Retro Review: The Vanishing (1988)

                                A Thriller With A Morally Questioning Story That Never 'Vanishes' Into Thin Air                     
                       Not to discourage filmmaking here in America, but I feel that European filmmaking is alive and well. Mainly because they have such creative ideas and they even take concepts that have been told here and make something fresh and new out of them. The Vanishing does just that as it deals with a missing person but tells it from a unique perspective.

                          Story:
                   The Vanishing is about a Dutch couple named Rex (Gene Bervoets) and Saskia (Johanna Ter Steege) traveling to France. As they make a stop at a service station, Saskia then suddenly disappears without a trace. The rest of the film then follows Rex and his obsession with what happened to Saskia, as well as the man responsible for Saskia's appearance named Raymond (Bernard-Pierre Donnadieu).

                   What I Liked About It:
                 One thing that I thought was interesting was how we see both sides of the crime committed. We see the point of view of Rex and how his girlfriend's disappearance has had a great effect on him. We also get a glimpse at the life of Raymond and see how despite the fact that he is a monster, he is still a family man. Honestly, the fact that he had a family and was a criminal made me feel sickened by this character. Also, even though we figure out in the beginning who the culprit is, we never know what he actually did until the end. I think the film wanted to just give an exploration of this horrible man and show how he could be someone that you possibly know. He is just an average joe who wondered if he can do something incredibly sinister and discovered that he actually could. In my opinion, it's villains like those that scare me the most. We see plenty of Freddy or Jason-type killers, but those are just make believe. Raymond is somebody that could be your boss or your neighbor and he shows that the most horrifying monster could be standing right in front of you.

                Since I am still on the subject of Raymond, I'll now go into the actor who portrayed him. Bernard-Pierre Donnadieu is absolutely brilliant and actually does a great job at making you hate his character by just giving a simple smirk. For such a villainous performance, he is very low-key and unassuming and I really liked it. Johanna Ter Steege has a very luminous presence when she is on screen as Saskia and is very endearing. Gene Bervoets is also outstanding as Rex and really makes you feel for him as the obsesses for the truth about what happened to his long lost girlfriend. That actually brings me to my next point. I don't want to try and spoil it, but I feel the film's message is how sometimes our quest for the truth can lead to consequences or getting nothing out of it, much like the movie Doubt that came out in 2008. So, it was neat that not only is this a unique thriller but it actually conveys a meaningful moral message.

               What I Didn't Like About It:
               Nothing.

               Consensus:
              Overall, The Vanishing is a unique and morally questioning thriller that might just have you guessing until the very end. It honestly might not be for everyone just because it is very slow-paced and you would need to read subtitles if you aren't fluent in Dutch. But it is a wonderful film nevertheless.

Grade: A-

Review: The Normal Heart (2014)

                           
                   A Brilliant Yet Emotional Telling of HIV/AIDS That Feels Like A Stab In The 'Heart'

           Last year saw the release of the film Dallas Buyers Club, which dealt with the issue of HIV/AIDS. Now, we have a film that just premiered on HBO that dealt with the same issue and is based on a Tony-winning play: The Normal Heart. But while Dallas Buyers Club only succeeds in the acting department, The Normal Heart succeeds on every level in my opinion as it really packs an emotional and gut-wrenching punch.

           Story:
          The Normal Heart is set in the early 80's when HIV/AIDS was being discovered and follows an openly gay writer named Ned Weeks (Mark Ruffalo) who looks to create awareness for HIV/AIDS, along with the help of his friends in the gay community, including his lover Felix Turner (Matt Bomer), and help from friends in the medical field, including a polio-stricken doctor named Emma Brookner (Julia Roberts). As Ned and his pack try to fight the AIDS epidemic, they then try to fight the social ignorance of AIDS and the gay community along the way.

