Panic

Tags

2000's, Crime, Donald Sutherland, Drama, Henry Bromell, John Ritter, Neve Campbell, Panic, Tracey Ullman, William H. Macy

Film Title

Panic

Director

Henry Bromell

Starring

• William H. Macy as Alex
• Donald Sutherland as Michael
• Neve Campbell as Sarah
• John Ritter as Dr. Josh Parks
• Tracey Ullman as Martha

A crime drama with roots in themes of twisted family manipulations and the want to change, Panic is one of those movies that really takes you by surprise in my instances. Panic is an unexpected and extremely underrated gem of a film with a feeling of inexorable tragedy slowly coming out in its story of a man in midlife crisis of a most unusual kind.

Alex is a sad-eyed, middle-aged man who goes to see a psychotherapist named Josh Parks to get his life in order. Once there, he surprisingly reveals that he is actually a hit man who has been trained by his sly and corrupting father Michael since he has young. Dr. Parks listens in shock and dismay, but wants to know more if anything to possibly help a desperate Alex. Though Alex is a hit man, he doesn’t want to be one anymore. Yet as he is so scared of his imposing father and knows that it won’t be easy to just discard that part of his life, that he is currently undergoing a severe crisis of conscience. He keeps his deadly profession hidden from his wife Martha and young son to protect them, even though his relationship with his wife is on shaky ground as it is. Around this trying time for poor Alex, he encounters Sarah; a sprightly, sexually adventurous young woman who is completely forward and ever so neurotic. He finds himself drawn and infatuated with this kooky girl and this is one of the things that makes him want to quit. Yet just as he wants to tell his domineering father that he can’t do it anymore, the man gives him his next assignment. The man he is expected to kill is Dr. Parks, which throws everything out of control and puts more strain on the already pressured Alex. Alex is put through the wringer as he deliberates what he is going to do about the issues and dangerous circumstances surrounding him.

Henry Bromell adroitly directs this drama that involves crime, but is largely focused on the conscience of a man wanting to escape it all. Although the title suggests overt drama, it’s the internal struggle and scruples of the main character that elicit the most power and turbulence. Panic is a dark and engrossing study of warped family loyalty and pressure disguised by parental superiority. Everyone has a feeling when they are younger of being a good child and looking up to your parents, but what if your parents aren’t what you thought? That’s the main thing going on in Panic; Alex is smothered by his father’s dominance that he’s slyly held over him and employed in such a way that his son knows no different and is now suffering. We frequently get shots of important moments in a non-linear fashion that highlight the history of the characters, in particular how Alex was trained by his father in a scene where he has his young son shoot a squirrel as his first kill. Scenes like this are shocking( but not because they are bloody, no violence is explicitly seen) but for how it frames the father as a corrupting and malevolent presence over his son’s life that simply won’t let go of him in adulthood. There’s an exceptional back and forth between the past and present, filmed without the need for intertitles, as it respects the audience and can frequently be audacious. From what I’ve read about the movie, it was praised on release but never quite connected with audiences. This is a shame because Panic has much to offer movie fans, in how it mixes genres and has a certain haunting quality about it that stays with you. A peppering of black and ironic humour is sprinkled into Panic, particularly in how Michael discusses the business of killing people in a way that is so blasé yet menacing to his son and how the therapist listens with both a dumbfounded shock and yet inquisitive ear to Alex’s mournful confessions. Occasionally, the tone gets muddled but this is few and far between in an accomplished and atypical story that has a real poignancy. A lot of the success is down to the script written by director Henry Bromell, that fleshes out the dilemma of Alex and his predicament in a seemingly impossible situation. A moody and pulsing score is simply exemplary throughout Panic, hinting at the spiral of one man attempting to break out of his chains.

William H. Macy cuts a mournful and tired figure playing Alex; who wants out of the family business, but is buckling under the weight of everything on him. The ever so talented Macy wonderfully and subtly brings the nervousness and sadness of this man at tipping point out for the audience to see, which makes it a stellar performance of buried anguish and stifling anger. You couldn’t have asked for a better person for the role, as William H. Macy invests it with a real soulful melancholy. On hand to play the manipulative and quite horrid father is the always excellent Donald Sutherland. Like Macy, Sutherland’s approach to the character is a measured one that allows differing sides to emerge; from the seemingly genial and hospitable man to the ruthless and bullying father whose ingratiating manner starts to reveal his choke hold over his son. Neve Campbell stunningly stars as the catalyst for Alex’s need for change, exhibiting attitude, feistiness and that something else that is usually missing from other women roles in cinema. John Ritter excels as the shocked therapist whose curious about Alex and equally horrified, while Tracey Ullman gets across suspicion and a genuine feeling of being lost in her own life as her husband becomes distant from her for reasons she is ignorant of.

A compelling crime drama of morality and darkness, Panic makes its mark through the strong sense of purpose, direction and acting that give life to the unexpectedly melancholy rumination on family and crisis.

Bug

Tags

2000's, Ashley Judd, Bug, Harry Connick Jr, Michael Shannon, Psychological Horror, William Friedkin

Film Title

Bug

Director

William Friedkin

Starring

• Ashley Judd as Agnes White
• Michael Shannon as Peter Evans
• Harry Connick Jr as Jerry

A psychological horror that’s more about the ravages of loneliness and the persuasive yet damaging delusions to escape that feeling, is rendered unnervingly by William Friedkin in Bug. Scripted by Tracy Letts from his own play, Bug comes to frightening and intense life under the direction of, and aided by two astonishing performances from Ashley Judd and Michael Shannon.

Agnes White is a lonely and haunted young woman who resides in a battered old motel in Oklahoma. Having been terrified by her now released ex Jerry( who keeps cold calling her) and her son disappearing ten years ago, life hasn’t been easy for her. In between working at a local bar, Agnes gets drunk and does drugs with her only real friend to ease the pain. One night, she is introduced to a mysterious man named Peter Evans. He is a little bit awkward but well spoken and pleasant enough towards Agnes. Slowly, the beaten down woman starts to find a certain companionship with this fellow loner. It’s when Peter is seemingly bitten by a bug that his instability comes out, with him talking of time he spent in the army and how he’s being hunted for experimental purposes. At first, Agnes doesn’t know what to make of Peter and his conspiracy stories, but things take a turn quickly. Having been worn down so much and aching for connection that leaves her too open to suggestion, Agnes soon starts to gel with Peter’s delusional theories of a bug infestation in the motel room. Having Jerry lurking around does nothing to help Agnes and how Peter’s imaginings take hold of her. Peter’s frenzied behaviour and ramblings are enough to convince Agnes of something terrible and paranoid. Sealing themselves inside the crummy motel room away from everyone, insanity breeds and the varied delusions of bugs and conspiracy quickly overtake Agnes and Peter completely.

