Archive | Film RSS feed for this section

Charlie Hunnam realizes what he got himself into, backs out of “Fifty Shades of Grey”

12 Oct

627Charlie Hunnam in a leather jacket, which he would’ve used freely in this movie ^^

After initially mistaking his “Fifty Shades of Grey” role as one in which he gets to play a Kaiju in the bedroom, Charlie Hunnam has finally realized that no, he is not the right person for the job. After arriving on set and being asked to engage in, and I quote “Sexy stuff with sexy toys”, he went home and rummaged through his trash to find his mother’s copy of the book. He flipped to page (inset literally any page) and started reading, then immediately got an erection and threw the book into a cauldron of his blood and tears.

Universal, the production company for the movie, released a statement stating

The filmmakers of Fifty Shades of Grey and Charlie Hunnam have agreed to find another male lead given Hunnam’s immersive TV schedule which is not allowing him time to adequately prepare for the role of Christian Grey.

This statement tells us two false things: 1) Charlie Hunnam was made by a filmmaker, and 2) Charlie Hunnam has an immersive TV schedule. Hunnam apparently spends every second of his day perusing “Sons of Anarchy” scripts and smoking joints with Kurt Sutter, and therefore cannot prepare for his role. Or, the statement most likely means

Charlie Hunnam would be terrible as Christian Grey and he wouldn’t even prepare for it anyway and he has a stupid American accent.

No word yet on Dakota Johnson, but she will presumably be leaving just as soon as she comes to her senses and decides to pass on her role to a more “respected” actress (as if anyone would still be respected after engaging in softcore porn on screen for 2 hours).

Credit to FX and Sons of Anarchy for all pictures. I own nothing.

Tags: , , , , , , , , , , ,

“Gravity” Review

6 Oct

627-1 Gravity does not ask us why. Gravity does not ask us who. Gravity asks us what.

Throughout our lives, we face myriad everyday problems, so many that our primal drive to survive gets lost in a sea of relationships, jobs, and uncertainty. Gravity strips all that away, leaving only the rudimentary essence of human life: survival. Space is a place of isolation, one in which nothing surrounds you but deep, dark space, and director Alfonso Cuarón throws you right in.

The setting isn’t only used for spectacle, as I’ve mentioned, but what a spectacle it is. Cuarón is a visionary, delivering a breathtaking drawn-out opening sequence that sets the tone for the rest of the film. His camera work is magnificent, and he throws gorgeous shot after gorgeous shot onto the screen. Yet, each of these shots don’t seem repetitious; in fact, each subsequent one seems to outdo the rest. The situation may not be realistic, but the direction makes it seem that way, and that’s what counts.

(Spoilers may follow) Speaking of realism, the two characters of the film, Ryan (Bullock) and Matt (Clooney), are fantastic. Yes, there are moments of cliche, and yes, sometimes they seem to stand for bigger themes rather than for themselves, as regular human beings. However, I do not believe either of the actors falter one bit. Bullock nails what is possibly the best role of her career, portraying a truly terrified woman that’s going through the most harrowing experience of her life. The contrast between her and Matt is nicely drawn, and the moment in which Ryan hallucinates her partner is one of my favorites of the year. Bullock brings forth that manic energy, and Clooney that smooth reassurance, and it’s simultaneously heartbreaking and heartwarming.

Ryan survives at the end, but Cuarón isn’t trying to create a fairy tale here. This film is essentially an appeal to our inner natures, asking us not to just watch it unfold, but to be fully immersed in the experience. It asks us to imagine ourselves out there in space. It asks us whether we’re really living.

Gravity is easily one of the best, if not the best, film of the year. It’s a cathartic, terrifying, and thrilling ride that is pleading to us to let go and survive, while at the same time, is hypnotizing us, drawing us in to this breathtaking experience.

GRADE: A-

Other thoughts:

-If you haven’t seen this in IMAX 3D, do it now. What a difference it makes. I normally hate 3D, but everything works here.

-The shot that sticks most with me, probably because it’s at the end of the movie, is the overhead shot of all the flaming pieces hurtling toward Earth. Absolutely beautiful.

-I would be surprised if Bullock, and the film itself, doesn’t get a nomination here.

-Ed Harris as the radio guy down on the ground is a perfect choice.

-Bullock is fantastic in that climactic scene in which she listens to the person with the dogs and the baby. It feels so raw and beautiful.

-I like the humor in the movie. It gets a bit talky at times, but everything else makes up for it.

