When it comes to franchise films, the 'Madagascar' collection has got to be one of the better ones--whether it be animated or not. When I saw the first film "Madagascar" in 2005, I wasn't expecting the fresh and funny movie it turned out to be, mostly because of the fact that so many animated flicks were being churned out, that this couldn't be anything special. I was proven wrong! Now we have "Penguins of Madagascar" and the fun and quality just never seems to end.
Super spy teams aren't born...they're hatched. Discover the secrets of the greatest and most hilarious covert birds in the global espionage biz: Skipper, Kowalski, Rico and Private (Tom McGrath, Chris Miller, Conrad Vernon and Christopher Knights) respectively. These elitists of the elite are joining forces with a chic undercover organization, The North Wind. Led by handsome and husky Agent Classified (Benedict Cumberbatch)-- we could tell you his name, but then...you know. Together, they must stop the villainous Dr. Octavious Brine (John Malkovich), otherwise known as Dave, from destroying the world as we know it. Can these operative penguins stop this over-the-top octopus before it's too late?
Others to round out the cast are Ken Jeong as Short Fuse, Annet Mahendru as Eva and Peter Stormare as Corporal, all part of The North Wind team, Andy Richter as Mort, Danny Jacobs as King Julien, Sean Charmatz as Cricket and Werner Herzog as Documentary Filmmaker.
This was brilliantly and wittily directed by Eric Darnell ("Antz" '98, "Madagascar" '05, "Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa" '08, "Madagascar 3: Europe's Most Wanted" '12) and Simon
J. Smith ("Bee Movie" '07). The quick action pacing was unsurpassed as was the sequencing of story buy these directors. Even though Smith has limited experience in the director's chair, having the seasoned Darnell along with him made this duo shine. It was wittily written by John Aboud, Michael Colton and Brandon Sawyer based on a story by Alan Schoolcraft, Brent Simons, Colton and Aboud based on characters by Darnell and McGrath. Perhaps I'm a bit bias in that the penguins have always been my favorite characters of this franchise. I guess it's because of the fact that even though they are wisecracking, the team effort they possess is spot on, and besides, they're penguins, which are odd enough characters that one would never assume could be co-ops. The premise of this was absolutely fluid: How they got started, how they obtained Private, and subsequently seeing them do what they do best. It all simply flowed like water.
If you love animated flicks and especially that of the 'Madagascar' franchise, you will love this, but if the animated film isn't your cup of tea, the story, wit and action should more than make up for the fact that this isn't a live action film. In any rate, enjoy--I should did.
Out of 4 Stars: 4 Rated: PG 92mins.
I've said before and I'll say it again, truth is stranger than fiction. This has got to be one of the motivating factors Hollywood has in producing films based on a true story as with the case of "Foxcatcher". This is a true character study whereas if it wasn't based on something true, I believe that Hollywood would be hard-pressed to come up with this particular premise.
Based on a true story, this tells the dark and fascinating story of the unlikely and ultimately tragic relationship between an eccentric multi-millionaire and two champion wrestlers. When Olympic Gold Medal winning wrestler Mark Schultz (Channing Tatum) is invited by wealthy heir John du Pont (Steve Carell) to move on to the DuPont estate and help form a team to train for the 1988 Seoul Olympics at his new state-of-the-art training facility, Schultz jumps at the opportunity, hoping to focus on his training and finally step out of the shadow of his revered brother, Gold Medal winner Dave (Mark Ruffalo). Driven by hidden needs, DuPont sees backing Schultz's bid for Gold and the chance to "coach" a world-class wrestling team as an opportunity to gain the elusive respect of his peers and, more importantly, his disapproving mother (Vanessa Redgrave). Flattered by the attention and entranced by DuPont's majestic world, Mark comes to see his benefactor as a father figure and grows increasingly dependent on him for approval. Though initially supportive, DuPont soon changes and begins to lure Mark into an unhealthy lifestyle that threatens to undermine his training. Then as DuPont's erratic behavior and psychological game-play ensues, that begins to erode Mark's already shaken self-esteem. What really drives DuPont's paranoia over the edge is how Dave exudes the self confidence that both he and Mark sorely lack which propels toward a tragedy no one could have foreseen.