         What I Liked About It:
        First off, I loved the acting in this film. Mark Ruffalo plays a character that is a bit of a stretch from the everyman he usually plays as he is more flustered yet fiercely loyal to his cause. Matt Bomer is also fantastic as Ned's lover Felix and while Ruffalo projects his emotions externally, Bomer projects his more internally. But when his character (*spoiler alert*) gets AIDS, Bomer becomes a bit more external as if he is peeling off a layer of skin and he becomes more physically and emotionally frail. Julia Roberts surprised me here like she did in August: Osage County as she plays a woman who is rather uncharismatic yet you still want her on your side. Another actor who surprised me was Jim Parsons, who plays Ned's fellow comrade Tommy, as he goes more serious unlike in his famous comedic role of Sheldon on The Big Bang Theory. Even though Parsons provides mild comedic relief, he still gives a very heartfelt performance. All the other actors are brilliant, which include Taylor Kitsch, Alfred Molina, and Joe Mantello, who starred in the Broadway play version of this film.

        Another thing I liked was how the film was brave enough to show us the physical horrors of AIDS patients. We see plenty of scenes that show different AIDS patients with lesions and frail figures, which at times, makes the film difficult to watch but still gives us a visual demonstration of the issue at hand so it doesn't become sugarcoated. There is even a scene that has an underlying tragedy, in my opinion, where most of the main characters are slow dancing at a gay club and people with AIDS are just watching in the background because they can't come in physical contact with non-infected people. I liked how even though the film shows us why AIDS was so horrible and does it from the point of view of mostly homosexuals, which is pretty rare, it does it in a way that doesn't seem too "on the nose", in my opinion. There were even points in the film where I almost started bawling because it is so sad. Even though the characters are fictional, I was just still hoping for them to find happiness and live to fight this dreadful illness and that is what the experience of watching a film is supposed to be. You want to be taken along the journey that the characters go through, even if it is a painful and rough journey and feel something.

         What I Didn't Like About It:
         Nothing.

         Consensus:
        Overall, The Normal Heart is an emotional and heartfelt drama that may leave you feeling defeated at the very end. As I said, it is definitely not an easy watch and might make some viewers uncomfortable in terms of its graphic and sexual content, but it really makes you open your eyes about the sheer horror of HIV/AIDS. It is On Demand now and is airing on HBO, so if you get the chance to watch it, you should. You might open your eyes as wide as I have.

Grade: A

Indie Review: Punch-Drunk Love (2002)

                                                 

                              A Masterful And Artful Look At What It Means To Be In 'Love'

                    Paul Thomas Anderson and Adam Sandler. For those of you that love film, those are two different personalities in the film industry one would probably never expect to be in the same sentence. But watching Punch Drunk Love, I was amazed at the combination between these two as Anderson manages to bring out the best performance of Sandler's career.

                    Story:
                   Punch-Drunk Love follows a lonely man named Barry Egan (Adam Sandler) who is constantly tormented by his sisters and tries to find a loophole in a frequent flyer miles program by purchasing extensive amounts of pudding. He then starts to become less lonely after meeting his sister's co-worker Lena (Emily Watson) but finds himself in a complication involving a corrupt phone sex line led by a mattress salesman (Philip Seymour Hoffman).

                  What I Liked About It:
                 Before I get into the direction by PTA, I'll first go into Adam Sandler. All I have to say about his performance is Damn. He shows us a side of him that we almost never see on screen as he reveals a rather unnerving intensity. Plus, he completely and almost relievingly ditches his "man-child" routine. I'll admit, I do enjoy watching him do that routine, but a little variety never hurts. So, I was very pleased with Sandler's performance and will be patient enough to see him do another film like this because I have a feeling it will be for a while.

                  Next, I'll discuss Paul Thomas Anderson's direction. One word: phenomenal. He really incorporates the "mise en scene" approach to his directing as there are plenty of visuals used to tell the story. For example, there is a harmonium that suddenly drops outside Barry's shop and it plays into the plot as it represents a musician trying to find his voice or his song. Plus, he has heavy use of the colors blue, white, and red. Barry wears a blue suit throughout the film and I am sure that is a representation of his loneliness. I normally think that red represents guilt, but I think here it is a symbol of love as Lena is constantly wearing that color. There is even a scene where Barry flies over to Hawaii to visit Lena and he is greeted by two female flight attendants in red before he heads into the plane. Now that I think about it, it shows how the color red is always leading Barry to his feeling of satisfaction or his love. But white is the opposite. Throughout the film, Barry is practically encased by the color white in different places and to me, that shows how he is enclosed in his own world, like he is trapped in a fish tank. Anderson also uses the long tracking shot technique at plenty of points in the film. One scene that was my favorite is Barry is talking to a phone sex operator the morning after the night they first talked and as the scene progresses, the lady on the phone gets more aggressive and Barry then just stands still. Paul Thomas Anderson won the Best Director Award at the Cannes Film Festival for his work in this and when you watch and look into this film, it is definitely not hard to see why.

