Friday, 29 October 2010

Red



Director: Robert Schwentke
Screenplay: John Hoeber, Erich Hoeber
Production Co.: Summit Entertainment/DC Entertainment/Di Bonadventura Pictures
Year of Release: 2010

The word of the day is: Honesty. So I'm going to be honest, this was a pretty ambitious flick for me to review, simply because; what is there to say? It's a movie about a bunch of retired CIA agents kicking ass. What's there to critique? Well, I honestly don't know but I'll give it a go anyway.
First thing's first - this flick is goofy. It knows exactly what it is and it has a hell of a time messing around with it. It's big, it's loud, it's fast, and it's... A bunch of old people...? It's based on the graphic novel by Warren Ellis and Cully Hamner, which I, admittedly, have not read. However I would imagine that the films overtly comical style derives from that source.
It's not a movie to take seriously, it's got fun characters, and the script, directing, cinematography - everything, really just works to reflect that. There isn't a whole lot I can say about this film except for the fact that it's greatest strength, also happens to be it's greatest flaw: You really do have to leave your brain at the door for this one, which I'm sure anyone could expect from a film which title is an abbreviation of "Retired, Extremely Dangerous". There's a lot to love with this flick, but also a lot to simply, get bored with...
So if you want to go out and have a fun, simple easy going night with your friends, check it out. It also wouldn't be a bad flick for a first date. So go see it, enjoy it, have fun watching John Malkovich acting like a 10 year old paranoid schizophrenic, and the (always) delightful Mary-Louise Parker playing the every(wo)man, fitfully screaming at the expected absurdity. And just enjoy the hell out of old people kicking ass.

Overall rating: 6.0

Thursday, 7 October 2010

The Social Network



RECOMMENDED

Director: David Fincher
Screenplay: Aaron Sorkin
Production Co. : Columbia Productions/Relativity Media
Year of Release: 2010

It's that time of year, bitterness is in the air as David Fincher releases another film. A film about Facebook. Perhaps most of us (I know I did upon first hearing of it) raised an eyebrow at the concept of a David Fincher directing a feature length advertisement. But hark! It's actually good! A great example of how a good director (and/or writer, gotta give credit where credit's due: Aaron Sorkin) can turn any simple premise completely full circle into something masterful.
Rather than making a film about Facebook, Fincher & Co make a film about Marc Zuckerberg, about the people Marc Zuckerberg pissed off, about the people Marc Zuckerberg liked, about the rise of a digitalized electric youth, and lawsuits. Lots of lawsuits.
I have to be honest in saying that I missed the opening few minutes as I was late in the theater, but the second I entered, before I could even sit down I was sucked into a fiery scene full of witty dialogue and fast pacing. The number one thing you come to grips with in your mind when you watch this movie is that it does. not. stop. It's like getting sucked into a perpetuating tornado of witty dialogue, fully formed and fully developed characters, and some of the finest acting I've seen all year, and it just packs it all on, the tornado keeps expanding with every second you spend glued to your seat.
Most of all, this film is an absolute zeitgeist. A look in to our not-so-distant past and not-so-distant future of a business world trying to adapt to consumers sitting in front of the computer, enjoying their internet memes and loling and brbing and wtfing. It's an objective look at what, and who we are. This film could not be any more relevant, and it was made at just the right time. This flick is like watching a John Hughes film in the year 1990, and thinking "Jesus, that's what high school was like". A bookend to another decade, and the big question is posed: "Sooo.... What now?"

Overall rating: 8.9
Awesum

Chungking Express


DISCOVERY

Director: Wong Kar-Wai
Screenplay: Wong Kar-Wai
Production Co. : Mirimax/Rolling Thunder
Year of Release: 1994

Last night I was bored, so I decided to take a nice drive to Barnes and Noble where I got me a bitchin' copy of Don Quixote and the Criterion Edition Blu Ray of this film. I was largely intrigued by it's cover, and I had an itch to spend my cash. So I got it, stayed up late at night watching it (which I can only say compliments the film), woke up this morning and decided to write a review.
The flick is divided into two (almost episodic) narratives about cops who've been recently jilted, and are in the grieving process finding love in a lonely, reserved city on the brink of it's cultural identity's demise.
The key word here is 'identity'. The film focuses on not only a youthful generation's, but an entire society's identity (or lack of). It successfully combines film-noir thriller elements with tender oddball romance and the glue that holds it all together is the consistent feeling of dissatisfaction, distance and longing that derives from all of them, further cementing the film's theme of a mass identity crisis on multiple levels.
There's some really divine cinematography to be found within this film. It's grainy, artificial and motion blurred look really helps the film stand on it's legs (not that it needs any help to begin with) in terms of mood and atmosphere. The acting is pitch perfect, as is the dialogue. There's some really simple yet provocative lines of dialogue in the film, not exactly divine musings but they keep the film grounded in the reality of it's characters. If you're a big 'plot person', there isn't a terrible amount to be found in the way of plot development, so this may not be your bag. But, if you want to see a gorgeously shot, witty, bubbly and quirky yet despairing and melancholic film that captures the voice of a generation, a society in peril and/or anyone that's ever felt just a little bit lonely, then rent/buy/steal this movie. I really don't have much bad to say about it. But trust me, you'll never feel the same about The Mama's And The Papa's song 'California Dreamin', canned pineapple, rain or chef's salads again.

Overall rating: 9.2
Mega Awesum

Welcome one, welcome all!

This is something I've been planning for a while now. My aim with this blog is to write reviews for films both new and old. Including classics, new personal discoveries and whatever happens to be on at my local Fox Theater. I also aim to create many 'best of' lists, picks of the month type deals and all time rankings. I hope you enjoy the page.