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About Me Not Said
Genres I like Romance, Comedy, Sci-Fi, Action, Horror, Foreign Language, Irish, Arthouse, Documentaries, All Movies
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Reviewed by andrewire
In Take Shelter, Curtis [played by the unforgettable Michael Shannon] is struggling with recurring apocalyptic visions that act as some sort of premonition. He’s a hard-working man, married to Samantha [Jessica Chastain] and parent to Hannah [Tova Steward], who is deaf. One day he starts having vivid visions of an upcoming storm with unusual phenomena occurring simultaneously. Birds start flying erratically while tornados appear out of nowhere; a yellowish, oily rain falls down while he’s outside, wondering what is really going on. Is he losing his mind or experiencing something paranormal? Is his family safe? These questions start puzzling him and the journey will be devastating. Directed with superior skill by Jeff Nichols, who also worked with Shannon in the 2007 drama Shotgun Stories, Take Shelter is Nichols’ second film, who also wrote the screenplay. The movie shows the evolution of Shannon’s character, Curtis, from being a prosperous construction worker to a person drowned in his own fears. His life is fairly normal: Chastain’s Samantha is a loving wife, who takes care of their introverted daughter. They live in a small community, have friends and are well-respected. But Curtis’ encounter with his own worries will threat the sanity of everyone involved, and it will be a testament that nothing in life is safe. The film’s title comes from an underground shelter beside the family home, a place that has been forgotten by all, but rediscovered by Curtis’ obsession with his family’s protection from the forthcoming storm. A rather claustrophobic movie, Take Shelter is not just another drama: it also works as a horror, whose dangers stem from the mind, not the usual tricks that so often are used by most movies of the same genre. It is the realisation that something might be about to happen that creates a sense of danger; an imminent transformation as if the character were standing on the verge of a cliff. Michael Shannon’s ability to portray the apprehensive nature of Curtis, combined with Jessica Chastain’s powerful study of her frail yet determined character make Take Shelter a feast of splendid, awards-worthy acting. There is so much skill in this movie that other aspects of the film like the score pass inadvertently. There is no doubt Take Shelter will cement Nichols ‘auteur’ status after showing such a complicated yet authoritative command of the cinematic language. The film’s last scene should definitely stand out as one of the year’s best and most revealing, complex and beautiful endings. This movie, along with We Need To Talk About Kevin, Win Win and 50/50 show that 2011 has been a great year for independent films. Hopefully, they will get some attention when the award season kicks off.
A riveting, Oscar-worthy documentary about the financial crisis of 2008. This is the sort of film that when seen by a future generation, still manages to strike viewers for its truthful portrayal of greed, corruption and the devastating consequences of power. Think of The War Game [1965] or Hearts and Minds [1974]. Inside Job explains, albeit in a rushed fashion, the conditions that led to the economic collapse of so many businesses, countries, financial institutions and ultimately, the destruction of millions of lives, most who were victims of the cheap credit scam. It should ring bells among Irish people who are --rather disgracefully-- paying for the losses of private investors. I sat there for nearly two hours, looking horrified while listening to the self-defence arguments of those who gambled with everybody else's monies. I think Inside Job should be a compulsory watch for any citizen of every country in the world.
A triumph! Even though there's nothing new in The Fighter, it feels like such an honest movie with tremendous performances everywhere. Christian Bale does a fantastic job as Dick; you can feel his struggle with life in every scene and even when the character comes across as a bit of an idiot, Bale delivers a terrific performance. Melissa Leo and Amy Adams are both memorable in their roles; it would be very hard to pick one between the two so I guess Oscar voters have a really hard job in their hands. I say Leo will get the Oscar for Supporting Actress, although Adams would make a very deserving winner too. Bale already has the Oscar in his bag. As for Mark Walhberg, he's good as the lead man, but his character is somewhat shy, which contrasts with Leo's wild, overbearing mother; Adams' smart, determined girlfriend and Bale's scene-stealer drug addict. Overall, the movie is enjoyable, fast-paced and rewarding, with a terrific production design. I would definitely recommend this movie to anyone so if you're around your local cinema, go see it!
