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Tag Archives: Eva Green

Perfect Sense

22 Tuesday Mar 2016

Posted by vinnieh in Movie Reviews

≈ 66 Comments

Tags

2010's, David Mackenzie, Drama, Eva Green, Ewan McGregor, Perfect Sense, Science Fiction

Film Title

Perfect Sense

Director

David Mackenzie

Starring

  • Ewan McGregor as Michael
  • Eva Green as Susan

A haunting science fiction drama about two people who come together just as an epidemic begins, Perfect Sense is brooding, compelling and evocative.

In Glasgow, the happy-go-lucky Michael is a chef working in a restaurant. Living in the flat nearby is Susan, an epidemiologist who has been called in to determine the cause of a most unusual case. Perfect Sense Movie PosterIn the space of 24 hours and occurring around the world, many people have lost their sense of smell after experiencing outbursts of uncontrolled emotion. The case begins to baffle Susan and her fellow workers as it continues to spread. Meanwhile, Michael and Susan meet and there is an obvious attraction between the two, who begin seeing each other romantically. But the epidemic begins to get worse as another sense is robbed from people, continuing on and on without warning or knowledge. Susan and Michael’s relationship is threatened as the epidemic begins to rapidly take over and society falls into chaos around them. As the epidemic reaches a fever pitch, there is still no explanation of the cause and how it is spreading so quickly and insidiously. The question is, can anyone survive this epidemic before every sense is gone? And can Susan and Michael’s fledgling relationship continue as events get darker?

From what I’ve read when Perfect Sense was released back in 2011, it was met with somewhat ambivalent reviews. I really can’t see why this is because the movie is fascinating on so many levels. While it has elements you can attribute to the science fiction genre, there is something achingly human about it. Perfect Sense Ewan McGregorDavid Mackenzie successfully delves into the themes of what happens when something we rely so much on is gone and the way something that can’t be explained can impact on society. There are no real easy answers in Perfect Sense, nor should there be as Mackenzie crafts a melancholy examination of human endurance when a situation looks dire and the sense of loss that comes along as each sense is robbed from the population. The biggest question of all is ‘If the epidemic is related to emotions, how are we as humans meant to survive?’ There is a haunted quality to Perfect Sense that is perfectly embodied by the grey cinematography. Eva Green Perfect SenseRight from the beginning, there is a feeling of unease and darkness as the muted colours and scenery are rendered into a dour picture of uncertainty and sadness. And refreshingly though there is a romantic connection between the main characters, it doesn’t feel tacked on or needless. It actually lends the movie that something else that sets it apart from other science fiction movies. The morose narration reflects on the way that we take for granted what we have and is highly evocative in scenes shown around the world as the senses are taken from the unsuspecting. A trickling music score gives quiet voice to the encroaching panic that the epidemic spawns and the implications it has for Susan and Michael.

Heading the film is the excellent work of Ewan McGregor and Eva Green. Perfect SenseBoth are at their best playing these characters who are ordinary people caught in this time of horror that we can relate to. The characters are flawed just like everyone is and the performances really let both of them show off their skills. Embodying extreme emotions with subtlety and grace, McGregor and Green are nothing short of fantastic at investing Perfect Sense with a humanity and pathos that compliments the haunting tone of the film.

A foreboding film with a definite human heart, Perfect Sense is unusual but highly intriguing viewing as it explores so many avenues of possibilities, but refuses to pander to the audience that in turn leaves a feeling of mystery.

Sin City: A Dame to Kill For

22 Wednesday Apr 2015

Posted by vinnieh in Movie Reviews

≈ 135 Comments

Tags

2010's, Bruce Willis, Christopher Lloyd, Christopher Meloni, Crime, Dennis Haysbert, Eva Green, Frank Miller, Jaime King, Jamie Chung, Jeremy Piven, Jessica Alba, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Josh Brolin, Juno Temple, Lady Gaga, Mickey Rourke, Powers Boothe, Ray Liotta, Robert Rodriguez, Rosario Dawson, Sin City: A Dame to Kill For

