Category: Movie Review

Concussion

ConcussionGoMovieReviews Rating: ★★★☆ (3.7/5)

Directed and Written by: Peter Landesman.

Based on: an exposé, ‘Game Brain’ published in GQ, 2009, by Jeanne Marie Laskas.

Starring: Will Smith, Alac Baldwin, Gugu Mbatha-Raw, Arliss Howard, David Morse, Paul Reiser, Albert Brooks.

Based on an exposé, ‘Game Brain’, Concussion is based on the true story of a Nigerian Doctor, Dr Bennet Omalu (Will Smith) and his discovery of Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy (CTE): a brain disorder he discovered while conducting a post mortem on the famous football player, Mike Webster (David Morse).

In answer to the question: why are all these professional football players going mad and killing themselves? Dr Omalu, thinking he’s doing the right thing by sharing his scientific knowledge, and publishing his discovery in the scientific journal, Neurosurgery, inadvertently takes on the multi-billion dollar industry that is the NFL.

Headed by a Rheumatologist (a doctor who specialises in arthritis, disorders of the muscles and joints not brain), the NFL’s Mild Traumatic Brain Injury committee demands a retraction of the journal article, stating the information is false.

Standing by the science of CTE, Dr Omalu must face the pressure from the NFL against his own credentials and the pressure against his colleagues and his wife, Prema Mutiso (Gugu Mbatha-Raw).

I was more interested in the science of the story, which was shown to the audience without getting too technical, then the drama of this movie.  A notable scene with the good Dr Omalu jerking a walnut from side-to-side in a water-filled glass jar to demonstrate how multiple hits to the head effect the brain. Or how the woodpecker uses its tongue to wrap its brain in a protective ‘seat belt’ in order to save its brain from the G-force of its pecking against a hard surface. The human brain has no such anatomical protection: ‘God did not make humans to play football’, states Dr Omalu.

But there was also politics here with a ‘David and Goliath’ theme, with the ‘wickedness’ that is corporate America against the rational of proven scientific evidence.

For a person to suffer the symptoms of very early dementia and depression to such an extent as to commit suicide, and for the diagnosis of such symptoms to be ignored, is a tragedy against humanity.

Being compared to the legal case made against the tobacco companies regarding the ill effects of cigarettes, Concussion could easily have turned very one-sided. I was glad the beauty and grace of the sport was noted – but the obvious effects of multiple head injuries was a sad and hard fact to ignore. Also making me wonder, even though a very different sport, about the injuries being made to the brains of our Aussie Rule footballers.

Although Will Smith was well-cast, I found the science to be the most absorbing and interesting aspect of the film. Perhaps the film would have been more successful as a documentary, to highlight the scientific and political aspects rather than the drama.

But certainly, overall, a well-handled emotive and very interesting and absorbing movie.

 

Deadpool

deadpoolGoMovieReviews Rating: ★★★1/2

Directed by: Tim Miller

Written by: Rhett Reese; Paul Wernick

Based on Deadpool by Fabian Nicieza and Rob Liefeld

Starring: Ryan Reynolds, Morena Baccarin, Ed Skrein, T. J Miller, Gina Carano, Brianna Hildebrand, Stefan Kapičić

With the writers being the real heroes, crutch shots, butt shots and all manner of side remarks, including the mention of Wolverine’s balls from Down Under – yes, I didn’t mind this self-deprecating humour of Deadpool.

First appearing in the Marvel Comic, ‘The New Mutants (#98)’, the history of Deadpool and the X-Men is quickly glossed over in the film, with Deadpool himself mentioning the producer only forking out for two X-Men characters. See here for an article regarding Deadpool’s origins…

The story-line of Deadpool, the movie, is based on Wade (Ryan Reynolds) becoming Deadpool, and his revenge in being made into a monster, and a very unattractive one at that.

Rather than living the torturous life of a human mutant slave, Deadpool gets his kill-count up in search for Ajax, AKA Francis (Ed Skrein, yep, the actor who played Daario Naharis in Game of Thrones), who took him away from his lady love, Vanessa (Morena Baccarin). Well, he kinda took himself away but didn’t realise what he was getting himself into.

Don’t expect a PG-type comic movie here. I was a bit surprised by the violence. But the fast-paced action and many bullets to the head, cutting off of hands, broken ankles and general blood spatter helped balance the constant commentary from Deadpool. A little too much, for my taste and as stated by Ajax, certainly ‘a talker’.

A lot of the film was very funny and in addition to creative camera work (Ken Seng as cinematographer), and attention to detail by director, Tim Miller, there’s another dimension to the story: the writers using meta fiction where the character is aware that he’s, well, in a story.