One word: performances. This film is all about its two leads --Michelle Williams and Ryan Gosling-- who transformed themselves into a believable couple facing a crisis. I'm amazed Michelle Willians got an Oscar nomination for this but not Ryan Gosling, who nurtures her performance. They play Dean and Cindy, and we are told how everything began while the present is unfolding. You can feel the joy during the early days of relationship but suddenly it becomes pain, sorrow and frustration. Most of the sotry is told using close-ups of both actors' facial expressions, which gives the film a very intimate feel. I was unsure about the ending, although I would recommend it overall. There's a particularly memorable scene --features in the trailer-- in which Dean sings a song in 'goofy' mode while Cindy tap-dances. It feels truly genuine and heartbreaking, something you don't get every day when you watch a movie. Gosling definitely deserved an Oscar nom for his performance. Anyway, I think 'Blue Valentine' makes a good DVD purchase/rental, although beware of its pervasive grimness. It's not for everybody.
An exciting, unpredictable and utterly original film about madness. Black Swan works as a horror movie, as a drama and as a psychological thriller around the experiences of a young ballerina and her obsession with perfection. Natalie Portman gives an exhilarating performance which came as a surprise since I have always thought she wasn't a good actress (see Star Wars, Brothers, The Other Boleyn Girl). The role here suits her perfectly: an innocent girl looking for recognition who transforms herself into something diabolical that leads to her ultimate destruction. Darren Aronofsky is definitely a genius and I am sure he will be the Martin Scorsese of his generation; his ability to surprise the audience is incredible. He even uses the most stereotypical things about ballet (smoking dancers, flamboyant company director with a foreign accent, insane rivalry among dancers, etc.) but transcends them all with a sharp focus on storyline. Black Swan is also a massive technical achievement, from the top-notch cinematography to the exquisite production design, not to mention a terrific score by Clint Mansell. This is one of the best films in recent years. Go see it!
After reading some reviews here, I have to say I agree with those who mentioned this movie tried to be many things but didn't achieve much in the process. Certainly Anne Hathaway and Jake Gyllenhaal are a pleasure to watch, but the plot lacked a clear direction. The whole health care theme wasn't properly addressed, feeling a bit insincere or a like a mere plot device. The characters never talked about the main issue they were trying to explore --Maggie's health-- and this lack of understanding didn't help the pace of the movie: at times it felt like a mess. To be honest, the plot was quite formulaic. Get rid of Maggie's decease and make her a 'career woman' or workaholic and nothing really changes. The overall result would have been the same: a chick-flick. Anyway, some people will definitely appreciate the nakedness around, which seems like a consolation after such an empty drive.
An excellent film about overcoming obstacles. Now, all that Oscar buzz is well-deserved since The King's Speech boosts an amazing cast lead by Colin Firth, who plays Price Albert and subsequently King George VI; Geoffrey Rush, who should win the Oscar for Best Actor in a Supporting Role if the Academy has any credibility left; and Helena Bonham-Carter, in a performance that comes as a relief: no over-the-top Queen here, just a normal, sometimes sassy, sometimes funny wife of the soon-to-be King. The story is surprisignly funny, mostly due to Mr Rush's light-hearted turn, but there's also a sense of joy --or grandeur-- in every scene. It might be because the film is about the making of a King, although I think it's just a natural consequence of having a good cast, which seems to enjoy being there playing these characters. Sometimes it felt too perfect and a bit manipulative to desperately become a crowd-pleaser, hence the four stars. Although I wouldn't mind this film winning a bunch of Oscars given the quality of its production: from the detailed direction to the whimsical score, from the costumes and sets which perfectly recreate an era to the witty dialogue. The King's Speech is definitely a winner.
