Well, I think I've seen enough movies this year. As the New Year approaches, here's my full report and rankings on 2013 films, soon to appear on my blog:
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[Show spoiler]Stranded
A rather plain, dull, contrived, and utterly forgettable sci-fi flick that mimics the exact same plot of John Carpenter's The Thing. Nothing really stood out, Christian Slater continues to pump out bland and uninspired performances, and the model work at the film's beginning are some of the cheapest I've seen.
Resonance: I've pretty much already forgotten about most of this film, and chances are that it will be forgotten by all in due time.
This film had a promising synopsis; it could have been the wickedest dystopian film since A Clockwork Orange. It fell way short, presenting a cast of incredibly stupid characters who do some incredibly stupid things, all to push a story along that's nothing more than a bland home-invasion thriller. Despite a few good moments, the film could have been so much more.
Resonance: The film has a following, and chances are that there may be sequels coming along. It could be good or bad, but I could see it getting out-of-hand if they just keep pumping these out one-after-another the same way they did with all the Saw movies, the Rest Stop movies, the Wrong Turn movies, and stuff like that.
My current score: 2.5/5
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[Show spoiler] Planes
Pretty standard kids' movie fare here; the animation looks pretty, but the story, characters, and comedy don't really knock anybody's socks off. It was originally planned to be a direct-to-video movie, and it actually looks like one.
Resonance: Fans of the Cars franchise, and kids, will probably get a kick out of this. A second Planes film is already in the works. This movie could be around for a bit.
Do I really need to say anything about this? It's about a tornado full of sharks. Enough said!
Resonance: It was an amusing anomaly at its time, and it might garner a following for those who actively seek out "so bad it's good" films. Regardless, folks still prefer films that are unintentionally funny, rather than this film, which tries to be funny by being intentionally bad. I predict that Sharknado will be forgotten quickly, but immortal classics like Birdemicand The Room will live on forever in many viewers' hearts...
My current score: 2.5/5 (guilty pleasure)
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[Show spoiler] I Spit on Your Grave 2
The sequel to the 2010 remake; pretty much the same story, told with different characters in a different setting (urban now, instead of some backwoods). The film is quite wicked indeed, and it does push the boundaries of taste and morality. I also have this film to thank for giving me a fear of vice grips.
Resonance: The film is critically panned, and will probably never surpass the notoriety of the 1978 or 2010 films. Of course, all these films cater to a specific audience anyway: those that can stomach some harsh and ugly violence. Such viewers might still dig this sequel, and it wouldn't surprise me if a third movie pops up down the line to satisfy this niche.
A short, weird, silly, cartoony action/comedy monstrosity that's often accused of ripping off the Men in Black series. Enjoyable, but still very daft and shallow.
Resonance: Some audiences enjoy it, but I doubt that it'll go far in the long run. I still think it's this year's equivalent to Priest and Jonah Hex.
My current score: 3/5 (possible guilty pleasure material)
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[Show spoiler] The Last Stand
Ahhhnold returns from being the Governator!!! Kim Jee-Woon's film is...pretty weird. Despite a few good parts, the comedy just doesn't work that well, the plot is quite standard, and nothing really stood out.
Resonance: Likely to be forgotten in time. I'll still root for Kim Jee-Woon as a director though, for whatever his next project will be, and I'll still root for Schwarzenegger to the end (here's hoping that Maggie will be great).
This film has its moments, but I it didn't really make me laugh as much as I expected, and the story is pretty regular (if not utterly contrived and incredulous) buddy-cop fare.
Rather messy and generic, but the film has its moments, especially as a mindless shoot-em-up blow-em-up guilty pleasure.
Resonance: Likely to be hated forever. My score has decreased on repeat viewings.
My current score: 3/5 (guilty pleasure)
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[Show spoiler] 47 Ronin
A fine and dandy samurai fantasy, with some cool-looking parts, but it's not nearly enough to surpass other films of the genre (especially those that actually come from the Far East).
Resonance: Likely to be forgotten in time.
My current score: 3/5
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[Show spoiler] Upside Down
A pretty unique film with clever ideas, a nice romance, and a lot of visual flair. It's a bit rough around the edges, but as a sci-fi romcom experiment, it's pretty interesting.
Resonance: Likely to remain obscure.
My current score: 3.5/5
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[Show spoiler] Hansel and Gretel: Witch Hunters
Pretty fun film with some cool fighting, some comedy, and a lot of attitude. There is something about it that feels cheap and perhaps somewhat trashy, but the film is a pretty neat hybrid of dark fantasy and adventurous action.
Resonance: Likely to be forgotten in time.
My current score: 3.5/5
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[Show spoiler] Jack the Giant Slayer
This film struck me as a rather weird experience: it's as if it couldn't decide if it wanted to be a kids' movie with a ton of low-brow comedy and antics, or a dark adult-rated fantasy with a ton of rip-roaring action and violence. The middle ground doesn't really congeal, but the film is still fun and light.
Resonance: Likely to be forgotten in time. Bryan Singer can make a better film.
I had high hopes that M. Night Shyamalan can redeem himself with this film. I still don't think it's all that bad; I thought it was a decently-entertaining sci-fi flick with a decent-enough story and a pretty good style. Something about it does feel a little off, and I think most people are just appalled by the blatant nepotism demonstrated by Will Smith and his son.
Resonance: Will likely be regarded with sheer loathing and hate, given everyone's disposition on M. Night Shyamalan and Jayden Smith. My score has dropped since I saw it.
My current score: 3.5/5 (guilty pleasure)
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[Show spoiler] The Incredible Burt Wonderstone
A rather mixed experience, but this comedy does have some awesomely hilarious moments. The story's not very strong, but it's totally worth seeing for a good laugh or two (especially with Jim Carrey's portrayal of the Chris Angel style magician).
Resonance: Likely to be forgotten in time.
My current score: 3.5/5
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[Show spoiler] New World (Sin-Se-Gae)
Technically not a bad film at all: it has good performances, good style, good storytelling, and everything. However, I couldn't shake the feeling that this has all been done before in more exciting ways. In the end, the film didn't do much for me personally.
Resonance: Will probably be loved by fans of the genre, but may still be pretty obscure for most North American audiences.
My current score: 3.5/5
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[Show spoiler] Frances Ha
A neat little film with a few neat moments, all in the style of New Wave cinema, complete with stylish black-and-white photography and French music. Unfortunately, New Wave is not my thing at all, and I couldn't relate to the main character at all; Frances is a bloody slacker. This film has moments that underscore the consequences of being a slacker - shrugging off responsibilities and leaching off of people - but one's enjoyment of the film will hinge entirely on whether or not you can dig the characters and their urbanite existence.
Resonance: Despite some quibbles, will likely be praised and loved by many viewers in the coming years.
My current score: 3.5/5
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[Show spoiler] Trance
Danny Boyle's thriller definitely has style and flair, and some action, and an interesting premise, but I found it rather muddled. I generally liked what I saw, but will need another viewing to fully appreciate it.
Resonance: Could go one way or another, but I'm tempted to think that it'll be forgotten in time.