Others to round out the cast are Sienna Miller as Nancy Schultz, Dave wife, Anthony Michael Hall as Jack, DuPont's assistant, Guy Boyd as Henry Beck, Brett Rice as Fred Cole, Jackson Frazer as Alexander Shultz, Dave and Nancy's son, Samara Lee as Danielle Schultz, Dave and Nancy's daughter, Francis J. Murphy III as Wayne Kendall, Jane Mowder as Rosie, David Bennett as Documentary Director, Lee Perkins as Corporal Daly, Daniel Hilt as Roberto Garcia, and Allan Oppenheimer as DuPont Dynasty Narrator.
This was brilliantly directed by Bennett Miller ("The Cruise" (Documentary) '98, "Capote" '05, "Moneyball" '11). Granted, this guy hasn't done a ton of work, but if one just reads this guy's resume, you will see that it's short on amount, but huge on quality. He obviously chooses his projects wisely-- kind of like Terrence Malik. He also does limited projects, but masterpieces in their own right. The subtlety he extracts from his actors is short of perfection-- it almost seems like one is eaves-dropping into real people's lives. It was equally written with such suppressed intensity and grit by E. Max Frye and Dan Futterman. The character development was both subtle in how these guys transformed within the story and showed us the complexities of these characters as well. These writers and director can work together any time they desire, because we will only be the victors of such a quality film as this certainly was. The end, however a bit bittersweet, surely shows us the realities of life we cannot avoid and hopefully will learn from.
Certainly if you're into great directing, writing and acting-- both Carell and Tatum were stunning in their roles, then this will be a feast for the eyes, because even though this moves a bit slow in spots, be patient, because it moves at this pace for a reason. There are possible Oscar nods written all over this film, so enjoy it for the art, and not so much for the way the story turns.
Out of 4 Stars: 4 Rated: R 134mins.
As we enter that time of year when we become that much close to the holiday time, we typically see films that are geared toward those that will be out of school and those that are centering on Thanksgiving and Christmas. Thanksgiving is just around the corner and what would be a better film to release than a movie based in a franchise. Hollywood has in the offing just the one that will thrill many in the form of "The Hunger Games: Mockingjay- Part 1".
This installment of the franchise finds Katniss Everdeen (Jennifer Lawrence) in District 13 after she literally shatters the games forever. Under the leadership of President Coin (Julianne Moore) and the advice of her trusted friends, Gale Hawthorne (Liam Hemsworth), Haymitch Abernathy (Woody Harrelson), Plutarch Heavensbee (Philip Seymour Hoffman), Finnick Odair (Sam Claflin), Effie Trinket (Elizabeth Banks) and others, Katniss spreads her wings as the Rebellion forces' Mockingjay symbol against the Capitol lead by President Snow (Donald Sutherland), and fights to save Peeta (Josh Hutcherson) and a nation moved by her courage.
Others to round out the cast are Willow Shields as Primrose Everdeen, Katniss' sister, Mahershala Ali as Boggs, Jena Malone as Johanna Mason, Jeffrey Wright as Beetee, Paula Malcomson as Katniss' mother, and Stanley Tucci as Caesar Flickerman.
