2 brief reviews: Bernie (2012) and Department (2012)

Trailer

Bernie (2012)
Director - Richard Linklater
104 min; PG-13
Cast
Jack Black - Bernie Tiede
Shirley MacLaine - Marjorie Nugent
Matthew McConaughey - Danny Buck

Jack Black is unexpectedly excellent in this dark comedy that tells the true story of a murder in a small Texas town in the 1990s.  As Bernie Tiede, Black effortlessly transforms himself from his typical slapstick caricature actor into one who really understands what it means to become someone else.  In this performance, Black takes on a level similar to what Jim Carey did in several roles when he was attempting to be a little more serious, and it really works here.  To be fair, this is not a serious movie, but it isn't a strict comedy either.  This is told in a partial documentary style but in no way takes on a documentary feel.

Everyone loves Bernie from the minute he movies from Louisiana to Carthage, TX and begins work as the assistant funeral home director.  He puts everything he has into everything he does, and it isn't long before he has his hands on every conceivable project in town, from his job as a mortician to choir and theater director to helping anyone who needs it, Bernie is beloved by the entire community.  That he is surely gay doesn't really factor in at first, but it becomes a very interesting bit of information as things progress. 

Upon consoling the wealthy and elderly widow Marjorie Nugent (played so well by Shirley MacLaine) the seemingly opposite duo takes up a bizarre relationship.  Hated by everyone in town and her entire family, Marjorie begins to treat Bernie with both showering affection emotional abuse, to which Bernie puts up with for better and worse.  When things start to feel very wrong in the small town it is DA Danny Buck (McConaughey) who decides some things need looking into.  The story itself is all the more fascinating because it is true, and you can read the links below to get a better sense of what really happened.

I liked it.

**** out of 5

Interesting articles about the real life events:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bernie_(2011_film)

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/04/15/magazine/how-my-aunt-marge-ended-up-in-the-deep-freeze.html?_r=1

                                                             Trailer

Department (2012)
Director - Ram Gopal Varma
141 Min; Unrated

Never heard of it and never would have seen it, but when I got out of seeing Bernie I saw it starting and walked in.  Turns out it is an Indian film subtitled in English and it was nothing I would have ever expected.  I don't know anything about Indian films (Slumdog Millionaire does not count in this context) and when it was over I began reading about it so I could gain some context into what people who do watch these films had to say.

Just from watching the film I can say it was unexpectedly enjoyable and fun, though dull in parts.  I was the only white person in the theater with about 40 people of Indian heritage, and it was interesting to see what parts they laughed at or visibly thought were boring, and when the film had two separate Bollywood dance sequences it was almost like that was the queue for people to go to the restroom, almost like they were built in just for that purpose.  Since I didn't know what I was about to watch, it was awesome when it turned out to be cops and robbers type film, with good and bad cops taking on underground gangs all competing against each other.  What it all turned out to be was a major blood bath film with some comedy mixed in.

While I was sitting in the theater, back left last row away from everyone (not in a trench coat, I swear) I managed to text myself a message because I didn't want to forget a few things.  This is what I wrote myself verbatim:

Slow motion technique overused WAY too much...Tension built up from the score so weird! Sometimes there shouldn't be any tension at all and they try to force it...Gratuitous violence scenes remind me of Machete...pretty cool deaths actually.  Audience appears to know some of these actors in a big way and one was cheered big time when he appeared in a funny costume - reminds me of Tom Cruise in Tropic Thunder in the way that people reacted to it... just a guess.

So yeah... Those were my thoughts and I'm sticking to them.  It was a long movie with a loose plot that was ridiculous and at the end I still don't fully know what happened, but it involved all kinds of back stabbing and dirty politics etc...

If you see this playing at one of those AMC theaters with indie films give it a shot if you're looking for something different.  Apparently it is being panned by people who know about Indian film genre, but coming from someone just looking to try something new I thought it was kind of fun. 

No rating... no idea how to rate it.  See it if you want to give a subtitled film a chance from India.

Very brief thoughts on The Raven (2012) and Young Adult (2011)

The Raven (2012)
Director - James McTiegue
111 Min; R

Edgar Allan Poe: Action hereo!

Just wanted to stop by and let you know you can save your money and skip the Poe themed film because it is pretty lame and you will leave not really remembering anything about it at all. It is a poor mans Seven in a lot of ways with a script that doesn't do any real justice to what it is trying to convey. Cusack is over the top at times that don't call for it but really it is just the premise of the film and the execution that derails it. Pretty much a standard movie that wasn't horrible but isn't worth the time.

** and 1/2 out of 5

Young Adult (2011)
Director - Jason Reitman
94 Min; R

On the other hand I finally got around to seeing Young Adult and I thought it was really well done, right up to the lame cop out of an ending. Sigh. Could have been close to great if they had stuck to some conviction about what it means to be this woman at the end. Theron is excellent and everyone around her is solid.   This is a darker look at what happens to people who never take control of their lives, and it works very well.

**** out of 5

A Movie Review: Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy (2011)

Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy (2011)
Director - Tomas Alfredson
127 Min; R
Cast
George Smiley - Gary Oldman
Control - John Hurt
Jim Prideaux - Mark Strong
Percy Alleline - Toby Jones
Bill Haydon - Colin Firth

I saw Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy at the end of 2011 and I’m glad that I waited to write my thoughts, because this film, like a fine wine, takes time to mature.  Upon leaving the theater I had a nagging feeling that something was askew, a piece of the puzzle was missing, and it left me with a sadly empty feeling.  I loved this film in almost every way, yet what was it that left me questioning what I wanted to say about it?  The answer, it turns out, is simply time – time to reflect and ponder, to dissect and admire.  I admire director Tomas Alfredson for his portrayal of MI6, the British intelligence agency, and the cast of characters who all fall under suspicion to being a devastating mole for the Russians.  I’ve been looking forward to this film ever since I found out Alfredson would be directing, his Låt Den Rätte Komma In (Let The Right One In) (2008) was such a fabulous portrayal of a dark and desolate landscape with vampires living among us that I was sure he would nail the tone of a spy thriller.  He did not disappoint.

I don’t think a detailed summary of the plot is necessary to understand the beauty of this film, but a basic understanding would probably help.  Take the wonderful cast of Mark Strong, John Hurt, Toby Jones, David Dencik, Ciaran Hinds, Colin Firth and Gary Oldman, throw in some amazing camera work in scenic city settings, and finish it off with muted tones and a fun and intriguing score and you have the makings of a great thriller.  Absent from this film are Hollywood-style fireball car crashes and eye-rolling dialogue, so rest assured this is a thinking person’s excursion into the realm of cinema.  Of course, even a thinking person is going to miss something the first go around, because the one flaw I thought I found in my initial viewing was a coherent way of keeping all the people and sub plots in some form of manageable and linear plotline, a telling of the story that left me a bit perplexed at times, but not in a frustrated way, just in a wish-I-knew-exactly-who-that-person-was kind of way, ok?