Wow, it's pretty ambitious to make a prequel to a movie that's 75 years old now. Still, Sam Raimi did it, and did so with plenty of style, flair, and imagination. The film has a few dumb parts, and it'll never outdo the magic and nostalgia of the original Wizard of Oz, but it is an enjoyable trip down the yellow brick road.
Resonance: Will probably see little-to-moderate success and recognition as time goes on, but I question as to whether it'll be memorable at all after ten years or so. My score has dropped since I saw it. Might still want to revisit the film.
Chan-Wook Park's US debut presents a pretty stylish, moody, and sensual thriller. It's definitely a worthy title in his repertoire, and the acting is great. The problem is, there's not much to the plot, and it just doesn't stick out as much the director's previous work from Korea. In fact, I personally have little-to-no interest in revisiting this film at all.
Resonance: I think it'll be forgotten pretty quickly. My score has dropped since I saw it.
My current score: 3.5/5
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[Show spoiler] Evil Dead
What is up with all these even-numbered Evil Dead movies? It's always a simultaneous remake/reboot/sequel. This one definitely looks sharp and sick, it is chock full of attitude, and it's definitely a fun flick for horror fans. Might just be a bit trashy with the language.
Resonance: Likely to be a fan favorite.
My current score: 3.5/5
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[Show spoiler] Only God Forgives
Perhaps the most beautifully-shot film of the year, with gorgeous camera work, and lots of bizarre lighting and intricate locales. Problem is, the pacing is quite slow, and the acting is extremely weird; everybody is so still, they're like statues, and very few words are actually spoken. And what's up with all the singing?
Resonance: I actually do plan on revisiting this film on occasion; chances are that audiences will continue to discover it as time goes on, but it'll likely always be a love-it-or-hate-it film.
In spite of the shakey-cam and fast editing, this film is quite relentless, and audiences have enjoyed it as a great thrill ride. There are some issues I found disruptive, but contrary to popular opinion, I actually enjoyed the last act the best (which was entirely re-shot, since the original ending in Russia was said to be horrid).
Resonance: Likely to be a continuing success. My own score could improve on repeat viewings.
Enjoyable, but not quite as memorable or endearing as the first film, and I think most of the comedy aims a lot lower to appeal to the kids.
Resonance: Likely to be a popular choice for family-friendly entertainment.
My current score: 3.5/5
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[Show spoiler] Monsters University
Still not quite as magical as Pixar's earlier works, but M.U. does have its moments, and it does decent justice to the characters and the imaginative world they inhabit.
Resonance: Likely to be a popular choice for family-friendly entertainment.
Enjoyable, with some really mad stunt work and action scenes, but it does get incredulous, and the story suffers a little.
Resonance: Likely to be a fan favorite. This is currently my second-favorite of the franchise (just behind Fast Five), but my score has dropped since I saw the film.
My current score: 3.5/5
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[Show spoiler] Anchorman 2: The Legend Continues
If you liked the first Anchorman film, this long-awaited sequel delivers more of the same. Some of the jokes are retreads, some aren't that funny, but the film moves fast and has some seriously funny scenes to it.
The documentary that opened my eyes to all the (potentially baseless) subliminal messages and anomalies that exist in Stanley Kubrick's The Shining. Even though the film doesn't show the interviewees' faces, it is a pretty neat presentation with some very convincing arguments.
Resonance: Likely to be laughed at and dismissed by most viewers, will be adopted by fringe viewers wearing tin foil hats who insist that The Shining is all about the faked moon landings.
My current score: 4/5
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[Show spoiler] Necessary Evil: Supervillains of DC Comics
This documentary provides a pretty neat overview of the supervillains of DC lore. It's not terribly in-depth, and probably won't provide any new information for die-hard comic book fans, but for a casual viewer like myself, it's entertaining and enlightening.
Resonance: Probably won't leave much of an impact.
Perhaps a bit trashy, especially with the drab and gaudy colors and dark lighting. It's also been bashed for being too right-wing or jingoist. Still, the film has plenty of action, and I think it's a good complement for many of my other favorite action movies (especially Die Hard, Under Siege, or The Rock).
Resonance: Might be forgotten in time, but I do wonder if action fans will embrace it as some kind of cult film. I probably will re-watch it on occasion.
Surprisingly, not very big on the action, but the fights are pretty cool. It is a pretty decent drama at its heart though, with a solid focus on the title character.
Resonance: Not sure; might be embraced by viewers wanting more than mindless superhero action, but might also be dismissed by those who expect bigger-scale setpieces.
My current score: 4/5
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[Show spoiler] The Secret Life of Walter Mitty
It's a good-looking film with some good-looking locales, good-looking fantasy scenes, and a feel-good vibe overall. Not quite as inspiring as I'd like, but it's still a good light-weight adventure with messages worth exploring (even if they are unsubtly thrown into your face).
Resonance: Likely to find an audience, but won't last long. I will have to see the original 1947 film to see how it compares.
My current score: 4/5
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Last edited by Al_The_Strange; 12-30-2013 at 04:28 AM.
This film kinda shoots itself in the foot, using frequent CGI to simulate impossible magic on-screen, but i think it's still a unique and fun heist film with a few smart twists.
Resonance: A sequel might be possible, but even then I don't think this will be remembered in the long run. I might revisit the film now and then for its merits as a heist or caper film specifically.
Based on a really strange real-life case, P&G might push the boundaries of taste as it revels in the violence and torment that the idiotic criminals dish out. Still, it is refreshing to see a Michael Bay film that's not overloaded with endless 'splosions. It is still quite entertaining, low-brow humor and all, and the film has a phenomenal style.
Resonance: Looks to be a love-it-or-hate-it film forever. Might be forgotten in time, but I wonder if it has the potential to be a cult favorite. I might revisit the film whenever the mood strikes me.
It's classic Roland Emmerich: plenty of action, plenty of timely comedy, and light-hearted characters and storytelling. Comparisons with Olympus Has Fallen are inevitable; that one was a decent action flick, but this is pure popcorn entertainment, and I value it a little more for being more evenly-entertaining and having a more solid plot structure.
Resonance: Likely to be dismissed by many viewers, but might find a home among those who enjoy this type of flick. I will probably re-watch the film on occasion.
I halfway wonder if people were predetermined to hate on this film. I can't deny that the humor won't work on everybody, and some of the plot could have been cut out to make it shorter and tighter. It's still one of the most entertaining westerns I've ever seen, and I thoroughly appreciate the big-scale adventurism the film offers.
Resonance: The film is considered a failure, on a similar level to last year's John Carter, and many viewers will probably always dismiss this as a mere box-office flop. Still, it does have a following (just like JC), and less-critical viewers will likely latch onto it. I personally don't see that much wrong with the film; my score has decreased since I saw it, but I'll probably still revisit it at some point.
Pretty much more of the same, and I didn't mind it that much. The action does get rather incredulous, and the little twist with the bad guy has caused nothing but outrage among most viewers. These were minor nitpicks to me personally, and I still enjoyed watching the characters and the action.
