A Great Year for Brad Pitt
Posted on | January 25, 2012 | Add Comments
This truly has been a great year for Brad Pitt in the world of film. He started the year off starring in and producing The Tree of Life, a truly cinematic film about the meaning of life, then in May he starred in and produced Moneyball, a film about Billy Beane who changed the way baseball players are traded and finally in November he voiced Will the Krill in Happy Feet Two (which I didn’t see). Now the awards season is in full swing (the Academy Award nominations were announced yesterday) and Pitt has garnered a nod for Best Actor. In this article I’ll review Pitt’s performances and discuss whether or not the Oscars were spot on. Read on.
Lets start with The Tree of Life. This is certainly Pitt’s best performance of the year. Pitt masterfully embodies Mr O’Brien a strict father of three kids married to a woman played by Jessica Chastain. However, what’s really amazing about Pitt’s performance in Tree of Life is the fierceness that Pitt resembles. The character of Mr. O’Bren is very interesting, especially his relationship with one of his sons Jack. Pitt also produced this film, but I think he made this decision for a couple million more bucks. Either way I’m glad Pitt decided to star in such a diverse film.
Bennet Miller’s film is also very interesting, but also very different from Tree of Life. Before I go any farther, I just want to say that I am not a baseball fan or even a sports fan, but for some reason Moneyball just did it for me. I was hooked and I sat very still in my seat. Pitt’s performance overall is very good and deserves much attention. Not only is Pitt good in this film, but the character of Billy Beane is complexly captivating onto its self. Beane wants to be independent, diverse, unlike the others.
Alright you’ve heard what I think of Pitt’s performances from last year, but did the Academy get it right? And the answer is… No! Pitt was great in both Tree of Life and Moneyball but if I had to pick one performance it would have to be Tree of Life. Although Pitt’s role was more secondary than front and center, ultimately this doesn’t matter. As long as the performance is good I’m hooked. Fortunately, I wouldn’t trade Pitt to another team if I was directing.
The Tree of Life (Flick’s Review)
Posted on | January 22, 2012 | 1 Comment
41/2 stars
A religious family of five must deal with the pains of life after they lose one of their sons. One of the boys, Jack grows up to become a highly successful architect. But Jack is not happy with his life, and feels as if he is trapped in his work. Jack wonders if he has made the right decisions in his life… and what god thinks of him.
Terrence Malick’s idea, that life has a meaning is abstractly shown in his delightfully artistic film, The Tree of Life. I think Malick believes in a god. Malick just wants to show people, to tell the world what he believes in. The culmintion that Malick’s vision results in is something of beauty. The scenes in which Malick films the creation of the universe use special effects in a very real way. The effects are used to create malick, I mean magic. It is evident that the effects would have to be used in a way that seems real, after all the creation of the universe is anything but fake.
Brad Pitt’s performance rivals his in Moneyball and in the end is better. The relationship that Pitt’s character, Mr. O’Brien has with his son, the character Hunter McCracken has is the key to the film. To understand the film you must understand their relationship. The complexity of their friendship is deeply moving and emotional. Not often are two characters portrayed on screen with such strong performances upholding such strong characters. Pitt and McCracken are not the only actors with performances that are unbelievably good. The two other young boys, Larmie Epler and Tye Sheirdan also give unforgettable performances. The art of Sean Penn’s performance is created by facial expressions; Penn uses little to no dialogue to play the adult Jack. Then there’s Jessica Chastain who starred in over five films last year, ranging from The Debt to Coriolanus to The Help to Take Shelter and more. Chastain’s character, Mrs. O’Brien is deeply admired by all of the other characters in the film. It seems to me as if Malick wants Mrs. O’Brien to resemble an angel.
My favorite character is Jack because of the way he deals with situations. Once Jack grows up he starts to wonder if he has lived life to the fullest.
My favorite scene is when Mr. O’Brien teaches his three sons to fight because it shows the different sides to the O’Brien family.
The Tree of Life is rated PG-13 for thematic material. The film deals with some very intense situations making it not very family friendly.
The Tree of Life is an indelible experience. It balances so many different ideas on so many different levels resulting in bold cinematic storytelling.