When a mission in Budapest goes wrong, Control (John Hurt) is forced out of his high ranking position in MI6.  In a last gesture before he is ousted, he proclaims that Smiley will be leaving with him.  Smiley is his number 1 man, played in pitch-perfect tone by the wonderful Gary Oldman.  In a great scene we only see the back of Oldman’s head, with a slight nod, as Control announces this, leaving us to wonder if he knew this was going to happen, or if he even cared.  Smiley’s been at the spy game a long time.  He is a man who is always on his game, right down to the detail of leaving a simple device on his door to know if someone has entered while he is away.  And so it is that a year or so passes before the story really begins.  Brought back in an unofficial role, Smiley is asked to investigate the people he worked so closely with over the years, the unnerving realization that a recently deceased Control was working on uncovering a mole within The Circus, the MI6 elite, who has been working for the Russians.

I truly loved the push in and pull back methods of camerawork, used sparingly but so effectively, creating an uneasy feeling for the viewer whilst providing beautiful scenery and a slightly unsettling sense.  Information is revealed to us in small doses, through flashback at times, and the film assumes we will be able to keep up.  It isn’t always easy, but it makes for a compelling drama that will keep you thinking throughout.  If anything can sum up the performance of Oldman it is a simple scene in the back of a movie automobile, a pesky insect flying about inside while one man fails to swat it away.  Smiley observes, he stalks, and he opens the window at the right moment, the insect flying away, and the back of Smiley’s head, to us, moves slightly emoting a calm, cool and collective character who’s been there, done that.

**** and ½ out of 5

A Movie Review: The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo (2011)

The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo (2011)
Director – David Fincher
158 Min; R
Cast
Mikael Blomkvist - Daniel Craig
Lisbeth Salander - Rooney Mara

My favorite moment in David Fincher’s adaptation of The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo is the trippy opening sequence set to a memorable rendition of Led Zeppelin’s Immigrant Song, a guttural outpouring of the lyrics “A-ah-ahh-ah, ah-ah-ahh-ah/We come from the land of the ice and snow/from the midnight sun where the hot springs blow” as images of the title character move and sway and transform into various shapes and colors. This is the perfect opening for the film and very much reminds me of a vintage James Bond film, though I’m not trying to draw any comparisons. The entire first few minutes set the mood and tone in a mesmerizing way, as if to punish us into submission before the actual film begins.

It has been nearly 2 years since I first saw Neils Arden Opley’s vision of this film –Swedish and subtitled in English – and I feel compelled to admit that because it is nearly impossible for me to view or think about Fincher’s version without comparing the two pieces of work. My initial reaction to Opley’s film was a wonderful 5/5 rating, perhaps not a technically perfect film, but largely entertaining and carried so well by the two main characters (Michael Blomkvist and Lisbeth Salander, played by Michael Nyqvist and Noomi Rapace.) With Fincher we find a much more technical and beautiful film with wonderful muted colors and a haunting score by award winning duo Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross, who have worked so well in previous Fincher films, but we just don’t get the overall ‘it’ factor which moves it from a solid film to a great film. What we get, in fact, is a faithful adaptation (with a few head-scratching changes) shot beautifully and told in a coherent way, but ultimately lacking in an overwhelming way.

If you are unfamiliar with the story it goes like this: In the bitter cold of a Swedish winter the desire of one man to solve a 40 year old mystery burns with passion. Now an old man, Henrik Vanger still yearns to know what became of Harriet, the girl he thought of as his own daughter, so many years ago when she disappeared and was presumed murdered. His extensive family all eager to get their hands on the family business and fortune had been gathered at the family compound on an island, cut off from the mainland for 24 hours due to an accident on the only bridge to the mainland, and for 40 years it has been suspected that one of them must have been the killer. Vanger wants answers and is willing to try one more avenue to obtain them. His yearly reminder of a framed, pressed flower from the killer haunts the patriarch into near madness.

The girl with the dragon tattoo is Lisbeth, a hard-edged, chain-smoking, young punk woman with piercings and tattoos and a giant chip on her shoulder who also happens to be a world class computer hacker. Rooney Mara takes on the dark role and carries herself well, but she never really reaches the level of hardened hatred I found so appealing by Rapace. In fact, Mara’s Salander ultimately feels like a watered down version of what she should be. Daniel Craig plays the role of Michael Blomkvist, publisher/reporter of the Millenium newspaper, who is caught up in a scandal for which he claims he has been set up. A series of events brings him to Henrik Vanger who asks him to use his skills to take a look over 40 years worth of information about the disappearance of Harriet. Craig is simply a the messenger in this role, a known actor with good charm who is there to speak the lines from the novel and move his body from point A to point B to fulfill the plotlines. From the moment he was cast I was saying that it wasn’t the right fit, that he was just too secure in himself, too self assured, to easily self sufficient. What made Nyqvist so great was his absolute human qualities contrasted with those of Salander. With Craig it just felt like he could almost never find himself in any danger. The guy is just too perfect.

The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo is the first of a series of 3 novels by Stieg Larsson adapted into Swedish films just a few years ago. The original working title in Swedish was Men Who Hate Women – so keep that in mind when deciding if this film is for you. The film depicts several scenes of brutal sexual assault, but somehow in Opley’s version these scenes feel very needed and very real. With Fincher, the same scenes almost feel contrived and placed for shock value, though I do concede my appreciation for the original version of this film may be clouding my judgment.

I loved the wintry landscapes and hi def snowflakes, the sense of dread and despair in each shot, but I found fault with the length of the film and, especially, the final 20 minutes. Yes the story builds to a climax and then a come down, but in Fincher’s version it felt as if everything after the climax was on a downhill slide proportionate to an avalanche in slow motion – a lot of clean up with no suspense.

**** out of 5

A Movie Review: The Hunger Games (2012)

The Hunger Games (2012)
Director - Gary Ross
PG-13; 142 Min
Cast
Jennifer Lawrence - Katniss Everdeen
Josh Hutcherson - Peeta Mellark
Stanley Tucci - Caesar Flickerman
Wes Bentley - Seneca Crane
Elizabeth Banks - Effie Trinket
Woody Harrelson - Haymitch Abernathy
Lenny Kravitz - Cinna
Donald Sutherland - President Snow

"Primrose Everdeen" the heavily made-up long lost twin of Helena Bonham Carter's Red Queen of Alice in Wonderland speaks into the microphone after drawing a name out of all things, a giant fishbowl, and so begins the journey of the yearly event in a world once lost that has found itself again, and now must both pay tribute and sacrifice to its history - The Hunger Games.

