Dissapointed, But its OK

            This movie was a decent movie. It did not “wow” or hint of greater possibilities for the film. The movie wasn’t bad either. I wouldn’t watch the movie twice, and I’m still not sure whether I would recommend the movie. I only watched it because Jason Segel was in it. The other main aspects of the film such as plot, directing, and acting wasn’t exceedingly impressive; it was merely competent.

            The mood of the film was all together easy going. However, this proved to be a double-edged sword. When the film tried to generate an emotion such as happiness or a conflict, it was overridden by the easy-going mood. The audience didn’t “feel” the emotions of the movie. Instead, they were subjugated to watch a bland movie with no emotional kick.

            The plot, directing, and acting were mediocre, but all had their issues. The plot was clichéd and uninspired. The directing was probably the worst of the three. The cuts were too fast, the zooming was irrelevant and dreadful, and some of the shot selections were questionable. If directing was the worst, then the acting was the best. The cast gave a decent performance. Their efforts were undermined by the lack of any quality emotion emitted from the film.

            There’s really nothing more to say about this film. Clearly, my review makes the film look horrible, but it really wasn’t that bad. It was okay, but it wasn’t a waste of time. Its difficult to recommend the movie, so “Proceed At Your Own Risk.”

Too Real

            If I had telekinesis, the possibilities are limitless. However, the group of teenagers that attained this power thought otherwise. Chronicle is an interesting teenage drama mashed up with thrilling science fiction elements. The acting and filming style were the film’s strongest suits, while there were some problems with the plot and green screen.

            The movie was surprisingly “real.” The atmosphere and personalities derived from the actors can be found in multiple high schools around the country. The conversations, dialogues, interactions that occurred were the typical actions of High School students minus the addition of superpowers. The film showcased the talent of relatively new, raw, and talented actors such as Dane DeHaan, Alex Russell, and Michael B. Jordan. Their convincing acting gave the audience a sense of reality to the teenage “drama” and interactions.

            The filming style seemed perfect for this movie. It also gave the film a grittier and darker feel to it. The hand held or “Blair Witch Project” style wasn’t too over done (thus leaving the audience nauseated) or under done (leaving the film unrealistic and boring). However, the fact that the camera zoomed bugged me even though it wasn’t done enough to be considered an issue. It’s supposed to zoom considering it’s a “hand-held” style. However, the debuting director, Josh Trank did a solid job of guiding the actors in giving a great performance, while filming the scenes with great precision and focus.

            The plot was solid, but there were two issues that keep bugging me. First, the main character’s family issues seemed like an understated part of the film. The film never went into detail on the mother’s illness nor did it explain the deteriorating relation between the main character and his father. Second, the cousin of the main character never really mentions the main character’s family life nor does he take interest despite the fact that they are relatives. Also, the cousin mysteriously disappears when the main character “falls’ into a dark side. There were also some issues when they were flying. Some scenes looked like it was obviously shot on green screen, but the fact that they were flying quickly distracted the audience from the mistake. However, most of these elements are ignored by a majority of the audience and dismissed by the rest.

            There’s not much to say about the movie besides the fact that it was very interesting.

A Masterpiece has Arrived

Everyone rejoice, the best summer movie has arrived, and no its not Prometheus or some other blockbuster film that a major studio poured hundreds of millions of dollars in. Its mellow mood combined with creativity only a director such as Wes Anderson can have. Yes, this movie is a work of art, rivaled only by the best of Van Gough or Picasso. Moonrise Kingdom is a masterpiece that defies convention (in a good way) and is arguably one of the best independent films ever. Everything clicked perfectly the unique directorial style, the color correction, the actor’s performances, and bizarre but memorable scenes that forced the audience to laugh.

Wes Anderson’s directorial style was perfect for this movie. The shots that included a lot of dead space seemed natural even though it a “mistake” by conventional means. The quick cuts that indicated a fight scene was only necessary due to the fact children were fighting. His style seemed perfect for every scene in the movie and in combination with the rich color in the film that highlighted the “summer feel” and the landscape, the movie was well positioned to enhance the other aspects of the film.