Deadpool talks to the camera and therefore the audience – breaking the ‘Fourth Wall’. And this gives the film an extra layer and point of difference, allowing a different style of humour into the film.

There was a lot going on and I admit that I missed some of the quips. People have said they’ve gone to watch Deadpool a second time and have picked up more of the jokes. Not that I’d go and watch a second time. As I said, this Deadpool guy talks A LOT.

I have to say, yes it was funny and yes I was entertained, but I would have liked a little more darkness from Deadpool, rather than always the ever flippant. Perhaps I’m showing my age, but the original comic character had more depth and I would have liked to have seen a bit more of this darkness translated to the screen. 

 

YOUTH

GoMovieReviews Rating: ★★★★ Youth

Written and Directed by: Paolo Sorrentino

Music Composed by: David Lang

Starring: Michael Caine, Rachel Weisz, Harvey Keitel, Jane Fonda, Mădălina Diana Ghenea and Paul Dano.

Youth is a meandering journey of many moments caught of people coming to terms with their lives.

Opening with a band playing, a close up of a girl singing while slowly revolving with the background of characters blurred, sets up the theme of the film – music being the soundtrack that gives cohesion to the life of the main character, Fred Ballinger (Michael Caine) – the retired maestro taking a holiday at a Swedish Health Spa.

After being asked to conduct at Prince Phillip’s birthday at the Queen’s request, the film follows Fred after his refusal, revealing his reason of refusal while showing his character through his interactions with his daughter and assistant, Leda (Rachel Weisz), his best friend, Mick (Harvy Keitel) and the famous actor on holiday, Jimmy Tree (Paul Dano).

The director and writer of this film, Paolo Sorrentino, has created a sensory experience for the audience: Great loves, music, beauty, art, bubbles, the bells around cows’ necks ringing, wildflowers, snow, levitating, hot baths, blood tests, communicating through touch, smoking and sometimes just talking.

The character, Mick Boyle (Harvey Keitel), an aging writer and director in conversation with his best friend, Fred, describes the various nude scenes so well: “There’s the ugly, the beautiful and the inbetween who are just cute.”

There were some beautiful truths spoken here. One of many spoken by Mick, “I have to believe everything in order to make things up,” gives a simplicity to the individual experience.

I liked how the film scratched the surface of the mundane to show the real beauty of the pain of life. The pain of growing and struggling to make something of ourselves. The misunderstandings between people.

Many moments of the characters getting to know themselves and others are pieced together into a not always cohesive storyline. The momentum of the film sometimes lost when caught in the space between these moments. But what was lost in cohesion was made up by the beauty of the scenery, well thought-out camera angles and some light cheeky humour.

Not a perfect film but some thought-provoking moments, some great dialogue delivered by some great actors, Youth is a quirky, life affirming movie that goes deeper than expected.

 

The Hateful Eight

The Hateful EightGoMovieReviews Rating: ★★★★1/2

Written and Directed By: 

Quentin Tarantino

Starring: 

Samuel L. Jackson as Major Marquis Warren

Kurt Russell as John ‘The Hangman’

Jennifer Jason Leigh as Daisy Domergue

Tim Roth as Oswarldo Mobray

Michael Madsen as John Gage                         

Walton Goggins as Sheriff Chris Mannix

Bruce Dem as General Sanford Smithers

Demián Bichir as Bob12507479_10153989110359924_2847167535995967292_n[1]

Zoe Bell  as Six-Horse Judy                              

James Parks as O. B Jackson

Original Music Composed and Conducted By: 

Ennio Morricone

Cinematography:

Robert Richardson

Running Time:   

187 min

Set in the middle of a Wyoming winter, a bounty hunter, John, The Hangman (Kurt Russell), is forced to take shelter with his prisoner in Minnie’s Haberdashery.  As the title suggests, The Hangman and his prisoner, Daisy Domergue (Jennifer Jason Leigh) are stranded with six other dubious characters, making a total of 8 hateful (seeming) strangers.

A western set during a snow storm, this is a great movie to show in Ultra Panavision 70mm film as it adds a cinematic expanse to the scenery, the snow, the horses and most importantly, the facial expressions of the characters who tell the story.

There’s amazing dialogue here (particularly well expressed by Walton Goggins as Sheriff Chris Mannix. Boy does Walton have a silver tongue!), but it’s also about what’s left unsaid, what the wink of a bruised eye can express, that words cannot.

Another standout performance is from Jennifer Jason Leigh where her expressions were so convincing, Daisy Domergue could be mistaken for a reptile disguised as a human.

