To preface my review I have not read Into the Wild (the book...although it has now shot up my ever growing list of books that I need to read...maybe some time this summer I'll actually get to a few books) nor did I know that it was a true story. I came into this movie with a minimal amount of scattered knowledge.
In Sean Penn's film creation of Into the Wild he uses an amazing amount of pictures, music, locations, and camera shots to help tell a story of one man's journey into the wilderness of Alaska. Again being based off of a book I found that a lot of the dialogue that was selected for narration was necessary and helped advance the story, build the characters, and was very elegant which was very fitting to the rest of the film.
The were enough flashback scenes and time spent in them so we really go to know the character of Chris/Alexander Supertramp as well as come to know and love the people that came into Alex's life who he was able to share life with for brief periods of time. Which include familiar faces like Vince Vaughn and Kristen Stewart (who I recognized but had to google in order to realize she was in Twilight as well). Kristen surprised me with her acting and Vince was not his stereotypical character which was refreshing. But the character that steals your heart is played by Hal Holbrook as Ron. Hal gives a performance that just knocks everything right out of the park.
There were many visual abnormalities in this film versus a "traditional" style. Times when multiple images would be up on the screen at once, times where the picture when into a breif freeze frame, and times where Alexander's letters would be written across the screen but narrated by no one causing the viewer to actually read them and not just have them read to them connected them to the story on a deeper level.
There is a lot of beauty shown in this film (which was shot in many different locations) and for me personally inspired me to take time in my own upcoming journey across the United States and take pictures of the beauty I encounter and really breathe it all in instead of rushing past it. But along with the beauty all around us this film also reminds us of the beauty that is the other people in our lives and those that are encountering beauty with us.
If you're in the mood for a film with tons of dialouge and excitement - this isn't the film for you. However, what I love about this film is that it can tell a wonderful story and uses music and images to tell to story and give a slight feel that you are reading the story for yourself, navigating through it on your own...flipping the pages. I loved the unique style this film had and how the detail of selecting each camera shot is very evident when you watch it.
Even though I haven't read the book, I feel like this would be one film that does its novel counterpart justice...but like I said, I haven't read it but this is definitely a must see and probably a must read as well.
4 stars.
-Dav3
When you forgive...you love. And when you love, God's light shines on you.
-Into the Wild
Thursday, June 25, 2009
Monday, June 22, 2009
Gran Torino
To start this post credit must be given to my sister for sending me a text message after she had seen this movie in theaters which put the movie on my radar...she's never one to let me down.
The movie I am writing about for this post is Gran Torino not to be confused with Tarantino. Gran Torino = car; Tarantino = director. I mistakenly called this movie Gran Tarantino at first but now the difference is clear! Gran Torino stars Clint Eastwood (who also directed the film) and introduces Bee Vang who plays Eastwood's next door neighbor and draws another personal connection as Vang attended high school about 15-20 minutes away from where I grew up!
I guess the first thing that I'll say about this film is that it was very real. I found myself at first feeling a little disconnected from the script and initially thought that it was poorly written...but as I kept watching it, I realized that this film wasn't meant to have epic well crafted monologues in it, or powerful moving sections of dialogue...and if it did I think it would have hurt the film and what Eastwood was trying to do with it.
I think the "realness" of this movie was one of that parts that kept me hooked and wanting to watch more. The Kowalski family was quite dysfunctional and far from perfect as Walt's "family" was always looking out for themselves and what they could gain from Walt and just trying to shove him off into a retirement community so they didn't have to care for him anymore. They just wanted his stuff.
The film was also real in the racial tensions and reactions and it was very interesting to see a film surrounding the Hmong community (especially being from the midwest which does have a very strong Hmong population) and the film provides a starting knowledge of Hmong culture and even defines Hmong as Walt askes the question: So where is Ha-mong anyway?
To me the above example of Walt's ignorance points to our own ignorance of people groups who aren't our own. How we can know nothing of the people who live in our neighborhoods and cities. Walt mispronounces names or gives nicknames that show he isn't really trying to connect with these people, but Walt comes to find how his Hmong neighbors are more of a family to him than his own family.
I also came to appreciate the young priest "fresh out of seminary" to contrast the old curmudgeon of a man who is Walt...and how they both end up learning something about themselves through each other. And I liked that Walt was the main character in this because he was the reluctant hero of the story...he was just a man who wanted to be left alone and he kept fighting it until the persistence of his neighbors allowed Walt to let down his guard but he didn't undergo a miracle transformation. Rather, he finally had someone who he could share himself with and who he was and was invested in him.
