Beasts of the Southern Wild

I know it has been a long time since I have posted a review, but the movie I saw last night renewed my faith in the film industry!  Few of you will have even heard of this film, but it is the best movie I have seen so far this year.

The title: Beasts of the Southern Wild

The story:  A six-year-old girl named Hushpuppy lives with her father in a bayu community called “the Bathtub.”   This community is completely cut off from the rest of the world by a levee which keeps the water out of Louisiana and in The Bathtub.  The people of The Bathtub live by their own laws and social amores, and have a vibrant culture all their own.  This film is basically just a glimse of life through the innocent eyes of a small child who knows nothing else but the world she lives in.

Describing this film is difficult because it is an experience more than just a story.  Although they live in poverty, the people of The Bathtub, including Hushpuppy, would live nowhere else.  When a storm threatens their very lives, they choose to stay rather than enter the world so familiar to us, yet so foreign to them. 

Although Hushpuppy’s relationship with her father would be considered extremely abusive by the standards of those of us living North of the levee, to her and those around her it is normal and the film lays no moral accusations on the situation.  This is an extremely emotionally heavy film, but at no point does the viewer feel manipulated into any certain emotion, rather the story is simply presented and the viewer is free to feel whatever they organically would.  This is the main reason that I am so impressed with this film and why I consider it true art and not just entertainment. 

There are other reasons why this film is impressive.  The cinematography is all very close and intimate, making the audience closely relate to the small child protagonist.  The Score is powerful without being overpowering.  The characters are all so beautifully multifaceted and true to life.  The acting is also beyond compare.  At no time does the viewer feel that they are watching actors, but more like watching real people in a documentary.  I think the fact that none of the actors are recognizable helps with this effect, but the performances are so subtle, even in their drama, that they truly draw you into their world and make you feel part of it.

As far as rating this one goes, it’s pretty simple.

Entertainment-  3.   Although this movie holds the attention from beginning to end, it is not the one if you are looking for something light to fill a couple hours.  It is difficult to watch at times, and there isn’t any real comedy or action sequences.

Award-Worthy-  10.  I think I gushed enough about the merit of this film.  There is no weak point in my opinion.

Thor

This film is based on another comic book classic and the latest brick in The Avengers foundation. Elements of the Nordic mythology is folded into the story as we are presented with the history of King Odin(Anthony Hopkins) and his sons Thor(Chris Hemsworth) and Loki( Tom Hiddleston) living on the planet Asgard. Thor is cast out for his aragance and finds himself on Earth without his powers in the company of scientist Jane Foster(Natalie Portman) and her research team. Meanwhile an ancient enemy threatens Asgard and all those living there. Will Thor regain his power in time to save both Earth and his home world?

I was impressed with this film. It has both high entertainment and production values. This film does not take itself too seriously. The big action sequences and bold dramatic scenes are tempered with plenty of humor. What might come off as silly or over the top is presented in just that way so that the viewer never feels the need to quirk an eyebrow and snort, “Really?” Instead they smile and enjoy the ride. The only blatant exception to this is the love story element to this film. The instant and unbreakable bond that Thor and Jane form for one another is not only obvious but undeveloped. It’s almost as though the writers thought, “Well, everyone knows they will end up together, so why waste time writing the details?” I found this distracting and a huge drawback to an otherwise enjoyable film.

The graphics in this film were very well done. The filmmakers selected their spots judiciously as far as where the attention was focused. The realm of Asgard was a breathtaking visual display while the creatures and villains are well integrated with the actors and real sets. With two Academy Award-winning actors in this film( Hopkins, Portman) the acting certainly does not lower the value of this film. Newcomer Hemsworth pulls his own weight among established actors and with his distinct look(aka handsome face and physique) I would be surprised if he is not a household name in the next coming years.

My thoughts in a nutshell:
　
Entertainment: 8- Again, this film may have been a home run if it weren’t for the groaner of a love story. It should have been more well-developed or left out completely. Otherwise, this film is engaging and exciting with just the right amount of humor.
　
Award-worthy 5- The reason I like this film so much is because they don’t pretend it is an award winning movie. This is just pure fun!

Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides

In this film, we see the continued adventures of the beloved Captain Jack Sparrow(Johnny Depp) in this case, his search for the fountain of youth. Sparrow becomes involuntarily tangled in a three-way race to the fountain. Because he possessed a map to the fabled place, Jack is hijacked by Black Beard ( Ian McShane) in his attempt to outrun his prophesied doom. As always, Captain Barbosa ( Geofrey Rush) causes trouble as he too searches for the fountain of youth. The Spanish fleet set the pace of this race and although out of sight for most of the movie, always seem to be one step ahead. The film includes the expected physical comedy mixed with one-liners and blurry lines between friend and foe. With the absence of Elizabeth Swan and Will Turner, or as I liked to call them ‘dead weight,’ we are presented with a new female lead in Angelica (Penelope Cruz) who is both alluring and capable, the admirable combination we saw in the Elizabeth Swan of the first film.

The storyline of this film is very reminiscent of the first few films. This case seems to be a simplified or watered=down version. This film lacked some of the scope that the first few films possessed and makes the film seem a little anti-climactic. We have come to expect large sweeping sea voyages and many exotic and dangerous destinations. In this film, we really only get one destination after what seems like a short jaunt by ship. Although several specific and rare ingredients are needed to gain access to the fountain, all are found on the island itself. By the time the fountain is found it seems as though anyone could have done it. And there is evidence that many people already have. We have also come to expect a recurring and beloved cast of characters. With the exception of Gibbs, Barbosa and Jack himself, none of the characters have returned. All of these aspects combined makes the viewer feel as though something is missing.
Visually, the film is just as stunning as the first three. I do feel, however, that if less time was wasted
 on weird chase scenes, then more could be dedicated to the quest itself. The mixture of dark and macabre with the fun and carefree tones of the franchise are still in tact. It is difficult to tell when the actions of Captain Jack are merely for comedic value, or if they pan out to be the essential part of his major plan.

My opinion in a nutshell:

Entertainment: 6- Although I thought this movie was really fun, it didn’t live up to the original film and doesn’t provide anything new for the viewer.

Award-worthy: 3- the production value is excellent in this film, but the writing seemed sloppy and overall the film seemed like a lazy attempt to squeeze a bit more money out of their franchise.

Insidious

In this straight horror film, we see a very normal family comprised of a man, his wife and their three children moving into a new house. Expectedly the house is old and beautiful. Things begin to get strange and scary right away when one of the young boys will not wake up one morning and while he is in a comatose state, his mother begins to see strange things happen around the house. Can they save the boy before he is lost forever?

　

I found this film quite scary, which is somewhat rare for me. Like most horror films, however, this film starts well, builds up momentum, and then poops out at the end. Although this film relies heavily on cheap scares, it does a good job at it, and some of the visuals are very effective. I liked the fact that this film takes the safety away from the daylight and makes it a place for horror as much as the night. After that, however, there’s really not much more good news. The acting is not good and the story is not very original, but hey, by and large horror flicks have not exactly been paragons of film originality and quality, they are just for fun!

　

My opinion in a nutshell:

　

Entertainment: 7- This is a very fun movie. I would have really liked to see a better ending, it felt like they wanted to take Poltergeist to the next level, but the old horror rule rears its ugly head, “Never show the monster completely because it will always be a disappointment.”

Hanna

In this mystery action flick, we see a girl of about 16 named Hanna (Saoirse Ronan) is raised by her father Erik ( Eric Bana) in the frozen forest to be a perfect assassin. When she decides she is ready, she and her father enact a plan tailored all of Hanna’s life to kill the woman who killed Hanna’s mother. When Hanna kills a woman she believes to be the killer, Marissa( Cate Blanchett) she treks across Africa and Europe to meet with her father one step away from Marissa and some very scary people as she tries to solve the secrets of her mysterious past.

This film is directed by Joe Wright, the same director of Atonement, Pride and Prejudice, and The Soloist. At first glance, this violent action film seems like a vast departure from the heavy dramas he had made in the past. However, Hanna fits into Wright’s repertoire much better than expected, and that is why I am still not sure if I liked it or not. Yes this film has the intricate action scenes and suspenseful chase scenes expected from the previews, but the true focus of this film is on a girl exploring her sense of self and identity. She is not just trying to discover her past, but who she is as a person and how she connects to others. She has spent her whole life without a personal identity outside of her mission. When she believes she has accomplished that mission, she is faced with herself as a girl who is both self-sufficient and helpless as a baby.