William Friedkin delves deep into the troubled psyche of the protagonists with his cinematic flair illuminating turmoil and eventual downward spiral. that will make your skin crawl and unsettle your mind as it throws you headlong into delusion and isolation that has damaging effects on Agnes, as created by paranoid Peter. Friedkin is a man who knows how to use a camera for maximum impact; often employing gliding motions before cutting to hand-held restlessness as the story cranks up. Armed with a script by its original creator, the encased and isolated aura of a play is successfully kept but as a string to the film’s bow rather than a weakness. The building atmosphere provided by both direction and screenplay is riveting in slowly pacing events, then unearthing with quick succession the obsessive and troubling path to insanity encountered by the characters. Within Bug, Agnes and Peter feed of the others anxieties and paranoid minds, further slipping away from any form of understanding reality. The thematic value of loneliness and desperation is brought out as something that influences the eventual horror in a most effective manner. Part of this is best envisioned in the fact that Bug largely takes place in one setting; the run-down motel room that has seen better days. Even when some light comes in, it’s a setting that takes on a creepy tone as sanity wanes and the cinematography captures some moody contrasts in colour with harsh, grimy efficiency. Now Bug does get a little too abstract in some parts, but the sheer volume of psychological content and claustrophobic mania of it cover up these cracks to produce a quite startling and horrifying movie. Bug reminds us that all the best and most terrifying horror comes from the mind and suggestion, insuring you won’t be able to quite forget this film after viewing. A sparse musical score brings more attention to the alarming content, yet knows when to pitch in for some doom-laded menace.

I’ve always thought Ashley Judd is a good actress, who for whatever reason, seems to be in movies that are somewhat generic, though her talent largely shines through. Here however, she’s got a role that really shows off her abilities with dramatic full force and allows her to shine. Capturing the pensive sadness of Agnes, who seems resigned and wounded by a terrible life, Judd slowly becomes more and more unstrung as her need for company in turn sends her into insanity. With gutsy anguish and feverish unpredictability, the pitiful and in many ways doomed Agnes is fantastically played by the marvellous Ashley Judd in what is probably her finest performance. Michael Shannon has a naturally intense demeanor to him that is largely from his steely eyes and tough jaw. Even when still and not seeming off kilter, he successfully exudes a sense of restlessness that will soon worryingly combust. These traits, along with a palpable sadness, are wonderfully and frighteningly put on display in Bug. Starting out playing Peter as a little awkward and strange, once the paranoia aspect hots up, Shannon lets loose and his frenzied tics and raw energy come out with spectacular results. It’s safe to say, Shannon’s unsettling and manic performance is not one to forget as he’s so scarily effective in the part. Both of the main stars share a warped and startling closeness that is remarkably intense and worrying. One can imagine that both Judd and Shannon must have been exhausted upon filming completion, given the emotional distress and frenzy they both had to play. Harry Connick Jr provides a beefed up and hair-trigger temper as the convict ex of Agnes, whose appearance disturbs her but is nothing compared to what transpires with Peter.

An an uncomfortable and disquieting horror that drags out the dark recesses of the mind and presents them with skin-crawling assurance, Bug is a movie not for everyone. But for those willing to watch a claustrophobic examination of paranoid delusion and alarming co-dependency(acted with striking intensity) that turns to mania , Bug will be well worth checking out. Just be warned, you won’t be able to shake Bug for some time, which is to give credit to the sheer impact of it all.

Priceless

Tags

2000's, Audrey Tautou, Comedy, Foreign Language Film, Gad Elmaleh, Marie-Christine Adam, Pierre Salvadori, Priceless, Romantic Comedy

Film Title

Priceless

Director

Pierre Salvadori

Starring

• Audrey Tautou as Irène
• Gad Elmaleh as Jean
• Marie-Christine Adam as Madeleine

A very satisfying romantic comedy about wealth and gold digging, Priceless is an amusing confection of sprightly energy and winning charm. Just like the main character, Priceless is deliciously naughty and amoral, but always immensely enjoyable.

The captivating Irène enjoys the high life, especially when a man of wealth is paying for it. With her abundance of charms and feminine wiles, she’s armed for digging for gold wherever she can find it. Frequenting the French Riviera with her latest conquest who is boring her, she encounters put upon bartender Jean one evening. The amusing thing is Irène assumes he is a rich man of the world by his appearance. Not telling her the truth, Jean and her share drinks and laughs. Later, things are taken to the bedroom. In the morning, Irène has left and Jean is left thinking of her. A year later, Irène returns to the hotel with her sugar daddy in tow, where she promptly seduces Jean once more. Only this time, Jean gets busted and the truth of his status is revealed. This coincides with Irène’s latest squeeze leaving her with nothing money wise and jilting her quickly. A shocked Irène high tails it to Nice, not realising how smitten Jean is with her. Instead of just forgetting her, Jean finds her and attempts to woo her. takes full advantage of this as her expensive tastes nearly bankrupt the far from affluent Jean. Panicking when his finances are tight, Jean is saved by wealthy widow Madeleine. She has been looking for a new toy boy and Jean fits that bill. Surprisingly, Jean finds he has a knack for gold digging too, with the main objective being to romance Irène in the end . Irène is quite impressed by this show of initiative and offers help in the business she is well acquainted with. Transformed from hapless bar tender to jet set smooth talker, he even begins rivaling her at the game of money. Seeing how successful he has got , Irène comes to see Jean in a new light, which puts her plans for finding another rich man in jeopardy as her personal feelings enter the picture.