                What I Didn't Like About It:
                Nothing.

                Consensus:
               Overall, Punch-Drunk Love is a masterful and artistic look at the feeling of being in love. It has a tour-de-force performance from Adam Sandler and master class direction from Paul Thomas Anderson. Whether you are a fan of Adam Sandler or completely dislike his work, I would say give this a watch nevertheless. If you fall on either category, you will still be completely surprised.

Grade: A


                 

                 

Topic Of The Day: Lupita Nyong'o Joins Star Wars VII

Hello, Bloggers, I am only a little late on this but I figured I would do a quick post where I could share my thoughts about one of the new casting choices for the upcoming Star Wars film. That is the announcement that the Oscar-winning actress Lupita Nyong'o will join. Here are my thoughts:

When it was announced that Nyong'o will officially join, I was very excited. I wasn't just happy because I think she is a brilliant talent, but because this is a great way to capitalize on her Oscar win. Starring in one of the most successful franchises to exist is pretty much having a guaranteed win on your filmography and that certainly helps in a business-driven town like Tinseltown. Also, the casting choice of Nyong'o could prove that black actresses that are darker than Halle Berry can make it big in a white-dominated industry. With all due respect to Halle Berry, actresses with much darker skin seem to have a harder time making it big in the mainstream. That could change with Lupita Nyong'o, even if she is put in a supporting role in Star Wars. I am personally rooting for Nyong'o to really prosper in this industry and hopefully this potential box office win will help her along the way. They also said that a younger version of Storm will appear in X-Men: Apocalypse and hopefully my dream choice of Lupita Nyong'o in the role will come to fruition.

It has also been announced that Gwendoline Christie from Game of Thrones will join. I haven't thought too highly of this choice only because I haven't seen her in Game of Thrones. But, she will be playing Commander Lyme in the upcoming Hunger Games sequel or sequels because it is being divided into two parts. I already know I will be seeing those. Plus, I'm sure this casting choice will persuade the huge Game of Thrones fanbase to come out and see it.

So, those are my quick thoughts on the casting choice of Lupita Nyong'o in the upcoming Star Wars sequel. If you agree or disagree, please feel free to comment. But if you disagree and make racist comments, I will immediately try and disable the comments section. So, if you disagree, please be courteous. Thanks for reading!

Topic Of The Day: Favorite vs. Best

 Hello, Bloggers, for today's Topic Of The Day, I figured I'd discuss something that just sprung into my mind. I was just thinking about how there is a difference between a film being a favorite movie of mine and a film that I consider one of the best of all time. So, I figured that I would share it with you guys.

Now, if there is a film that I consider a favorite of mine, it is because I would watch it whenever it is on TV or if its On Demand or whatnot. It is a film that usually is more enjoyable. As an example, I will use two of my top three favorite films: Scott Pilgrim vs. The World and The Nutty Professor. Now, those two wouldn't exactly make the Criterion Collection or win the Palme D'Or at the Cannes Film Festival. But, I would still watch them because I enjoy them. However, there are some that I consider the best which just happen to be some of the best movies ever. One example would be Election, starring Matthew Broderick and Reese Witherspoon. It is a film that I enjoy watching that is also a unique satire on politics and even high school. Plus, there is the 1994 classic Forrest Gump, which is an entertaining film to watch that also has artistic merit with its meaningful storytelling. Since I just saw The Royal Tenenbaums, that could be another example in the upcoming future.