I went into this film thinking I was going to see a fast-paced action film similar to The Bourne Identity. Instead, what I got was kinda weird. The action scenes are juxtaposed between scenes from a European coming-of-age film. The villains in this film are also strange. A pitiless southern woman with a hidden agenda. A whistling, German, fetish strip-club owner with severe sociopath tendencies and his two cronies. These are the adversaries that Hanna and her father must evade and ultimately confront. When you add the action, self exploration, mystery, and odd villains the film just feels mismatched and forced together. The mystery is not completely solved also and there are still lots of questions left when the film is over. I think there are some great pieces here and if the film had focused on the action, mystery, or coming-of-age aspects there could have been a really good film here. Instead it’s just weird.

My opinion in a nutshell:

Entertainment: 5- This film promises a lot and doesn’t really deliver. The cast is fantastic and the acting is quite good. The action scenes are well done, but are few and don’t seem to fit with the rest of the film. The mystery is well set, but does not answer all questions. The self-exploration is sympathetic, but interferes with the flow of the film and also does not reach a conclusion.

Award-worthy: 2- This is an award-winning director, but this is not his best work.

Source Code

In this drama thriller with a sci-fi twist, we are thrown directly into the action, and confusion, for main character Cpt.Colter Stevens(Jake Gylenhaal) as he wakes up on a train he has never been on in a body that is not his and in a conversaton with a woman he has never met.  Within the first five minutes, the train explodes and Colter wakes up strapped into a chair in some sort of capsule with only the image of a woman named Goodwin(Vera Formiga) as his direction through confusion and disorientation. As the secrets are revealed one at a time, Colter returns to the train again and again to relive the last eight minutes of another man's life in order to discover the bomber's identity and prevent the next attack.  In the process he predictably falls in love with the woman in the next seat(Michelle Monaghan) and she soon becomes his motivation for trying to save everyone.  Will Colter acomplish his task and save the girl too?

I was pleasantly suprised by this movie.  Time travel and quantum physics can be a minefield for filmmakers to try to mauever.  Although never truely without loopholes, the tighter the logic, the better the film will be.  This one lacks any major loopholes to distract the viewer and the ones that are there are minor and appear later in the film once you are already invested.  The exposition is complicated and a little redundant as the same things are re-explained several times.  As a result, I found the begining of the film to drag in an annoying way, and it wasn't until about a half hour into film that I felt like it really got going. 

A lot of that drag was due to the character of Colter himself.  I found myself getting very irritated with his slowness to catch on to the situatin.  He is supposed to be a seasoned and decorated soldier but in the begining of the film we see him blatantly question authority in the middle of a mission and is reluctant to perform even after key elements are explained.  I found myself mentally screaming "Just get it done and ask questions later!"  I also thought a lot of his initial decisions on the thrain were made in haste and panic without being thought through.  Later in the film when he started to get the hang of it, that is when I really started to get into the movie.  I was, however, a little annoyed at how quickly he fell for Christina, the girl in the next seat.  It has become so expected that it will happen, that they don't even give good reasons why anymore.  Forming an attatchment to her makes sense, she's nice enough, but to risk everything just for her when you have only spent the same eight minutes with her maybe a dozen times, doesn't really satisfy me.  But, whatever!  It is what it is. 

Jake Gylenhaal does a fine job playing the protagoist here and Vera Formiga also presents a compelling character, but aside from that, all the other characters come across quite flat.  This is definately a story-driven film.  Although the ending was easily predictable, how he gets to it is interesting enough.  I laughed, I cringed in suspense and said "Ah-ha" at the little plot twists.  I was definately along for the ride on this one.  You would think that a film consisting of eight minutes on a train and a man locked in a capsule, that the film would feel cramped, but the way Colter moves around the train and sometimes gets off at the stop really gives a sense of space to this film that I think could have been easily lost.