Resonance: Might be hated on the same level as X-Men: The Last Stand or Spiderman 3. My score has decreased since I saw it, but I'll probably revisit this film sometime.
The action is definitely great. The style is really slick. The acting is still top-notch. The film overall is a greatly-entertaining thrill ride. There's just one thing that's always bothered me: the lack of originality. This is a total rehash of Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan, and I wish they could have come up with something new for a change.
Resonance: Will probably continue to be loved and embraced, especially by newer or younger audiences who were introduced to Trek with the 2009 film. Upon reflection on the actual story, my score has decreased since I saw it.
Riddick's back, ready to cut up some mercs and slay some monsters! It's not a terribly tasteful film, but it's still really fun to watch this guy struggle to survive, and then pick off some tough guys systematically. The character is as tough as always, and is still fun to watch.
Resonance: Likely to find its way in the collections of various Riddick fans.
It took a while to bring Orson Scott Card's classic novel to the big screen. Despite some issues with the pacing, timeline, and pathos of the story, it is a pretty decent adaptation, and quite the entertaining film. It's mostly just what I pictured from reading the book.
Resonance: Likely to have a following, but its success may be marred by a weak box office reception and people's boycotting of Orson Scott Card (even though the movie has nothing to do with his personal views).
A bit of an improvement over the first Thorfilm: the action is swell, the worldbuilding is imaginative and vivid, the comedy's fun (although some viewers don't care for it), and the experience overall is most satisfying.
Resonance: Likely to find its way in the collections of many Marvel or comic-book fans.
Quite an improvement over the first film, and a smashing adaptation of the novel. A lot of moments are brought to life on the big screen perfectly, and the cast is phenomenal. It's a very evenly-entertaining film, with a finely balanced story and quality characters (for a change).
Resonance: Likely to remain a hit for a while. My own score could increased on repeat viewings.
Generally dismissed by most, but this film met all my expectations. Even though the themes aren't all that subtle, the film has some really awesomely-gritty action and a lot of unique ideas. It's a rough and tough piece of pulp sci-fi with a lot of ideas shoved into it, and I thought it was as interesting as it is exciting.
Resonance: Might be forgotten by most, might also find a stronger audience among those willing to give it a second chance. My score has decreased since viewing, but I will probably always be watching this film, because I think it's a fine piece of sci-fi.
The last part of the Cornetto Trilogy is here! This is the end! The World's End is every bit as good, if not better, than Edgar Wright's previous films, Shaun of the Dead and Hot Fuzz. They all share similar stories, similar characters, similar comedy, and similar themes. But The World's End is consistently entertaining, quite funny on many levels, and well-structured.
Guillermo Del Toro's epic mash-up of monstrous kaiju and robotic Jaegers gets a bit silly, but it's still a blast. Pacific Rim boasts some of the biggest and best action scenes of the year,complete with top-notch SFX and highly imaginative worldbuilding. It has a cast of endearing characters, and the film overall has a huge amount of heart. Above all, I'm quite happy to see a movie like this come along, bringing the possibility of a thrilling new franchise, as opposed to more sequels, prequels, remakes, reboots...
Resonance: Likely to remain a modest success. My score dropped just a tad, but the film will likely remain one of my favorites of the year.
An intimate, gritty, and thoughtful crime drama in three acts, each one exploring a new angle and a continuing consequence from a series of simple, but perhaps terrible, mistakes. Although the film loses some steam by its end, the bank robberies of the first act and the intense conspiracies of the second act are quite gripping. The acting is exceptional, the story is very intriguing, and despite some shakey-cam, the film looks quite stylish.
Resonance: Likely to remain a modest success. My score has increased since I saw it, and chances are good that I will revisit the film.
Plays out like The Goodfellas, but with stock brokers instead of the mafia. I think the film purposefully blurs the line between white collar crime and common thievery, as these brokers sucker hapless victims into their schemes and make obscene amounts of money, before making obscene displays of excess and debauchery. The film has its share of intensity and grotesqueness, but it's also surprisingly sharp and sadly funny at times. With Martin Scorsese's signature style and top-notch performances, this ought to be one of the best crime movies that's come along in the past decade (take that, Boiler Room!).
This is a film that makes very little sense, but it is chock full of exquisite compositions and interesting scenes. What the film lacks in narrative or logos, it makes up for in warm, abstract, artistic expression, leaving it wide open to interpretation and speculation. I found the experience of the film most mesmerizing, the content fascinating, and the film itself very well-made. As to what it's about, the frakk if I know; it's about a dude injecting grubs into people, then stuff happens. As it is though, I prefer this a bit more than Shane Carruth's last film, Primer.
Resonance: For those who do manage to discover this film, it will likely remain a love-it-or-hate-it film.
Say what you will about Tom Cruise, Oblivion is a phenomenally stylish and highly-entertaining thrill ride. It offers a story that's been done before, with scenes that echo numerous other sci-fi films, but it does pull out some fascinating twists that sheds different light on the film with repeat viewings. The story's dense, and the action is great; the combination hasn't sat well with many viewers, for there are those who find the story incomprehensible and just want the action, and others who like the story but thought that the action took away from it. I personally appreciate the marriage of action and storytelling, and Oblivion comes out as one of the most perfectly entertaining blockbusters of the year.
Resonance: Despite some lackluster reviews, the film might remain a favorite for sci-fi fans, or else it might garner a cult following. My score has increased since I saw it, and I find it quite rewatchable.
In this day and age, with superhero movies all the rage, and with dark serious movies like The Dark Knightsetting bold new standards, a serious reboot for Superman was well overdue. Zack Snyder's take on the Man of Steel is a very ballsy movie that hasn't sat well with many viewers; the style can be quite erratic, with frequent snap-zooms. The nature of the character is not the same; this is not the happy slappy ultimate-boy-scout type of Superman. He does not spend every waking minute saving people; he actually gets into trouble for being the hero. Superman is a threat here, and he's called upon to fight another threat in a massive series of highly-destructive battles. It is such a different tale, it was bound to be hated; I've seen a ton of rants about this movie, and many would call it the worst of the year. I personally disagree; I think the story and characters are great, I think the film is immensely powerful, and I love the action, no matter how excessive it gets.
Resonance: With sequels on the way, and some kind of Batman/Superman mash-up scheduled for 2015, Man of Steel has made its mark, and will probably stick around whether you like it or not.
An Unexpected Journeymay not have sat well with many viewers, but with the epic journey underway, the second Hobbit film wastes little time in the set-up and gets right to the action. The film continues boldly ahead, venturing into darker territory, and jam-packed with a huge number of crazy action sequences. It's still a heavily-padded saga, with a number of tangents, added characters, added relationships, and added connections to bloat the story. It is still a very entertaining thrill ride, full of inspiring spectacle, heartfelt characters, and impressive style. I just wish the film didn't end right in the middle of the climax...
Resonance: Looks to be a little more well-regarded than its predecessor, and will remain a success. I predict that There and Back Again will be the best of the lot and a huge success (although I doubt it'll surpass the success of the Lord of the Rings trilogy).
