Review: Transcendence

The directorial debut of Wally Pfister is simply ok. The trailer for this was good, and certainly got me interested. In the end, it just failed to excite me. This should have been a big techno thriller, instead, we've got some interesting tech but no thrills.

Johnny Depp is technological genius Will Caster. The man that wants to bring Artificial Intelligence to the world because he believes we can benefit as a race. He's opposed by a group of rebels that think his ideas are going too far. They shoot him and bomb some major facilities involved in this development of the A.I. tech. Depp survives, but the bullet was laced with a radioactive substance - so he doesn't have long to live. His distressed and equally as gifted wife wants to keep his dream alive - and the only way to do this is to upload Will's mind to the A.I. machine.

This all starts out pretty good, with some interesting discussions on how far to go with our tech being raised. The performances are decent. Some may complain that Depp is ringing it in, and in a way, I can see that, but it also seems plausible to me that the way he portrays the character is how the character should be. Rebecca Hall plays his ever faithful wife, and she is pretty good. Paul Bettany is also pretty decent as the long life friend of both. The supporting cast are ok. They don't really have much to work with script wise. It's almost like Wally called some mates he's worked with before to fill out the cast.

The story is interesting, however it is the way it is executed that is the let down. The film looks great, as you would expect of Christopher Nolan's long time DP, but there is just no solid substance behind this glossy surface. The reasons for character's actions are not entirely acceptable or representative of the real world, and yet this film is about tech in our current real world. It seems decisions are made just to get the film to the next stage of the story without the indepth examination what is happening and its real world impact.

This is a movie you could watch once and may enjoy, but not feel the need to revisit again.

Rating:

2.5 out of 5.

Review: Heat

From the mid 90's comes the ultimate tale of cops and robbers. I'm in love with everything about this film - director, cast, performances, story, script, score, and cinematography. Everything is top notch.

Al Pacino plays super cop Lt. Vincent Hanna, part of the L.A. Robbery Homicide division. He finds a formidable foe in Robert De Niro's Neil McCauley, a career criminal. The two cross paths when McCauley's team unknowingly make a mistake on a heist. This leads Hanna and his team of detectives on a trail to find and stop McCauley. 

We're first introduced to McCauley and his team as they prepare and execute an armoured car heist. There is little dialogue here, but you're immediately entranced with what is taking place. Here you can see the masterful dedication this team has to getting the job done right and without incident to them. They're complete professionals. 

McCauley operates by this code - never become attached to anything in your life that you can't walk out on in 30 seconds, especially when you feel the heat is on your tail. This code means McCauley has been alone for most of his life. Hanna, although married, is actually married to his job. He's working on his third divorce. He is completely dedicated to catching the bad guys. The guy has seen some messed up shit in his career, and it haunts him.

It is impossible to imagine any other two actors playing the key leads. Al Pacino is just so awesome as Hanna. The outrageous cop, that will say what he is thinking, and do what he says he will do. De Niro is superb as McCauley. Quiet, yet strong, intelligent and vicious, but not without humanity. These two actors have pretty much not done anything as great as these roles since then.

One of the things I love about this film is how engaging each character is, in what is a pretty simple story. McCauley is the bad guy, and Hanna is the good guy, but as the story flows along you can see how similar they really are - both completely passionate about their work, but also to the detriment of their personal lives. As is referenced to later in the film, they're essentially two sides of the same coin. The supporting cast is excellent - Val Kilmer in one of his finest roles. Natalie Portman, in one of her first outings, just embodies the role of an angst ridden young girl. The cast list really is impressive here.

There are two scenes this film is most famous for: The cafe scene where these two great actors appear on screen together for the first time ever, and the ultimate street gunfight. The cafe conversation these two characters have is just perfection. Just a general conversation about themselves and this path they're on against each other. There is this respect they have for each other, but ultimately, one of them has to lose. Then, there is the gunfight. What a visceral experience it is. Tense, exciting, and thrillingly realistic in its disastrous outcome. If you want to know what a cop car turned into swiss cheese would look like, then watch this.

Writer and Director Michael Mann made his name with this film. I've seen the majority of his filmography, most of which are excellent, but this would be the pick of the bunch for me. At 170 mins, this is epic territory we're in here people. It is in no way a lazy film, or a struggle to get through. If anything, you're left wanting more. One of the simple pleasures of his films is the way he shoots nighttime scenery. It is almost impossible for me to describe how cool it is. Once you've seen it in one or two of his films, it's instantly recognisable. He's also not afraid to stick the camera in the actors face. It definitely helps to enhance the immediacy of the drama, and even the action.

