Wednesday, February 22, 2012

Movie Review - The Descendants


I have to admit I was not overly excited when asked by a friend to see this George Clooney film. Firstly because it starred George Clooney. An actor whose fame and reputation has surpassed his acting to the point that no matter how good he is I can not get past the fact that I am watching George Clooney on the screen – preventing me from transcending into the character he is portraying.

Secondly from the previews it looked like just anther romantic comedy. Let me deal with the comedy. It did have some light-hearted humourous moments but not enough to label it a comedy. Whilst it was romantic but not in the regular Hollywood style of boy meets girl, boy falls for girl boy and girl have a series of mishaps before living together happily ever after.

It is a romance in as much as Clooney’s character proves his love for his dieing wife by putting the needs of other less deserving character above his own needs.

Faced with a series of stressful ethical decisions Clooney portrays the grieving husband with an unexpected subtleness and passion, that is both confronting and endearing for the audience. The main story line of preparing for a funeral has a number of twists that only brings further pain to the main characters.

The sub plot of native land-titles is much less interesting and a lot more predictable, merely a distraction for the audience.

The movie can seem slow, the closest thing to an action scene is the moments Clooney runs down the winding road from his Hawaiian home – no spoiler alert as it is included in the all of the previews. It is all about relationships, personal sacrifice and pride. The emotions of this story are often played out in long close-up sequences often without a word spoken.

Watch out for Shailene Woodley, who plays Clooneys character’s daughter. This could be the beginning of a long and celebrated career.

Monday, February 20, 2012

Movie Review - The Artist


In the world of modern film making it was risky to create a (almost) silent movie. The occasional use of sound effects and voice were masterfully woven into the narrative. Unfortunately that was the most interesting –only interesting? – part of the narrative.

Set in the 1920 during the silent film era and artfully recreating the genre The Artist unfortunately the story line was a recreation of Singin' in the Rain without the clever and witty dialogue, unforgettable music and skilled dancing.

A Hollywood silent movie star meets a nobody in the crowd, she becomes a star in the new world of talkies, his star fades but will Y-A-W-N will love conquer all? I am not sure as I fell asleep before the end.

John Goodman’s performance as a cranky movie studio boss is a standout. Bérénice Bejo is an absolute classic beauty of the silver screen. Her eyes and smile are too often the only thing keeping the audience concentrating on the screen. Jean Dujarin plays the flawed hero as required of the genre he over acts and plays all characters including himself with a false sense of confidence a bravado.

Will in with an Oscar® for best Picture? Probably. Not because of its quality but for its bravery and for its mush less than subtle nod to Hollywoods nostalgic past.

Wait for this one to come out on DVD and then wait for someone else to choose it.

Movie Review - Chronicle


Chronicle

This movie was noting like I expected – a superhero story that really was not as much about having super physical powers but rather the battle for emotional power and control of self.

My fear on entering the theatre was that I was going to see a 21st century take of Teenwolf. Yes there were scenes showing the three main characters going through the motions of learning about their newly acquired powers. Done with great humour these scenes (and most of them shown in the trailers) were also about teenagers discovering themselves and creating their own meaning and direction in a challenging world.

There are a few moments when the producers came close to falling for the super powers cliché, but pull back just in the nick of time.

This is not the light-hearted teen flick the trailer makes it out to be. The main story line is powerful heart wrenching tackling issues abuse, power, control (self control?), rites of passage and mateship.

As an Aussie bloke I am not meant to show any indication of an emotional response and although I did not cry (even privately) over this movie I was quite moved and talked about it for hours after.

Amongst more existential topics Chronicle did spark the conversation “if you could have a super power what would it be?”

For me it would be invisibility. Not for voyeuristic reasons but to hear what people say about me when I leave the room. It seems so much easier the George Costanza in Seinfeld when he left a tape recorder inside a briefcase to hear what the board members of the Susan Ross Foundation thought of him.

What super power would you like?

What do you want to say about even if I am virtually still in the room?