Astronaut movies are few and far-between, but none have had the ambition of Gravity. Alfonso Cuarón went to great lengths to simulate a cinematic experience in outer space; the opening 17 minutes is a magnificent sequence that goes on without any cuts, using superb SFX to show orbital disaster and the characters' struggle for survival. The settings, with vast views of Earth and the wide-open void beyond, are magnificent, as the characters drift to their salvation and eventually find their way to Earth. The film has its share of spectacle, suspense, and thrills, but it's also beautiful at times, thanks to a surprisingly earnest performance by Sandra Bullock, and the film's great cinematography. A few viewers have nit-picked on the accuracy of the film (there are a few scenes that aren't 100% realistic), but the movie is well-made, consistently engaging, and a fantastic example of how a movie can make the most out of a simple story.
Resonance: Likely to remain a success, although many will probably go on to call it overrated. I can see myself watching this film over and over again.
My current score: 5/5
-------------------- Score for 2013 in films:
[Show spoiler]3.8/5 (good, not great)
Stats:
[Show spoiler]Favorite film:Gravity Least favorite film:Stranded Favorite blockbuster: a tie betweenThe Hobbit: Desolation of Smaug and Man of Steel Favorite arthouse film:Upstream Color Favorite foreign film:New World (wouldn't call it a favorite though; will need to discover more) Favorite documentary:Necessary Evil: Supervillains of DC Comics Favorite science fiction film: Gravity Favorite fantasy/epic: The Hobbit: Desolation of Smaug Favorite action film: White House Down Favorite comedy: The World's End Favorite drama: The Wolf of Wall Street
Favorite horror: Evil Dead Favorite animated/family film: Monsters University Biggest guilty pleasure:Man of Steel Best "so bad it's good" film: Sharknado Most disappointing film: The Purge Biggest box-office success:Iron Man 3 (gross of $1,215,439,994) Biggest box-office flop:The Lone Ranger (estimated loss as high as $119,748,943) Favorite male performance: Leonardo DiCaprio, The Wolf of Wall Street Favorite female performance: a tie between Jennifer Lawrence in The Hunger Games: Catching Fire and Sandra Bullock in Gravity Favorite direction: a tie between Alfonso Cuarón directing Gravity and Peter Jackson directing The Hobbit: Desolation of Smaug Favorite action scenes: Man of Steel Favorite special effects: a tie between Gravity and Oblivion Favorite film score: Hans Zimmer composing the Man of Steel score
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All that being said, I still have all these films on my radar:
[Show spoiler]Mud: It's gotten universally-positive reviews, so I should see what all the fuss is about.
Her: It's a movie about a dude falling in love with a computer. It sounds quite witty and bizarre, and the reviews have been promising.
12 Years a Slave: Reviews for this one have been great, and Steve McQueen is a good director, so this should be a winner.
The Conjuring: Probably the most successful horror movie of the year, and I owe it to myself to give it a shot.
Kick-Ass 2: Having enjoyed the first film and the comic books, I have faith that I'll enjoy this sequel, despite the varied reviews I've read. The trailer looks very much in-line with the comic, and the action looks smashing.
Oldboy: Heard it's still not quite as good as the original Korean film, and the hallway fight was edited to be shorter, but it sounds like Spike Lee remixed this story up in interesting new ways to make it stand well on its own.
Man of Tai Chi: Keanu Reeves directed a kung-fu movie. Whoa. Seriously though, it sounds like everybody's enjoyed this one, so chances are good that I will too.
R.E.D. 2: The trailer always looked amusing, but negative reviews held me back. I won't expect a whole lot, but since I enjoyed the first R.E.D. film, I'm interested to see where this sequel goes.
The Escape Plan: It's Ahhnold and Stallone in jail together, trying to bust out! How cool is that?!
Machete Kills: Looks like more of the same as Machete, but I totally dig the aesthetics, action, and absurdity of the franchise, so I'm willing to give this sequel a shot.
Captain Phillips: Even though I'm not a fan of Paul Greengrass' filming, this does look thrilling.
Dead Man Down: Because the trailer looked alright.
Prisoners: Seems to have good reviews so far.
Nymphomaniac: Okay, let's see what crazy thing Lars Von Trier comes up with now...
Cool, let us know where we can find your book. I also agree with your quote.
I wrote the introduction yesterday. I have a lot of work to do before it's actually ready to publish, but I made the decision attempt it a few days ago
This film kinda shoots itself in the foot, using frequent CGI to simulate impossible magic on-screen, but i think it's still a unique and fun heist film with a few smart twists.
Resonance: A sequel might be possible, but even then I don't think this will be remembered in the long run. I might revisit the film now and then for its merits as a heist or caper film specifically.
Based on a really strange real-life case, P&G might push the boundaries of taste as it revels in the violence and torment that the idiotic criminals dish out. Still, it is refreshing to see a Michael Bay film that's not overloaded with endless 'splosions. It is still quite entertaining, low-brow humor and all, and the film has a phenomenal style.
Resonance: Looks to be a love-it-or-hate-it film forever. Might be forgotten in time, but I wonder if it has the potential to be a cult favorite. I might revisit the film whenever the mood strikes me.
It's classic Roland Emmerich: plenty of action, plenty of timely comedy, and light-hearted characters and storytelling. Comparisons with Olympus Has Fallen are inevitable; that one was a decent action flick, but this is pure popcorn entertainment, and I value it a little more for being more evenly-entertaining and having a more solid plot structure.
Resonance: Likely to be dismissed by many viewers, but might find a home among those who enjoy this type of flick. I will probably re-watch the film on occasion.
I halfway wonder if people were predetermined to hate on this film. I can't deny that the humor won't work on everybody, and some of the plot could have been cut out to make it shorter and tighter. It's still one of the most entertaining westerns I've ever seen, and I thoroughly appreciate the big-scale adventurism the film offers.
Resonance: The film is considered a failure, on a similar level to last year's John Carter, and many viewers will probably always dismiss this as a mere box-office flop. Still, it does have a following (just like JC), and less-critical viewers will likely latch onto it. I personally don't see that much wrong with the film; my score has decreased since I saw it, but I'll probably still revisit it at some point.
Pretty much more of the same, and I didn't mind it that much. The action does get rather incredulous, and the little twist with the bad guy has caused nothing but outrage among most viewers. These were minor nitpicks to me personally, and I still enjoyed watching the characters and the action.
Resonance: Might be hated on the same level as X-Men: The Last Stand or Spiderman 3. My score has decreased since I saw it, but I'll probably revisit this film sometime.
The action is definitely great. The style is really slick. The acting is still top-notch. The film overall is a greatly-entertaining thrill ride. There's just one thing that's always bothered me: the lack of originality. This is a total rehash of Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan, and I wish they could have come up with something new for a change.
Resonance: Will probably continue to be loved and embraced, especially by newer or younger audiences who were introduced to Trek with the 2009 film. Upon reflection on the actual story, my score has decreased since I saw it.