84th Annual Oscar Predictions 2012 (Flick’s Podcast)
Posted on | January 16, 2012 | 2 Comments
This is Flick talking about the 84th Annual Oscar Predictions 2012. Flick discusses his predictions in all the major categories for this year’s awards. Click here to listen. (34 minutes 54 seconds).
Please note, podcast may take a few minutes to download.
The Help (Flick’s Review)
Posted on | January 3, 2012 | 2 Comments
4 1/2 Stars
In Jackson, Miss. a young female journalist, Skeeter, gets a newspaper job, where she writes about cleaning. While interviewing maids about cleaning, she discovers that she wants to write more about how black people are treated. Skeeter wants to write a book from the point of view of maids in the early 1960′s, but none of her friends believe that there should be any change in the way that black people are treated. After two maids who work for some of her friends agree to let Skeeter interview them, Skeeter begins her fight for freedom; to persuade the town that black people should be treated equally.
The components of The Help equal a witty and fascinating drama with a hint of humor. I haven’t read the book, but I still found the movie interesting, and I think the film is understandable without reading the book. The movie mentions some historical events but focuses mainly on the story of the three women and their experiences. If you haven’t learned about the Civil Rights (like me) the film will become hard to understand and it may become uninteresting if you do not learn at least a little bit about the Civil Rights before viewing the film. As I said before the film is funny and sad. The difficult task of balancing drama and comedy is pulled off by writer/director Tate Taylor. I thought the soundtrack was good because there were many songs with black people singing that you would you have heard in Jackson in the 1960′s.
Wow. There have been a lot of great ensemble performances this year, ranging from Moneyball (which I didn’t review but certainly saw and certainly liked) to War Horse, and now The Help which features my favorite ensemble performance of the year. Viola Davis, Emma Stone and Octavia Spencer play the lead roles. As I will mention later Viola Davis is my favorite actor in this film not only because I think her character is great but also because Davis herself does a great job doing a voice over throughout the film that makes the film very comprehensible.
My favorite character is Aibileen Clark, because she was smart and I like that she stood up for herself. I thought all of the lead performances were very good, especially Viola Davis who plays Aibileen.
My favorite scene is when one of the maids gives a pie to her former employer, because it’s funny and the employer gets what she deserves.
The film is rated PG-13, and I agree. There is some swearing and the film is complex if you don’t know about the civil rights.
A definite contender for the Oscars. Viola Davis gives my favorite female performance of the year and Emma Stone and Octavia Spencer are follow ups. This is a must see, must have and must watch again and again.
The Adventures of Tintin (Flick’s Review)
Posted on | December 30, 2011 | Add Comments
3 1/2 stars
After buying a model ship labeled Unicorn at a street market, Tintin, an intrepid reporter and his faithful dog Snowy, are intrigued by a series of clues that include a man being murdered by a passing car, a mysterious drunk sea captain descending from a long line of Haddocks and their grudge against the Rackhams. Tintin and Snowy set off with Captain Haddock who they find, drunk on the boat, Karaboudjan. The Karaboudjan’s crew includes Sakharine, who is trying to solve the mystery and get Red Rackham’s treasure before Tintin, Captain Haddock and Snowy do. The rest of the crew includes gunslinging seamen who want money. Tintin, Captain Haddock and Snowy must race Sakharine and his crew so that they can get the treasure and solve the mystery first.
A French comic book in 3-D? It doesn’t sound like your average blockbuster, but then add names to it like Steven Spielberg and Peter Jackson and you’ve got a deal. The humor is the biggest problem that I have with the film. None of the Captain Haddock jokes are funny and most of the other jokes are ridiculous. The beginning and all the other scenes when Snowy and Tintin are alone start to drag, simply because Tintin is telling and Spielberg isn’t showing. For your information I would rather be shown than told. In the books Tintin, at many times tells us how he solved the mystery instead of Herge (the author and illustrator of the books) showing us with his drawings. I think that Herge had no choice than to tell us rather than show us because of the complexity of the mystery. In the film the mystery s toned down. In a movie adaptation, I would think the storytelling would be more visual, which it is at times, except when Snowy and Tintin are alone. I also think Snowy was a complete distraction from the plot. Instead of commenting on key moments in the films, Snowy makes strange sounds. This mainly happens when Snowy and Tintin are alone. This however stops midway through the film. The film isn’t dreadful however; the effects are marvelous and the 3-D makes the film the best film with an added third dimension. The acting is a marvelous. Jamie Bell acts as Tintin as if he’s an english gentleman, Andy Serkis turns Captain Haddock into a drunken wreck and Simon Pegg and Nick Frost give comic relief to Thompson and Thomson. The story is surprisingly good for an action film for kids. It’s just that next time I hope Snowy and Tintin aren’t alone.