The movie has a very powerful ending (including some potential symbolism...but I will leave that alone so that I won't give too much away about the ending) but I will say that there are two conversations that are in Hmong that are not translated by anyone in the film one in the beginning and one in the end. Both of these conversations you can get a feel for what is being said through tone and the camera shots but they are also translated if you activate your caption feature on the DVD which can help give the viewer more clarity to the two situations (the rest of the Hmong speaking in the film is simply captioned as "Hmong").
There was a lot that I really enjoyed about this film and it definitely had a strong message...but also challenged you in many ways. This film for me was very similar to Crash in its message, but also in how tastefully it was done. Hopefully, because it drives home a powerful message in a compelling way it can continue to speak to its audience.
I give it 5 stars.
-Dav3
The movie I am writing about for this post is Gran Torino not to be confused with Tarantino. Gran Torino = car; Tarantino = director. I mistakenly called this movie Gran Tarantino at first but now the difference is clear! Gran Torino stars Clint Eastwood (who also directed the film) and introduces Bee Vang who plays Eastwood's next door neighbor and draws another personal connection as Vang attended high school about 15-20 minutes away from where I grew up!
I guess the first thing that I'll say about this film is that it was very real. I found myself at first feeling a little disconnected from the script and initially thought that it was poorly written...but as I kept watching it, I realized that this film wasn't meant to have epic well crafted monologues in it, or powerful moving sections of dialogue...and if it did I think it would have hurt the film and what Eastwood was trying to do with it.
I think the "realness" of this movie was one of that parts that kept me hooked and wanting to watch more. The Kowalski family was quite dysfunctional and far from perfect as Walt's "family" was always looking out for themselves and what they could gain from Walt and just trying to shove him off into a retirement community so they didn't have to care for him anymore. They just wanted his stuff.
The film was also real in the racial tensions and reactions and it was very interesting to see a film surrounding the Hmong community (especially being from the midwest which does have a very strong Hmong population) and the film provides a starting knowledge of Hmong culture and even defines Hmong as Walt askes the question: So where is Ha-mong anyway?
To me the above example of Walt's ignorance points to our own ignorance of people groups who aren't our own. How we can know nothing of the people who live in our neighborhoods and cities. Walt mispronounces names or gives nicknames that show he isn't really trying to connect with these people, but Walt comes to find how his Hmong neighbors are more of a family to him than his own family.
I also came to appreciate the young priest "fresh out of seminary" to contrast the old curmudgeon of a man who is Walt...and how they both end up learning something about themselves through each other. And I liked that Walt was the main character in this because he was the reluctant hero of the story...he was just a man who wanted to be left alone and he kept fighting it until the persistence of his neighbors allowed Walt to let down his guard but he didn't undergo a miracle transformation. Rather, he finally had someone who he could share himself with and who he was and was invested in him.
The movie has a very powerful ending (including some potential symbolism...but I will leave that alone so that I won't give too much away about the ending) but I will say that there are two conversations that are in Hmong that are not translated by anyone in the film one in the beginning and one in the end. Both of these conversations you can get a feel for what is being said through tone and the camera shots but they are also translated if you activate your caption feature on the DVD which can help give the viewer more clarity to the two situations (the rest of the Hmong speaking in the film is simply captioned as "Hmong").
There was a lot that I really enjoyed about this film and it definitely had a strong message...but also challenged you in many ways. This film for me was very similar to Crash in its message, but also in how tastefully it was done. Hopefully, because it drives home a powerful message in a compelling way it can continue to speak to its audience.
I give it 5 stars.
-Dav3
Sunday, June 14, 2009
The International
The International (just released onto DVD this past Tuesday) stars Clive Owen who plays Interpol agent Louis Salinger.
The International starts off and hooks you right away as there is a dramatic shift within the first five minutes which hooks you and starts the journey of twists and turns that is to follow in the next couple of hours. What I loved about this film is that as the viewer there was a lot of discovery and a lot that is left mysterious about the film. I'm usually one who is trying to figure out where the film is going but The International does a good job at not necessarily following the typical action movie mold.
One of things that actually surprised me about this movie was the cinematography. There were a lot of wider shots and a lot more cinematic camera movements than I was expecting but I think that they added to the film and were not there just because they could put them there. Another visual part of this movie that I really enjoyed were the very bright whites in some of the set locations as well as I enjoyed seeing some of the establishing shots of the various countries that were featured in the film. The whites helped play a part to the industrial feel of the bank as well as some of the other locations and a lot of the shooting locations and sets were perfect for the film and that combined with the score really made for a lot of good things coming together in this movie.
