A wacky interpretation of the golden era of Hollywood - ****

The Coen brothers have been doing films together since 1984 with more than 15 films under their belt.  They mostly write, direct and produce their films themselves which are generally characterized as 'genre-busting' and this current film Hail, Caesar is no different.

Eddie Mannix (Josh Brolin) is a manager of Capitol Pictures but also acts as a 'fixer' to manage their actors' good image to the press.  Dealing with a lot of different problems while their company is working on a couple of films, be that the disappearance of Baird Whitlock (George Clooney) from the set of the movie Hail, Caesar, the transition of a cowboy to a dramatic actor or the pregnancy of a talent out of wedlock, Eddie also had to deal with his won personal issues with family and career.

This film is funny in a lot of different ways. The way it exaggerates stereotypical Hollywood characters' behaviors and the way it interprets what was is moral during that time.  But what really awed me is the tribute it gave to famous actors of the time like Kirk Douglas,  Esther Williams, Kirby Grant and Gene Kelly particularly the water ballet of DeeAnna Moran (Scarlet Johansson) and the full production number of Burt Gurney (Channing Tatum).  Josh's Eddie is focused and his character tries to hold the story together.  Other formidable actors join in on the fun and I particularly like the character of  Ralph Feines (Laurence Laurentz) as the avant-garde director trying to work with an actor who can't speak well, Hoby Doyle (Alden Ehrenreich).

While there may be a lot of things that this movie wants to say, and there are a couple of subplots emerging from just about anywhere to add to either the entertainment factor or confusion, it seems that identifying of the message from this film is left to the audience to decide.  It loosely focuses on its message and the story and looked more into characters and scenes.  Overall, I enjoyed watching this film and I am happy that I sought this out even though the screening schedule is limited.

A sensitive story told in a unique way - ***1/2

Shot in 2014, this movie is based on a book by Irish-Canadian playright Emma Donoghue who wrote the screenplay herself.  The book itself won some prestigious awards while the movie has gained the attention of critics and award giving bodies particularly for the exemplary acting by the two main actors in the film.

The story takes you to Jack's (Jacob Tremblay) 5th birthday, celebrating it in the only the only world that he knows which is a shed.  Along with his mother, Joy (Brie Larson) who was abducted by Old Nick (Sean Bridgers)  they survive living in this little shed they call room for 7 years (for Joy) until their survival is challenged when Old Nick lost his job thus giving him difficulty to provide supplies and heat for the mother and son in captivity.

One thing that is unique about this film is that the story does not start in the beginning.  It takes you right in the middle of it and just allows every bit of mystery to unravel giving the audience the freedom to understand how it all began.  But the very strength of this film lies in the performance of Tremblay and Larson. The difficulty and emotional turmoil of a mother trying to raise a child that was born in captivity and the fear and acceptance of a son coping with a world he never knew existed.

Because the story is told thru the eyes and mind of Jack some bits of the story that might have been shocking or more dramatic if seen from the eyes of an adult became subtle and downplayed what could have a dramatic highlight or a shocking revelation.  In effect , it flattens the emotional journey of the audience and making the film a little bland. 

Cinematography and sound collaborate to create a crafty work of art - ****

The film is loosely based on a manuscript of the same title written by Michael Punke.  The development of this project started in August of 2001, but went through a long process until they started filming in October of 2014.  Many people were considered for the main part, from Samuel L.Jackson to Sean Penn and to Christian Bale until the role finally went to Leonardo di Caprio.

Set in the 1800s in Louisiana Purchase when pelts is a major industry,  a group of trappers led by Captain Andrew Henry (Domhnall Gleeson) was attacked by native Americans (Arikara) leading the survivors to retreat on foot upon the advice of  Hugh Glass (Leonardo di Caprio). Glass is an experienced hunter who has a half breed son Hawk (Forrest Goodluck) belonging to the Pawnee tribe. Hawk's presence is disconcerting to trapper John Fitzgerald (Tom Hardy) since he was once partially scalped by native Americans many years prior.  Fitzgerald did Glass a great injustice and the story revolves around Glass' struggle in exacting revenge.

Clearly this was not an easy film to make.  Watching it you wonder how the cast and crew actually even survive the harsh winters of  Canada and the United States.  The director did not want computer generated images to fill up his scenes and the cinematographer wanted natural lighting to get realistic and so they really need to be there where ever the story requires.   This is really a work of art in photography and scenery.  Music and sound also take on an active part in relaying a story.  Scenes are mostly shot in single takes with a wide angle lens to translate width and realism into the screen.

The story is the main reason why I am not giving this film a 5 star rating.  Though the plot is really simple, it also tries to depict the challenges of living around that time in American history, presenting the story as it is but not necessarily taking a stand.  It tries to say a lot of things on the side but not summarily making a point.  Thus rendering it a little pointless. 

'Brooklyn' shines in a spotless version of the world in the 1950s - ****

It is interesting how films made in the Hollywood golden era of the 1950s present the world as clean and crisp.  Actors are styled well and costumes seem to be well ironed and clean.  It might as well have been matched by the innocence that prevailed during that era and the idealism that people imbibe that help set up this escapist fictional style that these films adopted.  Brooklyn, the movie that was made in 2015 blends very well to that genre.

Brooklyn is really two love stories in one film.  It is about an Irish immigrant's struggle to find a life in America and her relationship with a working class Italian whom she met at a Brooklyn dance club.  Ellis (Saoirse Ronan) moved to America in 1952 to find a better life with the help of her bookkeeper sister who is staying in Southern Ireland to be with their mother.  She struggles with homesickness until she met Tony (Emory Cohen), an Italian immigrant working as a plumber.  Her sister Rose (Fiona Glascott) died of unknown cause that led her to come back home to comfort her mother (Jane Brennan). Back home she discovers a life that she nearly wanted before she went to America that led her to a crossroad.

