I've said it before, but I think that the movie "Touching the Void" should be compulsory viewing for High School boys because I don't believe there is a story that better emobodies the power of never ever giving up. I love that movie and think of it often in my every day life.
Another similar movie is the Sean Penn directed "Into the Wild" which I absolutely love (except that Chris McCandless was truly stupid and did not make it through his ordeal).
And now, 127 hours gets added to my list of must see films for boys.
Director Danny Boyle (Trainspotting, Slumdog Millionaire, 28 Days later) tells us the story of Aron Ralston, an "action guy" who becomes trapped under a boulder while canyonnering in Utah, and cuts his arm off with a blunt pocket knife in order to free himself.
Sounds morbid, and doesn't sound like it would be a good movie to watch. The movie is basically set in 1 location with 1 actor, and you already know the outcome (he cuts his arm off and he lives. Why would anyone want to see that?
At the start of the film, we see Aron setting off on his latest adventure - ill planned = he does not tell anyone where he is going, and not anticipating any issues, does not bring enough water, or equipment - he brings a crappy $10 multi tool thing instead of his good Swiss Army Knife that he cannot find.
He has a good time, rides his bike, meets some girls, swims in a cave - all good. Until he slips, and gets his arm caught under a boulder in the middle of nowhere and cannot get free. No one knows where he is, no one will, no one can hear him, it starts to get dark, he tips his water bottle over. A nightmare.
The film really starts from this point, and we see the sheer determination of this amazing man, as he tries one unsuccessful thing after another to free his arm. What we do not see however, at any point, is Aron giving up hope, or losing focus or waiting to die. This is a man who chooses to live, and does something very drastic in order to do so. I don't know that I would have had the strength to cut my arm off with a very blunt pocket knife. Just incredible.
The waiting for the inevitable for the viewer however, does not simply include Aron attempting to get out of his predicament. Through flashbacks, we see a young man who is self absorbed, an adrenaline junkie, disconnected from his family, not returning his mother's phone calls. And I really do believe that thoughts and memories and the pull of his loved ones got him through his experience, and I am sure that he left the adventure a much better man than when he started..
This was a tough movie to watch, but it was gripping, incredible sad but triumphant at the same time. Danny Boyle did this with Slumdog Millionaire and he does it here. He manages to beauty and hope where there should be nothing but despair. This movie just whizzed by for me, I have nothing but the utmost respect for Aron and I really want my sons to watch this, and to tell them, that hope springs eternal, and that they should always, no matter what, keep trying.... Life is worth the effort.
James Franco is just brilliant in this role. Easily his best performance ever.
4/5
Sunday, January 30, 2011
The Kids Are All Right
Every once in a while you get an independent film that makes you realise that all you need is a good story, and actors who can tell it well. You don't need 3D, or a massive hollywood budget to have your viewers fall in love with your movie. I feel this way about movies such as Sophia Coppolla's "Lost in Translation" and 'Somewhere", Wes Anderson's "The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou", "The Royal Tenenbaums" and "The Darjeeling Limited", The Brothers Bloom, Laurel Canyon and City Island (I'll stop now cuz i'm sure you get the picture).
The Kids are All Right (directed by Lisa Cholodenko who also directed Laurel Canyon)tells the story of two children conceived by artificial insemination for a lesbian couple. They find their natural father, and introduce him into their family.
The lesbian couple are played by Annette Bening (Nic) and Julianne Moore (Jules). Both these women are incredibly good. I love Annette Bening, and Julianne Moore is definitely my favorite actress after Nicole Kidman (except that JM's face is more natural). Mark Ruffalo plays Paul the sperm donor, and the insertion of him into the family just wreaks a whole lot of chaos. I don't know why it is, but everyone loves Mark Ruffalo. I think he embodies that 'I am not a wanker but am super cool' persona that we all wish we could have... The kids Mia Wasikowska and Josh Hutcherson are really good too.
The introduction of Paul into the family brings out "the bodies" so to speak, and each family is confronted by what is uncovered. But this is a strong family, with a lot of love, and you know that it really will be all right!
This film is so strange, and so sincere and heartfelt, it was a pleasure to watch. Each character has their own issues, and yet are not judged. They are presented just as they are. I loved each character, particularly Jules and Paul - some funny scenes between these two.
This is a perfect Sunday afternoon film.
3.5/5
The Kids are All Right (directed by Lisa Cholodenko who also directed Laurel Canyon)tells the story of two children conceived by artificial insemination for a lesbian couple. They find their natural father, and introduce him into their family.
The lesbian couple are played by Annette Bening (Nic) and Julianne Moore (Jules). Both these women are incredibly good. I love Annette Bening, and Julianne Moore is definitely my favorite actress after Nicole Kidman (except that JM's face is more natural). Mark Ruffalo plays Paul the sperm donor, and the insertion of him into the family just wreaks a whole lot of chaos. I don't know why it is, but everyone loves Mark Ruffalo. I think he embodies that 'I am not a wanker but am super cool' persona that we all wish we could have... The kids Mia Wasikowska and Josh Hutcherson are really good too.