It will be quite difficult not to give out any spoilers for this review of the Hunger Games, because in order to say some of the things I want to say I need to reference some specifics, but I swear I'll simply lay it out there without letting anybody know that Darth Vader is actually the father of Luke and Leia Skywalker and that Kevin Spacey is Kaiser Soze the whole time (there, now you don't have to pretend to tell people you saw the Usual Suspects if you never did, but if you never have I don't know what you are waiting for, but your like way late to the party, so stop complaining to me about it.)

I'll cut to the chase very quickly with major plot details so I can discuss other matters.  The civilization depicted in the movie is made up of 12 zones, with each successive outlying zone a little less desirable than the last.  If you were born in zone1, well, good for you chap.  Zone 12 you say? May want to brush up on your coal mining skills.  You get the drill (yeah, I went there.) Each year for 74 years running the rulers from the Capitol select 1 boy and 1 girl of a certain young age group from each zone to compete in a reality tv show to the death, as a way to honor and sacrifice for civilization's past misdeeds, in this case, a civil war.  The premise of the games is to have 24 children dropped in the middle of nowhere (albeit a controlled environment) and left to their own devices (and supplies made available from time to time) to outwit, outlast and outplay each other. - I couldn't help myself.  Making oneself desirable in the game to sponsors is key to attaining gifts that could help save your life.  Also key is killing the other kids. Win the game and forever be hailed a hero by your district and the entire civilization.  Lose the game and you're dead, so no accolades.  In this instance Katniss Everdeen volunteers to take the place of her younger sister, something no one has ever done from district 12.  She is in all likelihood going to die to save her sister, and she does so knowing full well the consequences.

Suzanne Collins wrote the books that inspired this and the sure to be sequels and apparently has a huge following now, not unlike the Twilight series or, from what I'm told, the Harry Potter series.  I have not read the books nor had I heard of them so I went into this viewing knowing only what I've seen in trailers and read about - basically I knew everything except how they would actually shoot the film.  Minor spoiler alert - teen girls love it! I paid the extra few bucks and saw this at an Imax experience, which I do think is worth it every once in a while.  I'm not sold that this movie won't play just as well on a regular screen, but if you only go to one or two blockbusters why not make it a huge screen with great sound?

There are a lot of roles to follow in this film and surprisingly that was never much of a problem, in general, as you got just enough of the government and entertainment type people to understand the basics.  Where it did suffer was the lack of character depth for the participants (tributes) since I'm sure they were all fleshed out well in the books, but here for sake of time the filmmakers really had to sparse things down to a few obvious bad guys and girls and a few good ones.  Oh well.  At least we get a lot of Jennifer Lawrence.  I can't say enough good things about her and have been fascinated with where her career may go after the incredible performance she gave in Winter's Bone (I know, not all of you saw it...your bad.)  Again, here, she commands every scene she is in and holds this film together.  I know we've been marketed to for a while here, but I find it difficult to imagine a better casting job for the strong and emotionally distant Katniss.  Lawrence is pretty at times, rugged at others, and all the while a force that is moved forward with her piercing eyes and direct approach.  I hope she is able to seek out and find some well written roles in the future.

The film spends the first hour setting things up as we watch the tributes paraded with pomp and circumstance in the Capitol and on television.  They are trained in fighting and mentored to prepare for what they are about to face.  In the case of Katniss and her district 12 male tribute companion Peeta, they have a former winner from district 12, Haymitch, to guide them.  Haymitch, played by Woody Harrelson

I was both pleasantly surprised and equally shocked at the levels of violence shown in this film with a PG-13 rating.  Now my eyes are not virginal and my moral code and ethics could use some major touch ups, but for a film aimed at tweens and teens and puppy dog tails there was quite a bit of spear to gut, bricks to the head, and neck breaking.  Do I want to even begin to comment on what that means in a larger sense to society? Hell no.

I enjoyed this film.  I liked it.  I did. But I also found a lot of things wrong with it and obviously I'm going to mention those issues, now, actually.

We need more back story.  We get absolutely no decent context as to why the Hunger Games happen each year or why Donald Sutherland's god like ruling of this civilization is the way it is... and yes, I know we are told about the civil war etc. We don't get enough information about why zone 1 people are the crazy Hollywood types in love with themselves and the entertainment of these deaths, nor do we get any feel for any of the other zones except the despair of district 12.  I would have loved to have seen some sort of video footage of when Haymarsh played his game, how he won, and what happened afterwards, just something to tie together the before, the game, and the after.  I also detest that the filmmakers had to acquiesce and spend too much time on the developing love story of the main characters.  I can't compare to the books so I have no idea, but man did it feel forced and hokey to watch Katniss let her guard down when she clearly understand the ramifications of her situation and the need to be on guard at all times to survive.  Which brings me to my biggest fault with the film, perhaps, and that is with the sponsors and the immense time and energy spent relating to the tributes how important it is to win over the crowd and the sponsors to survive.  You know how often the sponsors are on screen? You know how much we learn about them, who they are, why they care or don't care about the tributes? You know how many life saving parachuted items we witness in the games?  I won't give it all away, just know I was greatly disappointed with that entire aspect of the movie and felt it brought it down a level.  The most glaring mistake the film makes is not depicting any hunger in the hunger games.  Seriously, WTF? They make a point of saying that tributes should expect to die of all types of causes and diseases and they will have to fend for food and shelter etc... At no point do any of the actors look any different than if they just came from a hot shower and bed in breakfast.  I don't need them to emaciate away like Christian Bale, but at least give us some sense that these kids are struggling to survive after days in the wilderness.

Can we talk about the shaky cam for a second? It's over people.  It served a purpose and I actually haven't minded it for a lot of action films of recent years, but let's be honest with each other - we need to stop the use of the shaky cam for every single action sequence, or for that matter, every single crowd shot, aerial shot of birds, people running, cars driving, etc etc etc... Let's just agree to let shaky cam go and get back to nice wide shots and close ups that complement each other.  Thanks.

The premise of the books and the movie is steeped in a long line of stories and films with similar ideas.  You'll recall The Lord of the Flies, The Running Man, The Lottery, and perhaps most of all but most likely the least seen by an American audience, Battle Royale, in which a class of children is selected randomly to kill each other off until there is one winner (Collins claims to have had no knowledge of it before she began, and maybe that's true... maybe it is... sure, let's go with that.)  Battle Royale is much more graphic in its depiction of killings but it also manages to make us care a bit more about some of the students trying to survive.  I bring all this up only because there are so many obvious  plays from other films that you can't miss them - doesn't make this film bad because of it, it just happens to be stamped all over it.

