November 21, 2013 · 12:00 am

Elysium

Director: Neill Blomkamp, Main Cast: Matt Damon, Jodie Foster, Alice Braga, Sharlto Copley, Diego Luna

So glad I didn’t waste my money on a cinema ticket for this! Imagine Earth a little bit more than a century from now when everything’s gone south: climate change, overpopulation, the GOP gets its way about public health care and cuts welfare to the bone, the gap between the wealthy and the poor is unbelievably  wide…and the 1%ers are living the life on a space station called Elysium (not so subtle reference). Our hero is born in the gutter but he can see the stars, so to speak, he wants to be rich and live in a macmansion on Elysium….the American dream in a nutshell. Again probably in other hands the story of this dystopian future might have been interesting, instead we get an awful mash-up of sci-fi classics references (Aliens, 1997 Escape from New York, Robocop, Johnny Mnemonic) and some from the more recent past (Repo Men, Equilibrium) and very boring, cookie cutter characters. Really not worth your time. –4/10

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November 20, 2013 · 7:40 pm

Lore

Director: Cate Shortland, Main Cast:  Saskia Rosendahl, Kai-Peter Malina, Nele Trebs

Hitler is dead and the Third Reich has collapsed, 15-year-old Lore and her younger siblings (including 7 months old Peter) has been left to fend for themselves by their parents: an SS officer directly involved in the Holocaust and his proud wife. They embark in a long trip on foot through the different sectors of Germany, controlled by the Allies, to reach their grandmother’s house in Hamburg. Along the way they meet Thomas, a young man who is trying as well to survive the aftermath of the war. He helps them and care for them but this will force Lore to come to terms with all the Nazi propaganda she has been fed since childhood. It is a story about the loss of innocence from a rather unusual and interesting point of view, films that tell stories about WWII from the “losing” side perspective, either German, Italian or Japanese, are quite rare. The two young leads are very convincing and Cate Shortland uses very skillfully images and an almost complete absence of a musical score to convey the feeling of loss and abandonment. If you like her style you should watch “Somersault“.   —7.5/10

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November 19, 2013 · 11:02 pm

Oldies but goldies: Jurassic Park (1993)

Director: Steven Spielberg, Main Cast: Sam Neill, Laura Dern, Jeff Goldblum, Richard Attenborough, Samuel L. Jackson;

jurassic-park

A classic sci-fi movie that withstand the test of time. Spielberg nicely mixes adventure, suspense, humor and pretty amazing special effects. Even after many viewings I still get the chills when the water in the glass starts to tremble, he has this knack for announcing when something bad is coming that’s unique, as we have learned since we heard  Jaws’ theme the first time. As usual a dreamer creates something that’s not supposed to be…like living dinosaurs…and then the shit hits the fan because of greed (naturally!) and scientists…guess what?…screw up! The cast doesn’t drop the ball and the film is a great ride. —8/10

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November 19, 2013 · 12:09 am

Favorite quote of the moment

MarigoldHotel-TheEnd

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November 18, 2013 · 6:45 pm

The Bling Ring

Director: Sofia Coppola, Main Cast:  Katie Chang, Israel Broussard, Emma Watson, Taissa Farmiga

Sofia Coppola writes and directs a movie about a bunch of rather well-to-do kids who are obsessed with design clothes and Hollywood celebrities and decide to rob the houses of the young and famous. The story is based on true events but it never delves in too deep and it is a pity, it seems just a shallow attempt at what could have been a rather harsh critic of a society based on pure image and perception. It resembles more a reality show about wannabes who desperately look for fame just for its own sake, or , even worse, to just look the part with the right clothes and accessories. The cast is well chosen and performs well, the cinematography is nice, the film has a good rhythm but it is not enough. It lacks courage and spunk. I expected more.  —5/10

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November 18, 2013 · 6:12 pm

The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel

Director: John Madden, Main Cast:  Judi Dench, Bill Nighy, Maggie Smith, Tom Wilkinson, Penelope Wilton, Dev Patel