The introduction of Paul into the family brings out "the bodies" so to speak, and each family is confronted by what is uncovered. But this is a strong family, with a lot of love, and you know that it really will be all right!
This film is so strange, and so sincere and heartfelt, it was a pleasure to watch. Each character has their own issues, and yet are not judged. They are presented just as they are. I loved each character, particularly Jules and Paul - some funny scenes between these two.
This is a perfect Sunday afternoon film.
3.5/5
The Fighter
Directed by David O Russell who directed The Three Kings and I Heart Huckabees (both also starring Wahlberg), this movie tells us the story of the Pride of Lowell - Dickie Eklund (Christian Bale) and his brother Mickey Ward (Wahlberg). As a fan of boxing films, I was very much anticipating this movie. I LOVE Mark Wahlberg, and am a huge Christian Bale fan. And I was not disappointed.
Christian Bale, the Pride of Lowell, was a former boxer who in his prime knocked down Sugary Ray Leonard, and has been living on the glory of this single accomplishment since. His life has gone to shit, he is a meth head, practially homeless, but he trains Mickey with all the pride and love he's got in him - when he can remember to show up that is.
Mark Wahlberg plays "Irish" Mickey Ward, Dickie's younger brother, whose potential as a fighter is severaly handicapped by his drug addict brother trainer, his crazy family lead by the FANTASTIC Melissa Leo, 7 or so trailer trash sisters with hideous 80's hairstyles, and a general lack of opportunity - being booked fights he cannot win, bad management etc...
Without giving the plot away, Mickey gets a real shot at making something of himself, and has to choose between his family and his one real opportunity.
This movie was intense, driven, funny, and very obviously made with a huge amount of love for the people portrayed. The performances are unbelievable. Christian Bale again loses a massive amount of weight to play Dickie. He gets everything right here. His face, the "meth mouth", his swagger. He invests his entire physicality to this character and I think he will win the Academy Award for this film.
Mark Wahlberg (one of my celebrity crushes) is as hot as is humanly possible to be. I believe he trained for something like 4 years for this film. His boxing is very believable. His muscles are numerous (!). But seriously, he did a good job with this role.
For me, aside from Bale, the standout was definitely Melissa Leo who plays thier mother Alice Ward. She is just hideous (in that 80's big hair, chain smoking, fake nails way) and so so so very good. Her love for her family and fierce protectiveness over Dicky is beautiful. The scene where Alice finds Dicky in the crack house and they sing together as she drives them away is both very strange and very touching.
The 7 sisters are also very good. They are the epitome of 80's (but it's the 90's) white trash, but love their brothers something fierce.
Amy Adams is good too as Charlene, Mikey's girlfriend.
Oh and the soundtrack is good too!
I loved this movie. 4/5
Christian Bale, the Pride of Lowell, was a former boxer who in his prime knocked down Sugary Ray Leonard, and has been living on the glory of this single accomplishment since. His life has gone to shit, he is a meth head, practially homeless, but he trains Mickey with all the pride and love he's got in him - when he can remember to show up that is.
Mark Wahlberg plays "Irish" Mickey Ward, Dickie's younger brother, whose potential as a fighter is severaly handicapped by his drug addict brother trainer, his crazy family lead by the FANTASTIC Melissa Leo, 7 or so trailer trash sisters with hideous 80's hairstyles, and a general lack of opportunity - being booked fights he cannot win, bad management etc...
Without giving the plot away, Mickey gets a real shot at making something of himself, and has to choose between his family and his one real opportunity.
This movie was intense, driven, funny, and very obviously made with a huge amount of love for the people portrayed. The performances are unbelievable. Christian Bale again loses a massive amount of weight to play Dickie. He gets everything right here. His face, the "meth mouth", his swagger. He invests his entire physicality to this character and I think he will win the Academy Award for this film.
Mark Wahlberg (one of my celebrity crushes) is as hot as is humanly possible to be. I believe he trained for something like 4 years for this film. His boxing is very believable. His muscles are numerous (!). But seriously, he did a good job with this role.
For me, aside from Bale, the standout was definitely Melissa Leo who plays thier mother Alice Ward. She is just hideous (in that 80's big hair, chain smoking, fake nails way) and so so so very good. Her love for her family and fierce protectiveness over Dicky is beautiful. The scene where Alice finds Dicky in the crack house and they sing together as she drives them away is both very strange and very touching.
The 7 sisters are also very good. They are the epitome of 80's (but it's the 90's) white trash, but love their brothers something fierce.
Amy Adams is good too as Charlene, Mikey's girlfriend.
Oh and the soundtrack is good too!
I loved this movie. 4/5
Saturday, January 1, 2011
Blue Valentine
I believe that this film was first written in 1998 and re-written over 60 times until the final version was filmed. This film shows the very personal story of the failing of a marriage. This movie felt real, it didn't just feel like it was trying to be real.