-This film is emotionally draining. I’m not sure if I can see it again.

Credit to Regency Enterprises, Heyday Films, Warner Bros. Entertainment, and Gravity for all pictures. I own nothing.

Tags: , , , , , , , ,

“Prisoners” Review

26 Sep

627“Prisoners” is an intense, moody thriller that is a fully satisfying ride through the dark waters of murder and intrigue. An obvious comparison would be to David Fincher’s masterpiece Zodiac, and rightfully so; the direction, the ambience, and the slow build up of dread all emulate that movie, and while I believe that nothing can touch Zodiac, Prisoners is able to make itself its own film.

The acting is superb, anchored by a strong performance by Hugh Jackman as a father hurtling down a dark path, the days ticking on as his daughter gets farther from him. However, while he nails certain scenes, he sometimes falls into the trap of equating yelling with emotion. I’m more interested in Jake Gyllenhaal’s portrayal of Detective Loki, a man with obvious hidden demons, but a man capable of hiding them. The dynamic between the two characters is perfect, though, realistically portraying the war of patience vs. strength.

The rest of the cast is superb on star value alone, containing the likes of Viola Davis, Terrence Howard, and Melissa Leo in excellent roles. The main standout is Paul Dano as Alex Jones, a seemingly naive, yet terrifying man who gets the full brunt of Dover’s rage. His character is also inherently tragic, and Dano plays that aspect to perfection.

As for the story itself, it’s well crafted. At a running time of 153 minutes, the film naturally becomes muddled and repetitive at times, but the story is honed enough so that it doesn’t plod on. The cinematography is beautiful, reflecting the rain soaked windows, the dreary, meticulous nature of the town, and the desperation of the characters.

(Spoilers)

The ending of the film is predictable, yet wholly satisfying. On the surface, it seems as if Dover’s actions have been vindicated, but at closer look, it only seems to condemn what he’s done. On the one hand, his endless barrage of torture may have been justified, but on the other hand, torture is still inherently bad. Dover’s subjected an innocent man to his own pain, and he realizes what he’s done.

There are a couple plot twists that feel contrived at the end, and the show moves toward the “Melissa Leo is the bad woman” a little too suddenly. However, it’s all worth it for that gorgeous, gorgeous scene in which Loki rushes toward the hospital in his car. The directing, cinematography, and acting in that scene is untouched by any other in the movie.

The ending scene obviously evokes the symbolism of the moment, with Dover being rescued due to the very thing that started this all. However, as he’s come full circle, he’s carried a burden that has caused him to partake in terrible activities.

(End spoilers)

This is a movie well worth watching, and while the show fails at times to fully tell its story of the human psyche, it succeeds as an intense, gripping thriller.

Grade: B+

Credit to Alcon Entertainment and Prisoners for all pictures. I own nothing.

Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

The Great Gatsby Review

31 Aug

627-9

Baz Luhrmann is both the best person and the worst person to direct a remake of The Great Gatsby, a masterpiece in American literature that is still endlessly taught, analyzed, and debated upon today. His films revel in the grandiose, bringing the viewer into a spectacle wrought with flashy cinematography, costumes, and music. This film is no exception. It’s absolutely gorgeous to look at; the party scenes are a flurry of color, costumes, and hip hop music, and it lends itself to the delightful high the viewer experiences.

Of course, the extravagance of the setting restricts the wonderful cast, transforming their characters into caricatures of themselves. I guess it’s kind of the point, but the story is as much about the characters as it is the setting, and I would’ve liked to see much more complexity and backstory. For example, what makes Gatsby who he is? Sure, there’s a quick summary of his life thrown in there, but that’s about it. All the nuances of the characters are hidden amongst their lavish exteriors, and a movie should take us deeper than the surface.

The actors do their best, and the worst for most of these actors is still better than much of what we see in other cinema or television. Leonardo DiCaprio can do no wrong, and he, for the most part, nails the role of the despairing, hopeful, yet phony young businessman and lover. Maguire’s performance is one-note, but his relationship with Gatsby is one of the better aspects of the film. Mulligan is good as the final link in a love triangle, but she really doesn’t get to do much more than be exactly that. Edgerton is fun to watch, coming off as a cartoonish villain that fits right into this world. Isla Fisher and Jason Clarke are miscast, leaving small marks on the film as a whole. Ultimately, though, this is far from their best work, and that’s mostly a fault of the script.