Charming and bittersweet “dramedy” in which seven âgée Brits decide, for different reasons, to move to Jaipur, India, and start a new life at the titular hotel. The manager and partial owner is Sonny (Dev Patel), a young Indian with ambitious dreams: outsourcing old age. He wants to cater to the elderly of rich countries and restore his rundown hotel to its former glory. We follow the story of the different characters as they try to adapt (or not) to their new situation and  how they change and learn. The cast is simply amazing and makes a rather linear plot very engaging. I particularly enjoy Maggie Smith’s witticism and banter with Penelope Wilton (just like in Downton Abbey). Life can be an adventure and a discovery at any age. —8.5/10

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November 15, 2013 · 12:35 am

Thor: The Dark World

Director: Alan Taylor, Main Cast: Chris Hemsworth, Natalie Portman, Tom Hiddleston, Anthony Hopkins, Idris Elba, Kat Dennings, Stellan Skarsgård, Jaimie Alexander

This is one of the rare cases in which the sequel is better than the original movie (which has been made only, I suspect, to be sure that the non-geek crowd would recognise the blonde guy in the Avengers). The quality of the film is mostly due to the fact that there is more humor and that Loki is a scene stealer. Tom Hiddleston is brilliant as Loki, showing many layers within what was meant to be a clean-cut villain. This time Thor must fight to save not only Earth but his beloved Jane, his home world and the universe itself from the evil elves and never-ending darkness. To do so he must defy his father and ally with his untrustworthy brother, who uses his tricks to help him but also to pursuit his own machiavellian plan. Can Loki truly redeem himself or will he finally show his true colours? It’s easier to relate to him because he is conflicted, flawed and very human… for a god. Chris Hemsworth does a better job this time around as Thor, a more well-rounded performance and less super-buff caricature. Natalie Portman comes back as Jane Foster and she is unwittingly responsible of discovering the ultimate evil… why scientists are always held responsible for bringing doom to the planet? Hollywood seems to love that! And for the record: an astrophysicist is perfectly able to change her phone’s ringtone. Poor Stellan Skarsgard is relegate to comic relief alongside Kat Dennings. Anyway the film is very entertaining, with plenty of action and effective special effects. The 3D doesn’t add anything, as it is the case most of the time, but, at least, it’s not distracting or disturbing. Well done, let’s see what will come next! —6.5/10

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November 14, 2013 · 10:36 am

Favorite quote of the moment

xmen-magneto-Frankenstein xmen-magneto-creator

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November 13, 2013 · 10:39 pm

La vie d’Adele

Director:  Abdellatif Kechiche, Main Cast: Léa Seydoux, Adèle Exarchopoulos

We witness how Adele (Adele Exarchopoulos) grows from a teenager into a young woman, discovering her interest and then passion for Emma (Lea Seydoux), an art student and a painter few years older than her. The story is captivating and both actresses give a convincing portrayal of their characters. The director uses the visual medium very effectively to showcase all Adele’s different social interactions, with her high school classmates, at the gay bar, at the family dinners, with Emma’s friends and, of course, with Emma herself. We sympathise and empathise with Adele. We watch her inner monologues and struggles when, after jumping into a situation without really thinking (with quite some courage, I must say), she has a “now what?” moment. I have some issues with the editing: some cuts are too abrupt and some scene are too long or plainly unnecessary to the narrative (e.g. sleeping scenes in the second half of the movie). With regard to the sex scenes, I get the burning passion but, after a while, it seems a mere voyeuristic exercise and odd, silly things start to pop in my mind…like…”aren’t they cold after spending so much time naked?” Or “their esthetician is very good but they must be spending gazillions of euros on waxing”, probably not what the director had in mind. Anyway, these might be considered minor flaws. Beguiling —7.5/10

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November 13, 2013 · 6:25 pm

Get Low

Director: Aaron Schneider, Main Cast: Robert Duvall, Bill Murray, Sissy Spacek, Lucas Black

