I Am Legend is an apocalyptic film that is up there in my ranking of this kind of film, but let me caution you I don't normally like or watch this genre. I went to this film because Will Smith is in it and I think he is one of America's best actors. After seeing "Legend" I again just wish the vehicle he selects was up to his talent.
I never blame a box office star for doing the "money" film. After all if they can make millions doing one film and continue to fill the mall theaters with patrons, it's good for the industry. But a guy with Smith's talent really owes to himself to leave a better track record than making green screen FX movies with make believe monsters.
His break out film in 1993 Six Degrees of Separation was note worthy and should have foreshadowed a career similar to Denzel Washington or Samuel L Jackson. Instead what we get is Bruce Willis. Sith has made action adventure film one after another with only the occasional pause for The Pursuit of Happyness and Ali.
The movie, I Am Legend, is breaking box office records. People no doubt want this stuff and Smith has proven he can raise the bar for the quality of this genre. I guess I'll have to content myself that I'm not going to enjoy the talents of a good, potentially great, actor until he makes a few more million to go along with the bunches of millions he already has.
Wednesday, December 26, 2007
Monday, December 24, 2007
Atonement, He Said
The critic's loved this film, but going in, all I knew is that it was a British film. I knew that because the a requisite member of the elite British film community was included, in this case Brenda Blethyn.
This film is based on a novel by Ian McEwan. This Romeo and Juliet tale takes place in pre- WWII England. The oldest daughter Cecilia, played by Keira Knightley is in love with son of one of the cooks. While the family approves of this young Robbie Turner, played by James McAvoy, to the point they have paid for his education, they are not ready to accept him as one of the family. Enter the fanciful, thirteen year old sister Briony. She has a crush on the older Robbie herself. He of course regards her as the child she is. when her visiting cousin is found supposedly raped Briony and the girl accuse Robbie.
When we next see Robbie he is behind German lines in France because his unit has been over run by the advancing enemy troops. He has bargained his way out of prison by volunteering for military duty. Cecilia has rejected her family because of their treatment of Robbie and is working as a nurse in London.
We see her reconciled with Robbie after his return and the confrontation between the three of them in the lowly flat Robbie and Cecilia are forced to live in. Briony admits her mistake and reveals the true rapist's identity. She agrees to confess and seeks their forgiveness, which is not forthcoming.
The end of this film will be no surprise to those that have read the novel, but the closing scene featuring Vanessa Redgrave is spellbinding for those of us that had no hint as to this outcome
This a wonderful film, well shot and constructed. The actors are well cast and competent.
I must give special attention to young Saoirse Ronan who plays the young Briony. You grow to dislike this young brat most intently. She is a mischievous and nosey little tattle tale, aside of course of being a vengeful liar. I've always said it takes talent to be an actor, but the most talent to play the bad guy. this young lady does it very well, which in my mind, bodes well for her future and requires us pay special attention.
This film is based on a novel by Ian McEwan. This Romeo and Juliet tale takes place in pre- WWII England. The oldest daughter Cecilia, played by Keira Knightley is in love with son of one of the cooks. While the family approves of this young Robbie Turner, played by James McAvoy, to the point they have paid for his education, they are not ready to accept him as one of the family. Enter the fanciful, thirteen year old sister Briony. She has a crush on the older Robbie herself. He of course regards her as the child she is. when her visiting cousin is found supposedly raped Briony and the girl accuse Robbie.
When we next see Robbie he is behind German lines in France because his unit has been over run by the advancing enemy troops. He has bargained his way out of prison by volunteering for military duty. Cecilia has rejected her family because of their treatment of Robbie and is working as a nurse in London.
We see her reconciled with Robbie after his return and the confrontation between the three of them in the lowly flat Robbie and Cecilia are forced to live in. Briony admits her mistake and reveals the true rapist's identity. She agrees to confess and seeks their forgiveness, which is not forthcoming.
The end of this film will be no surprise to those that have read the novel, but the closing scene featuring Vanessa Redgrave is spellbinding for those of us that had no hint as to this outcome
This a wonderful film, well shot and constructed. The actors are well cast and competent.
I must give special attention to young Saoirse Ronan who plays the young Briony. You grow to dislike this young brat most intently. She is a mischievous and nosey little tattle tale, aside of course of being a vengeful liar. I've always said it takes talent to be an actor, but the most talent to play the bad guy. this young lady does it very well, which in my mind, bodes well for her future and requires us pay special attention.
Friday, December 21, 2007
Interview, He Said
Let me start by saying that I'm a huge fan of Steve Buscemi. As and actor, he is fully capable of completing scenes in support or carrying a movie in the lead role. If you think you've seen him in a film you probably have, as his resume goes on for pages. He is a actor, writer, director and producer of excellent quality and breadth. Yes, he goes for the quirky and off beat, but he does it well.
What I don't understand is Interview, his latest film, in which he wrote, directed, and stared in. He and the talented and beautiful Sienna Miller are on screen for well over 90% of the time this film runs. He is playing the washed up political writer who has phonied his sources and taken far to many ethical shortcuts to merit the big stories anymore. Now he's reduced to doing celebrity pieces and "fluffy" ones at that. He obviously considers his assignment to interview a popular soap opera star as beneath him and it show in his approach to the actress, played by Miller. She correctly interprets his clumsy questions and lack of preparation as an insult to her and a waste of her time.