Film Title

Sin City: A Dame to Kill For

Directors

Frank Miller and Robert Rodriguez

Starring

  • Mickey Rourke as Marv
  • Jessica Alba as Nancy Callahan
  • Josh Brolin as Dwight McCarthy
  • Eva Green as Ava Lord
  • Joseph Gordon-Levitt as Johnny
  • Powers Boothe as Senator Roark
  • Rosario Dawson as Gail
  • Dennis Haysbert as Manute
  • Ray Liotta as Joey
  • Bruce Willis as Hartigan
  • Jamie Chung as Miho
  • Jaime King as Goldie/Wendy
  • Jeremy Piven as Bob
  • Christopher Meloni as Mort
  • Christopher Lloyd as Kroenig
  • Juno Temple as Sally
  • Lady Gaga as Bertha

Coming almost ten years after the startling original Sin City, this second installment had a lot to live up to. Unfortunately, it doesn’t match its predecessor in many ways, but A Dame to Kill For is far from an all-out failure and does have its moments that need praise.

A Dame to Kill For takes the same narrative structure of the first movie, albeit with stories that serve as a prequel to those events that occurred in the original. These stories intertwine at many points along the way of the narrative structure. Sin City A Dame to Kill For PosterWe first of all have cocky slicker Johnny, who seems to have a lot of luck when it comes to winning in poker games. Arriving in the godforsaken town of the title, he takes on the corrupt Senator Roark in a game that he repeatedly wins. Roark doesn’t take to kindly to this showing of power from the young gambler and has his men violently sort him out. This in turn sets up many more brutal encounters between the two men in a battle of supremacy. The second story and prequel to the first movie, concerns Dwight McCarthy when he was a private detective, intent on not letting violent urges and temptation get in his way. Dwight finds himself caught in a seductive web, spun by the femme fatale Ava Lord. No matter how hard he tries to resist her, he can’t break the spell of the poisonous temptress. Ava and DwightShe brings him into a plot to kill her husband, by playing the part of the abused wife who needs protecting. Sure enough, the bewitched Dwight agrees and murders her unwitting husband. With her husband dispatched of, the cunning Ava leaves Dwight for dead. Good for Dwight is the fact that he has the brute Marv to help him and take him to the girls of Old Town, lead once again by the kick ass dominatrix Gail. The hookers shelter him and help him through reconstructive surgery alter his appearance, ready for revenge upon the eponymous dame for her betrayal. The last tale focuses on Nancy Callahan, who mourns the death of her protector Hartigan. Knowing that the reason he killed himself was because of the evil Roark, the exotic dancer slips into drunken madness and uncontrollable rage; plagued by hallucinations of Hartigan that warn her not to avenge him. Swearing revenge on the all-powerful Senator, she teams with a willing Marv in her attempt to kill the corrupt leader once and for all.

Visual style is very much on display throughout A Dame to Kill For, it’s just at times it doesn’t feel as fresh as it did in the first film. We do get some nifty visuals mind you( the sinister crimson of Ava’s lips and shining emerald eyes are a particular highlight) and the use of silhouettes is stunning to accentuate the smoky atmosphere of the town. There’s just a feeling of ‘been there done that’ about it that hangs over this movie. Johnny A Dame to Kill ForFrank Miller and Robert Rodriguez both bring style and action to the fray, but the structure isn’t as up to scratch as it once was and the movie suffers as a result. For example, certain parts of the stories are expanded upon enough and other times too much time is spent on one tale. Yet when the action does hit its height, it does deliver in blood-soaked fashion that is still quite electrifying. Once again, a sexy soundtrack that hark back to the shadows of Noir creates a good amount of intensity that provides interest.