My favorite character is Tintin because of his bravery, loyalty, wits, and friendship. I also think that Jamie Bell did a good job acting as Tintin.
My favorite scene is when the plane flies by Tintin, Captain Haddock and Snowy because of the use of 3-D and the way the action plays out.
The Adventures of Tintin is rated PG for adventure action violence, some drunkenness and brief smoking.
It’ll work for younger kids and hardcore Tintin fans, but it won’t work from someone who wants an all around good film. The Adventures of Tintin is out now in 2-D and 3-D in wide release.
War Horse (Flick’s Review)
Posted on | December 26, 2011 | 2 Comments
5 out of 5 stars
Albert, a farm boy lives with his no nonsense mother and drunken father. When his father buys a horse for thirty shillings the family’s farm is at stake. The family really needs a farm horse to plow their fields. Joey, the horse is not trained to plow and it will take time for him to learn. Just after Albert and Joey start bonding and Joey is trained World War I starts. Joey is sold off by Albert’s father. Joey becomes a captain’s horse. After the captain dies Joey is taken by two horse loving brothers. Joey is passed down from owner to owner mainly because his owners are killed.
The story of War Horse is excellent. I have now read or watched the plot unfold three times. I have read the 1982 novel, seen the Broadway play and as of today I saw Steven Spielberg’s film. I’m not quite sure which interpretation is my favorite because they are all so good. Each version tells the story in an entirely different way. The book as all books do lets you imagine the story. The play tells you the story in a very limited amount of space. The film tells the story with effective effects in a very unlimited amount of space. The horse is real and I think Spielberg’s decision of using a real horse is a much better choice than using a CG horse. I can imagine in this world full of computerized characters many directors would have gone with the wind. Wait no not the wind, the CG. If the horses were CG the war scenes would look fake and the idea of aliens attacking would reach your brain pretty soon. In the film the war scenes are very real. In one scene Albert is in a trench with other solders. Bombs are going off all around them. When the solders charge the result is grueling. Although the scene is not extremely bloody or gory it is very intense. The manner in which Spielberg articulates this scene is astounding. The replacement of blood is taken by intensity. Jansuz Kaminski’s cinematography is astounding.
Every actor in the film is great. Yes I mean every one of them. Yes I mean Jeremy Irvine, Emily Watson, David Thewlis, Peter Mullan, Tom Hiddelston, Niels Arestup, Bennedict Cumberlatch, Celine Buckens and many, many more. I have not heard a John Williams score that I have disliked yet and this definitely keeps the record going. Williams is known for using brass as the lead instrument. In War Horse he uses flutes and strings as the lead in songs such as Dartmoor 1912 and Seeding, and Horse vs. Car. He also uses the piano as a lead instrument which is rare. Alright those are the reasons I give War Horse five stars. Add them together and a masterpiece is born. And now draw swords and charge to the Oscars.
My favorite character is a tie between Albert and Joey because their friendship is unbreakable. They’re like Han Solo and Chewbacca. They go together. To say which one I like better is impossible.
My favorite scene is when Albert is in the trench with Gunther, David and the other British troops because the cinematography is brilliant and the actors act as if they really are battling in World War I. The bombs that explode all around them are very real.
War Horse is rated PG-13 for intense sequences of war violence. I agree with the rating.
The Holidays of Spielberg
Posted on | December 24, 2011 | Add Comments
Over the years he’s proved his worth and now he’s come back to prove it to us more. Steven Spielberg has currently directed over twenty feature films. He already has two more planned for the next two years (Lincoln, an Abraham Lincoln biopic staring Daniel Day Lewis as the big man himself being released 2012, and Robocalypse, a sci-fi epic based on the novel entitled the same being released 2013). If one word could describe the man it would be unpredictable; he’s directed films ranging from war epics to action manifestos. This month he gives us both.