And here we are at the end of my review, which fittingly has my disapproval of much of the ending of the film, from the last 20 minutes or so.  I can't and I won't spoil it for you, but for a film that does a pretty decent job of creating a realistic battlefield environment with kids killing other kids to survive, why in the F&%* did they have to go and add in such horrible CGI and awful story telling right at the climax of the entire film?  You'll know what I mean when I say that much of the ending will not leave a good taste in your mouth (a berry pun you'll understand when you see the film.)

*** out of 5

Random thoughts indeed...

Before I begin a random stream of thought, I'd like to ask any of you reading this if you have any suggestions or requests for movie related discussions? It is a dead zone right now and I am open to anything - requests? 

So here it is, March madness time of the year, and I have seen just 3 movies with a 2012 release date:  http://randomthoughtsbymatt.blogspot.com/2012/02/3-movie-reviews-from-2012-grey-safe.html (The Grey, Safehouse, and The Woman in Black.) I also saw A Dangerous Method about Freud and Jung - nothing special for me to write about.

Pretty typical of January and February for there not to be much I want to see, although both The Grey and Safehouse were great surprises to find early in the year.  I have spent the better part of several months watching the complete Sopranos series from start to finish and only have about 8 episodes left, so once that is done I will be getting a lot more Netflix and hopefully will find some hidden gems to post about.  I've already got a long line up with a diverse selection ready to come.

Looking ahead I am not too excited about upcoming theater releases.  I'm actually beginning to hate anything with CGI in it... I used to just not like it, or at the very least, tolerate it, but now I see a trailer with CGI in it and I instantly think to myself, "I'm never going to pay to see that".  I'm just not a fanboy or geekboy with those types of movies.  I want something gripping with great acting and a solid plot.  One of the best movies I have seen in a long time was from 2011 and if you love great acting you really need to see it - Take Shelter with Michael Shannon.  Just an amazing film.

On my computer I have 2011's Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy - an excellent film that I want to re-watch, and A Separation, winner of Best Foreign Oscar this year which is supposed to be outstanding.  I am going to try and get to it soon.  I am also going to start watching the tv series The Wire - I have the first season on my computer and have been told it is great, though I've never seen an episode.

3 Movie Reviews From 2012: The Grey; Safe House; The Woman In Black

The Grey (2012)
Director - Joe Carnahan
117 Min; R
Cast
Liam Neeson - Ottway
Dermot Mulroney - Talget
Various others

The most important thing you should know before seeing this film, contrary to some of the trailers, is that it is not entirely an action movie, with non-stop scenes of men fighting wolves in epic wilderness battles, and thank goodness for that because then we would be stuck with a typical awful Hollywood movie starring the persistent Liam Neeson.  Instead, we are given a pretty wonderful existential experience from the perspective of a man who has lost his passion for life.  Is it possible he will find his way back while leading a small band of plane crash survivors in the frigid Alaskan wilderness?

Part realistic, part fantasy, when 7 oil field workers find themselves in a hopeless situation after their plane wrecks in a snow storm, they have to figure out a way to work together to survive, though they learn very quickly that they are being stalked by vicious wolves who are, according to Ottway (Neeson) protecting their den and will do so at all costs.  Having the most experience with wolves (as a shooter for the oil company) Neeson quickly assumes the leadership position among the survivors, but his goals, as we learn over time, are not simply to be a leader and to solve the problem - this is a man who has internal demons he is forced to confront, whether he wants to or not.

The wonderful aspects of The Grey come from multiple angles.  As the title suggests, the film is both bleak in color and tone and we really feel the pain and desolation these men must feel.  We also have a tremendous mounting dread of the wolves, out there, waiting and watching, ready to pounce upon their prey - those yellow eyes in the darkness are unrelenting.  And then we have the internal conflicts of these men, whom we come to know over the course of the film, especially Ottway.  I have to shake my head at a particular scene where the men must cross a ravine from a very high place, but otherwise this is a wonderful surprise to find in February.  The ending is quite spectacular if you've been following along and really trying to understand these men, and what transpires (even after the credits role) is not nearly as important as the fact that the ending occurs as it does.


**** and 1/2 out of 5

Safe House (2012)
Director - Daniel Espinoza
115 Min; R
Cast
Denzel Washington - Tobin Frost
Ryan Reynolds - Matt Weston
Veer Farmiga - Catherine Linklater
Brendan Gleeson - David Barlow

I'm going to ask you to do one thing that will make your viewing of this film 100x more enjoyable: please forget in advance that you will be comparing the plot details to several other films of this genre, specifically the Bourne movies.  It doesn't matter.  This movie simply rocks.  This is 2 hours of great action and solid acting that left me loving every second.

A February action movie with big stars that actually works is a welcome event to me, and both Denzel Washington and Ryan Reynolds really deliver here.  This is not the over the top cocky Denzel from Training Day, rather this is a cautious, though confident man who has been living a life on the run requiring survival for so long that he is cool and calm in every situation, yet obviously calculating every move as if it could be his last.  He knows he is not invincible. He is Tobin Frost, a rouge CIA agent who suddenly finds himself in a position that requires him to turn himself into the US Embassy to save his own life. Reynolds is the 'housekeeper' of the CIA safe house in South Africa where Frost is brought for interrogation.  It is his responsibility to ensure that anyone brought to the safe house is protected.  And then all hell breaks loose.

Never a dull moment, this movie is fun and fast paced and even though it suffers from the typical Hollywood problem of not having people die when they are shot at 500,000 times, it pulls off an otherwise thrilling piece. I asked you to forget a few things at the beginning of the piece - please also forget that figuring out who the bad guys are is really not the point - maybe I've seen way way way too many movies or maybe it was just some sloppy film-making, but it came as no revelation to me when the final scenes went down and I had known from the first moments what they would be - not the point at all.  This is a must see action film.


**** out of 5

The Woman In Black (2012)
Director - James Watkins
95 Min; PG-13
Cast
Danielle Radcliffe - Arthur Kipps

I'll make this very brief.

This movie was a lot better than I imagined it would be, and nothing very special overall. This is a big screen 'gotch'ya' scary movie with a little more depth than a typical slasher film.  The depth comes from Danielle Radcliffe's Arthur Kipps, a man with the unenviable task of sorting through the papers in an old house that is believed ot be haunted by the Woman in Black, a ghostly thing who has been wreaking havoc and revenge on the townspeople who didn't try to save her child from death, so now she takes their children for death as her own.

I actually enjoyed a lot about this movie and I think if you are looking for a scary movie on the big screen you could do a lot worse.  Radcliffe does not remind me at all of this Harry Potter character of the past decade, so hopefully for him he will be able to make a smooth transition to other roles.  My main complaint is with the over the top 'gotch'ya' moments of the screaming Woman as they feel forced and unnecessary - she is terrifying enough being silent.