Since this is a Wes Anderson film, you will be sure to find Bill Murray, Jason Schwartzman, Roman Coppola, and Eric Chase Anderson. However, a couple of new actors decided to join the cast as wells such as Edward Norton, Bruce Willis, Harvey Keitel, Kara Hayward, Jared Gilman, and Tilda Swinton. Most of the acting roles were easy to play due to the fact that almost every character was a Khaki scout. Most of the child actors only had to act like themselves. The supporting cast gave a solid performance. However, the audience’s attention was mostly directed at young Kara Hayward and Jared Gilman. Surprisingly, they played their roles well. They played disillusioned, in-love children who hate their circumstances in life unless they are together. They completely convinced of their emotions, and it reminded the audience of a young Claire Danes and Leonardo Dicaprio in Romeo and Juliet. It wasn’t at their level, but the level of intimacy between the two was very mature. Edward Norton, Bill Murray, Bruce Willis gave great performances, and they were also the only adults in the movie that were “good.”

The bizarre scenes were probably the most memorable/ cutest aspects in the movie. The scenes were the scouts began hunting Hayward and Gilman or the time when the scouts decide to save Hayward and Gilman in the tree house. The scenes were very cute and funny, but it was intriguing. All of these scenes and the plot of the movie seem to be directed towards a more serious film. However, Wes Anderson wanted to hint at disillusioned adults using their younger counterparts to make a deeper film.

From great directing and acting to deep messages, this film truly has it all. This is one of the best films of the summer.

Alien Supression?

District 9 are one the better sci-fi films of this decade. Great plot, a very interesting filming style, and a great combination of CGI and live action makes this film very interesting and compelling. However, they have key flaws that keep this film from the higher levels of sci-fi.

The plot is very imaginative, and interesting. It really takes people into a different realm of science fiction in which humans are the aggressors and villains, while the alien race are the helpless, suppressed beings. The plot is very fresh and imaginative, but its social commentary is really impressive. The film’s South African draws parallels with its former apartheid system of racial segregation. Many of them are obvious, such as the action to move a race out of the city and to a remote location. However, others are subtler and can only be understood by Afrikaners. The title “District 9” is derived from Cape Town’s historic District 6, where Cape Coloureds owned homes and businesses for many years before being evicted and relocated. Another more subtle method of referencing Apartheid is that the alien language incorporates clicking sounds that can be compared to Bantu, the language of a large group of African apartheid targets. In combination with a fresh plot, the film has a solid story that audiences will enjoy.

The filming style was very efficient and it was perfect for this type of film. The film has a hybrid documentary and action film style. The documentary style was done to make the audience observe the events of the film, and make them realize the evilness (racism) that is present in society. The action film style was used to appeal to broader range of people. However, the action sequences of the movie was uninspired and clichéd. However, overall, the filming style was excellent.

The CGI was incredible and very life-like. Its infusion with the live- action was perfect. However, with the portrayal of the “prawns,” creates issues. With the film comparing the prawns to the South Africans, it shows the filmmaker’s view on the South Africans. They portray them as disgusting creatures that should not be tortured. That view is extremely racist, but there is a slight might have been unintentional.

There are many bad aspects of the film, which will be addressed here. One annoying aspect of the film is the topic of alien technology. If alien technology is really awesome and superior, why are the prawns still suppressed? Also, the film’s ending is mediocre. It shows the director and producer is too obsessed with making a sequel than giving a good ending. Lastly, the lack of information really prevents this film from being great. There are many aspects of the plot that was unanswered. Why didn’t the home planet prawns rescue them? Why are the prawns there?  These questions may have been left unanswered to strengthen the sequel or add a mystique, but these questions only hampered the success of the film.

In conclusion, District 9 was a good movie that had the potential to be so much more.