My opinion in a nutshell:

Entertainment:  6- The entertainment value is definatelythere, but I found some of the charaters too obvious, and I found the ending, including the villain, quite anticlimactic but the story is compelling and the directing is very good.  A fun way to spend a couple hours.

Award-Worthy:  4- Unlikely, but have fun anyway!

Sucker Punch

I have to say, writing a brief synopsis of this film is a chore, but here goes. The movie begins with an innocent-looking girl, who we only know by the name Baby Doll played by Emily Browning, being committed to a mental institution by her stepfather after her mother dies. From there it gets a bit more confusing. Here the film switches to another perception of reality where the girls are imprisoned in a nightclub of sorts and forced to perform and prostitute themselves to the patrons. When Baby Doll is asked to dance, however, she slips into another version of reality, this one only loosely based on actual events occurring around her. While in this fantasy world, she is able to get things accomplished while all the time it appears that she is merely dancing. With the plan she concocts in her dream world, she is able to enlist the help of four other girls. Together, they navigate both the nightclub and fantasy realities to achieve their freedom.

　
The plot sounds confusing at best and stupid at worst, and while it might be both of these things, it is not the plot that makes this film stand out. You know how the preview of a movie is always better than the actual movie? That is because all the money shots are all squashed together into a nice 30 second package that leaves you wanting more. This movie is two hours of money shots back to back to back. The visuals are stunning. Please, if you are going to see this film, see it in the theater, it is worth it. The visual aesthetic we have come to expect of 300 and Watchmen, Zack Snyder, has lent the same unearthly quality to this film. Since he wrote this film, it is tailor made to his personal aesthetic, which has become unmistakable. He makes no pretenses but merely incorporates everything he thinks is cool into one film. If you think the same things are cool as he does, you will love this movie, if you don’t you won’t. Pure and simple. I mean, where else are you going to see five hot chicks in sexy outfits kicking ass against giant samurais, clockwork Nazis, fire breathing dragons, and streamlined robots all in the same movie? 

Zack Snyder creates such a rich and vibrant world, threeof them actually, that if you are a little confused about what is going on, that's OK!  He is not just a director, he is an auteur.  I love that people are responding so well to his cinematic style.  I love how visceral it is.  No one can argue that he pertrays realism, but when making a fantasy, why not make it as fantastic as possible?  It's not just the visuals, but the music selection also contributes to the tone of this film.  I love the reimaginings of classic songs like "White Rabbit"  and "Search and Destroy."  They lend the propper hard core feeling to the dream world, but also set the viewer off balance because they are slightly different from what they are used to hearing.  I also think the choice of the girls was perfect.  They all did a great job doing the whole badass thing in the dream world, but pulled off vulnerable in the nightclub.  I applaud Snyder for this one and can't wait for his next venture.  And he's from Green Bay! 

　
What I think I loved so much is that Snyder wrote these girls as just straight-up warriors, almost the same way he would write men characters, except they are smoking hot. This is something that makes me kind of sad about watching war movies like Band of Brothers. Men have these unbreakable bonds formed in battle situations and have trust in each other’s abilities and loyalty. Women are never portrayed this way. They are always seen as catty or manipulative or self-serving. Although these women are beautiful, they are confident and work as a team.
　
My little piece of feminist indulgence aside, this movie is most definitely NOT for everyone. I reiterate that one should go into this prepared for a visual spectacular set to some fantastic music. Know what kind of viewer you are! If you are more of a fan of the mainstream films that all wrap up nicely at the end with the good guys happy and the bad guys in misery (and don’t get me wrong, I enjoy a good formula film as much as the next person) then this is probably not the film for you. This is definitely more conceptual and not at all literal. But for the fan boy film geek this is the movie to see again and again. I know I will!
　
My opinion in a nutshell:

Entertainment: 7- The reason this didn’t score higher is because the target audience is so specific because honestly this film is nothing but entertaining. The people who will like this film are going to LOVE it, but those who don’t are going to hate it. Not only is the flow of the story confusing, anachronisms can be distracting for those not used to it.
　
Award-worthy: 4- except for some visual or technical awards, this one won’t really catch anyone’s attention come award season. Like I said, it is nothing but entertaining.