Release: 2015

Director: Nima Nourizadeh

Stars: Jesse Eisenberg, Kristen Stewart, Topher Grace, Connie Britton, Walton Goggins, John Leguizamo, Bill Pullman, Tony Hale, Stuart Greer, Michael Papajohn, Monique Ganderton

Genre: Action, Comedy

Score out of ten (whole numbers only): 6

Synopsis:

"American Ultra" is the new film from Nima Nourizadeh, following his feature debut "Project X" and a string of music videos for artists such as Bat for Lashes and Hot Chip. The film follows the story of Mike Howell and Phoebe Larson, a young couple living in a small town in Virginia. Mike runs the local Cash and Carry, and has been involved in petty crimes most of time he's lived there, whereas Phoebe is the more grounded one of the couple. Unbeknownst to Mike however, he's actually a secret agent from the C.I.A., and he has become the target for a young and ambitious agent who wants to clean up the project from which Mike came from - and that includes killing Mike. When a task force goes out to take Mike down, they end up finding out just how lethal type of an agent he actually is.
"American Ultra" is an interesting film that lives from the dichotomy of finding a stoner type character as a lethal weapon type of secret agent. On top of this apparent dichotomy there's also the perfect casting of Jesse Eisenberg as Mike - he deftly embodies and brings to life the shy and awkward Mike, who's unaware of his own skills, and who progressively comes into his own. Both he and Kristen Stewart manage to bring a level of dynamics and complicity between their characters, that livens the film. The supporting cast is unbalanced, with Topher Grace basically repeating the same character he has played in every single film he's been, something that Connie Britton, John Leguizamo and Walton Goggins alleviate with their colorful and far more nuanced performances. The film is engaging, while the director is creating the set up for the characters, but once the splatter starts, some of that dynamic edge starts losing some of the momentum. Still it's a film that manages to captivate and entertain.

Jackie Brown

Movie Name: Jackie Brown

Year of Release: 1997

Director: Quentin Tarantino

Stars: Pam Grier, Samuel L. Jackson, Robert Forster, Bridget Fonda, Michael Keaton, Robert De Niro, Michael Bowen, Chris Tucker, LisaGay Hamilton, Hattie Winston, Sid Haig, Aimee Graham

Genre: Crime, Drama, Thriller

Score out of ten (whole numbers only): 9

Synopsis:

Following the watershed moment that was "Pulp Fiction", Quentin Tarantino found himself dispersed in several different projects, such as "Four Rooms" and "From Dusk till Dawn", all met with different levels of critical (and commercial) success. His first big film after "Pulp Fiction" was the fantastic "Jackie Brown", an adaptation of Elmore Leonard's "Rum Punch". The film focuses on a plethora of characters, but the main thread is Jackie Brown, a middle aged street smart stewardess, who smuggles money from Mexico to LA for arms dealer Ordell Robbie. When she gets caught, she gets offered a deal to help the police catch Ordell, in exchange for her freedom. Ordell plans to eliminate her, but unbeknownst to him, Jackie has already devised a plan to get herself off the situation, with enough money to start her life elsewhere.
Quentin Tarantino is an extremely intelligent film maker, one who references a multitude of influences, but who always manages to reshuffle these and come up with something that is unique, and most of the times indelible. "Jackie Brown" is one of his best features, combining his love for dialogue that is ripe with pop culture references and analysis (and of course, his taste for B films), and also a crackling plot that is smartly devised to keep everyone guessing how the game is going to be played out. The joy in his films is not only the end destination, but the path that he creates in making his characters (and audiences) getting there. This smartly assembled cocktail features, as usual, a phenomenal cast, with Pam Grier, Samuel L. Jackson, Robert Forster, Bridget Fonda, Michael Keaton and Robert De Niro, all shining in the roles they inhabit. The cinematography from Guillermo Navarro is fantastic (he traditionally works with Guillermo Del Toro) and the score is eclectic as usual, this time around featuring plenty of hits from the 70s. A superb film!

In and Out

Movie Name: In & Out

Year of Release: 1997

Director: Frank Oz

Stars: Kevin Kline, Joan Cusack, Tom Selleck, Matt Dillon, Debbie Reynolds, Wilford Brimley, Bob Newhart, Gregory Jbara, Shalom Harlow, Shawn Hatosy, Lauren Ambrose, Zak Orth, Alexandra Olden, Deborah Rush

Genre: Comedy

Score out of ten (whole numbers only): 7

Synopsis:

Director Frank Oz has had its fair share of successes, "In & Out" being one of them (the others being for instance "Dirty Rotten Scoundrels", "Housesitter" and "Little Shop of Horrors"). "In & Out" based on an original script by Paul Rudnick (who also wrote "Jeffrey" and "Adams Family Values"), follows the story of Howard Brackett, a small town high school English teacher, who suddenly finds himself in the middle of unwanted attention, when one of his former pupils, a now famous actor, outs him during his acceptance speech upon receiving his Oscar. Howard, who's been engaged for quite sometime to his long suffering bride Emily, tries to deny it at first, until things start to quickly unravel. When a gossip reporter by the name of Peter Malloy comes to town to unmask the situation, Howard has to come to terms with who he is.
"In & Out" is an extremely funny comedy that anchors its laughs in exposing the ridicule that bellies the prejudices and cliches that people in general associate with gay individuals and culture. The film doesn't fall prey to making a mockery of difference, instead it celebrates the diversity of individuals, and ultimately is successful in making the characters feel human (and not just the usual cliches). It's a film that lacks the biting satire from Billy Wilder, but makes its point across with clever plays on cliches that everyone associates with the gay culture (Barbra Streisand albums, dancing, and quite a few more). The cast is uniformly excellent, particularly the always fantastic Joan Cusack who once again steals the film in a role perfectly tailored for her. A very good comedy with a good heart, always worth revisiting.

