Martin Scorsese ceases to amaze me with his next project considering he usually directs such heavy-handed material, but with "Hugo" he continues to surprise me with his expertise at being able to pull off the unexpected.
Set in 1930's Paris, a 12 year-old orphan, Hugo Cabret (Asa Butterfield) who lives in the walls of a train station is wrapped up in a mystery involving his late father (Jude Law) and an automaton. Hugo's job is to maintain the station's clocks, but to him, his more important task is to protect a broken automaton and notebook left to him by his father. Accompanied by goddaughter, Isabelle (Chloe Grace Moretz) of an embittered toy merchant, Georges Melies (Ben Kingsley), Hugo embarks on a quest to solve the mystery of the automaton and find a place he can call home.
As mentioned above, this was directed by the incomparable Scorsese ("Mean Streets" '73, "Taxi Driver" '76, "New York, New York" '77, "Raging Bull" '80, "The King of Comedy" '83, "The Color of Money" '86, "Goodfellas" '90, "Cape Fear" '91, "Casino" '95, "Gangs of New York" '02, "The Aviator" '04, "The Departed" '06, "Shutter Island" '10) and many others. How he gets his actors to express themselves as they do with amazing character changes is pure genius. This was written by John Logan based on Brian Selznick's book, "The Invention of Hugo Cabret".
Others to round out the cast are Sacha Baron Cohen as Station Inspector, Ray Winstone as Hugo's drunk Uncle Claude, Helen McCrory as Mama Jeanne, wife of Georges, Emily Mortimer as Lisette, Michael Stuhlbarg as Rene Tabard, Frances de la Tour as Madame Emile, and Richard Griffiths as Monsieur Frick.
Scorsese utilizes a lot of the same people to assist him with his projects and Sandy Powell as costume designer is no exception. She has desiged costumes for the likes of "The Miracle" '91, "The Crying Game" '92, "Michael Collins" '96, "Shakespeare in Love" '98, "Far From Heaven" '02, "Gangs of New York" '02, "The Aviator" '04, "The Departed" '06, "The Other Boleyn Girl" '08, and "Shutter Island" '10. She will be looking at a nomination for her work here I'm sure.
The cinematography of Robert Richardson, asc ("Platoon" '86, "Wall Street" '87, "Born on the Fourth of July" '89, "JFK" '91, "A Few Good Men" '92, "Natural Born Killers" '94, "Casino" '95, "Nixon" '95, "Wag the Dog" '97, "The Horse Whisperer" '98, "The Aviator" '04, "The Good Shepherd" '06, "Shine a Light" '08, "Shutter Island" '10) and many others was simply perfection. The extreme lights and darks in this just added more of the richness this film already exuded. This film too, will be nominated for an Oscar.
If you decide to see this on the large screen, definitely view it in 3D. It only adds to the story and the amazing visuals this film has to offer. This is a great 'ride' for one and all for the pure adventure and entertainment factor that will keep you glued to your seat.
Out of 4 stars: 4 Rated: PG 126min.
What started as a small act on a program called "Sam & Friends" shown after the 11 o'clock news in Washington D.C., and subsequently went on to monopolize the Sesame Street program in 1969, has ended up being the entity we have loved since most of us were young. This is of course, is Jim Henson's "The Muppets". The reason Henson created these puppets was to get on TV, and that he succeeded ten-fold! This incarnation is one of many Muppet movies, but the first one in a number of years.
When 3 Muppet fans learn that Tex Richman (Chris Cooper) wants to drill for oil under the Muppet Theater, Gary (Jason Segel), Mary (Amy Adams) and Walter (voiced by Peter Linz) set out to find the Muppets who have been split up for years-- Kermit (voiced by Steve Whitmire) lives in his own mansion in Hollywood all the while depressed, Gonzo (voiced by Dave Goetz) ia a high-class plumber at Gonzo's Royal Flush, Fozzie (voiced by Eric Jacobson) performs with a tribute band called The Moopets, Miss Piggy (voiced by Eric Jacobson) is the plus-size fashion editor at Vogue Paris, and Animal (voiced by Eric Jacobson) is at a celebrity anger management rehab center in Santa Barbara. Because of a contingency in the Muppet's deed to the theater, if a certain amount of money isn't paid by a certain deadline, the deed then goes to Richman.