Director, Quentin Tarantino in an interview on Triple J (18/01/16) described Daisy as, ‘Hiding in plain sight’.

Samuel L Jackson playing the part of Major Marquis Warren is shown to be noticing and clocking all that is not right. Tarantino states – ‘Taking it all in and staying silent with his hand on the butt of his gun because he’s in a room full of white people he doesn’t trust’. And with the rich detail of the 70mm film, every expression is captured and shown to the audience.Samuel L Jackson

I liked the Overture with the stark black and red stencilled image of the six-horse drawn stage coach slowly becoming more vivid with the build-up of music composed and conducted by Ennio Morricone. A great way to settle the audience and slowly capture their attention before the beautiful wide screen scene of the image taking life, of the stage coach been driven through the falling snow.

The first 2 hours went by surprisingly quickly. There’s not a lot of action here. But the dialogue between the characters is hugely entertaining. And the not-so-subtle gallows humour and O. B’s bad luck is gloriously funny.

After the Intermission and release of tension, the buzz in the bathroom, you come back to be taken in for the film’s dramatic conclusion.Quentin Tarantino_autograph

The Hateful Eight is not for the light-hearted. There are some truly terrible scenes and brain been blown into people’s faces, etc. This is an R-rated film for a reason.  Not that I mind a bit of stylised blood and guts.  This is classic Tarantino good-fun gore.

But the film wasn’t perfect. I wasn’t convinced by the addition of Zoe Bell as Six-Horse Judy with her New Zealander accent… in the middle of Wyoming… in the 1870s… But I was pleasantly surprised by the humour.

The acting and writing in this movie is enough to rate this film highly.  And seeing the special screening with the 70mm film and program is Tarantino showing The Hateful Eight at its absolute best making the viewing an event (see photos above).

Really, what fun. I’m still smiling.

 

The Revenant

The RevenantGoMovieReviews Rating:★★★★☆ (4.2/5)

Director:  Alejandro Gonzáles Iñárritu

Writers: Mark L. Smith and Alejandro Gonzáles Iñárritu

Based in part on the novel by Michael Punke, ‘The Revenant: A Novel of Revenge’.

Cinematography: Emmanuel Lubezki

Starring: Leonardo Di Caprio, Tom Hardy, Will Poutter and Domhnall Gleeson.

Revenant: A person who has returned, especially supposedly from the dead.

Hugh Glass (Di Caprio), is part of a furring team, out in the wintery wilderness of Montana. In the 1820s, this was a fight for survival against the natives, against the cold, starvation and the wild animals.

After being attacked by a bear, Glass is left for dead, only to rise again to avenge the murder of his son.

I have to admit I was apprehensive about watching this film, thinking I’d be confronted with war-like graphic violence. If not for the beauty of the landscape captured by Emmanuel Lubezki (also cinematographer of Gravity (2013) and Birdman (2014)), this would have been a cruel film. Think dripping snow, captured leaves in ice, the endless sky and trees creaking and waving in the wind; a pack of wolves taking down a stray buffalo.

The reality of nature is that it’s both a heaven and a horror.

The director, Alejandro (Birdman (2014), Babel (2006), Amores Perros (2000)), insisted on filming 93 percent of this movie at exterior locations – Calgary in Alberta, Canada, Montana, United States, and the southern tip of South America, Argentina. Di Caprio certainly earned his Acadamy Award with this one. Just the cold itself, and all those icy rivers…

Brutal humanity is likened to the harshness of a winter’s landscape. How quickly a human can turn to animal instinct for survival is a harsh reality of the characters in this film. People do what they have to, to survive.

It’s a fight to stay human, to give food and shelter. A choice has to be made. And with cleverly executed filming and directing, we see Glass up close, we see his pain and his will to survive. We see others who give and others who take.

This is a revenge movie, but I’m glad it was balanced with some light: the murmurings of a loved one, a bird taking flight, the sun reflected on snow.

I liked the flavour Alejandro gave the film. There is a real authenticity here, thanks to Di Caprio, but Alejandro has given the film something almost mystical. Nature untouched, is a bit like magic. The Native Americans believed in the will of the trees and the wind, and I think Alejandro managed to capture some of this magic. Not an easy feat and a film worth watching.

 

 

Star Wars: The Force Awakens

Star_Wars_Episode_VII_The_Force_Awakens[1]GoMovieReviews Rating:★★★★

Directed by: J. J. Abrams

Written by:  Lawrence Kasdan, J. J. Abrams, Michael Arndt.

Based on:   Characters by George Lucas

John Williams returns as composer of the score.

Starring: Harrison Ford, Mark Hamill, Carrie Fisher.

