3 out of 5. Noah Baumbach's black and white film FRANCES HA pins down what it's like to go after ones dreams and fall short. In the easily likable character of Frances, played by Greta Gerwig, you get a sense of someone who's spirited outlook on life seems indomitable. Her forward motion doesn't take time to ponder to long before going onto the next thing. Which is easily frustrating for those around her. She won't be kept down for long before bouncing back into some other wish fulfillment. It makes those who are somewhat jaded (moi?) and serious long for that bit of adolescent naivete in their daily life. It's a very refreshing film and very New York.
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3 out of 5. Marius Holst weaves a dark tale based on a true story in the KING OF DEVIL'S ISLAND. Having Stellan Skarsgard in the lead role doesn't hurt either. He's as icy and bitter as the winter winds in this Nordic tale of a school for delinquent boys. Benjamin Helstad does an equally excellent job at standing his ground and foregoing the harshest conditions. It's not much different than Cool Hand Luke in terms of story but it does offer some really excellent situations and character development that is harrowing and heartbreaking. The ending...man...good stuff.
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3 out of 5. It's rare when a documentary director finds such a unique angle. Joshua Oppenheimer's THE ACT OF KILLING could have been a Ken Russell film. It was bizarre right from the start and a little unnerving how matter-of-fact the death squad leaders were about their "jobs". When they recreated the scenes of murder in lavish crime numbers or musical numbers, the haunting pallor would blanket the people involved. You could see the thousand yard stare of reliving history in their eyes. This is brave filmmaking and Oppenheimer does an excellent job at capturing it. Not for everyone, but everyone should watch if nothing more than to understand what humans are capable of.
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3 out of 5. David Frankel's THE DEVIL WEARS PRADA is an infectious comedy that you can't stop thinking about. Maybe it's because of the under-dog lead played by Anne Hathaway that most people can identify with. Or it's her high-status boss played by Meryl Streep who's performance seems to diminish everyone under her affecting gaze. Plus, Stanley Tucci is always fun to watch. Overall it's a fairly predictable storyline but the journey is what makes it fun. By the third act it does lose a little bit of the snap and bite of the opening but it's because the character arcs are converging. Great fun.
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3 out of 5. Hong jin-Na's THE YELLOW SEA is a crazy, violent ride taken by a former taxi driver looking for his wife. The directing is really good and the stakes just keep piling on top of each other until they reach a very crazy apex. The lead, Jung woo-Ha plays a great everyman character whose mission is believable and who continues to surprise by his choices. Yun seok-Kim is also great to see as he brings real weight to the screen. He was great in The Chaser and is always fun to watch. South Korea has had a lot of violent films come out on Netflix, this one is little less violent and maybe not as pretty but it's still quite good.
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3 out of 5. Kevin Smith while not one of my go-to director's makes a fun and risque film with ZACK AND MIRI MAKE A PORNO. I think what's funny is my mother recommended it to me after seeing it in a theater. I'd never pay that kind of money to see a comedy but took her up on the challenge of watching it. Seth Rogen and Elizabeth banks have great sincere chemistry that makes there situation believable and absurd. Kevin undoubtedly has a gift with dialogue that is unique. The acting in general is really fun and funny. At first blush you might think this is just more gross-out humor from Smith but honestly it rises above that to tell a great little story.
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3 out of 5. In CRAZY, STUPID, LOVE directors Glenn Ficarra and John Requa spin a very fun tale that doesn't leave your brain at the door. This is one of those films where the casting works so well for the story that the chemistry sparkles between the actors. It shows yet another facet of Ryan Gosling's abilities if you're tired of the gloom and morose work he's done lately. But really all the acting is quite good. I think the only thing that probably worked against this film is the title. In a sea of "like" marketing it's easy to miss this great little film when it's up against Eat. Pray. Oh, and the ending is actually pretty damn good.
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3 out of 5. RAMPART by director Oren Moverman and co-written with James Ellroy should have been the sequel to BAD LIEUTENANT. Well, Woody Harrelson's character is not that depraved, but he plays a cop who can't help himself. His very nature is corrupt, manipulative, controlling and violent. This is a great role and it's nice to see Ned Beatty along with a veteran cast of very talented actors. The directing at first was off-putting but the camerawork and cinematography is unique and the voice of the story comes across loud and clear. I was surprised at how much I enjoyed this character portrait.
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3 OUT OF 5. Paddy Considine's TYRANNOSAUR burns white-hot with some great acting It's interesting when good actors direct other good actors. The fidelity of truthfulness comes across with amazing texture. The story of this film is creatively veiled and reveals itself slowly over time. This in itself is quite rewarding. There's a terrific moment of discovery when your perception is rocked and things just come crashing down. Very raw and powerful stuff. The dialect is a bit strong and at times you lose a lot of what is said but it is well worth it. If you like the strength of Todd Field's filmmaking you'll really dig this.