Dire, dire, dire. What a disappointment! The critics were right; Tron: Legacy is just an example of how irrelevant a movie can be when the visual style is more important than the actual story. Worse, the acting was hammy and uninspiring. Jeff Bridges reprises his role as Kevin Flynn in a very forgettable way. He also lends his voice to Clu, a younger version of himself in 'the grid'. Bridges, unable to change the pitch of his voice, sounds like an elderly person stuck in a different body. Garrett Hedlund plays his son Sam, in a turn that can be compared to the equally atrocious Hayden Christensen in Star Wars, episodes II and III as Anakin Skywalker. Both performances were off the mark, wooden and quite distracting. The only decent one from the cast is Olivia Wilde who brings some life to the screen with her naive Quorra (a bit of a cliché). Anyway, the story is so ludicrous that any attempt at a synopsis would be a waste of time. I don't think Tron: Legacy is worth the extra money to watch in 3D. After all, a part of it was shot in 2D, which stayed in the final cut. Don't even bother because the 3D visuals aren't that great. It looks perfectly fine on a 2D projection and you will save some money. Better, wait for the DVD. Or watch it on RTÉ some obscure Sunday next year.
An unexpectedly enjoyable film that reminded me of Speed but this time, it's about a train, which almost felt like a character itself. If you have seen other Tony Scott movies, you already know his straightforward style of film-making: no unnecessary subplots and fast moving frames. As usual, Denzel Washington is the lead character, although 'Unstoppable' feels like an ensemble piece, i.e. all the actors are supporting characters. Chris Pine is charming; prepare to see him a lot in the coming years. His acting feels quite natural with thanks to his remarkable on-screen persona. Goign back to the film itself, I had very low expectations. I was surprised by the end result, mostly because the story developed quite well and under 2 hours, it's a decent cinematic experience. If you're looking for a fun, entertaining movie to watch with a bit of action, 'Unstoppable' is definitely the best choice out there. Some clichés here and there, but worth a look nonetheless.
Quite a boring movie about an uninteresting character and his utterly nice daughter. Part of the problem with 'Somewhere' is that we are told about the emptiness felt by the leading character in every scene but the movie falls short when it comes to going beyond the repetitiveness of Johny's life. We know there's conflict but we are given no resolution. The ambiguous ending is also a disappointment since you're expecting the characters to learn a bit about themselves and they don't. On the bright side, Sofia Coppola was able to give the story a beautiful setting: the cinematography and camera work are top-notch. Same goes for the soundtrack. 'Somewhere' feels like a sequel to 'Lost in Translation' but without the intensity felt in the development of the plot. Bill Murray and Scarlett Johansson had such a vivid relationship that helped the story flow in a highly involving way. Here, the movie suffers from the monotony in cues and actions: one of those 'nothing is going on, everything is happening' type of movies although with a weak script. I'm sure it will still manage to get a ton of nominations for awards. One memorable performance by Elle Fanning, Dakota's sister, who is absolutely adorable, is probably the main reason to see 'Somewhere'.
Another Year is a rare beauty. Not many film-goers will get it so be wary of this movie if you don't like long conversations on screen. It's like a Robert Altman film: apparently nothing is happening but everything is unravelling with every move. I felt so touched by the wonderful Lesley Manville, whose performance should easily win her the Oscar for best supporting actress. Her character evolved from a secondary plot to the centre of the film; she's the heart and soul of Another Year. I felt devastated by the ending and even though I didn't cry, it left me in such a sad mood. It's a wonderful cinematic experience, a character study and a great drama. The cast is fantastic, but as I said, Manville is the real winner here. Definitely a must-see. This is one of Mike Leigh's best films. Ever.
Mildly entertaining action movie with remarkable 3D effects but with virtually no plot whatsoever. The dialogue was just a bunch of repetitive lines like "Here they come" and "Watch out!" which made the film rather tiresome. Milla Jovovich's acting is quite bad, especially during a video blog scene where she speaks to the camera; you could tell she's not even trying. The evil guy was a complete caricature, same for his performance. I think it's time for this franchise to go away or bring someone with ideas so audiences can be more interested in the plot and not the visual effects. By the end, the whole point of escaping the zombies is useless. Wait for the DVD. The only reason you would like to watch this film at the cinema are the 3D effects. Don't bother.
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