Let’s start with the action film. Based on on Herge’s French comic book series, The Adventures of Tintin could have been titled Indiana Jones in 3-D, digitally animated and based on a book from another country. Tintin, an intrepid reporter is on the case of a mystery. Red Rackham, a long dead pirate’s ship’s model is found by Tintin in a market. But Tintin is not the only one is interested in the model. The game is afoot. Jamie Bell, Daniel Craig, and Andy Serkis will be playing motion capture characters. In case you haven’t heard of motion capture here is a quick definition: it’s a way of making CG animation look more real. The actors wear suits with little balls that look like golf balls. The animators animate the characters before hand so that they are ready. Special computers read the suits and the characters on the computers move the same way the actors do. When on screen the characters move more realistically. I’ve read a few of the books including the three the film is based on which are The Crab with the Golden Claws, The Secret of the Unicorn and Red Rackhams Treasure. Although Spielberg has never directed a fully CG film it’s no surprise that the animation looks great because Peter Jackson who directed The Lord of the Rings trilogy and King Kong is producing and Andy Serkis, the master of Mocap acting is playing Captain Haddock. Serkis has collaborated with Jackson many times before including on The Lord of the Rings trilogy and King Kong. And then there’s the 3-D. I will definitely be seeing the film in this format. Before you continue reading watch the official Tintin trailer.
Originally I was going to break down the two trailers but that would take the fun out of having your own opinion. My breakdown of the trailer could become persuasive and after all this a news article not persuasive text. The action in the trailer is so intense that you literally forget where you are and are instantly sucked into Tinin’s world. John William’s score sounds like Raiders of the Lost Ark’s and I mean this as a good thing. The score is very orchestral and rhythmic. The last fifteen seconds of the trailer are the most jaw dropping because of the quick editing. There is not much shown here but action however I am expecting quirky characters because the book is full of them.
The war epic, War Horse is certainly epic. According to the news Spielberg has chosen to replace gritty war violence with subtle yet disturbing takes on war. I guess you could say it’s not exactly original: based on the book, which became a Broadway play, but that doesn’t mean Spielberg can’t strike gold. In fact I predict it will be nominated for the Oscar nomination of all Oscar nominations: Best Picture. The book is sad, horrifying and brilliant all at the same time. The play also fits those descriptions. However the best part about the play is the way Joey, the war horse is presented: when he is young , he is made out of fabric and other material and when he is older he is made out of the same materials and is large, actors stood inside it at all times. The plot is simple, yet complex. Albert, a farm boy, lives with his to the point mother (in the play) and drunken father. Not long after they get Joey “the horse”, he is sent off to the war, becoming a war horse. Joey goes from owner to owner. By the end he has seen everything. Before you continue reading watch the official War Horse trailer.
The opening shots of the trailer hint at very sad,somber themes. John William’s score is melancholy, yet by listening to samples of other songs from the film on iTunes there are definitely lighter tunes probably played during scenes with Albert riding Joey. The war scenes showed are very realistic yet as I said before there is no gore. Another notable key feature is the cinematography which is aided by the lighting. Take the last shot for example: Joey looks out onto the sunset. The sky is bright orange and the camera is still. The camera doesn’t do much here but the lighting is extraordinary. If you want mouth watering cinematography look at Joey jumping onto a tank and then jumping onto the muddy ground. If the cinematography wasn’t filmed in this way the shot could easily have become a waste of film.
Now that you’ve read the news go see the movies. Tintin was released on the 21st and War Horse is coming out tomorrow. You can also look forward to my reviews of at least one of these films. Happy Holidays!
Hugo (Flick’s Review)
Posted on | November 22, 2011 | 2 Comments
4 stars out of 5 stars
A boy named Hugo Cabret maintains clocks in a train station in Paris. His father is dead and he is all alone. But when he meets a young girl named Isabelle and her godparents, George Méliès and Mama Jeanne, his life is changed forever. Hugo is trying to fix an automaton that his father found in a museum where he worked. Mysteries, prisons, filmmakers, and friends await Hugo.