So many things I liked about this film.  Cinematography and design lend themselves well to the escapist fiction that this movie pushes for.  Colors are bright and primary, lighting is crisp and styling is almost flawless. The direction sets the audience to an emotional ride, from sadness, to giddy to feeling romantic to feeling betrayed all these translates clearly from the screen with the help of such good actors, headed by Saoirse and very well supported by Emory, and the rest of the stunning support.

What really kept me from giving this film a perfect 5-star rating is the way the conflict was resolved.  The turning point at which Ellis came to a decision choosing from staying in Ireland or coming back to America either flawed her character or made the decision too easy.  Either way, it created a smudge in an otherwise shiny and spotless film.

Though the director employed a more traditional style of storytelling, it just made the presentation of the narrative clear and direct.  I truly enjoyed watching this film because it took me to a time when relationships are sacred and people are more respectful.  It reminded me of a time when America depended on immigrants to build their nation thus strengthening ties between countries and in effect erasing boundaries.

 

A summary of all the good points from the original trilogy - ****

The Force Awakens is the first of a new set of trilogy following episode VI, Return of the Jedi.  Star Wars creator George Lucas knew right at the shoot of Empire Strikes Back that there will be a sequel trilogy but it did not materialize until he decided that he will not make another Star Wars film. But the sale of Lucasfilm to Disney brought forth renewed energy to produce the next set, the first installment of which is directed, co-produced and co-written by the man of the hour J.J. Abrams. 

The story takes off 30 years after Return of the Jedi, continuing the fight between the force and the dark side.  Two forces continue to battle it out; the First order which used to be the Galactic empire backed by the dark side and the Resistance backed by the Republic finding themselves on the good side of the galaxy.  The story is driven by the search for Luke Skywalker by both parties. The former to finally end the only living Jedi that will guarantee success for the dark side and the latter to be finally reunited with his twin sister Leia now known as General Organa of the Resistance and get his support for the fight against the dark side. 

Watching this from a non-fan point of view the film looks and feels old, but that only means that they've tried to be consistent with original designs and editing styles from all the way back as Episode IV.  And when you get over that as a viewer you are just intrigued by the new characters Ray and Finn and how they will fare into the story, poised to be the new heroes of this trilogy.  Two characters  exchanging energies and helping each other survive, what is intriguing  to me mostly are their characters' origins, where they came from , that was not very well supplied in this movie. Thus to me they come off as aloof making it a little difficult for me to relate to their characters. 

But mostly what I am really admiring in this film is the way the story is told.  This film succeeds  in telling a story that mostly picks up most of the good points from the past films and putting them all in this one.  It captures the audience imagination and succeeds at making the audience involved in every scene be it a space chase scene, a family drama or some personal discoveries. 

A typical sports drama film - ***

Creed is considered the 7th of the Rocky series, but it can also be considered as a spin-off.   There was Rocky I-V, and then 'Rocky Balboa' considered as part 6 , then here comes Creed as the 7th.  Co-produced by Sylvester Stallone and directed by Ryan Coogler the film seems to sit well with critics and has earned good box office receipts since its opening in November this year.

Out of a juvenile detention facility, the bastard son of the deceased Apollo Creed, Donnie is taken in by the legal wife of Apollo, Mary Anne played by Phylicia Rashad.  We next find Donnie as an adult leading two lives, one as an employee at a securities firm and another as a underground boxer in Tijuana, Mexico.  Since he has been fighting mostly his childhood days and has too much of his father's blood in him, he decided to leave his job and pursue boxing.  He moved to Philadelphia to eventually get training from Rocky Balboa and gets to fight on an international  ring. 

While there is nothing incredible or spectacular about its narrative, this movie raises up a couple of questions; Are we worthy of our father's name?  How much does it take to earn the respect of our peers and the community we revolve in? What is family? It really took a while for me to realize the real conflict of this story, at the onset I kept asking myself, 'so what's the issue here?' Is it about the struggles of the youth of today or is about how our identity can be lost due to our heritage? At one point the movie seemed to loose some focus but it all boils down to the final fight and its outcome.

This will be the second time that I'm seeing Michael B.Jordan in a film, the first one being as Torch in Fantastic Four and I can say that he was well casted for this role as Donnie.  He was okay in Fantastic Four but he showed more depth and range here in Creed, he just proves that there is something more beyond his superhero body.

Two stories masterfully told in one movie - ****1/2

It is amazing how this movie went through a lot of filters before it came to us as a film.  It started with true events, that became an inspiration for  a book, and that story in itself became a book from which this movie was based on.  The story traveled a long ways from history to become a film such that it really is not  surprising that the part of history where it came from is a totally different world altogether.

This story is about the ill-fated voyage of the .American whaling ship Essex and the struggles of its survivors.  The story is told through an interview by Moby Dick author Herman Melville and the only living survivor Thomas Nickerson.  While the adventure of the Essex is being told, Herman and Thomas each are coming into their own being, the former as a writer and the latter as a man coming into terms with his own demons.

Two stories running parallel to each other, alternately serving as both background and main story; the interview about the Essex and the adventure of the Essex.  The opening scene establishes the two main characters of the interview, Herman on the brink of discovering a source for his masterpiece and Thomas on the brink of breaking through a wall that he built for himself thus shunning away the people who love him.  Then the story rolls along the incredible adventure of the captain  and crew of Essex as they try to survive the harsh elements of being stranded in the middle o the sea.  Two stories very well told, tied together through the masterful work of director Ron Howard.  To me both stories come equally compelling and intense. Both stories are about courage and both glorifying the concept of truth and honesty.  Watching this film feels like a journey in itself and the end of this journey is represented by classic tale of Moby Dick.