Scary, Sad, Superb

            Hauntingly real, and depressing, Requiem for a Dream is a moving and terrifying depiction of what happens to drug addicts when their addictions control them.  The entire film was so vivid and disturbing that it gives the audience chills. In dissecting the film thoroughly, there are three reasons why the film was so… captivating. The experimental, but successful camera angles were key in the film. Also, the phenomenal acting played a pivotal role in heightening the film’s realistic effect. Lastly, the motif of the film were important in focusing on the issues.

            At first, the camera angles seemed interesting, but impractical. However, as the film progressed, the purpose of the angles and shots became apparent. They were primarily used to show the character’s perspective in the situation. At the beginning, it seemed like an intriguing, but unnecessary way to show perspective. However, as the characters slowly lose their hold on reality and the addictive drugs begin to take over, the use of the unique perspective shots became clear. They were used to emphasize the difference in perspective between an addict and a regular person. This amplifies the terror the audience feels as the film unfolds.

            The acting was convincing, but dreadful. Their acting was so good that the scenes conveyed by the film were depressing and terrible. Ellen Burstyn was perfect in portraying an old lady whose meaning of life has been reduced to just television. Everything she does is for television. She starts a ridiculous diet, and consumes numerous pills to able to appear “good” on television. Her agonizing monologues, her screams, and the way she shrinks away from the refrigerator was excellent. The rest of the cast gave convincing and powerful performances to help the overall quality of the film.

            Lastly, the motif put an interesting dynamic in the film. The motif was that a symbol of addiction was also used to warn the addicts against it. However, in all cases, they were ignored. The pink infection wound on Harry Goldfarb’s arm was used to caution Harry against drugs, but he eventually injects more drugs into the wound. Also the television has carefully positioned phrases to warn Mrs. Goldfarb to stop her addiction. Instead, she keeps on taking pills. The motif brings to light an important aspect of the addiction. Certain things still warn the addicts of the potential risks, but it is always ignored. This emphasizes an important and horrifying fact: once you start you can never stop.

            There are some flaws in the film such as interlacing scenes that were supposed to be light hearted and mellow with depressing leitmotif and the quick and rapid shots to portray certain actions were irrelevant. The shots were poorly used because it alienates more audiences away because it is seen as “bad radical.” This means a radical concept that does not significantly adds to the quality of the movie. Thus, it harms it. However, these small errors were covered up by the intensity of the film. It was good, but I will only recommend it to a particular audience.

Delightful and Human

The Blindside is a film in which that highlights a family’s sense of compassion towards a homeless, deprived child. The main reason why the film was a big success is because of Sandra Bullock’s acting and presence as well the well written plot. It is hard to find many flaws with the film. However, even though this film was well made and is excellent there are key elements that prevent the film from becoming better and more fulfilling.

Sandra Bullock was excellent and she was able to portray the real life Leigh Anne Tuohy extremely well. Watch any interviews with Leigh Anne Tuohy and the movie to compare both. They are nearly identical. Truly, without Sandra Bullock this film would lose its significance and its overall “pull.” Bullock exhibits a rich personality that has the best of Southern hospitality and sass, but without the racist ideologies. Bullock also has a great film presence that manages to shadow her colleagues’ presence in the film. She is truly one of the key reasons of the films success.

Despite Sandra Bullock’s onscreen talent viewed in the film, one fails to be significantly impacted by the any of the other actors. The rest of the actors are relatively unknown besides the talented Kathy Bates, and their own screen responsibilities in kept at a minimum. Enough for the audience not to question their lack of screen time, but not enough time for the audience to fully appreciate the actors. This might have been done to cover the actors’ terrible acting or to put emphasis solely on the relationship between Leigh Anne Tuohy and Big Mike. “Hiding” the actors terrible acting is a brilliant maneuver of the director, and the sole emphasis on the relationship is a wrong plot move. In both cases, it hurts the movie’s message, makes the audience have a less then accurate description of the Tuohy family, and leaves the audience loving Leigh Anne Tuohy only.

The plot was excellent and appealed to many audiences. The sense of compassion displayed by a richer family towards a poor black child appeals to all. However, the fact that no negative light was cast on the family and lack of substantial conflict makes the ending of the movie lacking significantly.

The movie was good, but certain key elements prevented it from being superb.