Hugo is an experience. The acting is superb, the cinematography splendid, the sets lavish and the music graceful. Ben Kingsley’s performance is Oscar worthy. Asa Butterfield and Chloë Grace Moretz’s performances are also great. The only actor in the film that I didn’t like was Sacha Baron Cohen as the station inspector. None of the jokes in the film worked and almost all of them revolved around him. The character of the station inspector is supposed to be a threat to Hugo therefore making him a menacing character so to have him being involved in the most jokes doesn’t help. Other then Kingsley the best part about this film is the combination of the cinematography and the 3-D which is enchanting, especially when the camera zooms through the train station or when you see Hugo in the clocks.
I have read the original book The Invention of Hugo Cabret and I think the film is not as dark as the book, which is suprising, because the film is directed by Martin Scorsesse who is known for such critically acclaimed films as Taxi Driver and Raging Bull. Yes, I know that Scorsesse wants kids to see this film, but would it hurt to make the film as dark as the book? Despite my opinion there is one scene where Hugo comes out of a dream only to find himself in yet another dream where he finds himself turning into a machine that is even more disturbing than the first.
This is probably one of my top five favorite films of the year. This is my first Scorsese film (I don’t think I’ll be seeing another one anytime soon). I found it interesting that Scorsese chose to show clips from old and silent films. I hope the masses of people that see this film will be intrigued to these silent films. This is not a perfect film, but it’s pretty close.
My favorite character is Hugo because I think it is interesting that at the beginning of the film he is a thief and is all alone but at the end of the film, he has made several friends and has learned many lessons.
My favorite scene is when George Méliès tells the story of his life because it demonstrates the power of Kingsley’s performance and also taught me more about Méliès’ films.
Hugo is rated PG and I agree.
Directed by: Martin Scorsese
Produced by: Johnny Depp, Tim Headington and Graham King
Written by: John Logan
Cast:
Ben Kingsley: Georges Méliès
Sacha Baron Cohen: Station inspector
Asa Butterfield: Hugo Cabret
Chloë Grace Moretz: Isabelle
Ray Winstone: Uncle Claude
Emily Mortimer: Lisette
Christopher Lee: Monsieur Labisse
Helen McCrory: Mama Jeanne
Frankenstein (Flick’s Review)
Posted on | November 15, 2011 | 2 Comments
5 Stars
A young scientist, Henry Frankenstein, tries to bring a dead man back to life by putting a brain into his head. By mistake Frankenstein’s servant gets an abnormal brain. Frankenstein’s creation is a large monster who doesn’t understand the difference between right and wrong. After murdering several people, the monster is wanted by the townspeople. Frankenstein realizes he has created something he cannot control.
James Whale has created a masterpiece. But it is almost unfair to describe the film’s excellence by mentioning only one man. Boris Karloff, Colin Clive, and Mae Clark lead a cast full of expressive actors. I cannot compare Frankenstein to other horror films, because I haven’t seen them. The film is not focused on blood and guts flying everywhere, instead Frankenstein contains a lively tale about love lost, treachery, villainy, misunderstanding, and dead people. You will not forget this film.
My favorite character is Henry Frankenstein, because the way the character has a light and a dar side, I found very interesting.
My favorite scene is when you first see the monster, because the pacing is so well done, that the scene becomes suspenseful and terrifying.
Frankenstein is rated PG and I agree.
Director: James Whale
Produced: Carl Laemmle Jr.
Written by: Garrett Fort and Francis Edward Faragoh
Cast:
Colin Clive: Henry Frankenstein
Mae Clarke: Elizabeth
John Boles: Victor Moritz
Boris Karloff: The Monster
Edward Van Sloan: Dr. Waldman
Frederick Kerr: Baron Frankenstein
Dwight Frye: Fritz
Lionel Belmor: The Burgomaster
Marilyn Harris: Little Maria
Recommendations for Halloween
Posted on | October 25, 2011 | 5 Comments
Every holiday and season we’ll say our movie picks to watch as you celebrate. Whether it’s Super 8 for Summer or It’s A Wonderful Life for Christmas, there’s always something to see. We’ll also give descriptions and say why we like it. Not all of these are our 5 star favorites, so if they’re not we’ll tell you why we think you might like them and why they’re appropriate for the holiday.