Pierre Salvadori is in the director’s seat for this frothy and charming comedy. He knows the way to keep events bright and breezy, before colouring them with a bit more depth than most romantic comedies strive to reach for. His eye for humour and timing, most notably in Jean’s attempts to be seen as a prospect to the girl he loves is what really gets the most laughs. The scenario of the film is hardly what one would call groundbreaking, but enjoyment is the name of the game and Priceless rises to the occasion admirably. Depending on your tolerance level, you’ll find Priceless irresistible or too arch. For me, I fell into the former camp by miles. It’s the old-fashioned vibe and nods to romantic comedies of yesteryear that Priceless excels at emulating, and giving it a bit more than the average modern Hollywood rom coms that we are witness too. What you get here is riotous fun that also stops to consider why Irène would go on the path of a gold digger in the first place. A nice depth arises from that strand of story that definitely caught my attention.  As a movie that deals with the rich and well-heeled, Priceless looks gorgeous, supplying us with picturesque and chic views of the French Riviera. Trust me, you may be considering holiday plans after watching Priceless. The extravagance on show and just the overall seductive view of the rich life is swoon worthy. A sparkling and amusingly jaunty score accompanies the film with effusive energy and playful rhythm.

The talented Audrey Tautou supplies slyness, allure and even a bit of desperation as the material girl everything revolves around. Irène is someone who clearly has a plan to snare someone rich and enjoy the high life at the same time. Tautou makes Irène a minx but not one that is completely unlikable. Sure she goes after men’s wallets more than their hearts and practically obliterates most of Jean’s income in the beginning, but with Audrey Tautou the beguiling persona and glimpses of someone not wanting to fall by the wayside are felt by the audience. Gad Elmaleh is blessed with a sad-eyed expression and certain lugubrious charm to make the part of Jean work. Jean is something of an unlikely gigolo, which is a strength Gad Elmaleh and his lanky appear de play to masterfully. Elmaleh like he’s having fun as the love struck man pursuing the woman who captured his heart and trying to play her at her own game. The enjoyment factor from both him and Tautou transfers to the audience, paying great dividends. Marie-Christine Adam appears as the glamorous widow attracted to Jean, and though the role is more than a tad underwritten, she possesses the elegance and worldly appeal of a successful older woman.

It’s not the most sparkling brand new formula for a romantic comedy, yet the very nature of romantic comedy is to recycle, preferably with style. Which is what Priceless does, with witty aplomb and hilarious high jinks between two potential lovers on the make. With Audrey Tautou and Gad Elmaleh making a fun couple, you can’t really ask for more enjoyment because it’s a frothy and sweet movie that will make you laugh and smile.

 

Something’s Gotta Give

Tags

2000's, Amanda Peet, Diane Keaton, Frances McDormand, Jack Nicholson, Keanu Reeves, Nancy Meyers, Romantic Comedy, Something's Gotta Give

I was kindly asked by the wonderful Gill to take part in the Jack Nicholson blogathon. This is to celebrate the great man’s work as he turned 80 yesterday. I’ve always liked Nicholson’s work in a variety of films so it was nice of her to ask me to join in and sing his praises. If you want to be entertained, Nicholson is your man. Anyway back to my review.

Film Title

Something’s Gotta Give

Director

Nancy Meyers

Starring

• Jack Nicholson as Harry Sanborn
• Diane Keaton as Erica Barry
• Keanu Reeves as Dr Julian Mercer
• Amanda Peet as Marin Barry
• Frances McDormand as Zoe

A sprightly romantic comedy about unexpected attraction in middle age, Something’s Gotta Give is an amusing showcase for both Jack Nicholson and Diane Keaton. Sure it has its contrivances, but there’s something very amiable and surprisingly touching to this film that makes it stand out from the endless pack of romantic comedies we are assailed with.

Harry Sanborn is a successful man in his 60’s, he owns a music company and his main passion in life is easy relationships with women who are much younger. The old dog has a rule of not dating a woman over 30, which keeps his status as a perennial playboy steady. His latest conquest is the pretty Marin, who invites him to her mother’s beach house in the Hamptons, thinking that her mother Erica is busy somewhere else. To her surprise, Erica, who is a successful divorced playwright, returns with her sister Zoe and is shocked to find her daughter and Harry are something of an item. Zoe talks her round and Erica reluctantly lets Harry stay, despite her immediate dislike for him. The evening gets eventful when Harry has a heart attack when preparing for sex and is subsequently hospitalized. Informed by his doctor that he can’t travel far and must recover nearby, he ends up recuperating in Erica’s house, much to her annoyance. Harry finds Erica to be overly uptight and prickly, while Erica thinks of Harry as just a rude and uncouth womanizer. Yet being forced to take care of Harry has its impressions on Erica, whether she likes it or not. The two start out at complete odds over their ideas of the other, yet quickly these differences start to wilt and an attraction begins to form. Both of them don’t quite know how to react to this unexpected creation, though it definitely makes both take stock of things and possibly open up to welcoming love. Yet as Harry recovers, his stay at Erica’s is cut short as his health improves. As the two have now grown to love the other unexpectedly,  it’s up to Harry to decide whether he can truly change or return to his usual life of being a playboy. Add to this equation, Harry’s young doctor Julian taking a romantic interest in Erica, much too her surprise and things are about to get interesting.

Nancy Meyers provides breezy direction and writing, that still retains substance through how well-crafted the characters are. Meyers supplies a good helping of unpredictable moments to Something’s Gotta Give, that pay off and make it a funny watch. There’s something quite rejuvenating at seeing two people in the middle of their lives find romance, there are too few movies that deal with attraction among mature adults. Now it must be said that the movie does over stay its welcome due to the length of it and how it does dabble in levels of seen it all before. Generally though, Something’s Gotta Give gains major points from the casting, humorous yet moving writing and the tone of the piece. There is a level of genuine heart to things, as Erica’s seemingly comfortable existence is challenged by someone she never though she’d like. Observing the changes the attraction has for them both provides Something’s Gotta Give with a surprising emotional core, coloured with side-splitting comedy( such as Harry walking in on a naked Erica, ensuring much awkward encounters). I appreciate when a comedy has depth to it, as too many comedies forget that you sometimes need drama for the laughs to work.