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3 out of 5. Raoul Walsh would have given James Cameron a run for his money with his epic THE THIEF OF BAGDAD. The energy that Douglas Fairbanks brings to this film must have been how we feel watching parkour today. It had to have blown people's minds. If not that then the sets that were just out-freaking-standing. This film played with scale in so many ways. Incredible production design. It reminded me of other grandiose films like INTOLERANCE. Also, Anna May Wong's magnetism is hard to beat. She was execellent. The story is pretty epic as well to the point of collapsing in on itself. Even for a silent-movie which many may feel impatient about, I assure you there's a lot of great elements that do keep on moving. I had dreams of emotive hand gestures for the next two days.
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3 out of 5. ARMADILLO by Janus Metz Pedersen
is a beautifully crafted documentary almost to a fault. It follows the
lives of a group Danish soldiers to Afghanistan. Much in the same vein
as RESTREPO it balances the intensity of
firefight with the sheer boredom of nothing in between. Why this one
stands out is because it is so well shot and edited with post-coloring
effects that you sometimes forget it's real. It's still no less moving
and worth a look.
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3 out of 5. David Cronenberg's EASTERN PROMISES is a small but impactful film. The cast is really good together
and direction is quite solid. I especially like the Art Direction and
costumes in this film. Viggo is a badass in this and has an amazingly
shot fight scene. Also Vincent Cassel is loose cannon and adds a lot of
tension throughout. Fun stuff.
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3 out of 5. Taika Waititi's EAGLE VS. SHARK is
stuck in my head and I can't get it out. I think that's a good thing
too. The film is indie and smart with some really odd characters but not
for the sake of being odd. It's
carefully conceived and well directed with stop-motion inserts
throughout that add a nice texture to the story. If you like the quirk
of Wes Anderson movies this film is easy-going and fun.
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3 out of 5. John Hillcoat's THE PROPOSITION
expands on the Western even though it was filmed in The Outback. The
landscape of Australia is brutal hell on Earth and it's characters are
tied to it by their deeds. Even the
innocent is guilty of something and no foul deed goes unpunished by man
or element. All this comes across in a fairly poetic manner with nods to
Peckinpah other directors of great Westerns.
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3 out 5. John Boorman's POINT BLANK with Lee Marvin and Angie Dickinson is a bad-ass
flick. If you like the era of tough no-nonsense guys who take care of
business and don't take lip from a woman. This is exactly that kind
of film. Watch this back-to-back with Lee Marvin's remake of THE
KILLERS and you'll need to send your loved-one away on vacation just so
you can man-out. Solid filmmaking, nothing fancy and it delivers the
goods with sand in your teeth. Also Steven Soderburgh and John Boorman are on the commentary track. Fascinating stuff!
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3 out of 5.
Lone Scherfig's AN EDUCATION was a tour de force of writing and acting. The
directing was really quite good too with some excellent shots that
seemingly try to sneak by. Overall a very positive film about family
matters being taken down a notch with the entrance of an acceptable
gentleman caller. Some nice plot twists and some really great dialogue
throughout. The lead, Carey Mulligan is believable in her arc of an
isolated teenager to one who grows a backbone through harrowing
circumstances to become a sound young woman. I would have scored this
higher but while the story and dialogue was quite good the structure of
the script toward the end felt a little too satisfying and quick.
Definitely memorable regardless and worth a watch.
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3 out of 5. THE LIMEY with Terence Stamp and Directed by Steven
Soderburgh rises to the occasion through the simplicity of plot and
style. It avoids the cliches of the genre and feels fresh and appealing
throughout. Stamp owns the picture and maybe that's why I gave it a 3
instead of a 4. It's not groundbreaking cinema but it's still cool,
stylish and worthy a watch. If you like your revenge quiet and
cool...this is the movie for you.
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3 out of 5. Mario Bava is known for horror but DANGER DIABOLIK is a
very cool flick. I don't know what to say, the color the production
design, the soundtrack (Ennio Morricone) is all super-spy and even
superhero. It's based on an Italian comic by two sisters. The lead,
John Phillip Law is a great match for Marisa Mell...beautiful people
doing extraordinary things. If you like James Bond and a little
Euro-camp to wash it down with you will dig this groovy spectacle.
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3 out of 5. In MAN ON WIRE James Marsh delivers an exhilarating spectacle that holds your attention from the first frame. Despite it's simple subject matter and some re-staging
elements this was a really well-made documentary. It builds up the same
tension of a heist movie. With its colorful characters and ample
beautiful footage from the central character, Philippe Petit's youth it
builds to an amazing finish but not nearly as amazing as the journey
there. Some touching moments are offered by friends of Philippe. Great
pacing and very enjoyable.
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3 out of 5. Mario Bava is known for horror but
DANGER DIABOLIK is a very cool flick. I don't know what to say, the
color the production design, the soundtrack (Ennio Morricone) is all
super-spy and even superhero. It's based
on an Italian comic by two sisters. The lead, John Phillip Law is a
great match for Marisa Mell...beautiful people doing extraordinary
things. If you like James Bond and a little Euro-camp to wash it down
with you will dig this groovy spectacle.
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