Film Critical

Film reviews and coming attractions by NAnderson for your consideration. I will be writing critiques of as many films as I can see. Check them out and write a comment.

Monday, October 23, 2006

THE DEPARTED

This film has gotten incredible reviews and people love it. It has been described as Scorsese's best work, and one of the best films of the year. This is not correct.

I love Scorsese and will see anything he makes. This film is well made and very well acted. These are a couple of the only redeeming qualities this film has to offer though. Scorsese's classic style is not present here. The film is different because it does not revolve wholly around a single character. There is an incredible ensemble cast that all become wrapped up in this story. Everyone is involved one way or another. The story premise sounded incredibly intriguing to me at first; a cop infiltrating the mob, and a mobster infiltrating the law force. It seemed like there was a lot of potential here. Maybe there was, and maybe it was missed. At least, I felt like it was missed. There seemed to be too many people involved and the story could not focus on anyone’s personal journey enough, which is when Scorsese shines. He is so good at telling a characters personal journey through struggle. I was looking for more of this in The Departed.

The list of quality actors in this film goes on. It is a great group of characters that all bring a very different personality to the story. Alec Baldwin blew me away. He was so funny and powerful at the same time. A very “Boston” character. Leonardo DiCaprio also prevailed in his role as Billy Costigan, the undercover cop struggling to keep it together and stay alive. Matt Damon plays the opposite character, and does a good job as well. I wanted the two actors to switch characters though. It seems like that would have fit the story better, and I would be curious to see how the film would have come across then. Jack Nicholson, Mark Wahlberg and Martin Sheen all do a superb job in their roles as well.

The film was shot with an established eye. No details were left out. The shots were pleasing. The characters’ emotions were caught just right. There just wasn’t a lot of emotion to catch. I did not feel too attached to any of them really. The only character that I cared about by the end of the film was Costigan, played by DiCaprio. He had the most character development of anyone, and was the only one that seemed like a real person; not just a character. The story moves quickly despite the long runtime. Things just keep happening. I found that I wasn’t ever too curious to see what happened next. It could have ended at any time and I would not have known the difference. There is very little time when anyone is alone on screen. This lack of intimacy with the characters is part of why there exists this previously mentioned disconnect. The struggles that people face are often so much more apparent when they are alone. Costigan and Damon’s character, Sullivan, are the only ones in which the viewer shares much intimacy so their characters develop more than the others.

The music did not impress me because it often seemed inappropriate. There were several times that it really took me out of the film, and I was once again just sitting in a theatre watching a movie. The viewers want music that wraps them up in the story and keeps them there.

This film is well directed by Scorsese, but does not follow too much of his usual style. As far as it being his best? I say far from it. It was a fun film, but it seemed rushed and never really got to a point. Superfluous deaths, an out of place soundtrack, and poor character development put The Departed lower on my list for the year. The film is well acted by a strong assembly of actors that made it fun to watch.


GRADE: B-
http://www.apple.com/trailers/wb/thedeparted/

Friday, October 20, 2006

LUCKY NUMBER SLEVIN (ON DVD)

This is a very fun film to watch. It is visually appealing and follows an interesting story. The characters are entertaining and well played by the cast.

Paul McQuigan directs the film and tells the story well. His previous work with Hartnett in Wicker Park was presented in a similar style, and Slevin is just as enjoyable. The story moves quickly and wraps the viewer up in it. The common question is, who is working with who? There is a good interwooven story that reveals itself only at the end.

There are colorful interior sets that contrast well to the murky look of the cold New York City streets. The cinematography, that is done with creative grace, keeps the viewers eyes watching.

The interactions between Josh Hartnett and Lucy Lui's characters steal much of the film. They are often comedic, and there is a chemistry that works very well. Both actors do a stellar job throughout the film. Veterans Morgan Freeman and Sir Ben Kingsley, who play rival crime kingpins, bring average performances to average roles.

This is a well made film that keeps the viewer going at a steady pace. A humorous, crime thriller with an interesting presentation by director McQuigan. It succeeds in my mind because Lucky Number Slevin does not try to be overly meaningful. It is not too serious or too goofy. An entertaining film worth renting.


GRADE: A-
http://www.apple.com/trailers/weinstein/luckynumberslevin/trailer/
Similar to: Wicker Park

Wednesday, October 18, 2006

SHORTBUS

The streak of good fall films continues with John Cameron Mitchell's latest, Shortbus. After hearing many good things during the L.A. Film Festival earlier this year I was anxious for this film to get released. I have to say I was very pleasantly surprised once I finally got the opportunity to view it.

