Matt Damon outruns fate with love and a Trilby. After he meets a dancer, Emily Blunt, he falls in love in that Hollywood way. So does she. But a shady group of men that ensure people follow their destiny intervene because love isn't in their plan.
Frequently compared with Inception by lazy press who want to say "it's a little bit sci-fi" a much better comparison would be the much earlier A Matter Of Life And Death which also examines higher powers messing up and love blossoming.
I was surprised how much more romance and less thriller there was in the film. I also wonder if Philip K Dick kept the original short story short because while the idea was interresting, it was too limited for a full novel. This is a fun little diversion which raises more ideas than it explores but ironically for a film about dodging fate, the end is far too predictable.
Tuesday, 22 March 2011
True Grit
After No Country For Old Men which was like a Western, the Cohen brothers try their hand at actual western.
Haillee Steinfeld is the precocious centrepoint, setting her fathers affairs in order and seeking justice for his murder. The only sense she's a child in anything but form is conveyed by her treatment from adults.
Jeff Bridges is by turns hilarious and rivetting as the alcoholic deputy Marshall with true grit mumbling away as if missing a drink would harm him more than taking it. Don't be put off by the mumbling. If you pay attention and listen carefully it isn't so hard to follow.
Matt Damon is equally entertaining as Texan Ranger LaBoeuf gradually shifting from braggart to competent as his skills are called upon.
The story is nothing new in the Westwrn canon, indeed, John Wayne won an Oscar in Bridges role, but the wit shot through the script provides a nice counterpoint to the acts of violence and gives a nice rhythm to this surprisingly brief film. I loved it.
As an aside, i have since watched the John Wayne original and was pleasantly surprised how well it held up against the new one. Many of the best lines are here but the characters relationships are not so well developed and the atmosphere more anodyne being aimed at a family audience. Still worth looking up.
Haillee Steinfeld is the precocious centrepoint, setting her fathers affairs in order and seeking justice for his murder. The only sense she's a child in anything but form is conveyed by her treatment from adults.
Jeff Bridges is by turns hilarious and rivetting as the alcoholic deputy Marshall with true grit mumbling away as if missing a drink would harm him more than taking it. Don't be put off by the mumbling. If you pay attention and listen carefully it isn't so hard to follow.
Matt Damon is equally entertaining as Texan Ranger LaBoeuf gradually shifting from braggart to competent as his skills are called upon.
The story is nothing new in the Westwrn canon, indeed, John Wayne won an Oscar in Bridges role, but the wit shot through the script provides a nice counterpoint to the acts of violence and gives a nice rhythm to this surprisingly brief film. I loved it.
As an aside, i have since watched the John Wayne original and was pleasantly surprised how well it held up against the new one. Many of the best lines are here but the characters relationships are not so well developed and the atmosphere more anodyne being aimed at a family audience. Still worth looking up.
Paul
Pegg and Frost recombine without their usual director Wright for writing/starring duties in what is basically Spaced on the American Highway. Their usual buddy buddiness is there with a consitant vein of often puerile humour but it has been interwoven with Hollywood focus group feedback giving an uneven, occasionally heavy handed feel. Definitely better than the trailer suggests I laughed often and enjoyed spotting frequent movie references.
Thursday, 17 February 2011
Catching Up 2
I'm doing as bad a job of keeping up to date with my blog as I am at seeing the oscar contenders which is usually my favourite passtime this time of year. Here's a roundup from the end of last year to the beginning of this.
The Girl Who Kicked The Hornets Nest
A fine end to the triology, this time an incredibly tense courtroom drama. Still brilliant central performances. Still uneven thanks to a film edit of a longer TV show. Still can't work out what David Fincher can do to better these.
The Kings Speech
Another standout performance of understatement from Colin Firth as the stuttering King. Another example of why It's great to put British thesps together in ensemble period pieces. If you haven't already seen it you must be running out of excuses.
Biutiful
The latest film from Alejandro Inaritu featuring a moribund medium who spends his life as a go between. Javier Bardem is as captivating as ever as the man who sees dead people. The other roles are well played and there are a number of interesting themes but they never came together leaving a cold, unengaging and pretentious film which is little more than interesting.
Animal Kingdom
An Australian take on the gritty family crime drama. There wasn't much I didn't like about this. Well filmed, well scored. A lean script that drives the story forward. The basic plot is nothing new but the film is brought together with a sense of realism that feels fresh. I really recommend this if you can find it. Much better than last years over-lauded The Town.
The Girl Who Kicked The Hornets Nest
A fine end to the triology, this time an incredibly tense courtroom drama. Still brilliant central performances. Still uneven thanks to a film edit of a longer TV show. Still can't work out what David Fincher can do to better these.
The Kings Speech
Another standout performance of understatement from Colin Firth as the stuttering King. Another example of why It's great to put British thesps together in ensemble period pieces. If you haven't already seen it you must be running out of excuses.
Biutiful
The latest film from Alejandro Inaritu featuring a moribund medium who spends his life as a go between. Javier Bardem is as captivating as ever as the man who sees dead people. The other roles are well played and there are a number of interesting themes but they never came together leaving a cold, unengaging and pretentious film which is little more than interesting.
Animal Kingdom
An Australian take on the gritty family crime drama. There wasn't much I didn't like about this. Well filmed, well scored. A lean script that drives the story forward. The basic plot is nothing new but the film is brought together with a sense of realism that feels fresh. I really recommend this if you can find it. Much better than last years over-lauded The Town.
Thursday, 11 November 2010
Catching Up
I've seen a bunch of films in the last couple of months that have gone un-reviewed thanks to moving house. Here for you now a quick catch up.
SCOTT PILGRIM VS THE WORLD
An excellent adaptation of a mediocre comic, taking the highlights and eschewing swathes of rubbish like a certain wizard adaptation should have. The pop art of cinema I greatly enjoyed this.