*** out of 5

2012 Oscars

2012 Oscars: Sunday, Feb 26th on ABC - Host Billy Crystal returns once again.

Not an overly exciting year, but a few good ones out there.

Biggest snubs in my opinion: Take Shelter (one of my favorites of the year for both picture and Michael Shannon as actor) and Michael Fassbender getting no acting nod for Shame. Gary Oldman as best actor for Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy is awesome, but the movie got no other nods, so unlikely for him to win.

I'll probably update closer to the show with thoughts on who I think will win, but for now just some brief notes made throughout:

Nominees:

http://oscar.go.com/nominees

Best actress in a supporting role

Bérénice Bejo, The Artist - she was great, but shouldn't win here
Jessica Chastain, The Help
Melissa McCarthy, Bridesmaids - An obvious attempt to appeal to a wider audience
Janet McTeer, Albert Nobbs - Haven't seen it
Octavia Spencer, The Help - Even splitting the vote with Chastain I think she gets it. I guess with this list I give it to her as well, though I think Chastain should have been nominated for Tree of Life.

Best actor in a supporting role

Kenneth Branagh, My Week with Marilyn - Haven't seen it
Jonah Hill, Moneyball - no chance, happy to be nominated I'm sure
Nick Nolte, Warrior - Haven't seen it, but I don't think he gets it
Christopher Plummer, Beginners - Haven't seen it, but I think it is his based on previous wins
Max Von Sydow, Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close - Haven't seen it

Best actress in a leading role Haven't seen 3 of these so can't really pick my favorite

Glenn Close, Albert Nobbs
Viola Davis, The Help
Rooney Mara, The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo
Meryl Streep, The Iron Lady
Michelle Williams, My Week with Marilyn

Best actor in a leading role

Demián Bichir, A Better Life
George Clooney, The Descendants
Jean Dujardin, The Artist He carried this film and it looks like it will get lots of love from the Academy
Gary Oldman, Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy - Surprising - I love it, but didn't expect it, and don't think he can win
Brad Pitt, Moneyball

Best director

Michel Hazavanicius, The Artist
Alexander Payne, The Descendants
Martin Scorsese, Hugo - I like him to win and I would be happy if he did.
Woody Allen, Midnight in Paris
Terrence Malick, The Tree of Life - Happy to see it, but I'm not sure it can win against this year's nominees

Best original Screenplay

The Artist
Bridesmaids
Margin Call
Midnight in Paris I didn't see A Separation but it is going to win Foreign film, so I think Woody gets this one, and I just happened to love the film.
A Separation

Best adapted screenplay

The Descendants
Hugo
Ides of March
Moneyball - Just a gut feeling
Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy

Best foreign language film Can't really comment, just on what I have heard A Separation will win easily

Bullhead
Footnote
In Darkness
Monsieur Lazhar
A Separation

Best animated film - I have absolutely no idea

A Cat in Paris
Chico And Rita
Kung Fu Panda 2
Rango
Puss in Boots

Best picture Not a great year in my opinion but some really good ones and some laughable ones.

War Horse - Lol at a Best picture nomination. If this wins it will be worse than Shakespeare in Love or Crash.
The Artist - Maybe the favorite?
Moneyball - Not gonna do it
The Descendants - Strong contender
The Tree of Life - I don't think it can win here
Midnight in Paris - Loved it, but not gonna take it
The Help - Outside dark horse, but not for me
Hugo - One of 3 I think has a chance
Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close - LOL... All I have heard is how shitty this.. haven't seen it though

Art direction

The Artist - Probably this or Hugo
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Part 2
Hugo
Midnight in Paris
War Horse

Cinematography

The Artist
The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo
Hugo
The Tree of Life
War Horse - Possibly the correct one for this, though I prefer Tree of Life

Costume design I don't know enough here so I'm guessing

Anonymous
The Artist
Hugo
Jane Eyre
W.E.

Documentary feature - Didn't see enough so I'm guessing

Hell and Back Again
If A Tree Falls: A Story of the Earth Liberation Front
Paradise Lost 3: Purgatory
Pina
Undefeated

Documentary short subject Can't even guess

The Barber of Birmingham: Foot Soldier of the Civil Rights Movement
God is the Bigger Elvis
Incident in New Baghdad
Saving Face
The Tsumani and the Cherry Blossom

Film editing

The Artist - I'm guessing
The Descendants
The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo
Hugo
Moneyball

Sound editing

Drive
The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo
Hugo
Transformers: Dark of the Moon
War Horse

Sound mixing

The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo - I hope
Hugo
Moneyball
Transformers: Dark of the Moon
War Horse

Visual effects

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Part 2
Hugo
Real Steel
Rise of the Planet of the Apes - My guess
Transformers: Dark of the Moon

Make up Can't even guess

Albert Nobbs
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Part 2
The Iron Lady

Music (original score) I'm not sure on this one

The Adventures of Tintin: The Secret of the Unicorn
The Artist
Hugo
Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy
War Horse

Music (original song)

The Muppets
Rio

Short film (animated) Can't even guess

Dimanche / Sunday
The Fantastic Flying Books of Mr Morris Lessmore
La Luna
A Morning Stroll
Wild Life

Short film (live action) Can't even guess

Pentecost
Raju
The Shore
Time Freak
Tuba Atlantic

Just 12 really terrible movies

I'm not qualified to make a definitive 'worst of' list for films, because I generally avoid seeing them.

There is no point to this post, just like there is no point to the movies I am about to mention.  There are some movies that are just plain terrible because they have a horrible director, actors, script, vision or budget, but that isn't necessarily what I am talking about here.  What really makes a movie truly terrible goes beyond all that criteria and crosses a line that is difficult to define.  We will never all agree on what is good and what is bad, but these are all terrible wastes of space in the history of mankind.

In my life I consider myself fortunate to have been selective in the movies I choose to watch, because I tend to see so many I do my best to avoid those that appear to have that certain horrible quality to them.  With that said, some fall through the cracks and I suffer the consequences. Just a note because I have probably failed to see so so so many terrible ones, I can only go off what I know.

I'm going to break my own self-imposed rule that no truly terrible film can include hot chicks with or without clothes, a belief I have long held onto with a vice grip because I have been delusional and I am a straight male.  Yes they make the movie slightly less repulsive to watch, but even their lovely skin cannot stop the cringe inducing feelings that wash over you upon viewing.

Showgirls (1995)

The girl from Saved By The Bell who was 'so excited!...so excited!..so...scared!' after popping those nasty caffeine pills in order to study decided to not only break free of her good girl teen typecast but to break free of all that is holy, including her clothes and dignity.  Containing some of the absolute worst dialogue ever scripted, this movie about a mysterious young woman who comes to Las Vegas and works a pole like none other can only be considered one of the laughably worst movies ever made, even after seeing about 50 times, which I have.