The film revolves around an ironically linked group of people that all are struggling with their current relationships. The setting is New York City, and it seems the perfect place for this story. The city is represented in the film by an animated model that does a surprisingly good job of creating the New York feel. It also makes such a huge city seem intimate. The story visually hops from building to building while flying through this model. This visualization creates the feeling that all these people's stories are woven together. I could appreciate this once I realized they actually were.

Each of the main characters at some point seems to interact with all the others. Many of these interactions take place at a Shortbus on a dark street. This is a place where these people go to meet others, have sexual experiences and take in some entertainment. In an Eyes Wide Shut meets Cheers sort of way this place is explicit and totally comforting at the same time. You feel juvenile and vulnerable but in a totally appealing way.

The cast of unknowns does a pretty great job of getting their characters' stories across. The actors were part of the creation of the story for the film and that shines through in their performances. The intimate relationships and real sex on film was not off putting like some have criticized. One of my favorites I came across being "Should we also use real bullets on screen?" It was not overly graphic, nor did it seem unnecessary. The characters' unhappiness revolves around sex so it seems appropriate to the film. Get over it people. Mitchell gracefully puts it before you in an intimate, and often humorous, way.

This film is actually very funny. That is one thing that I really enjoyed about it. It is not trying to be an overly serious or in your face film. It comes across as light hearted, but ends up bringing you deep within. It really is the kind of film where you feel like the characters are your friends by the end. You laugh with them. You cry with them. You can probably relate in one way or another to someone. It felt like Rent on a much less musical and less serious note.

The direction is done pretty well. The way it is shot is nothing too special, but it is effective. I would have liked to see more experimentation with the cinematography, but the aerial visual and fly-throughs of the city model were very engaging. The characters were well played and felt pretty natural, which is not often the case for first time actors.

I often feel that music, or the score to a film, can make or break a film. The Shortbus score was done by film veterans Yo La Tengo and they made it for me. I really enjoyed their solid sound and emotional melodies. It fit perfect with what you saw on screen.

A good script and compelling story made this film a joy to watch. It makes you laugh and cry while leaving you with a sense of ease and satisfaction.


GRADE: A-
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0367027/trailers-screenplay-E29222-10-2

Tuesday, October 10, 2006

HALF NELSON

This is one of my favorite movies of the year. Well acted and well directed.

Ryan Gosling really stepped it up for this role. He gives an emotionally powerful performance that impacts you long after it's over. His character, Dan, struggles between the person he is around the kids that he teaches and the person he is outside of the classroom. A young girl student of his breaches this gap and his two worlds collide beautifully. The girl Drey, played by Shareeka Epps, is a very strong character that pushes Dan to think and seems to be his only hope. These two main characters are portrayed with a grace and humor that is so enjoyable to watch.

The way that the film is shot is very nice too. The photography is often unique, with odd camera angles and blurry focus. This makes it interesting to watch. The direction by Ryan Fleck is noteable. He is someone I will be watching for in the future.

The acting is top notch and keeps you wrapped up in the film. Ryan Gosling and Shareeka Epps interact very well together, being both humorous and moving. Ryan Fleck did a solid job of both writing and directing this film. This film is a subtle, yet powerful, showing of internal struggles we all face. Not since Brick have I been so impressed by an indepedent film.


GRADE: A
http://www.apple.com/trailers/thinkfilm/halfnelson/trailer/

Monday, October 09, 2006

A GUIDE TO RECOGNIZING YOUR SAINTS

Wow. I am blown away. This is an incredibly powerful and mesmerizing film. So much so that I saw it twice this weekend. I don't do that often. Usually the second time I will pick up on more editing errors and the like, but found none. This film is very well written and directed by first timer Dito Montiel. He portays personal characters that stick with you and stir your emotions. The acting is as perfect as can be. Nobody misses a beat, and the performances are all around stunning.

Dito Montiel obviously had a powerful story to tell. His book, of the same name, was well received and praised for its accurate depictions of the streets of New York in the 1980's. Book to film adaptations are often so far off from the point of the book because they leave too much out or put too much in. Because Montiel adapted his own film, the vision stayed true. No topic in the film seems to just be touched on the surface, and none of the scenes feel like they should not be there. The film flows so beautifully and never lets up.