This was directed by Francis Lawrence ("Constantine" '05, "I Am Legend" '07, "Water for Elephants" '11, "Gotham" (TV movie) '12, "The Hunger Games: Catching Fire" '13), and as he also is slated to direct Mockingjay- Part 2, his style in being able to team his actors in ways that causes them to depend on each other that much more, is amazing. It was written by Peter Craig and Danny Strong adapted by Suzanne Collins based on her novel, "Mockingjay". Even though these writers are strong when writing films with developed characters, this had a bit too many characters to have to 'keep track' of. But suffice it to say, the story was still able to flow as easily as anyone could expect. As franchises go, this is one of the better written ones--certainly many other franchises are suspect in their writing at best. The next installment is released in 2015, and is a continuation of this movie, and as this ended abruptly, the anticipation toward the next installment, Part 2, will assuredly be driving people crazy until that time. Curious to see what the filmmakers are planning to do with the unfortunate demise of Philip Seymour Hoffman, unless they were insightful enough to have both Part 1 and 2 filmed simultaneously.
If you are a Suzanne Collins fan, you'll obviously being in franchise heaven. Not everyone will run after this, but believe me, Hollywood is all too cognizant of that. But considering the mammoth demographic of this type of film, I don't think Hollywood is shaking in their boots.
Out of 4 Stars: 3 Rated: PG-13 123mins.
When it comes to comedy writing today, the best, or some of the best writing out there is done by The Farrelly Brothers. They actually have the ability to turn an otherwise dumb comedy into something that is smartly written that one can forgive that the majority of the characters in their films are stupid, conniving and total jerks depending on the premises of the stories. Most comedy writers today do not have this capability, so their films are just plain stupid and inane. Now we have "Dumb and Dumber To" which appears to be more of a re-hatching of their classic just in case you have forgotten about it.
This story revisits the titular duo of dumb Harry Dunne (Jeff Daniels) and dumber Lloyd Christmas (Jim Carrey), 20 years after the events of the first film, :Dumb & Dumber". Harry pays his first visit to his parents since the early '90s, and discovers a two-decade old postcard from a gal he hooked up with Fraida Felcher (Kathleen Turner) informing him that she's pregnant. It turns out she had a daughter Adele (Laurie Holden) and put the girl up for adoption. Harry is moved by the prospect of having an adult child out there somewhere (and it just so happens that he needs a kidney transplant), so he and Lloyd embark on a road trip to track down his daughter. Along the way they encounter many wacky situations-- like finding and stealing their old "Shaggin' Wagon" and end up driving a riding companion Travis (Rob Riggle) totally crazy because of their incredible stupidity and banality.
Others to round out the cast are Rachel Melvin as Penny, Steve Tom as Dr. Pinchelow, Don Lake as Dr. Meldmann, Patricia French as Ms. Sourpuss, Tembi Locke as Dr. Walcott, Paul Blackthorne as Dr. Meldman, Brady Bluhm as Billy, Bill Murray as Ice Pick, Eddie Shin as Gordy, and Gregory Fears as Man at Gas Station.
This has directors Peter Farrelly and Bobby Farrelly's stamp written all over this one. Just one look at their resume says it all, ("Dumb & Dumber" '94, "Kingpin" '96, "There's Something About Mary" '98, "Me, Myself & Irene" 2000, "Osmosis Jones" '01, "Shallow Hal" '01, "Stuck on You" '03, "Fever Pitch" '05, "The Heartbreak Kid" '07, "Hall Pass" '11, "The Three Stooges" '12). This is just one of many films that follow that similar format that these guys can do so well. This was written by Sean Anders, John Morris, Bobby Farrelly and Peter Farrelly based on characters created by Bobby Farrelly, Peter Farrelly and Bennett Yellin. Maybe it's that when "Dumb & Dumber" was released, it was considered fresh and original for its day, but now that we have this film, it almost seems like these guys--directors, writers and actors did this to market on an already sustained hit. And on top of everything, this was simply a rehash of the original and not nearly executed as well. Yes, there were some very funny moments, but were these laughs generated from nostalgia or were these lines really being funny? While the premise was original, in a sense, the layout and format we've all seen in many of their films, especially the original. "There's Something About Mary" was without a doubt , the best film (funniest) the Farrelly Brothers have done to this date. It was stupid, but done in such a slick, smart way, that you couldn't help but not laugh genuinely. I know these guys can do that again, for the talent is there hugely.