Jack Nicholson is a devilish yet revealing presence as the ageing playboy, realising that life may be catching up with his lifestyle. I enjoyed how Nicholson sort of sends up the public’s persona of himself( the grinning Lothario who always looks like he’s up to something naughty), yet colours it with a surprising amount of vulnerability too. It’s an unexpected turn from him that has all his wolfish tics and adds a healthy dose of open humanity to the mix. He truly makes the part his own and I can’t imagine anyone else in the role. Diane Keaton gorgeously plays off Nicholson as the self-sufficient playwright, discovering that romance could still be on the cards for her despite her assertion that she’s passed it. A sophistication, humour and convincing clarity can all be seen in Keaton’s work, that makes you enjoy being in her company as her professional attitude makes way for touching revelation. Any romantic comedy largely succeeds or fails on the chemistry between the leads; Something’s Gotta Give joyfully fits into the former. You just get this natural and glowing way that Nicholson and Keaton interact, that really brings out the heart of both people who overcome differences to find that they might be right for each other. Then you have Keanu Reeves as the dashing doctor that could only ever appear in a romantic comedy. Reeves seems to realise this and plays the part amusingly as a sort of spoof of the dishy man in uniform that couldn’t possibly exist in real life. Amanda Peet provides sparkling energy, albeit in an underused capacity along with a wise-cracking but too little seen Frances McDormand.

So while it runs too long and isn’t above being slightly formulaic, Something’s Gotta Give has enough sharp writing and cracking performances, particularly Jack Nicholson and Diane Keaton, to make it a delight.

The Devil Wears Prada

Tags

2000's, Adrian Grenier, Anne Hathaway, Comedy, David Frankel, Drama, Emily Blunt, Meryl Streep, Simon Baker, Stanley Tucci, The Devil Wears Prada

Film Title

The Devil Wears Prada

Director

David Frankel

Starring

• Meryl Streep as Miranda Priestly
• Anne Hathaway as Andy Sachs
• Emily Blunt as Emily Charlton
• Stanley Tucci as Nigel
• Adrian Grenier as Nate
• Simon Baker as Christian Thompson

An amusing comedy drama about a young woman’s journey in the world of fashion under the boss from hell, The Devil Wears Prada gets laughs and some surprising dramatic weight. As formulaic as some of it is, it is still a very funny satire on the fashion industry, benefiting from a talented cast.

Andy Sachs is a fresh-faced college graduate who wants to be a journalist and is just out of university. An opportunity comes knocking in a strange way, after not having much luck in finding work. She is in turn recommended a job working at  Runway, a New York fashion magazine headed by the notorious and commanding editor in chief Miranda Priestly. She is to be the junior assistant to her, which is a job so many people would give their lives for. Although she has no interest in fashion or the whole scene that she views as shallow, she gets the job unexpectedly. Yet Andy is totally unprepared for what she’ll have to deal with while being assistant to the very high-powered Miranda. What she finds is that Miranda is no walk in the park, but an extremely demanding and at times vicious boss. Having to complete the various, seemingly impossible tasks that Miranda sets her proves to be a severe challenge to someone as wide-eyed as Andy. Andy doesn’t fit in with anyone particularly, not least the snippy senior assistant Emily. Yet with the help of art director Nigel( which includes a glamorous makeover) and adopting of a different attitude towards the industry, Andy starts to succeed and surprisingly get ahead at work. She believes that lasting a year working under the dominating Miranda will be good for references and open doors to her dream. Yet as Andy gets further sucked into the world that she initially disdained, she is forced to confront the fact that her integrity is slipping and that she is rapidly changing into something she never thought she would. Her love life with chef boyfriend Nate begins to sour and she begins to alienate herself from her closest friends, as a result of being at Miranda’s beck and call. But is survival working for Miranda worth sacrificing all for?

David Frankel has a stylish approach to the material, imbued with the right amount of humour and character. I wouldn’t say his direction in The Devil Wears Prada is anything awe-inspiring, but it gets the job done efficiently and with care. Interest does lag within a few scenes that go on for too long( and the main men in Andy’s life don’t particularly give much to the plot of the film). The catty one liners and frequently hilarious events make up for that however, getting your interest as we glimpse a behind the scenes look at a glamorous yet dog eat dog world. Seriously some of the dialogue is priceless in how it skewers the fashion industry and culture, while allowing the relatable but difficult journey for Andy that threatens to overtake her, to feature added depth to the largely funny flick. The look at how easily one can lose themselves in something and feel they have no choice but to oblige is rendered well; owing to the way the script gives measured nuance and surprising insight. Sometimes the film only scratches the surface of what wants to get to in the odd slip, but the satirical edge and stylish glitz are more than sufficient at keeping things in a way that feels fresh for us to enjoy. And like any movie dealing with clothing and image, The Devil Wears Prada is a super stylish and glossy film. From montages to bright colours, it has magazine ready finish from the get go. And while some will say it is just a chick flick, The Devil Wears Prada can equally be enjoyed by men. It’s an all round fun time to be had here in a high glamour world that’s as funny as it is stinging. I mean the while boss from hell plot is a definitely amusing one that I’m sure many people can recall similar situations in their own lives, with less outrageousness I’m sure but you know what I mean. A fashionable soundtrack briskly keeps the film on its course with some great songs to groove to.

Meryl Streep completely steals the show as the demanding and commanding Miranda. Possessing a glacial demeanor and a certain regal poise, she creates a character who may be a tyrannical, but is still quite unexpectedly human despite her frostiness. Miranda both inspires fear and awe within the film and the audience, with Meryl Streep steering her away from just being a wicked caricature. What we get instead of a one-dimensional part is one that is frequently ruthless yet not above revealing a hidden vulnerability, in a nuanced way that Streep effortlessly portrays. Miranda doesn’t need to raise her voice to make a point; a simple purse of the lips, look up and down or a cutting, deadpan remark is enough to reduce anyone to a pile of quivering nerves. A scary, fascinating, darkly funny and fabulous character is brought to life with measured shading and conviction by the always excellent Meryl Streep. Anne Hathaway delightfully portrays the inexperience and uncertainty of Andy, tempered with an intelligence and feeling of doubt over what she can achieve. Hathaway has an inborn sensitivity and vulnerability that I’ve noticed in many of her performances, that is used excellently to make Andy a conflicted yet relatable heroine the audience wants to help. I mean how can you not have sympathy for this girl, going through the motions and figuring out just what she wants to do? Her sheer awkwardness and coltish appearance is rendered nicely by Hathaway, who refuses to make the character a brainless girl.  Emily Blunt gets a whole of laughs in her role of minion to Miranda, whose neurotic and desperation to please provide hysterical desperation and scintillating, bitchy sassiness. Splendid and side-splitting support comes from Stanley Tucci as the confidante, who instructs Andy in how best to approach her job and how Miranda is not above rewarding loyalty, in her own roundabout way of course. Tucci though is the only guy in the film who is actually given something good to do. Adrian Grenier and Simon Baker are left stumbling and with little in the way of material to work with.