Michelle Williams and Ryan Gosling play Cindy and Dean, the couple at the center of the story. The movie starts at a point where you know that Cindy is just going through the motions, and you see how wound up and defeated she is just going through her everyday morning routine with their daughter Frankie. Dean on the other hand still really loves his wife, and seems confused at her rejection and just can't seem to catch a break. She fell in love with him as he was, and yet he is now no longer enough. She fell in love with him for who he was, and yet chastises him for not having become more.
The performances from these two actors is just so impressive. Michelle Williams shows sadness and timidity, defeat and fear with her entire body - her hands, her posture, her face. I wrote about Nicole Kidman's performance in 'Rabbit Hole' earlier in the month, and I said there that Nicole's eyes portray emotion, but her face is frozen with botox and she doesn't use her body well. Michelle Williams throws herself in this role with her whole physicality, she couldn't have played the role any better. Despite the fact that throughout the movie I empathised with Dean more than Cindy, you could not only see, but feel this woman's sense of entrapment.
Ryan Gosling was also outstanding as Dean. A great performance, you could see how much he loved his wife, and how her rejection hurts him. But aside from that, he is a stone cold fox and he has one of my favorite on screen faces.
Loved it loved it loved it. I hope they win loads of awards! I would think that at the very least, the two lead actors would deserve nominations as would Derek Cianfrance for his incredible screenplay.
5/5
Michelle Williams and Ryan Gosling play Cindy and Dean, the couple at the center of the story. The movie starts at a point where you know that Cindy is just going through the motions, and you see how wound up and defeated she is just going through her everyday morning routine with their daughter Frankie. Dean on the other hand still really loves his wife, and seems confused at her rejection and just can't seem to catch a break. She fell in love with him as he was, and yet he is now no longer enough. She fell in love with him for who he was, and yet chastises him for not having become more.
The performances from these two actors is just so impressive. Michelle Williams shows sadness and timidity, defeat and fear with her entire body - her hands, her posture, her face. I wrote about Nicole Kidman's performance in 'Rabbit Hole' earlier in the month, and I said there that Nicole's eyes portray emotion, but her face is frozen with botox and she doesn't use her body well. Michelle Williams throws herself in this role with her whole physicality, she couldn't have played the role any better. Despite the fact that throughout the movie I empathised with Dean more than Cindy, you could not only see, but feel this woman's sense of entrapment.
Ryan Gosling was also outstanding as Dean. A great performance, you could see how much he loved his wife, and how her rejection hurts him. But aside from that, he is a stone cold fox and he has one of my favorite on screen faces.
Loved it loved it loved it. I hope they win loads of awards! I would think that at the very least, the two lead actors would deserve nominations as would Derek Cianfrance for his incredible screenplay.
5/5
Jack Black's Gulliver's Travels
I love Jack Black. Loads of people say that. But I think that when I say I love Jack Black, what I'm really saying is that I love Jack Black in School of Rock.
But let's look at him in some of his other films:
Envy: one of the worst films ever
King Kong: ok
Nacho Libre: I am one of the few who like this movie
The Holiday: ok
Margot at the Wedding: He was quite good in this
Be Kind Rewind: terrible film
Kung Fu Panda: Animated
Tropic Thunder: average
Year One: A disgraceful embarassment
Back to point.... Lemuel Gulliver (Black) takes a travel writing job in Bermuda. En route, a Bermuda Triangle thing happens and he wakes to find himself tied up by tiny people - Lilliputians. He of course becomes their hero and savior by creating a series of false stories about himself (President Awesome, Star Wars, KISS etc), then disgraces himself when the truth is revealed, then of course comes to a predictable self awareness and saves the day.
He has some good Rock and Roll moments in the film and gets to bust some moves, and it's not like I didn't laugh throughout the film, but it was pretty bad, really....
I don't think I can keep being disappointed by Jack Black. Each of his movies looks funny, and really, I have been disappointed in each and every film since School of Rock (except for Nacho Libre and Kung Fu Panda which doesn't count as it is animated).
I figure I have 1 more Jack Black film in me, and if no good, will call it a day.
1/5
But let's look at him in some of his other films:
Envy: one of the worst films ever
King Kong: ok
Nacho Libre: I am one of the few who like this movie
The Holiday: ok
Margot at the Wedding: He was quite good in this
Be Kind Rewind: terrible film
Kung Fu Panda: Animated
Tropic Thunder: average
Year One: A disgraceful embarassment
Back to point.... Lemuel Gulliver (Black) takes a travel writing job in Bermuda. En route, a Bermuda Triangle thing happens and he wakes to find himself tied up by tiny people - Lilliputians. He of course becomes their hero and savior by creating a series of false stories about himself (President Awesome, Star Wars, KISS etc), then disgraces himself when the truth is revealed, then of course comes to a predictable self awareness and saves the day.
He has some good Rock and Roll moments in the film and gets to bust some moves, and it's not like I didn't laugh throughout the film, but it was pretty bad, really....
I don't think I can keep being disappointed by Jack Black. Each of his movies looks funny, and really, I have been disappointed in each and every film since School of Rock (except for Nacho Libre and Kung Fu Panda which doesn't count as it is animated).
I figure I have 1 more Jack Black film in me, and if no good, will call it a day.
1/5
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