Certainly if you're a fan of the original film, this will be one you will want to see. But, beware, while there are similarities in this to its original, the differences will definitely be a hit and miss. This was made to be total fluff, but do you want to feel dumb and dumber yourself after exposing yourself this 109 minute running time?
Out of 4 Stars: 2 Rated: PG-13 109mins.
Seeing films where a character or characters are inadvertently flip-flopped in a situation of their life is certainly funny, perhaps because it becomes an extreme premise. We typically see these types of films in a comedic format because of the fun that happens to them. We've seen several: "Big", "Liar Liar", "Groundhog Day" to mention a few. So Hollywood just had to jump back on the band wagon by offering us "Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day".
For 12 year-old Alexander Cooper (Ed Oxenbould), every day is a bad day, and his family thinks he's being silly because they seemingly never have a bad day. On the eve of his 12th birthday party, he learns that another boy, Philip Parker (Lincoln Melcher) is having a party of his own and everyone is going to it. And then another kid punks him online. So at midnight of his birthday, he wishes that his whole family can experience a bad day. By next day, things for the family start to go bad: his mom's car is broken so they have to share a car, his sister Emily (Kerris Dorsey) contracts a horrid cold before she is to go on stage as Peter Pan, his older brother Anthony (Dylan Minnette), who's hoping to get his driver's license and bring his girlfriend Celia (Bella Thorne) to the prom, has to not only deal with Celia's snootiness, but he fails to get his license, his mom Kelly (Jennifer Garner) has a crisis at work which could cost her her job, and his dad Ben (Steve Carell), who has a job interview has to bring his younger brother with him, but because his pacifier is broken, he won't stop crying. What else could happen? Obviously Alexander didn't really think his wish would come to fruition--he was just fantasizing, but now he starts questioning the wish. Is it real or just a coincidence?
Others to round out the cast are Megan Mullally as Nina, Kelly's boss, Jennifer Coolidge as Ms. Suggs, Anthony's license tester, Mekai Matthew Curtis as Paul Dumphy, Alexander's buddy, Elise Vargas and Zoey Vargas as Baby Trevor and Dick Van Dyke as Himself.
This was effectively directed by Miguel Arteta ("Rita" (TV movie) '13) plus a ton of TV. The pacing of this would lean to be one that a TV show would envelop, so this was probably not a stretch for a director with the television experience as this guy has. The screenplay and screen story of this was by Rob Lieber which was based on a book by Judith Viorst. The premise of this could have easily fallen into being housed as a terrific TV movie, because of its domesticity and family situations, but the good thing about this going to the multiplex is that it is always nice to see more family-oriented films out there. This genre seems to be shrinking more and more every year, and I think it's healthy to see an audience of all ages going to their multiplex.
Alexander surely loved seeing his family going through the mill as he does on most days, but even he has to have some sympathy considering he, of all people, knows what they can truly experience, and it's no fun at all.
This was actually released last month, because I wasn't sure if it would actually be any good, but after viewing it, it was entertaining enough and had that message in it: Alexander- "There are bad days to make the good days look even better". Funny that it takes a 12 year-old to show us something we should all know.
Out of 4 Stars: 2.5 Rated: PG 81mins.
When it comes to animated films, Disney, out of the shear amount of years they've be producing them, is probably king. Their list of these films is endless--suffice it to say that they know a thing or two about the process of the animated flick and what it takes to woo us to that multiplex. Even though they are a massive machine churning out one 'mass audience appeal' film after another, I must say that when I viewed "Big Hero 6", it really captured my attention from first minute to last. Hey, I was having a weak moment.