Others to round out the cast are Rashida Jones as Veronica Martin, voice of Bill Barretta as Swedish Chef, Zach Galifianakis as Hobo Joe, Emily Blunt as Miss Piggy's receptionist, Alan Arkin as Tour Guide, and Jack Black as himself.
This was well directed by James Bobin who is a virtual newcomer to feature films. But considering the Muppets come from a huge TV background, which Bobin comes from also, it was a great fit for this TV veteran. It was written by Jason Segel and Nicholas Stoller based on Jim Henson's brilliant and alive characters. The plot wasn't what I would call original, but I can't help but think that this was purposed, because the whole idea was to bring the Muppets back for a new generation to enjoy. Plot became unimportant as much as seeing Henson's creation intermingling once again on the silver screen, and that alone is worth the price of admission. This film is a film that will be enjoyed and honored by one and all for many years just as with the past projects. Com'on it's The Muppets!
Out of 4 stars: 4 Rated: PG 98min.
I guess if the production companies are going to throw animated flicks at mercilessly, the holiday time is, at least, a more forgiving time to do this to us. As with others that are coming up, we have "Happy Feet Two", a sequel to, you guessed it, "Happy Feet".
Mumble (Elijah Wood), the penguin, now called the Master of Tap has an unusual problem: his son Erik (Ava Acres) is reluctant to dance. He obviously didn't pick up that dancing gene. Being embarrassed, Erik runs away from home and encounters The Mighty Sven (Hank Azaria)-- a penguin who can fly. Poor Mumble can't compete with Erik's unusual new role model.
But when the world is shaken by powerful forces, otherwise known as global warming, Erik gets a chance to see his father's true colors as Mumble gathers all creatures great and small, including a fellow peguin, Ramon (Robin Williams) and Brian the beachmaster (Richard Carter) to set things right again so as to free half the penguin nation from peril.
Others to round out the cast are Alecia Moore as Gloria, Mumble's partner, Brad Pitt as Will the Krill, Matt Damon as Bill the Krill, Robin Williams, who reprised his role as Lovelace, Sofia Vergara as Carmen, Benjamin 'Lil P-Nut' Flores Jr. as Atticus, and Common as Seymour.
This was equally well directed as the original was by George Miller ("Mad Max" '79, "Mad Max 2: The Road Warrior" '81, "Mad Max Beyond Thunderdome" '85, "The Witches of Eastwick" '87, "Lorenzo's Oil" '92, "Babe: Pig in the City" '98, "Happy Feet" '06). It was written by Warren Coleman, Gary Eck, Paul Livingston, and Miller. This basically is where the problem lies with this project. The script just kept meandering from a global warning message to saving the penguins in peril to a father and son trying to bond. One can have all these elements in a film and succeed, but the script was too disjointed for this to be the final outcome.
This film was certainly visually stunning as with the first installment. Point being: if you liked the original "Happy Feet", you undoubtedly like this equally well. It's just a shame that the screenplay couldn't have been more cohesive considering all the the great messages it was trying to get across under the banner of entertainment.
Out of 4 stars: 2.5 Rated: PG 100min.
Movie franchises in and of themselves usually become weaker as they are produced. However, in the case of "The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn-- Part 1", It actually was somewhat better, more than likely because it's a continuation than a sequel.
At last, Bella Swan (Kristen Stewart) and Edward Cullen (Robert Pattinson) are getting married. Wow! What a shock! When Jacob Black (Taylor Lautner) finds out that Bella wants to spend her honeymoon as a human, he is horrified-- for Edward's passion could accidentally kill her. Bella does indeed survive her honeymoon, but a new complication arises when she discovers that she's pregnant-- and the child is growing at an alarming rate. The pregnancy sets the wolves against Bella and Edward, but Jacob vows to protect his friend at all costs.