The best way I can think to describe this movie is that some times it is the typical action movie but in a lot of ways it isn't. There isn't a big flashy sports car, there is no sex scene where the agent sleeps with the female side-kick in the movie, and there isn't really any big evil villain. Instead the action movie feels almost real in a way, because it has a very human element: the main female character in this film Eleanor Whitman (Naomi Watts) was actually equal to Louis and is the head of the investigation for the US side (on a personal note I wanted a little more out of watts' character - that would be the only addition I would make to a pretty stellar movie).
Finally, I really enjoyed the locations because of a recent trip I took through Turkey...it was very nice to see it on the big screen. Oh, and be sure to watch at least the beginning of the credits because behind the images will leave you thinking.
So, for the thriller/suspense/action film The International I give 4 stars.
-Dav3
**After posting my previous post on Benjamin Button I found I have a personal connection to the movie: In the scene where Daisy is dancing outdoors (when she is 23...I believe) was filmed in the same location where my sister had her wedding reception! Small world!
The International starts off and hooks you right away as there is a dramatic shift within the first five minutes which hooks you and starts the journey of twists and turns that is to follow in the next couple of hours. What I loved about this film is that as the viewer there was a lot of discovery and a lot that is left mysterious about the film. I'm usually one who is trying to figure out where the film is going but The International does a good job at not necessarily following the typical action movie mold.
One of things that actually surprised me about this movie was the cinematography. There were a lot of wider shots and a lot more cinematic camera movements than I was expecting but I think that they added to the film and were not there just because they could put them there. Another visual part of this movie that I really enjoyed were the very bright whites in some of the set locations as well as I enjoyed seeing some of the establishing shots of the various countries that were featured in the film. The whites helped play a part to the industrial feel of the bank as well as some of the other locations and a lot of the shooting locations and sets were perfect for the film and that combined with the score really made for a lot of good things coming together in this movie.
The best way I can think to describe this movie is that some times it is the typical action movie but in a lot of ways it isn't. There isn't a big flashy sports car, there is no sex scene where the agent sleeps with the female side-kick in the movie, and there isn't really any big evil villain. Instead the action movie feels almost real in a way, because it has a very human element: the main female character in this film Eleanor Whitman (Naomi Watts) was actually equal to Louis and is the head of the investigation for the US side (on a personal note I wanted a little more out of watts' character - that would be the only addition I would make to a pretty stellar movie).
Finally, I really enjoyed the locations because of a recent trip I took through Turkey...it was very nice to see it on the big screen. Oh, and be sure to watch at least the beginning of the credits because behind the images will leave you thinking.
So, for the thriller/suspense/action film The International I give 4 stars.
-Dav3
**After posting my previous post on Benjamin Button I found I have a personal connection to the movie: In the scene where Daisy is dancing outdoors (when she is 23...I believe) was filmed in the same location where my sister had her wedding reception! Small world!
Tuesday, June 9, 2009
The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
So, I'll admit I was very much behind the bandwagon and this was my first viewing of Benjamin Button. And I'm very glad I finally did and think that I viewed it at the right time for me to appreciate it (however I'm still very much in support of Slumdog Millionaire as Best Picture for 2008...you'll hear more about that later I'm sure) and I can definitely see/agree that Benjamin Button deserved a best picture nomination for 2008.
First off it is very easy to see why Button took home 3 Oscars...in Art Direction, Makeup, and Visual Effects. I don't think I can put into words the brilliance that went into the artistic side of being able to attempt to pull of this film, and to be perfectly honest after viewing it I believe I could make a strong case that Button should have won for costumes as well for the number of decades and locations that are encountered in the timeline of the film.
Personally, my favorite little effect came with the man who was struck by lightning (his claim was seven times but by my count it was six that we see...feel free to correct me if I'm wrong) but that was a fun little thread through the movie and I enjoyed the effects used to create those little scenes almost as an homage to film in an earlier life. I also enjoyed the "aged" effects in the opening story of the blind clock maker and how natural these effects fit into the story and did not feel entirely out of place.
This story, originally by F. Scott Fitzgerald is beautifully adapted for film (however the story does run 2 hours and 40 min+ so you will need to set aside a solid chunk of time to sit down and watch the film but it is worth it). A lot of Brad Pitt's (Benjamin) narration seemed very elegant and natural and reading his words through the journal was a good excuse to introduce excellent narration into the film.
*I will take this time to mention the the film has view similarities to the original story but does the story justice in its film interpretation*
The story is that of an unusual love story but for me the love story isn't necessarily the focus of this movie...maybe that's just because I'm a guy! For me the story really comments on how age isn't a limitation and we shouldn't be confined because of age, but how there is always an opportunity to start a new chapter of your life and an inspiration that no matter what your age there is still life to be lived.