The score by Elliot Goldenthal is one I have listened to many times. It is perfecto mundo for this film, and just sets the tone exquisitely whenever used. I especially like Moby's 'New Dawn Fades'. This is used in a great sequence where Hanna is racing through traffic to catch McCauley - the perfect freeway driving song. You know, when you're just passing traffic as if every other car was standing still.

Overall, this really is a masterpiece of cinema - the battle of a supercop and a supervillain. Both dedicated to their craft and on a collision course. Mann has done some fine work since this, and before, but this is a true classic that he has not surpassed. I love this film, and I hope you do too. Definitely a personal favourite.

Review: The Amazing Spider-Man 2

I really enjoyed the first one - I thought it was great. This one, although very good, is a little behind the first one. Everything is amped up in this entry though - bigger action scenes, more of Peter and Gwen and more villains. 

The production value on this film is impressive, although, sometimes I think the Spider-Man antics (you know, him flying around the city) from the first trilogy come off as more convincing than this set of new films. Perhaps I am over thinking things there. The key for these films success though is the chemistry between Garfield and Stone. Man, they are great together, and really pull you into the story. 

The villains this time around are pretty cool. Jamie Foxx as Electro is great, but I felt the story line for him was a bit weak. There just didn't seem to be enough motivation for his badness. His appearance and abilities are very good, and adds to the excitement of the action scenes. Dane Dehaan as Harry Osborn is excellent as well. His story has more chomp to it than Electro's though, and I think given the subtitle is Rise of Electro, it should have had more focus on Foxx's character.

The movie tried to accommodate too much this time. There is the relationship side with Peter and Gwen, the at least two villains aspect, and the backstory for Peter's parents. Although for the most part it does work, it started to lose pace around the middle third. Seeing Captain America 2 recently was a good reminder that films like this need to keep the excitement levels increasing to a satisfying conclusion. Although the ending is satisfying, it hit a bit of a lull with trying to incorporate all its story elements. Tonally, the film is also a bit odd. The way a certain german Doctor is portrayed is a little weird, and didn't work for me with the rest of the picture. Sure, there are comedy and drama elements, but that Doctor just seemed out of place being portrayed that way.

Overall, it is the leads and the great action set pieces that make this film enjoyable. Sure, there are plenty of plot holes and conveniences, but, you go into these movies for fun - not too much reality. 

Rating:

3.5 out of 5.

Cinema Etiquette: Part II

Good Friday could have been an absolute disaster - but only if I lost my cool with the cool cats. This time, it was in The Amazing Spiderman 2. Now, you can tell from my last experience that I am pretty sensitive to noise whilst watching a movie. Hell, I'm not at home - I've paid to go do something - an activity that actually requires silence for the most part. 

Let me set the scene for you - got into the cinema, grab some pretty good seats. Things are looking good, not many people in the session. Then, you get the few stranglers that are coming once previews have started. Fair enough - some people just can't make it for when the session actually starts. We all know we've got that little bit of spare time to get our asses to the complex. 

Any how, in walks a group of about 8 people, and they stand on the stairway, looking for somewhere to park their cool asses all together. You know, because, they're a big group, and we need a whole fucking row. Well, 8 people ain't that big, but, then count the other 6 or 7 that rock up, with them. Oh shit, now they really need a whole row. But, there is no whole row. 

So, what do they do? They take up the ends up of about 4 rows, which is completely around myself and my partner.  Ok, at this point, you're thinking, what the fuck is the problem? Well, let me tell ya, these mother fuckers are so cool, and hip, they gotta let everyone in the cinema know. They're talking across rows, fist bumping each as they come in and say hi to their mates that are already there...you know, "hey brother"..."yeah, hey man, how you doin?!"....blah blah blah....

I'm hip to that shit, but just sit the fuck down and get ready, because the movie is about to start. But, you know what, these kids (hahaha...kids, they were probably early to mid 20's) are too cool for school. I can just tell. I was in school once too, and I know those cool types that think and do whatever the fuck they want. They're the type I loathe the most. If you're reading this, and you were a part of the 'cool' group in school, then I probably didn't like you. I know the feeling was mutual though. Bottom line, you're a fucken douche, and you grew up to continue being douchey. 