Mickey Rourke once again delivers the goods as the brutish Marv, who is more than willing to help out a friend with business, especially if it involves blood, murder and violence. Rourke does get to show a tender side again, this time acting as the helper to the vengeful Nancy in her time of need. Nancy and MarvJessica Alba, though often the subject of debate as to her acting credentials, confounds expectations and brings sadness and aggression to the role of Nancy. Rather than just the sexy dancer from the first film, we get to see her as a broken down girl, shorn of hope but thirsty for revenge. Josh Brolin, portraying the character of Dwight before the reconstruction sported in the first movie, gives his part weariness as he navigates his way through violence, yet finds himself ensnared by the manipulative Ava. Eva Green is the definite showstopper in this movie, seductive and sinuous as she traps men with her beauty and brings pain to them. Ava LordSlinky and cunning, she is a poisonous viper who is adept at making people do her dirty work and then leaving them with the consequences. To say that Eva Green was smouldering and sexy in this movie would be a criminal understatement. Joseph Gordon-Levitt contributes youthful charm and cocky self-assurance as upstart Johnny, who tangles with the wrong man in the form of Senator Roark and pays the price. Power Boothe returning again brings malevolent sneakiness to Roark and exposes his ruthless, power-mad nature that knows no bounds once infuriated by others. Rosario Dawson, although unfortunately used in a reduced capacity, is still fierce and crafty as Gail. Dennis Haysbert has the physical stature and deep voice to make Manute a very physical and dangerous adversary, yet Ray Liotta in a role as another corrupt politician is somewhat wasted. The same can be said about Bruce Willis, who appears as Hartigan in Nancy’s hallucinations. He just isn’t given enough to do to make his appearance here memorable. Jamie Chung doesn’t make for a great replacement as assassin Miho; I believe Devon Aoki did a better job and had the stony faced intensity for the part which Chung lacks. Jaime King returns as twin prostitutes Wendy and Goldie, but scarcely makes an impact this time around. Jeremy Piven and Christopher Meloni make impressions as two cops investigating the murder of Ava’s husband; Piven is the one who is wary of the dame, whereas Meloni is the one who falls under the siren’s spell. Christopher Lloyd gives his part as a sinister doctor who helps Johnny after he is brutalised by Roark’s men. Lady Gaga Sin CityJuno Temple is wasted as a young prostitute saved by Dwight, while music fans should look out for a cameo by pop star Lady Gaga as a sympathetic waitress who takes pity on a wounded Johnny.

Sin City: A Dame to Kill For was never going to match the heights of the original movie, but it’s not as bad as people make out. It’s just not as thrilling as it could have been, despite its wealth of potential.

 

Ladies in Skirts and Dresses

16 Monday Mar 2015

Posted by vinnieh in Movie opinions and thoughts

≈ 46 Comments

Tags

Eva Green, Jennifer Lawrence, Ladies in Skirts and Dresses, Mark Wahlberg, Michael Fassbender, Mila Kunis, Monica Bellucci, Natalie Portman

After publishing my Ladies in Suits post earlier today, which was inspired by Zoe’s post of a similar topic, I noticed something in the feedback. Two of my commentators said they preferred women in skirts and dresses. So Eric and Pete, this post’s for you.

Eva GreenHere we have the smoldering Eva Green looking exotic and super gorgeous.

Jennifer Lawrence

Jennifer Lawrence is laid back and effervescent in this skirt combo.

Mila Kunis

Mila Kunis strikes a pose and exudes sultry appeal in this shot.

Monica Bellucci dressI know I featured her in my last post, but Monica Bellucci is just so strikingly beautiful in this photo, I couldn’t leave her off.

Natalie Portman

Natalie Portman brings intense and mature grace to this shot and just owns it all the way.

And with all these beautiful women for the guys, it would be unfair to leave the female fans out. So, and this is for you Abbi and Emma, here are some photos to look at. We have Michael Fassbender and Mark Wahlberg for all you ladies to fawn over. Enjoy my blogging sisters.

Michael Fassbender

Mark Wahlberg

 

Casino Royale

11 Wednesday Mar 2015

Posted by vinnieh in 007 thoughts and reviews, Movie Reviews

≈ 45 Comments

Tags

007, 2000's, Casino Royale, Caterina Murino, Daniel Craig, Eva Green, Giancarlo Giannini, James Bond, Jeffrey Wright, Jesper Christensen, Judi Dench, Mads Mikkelsen, Martin Campbell, Spy

Film Title

Casino Royale

Director

Martin Campbell

Starring

  • Daniel Craig as James Bond
  • Eva Green as Vesper Lynd
  • Mads Mikkelsen as Le Chiffre
  • Judi Dench as M
  • Jeffrey Wright as Felix Leiter
  • Giancarlo Giannini as René Mathis
  • Caterina Murino as Solange
  • Jesper Christensen as Mr White

With Pierce Brosnan retiring from the role of 007 in the disappointing Die Another Day, the Bond producers had to recast the role for Casino Royale, which served as something of a reboot to the series. Daniel Craig was chosen to play the part and he brought to it a gritty and more vulnerable quality for his debut as Bond. Casino Royale presents a return to classic espionage and intrigue, which makes it one of my favourite films in the 007 franchise.