The second major part of the story, of course, is the fact that Benjamin is living his life backwards physically, however mentally he goes through a natural progression: ie when Benjamin is born his body is that of an elderly person but his mind is that of a newborn. I think this is an interesting commentary on how the beginning of our lives and the ending are so similar, but sometimes in the end of our lives we have lost that child-like enthusiasm we have for life as our spirit has been beaten down and we have let go before our ending time comes.
Also, I have a soft spot in my heart for New Orleans so it pleased me to see the movie set in this location (which makes sense will the work that Brad Pitt and family has done for the city in its post-Katrina rebuilding efforts and making the rest of the country aware of all of the work that is yet to be done).
But also I think it was very interesting how the actual hurricane played a part in the movie as well as the last image you see is flooding and hearing an audio clip about levies breaking in the 9th ward. Since this is one of the last images and impressions you get from this movie it is interesting to see what it actually may be trying to comment on that. There are a few theories floating around about that, and honestly I haven't settled on my own opinion and may need to watch this film a few more times before I settle on something so I will leave you to figure out this answer for yourselves.
The other interesting question mark that I am pondering and is probably left for future viewings is that of the hummingbird and the role that it plays in the film, I may have wrote it off if it hadn't appeared twice.
But I suppose that's one of the many pleasures of a great film, you can't digest it all in one serving, it takes multiple viewings to truely appreicate all of the magic captured within it.
My only real gripe about the film comes in the hospital scenes, and this may have just been me/my situation but sometimes I found it very hard to hear/understand the woman in the hospital bed. Now I understand that she is old and in actuality probably would speak in this manner, but I found myself reaching for the caption button so I could fully grasp all of what she was saying.
Overall, I give it 4.5 stars...a little lengthy but worth it, and again truely worthy of its Best Picture nomination.
First off it is very easy to see why Button took home 3 Oscars...in Art Direction, Makeup, and Visual Effects. I don't think I can put into words the brilliance that went into the artistic side of being able to attempt to pull of this film, and to be perfectly honest after viewing it I believe I could make a strong case that Button should have won for costumes as well for the number of decades and locations that are encountered in the timeline of the film.
Personally, my favorite little effect came with the man who was struck by lightning (his claim was seven times but by my count it was six that we see...feel free to correct me if I'm wrong) but that was a fun little thread through the movie and I enjoyed the effects used to create those little scenes almost as an homage to film in an earlier life. I also enjoyed the "aged" effects in the opening story of the blind clock maker and how natural these effects fit into the story and did not feel entirely out of place.
This story, originally by F. Scott Fitzgerald is beautifully adapted for film (however the story does run 2 hours and 40 min+ so you will need to set aside a solid chunk of time to sit down and watch the film but it is worth it). A lot of Brad Pitt's (Benjamin) narration seemed very elegant and natural and reading his words through the journal was a good excuse to introduce excellent narration into the film.
*I will take this time to mention the the film has view similarities to the original story but does the story justice in its film interpretation*
The story is that of an unusual love story but for me the love story isn't necessarily the focus of this movie...maybe that's just because I'm a guy! For me the story really comments on how age isn't a limitation and we shouldn't be confined because of age, but how there is always an opportunity to start a new chapter of your life and an inspiration that no matter what your age there is still life to be lived.
The second major part of the story, of course, is the fact that Benjamin is living his life backwards physically, however mentally he goes through a natural progression: ie when Benjamin is born his body is that of an elderly person but his mind is that of a newborn. I think this is an interesting commentary on how the beginning of our lives and the ending are so similar, but sometimes in the end of our lives we have lost that child-like enthusiasm we have for life as our spirit has been beaten down and we have let go before our ending time comes.
Also, I have a soft spot in my heart for New Orleans so it pleased me to see the movie set in this location (which makes sense will the work that Brad Pitt and family has done for the city in its post-Katrina rebuilding efforts and making the rest of the country aware of all of the work that is yet to be done).
But also I think it was very interesting how the actual hurricane played a part in the movie as well as the last image you see is flooding and hearing an audio clip about levies breaking in the 9th ward. Since this is one of the last images and impressions you get from this movie it is interesting to see what it actually may be trying to comment on that. There are a few theories floating around about that, and honestly I haven't settled on my own opinion and may need to watch this film a few more times before I settle on something so I will leave you to figure out this answer for yourselves.
The other interesting question mark that I am pondering and is probably left for future viewings is that of the hummingbird and the role that it plays in the film, I may have wrote it off if it hadn't appeared twice.