Riddick's back, ready to cut up some mercs and slay some monsters! It's not a terribly tasteful film, but it's still really fun to watch this guy struggle to survive, and then pick off some tough guys systematically. The character is as tough as always, and is still fun to watch.
Resonance: Likely to find its way in the collections of various Riddick fans.
It took a while to bring Orson Scott Card's classic novel to the big screen. Despite some issues with the pacing, timeline, and pathos of the story, it is a pretty decent adaptation, and quite the entertaining film. It's mostly just what I pictured from reading the book.
Resonance: Likely to have a following, but its success may be marred by a weak box office reception and people's boycotting of Orson Scott Card (even though the movie has nothing to do with his personal views).
A bit of an improvement over the first Thorfilm: the action is swell, the worldbuilding is imaginative and vivid, the comedy's fun (although some viewers don't care for it), and the experience overall is most satisfying.
Resonance: Likely to find its way in the collections of many Marvel or comic-book fans.
Quite an improvement over the first film, and a smashing adaptation of the novel. A lot of moments are brought to life on the big screen perfectly, and the cast is phenomenal. It's a very evenly-entertaining film, with a finely balanced story and quality characters (for a change).
Resonance: Likely to remain a hit for a while. My own score could increased on repeat viewings.
Generally dismissed by most, but this film met all my expectations. Even though the themes aren't all that subtle, the film has some really awesomely-gritty action and a lot of unique ideas. It's a rough and tough piece of pulp sci-fi with a lot of ideas shoved into it, and I thought it was as interesting as it is exciting.
Resonance: Might be forgotten by most, might also find a stronger audience among those willing to give it a second chance. My score has decreased since viewing, but I will probably always be watching this film, because I think it's a fine piece of sci-fi.
The last part of the Cornetto Trilogy is here! This is the end! The World's End is every bit as good, if not better, than Edgar Wright's previous films, Shaun of the Dead and Hot Fuzz. They all share similar stories, similar characters, similar comedy, and similar themes. But The World's End is consistently entertaining, quite funny on many levels, and well-structured.
Guillermo Del Toro's epic mash-up of monstrous kaiju and robotic Jaegers gets a bit silly, but it's still a blast. Pacific Rim boasts some of the biggest and best action scenes of the year,complete with top-notch SFX and highly imaginative worldbuilding. It has a cast of endearing characters, and the film overall has a huge amount of heart. Above all, I'm quite happy to see a movie like this come along, bringing the possibility of a thrilling new franchise, as opposed to more sequels, prequels, remakes, reboots...
Resonance: Likely to remain a modest success. My score dropped just a tad, but the film will likely remain one of my favorites of the year.
An intimate, gritty, and thoughtful crime drama in three acts, each one exploring a new angle and a continuing consequence from a series of simple, but perhaps terrible, mistakes. Although the film loses some steam by its end, the bank robberies of the first act and the intense conspiracies of the second act are quite gripping. The acting is exceptional, the story is very intriguing, and despite some shakey-cam, the film looks quite stylish.
Resonance: Likely to remain a modest success. My score has increased since I saw it, and chances are good that I will revisit the film.
Plays out like The Goodfellas, but with stock brokers instead of the mafia. I think the film purposefully blurs the line between white collar crime and common thievery, as these brokers sucker hapless victims into their schemes and make obscene amounts of money, before making obscene displays of excess and debauchery. The film has its share of intensity and grotesqueness, but it's also surprisingly sharp and sadly funny at times. With Martin Scorsese's signature style and top-notch performances, this ought to be one of the best crime movies that's come along in the past decade (take that, Boiler Room!).
This is a film that makes very little sense, but it is chock full of exquisite compositions and interesting scenes. What the film lacks in narrative or logos, it makes up for in warm, abstract, artistic expression, leaving it wide open to interpretation and speculation. I found the experience of the film most mesmerizing, the content fascinating, and the film itself very well-made. As to what it's about, the frakk if I know; it's about a dude injecting grubs into people, then stuff happens. As it is though, I prefer this a bit more than Shane Carruth's last film, Primer.
Resonance: For those who do manage to discover this film, it will likely remain a love-it-or-hate-it film.
Say what you will about Tom Cruise, Oblivion is a phenomenally stylish and highly-entertaining thrill ride. It offers a story that's been done before, with scenes that echo numerous other sci-fi films, but it does pull out some fascinating twists that sheds different light on the film with repeat viewings. The story's dense, and the action is great; the combination hasn't sat well with many viewers, for there are those who find the story incomprehensible and just want the action, and others who like the story but thought that the action took away from it. I personally appreciate the marriage of action and storytelling, and Oblivion comes out as one of the most perfectly entertaining blockbusters of the year.
Resonance: Despite some lackluster reviews, the film might remain a favorite for sci-fi fans, or else it might garner a cult following. My score has increased since I saw it, and I find it quite rewatchable.
In this day and age, with superhero movies all the rage, and with dark serious movies like The Dark Knightsetting bold new standards, a serious reboot for Superman was well overdue. Zack Snyder's take on the Man of Steel is a very ballsy movie that hasn't sat well with many viewers; the style can be quite erratic, with frequent snap-zooms. The nature of the character is not the same; this is not the happy slappy ultimate-boy-scout type of Superman. He does not spend every waking minute saving people; he actually gets into trouble for being the hero. Superman is a threat here, and he's called upon to fight another threat in a massive series of highly-destructive battles. It is such a different tale, it was bound to be hated; I've seen a ton of rants about this movie, and many would call it the worst of the year. I personally disagree; I think the story and characters are great, I think the film is immensely powerful, and I love the action, no matter how excessive it gets.
Resonance: With sequels on the way, and some kind of Batman/Superman mash-up scheduled for 2015, Man of Steel has made its mark, and will probably stick around whether you like it or not.
An Unexpected Journeymay not have sat well with many viewers, but with the epic journey underway, the second Hobbit film wastes little time in the set-up and gets right to the action. The film continues boldly ahead, venturing into darker territory, and jam-packed with a huge number of crazy action sequences. It's still a heavily-padded saga, with a number of tangents, added characters, added relationships, and added connections to bloat the story. It is still a very entertaining thrill ride, full of inspiring spectacle, heartfelt characters, and impressive style. I just wish the film didn't end right in the middle of the climax...
Resonance: Looks to be a little more well-regarded than its predecessor, and will remain a success. I predict that There and Back Again will be the best of the lot and a huge success (although I doubt it'll surpass the success of the Lord of the Rings trilogy).
Astronaut movies are few and far-between, but none have had the ambition of Gravity. Alfonso Cuarón went to great lengths to simulate a cinematic experience in outer space; the opening 17 minutes is a magnificent sequence that goes on without any cuts, using superb SFX to show orbital disaster and the characters' struggle for survival. The settings, with vast views of Earth and the wide-open void beyond, are magnificent, as the characters drift to their salvation and eventually find their way to Earth. The film has its share of spectacle, suspense, and thrills, but it's also beautiful at times, thanks to a surprisingly earnest performance by Sandra Bullock, and the film's great cinematography. A few viewers have nit-picked on the accuracy of the film (there are a few scenes that aren't 100% realistic), but the movie is well-made, consistently engaging, and a fantastic example of how a movie can make the most out of a simple story.