This is a comedy-adventure about the special bond that develops between Baymax (Scott Adsit), a plus-sized inflatable robot and prodigy Hiro Hamada (Ryan Potter). Hiro learns to harness his genius thanks to his brilliant brother, Tadashi (Daniel Henney) and their geek friends. When a devastating event befalls the city of San Fransokyo and catapults Hiro into the midst of extreme danger, he has to not only turn to Baymax, but also to his close friends: adrenaline junkie Go Go Tomago (Jamie Chung), neatnik Wasabi (Damon Wayans Jr.), chemistry whiz Honey Lemon (Genesis Rodriguez), and fanboy Fred (T.J. Miller). Determined to uncover the mystery, Hiro transforms his friends into a band of high-tech geek heroes called "Big Hero 6".
Others to round out the cast are James Cromwell as Robert Callaghan, Alan Tudyk as Alistair Krei, Maya Rudolph as Cass, Katie Lowes as Abigail, Billy Bush as Newscaster, Daniel Gerson as Desk Sergeant, and Paul Briggs as Yama.
This was directed by Don Hall ("Winnie the Pooh" '11) and Chris Williams ("Bolt' '08). These guys have been attached to other animated films, but they are relative newcomers in the director's chair. They certainly have learned their craft well, because the direction in this seems like seasoned pros helmed it. It was written by Jordan Roberts, Daniel Gerson and Robert L. Baird based on a story by Hall and Roberts which is based on concepts and characters created by Man of Action (Duncan Rouleau and Steven T. Seagle). Disney seizes to amaze me in that it being the commercial giant machine it has become, I wanted to not like them, however when a story has just the right amount of humor and heart as this film has, one has to be objective, lest become an ineffective critic. This film has it all: heart, adventure, comedy, excitement, even a message all in an entertaining format. Granted, it is your typical 'good vs. evil' concept, but those guys at Disney simply pulled this off in spades.
This film is a film one can take anyone to, and with Thanksgiving right around the corner, what could a better time to see this? This is a gem on the big screen all in a nifty 3D format.
Out of 4 Stars: 3.5 Rated: PG 108mins.
Hollywood is simply fascinated with films based in the future where the Earth is or was going through some devastating event, war, pestilence, famine, alien attack, etc. The list of these films is as endless as the films are commonly rueful. Yet, we all still come back to the multiplex to catch a glimpse of these epics, in some cases. "Interstellar" certainly can be added to that ever popular list, and the results are cerebral as well as interesting and refreshing.
In the distant future Earth has been devastated by drought and famine, causing a scarcity in food and extreme changes in climate. When humanity is facing extinction, a mysterious rip in the space-time continuum, or wormhole, if you will, is discovered by Professor Brand (Michael Caine) and his daughter, Amelia (Anne Hathaway), giving mankind the opportunity to widen their lifespan for generations to come. One of the past's pilots, Cooper (Matthew McConaughey) along with Amelia, Doyle (Wes Bentley), and Romilly (David Gyasi) as explorers, must travel past our solar system in search of a planet that can sustain life. The crew of the Endurance are required to think bigger and go further than any human in history as they embark on an interstellar voyage--into the unknown. Cooper, the pilot of the Endurance, must decide between seeing his children again and the future of the human race. Can this work, and if so, how could it possibly be achieved?
Others to round out the cast are Jessica Chastain as Older Murph, Cooper's daughter, Matt Damon as Dr. Mann, Mackenzie Foy as Young Murph, Casey Affleck as Older Tom, Cooper's son, Topher Grace as Getty, Ellen Burstyn as Old Murph, John Lithgow as Donald, Cooper's Father-in-law, Leah Cairns as Lois, Tom's wife, Timothee Chalamet as Young Tom, Bill Irwin as TARS (voice), and Josh Stewart as CASE (voice).