Transformers 2: Revenge of the Fallen (2009)

Any Michael Bay film is sure to be horrific, but this one trumps them all.  With a reported budget of $200,000,000 the film has grossed over $800,000,000 worldwide, and all I can say is, WHAT THE FUCK?  Bay has given us his best use of the 'Screw you' to everyone with this piece of trash sequel to an already bad movie.  Not only does Megan Fox have absolutely zero reason to be in the film, other than running in white pants in slow motion (thank you Michael Bay, for that) but there are horrific scenes of robot like things smashing metal together with neck-hair raising sounds that make it all but impossible to actually watch anything that is happening.  Even a teenage boy should realize quickly that this is a giant load of crap.  Thankfully for Bay, he makes tons of cash off these things, so even though his soul will rot in hell, he will have a fun time getting there.

The Matrix Revolutions (2003)

The original film was unique in many ways, and though I am not a big fan of it in general, I appreciate it for what it was and understand the appeal.  The sequels, and especially this one, are just so laughably bad that I actually lack the command of language to describe why.  If you've never seen this one, forget it exists, for how a team of people could screw up so badly for so much money is beyond me.

Speed 2: Cruise Control (1997)

Hey! They're on a boat! A slow, slow boat.  Not a bus.  Way to phone it in for a paycheck everyone involved in the making of this thing, whatever you want to call it.

Wild Wild West (1999)

I can't say for certain if this deserves to be in the worst of ever list, because I couldn't stand to watch any more of it than I did, which may have only been about 1/3 of the film.  Do yourself a favor and forget I ever mentioned it.  It doesn't exist.

Nothing But Trouble (1991)

I remember seeing this movie with a star studded cast the year it was released, when I was 13 years old, and I have never seen it again, but that fact that Chevy Chase, Dan Akroyd, Demi Moore and John Candy could make a movie that has left a lifelong stain in my memory is a testament to just how awful a movie this must have been, since I have blocked out all memory of it.

Caddyshack 2 (1988)

Never in all the history of all of cinema has a sequel gone so wrong.  I don't even know where to begin with this one, but 8 years after one of the greatest comedy films ever made, we were given Jackie Mason as Jack Hartounian, a loud mouth outsider trying to fit into a country club setting.  Every single thing that made the original film so wonderful is gone and turned into nothing short of eye-stabbing attempts at typical late 80s comedy.  I want to hit myself in the nuts with an 8 iron just thinking about this one.

Star Wars Episode 1: The Phantom Menace (1999)

There was never a doubt in my mind that these 3 'prequels' by George 'fuck you fans' Lucas were going to suck.  I knew it from the first leaked shots and the first trailers.  And then we get Jar Jar Binks and Jake Lloyd.  Now there is a case to be made that the second one, Attack of the Clones or whatever, is the worst of the 3, but this is the one that started it all, so I think it sucks the worst.  I have absolutely nothing positive to say about anything to do with anything to do with this entire film.  All the actors, even the 'good ones', sucked.  The dialogue is laughable at best.  The CGI is so lame it made me want to puke.  The great chase scenes?  I mean, how can anyone who has seen the original trilogy think anything about these films is even remotely watchable is beyond me.  This was George Lucas making money, period.  He says he always had a vision for these, always wanted to complete them as 6 or 9 parts.  When he finally had a chance to complete his masterpiece what does he do with it? He bends us all over and goes to work.  Fuck you Lucas and your Me Sir Jar Jar Binks!

Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull (2008)

Somehow somebody convinced Harrison Ford to follow up his previous 3 decent films (I mean, Raiders of the Lost Ark was awesome and the other two were watchable) with this tremendous piece of crap.  Not only is the plot beyond absurd, but the editing is choppy and any attempt at special effects is lol-tastic.  Shia Labeouf is simply a terrible actor, and this film highlights everything that is wrong with him, in every way possible.  Nice paychecks for everyone I assume, but I can't believe Spielberg attached his name as a director to this project.

2012 (2009)

I generally like John Cusack, but this action movie about the impending doom of the world is so absurdly bad that I found myself dreaming about Better Off Dead during the middle of it.  You know, when times were good for John.  The greatest part of this movie is when the step dad sacrifices himself to not only save the world in general, but allowing John to get back with his family, in a nice and convenient wrap up to a totally lame and long ass movie.

Amazing Grace and Chuck (1987)

I can't do any better than this write up I found online:

Talk about a weird one This feels like a movie from the '70s, but it came out in 1987. Chuck is a little kid living in Montana. He tours a nuclear silo one day, and decides that he's not going to pitch for his Little League team until nuclear weapons are disarmed.

He's joined by Boston Celtics star "Amazing Grace" Smith (NBA player Alex English), and several other professional athletes. 

For having such heavyweights as Gregory Peck and Jamie Lee Curtis in it, Chuck misses the mark in a big way. Even English looks bored during the basketball scenes. 

Rocky V (1990)

The original film is a classic, a simply amazing achievement in film.  The follow up is good, and it leaves us with satisfaction.  The 3rd film is funny and has Mr T.  The 4th film blows pretty much, but we get a nice montage of training in the Russian woods.  Even the 6th Rocky film is watchable.  But Rocky V? With Tommy Morrison as Tommy 'Machine' Gunn?  This is up there with Caddyshack 2 as the worst sports themed sequel of all time, and I'm only saying it isn't quite as bad because of the hilarious portrayal of promoter George 'Washington' Duke, played by Richard Grant.

Six! Quick 2011 Movie Reviews (MI6;Tinker;WarHorse;Tattoo;Artist;Shelter)

Mission: Impossible - Ghost Protocol (2011)

Pretty much the best popcorn adventure movie I saw all year, though I don't see many of them, but I did see a few including the awful Pirates 4 and Captain America, so at least I have something off which to base my opinions.  Tom Cruise is good here as the lead and his supporting cast gets the job done.  Obviously you have to suspend reality to watch this type of movie, but my major complaint comes from the absurdly over-the-top sequences when people get hit int he head multiple times by concrete and metal and seemingly never have so much as a headache.  I am willing to enjoy an action movie for what it is, but when a guy drops 40 feet off a moving car parking machine and slams into a substance that looks harder than diamond and gets up and keeps fighting, it is slightly off putting.

**** out of 5

Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy (2011)

*Note: I have a full length review of this film available if you are interested (email me at mattsci@hotmail.com if you'd like me to send it to you, otherwise it will be posted in full at a later date on a different website)

Gary Oldman is simply awesome as an aging MI6 agent forced out of his position only to be called back, unofficially a year later to help dig up info about a potential mole at the top of The Circus working for the Russians.  A bit difficult to follow at times but beautifully shot and one not to be missed.