The Ice Storm

Movie Name: The Ice Storm

Year of Release: 1997

Director: Ang Lee

Stars: Kevin Kline, Joan Allen, Sigourney Weaver, Christina Ricci, Elijah Wood, Tobey Maguire, Adam Hann-Byrd, David Krumholtz, Jamey Sheridan, Henry Czerny, Kate Burton, Katie Holmes

Genre: Drama

Score out of ten (whole numbers only): 8

Synopsis:

Following the success of "Sense and Sensibility", Ang Lee returned with another critical success, adapting Rick Moody's novel "The Ice Storm" (which won the best screenplay award at the Cannes film festival). The film takes place in Connecticut in the 1970s, focusing on two groups of people, the Hood and Carver families. The adults are going through the motions of life, also experimenting with drugs, drinking too much, and involved in adultery. The kids are coming into their own personalities, going through adolescence, trying to find their own path. The relationships between these two families comes to a halt during a particular severe ice storm.
Ang Lee has created a successful career as a director which primes for its eclectic choice of material (he's also directed "Hulk" and also "Wedding Banquet", to name but a few). He successfully creates and depicts universes where families and their relationship dynamics are the main focus of attention, with these families existing in different contexts (New York in the 90s for "The Wedding Banquet", the English countryside of the 19th century for "Sense and Sensibility" and Woodstock in the 60s for "Taking Woodstock", to name but a few). These relationships and the quality of performances the director always manage to bring from his actors, makes his films indelible experiences. That is particular the case for "The Ice Storm", which captures the suburbia of middle class America in the 70s. The couples were all wanting to explore beyond their routines, the sexual revolution was the topic of discussion, and trying drugs was just a novelty at their parties. The film goes beyond this and explores the part of growing up, and how the kids from these somewhat disjointed families are coming into their own. Ang Lee also captures perfectly the sadness and melancholy bellying some of these characters, particularly Janey Carver's who comes across as someone profoundly unhappy in her life. The film features a great cast, with fantastic performances from Kevin Kline, Joan Allen, Sigourney Weaver, Christina Ricci and Tobey Maguire. The cinematography from Frederick Elmes (who also shot the classic David Lynch film "Blue Velvet") and the score from Mychael Danna are equally fantastic. A great film from a fantastic director.

Happy Together

Movie Name: Happy Together

Year of Release: 1997

Director: Wong Kar Wai

Stars: Leslie Cheung, Tony Leung, Chen Chang, Gregory Dayton

Genre: Drama

Score out of ten (whole numbers only): 8

Synopsis:

Director Wong Kar Wai continued his critically acclaimed streak of the 90s, with "Happy Together" which premiered at the Cannes Film Festival to great acclaim (and won the director the award for best director of the year). The film focuses on the story of Ho Po-wing and Lai Yiu-fai, a couple who arrives in Argentina for vacations (from Hong Kong) and who slowly drifts away. As both become disenchanted with each other, Yiu-fai starts working at a tango bar in order to get money to fly back home, whereas Po-wing drifts continuously into a destructive mode. The couple tries to get together, but ultimately their differences drive them apart.
Wong Kar Wai is one of the most singular voices in cinema, mixing a highly stylized view of the world, with a romanticism that makes his features feel simultaneously retro and very conceptual (which reached fantastic heights with "In the Mood for Love"). "Happy Together" follows the central couple through a patchy relationship, in a foreign soil, allowing for the director to create indelible set pieces, where these lovers in a strange land are desperately trying to call each other home. The central performances from Leslie Cheung and Tony Leung are fantastic, bringing to life these two different men, who can't escape each other, until there's nothing holding them together. The cinematography from Christopher Doyle is stunning, as is the music from Danny Chung (which features songs from Caetano Veloso). A great film from a very talented director.

Good Will Hunting

Movie Name: Good Will Hunting

Year of Release: 1997

Director: Gus Van Sant

Stars: Matt Damon, Robin Williams, Minnie Driver, Ben Affleck, Stellan Skarsgard, Casey Affleck, Cole Hauser, George Plimpton, Alison Foland, John Mighton

Genre: Drama

Score out of ten (whole numbers only): 8

Synopsis:

Following the very well received "To Die For", director Gus Van Sant tackled what remains to this day, his biggest commercial success. Based on an original screenplay from two of his cast members, namely Matt Damon and Ben Affleck, the film focuses on the story of Will Hunting, a young man who's been abused growing up, and who works as a janitor at the M.I.T. Will is actually a wunderkind, and once that is apparent to one of the teachers at the college, he tries to assist him and focus his efforts in order to find a good position in the marketplace. Sadly the abuse suffered throughout the years, has left scars (both physical and otherwise), and in order to overcome it, Will starts getting counseling from a somewhat retired therapist by the name of Sean Maguire. The encounter of these two personalities functions as a cathartic moment for both, as they revisit moments of their lives that led them to where they are.
The universe of the very talented Gus Van Sant found an interesting match in the screenplay of Matt Damon and Ben Affleck. Van Sant's work traditionally focuses on stories of young heroes who are trying to find their path in the world, and who are sometimes at odds with that world. His universe and storytelling match perfectly with the story of Will Hunting, the bruised young genius, who keeps people at bay for fear of being hurt or let down. The film could have easily been maudlin or overly dramatic, however the director keeps it grounded in reality, with enough humor and edge which allows the characters to be seen as more than just archetypes. The cast is uniformly excellent, in particular Robin Williams (who won the Academy Award), Matt Damon and Minnie Driver. The cinematography from Jean-Yves Escoffier and the score from Danny Elfman (with songs from Elliott Smith) are also fantastic. A good film always worth revisiting.