The film, at an extremely long 2 hours and 23 minutes (a whole 30 minutes could’ve been shaved off), ends up feeling empty, not really serving any purpose other than to entertain. Movies that are fun for fun’s sake usually are fun, sometimes laughingly so, but The Great Gatsby is fun for Luhrmann’s sake. The plot is muddled and the film drags on, eventually winding itself down to a resolution that should have been earned, but isn’t.

Grade: C+

Other thoughts:

-The music choice is interesting, but I actually really like the decision to blast Jay-Z, Beyonce, and co. during the party scenes. It’s unique, and it draws a parallel between the extravagance of the time to hip hop in today’s world.

-The final sequence of scenes is really well done, in my opinion, but everything beforehand just doesn’t really serve as a good bridge into the climax.

-I found the narrating annoying, not because Maguire is a bad narrator, but because it feels shoehorned into the movie. It’s completely unnecessary, and I really don’t need to be told what’s happening on the screen every 5 minutes.

-Some scenes really click, like the one where Gatsby meets Daisy or Gatsby and Buchanan’s confrontation.

-Man, the symbolism is really heavy-handed here, isn’t it? Look, that light he’s reaching out to represents Daisy, but when he has Daisy, the outside world isn’t beautiful anymore because Daisy’s beautiful!

-This movie is gorgeous.

Credit to Village Roadshow Pictures and The Great Gatsby for all pictures. I own nothing.

Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Elysium Review

24 Aug

Elysium-fight

Neill Blomkamp burst onto the scene 4 years ago with “District 9”, a compelling, gorgeous, and impressive take on social issues, in particular with regards to apartheid. It was a nominee for Best Picture at many awards shows, and it deserved all the recognition it got.

Elysium is a step down. However, that doesn’t mean it’s not entertaining. One cannot go into this movie expecting a brilliantly constructed political allegory, because it is anything but. The parallels are extremely heavy-handed, and while it tries to touch on issues of totalitarianism, overpopulation, and greed, it fails to do so in a nuanced way.

Of course, it’s an action film. That is what one should expect going in, and it is what you get. The action is at times breathtaking, and like District 9, the cinematography is excellent. Matt Damon does good work portraying a dying and desperate man, and Sharlto Copley (District 9) does great work portraying the delightfully evil Agent Kruger. The main weak link in the cast, though, is Jodie Foster, whose role doesn’t harness her full range of acting ability; she comes across as a robot of sorts, and I would’ve liked to see the movie at least scratch the surface of her hard exterior.

Elysium is a generally enjoyable film, though, and it’s well worth watching.

Grade: B

Credit to Media Rights Capital and Elysium for all pictures. I own nothing.

Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Hello, I’m a polar bear.

23 Aug

Welcome to this blog. There are millions of other blogs out there, but you chose to look at mine. No, you did not just randomly come across it; you chose it. I will accept nothing less.

As for what we do here, I think the title’s pretty explanatory. I’m a polar bear, and yes, I do watch TV. I am obsessed with various forms of pop culture, in particular television and film, so I started this to get my thoughts down in writing. I am a member of the fabulous online community of The AV Club (which all of you should check out), and I wanted to do something similar to that.

What will we review? Lots of stuff. Our TV reviews will include American Horror Story, Dexter, Breaking Bad, The Bridge, The Americans, Wilfred, Louie, Justified, Parks and Recreation, Community, Sons of Anarchy, Hannibal, Orange is the New Black, Boardwalk Empire, Homeland, Treme, Mad Men, Game of Thrones, Archer, New Girl, Parenthood, Orphan Black, Person of Interest, The Walking Dead, Childrens Hospital, NTSF:SD:SUV::, Girls, Nikita, Strike Back, Veep, Banshee, The Vampire Diaries, How I Met Your Mother, Arrow, Revenge, Scandal, The Newsroom, Raising Hope, and others I can’t think of right now. Only some of these will have regular coverage, but I’ll try to get in some posts about all of them. I will also be reviewing new pilots, and may decide to pick up some more shows.

Our TV Classic reviews may include shows like The Shield, The Wire, The Sopranos, Deadwood, Friday Night Lights, House, 24, Lost, Chuck, Terriers, Arrested Development, The West Wing, Fringe, Boston Legal, and others.

*I apologize, but many of these shows’ reviews will start in the middle of their seasons, as I am just starting to write. However, I will try to give some thoughts on the episodes before.

Our film reviews will include whatever movies I decide to watch at home or in the theater, and can be new releases or old.

I might also post some random stuff; fan fiction, thoughts on entertainment news, etc.

Enjoy.

Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Newer Entries →