So for all the contrivances in the film and how it can seem predictable, The Devil Wears Prada boasts a high entertaining factor, finding humour and pathos from a cast headed by an imperious Meryl Streep and how the whole fashion world is a place of survival. A biting yet somehow sweet engaging and humorous film is what The Devil Wears Prada emerges is, which brings out big enjoyable laughs for the viewer.

Doubt

Tags

2000's, Amy Adams, Doubt, Drama, John Patrick Shanley, Meryl Streep, Philip Seymour Hoffman, Viola Davis

Film Title

Doubt

Director

John Patrick Shanley

Starring

• Meryl Streep as Sister Aloysius Beauvier
• Philip Seymour Hoffman as Father Flynn
• Amy Adams as Sister James
• Viola Davis as Mrs. Miller

John Patrick Shanley directs this adaptation of his own play which powerfully and ambiguously questions the nature of truth, certainty and religion. Doubt really dives into the conundrum and mystery of suspicion, bolstered by one exceptional cast doing fine work with deep material.

In 1964 , austere school principal and nun Sister Aloysius Beauvier runs a Catholic school in The Bronx, where she watches each and every move to keep others in line. She is a woman who strikes fear into the hearts of everyone and believes in discipline where her students are involved. Her ideas are of an old-fashioned mindset, which puts her at odds with popular priest Father Flynn. He is a seemingly kindly man who the children like and whose ideas are progressive in bringing the Church forward. Sister Aloysius has a deep dislike of him and after hearing a sermon that he delivers on the feelings of doubt, she asks young and naive Sister James to keep an eye on him. Shortly after this, Sister James reluctantly reveals that Donald Miller, the school’s first black student, returned from seeing Father Flynn in the rectory, crying and with the smell of alcohol on his breath. This convinces Sister Aloysius that there is something sinister about Father Flynn and she is certain that he has sexually abused the boy. Father Flynn denies any wrongdoing and tells her to leave it alone. But Sister Aloysius is not backing down and takes it upon herself, despite a lack of proof, to bring down Father for what she believes he has done. So begins a battle of wills between the relentless Sister Aloysius and Father Flynn , where the truth is the thing that lies at the complex centre of events but is hidden and speculated with unexpected results.

John Patrick Shanley successfully transports his play from the stage to screen with a subtle building in uneasiness and moral questioning. There is a high level of tense atmosphere at work in Doubt, generated through the way that the dialogue takes on multiple meanings and the tight surroundings that enclose the characters. canted angles and close-ups further enhance the engulfing intensity of the piece. The dark tones of the cinematography, supplied by the great , cement us in the dark and complex time and setting, rarely venturing further than the school for a feeling of deep claustrophobia. The limited setting hints at the movies origins as a play, yet help keep that very aura of intimate drama. Some of Doubt gets stagey from time to time, yet this niggle is quickly rectified by the provocative drama and time for rumination that it ultimately achieves. The amount of tension that fills the frames if the movie took me by surprise in a good way. I really was finding myself questioning who was right and wrong, plus whether personal vendettas and emotions were clouding the judgement of characters. There are those who watch Doubt and find its ambiguity distracting, but for most of us, this added level of intrigue gets you to really deliberate what you make of the combustible situation playing out. What people need to consider is that Doubt is as much a mystery about guilt, possible abuse of power and morality, as it is a drama. A quiet yet well suited score knows exactly when to appear and when to let scenes play out devoid of interference.

Meryl Streep heads the cast with another sterling performance. Burying herself in the self-righteous and stern head nun who is the chief accuser, Streep exudes a no-nonsense attitude( spoken in a harsh and convincing Bronx accent), tempered by a dry wit and occasional time for revelation. Yet the biggest accomplishment of her acting is in the balance of Sister Aloysius, in various subtle and expressive ways that hint at her being something different underneath her austere appearance . She is a fearsome person to say the least who may just be doing this to get rid of Father Flynn , but on the other hand, she seems to want to protect her student from what she believes is inappropriate and disturbing contact. There is a real complexity to this woman that Meryl Streep understands; Aloysius may believe that certainty is on her side, but she may in fact be feeling the strains of time pushing her further away from authority and clear judgement. Playing off her and facing off against her in very intense scenes is the excellent Philip Seymour Hoffman. He manages to make Father Flynn both amiable and somewhat questionable, lending a big dose of ambiguity to everything. With force and skill, Hoffman represents the accused as a man trying to bring the church up to date, and sparring with the pointed finger of Sister Aloysius for something he may or not have done. His scenes with Streep are filled with power and rising suspicion, culminating in an arresting coin which both stars really let loose. Amy Adams beautifully and with considerable nuance plays the sympathetic and good-hearted novice Sister James, who is essentially the audiences guide to being caught between two ends of the spectrum. A sweetness is present in the work that never becomes cloying because of how well Adams imbues the part with a questioning and conflicted heart. Stuck in the middle of both Father Flynn and Sister Aloysius, Sister James is forced to contend with both sets of possibilities, a challenge that Amy Adams more than rises to with a sensitive piece of acting. Rounding out the cast is the brief but superbly played performance from the wonderful Viola Davis. She stars as the mother of the boy who may have been abused and her screen time is mainly confined to one specific scene. But what a powerful and indelible scene it is! Filled with a sadness, conviction and acting in a way that may seem different from what you’d expect from a mother being informed of potentially horrifying treatment of her son, Viola Davis dramatically provides the catalyst of the story, that enables us to see things in a very different way. This is a performance that proves that you don’t need hours on screen to be memorable. The four main actors were all Oscar nominated for their work, and it isn’t any surprise why because of how convincingly they bring to life this thorny drama.

A thought-provoking and building triumph of unbearable tension and questions, Doubt succeeds at getting the audience to really consider the validity of supposedly benevolent actions and just how damaging things can become when there is lack of proof but plenty of speculation. It’s a testament to the acting and directing that Doubt never feels too stagey, instead mounted with a mystery and probing yet subtle approach. What we get is a powerful and intense film that leaves you really contemplating events long after the curtain has been drawn.