For the first time in the series, Bond is shown before he acquires 00 status. This makes him more of an interesting character who can be hurt and does suffer from certain weaknesses. Casino Royale PosterAfter quickly receiving his 00 status by killing two targets, Bond is assigned his first mission by his boss M. Travelling from the sweltering humidity of Madagascar to Miami, Bond is on the tail of an unseen terrorist organisation. The key to the organisation is one Le Chiffre, a financier who supplies them with what they need. Le Chiffre is merely the middle man, who is just as much under pressure as Bond is to discover the plan. Having thwarted a bomb attack on a Miami airport, Bond begins to unearth the nefarious scheme. The aversion of the attack has caused Le Chiffre to lose a lot of money and his superiors have him marked for death if he can’t recover the money. Le ChiffreDesperate, Le Chiffre sets up a high stakes poker game at Casino Royale in Montenegro. Bond is assigned to watch him and play the game. Aiding him is Vesper Lynd, a British Treasury Agent with a tough exterior, the rogue informer René Mathis and CIA agent Felix Leiter . As the games go on and the limit is raised, loyalties begin to shift and the concept of trust begins to wither. Despite trying to keep a professional distance, Bond falls deeply in love with the beautiful Vesper, but with his dangerous job and distrust all around him, Bond learns that in this world no one can be trusted, not even those who you are closest to.

Casino Royale immediately grabs you with the classic feel to it, as the atmosphere of exotic mystery and deception take a hold of the characters. Having helped usher in Pierce Brosnan as Bond in GoldenEye, Martin Campbell successfully completes this with his stunning direction that breathes new life into the franchise and establishes Daniel Craig as a more brutal but damaged Bond.Bond Casino Royale It is refreshing to see Bond as not invincible and how despite his strength, still has issues with trust and pain. There is a definite emotional undercurrent to Casino Royale, which is highlighted by the love between Bond and Vesper. We can see that Bond genuinely cares for this woman and would do anything for her, but how this is the relationship that breaks Bond and changes him into the character we know today. Suspense is kept in tact, especially during the poker sequences in which Bond and Le Chiffre lock horns and try to call each others bluff. While there is very much a dramatic and sensitive undercurrent to this Bond film, Casino Royale doesn’t shortchange the audience on action. From Bond chasing a skilled free runner enemy to a brutal staircase battle, Casino Royale delivers a harsher and bleaker sense of violence that had been missing from some of the predecessors and not seen since Timothy Dalton’s dark turn in Licence to Kill. David Arnold delivers some of his best work with a doom-laden, thrilling yet also tenderly romantic score that epitomizes the film down to the ground. Chris Cornell’s song “You Know My Name” is a successful revamping of a Bond title song, with rocking guitars and slashing strings adding both a classy and hard-edged sound.

Stepping into the shoes of Bond and putting his own stamp on the character, Daniel Craig certainly delivers. He brings a brooding, taciturn side to the character as well as a sense of deep vulnerability and wounded ego. Whatever questions people had about Craig in the role before, he proved them all wrong with his stellar performance. The gorgeous Eva Green makes a deep impression as Vesper Lynd, one of the best Bond girls in my opinion. Vesper LyndGreen gives passion, sadness and mystery to this ever-changing changing character and invests her with outer strength and inner pain. She truly stands out as an intelligent match for Bond and one of the only women to really get close to the more vulnerable side of Bond. Mads Mikkelsen gives slimy, cornered fear and withering menace to the character of Le Chiffre. Unusually for a villain, there are times when we feel for him as he is stuck in the middle of a dangerous situation and trying to break out. Judi Dench once again gives authoritative command and hardened strength to the role of M, who is often exasperated by Bond’s unorthodox methods but can’t hide the fact she trusts him with what he is doing. Jeffrey Wright makes for an opportunistic and charming new Felix Leiter, while Giancarlo Giannini is superb as the informer with shifting loyalties. Caterina Murino is suitably sexy but doomed as one of the ladies who gives Bond information but pays the price with her life. Jesper Christensen brings a creeping sense of danger as a man in the shadows on Le Chiffre’s track.