It’s almost Halloween!!! The films listed below are either scary, have a scene with Halloween in them, or have a fun yet creepy style that reminds you of the holiday.
Our Picks:
Monster House (2006): This film is produced by Steven Spielberg and Robert Zemeckis and uses motion capture animation. The story doesn’t get interesting until the end, but Steve Buscemi leads a great voice cast. The story is about a couple of kids and the adventure they have, on Halloween night. It’s not a classic (don’t forget Spielberg and Zemeckis only produced it), but it’s enjoyable. Little kids could be scared but there’s nothing too gory. Rated PG
The Nightmare Before Christmas (1993): This lively stop action film has an exhilarating story, fascinating characters and great songs. Although Tim Burton didn’t direct the movie it feels like many of his other films. The movie is interesting because it merges the two worlds of Halloween and Christmas. Rated PG
King Kong (1933): A classic of horror cinema, King Kong is a film you’ll want to watch again and again. The story is intriguing. It is rare to see a movie about movies. The special effects are dated but think, just think, what it would have been like to have seen the film in 1933 and how an uncountable amount of movies have been inspired by the story and effects. The actors aren’t that great and it’s a while before Kong is revealed but once he is the film becomes magical. Classic adventure at it’s best. King Kong (1976) is a horridly unwatchable mix of bad acting, effects, story, length, and direction. King Kong (2005) is three hours but it develops the story in a way the others did not. However there’s a few too many battle scenes not including the awesome climax. Watching the three films together would be an amazing Halloween festival, even if it would take 7 hours. The ’33 version is Not Rated, the ’76 one is PG, and the 2005 remake is PG-13.
Ghostbusters (1984): Ivan Reitman and Bill Murray combine their talents to create this wonderfully hilarious, sci-fi, horror, action, adventure, comedy, romance. Dan Akroyd, Sigourney Weaver, Harold Ramis and Rick Moranis help Murray form a fine ensemble cast. The special effects are fun and while some may think it’s a guilty pleasure, in our thoughts it’s an enjoyable, entertaining movie that will make you laugh. Rated PG
Monsters Inc. (2001): The scene where Sulley, Mike and Boo are being chased by Randal while clinging onto the doors is so utterly engrossing that you feel like you’re clinging on to the doors with them. Pete Docter’s direction is pitch perfect and all of the monsters have different characteristics. Some of the best monsters are the ones that are only on screen for a few seconds. John Goodman, Billy Crystal, and Steve Buscemi lend great voice talent and the music is catchy, especially the theme and the song “If I didn’t have you” This Pixar gem beats Monster House any day. Not really for Halloween, except that there’s monsters, it’s still fun and kid appropriate. Like all Pixar, adults will love it too and although it seems oddly semi-forgotten there’s a prequel called Monsters University (about Mike and Sulley’s hard arguing early days). So hey, it’s time to get watching!!! Rated G
Beetlejuice (1988): Tim Burton has made movies more emotional (Big Fish) and technically more dazzling (Alice In Wonderland). But for pure laugh value this one beats ‘em all!!! Alec Baldwin, Geena Davis, and Micheal Keaton as the title character are all hilarious. Burton handles the comedy, spookiness, and drama excellently. Fun, fun, fun!!!! Rated PG
E.T: The Extra-Terrestrial (1982): This is one of our favorite movies!!! The Spielbergian classic may not remind you of Halloween but the best scenes including the bicycle climax (not the one on the poster) are near, if not on the holiday. They actually go trick or treating in the movie. You may not remember the brilliant (Oscar-worthy) performance from Henry Thomas or just how good the special effects are, so it’s a good idea to revisit this classic. Exiting. Funny. Sad. Brilliant. This film manages to be all of those. Rated PG
These films could pair well together, too. A King Kong festival or Ghostbusters and Beetlejuice comedy/ horror double feature are all great ideas. Corpse Bride, Frankenstein (1931), and Dracula (1931) all look good, but we haven’t seen them yet. It’s the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown is a good half-hour special that is one of our annual traditions. We might see Frankenstein this weekend, so when we do our picks next year maybe it will be one of them.
Agree or disagree, like our picks or don’t? Don’t forget to comment and tell us what you think, ask questions, and tell your suggestions.
We hope you’ve enjoyed our first holiday/season picks!
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