Others to round out the cast are Billy Burke as Charlie Swan, Bella's dad, Peter Facinelli as Dr. Carlisle Cullen, Edward's dad, Sarah Clarke as Renee, Gil Birmingham as Billy, Jacob's dad, Elizabeth Reaser as Esme Cullen, Kellan Lutz as Emmett Cullen, Nikki Reed as Rosalie Hale, Jackson Rathbone as Jasper Hale, and Ashley Greene as Alice Cullen.
This was effectively directed by Bill Condon ("Gods and Monsters" '98, "Kinsey" '04, "Dreamgirls" '06) which is what made this installment anything palatable. It was written by Melissa Rosenberg based on Stephenie Meyer's novel, "Breaking Dawn".
As with the other installments, the demographic mostly involved here was targeted toward young girls and their 'soccer moms'. It was nothing more than an episodic TV show lengthened into 2 hours. Don't get me wrong, it wasn't a total wash. What started out as a slow, agonizing pace of a plot, became a lot more exciting film as it progressed. I know a film has to build suspence, but com'on, this was a little long-in-the-tooth. They easily could've cut to the chase a little quicker and still not miss a beat.
This had some nice visuals, special effects make-up, and sound effects which helped, but if you're looking for a script that actually has some meat to it, this Twilight will just twinkle away into obscurity.
Out of 4 stars: 2.5 Rated: PG-13 117min.
Fantasy films are always something you want to see on the huge screen, if for no other reason, than for the incredible visual effects strewn throughout the lavishly produced epic. This definitely pertains to "Immortals".
This is yet another good vs. evil film in that after the evil Titans were thrown into an impenetrable 'cage' within the walls of Mount Tartaros by the Gods. Enters King Hyperion (Mickey Roarke). He is bent on destoying mankind, so he conjures up an army of soldiers disfigured by his own hand to scorch Greece to find the lengendary Epirus Bow. This bow is a weapon of unimaginable power forged in the heavens by Ares (Daniel Sharman). So only he who possesses the bow can unleash the Titans, so this would be a way for Hyperion to unleash destruction on mankind.
The people's only hope, secretly chosen by Zeus (Luke Evans), is Theseus (Henry Cavill), a peasant, who also is a great warrior. Rallying a band of fellow outsiders-- including visionary priestess Phaedra (Freida Pinto) and cunning slave Stavros (Stephen Dorff)-- this one hero will lead the uprising, or watch his homeland fall into ruin and his Gods vanish into legend.
This was certainly well directed by Tarsem Singh Dhandwar ("The Cell" 2000, "The Fall" '06) and by his very resume, he excels well at extravagant over-the-top fantasy productions. "The Cell" was certainly an interesting and very visually stunning film. This definitely follows suit. It was written by Charles Parlapanides & Vlas Parlapanides.
The visual effects predominantly by Prime Focus, Modus FX, Image Engine, and Rodeo FX were absolutely stunning and seamless. This was the best part of the film, which, I'm sure, is a lot of the reason why it was made.
With all objectivity, even though mythology is not all that interesting to me, the story did keep my attention, but as mentioned above, it was truly the visuals that kept me glued to that seat as they will you, too.
Out of 4 stars: 3 Rated: R 110min.
We've all seen biopics before, most recently being the superb "Moneyball", but where that film was more just informational, "J. Edgar" was not only informational, but extremely intense also.
As the face of law enforcement in America for 48 years, J. Edgar Hoover (Leonardo DiCaprio) was feared and admired, reviled and revered. But behind closed doors, he held secrets that would've destroyed his image, his career and his life. In his day he was the most powerful man in the world, as the selling slogan of the film dictates, mostly because he had so much information on infuential people that was at his finger tips, being the one that spear-headed the FBI as we know it today and also instituting the fingerprint process forensically.