Christopher Nolan ("Memento" 2000, "Insomnia" '02, "Batman Begins" '05, "The Prestige" '06, "The Dark Knight" '08, "Inception" '10, "The Dark Knight Rises" '12) directed this epic piece. One thing that can be said for Nolan is he typically gives us films that will cause a great deal of thinking. These films just aren't high-budget, high explosive films with amazing visual effects, but rather they are vehicles sparking a barrage of thinking--cerebrally in some cases. He consistently goes out on that ever extending limb breaking all the rules without giving us 'fluff' as with so many other films that mostly market on being explosive, highly visual where story certainly takes a back seat to effects. This was written by Jonathan Nolan and again, Christopher Nolan. This could've been so easily convoluted in plot sequence, but these consummate pros simply pulled it off. The only thing that puzzled me a bit was that, at times, the film's music had a tendency to overtake some of the voice over sequences, otherwise this production was spot on. I saw this in a pre-released 35mm cut version which was stunning, and I'm sure when it's formally released on Friday, the IMAX version should be captivating, to say the least.
Nolan is such a talented filmmaker and anything he's connected with is quality with a capital 'Q'. I recommend this film to one and all, because if the premise throws you a bit, the visual effects, acting, directing and cinematography will keep you glued for that 169 minute running time.
Out of 4 Stars: 3.5 Rated: PG-13 169mins.
Quirky, odd films are becoming a fairly main staple of the film industry. I feel that since Hollywood has produced some very ordinary, banal films throughout the last several decades, the independent film companies have jumped on the band wagon and have offered us movies that not only we can sink our teeth into, but have a clever premise all the while entertaining us on many levels. "Lars and the Real Girl", "Juno", "My Big Fat Greek Wedding", "The Fault With Our Stars", "Boyhood", "Locke", or any of the Coen Brothers films have captured our interest, certainly our attention while entertaining us with fresh writers, directors, and acting. "Birdman" is a film which definitely is quirky and original, but could use some work.
Riggan Thompson (Michael Keaton), once known quite well to movie theater goers as an iconic super hero called "The Birdman", had recently turned down a fourth installment of the franchise. Now washed up, he attempts to reinvent himself as a director, writer and actor by staging a new retelling of a classic Broadway dramatic play called "What We Talk About When We Talk About Love". The events leading up to the Saturday night premiere prove to be one disaster after another as the original lead actor is injured while on set and Riggan and his producer, Jake (Zach Galifianakis) scrambles to find a replacement, but the replacement, Mike (Edward Norton) proves to be exactly who these two need-- a method actor who takes the job way too seriously. But as Riggan has a difficult time juggling between the set, his replacement actor, and his equally washed up daughter, Sam (Emma Stone), a host of other disasters happen that prevent a proper staging of the play. Meanwhile, a New York Times critic (Lindsay Duncan) who Riggan has to woo threatens to kill his play without even seeing it because she can't stand Riggan-- his plastic, commercial movie star status whom she feels is not an actor.
Others to round out the cast are Naomi Watts as Lesley, Riggan's ex-wife, Andrea Riseborough as Laura, Amy Ryan as Sylvia, Merritt Wever as Annie, Jeremy Shamos as Ralph, Michael Siberry as Larry and Clark Middleton as Sidney.
The pacing in this--the in-your-face approach with these different characters, and amazing grit was extremely well delineated by director Alejandro G. Inarritu ("Amores Perros" 2000, "21 Grams" '03, "Babel" '06, "Biutiful" '10) plus several shorts. His direction keeps getting better with each project he's connected with. It was written by Inarritu, Nicolas Giacobone, Alexander Dinelaris and Armando Bo. Whereas the film more than exceled in the direction, the writing could've been a bit more polished. Trust me, the script was good, however there were scenes that really had not to do with the premise that could've been left out. Plus, there weren't a very strong difference between the 'dream' sequences and reality which added to a fair amount of confusion. But the premise and story was certainly fresh and original, which is what actually keeps you going throughout this. Emmanuel Lubezki, asc/amc ("Like Water For Chocolate" '92, "The Birdcage" '96, "Meet Joe Black" '98, "Ali" '01, "The Assassination of Richard Nixon" '04, "The New World" '05, "Burn After Reading" '08, "The Tree of Life" '11, "Gravity" '13) plus many others, photographed this and it shines with intricate detail within the gritty lights and darks which simply adds to the feel of this. Even Keaton gives the performance of a lifetime in this-- possibly could receive an Oscar nod come that time.