Last Chance Harvey

Tags

2000's, Drama, Dustin Hoffman, Eileen Atkins, Emma Thompson, James Brolin, Joel Hopkins, Kathy Baker, Last Chance Harvey, Romance

Film Title

Last Chance Harvey

Director

Joel Hopkins

Starring

• Dustin Hoffman as Harvey Shine
• Emma Thompson as Kate Walker
• Eileen Atkins as Maggie Walker
• James Brolin as Brian
• Kathy Baker as Jean

An undemanding but still mostly successful and at times moving romantic drama, Last Chance Harvey gets by on the lovely rapport shared between stars Dustin Hoffman and Emma Thompson who breathe a layer of maturity and emotion to the piece.

Harvey Shine is a jingle writer who has seen better days. Lately, his job has become numbing but he still slaves away as it is his way of income. Yet his output of late has caused his employment to hang by a thread and his boss warns him that he has only once chance left to prove himself. Travelling to London for the wedding of his daughter, Harvey feels further alienated when he finds out his daughter wants her stepfather to give her away. Granted, Harvey’s relationship with his daughter has been strained since his separation from her mother, but he still feels devastated by this information. Leaving the ceremony to avoid any further embarrassment, he rushes to the airport to catch a plane home. He misses the flight home and is subsequently informed that he has been fired from his job. He meets airport worker Kate while drowning his sorrows in the bar. She is a woman who has all but given up on love, and is unwilling to try it again. Kate pours her energies into supporting her elderly mother, who is paranoid and always pestering Kate over why she doesn’t have a man in her life. Bonding over their respective lives and what they want out of it, Harvey and Kate develop a mutual and unexpected attraction that they believed wouldn’t touch them at this time and can promise them another chance at companionship.

Joel Hopkins does a decent job directing, though he doesn’t quite have a real style or calling card to stamp his name. It’s in his screenplay that warmth and pathos come, despite the sidestep into mawkish territory on occasion. Often, Last Chance Harvey can lurch between humour and comedy without much of a pay off, which could have been rectified with more substance. And while that stuck out at times, there was a level of sincerity and honesty to the screenplay that compensated for the flaws. I think my biggest niggle with the film was that it could have had a lot more going for it story wise. I mean, I did enjoy the wistful and soul-searching parts of the friendship that blossomed into romance but I felt there should have been a little bit more drama to buttress things. I’m a guy who enjoys gentle and autumnal like the best of them, and I really found myself enjoying quite a bit of the chemistry between the great actors present. Just a tad more life and a bit of something else sprinkled on would have made the film really excellent. As it stands, Last Chance Harvey loses some points for flagging interest yet gains just as many by finding pathos in the ideas of two middle-aged people discovering a love they thought had left them long ago. It’s refreshing to see a movie deal with attraction between people in middle age, most romances seem to favour the youth formula. The depth of the film comes from the fact that these two characters are older and wiser, but still relatable and looking for something more. When the humour and drama hit, they hit very well and raise Last Chance Harvey to a better level that while still flawed, has its heart in the right place. The movie is the equivalent of an old blanket, it has its wrinkles and though this is the case, you find it reassuring and stirring.

Last Chance Harvey’s biggest impact comes courtesy of two stunning performances from Dustin Hoffman and Emma Thompson. As the worn out and awkward man who feels a deep void of loneliness, Dustin Hoffman is quietly nuanced and touching, while bringing some bumbling humour to it too. Emma Thompson gorgeously plays the woman who makes an impact on him unexpectedly, with a natural and lovingly observed sense of cautious longing and warmth. It’s pleasing to see them act opposite each other and bring out the respective best each has. These two professionals share a beautifully unaffected chemistry that overcomes any clichés the script offers up, and succeed at saying more with just a glance or a smile than most actors can with tons of dialogue. Eileen Atkins offers up some really good humour as the dotty mother, convinced that something fishy is going on around her when it’s actually quite the opposite. While Atkins has a good time in the supporting role, James Brolin and Kathy Baker are handed one-note characters who don’t particularly contribute to the story is any real way.

It is not a film that has much in the way of fresh ideas or a clear-cut idea of where it’s going which is often too it’s detriment. But the moving and natural work from the main actors and a sometimes bittersweet look at people discovering possible love in middle age, Last Chance Harvey is gentle and has clout that makes it a sweet and heartfelt ride. See it for Hoffman and Thompson.

Charlie’s Angels: Full Throttle

Tags

2000's, Action, Bernie Mac, Cameron Diaz, Charlie's Angels: Full Throttle, Comedy, Crispin Glover, Demi Moore, Drew Barrymore, John Cleese, Justin Theroux, Lucy Liu, Luke Wilson, Matt LeBlanc, McG

Film Title

Charlie’s Angels: Full Throttle

Director

McG

Starring

• Cameron Diaz as Natalie
• Drew Barrymore as Dylan
• Lucy Liu as Alex
• Bernie Mac as Bosley
• Demi Moore as Madison Lee
• Justin Theroux as Seamus O’Grady
• Crispin Glover as The Thin Man
• John Cleese as Mr. Munday
• Matt LeBlanc as Jason
• Luke Wilson as Pete

More sassy attitude, kicking ass and sex appeal adorns Full Throttle, the sequel to the entertaining first film. Like its predecessor, it’s completely brainless and illogical but so watchable due to that very fact, it’s difficult to not enjoy it.

The Angels( Natalie, Dylan and Alex) return to fight crime and go undercover to thwart dastardly plans. We pick up with the girls as they rescue a US Marshall from captivity in Mongolia. Returning to America, the girls are informed of what their latest mission will entail. This time the unseen Charlie sends them to recover a pair of titanium rings. Encoded in these rings are the names and real identities of everyone in the Witness Protection Program. It appears that someone wants to sell the rings to the highest bidder; which just so happens to be any of the major crime outfits in the world. Gearing up for action with an array of costumes and skills, the girls encounter former Angel Madison Lee, who has clearly turned her back on the side of good and definitely has something to do with the plot. Added to the mix is Irish mobster Seamus O’Grady, who happens to be Dylan’s former boyfriend who she put away in prison years ago before changing her identity. This revelation hits Dylan hard as she fought so hard to escape her past, only for it to now resurface. From fast car chases to martial arts fighting, The Angels are back doing what they do best; stopping bad and shaking things up.