The 7th installment with George Lucas as the creative consultant.

A classic using the same formula as the original series but with a different story – genius in its simplicity.

I can’t imagine the pressure on the writers in getting this one right: the beginning of a sequel of a sequel.  Yes, the writing of this Star Wars episode could easily have become over complicated, but, thankfully, the reins were held tight and yet the story still felt new and exciting.

With 3D glasses on, I was immediately absorbed in this re-visit to desert landscapes, androids and light sabers – all I could think was: yeah, cool.

Rey (Daisy Ridley), scavenging for survival, becomes in possession of an android holding a secret map of the location of the last Jedi Knight, Luke Skywalker. Luke has gone missing after his favourite student, Kylo Ren (Adam Driver), goes to the dark side.

Sound familiar? But then, as a twist, we have a defector from the First Order joining forces with the Resistance and teaming up with our old favourites: Hans Solo, Chewbacca and Princess Leia.

The story was engaging with humour and action without the usual blood and guts. PG goodness at its finest.  I’m not usually one for these PG films but I have to say I didn’t miss the mature themes with this one.

Star Wars (7) brought a smile to my face even with the excited kid kicking the back of my chair.  I was excited too!

It was a pleasure to see Harrison Ford back as Han Solo, even if he was a bit stiff with age. Chewbacca will always be a favourite.  I was surprised at how good Carrie Fisher looked after the taint of sitcoms such as, Big Bang and Family Guy.  She was well cast as a military leader.  Yes, some good acting here – Adam Driver a surprising dark character.  But I think it’s the writers who deserve the congratulations.

I’ll be back to see the rest of the series.

 

By the Sea

By The SeaGoMovieReviews Rating:★★☆ (2.8/5)

Directed by: Angelina Jolie Pitt

Written by: Angelina Jolie Pitt

Starring: Brad Pitt, Angelina Jolie Pitt, Mélanie Laurent, Melvil Poupaud, Niels Arestrup, Richard Bohringer

The drinking, the smoking, the difficult relationship and the seaside… If I didn’t know any better, I’d think I was about to watch a film based on a Hemingway novel.

There were definite echoes of the novel, The Garden of Eden (published in 1986, posthumously).  But without the amazing dialogue Hemingway is so famous for, By the Sea, was, listless.

Set in a French, beachside resort in the 1970s, By the Sea, could have been a 1930s film, bar the public nudity. And there are some soft porn moments here. But this film is definitely about the strained relationship between Vanessa (Angelina) and Roland (Brad).

It’s not an easy feat depicting depression. Watching a relationship disintegrate can be a boring business. I was left wondering how it was possible for people to have so much time to do nothing.

The silence of what is left unsaid between Vanessa and Roland is juxtaposed with the loud and happy love of Lea, (Mélanie Laurent – she was fantastic in Inglourious Basterds (2009), also cast alongside Brad Pitt) and François (Melvil Poupaud) on their honeymoon. Nothing highlights an unhappy couple more than a happy one.

The beauty of the setting, the turquoise water, the rocky landscape of the French seaside gives the audience a break from the sad-faced Vanessa.

The old French café owner, Michel (Niels Aretrup) and hotel owner, Patrice (Richard Bohringer), gives warmth to the story. But the dominance of Vanessa makes it a somewhat boring film because the character is so incredibly lifeless.

There are moments of interesting dialogue, mostly between Roland and the other characters.  But more thought into what was spoken, or perhaps framing the silence better would have made a more compelling film.

I didn’t mind being lulled by the silence.  But you’ve got to be in the right mood for this one.

 

The Hunger Games: Mockingjay Part 2

The Hunger Games MockingJay Part 2GoMovieReviews Rating:★★★☆ (3.9/5)

Director: Francis Lawrence

Screenplay: Peter Craig, Danny Strong

Based on ‘Mockingjay’ by Suzanne Collins

Starring: Jennifer Lawrence, Josh Hutcherson, Liam Hemsworth, Woody Harrleson, Philip Seymour Hoffman, Donald Sutherland, Julianne Moore.

I had to play catch up with this one, having missed the last two releases.

Catching Fire was a pleasant surprise. I love the characters going back into The Games. And what a pleasure to see Philip Seymour Hoffman on the screen again (sob, sob). What an amazing actor (Capote (2005), Doubt (2008), The Ides of March (2011), A Most Wanted Man (2014), to name a few). It was a nice touch to dedicate the Mockingjay Part 1 to him in the credits. The reworking of the script to include a letter written by Hoffman’s character, Heavensbee, for the final instalment was well done by director, Francis Lawrence (director of the final three instalments). The letter read by Woody Harrelson’s character, Haymmitch Abernathy. See article in The Los Angeles Times here…

There was potential for Mockingjay to become saccharine, with the propaganda, and emotive speeches that became the focus of Part 1. Thankfully, the character Johanna Mason (Jena Malone, well cast, I say), had the hard authentic nasty to bring the film back from too much cheese.