Resonance: Likely to remain a success, although many will probably go on to call it overrated. I can see myself watching this film over and over again.
My current score: 5/5
-------------------- Score for 2013 in films:
[Show spoiler]3.8/5 (good, not great)
Stats:
[Show spoiler]Favorite film:Gravity Least favorite film:Stranded Favorite blockbuster: a tie betweenThe Hobbit: Desolation of Smaug and Man of Steel Favorite arthouse film:Upstream Color Favorite foreign film:New World (wouldn't call it a favorite though; will need to discover more) Favorite documentary:Necessary Evil: Supervillains of DC Comics Favorite science fiction film: Gravity Favorite fantasy/epic: The Hobbit: Desolation of Smaug Favorite action film: White House Down Favorite comedy: The World's End Favorite drama: The Wolf of Wall Street
Favorite horror: Evil Dead Favorite animated/family film: Monsters University Biggest guilty pleasure:Man of Steel Best "so bad it's good" film: Sharknado Most disappointing film: The Purge Biggest box-office success:Iron Man 3 (gross of $1,215,439,994) Biggest box-office flop:The Lone Ranger (estimated loss as high as $119,748,943) Favorite male performance: Leonardo DiCaprio, The Wolf of Wall Street Favorite female performance: a tie between Jennifer Lawrence in The Hunger Games: Catching Fire and Sandra Bullock in Gravity Favorite direction: a tie between Alfonso Cuarón directing Gravity and Peter Jackson directing The Hobbit: Desolation of Smaug Favorite action scenes: Man of Steel Favorite special effects: a tie between Gravity and Oblivion Favorite film score: Hans Zimmer composing the Man of Steel score
--------------------
All that being said, I still have all these films on my radar:
[Show spoiler]Mud: It's gotten universally-positive reviews, so I should see what all the fuss is about.
Her: It's a movie about a dude falling in love with a computer. It sounds quite witty and bizarre, and the reviews have been promising.
12 Years a Slave: Reviews for this one have been great, and Steve McQueen is a good director, so this should be a winner.
The Conjuring: Probably the most successful horror movie of the year, and I owe it to myself to give it a shot.
Kick-Ass 2: Having enjoyed the first film and the comic books, I have faith that I'll enjoy this sequel, despite the varied reviews I've read. The trailer looks very much in-line with the comic, and the action looks smashing.
Oldboy: Heard it's still not quite as good as the original Korean film, and the hallway fight was edited to be shorter, but it sounds like Spike Lee remixed this story up in interesting new ways to make it stand well on its own.
Man of Tai Chi: Keanu Reeves directed a kung-fu movie. Whoa. Seriously though, it sounds like everybody's enjoyed this one, so chances are good that I will too.
R.E.D. 2: The trailer always looked amusing, but negative reviews held me back. I won't expect a whole lot, but since I enjoyed the first R.E.D. film, I'm interested to see where this sequel goes.
The Escape Plan: It's Ahhnold and Stallone in jail together, trying to bust out! How cool is that?!
Machete Kills: Looks like more of the same as Machete, but I totally dig the aesthetics, action, and absurdity of the franchise, so I'm willing to give this sequel a shot.
Captain Phillips: Even though I'm not a fan of Paul Greengrass' filming, this does look thrilling.
Dead Man Down: Because the trailer looked alright.
Prisoners: Seems to have good reviews so far.
Nymphomaniac: Okay, let's see what crazy thing Lars Von Trier comes up with now...
Not that I have a problem with it, but Oblivion at #4 kind of surprised me. I highly enjoyed it in the theater and I'm glad to own it though.
Maybe I've gotten a little less lenient than I was before, but the only 5/5 I've given a film so far this year is The Conjuring. Granted I still have a lot of films to watch from this year though.
-not a bad film, just not that different than your standard anti-pollution HOllywood film like Erin Brokovich or Civil Action (bad evil polluting company + innocent town people = good but predictable plot)
I wrote the introduction yesterday. I have a lot of work to do before it's actually ready to publish, but I made the decision attempt it a few days ago
Right on.
I got a few manuscripts I should try and publish, but they need a lot of editing. I can feel your pain.
I see what you did there, just wish there were more of it. It's not hard to understand, it's that the story really isn't that interesting imo.
I actually really love the film, but you're right about it not being overly complexing. It's not a hard film to follow at the end of the day, sure not all the nuts and bolts of the plot are easy to find but the overall storyline is abundantly there as breadcrumbs, thankful the film is pretty blissfully unpredictable and the films rhythm keeps it tolling away. It's sad you really didn't see much in it, but it's totally understandable.
I actually really love the film, but you're right about it not being overly complexing. It's not a hard film to follow at the end of the day, sure not all the nuts and bolts of the plot are easy to find but the overall storyline is abundantly there as breadcrumbs, thankful the film is pretty blissfully unpredictable and the films rhythm keeps it tolling away. It's sad you really didn't see much in it, but it's totally understandable.
It's a weird love story, and those are a dime a dozen. After Primer I just assumed to be blown away, maybe I wanted it too much. It's a cool movie, I guess.
Ah 2003, the start of Disney's major theme park ride adaptations into the movies...not counting a few earlier nondescript flicks and 'Mission to Mars' which I never realised was a theme park adaptation. If you think about this premise you could be forgiven for thinking it would turn out crap, especially with Eddie Murphy involved. And you wouldn't be far wrong on that one point, the casting of Murphy and his 'family' members in this film was a terrible choice.
The reason being they all stick out like a sore thumb in the story, they all look totally out of place and none can act too well. The film has been turned into a Murphy vehicle and the film suffers for it, it feels forced, his family in the film feel forced and fake, the silly humour and annoying dialog from Murphy feels forced and its all in there simply for Murphy, awful decision.
That aside the rest of the film is actually pretty sweet. The plot has been cleverly turned into a romantic ghost tale where upon the mansions owner is seeking his one true love whom he lost centuries ago. Of course his true love is Murphy's living wife so a battle of supernatural proportions ensues as Murphy must stop this aristocratic spook floating off with his wife.
What works is the extra casting of the main ghost servants and their master within the mansion. Stamp is perfect as the stiff upper lipped butler with a dark secret, Wallace Shawn is perfect as the quirky sidekick footman ghost, Tilly is surprisingly good as the crystal ball gypsy spirit and Nathaniel Parker plays the noble British toff manor owner to a tee complete with thick dark locks. Not too sure how these ghosts work though, at times they can't or don't seem to interact with the living, then all of a sudden they can touch and pick things up.
Its all very cliched and hammy of course being based on a stereotypical haunted house attraction but that's fine, you expect that. In fact they capture that atmosphere perfectly, the whole eccentric Disney ambiance coupled with an eerie fanciful glow. Indeed the film does work better if you have actually been on the attraction at Disney World. There are many many little homages to the ride throughout the film from visual references to dialog, some sequences showing identical sections from the attraction. It does sounds kinda tacky but it really works nicely and gives you a pleasant ghostly trip down memory lane.