Inspired by a true story of a Tennessee hermit in the 1930s. Robert Duvall is Felix Bush, who has been living by himself in the woods for 40 years, and one day decides to have a “funeral party” while he is still in this world. He wants to invite all the town and hear people telling the stories and rumors that circulate about him. Bill Murray is the owner of the local funeral parlor who is in financial difficulties and who agrees to organise the funeral party for Felix after seeing his big wad of cash. Lucas Black is the honest and kind clerk at the funeral parlor. To pique the interest of the townsfolk and ensure a good turnout, they publicize the party through flyers, radio and a lottery with Bush’s property as a prize (after his death). We slowly find out that the real plan is for Felix to finally tell his story and the reason of his self-imposed reclusion, in which is somehow involved Mattie (Sissy Spacek) and her deceased sister Mary Lee. Robert Duvall’s performance is seamless and very convincing (I would expect no less from him!) and Bill Murray is…well…Bill Murray, just priceless! Something different with a nice Southern atmosphere. —7/10

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November 12, 2013 · 12:43 am

Skyfall

Director: Sam Mendes, Main Cast: Daniel Craig, Judi Dench , Javier Bardem, Naomie Harris, Ben Whishaw, Ralph Fiennes, Albert Finney

Far better than the last installment of the 007 series but that does not really say much. It brings back a little humor with tongue in cheek references to the golden era of James Bond. Our favorite spy is a little worse for wear due to his hobby and his beloved country is under attack. The villain du jour has a personal grudge and a penchant for computers… he even outwits the new Q (brilliant Ben Whishaw)! But his thirst for vengeance has the better of him and he goes overboard, so our hero saves the day. As action goes the film really delivers and the cinematography is pretty spectacular. Judi Dench is always impeccable as M and Daniel Craig can fight like a pro and wear a Tom Ford suit with style (still, he is not my favorite 007). I’ve enjoyed very much Albert Finney’s part: cantankerous and ironic. All in all, a quality Bond movie. —6.5/10

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November 12, 2013 · 12:38 am

Gravity

Director:  Alfonso Cuarón, Main Cast: Sandra Bullock, George Clooney, Ed Harris;

The first thing that come to mind after seeing this film is: visually stunning! One of the reasons why cinema was invented. The second is: using 3D in a movie makes sense for a change and it doesn’t provoke kinetosis (yay!). The third is: NASA should hire Ed Harris as the official voice of mission control in Houston (since “Apollo 13“, he is the most reassuring voice in dire situations). The plot is pretty simple: something terrible and unpredictable (?!?, I’ll get back to this later) happens during a routine maintenance mission of the Space Shuttle to the Hubble Space Telescope and leaves our heroine (Sandra Bullock) stranded without contact with Earth in an environment rather hostile to life. Ok writers, I get that you needed to find a way for this man …well… woman versus nature scenario to unleash the special and visual effects departments, and I am almost willing to forgive you most of the scientific blunders but… someone has to defend the Russians and the aerospace engineers / astrophysicists of any nation. Unlike the United States and  China, Russia has never destroyed one of their decommissioned  satellites with a missile and their satellites are at an higher altitude than the Hubble. What happens in the film is a worst case scenario well known to space scientists called Kessler Syndrome, predicted by Don Kessler in a paper he  published in 1978 (!). The problem of debris in space is well monitored by all space agencies and there are several on-going projects to tackle it (check out what the Swiss are planning: Space Clean-Up). It’s also  important to note that the Hubble and the International Space Station are on orbits with different altitude and inclination, not exactly possible to be both hit by the same bunch of debris. Furthermore, all communication satellites are on geosynchronous orbits, 35000 km higher than the Hubble, so Sandra’s character should have had Ed’s warm, comforting voice in her ear for all the duration of the movie. Lastly, re-entering Earth’s atmosphere is a very tricky business : if the angle is too shallow you bounce back into space, too steep you burn to a crisp! Anyway, don’t mind too much my rant about scientific mistakes, just enjoy the view, Earth has never looked so beautiful! —8/10

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November 10, 2013 · 3:47 am

Oldies but goldies: Clerks (1994)