McG is back making things bigger and employing his music video skills for the montage heavy and frankly ridiculous movie. Once again, it’s a movie that doesn’t take itself seriously and on more than one occasion, rips itself off. The plot is essentially a riff on the first movie yet is a little tighter( I say little because it’s still pretty all over the show but still highly fun). The plot is the least of anyone’s concerns when the action and innuendo filled lines hit override. That’s where the fun begins as the gorgeous girls go from a dirt biking race to performing in strip club, all in the name of stopping crime. Various sub-plots of their love lives are superfluous and don’t go anywhere, the colourful fights and array of disguises is where the film is at. Like the title says, Full Throttle is what it gives in terms of silliness and amusing sequences that are pure ludicrous and candy coloured from head to toe. The film can best described as the equivalent of a sugar rush. You know you shouldn’t enjoy it, but the sweetness is difficult to resist. And even though it is a major rehash of the first film, is anyone actually paying that close attention? The soundtrack is lively and pumping, granted there is nary a second music isn’t playing.

Cameron Diaz, with her mega watt smile and perky energy, is delightfully goofy and animated in the best possible way. Drew Barrymore stands out the most as tough chick Dylan, who has to deal with the ghosts of the past. The film is hardly deep at all but the little bits of drama that reveal more of her( whenever the chance is given) are played remarkably well by Barrymore. Lucy Liu provides many laughs and feistiness as the brainbox of the troika, who can really deliver Once again, the three share a good rapport and have sparkling levels of energy. Some actually effective laughs come courtesy of Bernie Mac playing Bosley; his loud and frequently hysterical outbursts are just what the doctor ordered in this fizzy cocktail of a movie. Demi Moore, looking gorgeous and acting diva like, has fun as the vampy former Angel now on the side of evil and taking no prisoners. She seriously has a good time as the villain of the bunch and suits the over the top nature of the film. Justin Theroux, though underused, is pretty menacing as Dylan’s psychopathic ex who wants revenge on her for turning him in. Crispin Glover returns as the inherently creepy Thin Man, unfortunately he is ill-served by the film that doesn’t make the most of his unusual appearance and mannerisms. In support, John Cleese gets a few good moments Alex’s oblivious father. Once again, Matt LeBlanc and Luke Wilson are not really necessary or well used in the film and their parts could have easily been trimmed.

 

Virtually a variation on the first film with more explosions and killer stunts thrown in, Charlie’s Angels: Full Throttle is guilty pleasure viewing of the highest echelon. You wouldn’t tell a friend you like this movie, but you’d secretly bask in its sheer dumbness when you needed a popcorn movie.

Charlie’s Angels

Tags

2000's, Action, Bill Murray, Cameron Diaz, Charlie's Angels, Comedy, Crispin Glover, Drew Barrymore, Kelly Lynch, Lucy Liu, Luke Wilson, Matt LeBlanc, McG, Sam Rockwell, Tim Curry

Film Title

Charlie’s Angels

Director

McG

Starring

• Cameron Diaz as Natalie
• Drew Barrymore as Dylan
• Lucy Liu as Alex
• Bill Murray as Bosley
• Sam Rockwell as Eric Knox
• Kelly Lynch as Vivian Wood
• Tim Curry as Roger Corwin
• Crispin Glover as The Thin Man
• Matt LeBlanc as Jason
• Luke Wilson as Pete

Based on the hit 70’s show of the same name, Charlie’s Angels is not the kind of movie you go to watch for deep, introspective lessons. It’s all about the action, silliness and sexiness of which it provides a slick and entertaining package.

The Angels of the title are goofy Natalie, sarcastic Dylan and knowledgeable Alex; three beautiful and strong women who work as private investigators for the unseen Charlie. He communicates with them via voice messages and agency handler Bosley. Getting out of scrapes and risking life and limb is what they’re good at, as well as doing it with some serious style and kick ass moves. Their latest case involves rescuing electronics millionaire Eric Knox, then finding his valuable software. The software is state of the art voice recognition that uses phones as its main communications base. If it were to fall into the wrong hands, it could be used to end basic privacy through the usage of satellites and put tens of thousands in mortal danger. The main suspect appears to be a rival businessman by the name of Roger Corwin, whose known to be very ruthless when it comes to getting his hands on the much moneymaking thing. Cue much action, chases and sexy outfits and it’s another day at the races for the Angels. But something more sinister may in fact be right under their noses and ready to strike.

From the get go, director McG, who used to be a prominent stylist of music videos, lets us know that this film is one to just sit back and bask in with his brash use of colour and tongue in cheek humour. He isn’t trying to be intellectual in the slightest and that very approach makes Charlie’s Angels a big guilty pleasure. It’s a pastiche and ode to glamour of the past( the original theme tune and voice of Charlie remains the same) and modern technology that bathes in its own craziness. I mean how can any of the film be taken seriously when you have these ladies defying gravity with their karate moves and changing clothing at lightning speed, in between disposing of bad guys? And yet, that is where the fun lies, in the sheer implausibility and fantasy of it all. None of this is rooted in the real world and doesn’t try to be; it just wants you to have a blast on the action score and comedy and not aspire for anything else. With colourful splashes of quick editing and slow motion for sensual purposes, the film whizzes along at such a rapid rate that you don’t have to think about a single thing, just being thrilled and excited is the response that will most likely garner. Watching the sexy trio move from one outrageous situation to the next is fun enough in itself as they kick serious ass and showcase bountiful sex appeal. Laughs and naughtiness go hand in hand( watch as Alex dresses up dominatrix style to infiltrate a corporate facility and causes every male worker to be her slave.) High energy and a prominent soundtrack ensure that Charlie’s Angels is a kinetic ride that doesn’t require brain power, yet wants you to just surrender to its frequently goofy content.