**** and 1/2 out of 5

War Horse (2011)

I suppose if you are a girl of any age or a sentimentally prone to crying guy you'll enjoy this over the top Spielberg production.  I contend this film was shot specifically to pull at your heart strings and see if you will fall in love with the story of a boy and his horse, as preposterous as the story can be and as long winded and plot-lessly defined as it is... Try not to fall asleep because the cinematography is actually amazing!

** out of 5

The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo (2011)

*Note: I have a full length review of this film available if you are interested (email me at mattsci@hotmail.com if you'd like me to send it to you, otherwise it will be posted in full at a later date on a different website)

David Fincher remakes a Swedish film from 2 years ago based on a series of popular novels and doesn't quite make as good a production of it as the original, but he comes close.  A trippy opening sequence is worth the price of admission as Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross give us a very cool score throughout.  Daniel Craig doesn't quite work for me as Michael Blomkvist and Roony Mara is no Noomi Rapace from the original, but Fincher is a gifted director and he is able to make this a solid experience.

**** out of 5

The Artist (2011)

How many silent films have you seen? I suggest you make this your first, then.  It takes about 15 minutes to adjust your brain but once you fall in line you'll find a truly wonderful picture which will certainly win awards this year, even though it is obvious Oscar bait, and that's ok, because the performances in here are far and away top notch.  You'll laugh, you'll cry, and you'll do it all while trying to be silent so as not to disturb those around you.

***** out of 5

Take Shelter (2011)

*Note - I intend to do a long review of this film in the near future.  Email me at mattsci@hotmail.com if you are interested in receiving the final piece.

Michael Shannon is amazing.  He really is one of the best actors of our generation and I love that he takes on so many smaller projects.  Take Shelter is the story of a man slipping into madness, but trying to keep it together and keep his family together.  In small town mid-America the impending doom of storms haunts this man, whether real or imagined, and in building out a storm shelter in the back yard he pushes his career and his family to the brink of insanity.  A truly remarkable performance in a very realistic setting, this is one of the very best films of the year.

***** out of 5

My 20 favorite films of 2011 (the lazy version)

This would be my 20 best of list for 2011, by release date – I think I saw (45) 2011 releases either in theater or on netflix/redbox – and since I tend to avoid most films I know wouldn’t interest me I’d say that really liking about 40% of what I see is a decent percentage.  I may update this or send out a more detailed version, but I am already behind on writing up 4 films so figured I'd send this out - if you see any of these on netflix/redbox do not hesitate:

Cave of Forgotten Dreams

Jane Eyre

Midnight In Paris

The Tree of Life

Another Earth

Harry Potter

The Guard

Drive

Moneyball

The Debt

Contagion

The Descendants

Margin Call

Martha Marcy May Marlene

Shame

Hugo

Take Shelter

Girl With The Dragon Tattoo (I prefer the original, but it was good)

Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy

The Artist

A Movie Review: Shame (2011)

(First a quick recap of some of the previews screened before this film started)

Carnage (2011)
Director - Roman Polanski

Not even a great looking cast can make this adult comedy appear watchable.  Juvenile jokes abound after two couples have a spat over their children. (Polanski jokes withheld)

The Grey (2012)
Director - Joe Carnahan

Liam Neeson continues his amazing range of a tough guy in a tough spot role, but I will admit this movie about  survival in a frozen wilderness with lots and lots of blood-thirty wolves looks like a winner.  Let's just see what the final product delivers.

The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo (2011)
Director - David Fincher

Like so many remakes I doubt this can live up to the original Swedish version of the first film, but the trailer looks good and Fincher is proven, so I'm hoping for the best but I'll settle for decent.

Shame (2011
Director - Steve McQueen
NC-17; 101 Min
Cast
Brandon Sullivan - Michael Fassbender
Sissy Sullivan - Carey Mulligan


I took notes during this film in anticipation of a lengthy and hopefully insightful review, but I'm going to keep it brief because I realized there is little chance of many people I know seeing this.... so.... yeah.

Michael Fassbender is an awesome actor.  He will be for a long time to come.  He's already been amazing in films like Hunger, Fish Tank, and I hear he is great in the upcoming A Dangerous Method, and in this film there is little doubt that he is here to stay.  As Brandon, a successful marketing/financial person in New York City, Fassbender takes on his character's depraved sex addictions with a zeal, revealing every bit of his body in this NC-17 film by Steve McQueen (a very anticipated follow up to his award winning Hunger), and in the process giving a terrific performance that will probably be rewarded.

Carey Mulligan plays Brandon's sister, Sissy, who is just as damaged as her brother.  We never learn details of their childhood, but it is clear that these two were subjected to the worst types of abuse.  When she arrives for an extended stay at his apartment the two of them venture down their own paths of self destruction.

There isn't much of a plot to this film, so if you're not into psychological studies with great acting this one isn't for you.  The NC-17 rating is a must for American audiences as there is extensive sexual content including the full naked figures of both lead actors - all of which completely pertains to the film.

The score is awesome and as Brandon runs around the city on some introspective runs listening to Bach Goldberg Variations you can't help but feel the agonizing beauty and torture that is this character and his insatiable need for sex without emotion to the extent that his life is in complete ruins.  I'm not sure we what the message is when we leave this film, but I'm not concerned with that, since it is the performances that are so well done which leave us with a lasting impression of two individuals and their struggles with life.

**** and 1/2 out of 5

4 Super Brief 2011 Movie Reviews: Hugo; J. Edgar; Friends With Benefits; The Devil's Double

Hugo (2011)
Director - Martin Scorsese
PG; 126 Min
Cast
Hugo Cabret - Asa Butterfield
Isabelle - Chloe Grace Moretz
Station Inspector - Sacha Baron Cohen
George Melies - Ben Kinglsey

I'll keep this extremely brief - See this film and don't hesitate.  Without a doubt one of the best of the year, Martin Scorsese delves deep into both personal love of film and the history itself, creating both a magical piece about early 20th century Paris and a children's adventure.  Shot specifically for 3D, this film is getting much praise for amazing use of the technology, but I detest 3D so I viewed it in regular 2D and loved it every step of the way.  Choose whichever way you want, you will love the entire 2 hours of this drama, comedy, fable, based-on-true people, historical and beautiful piece.

***** out of 5

J. Edgar (2011)
Director - Clint Eastwood
R; 137 Min
Cast
J. Edgar Hoover - Leonardo DiCaprio
Lots of other people

See the shitty makeup trying to create an older J. Edgar Hoover out of Leonardo DiCaprio? Well, the movie is 10x shittier.  I can't say enough about how much I disliked this movie.  I walked out with 45 minutes left.  I've only done that 3 times in my life.  I don't care if it was Leo directed by Eastwood. I was bored.  I didn't care.  It sucked.