Events, as improbable as they are, conspire to bring him to her apartment and here the drama takes on a dark caste. His questions and probing take a personal and acerbic quality. She responds by trying distract him with every ruse in the book from seduction to tempting him with drugs. (I'm telling you I almost got sick watching them consume massive amountof drugs, alcohol and cigarettes.)
His probing and prying seems to get him damming information on her, but it needs fleshing out and admission. In his attempt to get her to confess to the condition of her life, he agrees to come clean with her on how his life is screwed up. The whole tale turns on the ending which isn't entirely predictable. The lesson taught might be that you have to know when and actress is acting or maybe you shouldn't be judging the quality of an actress. In addition, A Faustian deal with the devil will mean you're going to spend time in hell.
All in all this film is very uneven and not very entertaining. Buscemi's script gives us the ups and downs, oft times with no set up or warning. Motivation for the actions of these two are left to the most vivid imagination, which makes you wonder if your watching a social exchange or a stuck in shrinks office watch toschizophrenics exchanging personalities.
What I don't understand is Interview, his latest film, in which he wrote, directed, and stared in. He and the talented and beautiful Sienna Miller are on screen for well over 90% of the time this film runs. He is playing the washed up political writer who has phonied his sources and taken far to many ethical shortcuts to merit the big stories anymore. Now he's reduced to doing celebrity pieces and "fluffy" ones at that. He obviously considers his assignment to interview a popular soap opera star as beneath him and it show in his approach to the actress, played by Miller. She correctly interprets his clumsy questions and lack of preparation as an insult to her and a waste of her time.
Events, as improbable as they are, conspire to bring him to her apartment and here the drama takes on a dark caste. His questions and probing take a personal and acerbic quality. She responds by trying distract him with every ruse in the book from seduction to tempting him with drugs. (I'm telling you I almost got sick watching them consume massive amountof drugs, alcohol and cigarettes.)
His probing and prying seems to get him damming information on her, but it needs fleshing out and admission. In his attempt to get her to confess to the condition of her life, he agrees to come clean with her on how his life is screwed up. The whole tale turns on the ending which isn't entirely predictable. The lesson taught might be that you have to know when and actress is acting or maybe you shouldn't be judging the quality of an actress. In addition, A Faustian deal with the devil will mean you're going to spend time in hell.
All in all this film is very uneven and not very entertaining. Buscemi's script gives us the ups and downs, oft times with no set up or warning. Motivation for the actions of these two are left to the most vivid imagination, which makes you wonder if your watching a social exchange or a stuck in shrinks office watch toschizophrenics exchanging personalities.
Saturday, December 15, 2007
Margot at the Wedding, He Said
After you've seen his last film, The Squid and the Whale, you have to wonder what in the hell Noah Baumbach was thinking when he wrote and directed Margot at the Wedding.
"The Whale" with it's quirky but lovable if not frustrating characters is funny and interesting study of the dysfunctional family. This film with it's all star cast is just the opposite.
I couldn't identify with or like any of these people.
Nicole Kidman, playing the title role, is caustic and manipulative as the sister who comes home to save her sister from marrying a man, she judges is the kind of guy they rejected in high school. Jennifer Jason Leigh, playing the to-be-wed Pauline is happy and resolved to marry a guy she loves, but realizes is not up to her sisters standard. What becomes apparent is that there are other reasons for Margot's objections and those are at the heart of what is wrong with this film.
Baumbach's script swings back and forth between the arguments Margot puts forth why Pauline shouldn't marry Malcom, played by Jack Black. and their past family relationship.
It became apparent that the past loomed much larger than the present but we never get to see these issues examined. Hints about issues with a sister and mother who show up late in the film in an Hitchcock type appearance that you have to know about to witness are never fleshed out nor explained.
Forget the production values that are below what a teenager can do with a cheap video camera. Muddy dark interiors, washed out exteriors and unbearable sound track are an insult to the talent assembled to make this film. I for one thought the actors did a lot with very little and I'm sure they were disappointed with the result.
"The Whale" with it's quirky but lovable if not frustrating characters is funny and interesting study of the dysfunctional family. This film with it's all star cast is just the opposite.
I couldn't identify with or like any of these people.
Nicole Kidman, playing the title role, is caustic and manipulative as the sister who comes home to save her sister from marrying a man, she judges is the kind of guy they rejected in high school. Jennifer Jason Leigh, playing the to-be-wed Pauline is happy and resolved to marry a guy she loves, but realizes is not up to her sisters standard. What becomes apparent is that there are other reasons for Margot's objections and those are at the heart of what is wrong with this film.
Baumbach's script swings back and forth between the arguments Margot puts forth why Pauline shouldn't marry Malcom, played by Jack Black. and their past family relationship.
It became apparent that the past loomed much larger than the present but we never get to see these issues examined. Hints about issues with a sister and mother who show up late in the film in an Hitchcock type appearance that you have to know about to witness are never fleshed out nor explained.
Forget the production values that are below what a teenager can do with a cheap video camera. Muddy dark interiors, washed out exteriors and unbearable sound track are an insult to the talent assembled to make this film. I for one thought the actors did a lot with very little and I'm sure they were disappointed with the result.
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