Director: Kevin Smith, Main Cast: Brian O’Halloran, Jeff Anderson, Marilyn Ghigliotti, Jason Mewes, Kevin Smith;

clerks

Kevin Smith’s first effort is brilliantly written and it is the platonic ideal of an indie film. For Dante (O’Halloran), a clerk at a convenience store, his day off will turn out to be a day to forget, to regret and to remember.  The banter and discussions between Dante and Randal (Anderson), Dante’s best friend who works at the adjacent video store, are just priceless! My personal favorite is the one about the independent contractors working on the second Death Star in the Return of the Jedi. The film has a nice pace and never a dull moment. It also introduces two of the most memorable characters in the history of indie movies: Jay and Silent Bob (Mewes and Smith). They provide random comic relief (additional, I might say) in between scenes with Jay’s uncouth outbursts and Bob’s single pearl of wisdom. All considered, the film is a rare treat! —8.5/10

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November 10, 2013 · 2:07 am

Prisoners

Director: Denis Villeneuve, Main Cast: Hugh Jackman, Jake Gyllenhaal, Viola Davis, Paul Dano, Terrence Howard, Maria Bello, Melissa Leo

Dark, grim thriller set in America’s suburbia in which, surprisingly, none of the characters is very likable. The peace and quite of Thanksgiving’s afternoon is shattered when two girls are gone missing. Hugh Jackman is the bereft father of one of the missing girl, who has an Atlas complex and also happens to be a control freak with daddy issues (it turns out to be a deadly combination). Maria Bello is his listless and submissive wife, who just fall into pieces. Terrence Howard and Viola Davis are the parents of the other missing girl who adopt a “don’t ask, don’t tell” policy with regard to the extreme measures taken by Jackman’s character to find his daughter. Jake Gyllenhaal is the local detective with stellar record but also a clear workaholic, rough around the edges and with a serious temper.  Paul Dano is the mentally challenged, creepy guy wrongfully (?) arrested because he was driving a battered RV and Melissa Leo is his “sweet” but jaded aunt. The film’s somber mood is accentuated by grey skies, pouring rain, snow and ice; the director uses the emptiness and the silence to increase the anxiety of the audience. We watch two men unravelling while they rush down different paths, looking for answers and hoping against hope to save the day. All the cast does a solid job but Dano and Leo are the real scene stealers: kudos! The director leaves us with a sort of open ending: nothing is really straightforward and, maybe, we are all prisoners…like rats in a maze.–7.5/10

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November 9, 2013 · 6:46 pm

The Hunger Games

Director: Gary Ross, Main Cast: Jennifer Lawrence, Josh Hutcherson, Liam Hemsworth, Stanley Tucci, Elizabeth Banks, Woody Harrelson, Donald Sutherland

Set in a dystopian future, where every year the Capitol, central government of Panem,  organises the titular games, a crossover between a reality show and a teen version of Thunderdome. The contestants (tributes) are 24, a girl and a boy from each of the twelve districts in which the country is divided. The Capitol, sort of 1%ers, needs to keep in line the districts, 99%ers, who rebelled back in the days but who are also the cogs of the country’s economy. Our heroine, 16-year-old Katniss, is a skilled hunter (more of a poacher, really) and provides for her little sister and mother; when her sis is selected by lottery for the Games (odds not in her favor in the least!), of course, Katniss volunteers to replace her (lucky for us, otherwise either the movie will be over or we would have witnessed the slaughter of children, no… wait, we still get to see that!). She and Peeta (seriously?!? a baker boy named after a type of bread?well yes, it is spelled differently but…never mind…) join the Games’ circus with its stylists, publicists, mentors, TV hosts and what not, for the two weeks preparation in the Capitol before entering the arena, which is a very hi-tech, giant Thunderdome: 24 kids enter, one kid leaves (the Victor). We then find out that the tributes from district 1 and 2 are the “mean girls” of the situation, little Rue will be Katniss’ protegee, lots of other kids are just cannon fodder and Peeta has a major crush on Katniss…we didn’t see this coming, did we? Especially because Katniss doesn’t have a “thing” with Galen, her hunting buddy back home…love triangle boy-girl-boy, such a novelty! In particular considering the recent history of YA novels turned into films or TV show (I’ll give you a hint: vampires). Anyway amor omnia vincit or, at least, increases your survival odds. I would have dismissed the film as another bait for the Twilight audience  but Jennifer Lawrence can really sell the character. I’ve been keeping an eye on her since “Winter’s bone” and she doesn’t disappoint. Josh Hutcherson, being an old hand at the craft, delivers an honest portrayal of Peeta and even Liam Hemsworth shows some changes in his expression. Banks and Tucci are hidden under an excess of make-up and improbable wigs and Sutherland does just a cameo. We’ll see what happen in the upcoming sequel. —6/10