I really liked how the ghosts become 'more dead' visually the further from the mansion they are. So once outside all the ghosts have a really cool supernatural blue glow or aura which looks quite striking. I liked the graveyard and how it housed many of the ghosts from the attraction including the three famous hitchhiker spooks. As said I also liked the replication of sets from the attraction too, the hallway of portraits being the main one easily. One thing I didn't like was the swamp set New Orleans look for the mansion, not my personal cup of tea, I prefer the Liberty Square Dutch Gothic design from Disney World's Magic Kingdom.
But how did that ghostly horse drawn hearse crash through the walls of the mansion complete with Murphy and co inside?. How would ghosts be able to knock through walls when they are...errr ghosts. And how on earth would living people be able to go through the wall with the ghosts??.
On the whole the film does look really good and clearly a lot of thought and craftsmanship went into making the visuals realistic. Its really nice (and amazingly surprising) that they actually constructed the mansion instead of relying on CGI. The interiors and props all benefit from genuine craftsmanship too which really sets the mood, for all you 'Nightmare Before Christmas'/Addams Family/Munster lovers out there (like me) you'll love it.
This is a film you really really really really did expect to be utter utter utter tripe...but its not!. Its actually a really decent looking light-hearted supernatural ride just like the real attraction. The homages are great for folk who have been to the attraction but for those who haven't they just come across as neat spooky visual candy. As I said the only let down is Murphy and co as the endangered mortal family, well mainly Murphy. His tomfoolery lets down the quite decent performances of the supernatural cast.
6.5/10
Last edited by Spirit Zero; 01-02-2014 at 12:06 AM.
-blind buy, but a safe one since Malick is one of my favorite directors
-story about a 25 year old garbage collector (Sheen) who meets 15 year old girl, and kill her father after he disapproves of their relationship and then go on a homicidal killing spree across the midwest in the 50's.
-great directing/cinematography, breathtaking scenes of the midwest, montana, etc
-Sheen plays a GREAT cocky young 50's kid who has the perfect combination of cockiness, adventure seeking and dangerous presence to fill the role. I can now see why Malick wanted him to fill the role, even though he was a few years older than the character looked.
-unlike most of Malick's films, this one is VERY easy to follow , plot-wise, so should be safe to show to any of your friends who didnt' like Tree of Life, New World, etc
Of all the crime movies in all the world, Brick is a pretty unique oddity, because it adheres really well to the conventions of classic film noir, but it breaks every other convention. And as a film noir movie, it's quite intriguing and stylish.
In essence, this is the tale of The Maltese Falcon, only with high school kids instead of grown-ups. Sam Spade is replaced by a loner of sorts, but Joseph Gordon-Levitt exudes all the same sharp intuition, wit, and a certain sense of cool. The bad guys are comprised of a loose assembly of bullies, jocks, burnouts, and one older guy. With this set-up, the movie moves pretty swiftly through the mystery plot, full of intriguing encounters and revelations. It's a pretty weird world where teenagers inhabit the same dark and violent underworld that you see in other crime movies, and all the parents and teachers are purposefully distanced. Even when fists aren't flying, the film remains consistently interesting and well-paced.
As indicated, this film follows the same basic plot structure and character archetypes as The Maltese Falcon, and it goes on to prove that the classic detective story is something timeless and fundamental that can fit into any genre, era, or setting. In the high school setting, the story unfolds pretty interestingly, and the characters prove to be quite distinctive. In a way, I believe the characters in Brick bear a little more weight than the original cast of the Maltese Falcon; a lot of it is because the conflict is much less focused on the story's Macguffin (in this case, a "brick," rather than a bejeweled falcon) and more on the actual murder mystery behind it. In the original story, the initial murder was just a starting point; in this film, it's the key motivator behind all the characters and the plot, and it makes the story a little tighter and more relevant.
This film uses some very spartan-looking settings and techniques, but it does so with a very distinctive style. The camera work is very solid and focused, and the editing is used effectively. Most scenes are staged in interesting and profound ways. Even though most scenes are shot in daytime, this film uses a very drab and muted color scheme to maintain the proper film-noir mood. Acting and writing are what makes this film stand out though: the entire cast inhabit their archetypes very maturely, and the script is loaded with some very unique and inventive dialogue. It can be a challenge to fully understand the slang being used, which seems halfway made-up and halfway taken from older crime movies, but it sounds cool coming from these kids, and it creates the perfect effect for this film. Sets, props, and costumes are probably a bit cheap, but are used pretty well. Music features a lot of jazz, further enhancing the experience.
Brick is a one-of-a-kind thriller that plays out like a classic detective story, but with teenagers speaking really sharp and smooth. It might not work for all viewers, but I think it's a very interesting combination that's worth investigating.
4/5 (Entertainment: Pretty Good | Story: Good | Film: Very Good)
Recommendation: Sure.
I got the UK Blu-Ray for this. Since it's a 1080i presentation, it seems to be very soft-looking most of the time. Sound quality is good, but the dialogue tends to be drowned out by the music sometimes.
Next greatest rental:
Godzilla's Revenge (All Monsters Attack)
Godzilla's Revenge - also going by the title of All Monsters Attack - it just sounds so cool, doesn't it? Godzilla has always been a symbol of pure mass destruction, and combined with a myriad of other monsters, it's always expected that Godzilla will clash with bigger and badder enemies and lay waste to entire cities in their wake.
What I didn't realize about Godzilla's Revenge, however, is that all monsters attack only in the mind of a little kid. And it's all confined to an imaginary island of monsters, where Godzilla hangs out with his son and teaches him to fight. Meanwhile, in the real world, this kid with the big imagination gets into trouble with some bad guys, and gives them the run-around. That's all there is to this movie. It is not an epic kaiju clash: it's a kid's movie. Godzilla and his kin have been reduced to a pile of radioactive cheese; it may work fine and dandy for a young audience, especially when compared to the Gamera films of the 70s, but for adults it's just lame.
The story's pretty much outlined above. There is a neat interplay going on between reality and fantasy, as the kid learns to outwit his captors in the same way Minilla learns to spit radiation in the fantasy scenes. Aside from that, however, the plot is very thin and fluffy, with a cast of annoying characters. Useless pratfalls and an excess of camp hampers the presentation overall.
This film has some fine and dandy photography and editing. Acting from the kids tends to be pretty nerve-wracking, but the few adult actors don't fare any better. Really, the guys in the rubber suits provide the best performances here. Writing is terrible. This production uses some cheap sets, props, and costumes. There are some interestingly grungy locales in the real-life scenes, which contrast with Monster Island pretty well. Music is pretty upbeat and campy, and it features one of the cheesiest theme songs I've heard in a while (and I can't get it out of my head!!).
Of the Godzilla movies I've seen, this is one of the dumbest and corniest ones. Even if you are looking for a kaiju movie for kids, why insult their intelligence with this one? There are definitely better ones in the series.