Even though this man was brilliant, through his domineering mother, Annie (Judi Dench), his right-hand man, Clyde Tolson (Armie Hammer) and his loyal secretary, Helen Gandy (Naomi Watts), he held on to these secrets with a death grip. Between his personal demons and all the politics going on at the time, it's amazing he was able to hold on as long as he did.
Others to round out the cast are Josh Lucas as Charles Lindbergh, Ed Westwick as Agent Smith, Damon Herriman as Bruno Hauptmann, the one accused of kidnapping and subsequently killing Lindbergh's baby, Stephen Root as Arthur Koehler, who headed up Hoover's forensic lab, Jeffrey Donovan as Robert Kennedy, Ken Howard as Harlan Fiske Stone, Josh Hamilton as Robert Irwin, and Christopher Shyer as Richard Nixon.
This was directed with perfection by Clint Eastwood ("Play Misty for Me" '71, "The Beguiled" '72, "High Plains Drifter" '73, "The Outlaw Josey Wales" '76, "Firefox" '82, "Pale Rider" '85, "Bird" '88, "Unforgiven" '92, "A Perfect World" '93, "True Crime" '99, "Blood Work" '02, "Mystic River" '03, "Million Dollar Baby" '04, "Flags of Our Fathers" '06, "Letters from Iwo Jima" '06, "Changeling" '08, "Gran Torino" '08, "Invictus" '09, "Hereafter" '10) and many more. This man just improves with age. How many people at the age of 81 can pack such a wallop as Eastwood does with his films? Not many, I will guarantee you. This was equally well written by Dustin Lance Black ("The Journey of Jared Price" 2000, "Pedro" '08, "Milk" '08, "What's Wrong with Virginia" '10). With not having a ton of experience under his belt, proves that this guy is truly a natural at writing.
This film will undoubtedly be nominated for several Academy Awards, i.e. Director, Writer, Actor, Picture. Speaking of acting, DiCaprio as Hoover was awe-inspiring. This man is such an under-rated actor. Of course, having the writer and director he had certainly doesn't hurt. Also the make-up of Hoover as old was brilliant and it could be nominated as well.
If you like fine acting, directing, writing, even photography by Eastwood's cinematographer, Tom Stern,afc/asc, you will revel over this. This has got to be one of the best biopics I have seen in a while, although "Moneyball" was superb as aforementioned. It had all the elements one would expect from a well-crafted American film.
Out of 4 stars: 4 Rated: R 137min.
One thing I can admire about period films is their ability to tell us a story with superb production values: great costumes, art direction, photography, make-up and music. Certainly "Anonymous" is no exception.
This is a political thriller advancing, if not advocating, the theory that it was in fact Edward De Vere, Earl of Oxford (Rhys Ifans) who penned Shakespeare's plays, set against the backdrop of the succession of Queen Elizabeth I (Vanessa Redgrave), and the Essex rebellion headed up by the Earl of Essex (Sam Reid) and the Earl of Southampton (Xavier Samuel), but mercilessly manipulated by the Cecils, specifically Robert Cecil (Edward Hogg). Ben Johnson (Sebastian Armesto) is paid by the Earl of Oxford to insure that no knows that he wrote the plays, especially Shakespeare (Rafe Spall) who is an actor.
Others to round out the cast are David Thewlis as William Cecil, Jamie Campbell Bower as Young Edward De Vere, Earl of Oxford, and Joely Richardson as Young Queen Elizabeth I.
This was directed with power by veteran Roland Emmerich ("Joey" '85, "Ghost Chase" '87, "Moon 44" '90, "Universal Soldier" '92, "Stargate" '94, "Independence Day" '96, "Godzilla" '98, "The Patriot" 2000, "The Day After Tomorrow" '04, "10,000 BC" '08, "2012" '09). As his resume dictates, he is the king of big budget, huge production films. James Cameron possibly beats him out.