Mockingjay 2 takes us to the final battle against the Capitol and tyranny of President Snow.

Katniss (Jennifer Lawrence), has become the symbol of the rebellion and under the direction of Coin (Julianne Moore), the leader of District 13, the Districts are aligning behind the symbol of the Mockingjay.

Facing battles from all sides, including her once trusted ally, Peeta (Josh Hutcherson), Katniss must stay strong to overthrow Snow. But Snow won’t go quietly, and hence the battle for the Capitol becomes the final Hunger Games.

I haven’t read the books so the story with its twists and turns was a welcome surprise for me. The characters were becoming a little flat, the story a bit too: bad guys versus good guys in Part 1; Part 2 has enough twists to keep the story interesting.

The inclusion of Katniss singing The Hanging Tree in Part 1 as the rebels’ anthem was genius. Jennifer Lawrence has a lovely, simple warm voice that was a nice finishing touch in Part 2.

I liked this film. It was a well thought-out conclusion to the saga, and I left with a satisfied, warm feeling.

 

SPECTRE

GoMovieReviews Rating: ★★★☆ (3.8/5)SPECTRE

Director: Sam Mendes

Screenplay: John Logan, Neal Purvis, Robert Wade; Jez Butterworth

Story: John Logan, Neal Purvis; Robert Wade.

Starring:  Daniel Craig, Christoph Waltz, Léa Seydoux, Monica Bellucci and Naomie Harris.

An entertaining Bond classic with great acting, brilliant cinematography (Hoyte van Hoytema) and a neat story.

This is the second Bond film directed by Sam Mendes, Skyfall being the first.  I found SPECTRE to be the more entertaining.

Bond’s childhood is once again the subject of this movie, his upbringing drawing Bond into the world of SPECTRE and its world domination through Orwell’s nightmare – Big Brother watching us all.

Information is power, and M wasn’t having any of it – indeed! Yes, a classic – Bond battling the hi-tech villain, Oberhauser (Christoph Waltz), the Bond girls, with Monica Bellucci still such an elegant, beautiful woman. And I just loved the car, an Aston Martin DB10, yum, yum.

There was a quiet section where I then noticed the young teen kicking the back of my seat, and then the young guy next to me chewing his fingers off… It’s a long movie for some (2 hours 30 mins), as are all the Bond films. But then it was back to the action and I was absorbed again.  ‘You’re like a Kite dancing in a hurricane’, is one piece of dialogue that stuck in mind.

There’s certainly a formula to the Bond films, but a successful formula making SPECTRE an entertaining movie, shown with a wry sense of humour.

And you’ve just gotta love the sincere look of Daniel Craig as Bond.

 

The Last Witch Hunter

The Last Witch HunterGoMovieReviews Rating: ★★☆ (2.7/5)

Directed by: Breck Eisner

Written by: Cory Goodman, Matt Sazama and Burk Sharpless

Starring: Vin Diesel, Rose Leslie, Elijah Wood and Michael Caine.

I don’t mind a bit of trash as long as it’s good trash. If it’s just trash, well, then it’s just a waste of time. The Last Witch Hunter fell somewhere in between, so, not so good trash?

At first I noticed how lovely Vin Diesel’s eyes are, so surprisingly warm. And then I noticed how clichéd the portrayal of witches was becoming. I mean, witches drinking Absinthe and being cat lovers? Come on! I was expecting more than some bullshit Goth flick. Then the story got a bit better.

Kaulder (Vin Diesel) becomes immortal after being cursed by the Witch Queen, to live forever with his memories of loss. The Witch Queen’s belief that humans hide in fear behind walls of stone and destroy the earth being her reason for her reign of terror. And yes, I can see something in that.

The movie was visually entertaining with giant burning trees and swarms of flesh eating insects and surprisingly pretty butterflies. Yes, a fair few bugs in this one. The story did take a few unexpected turns, but, I admit, I was a little disappointed.

I could see the actors trying to make the dialogue work, Chloe, played by Rose Leslie (Game of Thrones) was particularly forced. So it was painful to watch at times, realising the actors themselves didn’t believe what they were saying.

If you’re into this supernatural-type of movie, you’ll go and watch it no matter what the review. Just don’t expect greatness.

 

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