The Wolverine is Fox's 2012 superhero attempt to bring in success, much like 2011's X-Men: First Class. Unlike every other X-Men film to date, The Wolverine takes place entirely out of the U.S. with parts in Canada and the rest in Tokyo, Japan. Also unlike every other X-Men film to date, Wolverine is the only X-Man in this one as he battles a evil Tokyo family, Viper, and The Silver Samurai. This film definitely takes risks, but unlike Wolverine's last solo film, X-Men Origins: Wolverine, the risks pay off big time. The script and story are both very believable and realistic apart from a few instances of predictability and some corny dialogue. Also, The acting is very good. This, in my opinion, is Hugh Jackman's finest outing playing the lone wolf Wolverine. Also, Tao Okamoto, Rila Fukushima, and Svetlana Khodchenkova give very good performances. Other good performances come from Famke Janssen, Will Yun Lee, and Hal Yamanouchi. The story is filled with depth and darkness, and the action in this film never fails to amaze, especially the train fight. The cinematography is very good apart from some shaky camp, the production design is incredible as everything is gorgeous, the costume designs are very good as well, and the musical score by Marco Beltrami is very intense and epic, much like Hans Zimmer's for this year's Man of Steel. The direction by James Mangold was spot-on as he takes a deeper, darker, and more intense look into the lore of Wolverine as it is believable that he might actually die in the end. All in all, this is a very, VERY good movie and take on the Wolverine in a darker, grittier manner with very good acting from Hugh Jackman and the crew and impressive action.
My Grade = A (8.7/10)
Also, stick around for the credits as you will be pleased with one of the best after-the-credits scenes in a long while.
American Hustle (2014)
Comedy, Crime, Drama, 138 minutes
Directed by David O. Russell
Starring Christian Bale, Amy Adams, Bradley Cooper, Jennifer Lawrence and Jeremy Renner
I had been looking forward to seeing American Hustle since it was announced. I almost saw it on release day, but I have an aversion to watching movies with people who are more concerned with noisily eating their weight in popcorn than watching what is on the screen. Yesterday's viewing was still pretty packed, but I am glad I didn't wait any longer. The movie is a lot of fun.
There's something a little jarring about David O. Russell's movies. I think it's the amount of conflict present between his characters. Have you ever been to a party or a gathering where people are all talking at once? It can be chaotic. There might be little gems of information hidden in the cacophony, but it's easy to miss. If you have seen The Fighter, you'll know that Russell's characters were often at each others throats. In Silver Linings Playbook, the central romance wasn't fully realized until the participants had survived numerous arguments. American Hustle feels similar in many ways to both those movies, although the canvas is broader and more colorful.
The movie opens with the statement, "Some of this actually happened." Well, the 1970s certainly happened, but I doubt that many people resembled the main characters in this story. The opening scene sets the tone by showing Irving Rosenfeld (Christian Bale) fixing his hair. This is an elaborate process involving glue and a comb-over. IMDB states that Bale gained more than 40 pounds to play the role, and herniated two discs while perfecting his slouching posture. It's quite a transformation. That opening scene is a clear statement that American Hustle is not going to be a serious drama, and the movie rarely deviates from that initial statement of intent.
Rosenfeld is an interesting character. He spends most of his time conning people out of their money, promising loans for those who can make a down payment of $5,000. He meets Sydney Prosser (Amy Adams) at a party and the two form a partnership and are attracted to each other. The plot becomes more complicated when an intended mark turns out to be FBI agent Richie DiMaso (Bradley Cooper). To avoid going to jail, Rosenfeld and Prosser agree to help DiMaso convict four corrupt officials, starting with Mayor Carmine Polito (Jeremy Renner).
What follows is a complete mess. Does Rosenfeld really love Prosser? Will he ever leave his wife Rosalyn (Jennifer Lawrence)? Is Prosser in love with Rosenfeld, DiMaso, both, or neither? The story contains a delightful cameo from another Russell regular, a science oven, a fake sheikh, great music from the 70s, fantastic performances from the main cast, twists, humor, intrigue, and plenty of laughs. Is it coherent? Not completely on the first viewing. Is it worth seeing? Absolutely.
Jennifer Lawrence isn't in many scenes, but she's fascinating every time she appears. Bale and Adams dominate most of the story, and are ably supported by Bradley Cooper, who has become a much better actor than I once imagined. It's interesting to see these Russell favorites make fun of themselves. Lawrence is borderline crazy, Bale almost unrecognizable, Adams more manipulative than most of her former characters, and Cooper willing to act like a fool. Is this the sort of chemistry that develops when directors continually use actors that they have worked with in the past? I love seeing directors such as Lynch, the Coens, Darabont and Tarantino going back to the same actors repeatedly. I think it adds something to the performances.
Like a Tarantino movie, American Hustle is more about style and the journey than the actual plot. It's simply fun to watch these characters interact. Don't expect a clever scam along the lines of The Sting. Just enjoy the wild ride. I already can't wait to see it again, despite its imperfections. I have a feeling that I will end up loving the movie once I have allowed it to sink in and with repeat viewings. The same was true for Silver Linings Playbook and Jason Reitman's Young Adult.
If you're perceptive and still reading, you might have noticed that I haven't talked much about the plot. This is one you need to experience with knowing too much going in. If you're a fan a Russell, or the main actors, you'll come away with a smile on your face. If you're not, this movie might just convert you.
Ever since that first teaser trailer came out almost two years ago, I have been looking forward to Anchorman 2. I love the first film and couldn't wait to see more adventures with the Channel 4 News Team. I had heard quite a few negative reviews, but I figured "Hey, the first film had some negative reviews too. This one can't be that bad, right?"
It is that bad. The jokes in this movie are forced, trying to repeat what made the first film so funny but failing in its attempt. Several funny jokes from the first film are repeated and just feel old here. Let's not forget how the jokes are stale, unmemorable and just plain offensive. Suddenly in this movie, Champ becomes a big racist. The new characters are aggravating and forgettable. Brick is annoying in this movie, as is his female equivalent/love interest, played by Kristen Wiig. Speaking of famous people that weren't in the first one, there are plenty of celebrity cameos in this movie. Some may enjoy them, I just felt that they were dumb (and not funny dumb like this movie is supposed to be.)
I didn't walk out of Anchorman 2, but I wanted to. I found myself checking the time quite a bit, hoping that the agony would soon be over. Movies like this are the reason I hardly pay attention to big blockbuster movies. Right now, I am watching the first movie to wash the bad taste of the sequel out of my mouth. Many people have wanted a sequel to Anchorman for years. I think it would have been best to have been left wondering "what if?".
[Show spoiler]the irony of how the second half showed the same violence being committed against Alex (on stage, he got beat up), and the same gratification of women's bodies (on stage, naked woman comes out, and bows after the demonstration with Alex) that was done in the first half, but since it is sanctioned by The Government, the viewer turns a blind eye to it.
-not a bad film, just not that different than your standard anti-pollution HOllywood film like Erin Brokovich or Civil Action (bad evil polluting company + innocent town people = good but predictable plot)
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I also agree with your quote.
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