So, a film that I would just consider one of the best of all time but NOT a favorite of mine would be one that makes me feel something or is just powerful filmmaking. Take for example, Schindler's List. Schindler's List is a phenomenal work of art that I would consider one of the top 3 best movies ever. It doesn't mean I would watch it over and over though, just because it deals with such heavy subject matter and the first time I saw it, I was almost a teary mess. I would watch it again, just not every night like I would for a film like Election. There is also the film Requiem For A Dream. I consider that a brilliant and powerful film that deserves its place among the best movies ever and to be watched by almost everyone, although it isn't an easy watch. One more example I will use is Stanley Kubrick's A Clockwork Orange. I consider that one of the best movies ever as it is brilliantly directed and tells a story about how we are all beasts and how we can "cage the beast". Yet I have only seen it on one or two occasions just because of how its explicit material doesn't make you click the button when you see it is on. Make no mistake, though, Orange, along with Requiem and List, are essential films that have earned their respective places in the film history books.

So, that is my Topic Of The Day about the difference between what I consider a favorite film, what I consider the best of all time and some films that are a blend of the two. Please feel free to write in the comments section some of your favorite movies or what you consider some of the best movies ever. Thanks for reading!

Indie Review: The Royal Tenenbaums (2001)

               'The Royal Tenenbaums': An Offbeat Comedy With Underlying Drama That Runs In The Family

                Life is about many things, including chance. After I saw Moonrise Kingdom, which I honestly detested, I said to myself I would give another shot at Wes Anderson at the chance that Kingdom was maybe just a hiccup. It turns out I was right and I was glad I took another stab at Anderson as The Royal Tenenbaums is not only a great movie, but one of the best I've ever seen.

                Story:
               The Royal Tenenbaums follows the story of a man named Royal Tenenbaum (Gene Hackman) who is separated from his wife Ethel (Anjelica Huston) and three children who were former child prodigies: businessman Chas (Ben Stiller), playwright Margot (Gwyneth Paltrow), and tennis player Richie (Luke Wilson). Royal then claims that he is suffering from cancer which brings the whole family together and creates rather unusual complications.

             What I Liked About It:
            I'll start off by discussing the brilliant acting. I was amazed by watching just how all the actors became their characters. Gene Hackman disappears into the character of Royal, a man who has less admirable qualities yet a few tender ones that make him rather endearing. Gwyneth Paltrow stole every scene she was in as Margot, as she showcases her character's range of emotions through a more deadpan and monotonous voice. Luke Wilson is also brilliant as Richie, who is in my mind the heart and soul of the film as he is the film's moral center. All the other actors, including Ben Stiller, Anjelica Huston, Bill Murray, Owen Wilson, and Danny Glover, are are equally spectacular.

            Another thing I liked was just how relatable these characters are. Since this film deals with family dynamics, almost every character in this film might remind you of someone you know or someone in your own family. Margot is the rather invisible child who is very secretive. Richie is the concerned child who tries to keep the family together. Chas is the bitter child who is unforgiving of his father's dastardly deeds he committed in the past. Royal is the messed-up father trying to work his way back into the family's life and Ethel is the mother concerned about her children being educated. It is amazing that even though these characters are so offbeat, they are still very realistic and I applaud screenwriters Wes Anderson and Owen Wilson are creating a more original story about family dynamics. Speaking of Anderson, I loved the way he colorfully directed this film. Despite my problems with Moonrise Kingdom, I did love the way Anderson directed it and I especially loved the way he directed this. One of my favorite scenes is where Richie is talking with Royal about a public meltdown he had on television in a tennis match, and the scene cuts to the tennis match being shown on the television rather than just giving a traditional flashback. So, I applaud Wes Anderson as a director and after watching this film, I have much greater respect for him as a screenwriter. Plus, he and Owen Wilson manage to give the film funny moments but still create underlying drama that honestly touches on the heartstrings. The film was marketed as a comedy-drama, but I personally think it is the other way around.

           What I Didn't Like About It:
           Nothing.

           Consensus:
          Overall, The Royal Tenenbaums is an artistic and offbeat drama-comedy that really hits close to home. I am more than happy I gave Wes Anderson another chance and checked out this masterful film that is the whole package: It has a wonderful and humanistic story, great performances, and brilliant direction. I'll be honest, this may not exactly be for everyone because Wes Anderson is one of those love-hate directors. But, I would still say give it a shot. You might find yourself as surprised as I was.