It was written by John Orloff ("Band of Brothers"-TV mini-series, '01, "A Mighty Heart" '07, "Legend of the Guardians: The Owls of Ga'Hoole" '10). I understand the need to shift from past to present in a script, however, this screenplay kind of meandered in spots so as to become a bit confused of what was going on. This affected the continuity of the story where it became a strain to keep up. This guy is certainly a talented writer, so I'm not sure what happened.
Trust me, it's not a bad film, just one that you really have to pay close attention to. Truly, if you like a lavish production, great costumes, production design, music, make-up, and visual effects, you'll revel. The acting, especially by Ifans was simply superb, possibly to the point of an Oscar nod. Who knows?
Out of 4 stars: 2.5 Rated: PG-13 130min.
As I've mentioned before, comedy is my favorite genre. So when I saw my first trailer of "Tower Heist", I thought, Wow! A film I can sink my teeth into and get a great laugh or two. Well, except for a few inconsistencies and implausibilities, it definitely delivered.
This takes place at a very posh high-rise tower owned by one Arthur Shaw (Alan Alda), who is a very wealthy business man who, by permission of the top consierge, Josh Kovacs (Ben Stiller), invests the staff's retirement fund. The one thing Kovacs didn't realize was the fact that Shaw is involved in a huge ponzi scheme and subsequently lost all of the the staff's money including Kovac's. When confronted with this problem, Shaw basically shrugged it off as the staff making a very bad investment and there was nothing he could do. This is all Kovacs needed to hear, because he congregates his staff together to ask if they'll conspire with him to steal their money back from Shaw. Not all agree except for Charlie (Casey Affleck), Mr. Fitzhugh (Matthew Broderick) who is actually a Wall Street victim resident, Lester (Stephen McKinley Henderson), the doorman, Enrique (Michael Pena), and Odessa (Gabourey Sidibe). But how can they mastermind a crime of these proportions? Enters Slide (Eddie Murphy), whom Kovacs runs into on the street. Kovacs propositions Slide about the 'job', because they need a seasoned pro to show them the ropes. Can they really pull it off?
Others to round out the cast are Judd Hirsch as Mr. Simon, Kovacs' boss, and Tea Leoni as Special Agent Claire Denham who tries to get the goods on Shaw.
As aforementioned, the implausibilities insue when this staff is being shown the ropes by a basic petty crook, Slide. Com'on, the staff are obviously not pros and then they bring this small time crook in to assist with a high-profile robbery or heist. This is a bit implausible, but then there wouldn't be a film and this being a comedy, one can get away with it. So Ted Griffin and Jeff Nathanson wrote a script that was not only funny, but even with the implausible script, you can still forgive, for the fact of the genre: comedy.
This was effectively directed by Brett Ratner ("Money Talks" '97, "Rush Hour" '98, "The Family Man" 2000, "Rush Hour 2" '01, "Red Dragon" '02, "After the Sunset" '04, "X-Men:The Last Stand" '06, "Rush Hour 3" '07, "New York, I Love You" (Segment "Brett Ratner") '09, "Cop House"-TV movie, '09). He definitely has proven time and again that he can handle comedy.
The cast is eclectic, however their chemistry works well off of one another. Broderick as Mr. Fitzhugh was great in that he basically had not much else to live for, because he lost everything in the market, lost his wife, kids, etc. So taking part in a heist just became another thing to do on the 'to do list' for the day. Stiller still played his self-loathing but constantly trying to right the wrongs, and Murphy plays his usual over-the-top performance that Murphy can always pull off.
This is certainly one of the best comedies I've seen in a while, however considering of the poor comedies lately, mostly because of poor writing, this is certainly not giving "Tower Heist" much credit.
Out of 4 stars: 3 Rated: PG-13 104min.
Martin Scorsese ceases to amaze me with his next project considering he usually directs such heavy-handed material, but with "Hugo" he continues to surprise me with his expertise at being able to pull off the unexpected.