So, lights are down, movie starts, and they're just continuing their cool jibes at each other. Hell, they're telling each other to shut up, but they're not leading by example. One dude behind us is so jacked up for this movie he forgot to shut up and watch it. My partner turns around and asks him to be quiet (politely of course) and he just ignores her. Damn, what a cool cat. So, 5 mins in, we're getting up, and moving off to a quiter area. And yeah, I stepped on feet, but fuck ya, if you weren't so inconsiderate of others, then I wouldn't have had to move anyways. 

What else can you do - I'm certainly not the intimidating type, so it's not as if a harsh word in a couple of ears would have done anything. In the end, we sat where the disruption was not as bad, but you could still hear these dudes (pretty much maybe 2 or 3 of them) going off like they're at a movie night at home. You know why, because they're in a big group, and they want to show off in front of their mates. They don't care there are plenty of others in the cinema that want to enjoy the film in peace. Cool cats, they don't care. They never did in school, and they don't now.

Cinema Etiquette

I finally cracked it today - got up out of my seat to tell a couple of young idiots to shut up. Now, I've been to the cinema hundreds of times. I've sat in some pretty bad crowds, and you can usually rely on others to do the shushing. However, today, I found myself sitting a few seats down from a young boy and girl (perhaps mid to late teens), that just wouldn't shut up. 

Now, I don't know about you, but, I like to watch movies in peace. I pay my money, I don't really want to be hearing your conversation throughout an entire film. I understand that people will occasionally say things to each other in a film, and that is fine. Hell, I am guilty of it myself, especially with some mates. But, they're not conversations.

So, I got into my session of Captain America: The Winter Soldier, and the best seats I could find happened to be up the back corner - well, on the side, but near the corner. Now, I also like to not sit next to anyone, in front, side or back. I feel, if there is room, then why do that. That gets difficult in a packed cinema. This one, the movie was not packed, but the seating was mostly packed in the centre. So, I went to the side, chose a seat, but it was all fucked up. You know, the seat that has been bashed so many times it is now a rocking chair. So, I moved, and went back one row to the absolute back. It was a good spot. No one in front, behind (obviously) or directly to my sides.

I sat down, and I looked at these two squished into the corner, and thought to myself, these fuckers are just going to talk and talk. They were already talking a lot in ads and trailers, which is acceptable. Lights go down, movie starts - still talking. Hmmm....ok, how long do I give them. I even ask my patient partner "How long should I give them?". My patient partner doesn't really respond, but just gives me that look of "You're not patient enough to wait long".

So, the film gets going, I am glued to the screen, but I find I am severely distracted by this fucking conversation going on to my left. I look over, they're giggling and playing with the phone. Looking at shit, and talking about it. Man, I was fuming. I have anger control issues for sure, and these guys were sent to test me. I'm also finding now that I am not as glued to the screen with what is going on as I should be - I'm now playing over in my head what I want to, at the very least, say to these kids.

Just as my partner turns her head to request them to be quiet, I just get up, walk over and say "I paid money to see this, so for two hours, shut up".  The guy is like, yeah, sorry. I sit down, and go back to trying to enjoy this film. 

Cut to ten mins, or barely that, later. Talking again. Conversations about what they're looking at on the phone. Are you fucking kidding me man! My entire experience of watching The Avengers was ruined because of no less than 8 teens having a full on meeting in the movie. I wasn't about to let that happen again. The question here is: Do I go all bad ass and break the kids face? I in turn get arrested and lose my job. Do I get the attendant to make an appearance to get them to be quiet? This probably won't work either. So, I scoped out different seats we could easily get to, and we moved. From then on, I could actually focus on enjoying what I was paying to see. But, yes, I could still hear them occasionally. I didn't bother going back up to say anything, as clearly the kid/s are lacking in brain activity. For all I know, he and she could be A grade students and the future of our world, but for some reason lack any social intelligence.

The questions I have out of this experience and many others in the past - Why do people, mainly teens, in couples or groups, go to the movies to only talk right through it? What the fuck is wrong with them? You want to talk, go to a cafe, restaurant, park, someone's house, your car, bedroom, or anything where you will not be annoying others with conversation. It's a fucking cinema you degenerate morons!

I can understand that you want to hang with your friends, catch up, laugh, flirt, play with each other, and fuck knows what else, but there is a time and place. The lack of respect for others in society through this basic activity is grating.