Grade: A+

         

Oscars 2015 Predictions: Best Supporting Actor

Hello, Bloggers, I just got through three of the major acting categories for my predictions of the upcoming Oscars, so today, I'll get to the final acting category: Best Supporting Actor. Let's take a look at who could get nominated:

Albert Brooks, A Most Violent Year: A Most Violent Year seems like a potential Oscar contender set for release in November. If it is any successful, there could be some love shown for its actors like veteran comedian Albert Brooks, who has done a complete 180 back in 2011 with his supporting turn in Drive. Although, the Oscar still remained elusive. Since this is another serious turn for Brooks, the Academy could continue the tradition of honoring a famous actor or actress reinventing themselves, like with this year's Best Actor winner, by rewarding Brooks with a nomination, which could also make up for that Drive snub.

Robert Duvall, The Judge: As I have pointed out before, the Academy loves veterans. Especially veterans that are a staple in Hollywood as Duvall has delivered character work over the years in films like the first two Godfathers, To Kill A Mockingbird, and Apocalypse Now. Not only that, but the Academy likes to hand out "it's been a while" nominations for those that haven't been nominated or won in quite a while. In fact, the last time Duvall won was back in 1984 for Best Actor for Tender Mercies and his last nomination came in 1999 for his supporting turn in A Civil Action. Plus, an actor like him getting nominated would easily make his category look good, which is partially why the Academy likes to honor older players very often.

Edward Norton, Birdman: As I just said about Robert Duvall, the Academy loves to offer "it's been a while" nominations and it's been about 16 years since Edward Norton's last nomination for his leading turn in American History X he was even nominated for his debut performance in Primal Fear back in 1996.
He remains Oscarless (which is a little hard to swallow), and his profile has mellowed out in recent years, but a nomination could give his career a bit more "juice" by allowing him to do work beyond the Verizon commercials he was in recently.

Mark Ruffalo, Foxcatcher: When I first did coverage for this past Oscar season, I predicted Ruffalo would land a nomination for Foxcatcher, and I still feel it could happen. It may have gotten cold feet last year due to the crowded Oscar race, but Ruffalo could still have another shot at a 2nd nomination in the supporting category to compliment his first for The Kids Are All Right. The film itself is getting plenty of awards traction and just won Best Director at Cannes, so that could mean the actors, including Ruffalo, could get some heat. Even if he doesn't get nominated, Ruffalo still has The Avengers as a consolation prize and that's not a bad one either.

Channing Tatum, Foxcatcher: As I've mentioned before, while the Academy likes to honor older players, they like to push forward the next generation. Tatum has become quite a name in recent years and with his role in Foxcatcher, it seems he is looking to protect his artistry as well. Academy members could be keenly aware of this and nominate him to capitalize on his star power and as a potential reminder to gravitate towards smaller films as well to not make a potential nomination seem like a fluke. But like how Ruffalo has The Avengers, if Tatum doesn't get nominated, he still has his role as Gambit in X-Men: Apocalypse on the horizon.

Now onto the "dark horse" contenders:

Josh Brolin/Benicio Del Toro/Owen Wilson (Inherent Vice): The film has a smorgasbord of actors, and is directed by Paul Thomas Anderson. So, if the film's lead Joaquin Phoenix doesn't get nominated, they could still reward another one of the film's actors. Either Brolin with a 2nd nomination, Del Toro a 3rd, or Wilson, a comedian doing a 180, a 1st nomination.

Johnny Depp (Into The Woods): Would be his first nomination in the supporting category and 4th overall. Depends on how the film plays out.

Logan Lerman (Fury): His role is apparently a co-lead, from what I've read, but the much younger players are usually in the supporting category.

Christopher Walken (Jersey Boys): It is a musical directed by Clint Eastwood, who is an Oscar darling. Plus, as I pointed out, the Academy loves to givee "it's been a while" nominations and Walken's last was back in '02 for his supporting turn in Catch Me If You Can. 

Christoph Waltz (Big Eyes): He just won his 2nd and is 2-0, so a nomination depends on whether the Academy will glance over him thinking "He already has two"

So, those are my predictions for who could be nominated for Best Supporting Actor and the potential dark horse contenders. Next, I will do either Best Director or Best Picture. Until then, thanks for reading!