The gorgeous trio of Cameron Diaz, Drew Barrymore and Lucy Liu contribute significant fun and sexy prowess to match. It helps that they look like they’re having a really fun time playing the glamorous crime fighters, who get to raid the dress up box frequently and dispatch sassy one liners. That enthusiasm( from Diaz’s ditsy but sometimes very resourceful Natalie, Barrymore’s sassy, attitude heavy Dylan and Liu’s sophisticated and poised brainiac Alex ) is the key to the enjoyment of Charlie’s Angels as they sell the silliness all the way. Bill Murray is hilarious as the occasionally bumbling and sardonic Bosley, with his knack for humour in high supply and an utter delight to watch. Sam Rockwell is pretty eye-catching as the man supposedly in trouble, who might be quite different from the geeky persona he projects. Kelly Lynch is much the same as his partner who just know is dodgy from the moment she appears. Tim Curry does what he can with his ludicrous material and is quite amusing, while Crispin Glover is ideally unusual and freaky as an assassin known as The Thin Man. Matt LeBlanc and Luke Wilson on the other hand, come off as rather superfluous when playing two unsuspecting boyfriends of two of the Angels. Considering the cheesy script, the cast is mostly competent, particularly the sexy Angels.

It’s scattershot at best and virtually devoid of any real plot, but Charlie’s Angels delivers the fun and sassy goods, bolstered by the energy of the three women at the front of it. Defiantly ridiculous and outrageous, it’s best enjoyed as cheesy fodder and sexy fun.

Brotherhood of the Wolf

Tags

2000's, Action, Émilie Dequenne, Brotherhood of the Wolf, Christophe Gans, Fantasy, Foreign Language Film, Horror, Jérémie Renier, Mark Dacascos, Monica Bellucci, Samuel Le Bihan, Vincent Cassel

Film Title

Brotherhood of the Wolf

Director

Christophe Gans

Starring

• Samuel Le Bihan as Grégoire de Fronsac
• Mark Dacascos as Mani
• Jérémie Renier as Marquis Thomas d’Apcher
• Émilie Dequenne as Marianne de Morangias
• Vincent Cassel as Jean-François de Morangias
• Monica Bellucci as Sylvia

An audacious melding of more genres that you can shake a stick at and Taking basis from tales of an alleged beast in the of France, Brotherhood of the Wolf is enthralling and unusual in the best sense of the word.

The year is 1764 and in the province of Gévaudan, a spate of brutal killings of young girls and children is attributed to an unseen predator known as The Beast. As time passes, the killings rise rapidly in and other parts of the land, leading to much upheaval and panic as to whether the creature is something of this Earth. In response, The King of France sends two men to make some sense of what is happening. These two men are Grégoire de Fronsac, a naturalist and talented sketch artist and his blood brother companion, Iroquois Mani. They find lodging at the house of a respectable family of high-ranking, becoming friendly with the young Marquis Thomas d’Apcher, who has a big imagination and a lot of heart. The dashing Fronsac is skeptical of the Beast’s authenticity or that it is something demonic, yet must investigate this thing that is baffling and devastating the land. He along with Mani is frequently tested by things that don’t add up regarding the alleged monster. Many describe it as a giant wolf, but others who survived it claim it was a supernatural being. The authorities keep a lot close to their chest, which hinders the search for The Beast and leads to more questions of just what the purpose and reality of the Beast truly are. Meanwhile, Fronsac finds himself attracted to noblewoman Marianne de Morangias, much to the chagrin and jealousy of her one-armed brother Jean-François, who has inappropriate yearnings for his sister. Something of a libertine, he also has his head turned by the tarot reading courtesan Sylvia, who lures him into her twisted web. The attacks of The Beast continue to alarm everyone, and the intelligent Fronsac, along with the sensory perceptions of Mani, believes he is getting nearer to discovery. For what lies at the centre of the Beast’s mystery is something way beyond what either man expected it to be

Gans is an adventurous film maker it must be said and that puckish quality is put to phenomenal use in this bricolage film, that always has a kinetic feel to it. There is no shortage of drama or eventfulness in Brotherhood of the Wolf that ranks it very high on the excitement and swashbuckling action. From the standpoint of visuals, the movie is so alive and a lot of careful craftsmanship has gone into the sets, costumes and overall atmosphere. The editing conjures up a sweeping and adventurous spell, complete with clever dissolves and overlapping imagery for maximum impact. While it could be accused of over egging the pudding with the sheer amount of genres at work, Brotherhood of the Wolf is nothing short of high entertainment and the very fact that it is so unusual is what makes it strong. Half of the fun in the movie is trying to see what will happen next or what tone it will adopt, which is exemplary in my book. I mean you just look over how many elements the film juggles and your mind is blown. You’ve got the feelings of fantasy and horror through the bloodshed and peculiar nature of the beast( which for a long time is effectively shrouded in shadows before revealing itself). Action is frequently shot like that of a spinning martial arts movie, specially prevalent whenever is around. And obviously there is something historical in the film from the fact that the material of The Beast of Gévaudan is still something of a strange mystery. For many, Brotherhood of the Wolf may confound with the sheer amount of things going on in it. But wouldn’t you rather have a film that  is filled to the rafters with content instead of a movie where noting of much value unfolds? The music bursts with unbridled energy from the very first frame. You couldn’t have asked for a better score to match the devilishly blended cavalcade of events going on.

Samuel Le Bihan is a good fit for the thinking and slightly rakish Fronsac, who knows something is very amiss in this affair. He gets across the funny and intellectual side that slowly paves the way for a personal streak of vengeance and fury, as the mission grows to be something personal. The morphing from thinker to full on fighter is handsomely handled by Le Bihan. The mainly silent but intense Mark Dacascos lends a spiritual and physical grace to Mani, from his movements to his mannerisms that are largely quiet but when needed pronounced. Dacascos possesses an unearthly poise and athleticism that make the role of Mani one of action as well as soulfulness. Young Jérémie Renier is suitably as the youth who becomes enraptured and curious in helping the two men in their discovery. It helps that has a charm and impressionable wide-eyed expression that is appealing and endearing. The three main guys of the picture work well with each other, obviously bouncing off the difference in personalities and attitudes that are brought together. A demure Émilie Dequenne handles the part of a stifled lady of prominence, who silently chafes at what is expected of her and is more than just an obedient observer when the occasion calls for it. Vincent Cassel nails the sneering arrogance of the warped nobleman whose desire for his sister causes a lot of creepy conflict, especially with Fronsac. Monica Bellucci seductively steams the screen up as the most mysterious lady of the night, who may very well have more answers than she gives out. Sly and capricious spring to mind when talking of her character and the stunning Bellucci plays that to the hilt.

A hugely exhilarating motion picture with deep imagination and a clear love of pulling things that shouldn’t really go together into something spectacular, Brotherhood of the Wolf is one of the most unconventional movies you’re likely to see, but that is what causes it to be so arresting.