What say you people of the world? Or at least the people that happen to see this random post.

Review: Captain America: The Winter Soldier

When I saw Captain America: The First Avenger, I was probably disappointed. After a second viewing of that film, I can certainly say I enjoyed it, but I was still underwhelmed. I'm happy to report that the sequel to that movie blows the first one away.

The story, action sequences, overall production value and just general enjoyment is amplified for this outing. Chris Evans is now a lot more comfortable in the Captain America suit and I really enjoy watching him in this role. It's difficult to picture anyone else playing the consummate good guy. Scar Jo as Black Widow is just great. She certainly gets a lot more to do in this movie, which is welcome. I really enjoyed the story, and am keen to see how the next few instalments in the Marvel franchises handle the fallout from the events in this film. I don't really want to say too much about it, so just go see for yourselves. To say too much about what the story is, well, potentially spoilerish - and I hate spoilers.

I still probably rank The Avengers higher, but this movie sits on par with at least Iron Man - for now. Granted I need to see how this movie holds up to repeat viewings. I'm tempted to say this movie is excellent, but I will hold out for the moment and say it is great instead.

Rating:

4 out of 5.

Review: Manhunter

I'm a big fan of Michael Mann - Heat would be a top ten fave of all time for me. There are some films I haven't seen, so I decided to give those a go. This is first up - Manhunter, a very cool little thriller from the mid 80's. Based on the novel Red Dragon, it is the story of former FBI Profiler Will Graham - asked back to help catch a killer on the loose, after having retired because of injuries sustained when he caught the notorious Hannibal Lecktor.

I've seen the Red Dragon film by Brett Ratner, so it was interesting to see the original adaptation and how it compares. I haven't read the book, so I don't know which liberties each film takes with the adaptation. Both, in my opinion, are effective thrillers.

Lecktor doesn't feature as much in this as he does in Red Dragon, but I suspect that is because by the time Red Dragon was made, Anthony Hopkin's interpretation of Hannibal was very popular. It would have been a major selling point to audiences and even the studio, given the success of Silence of the Lambs and Hannibal before. Brian Cox's interpretation, although brief, is very different to both others we've seen since (Hopkins and Mads) - dare I say Cox is perhaps more visibly aggressive than the other two.

I can't say this is better than the other, as they both offer a well told story with excellent performances. All up, I'm quite pleased with this entry in the Michael Mann filmography - and we know he just got better and better after this.

Rating:

3.5 out of 5.

Review: Noah

I've been waiting with anticipation to see Noah. Ever since I first heard of its production, I was quite excited to see what would eventuate. Considering the pedigree involved, I had high hopes. I am not religious at all, so it was really more the spectacle of epic proportions I was looking forward to.  Darren Aronofsky has proven himself to be quite a diverse director and Russell Crowe was born to play these kinds of roles. 

As mentioned, I have no religious angle to my review. Frankly, I don't care or know how close the story adheres to written scripture. I was, however, pleasantly surprised that the film does take a fantasy style approach. In some ways, I felt like I was watching a cross between Lord of the Rings and Waterworld with characters descended from Adam and Eve. I enjoyed the simple story of Good versus Evil - which is the ultimate good of man versus the very elements that make man horrible (consume, dominate and consume some more). It's because of this evil that the earth must be cleansed - pretty easy to follow.

Russell Crowe is, as per usual, in fine form as our good man Noah. The actors playing his wife and children are all pretty good as well. Ray Winstone as the ultimate evil guy is top notch. Cinematography, visual effects and score are excellent. The creation of earth sequence is quite spectacular. The Ark itself is very realistic, and the cgi used to show the animals populating the Ark is well done. The scripting is mostly good, but there are some dodgy lines thrown in here and there. With all the major elements being good to excellent, you'd think I loved it - right? Well, no, I didn't. 

For me, I found the movie to be a good effort, but not a hit out of park. It is well made, but I found myself not liking it as much I did The Fountain. I really couldn't tell you why exactly. Some moments felt slow to me, so I definitely think the runtime could have been trimmed. Walking out of the film, I felt as though I may never watch this movie again, but I know I should at some point in time. Perhaps my expectation of something epic and great was too high. I wanted to say it is excellent, great, a master piece, but, really, it is just plain old good (for now).

Rating:

3 out of 5.