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November 6, 2013 · 1:28 am

Favorite quote of the moment

TheWire-Bunk-OmarsCode

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November 2, 2013 · 3:05 am

Empire State

Director: Dito Montiel, Main Cast: Liam Hemsworth, Michael Angarano, Dwayne Johnson, Emma Roberts

Boy dreams to become a NY policeman but he ends up becoming a security guard for an armored car depository.  His dream in tatters, he decides to organise a heist at said depository with the help of his best pal, a petty criminal. Things get complicated, then messy and finally they spiral out of control. Michael Angarano’s performance and the characterisation of the Greek neighbourhood in Brooklyn are the only noteworthy things of the whole film. They reminds me of James Ransone’s character and the “Greek” connection in season 2 of The Wire; ironically, Ransone plays here an FBI agent while Paul Ben-Victor is the father of the lead and an ex-cop. For the rest…well, Liam Hemsworth has the emotional range of a flatworm, which makes me regret the absence of Channing Tatum, Montiel’s favorite actor, and it is something, because I’m really not a fan of the guy! Dwayne Johnson as the tough, good cop is utterly forgettable and Emma Roberts seems like she dropped in by chance. Montiel had a good idea but he comes up short. Wasted opportunity! Watch “A Guide to Recognizing Your Saints” instead.  —5/10

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November 1, 2013 · 10:22 pm

Oldies but goldies: From Dusk Till Dawn (1996)

Director: Robert Rodriguez, Main Cast:  Harvey Keitel, George Clooney, Juliette Lewis, Quentin Tarantino, Salma Hayek;

from-dusk-till-dawn

First credited collaboration of Rodriguez with Tarantino (the first at the helm, the second at the writing desk) and a brilliant mash-up of genres: action/thriller and vampire splatter horror. In perfect Tarantino’s style the first part is extreme violence (the ordinary, “it’s a wolf eats wolf world” type) and verbal incontinence. The opening scene is a pearl, great introduction of characters! So the pace is set for a action/thriller and when you get comfortable and start to enjoy the ride..bam! Everything goes topsy-turvy and you are in a splatter horror with tons of vampires and an incredible body count. It is not everyone’s cup of tea, aficionados of the two genres might not like it but if you like Tarantino is a must-see movie. Suggested as an antidote to the excess of sugary films that will start to flood the cinemas but especially TV during the upcoming holiday season. —8/10

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November 1, 2013 · 9:22 pm

Hitchcock

Director: Sacha Gervasi, Main Cast: Anthony Hopkins, Helen Mirren, Scarlett Johansson, Toni Collette, Danny Huston

A film about the making of a film and its creator(s): Psycho and Alfred Hitchcock. As the saying goes “behind every great man there is a great woman” and Hitchcock was no exception. Gervasi shows how his wife, Alma, has always played a cardinal role in creating his films. After three decades of  successfully working together, they embark  in their most ambitious project ever: adapting for the screen a novel about a serial killer with an unresolved Oedipus complex. Hitchcock is so committed that he decide to finance it himself when Paramount balks at the subject of the film. So he finds a suitable screenwriter and cast and begins shooting. When, tired of Alfred’s egocentrism and obsession with his leading ladies, Alma decides to ditch the production of Psycho and do her own thing, the master starts to unravel and the first cut of the film is a disaster. Well, we all know how it ends, since we saw Psycho. Needless to say Hopkins is quite up to the task in portraying this larger than life character (accent, mannerism, body language, etc) but the one who really carries the movie on her shoulder is Helen Mirren, absolutely brilliant as Alma. All the supporting cast does a great job but special kudos to Toni Collette.  —7.5/10

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October 31, 2013 · 10:23 pm

Halloween quote

dean-halloweensam-halloween

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