Intriguing and emotionally gripping, Casino Royale brings the Bond series back to life with a defiant and effective kick that restores the gold-plated status of the series.

Casino Royale Blue Trunks

And as I’m feeling generous today and I know that many ladies follow my blog, here’s a picture of Daniel Craig in those famous trunks. Please don’t fight over Daniel ladies as he is needed for the new movie in one piece.

Cracks

09 Wednesday Jul 2014

Posted by vinnieh in Movie Reviews

≈ 11 Comments

Tags

2000's, Cracks, Drama, Eva Green, Imogen Poots, Jordan Scott, Juno Temple, María Valverde

Film Title

Cracks

Director

Jordan Scott

Starring

  • Eva Green as Miss G
  • Juno Temple as Di Radfield
  • María Valverde as Fiamma
  • Imogen Poots as Poppy

A chilling and sensual drama about restrictions, lies and bullying, Cracks is an assured and atmospheric debut by Jordan Scott, daughter of Ridley.

Cracks movie posterIn a 1930’s English boarding school for girls, Di Radfield holds the position of queen bee over a group of others. Di is the clear favourite of Miss G, an unorthodox and carefree gym teacher who enchants the girls with tales of foreign travels and romantic trysts. Miss G is the polar opposite of the stuffy teachers that populate the school with various restrictions on behaviour. She believes that the “most important thing in life is desire” and this inspirational outlook on the future makes an indelible mark on the impressionable young girls who follow her every word with the utmost loyalty. The stability of Di’s little group of girls soon changes because of the arrival of Fiamma, a mysterious Spanish aristocrat. The beautiful Fiamma seems to interest Miss G in a strange way, and the attention that she gets is soon leaving Di emotionally bruised and neglected because her status as leader is under threat. As events unfold, Di slowly comes to see that Miss G may not be the inspirational role model she envisaged her to be. What follows is a haunting and mesmerizing account of jealousy, lies and betrayal.

Jordan Scott captures the emotional fallout of events and misunderstanding with an artistic eye that bathes the school in austere shades of grey and blue. Like her father before her, she has a knack for capturing stunning images. From the moonlit swimming of the girls in nymph like fashion to the confined bedrooms of the girls filled with trinkets, Cracks is a visually memorable movie to the say the very least. The screenplay ambiguously delves into the themes of attraction and misrecognition as the girls of the story come to see that Miss G is not all she’s cracked up to be. Repressed sexuality is prominent in many moments of the film and adds an interesting layer to the story. The music makes for a haunting and evocative rumination on the deep and complicated themes mentioned earlier with trickling piano and mournful strings further representing the gloomy surroundings and psychological depths. Costume design is gorgeous, capturing both the restrictive nature of the uniforms the girls have but also the flowery and expressive colours of freedom when they are not in lessons. Miss G especially has an interesting wardrobe which compliments her unorthodox approach to teaching through the wearing of trousers, Berets and headscarves.

Cracks gains its mesmerizing and chilling quality through the superb performances. Eva Green CracksIn the lead role of Miss G, Eva Green is startling and quietly powerful. With just the flicker of her eyes or the curl of her lip, she displays the complexities of this woman. At first she appears to be just a very inspirational and nonconformist teacher, but as layers are pulled back and her unshakeable facade crumbles, we see a sadness and darkness within her that will lead to devastating consequences. Juno Temple delivers excellent work as the jealous and thorny Di, whose obsession with Miss G begins to cloud her judgment. María Valverde adds melancholy longing to her character of Fiamma, who feels alone in this environment and is troubled by Miss G’s interest in her. Imogen Poots is impressive in the supporting role of Poppy, Di’s second in command who follows her every word without question.

Haunting, sensual and melancholy, Cracks is filmmaking that will certainly give you food for thought.

 

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