* out of 5

Friends With Benefits (2011)
Director - Will Gluck
R; 109 Min
Cast
Mila Kunis - Jamie
Justin Timberlake - Dylan

There was a plot? Mila Kunis is so unbelievably hot I was able to block out the dialogue and enjoy the view.  And don't tell me you don't like skinny chicks like Mila.  I'll call you names that could get me kicked out of a political race.  Like No Strings Attached earlier this year with Kutcher and Portman, it is watchable on a terribly base level.

** and 1/2 out of 5

The Devil's Double (2011)
Director - Lee Tamahori
R; 109 Min
Cast
Who cares?

What a piece of shit.

* out of 5

3 brief 2011 reviews: The Descendants; Margin Call; Martha Marcy May Marlene

The Descendants (2011)
Director - Alexander Payne
115 Min; R
Cast
Matt King - George Clooney

Director Alexander Payne is responsible for two movies I love (Election and Sideways) and George Clooney has proven to me to be good at the roles he selects, so I was pretty sure this film would be decent at least and I was not disappointed.

Shot in Hawaii, the film tells the story of Matt King, a man who has the sole responsibility of signing on the dotted line to sell off a pristine chunk of Hawaiian coast line property that has been handed down via trust through generations to he and his cousins (the property is worth millions.)  He is easy going and willing to do whatever the majority decides as far as a sale goes.  That is, until turmoil takes over his life.  Along with his comatose wife and two daughters, King must navigate a myriad of issues that takes him and everyone around him on a roller coaster ride of emotions.

It would be easy for me to nit pick or try to come up with reasons to not love it, but this is truly a great movie going experience and I am on board with saluting everyone involved with this film.

***** out of 5

Margin Call (2011)

Director - J.C. Chandor

107 Min; R

Cast

Sam - Kevin Spacey

Will - Paul Bettany

John - Jermey Irons

Peter - Zachary Quinto

Seth - Penn Badgley

Sarah - Demi Moore

Eric - Stanley Tucci

I'm no expert on the financial crisis of Wall Street the last few years, but for my money this is a damn good film to sit through and let it wash over you like a fog.  An all-star cast that features very strong performances by Kevin Spacey and Jeremy Irons power this film about a single 24 hour period as a single New York City trading company decided how to handle the news that the entire world is about to realize how fucked we all will be.  The decisions they make will have a lasting impact but nothing they do will help to curb what is coming.  I have no idea how accurately portrayed the scenarios are, but it's not a documentary, and I thought it was really well done.

**** out of 5

Martha Marcy May Marlene (2011)
Director - Sean Durkin
102 Min; R
Cast
Martha - Elizabeth Olsen
Patrick - John Hawkes
Lucy - Sarah Paulson
Ted - High Dancy

Who knew the twin girls from Full House had siblings? Well they have at least one sister names Elizabeth Olsen and she does a really good job at portraying a troubled young woman with a past who has no where to go.  Interweaving story lines from 2 years ago to the present we learn that troubled young Martha left home and came to find herself in an upstate New York cult ruled by Patrick, in yet another solid performance by John Hawkes, only to realize she needed to leave.  The only person she knows is her estranged older sister Lucy who is now married to a wealthy architect, and the two take her in at their lake cottage.  What unfolds is a story about what happened to Martha, why she became Marcy May and Marlene, and ultimately where she will go from her predicament.

I have some complaints, but overall it was a good watch and I'd be happy to say you should see it.  Not perfect, not the best ending ever written, and not exactly a lot to think about after, but a psychological film with some good performances that doesn't make you sleepy - that's good enough for me.

**** out of 5

A Movie Review: Melancholia (2011)

Note: Pretty sure there are spoilers in this review

Melancholia (2011)
Director - Lars Von Trier
136 Min; R
Cast
Justine - Kirsten Dunst
Claire - Charlotte Gainsbourg
Michael - Alexander Skarsgard
John - Kiefer Sutherland

I've decided to review the new Lars Von Trier film Melancholia using mainly photographs, being that it will possibly come across just as pretentious and grandiose an idea as the entire film itself.

The movie starts with 10 minutes of slow motion scenes depicting various states of increased depression and depression-like notions.  Kirsten Dunst (no longer a child actress) struggles to free herself from metaphorical bonds.  After 1 minute we realize this is a Lars Von Trier film and we are moved by the cinematography and daring choices.  After 3 minutes we are intrigued by the slow motion and beautifully haunting music.  After 7 minutes we realize we've eaten too much of our popcorn already for a 136 minute movie.  After 10 minutes we hope the entire movie isn't in slow motion, but we start to think we may be in for a long, long, long time. We've also learned that the earth is on a collision course with another celestial body and that it gets destroyed, so yeah, no suspense in that one, we are just shown it all up front. And then we move away from slow motion and all is right in the world again (well, not on screen) and we settle in for what will surely be a masterpiece.

This is Justine looking very happy on her wedding day with husband Michael.  The pure white skin and dress just the start of a slew of symbolic alphabet stew to keep your brain in permanent meltdown mode throughout.

This is Justine a little later on, not quite as happy, sort of sad, actually.

This is Justine taking a bath in partial wedding dress during her wedding reception.  This is not normal.  Justine is not normal.  Justine is severely depressed.

This is a really sad Justine.

This is a photo from the reception (it lasts for more than the entire first hour of the film, but sadly it does not have the same effect as, say, the opening wedding scene of The Godfather) and it depicts most of the other major characters in the film, including Justine's sister Claire and her wealthy husband John.  All of these people are emotionally disturbed to say the least, but it is the strained relationship between the sisters that is the driving force behind the film, or at least what Trier wants us to focus on, apparently.

The second part of the film focuses more on Claire and her state of mind as the world nears a final cataclysmic ending.  This too is a long hour of build up to what we already know is coming.

If you've read this far perhaps you'll grant me a little latitude with my final thoughts on this film as they relate to the tone I have used to discuss it thus far.

I thought the film was beautiful.  I really mean that.  The way that the music was balanced with some wonderful set designs left haunting images in my mind of what the film was ultimately driving towards, and to me that is an acceptance of an inevitable end.  That we may know when our time will end only makes it all the more depressing and nothing we do will can change that, ever, for it is a known conclusion. 

I thought Dunst did a marvelous job of conveying the emotions of a severely depressed person and it was very nuanced and subtle in the right spots.  I was not as taken with the supporting cast of characters, some of whom (family members in particular) felt a little too caricatured for my liking.

In the end the earth is destroyed.  So what is the message of the film?  Did any of it really matter?  Was it all just one giant metaphor for the decline in human relationships?  I'm betting it was, but I'm always pretty sure I have no idea what the real intentions are from Trier, and though I often love to think deeply about films with purpose, this one almost put me to sleep.

** and 1/2 out of 5