But I suppose that's one of the many pleasures of a great film, you can't digest it all in one serving, it takes multiple viewings to truely appreicate all of the magic captured within it.
My only real gripe about the film comes in the hospital scenes, and this may have just been me/my situation but sometimes I found it very hard to hear/understand the woman in the hospital bed. Now I understand that she is old and in actuality probably would speak in this manner, but I found myself reaching for the caption button so I could fully grasp all of what she was saying.
Overall, I give it 4.5 stars...a little lengthy but worth it, and again truely worthy of its Best Picture nomination.
Saturday, June 6, 2009
Taken
Ok, so I thought that as I watch movies this summer I would start to write reviews of what I thought of them and share them with all of you. I will try to get to as many new movies and my current budget will allow, and as many movies that I can get at a time through redbox, netfilx, etc.
I will start of by a review of the movie Taken starring Liam Neeson.
I knew little of this movie coming into it (outside of it was a dad searching for his daughter) and was pleasantly surprised at how the movie was set up and the way it made that simple plot interesting enough to keep me hooked through the entire thing.
So, I'll admit that Liam Neeson sometimes looks like Harrison Ford if you ever get distracted from what you are doing and then look back quickly to your tv set...but after I got over that fact, I enjoyed the trip that this film sent me on.
I enjoyed the action as well as a lot of the outside locations that were used for this film, and am a big fan of hearing Liam Neeson say just about anything. However, it took me just a little bit to suspend enough disbelief to remember that Bryan Mills (Neeson) was a former military officer/spy (the opening sequence does a great job setting up that backstory).
Bryan leaves quite a body count in this movie, most if not all is done by himself which is rather impressive but really all we see of Bryan in the film is him as a father which makes all the action he does seem out of the ordinary even though he has had military training.
Neeson does a great job at playing a father very concerned for his daughter which is shown from the beginning of the film. This drives his motivation for his actions throughout the rest of the film but there was a little part of me that wondered about the rest of the girls that were trapped in this human-trafficking enviornment.
Yes, we see in one scene Bryan rescues the girl who had his daughter's jacket and gave her an IV to help her back to health, but in the end scene we see just him and his daughter in the end but the other girls we see earlier are no where to be found. I understand that Bryan and his daughter (Kim - played by Maggie Grace of LOST fame) were the focus of the story but that seemed like the only plot hole as to what (if anything) was done for the rest of the women.
I liked that the film didn't have the kiddnapping as a form of revenge, or for randsom, and that it was completely random as a target of human-trafficking as this breaks out of the typical mold for a story like this.
Overall, I enjoyed this movie and give it 4 stars (out of a possible 5)
Thanks for dropping by and I hope to have more up here soon!
-Dav3
I will start of by a review of the movie Taken starring Liam Neeson.
I knew little of this movie coming into it (outside of it was a dad searching for his daughter) and was pleasantly surprised at how the movie was set up and the way it made that simple plot interesting enough to keep me hooked through the entire thing.
So, I'll admit that Liam Neeson sometimes looks like Harrison Ford if you ever get distracted from what you are doing and then look back quickly to your tv set...but after I got over that fact, I enjoyed the trip that this film sent me on.
I enjoyed the action as well as a lot of the outside locations that were used for this film, and am a big fan of hearing Liam Neeson say just about anything. However, it took me just a little bit to suspend enough disbelief to remember that Bryan Mills (Neeson) was a former military officer/spy (the opening sequence does a great job setting up that backstory).
Bryan leaves quite a body count in this movie, most if not all is done by himself which is rather impressive but really all we see of Bryan in the film is him as a father which makes all the action he does seem out of the ordinary even though he has had military training.
Neeson does a great job at playing a father very concerned for his daughter which is shown from the beginning of the film. This drives his motivation for his actions throughout the rest of the film but there was a little part of me that wondered about the rest of the girls that were trapped in this human-trafficking enviornment.
Yes, we see in one scene Bryan rescues the girl who had his daughter's jacket and gave her an IV to help her back to health, but in the end scene we see just him and his daughter in the end but the other girls we see earlier are no where to be found. I understand that Bryan and his daughter (Kim - played by Maggie Grace of LOST fame) were the focus of the story but that seemed like the only plot hole as to what (if anything) was done for the rest of the women.
I liked that the film didn't have the kiddnapping as a form of revenge, or for randsom, and that it was completely random as a target of human-trafficking as this breaks out of the typical mold for a story like this.
Overall, I enjoyed this movie and give it 4 stars (out of a possible 5)
Thanks for dropping by and I hope to have more up here soon!
-Dav3
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