If you like more of the formulaic films, this probably isn't for you-- this being made for a select audience, however if you like quirky with a weird bent, this is one that will certainly fit the bill.
Out of 4 Stars: 3 Rated: R 119mins.
I'm sure you've heard that people will do just about anything to get their 15 minutes. Well, let's turn that around where the freelance camera crew will do just about anything to achieve their 15 minutes, for a price of course. "Nightcrawler" is basically about the latter, and the job done by these individuals basically match the name, because the name Nightcrawler emphatically gives me the creeps.
This is a thriller set in the nocturnal underbelly of contemporary Los Angeles. Louis Bloom (Jake Gyllenhaal), a driven young man desperate for work discovers the high-speed world of L.A. crime journalism. Finding a group of freelance camera crew, one crew lead by Joe Loder (Bill Paxton), film crashes, fires, murder and mayhem, Louis muscles into the cut-throat, dangerous world of nightcrawling-- where each police siren wail equals a possible windfall and victims are converted into dollars and cents. Aided by news director, Nina Romina (Rene Russo), a veteran of the blood sport that is local TV news, Louis blurs the line between observer and participant to become the star of his own story.
Others to round out the cast are Riz Ahmed as Rick, Louis' assistant, Kevin Rahm as Frank Kruse, Michael Hyatt as Detective Fronteiri, Ann Cusack as Linda, Rick Chambers as KWLA Anchor Ben Waterman, Holly Hannula as KWLA Anchor Lisa Mays, Eric Lange as Ace Video Cameraman, James Huang as Marcus Mayhem Video, Michael Papajohn as Security Guard, and Marco Rodriguez as Scrapyard Owner.
This was directed by seasoned writer Dan Gilroy. This guy was born to direct, because the pacing by the strategic actors was incredible. This being his first theatrical film, he will receive more work. Gilroy also wrote this gritty, on-the-edge-of-your-seat screenplay. The way that he used the actors to convey their own obsessiveness for being in this biz was so effective-- it made you feel as you were looking into the real world of nightcrawling almost as a documentary. One of the stars of this was that of cinematographer, Robert Elswit, asc. ("Boogie Nights" '97, "8MM" '99, "Magnolia" '99, "Heist" '01, "Punch-Drunk Love" '02, "Runaway Jury" '03, "Good Night, and Good Luck" '05, "Michael Clayton" '07, "There Will Be Blood" '07, "Duplicity" '09, "The Men Who Stare at Goats" '09, "Salt" '10, "The Town" '10, "Mission Impossible--Ghost Protocol" '12, "The Bourne Legacy" '12) plus many others. His ability to show just the correct amount of light in an overly 'dark' film is brilliant, and the photography is stunning--incredibly crisp as we saw in the film "There Will Be Blood", his Oscar winner. Gyllenhaal definitely out did himself in his performance. Playing a man teetering between self-driveness and sociopathic tendencies was an incredible tightrope to walk indeed.
For those into creepy, dark thrillers where each character looks questionable at best-- physically and mentally, this is the film for you. Otherwise, this might deem to be a movie some might squirm a bit too much at, like a... nightcrawler.
Out of 4 stars: 3 Rated: R 117mins.
When it comes to franchise films, the 'Madagascar' collection has got to be one of the better ones--whether it be animated or not. When I saw the first film "Madagascar" in 2005, I wasn't expecting the fresh and funny movie it turned out to be, mostly because of the fact that so many animated flicks were being churned out, that this couldn't be anything special. I was proven wrong! Now we have "Penguins of Madagascar" and the fun and quality just never seems to end.