One of the most intriguing parts to me is the scenes where there are numerous editing cuts that overlap so you see the same thing happening two slightly different ways. This seems like an attempt by Montiel to show that we don't always remember exactly how the scenes of our past were set. What is more important is what happened. Was he standing here or was it a little closer to the stairs? It doesn't matter to the story. What matters is there was a confrontation and this is what was said. Montiel tells the story very well and the interesting editing added a sense of that story telling.

The young girls that hang out with Dito and his friends play an interesting role in the story for me. The interactions they had with the boys are so well done. The immaturity and akwardness between the sexes is apparent and accurate. It is a chance for the boys to show another side of their characters too.

Everyone who acted in this film did a superb job. There was no character that I didn't feel or believe. Shia LaBeouf is outstanding as the young Dito. He is very real and told his story well. He always seems like a caring person, but is very careful not to show too much care for the people he would abandon. I think his eye contact is a big part of this. He doesn't often look directly at people and this shows his desire to not get too close to them. His girlfriend, played by Melonie Diaz, even points out that he will not look at her. The only person he really seemed to open up to is his friend Mike. A loveable character that is well played by Martin Compston, who is also fun to watch in Sweet Sixteen.

I think Channing Tatum does a perfect job as Antonio. He surprised me in Step Up and once again in Saints. He has a manner of delivering dialogue that is so natural feeling. I see so many actors struggle to be convincing and he does it very well. Chazz Palminteri is great for the role of Dito's father. He shows his internal struggle so well in his face. The words that he couldn't get out but were spinning around in him. His repetition of everything and interactions with Antonio are entertaining too.

As an ensemble, the cast is fun to watch and totally addicting. This was made clear at this year's Sundance Festival, where it received the Jury Prize for its ensemble cast. Not to mention that Dito Montiel received the Director's Award.

This is a very enjoyable film, and a genre success story. Dito Montiel nicely adapted his life story into a captivating film. For a first time director, the shots and editing are very unique and effective. The acting is superb, and the story is poignant.


GRADE: A
http://www.apple.com/trailers/independent/aguidetorecognizingyoursaints/hd/
Similar to: Mean Streets and other Scorsese films

Thursday, October 05, 2006

RENAISSANCE

The quickest moving snoozer I have seen in a long time. The scenes are constantly changing and often visually pleasing, but is there anything really happening?

I think the hardest part was getting into the characters. They were not developed in a way that made them appealing. There was a strong lack of emotion all around. The main character, Barthélémy Karas, is a cop searching for a young scientist that has been kidnapped. He has been told to find her alive and at all costs. His character is about as boring as he is animated. Tossing out lines like, First we find the girl and then we sleep. If you have ever seen any detective movie you know this is a line to be avoided at all costs. I don't recall more than one expression on his face throughout the film.

The animation was intriguingng and there were some very cool visual sequences. One of the best was a confrontation between Karas and the agents in the invisible suits; a shootout taking place within a framework of trees. Besides a few key scenes, there was very little action overall. This was a situation where action could have helped to hold my interest. Stylized much like a video game, the human movements were somewhat choppy, and the dialogue didn't always work well with what you were seeing on screen.

The scenes were often rushed and to the point. So much so that they often became uninteresting. Most scenes felt like they were there only to reveal a very minute bit of information on the weak story, and not to develop the characters more thoroughly. So although the scenes were constantly changing, the film seemed to be going nowhere.

Nicholas Dodd did a good job of creating a dark score, but the music is too subtle and unemotional to be too effective. You almost never notice that it is even there.

Renaissance focuses so much on trying to make something out of the lackluster plot and so little on engaging the audience through interesting characters. By the end of the film I had no emotional ties to any of the characters. I wanted to feel something. I yearned for at least a little bit of emotion. In fact, as the fim was wraping up I was waiting for them to reveal that Karas was actually a robot. Actually, I have seen robot characters with more emotion. The rather empty plot does not make up for the lack of character development.

The film came out of a six year process, and the time spent on visual presentation seems to shine through more than anything. Sometimes very visually appealing and fun to watch this film falls short on so many other aspects that it was not very enjoyable overall.


GRADE: C
http://www.apple.com/trailers/miramax/renaissance/trailer1/

Monday, October 02, 2006

Welcome!

Welcome to my film review site. I will be posting reviews of every movie I get the chance to see. So check back frequently.