TAMARRA DREWE
I laughed from beginning to end at this tale of a newly gorgeous Tamarra returning to her home village and wreaking havoc amongst the quiet country dwelling folk. Expect characters rather than plot and you should be entertained.
THE SOCIAL NETWORK
A film about quatelling over privileged friends, intellectual property law and litigation sounds dull. A film which is "The Facebook Movie" sounds dull. But Aaron Sorkin's writing, as with the West Wing is compelling and Fincher's direction make for a surprisingly absorbing and engaging film. You don't have to use Facebook to enjoy this. I don't.
THE OTHER GUYS
The first part of a police double bill is no comedy classic but there's enough here to keep you chuckling on a wet Sunday afternoon. Surprisingly found Mark Wahlberg's straight man funnier than Will Ferrell's goofball.
THE TOWN
A distinctly average heist movie with some better than average highlights. Sort of a cross between Heat and Dawson's Creek. The film tries to cover about 5 genres and loses it's way doing so. At it's best when dealing with heists, at it's worst when dealing with the girlfriend who should add tension having been victim of the heist but doesn't.
DESPICABLE ME
Or Predictable Me as I would call it. Insufficient despicability and too much sentimentality rob this film of it's potential leaving it an often entertaining but ultimately disappointing diversion.
THE GIRL WHO PLAYED WITH FIRE
The same level of acting and cinematography as the first mean this is let down only by a slightly lazy plot from the book and the fact it was edited down from a longer TV version. Feels very much like the setup for the final part and almost certainly needs to be seen beforehand. Very much enjoyed.
LET ME IN
The American remake of Let The Right One In hits all the right beats and is an excellent first film from recently revived Hammer Studios. It's difficult to pick the two apart in fact but something about the atmosphere of the Swedish version just puts it ahead for me. Either is worth watching but you may not want to bother with both.
SCOTT PILGRIM VS THE WORLD
An excellent adaptation of a mediocre comic, taking the highlights and eschewing swathes of rubbish like a certain wizard adaptation should have. The pop art of cinema I greatly enjoyed this.
TAMARRA DREWE
I laughed from beginning to end at this tale of a newly gorgeous Tamarra returning to her home village and wreaking havoc amongst the quiet country dwelling folk. Expect characters rather than plot and you should be entertained.
THE SOCIAL NETWORK
A film about quatelling over privileged friends, intellectual property law and litigation sounds dull. A film which is "The Facebook Movie" sounds dull. But Aaron Sorkin's writing, as with the West Wing is compelling and Fincher's direction make for a surprisingly absorbing and engaging film. You don't have to use Facebook to enjoy this. I don't.
THE OTHER GUYS
The first part of a police double bill is no comedy classic but there's enough here to keep you chuckling on a wet Sunday afternoon. Surprisingly found Mark Wahlberg's straight man funnier than Will Ferrell's goofball.
THE TOWN
A distinctly average heist movie with some better than average highlights. Sort of a cross between Heat and Dawson's Creek. The film tries to cover about 5 genres and loses it's way doing so. At it's best when dealing with heists, at it's worst when dealing with the girlfriend who should add tension having been victim of the heist but doesn't.
DESPICABLE ME
Or Predictable Me as I would call it. Insufficient despicability and too much sentimentality rob this film of it's potential leaving it an often entertaining but ultimately disappointing diversion.
THE GIRL WHO PLAYED WITH FIRE
The same level of acting and cinematography as the first mean this is let down only by a slightly lazy plot from the book and the fact it was edited down from a longer TV version. Feels very much like the setup for the final part and almost certainly needs to be seen beforehand. Very much enjoyed.
LET ME IN
The American remake of Let The Right One In hits all the right beats and is an excellent first film from recently revived Hammer Studios. It's difficult to pick the two apart in fact but something about the atmosphere of the Swedish version just puts it ahead for me. Either is worth watching but you may not want to bother with both.
Monday, 6 September 2010
L'Illusionist
A French animation following a magician from Paris to Edinburgh trying to make a living in the dying days of music hall.
Based on a script of Jaques Tatti, French master of slapstick, there's surprisingly little of the comedy that made his films so popular.
What there is is the most stunningly realised landscapes of Edinburgh and the highlands of Scotland. The artistry on display is intoxicating and that beauty is perfect to carry you through the slow sections of this melancholic tale. As with Belkeville Rendezvous there is almost no dialogue.
French, silent, animated. Enough to put off many of my friends but it really is worth the effort.
Based on a script of Jaques Tatti, French master of slapstick, there's surprisingly little of the comedy that made his films so popular.
What there is is the most stunningly realised landscapes of Edinburgh and the highlands of Scotland. The artistry on display is intoxicating and that beauty is perfect to carry you through the slow sections of this melancholic tale. As with Belkeville Rendezvous there is almost no dialogue.
French, silent, animated. Enough to put off many of my friends but it really is worth the effort.
Sunday, 15 August 2010
Toy Story 3
When announced I questioned whether we needed a third instalment or whether this would finally be the big mis-step of Pixar. Amazingly, yet again they have found a good story with a solid emotional core which further develops the few remaining cast of toys (Andy has grown up and many are already gone) that are so loved.
The visual flair, inventiveness, wit and charm with which this is done continually impresses but even with all this, even Pixar haven't convinced me 3D is anything other than gimmick.
Not liking cartoons is not a good enough reason to avoid this. Go see it. It is one of the best films of the year.
The visual flair, inventiveness, wit and charm with which this is done continually impresses but even with all this, even Pixar haven't convinced me 3D is anything other than gimmick.
Not liking cartoons is not a good enough reason to avoid this. Go see it. It is one of the best films of the year.
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