Malcolm1980's Movie Reviews Thread 2015

[malcolm1980]

1/24

American Sniper (Clint Eastwood) ***1/2 - Now, I am a card-carrying bleeding heart totally anti-war liberal. This is NOT an Army recruitment propaganda film nor is it a jingoistic pro-Iraq war MURICA! type of film. It is the story about one guy in the war: Chris Kyle, the American sniper who's had the most confirmed kills. I knew going in that it wasn't going to be what some critics say it is because Clint Eastwood is a much better filmmaker than that. That said, this IS his best work since Letters from Iwo Jima. The film does not take a political stand for or against the war and instead allows the audience to make their own choice (and sadly, some people I've read are just plain stupid). Bradley Cooper probably gives his career-best performance here. He portrays Kyle as a flawed, damaged human being whose black & white view of the war serves as a defense mechanism to let him keep some semblance of sanity. It's far from Eastwood's best work though but it is an interesting film.

Blackhat (Michael Mann) *** - The fact that this film was dumped in January was not a good sign. Predictably, it did get meh reviews from the critics and bombed at the box-office. But you know, it's Michael Mann. That and coupled with the fact that a few friends of mine whose opinions I trust and respect spoke highly of it made me wanna check this out. And it's pretty good! Far better than its reputation suggests. The film is of course about cyberterrorism. The FBI and the Chinese government enlists the aid of a convicted hacker to apprehend someone hacking into secure systems unleashing terror and mayhem. It is kind of ludicrous and a bit overlong and the end game of the villain is very 60's James Bond villain. But it is still a very stylish in the way only Michael Mann can deliver. It's no masterpiece but it's a solid piece of pulpy, grown-up entertainment.

Osaka Elegy (Kenji Mizoguchi) ***1/2 - A young woman consents to becomes a mistress to her boss in order to support her ungrateful family. This is an early work from Kenji Mizoguchi which, like his future works, is an eye-opening look at how women are treated in Japanese culture and society of the period. You can see themes that he will subsequently return to in later films but even at this period, he does excellent work. This film is sad and frustrating of course but one thing that surprised me is that this actually had a sense of humor. I mean, who knew, right? Highly recommended and not only for Mizoguchi completists.

The Suitor (Pierre Etaix) **** - I feel head over heels for Pierre Etaix's Yoyo (I mean, look at my avatar!) so it is only natural that I check out his other films. Count me as officially a fan. A nerdy, socially awkward young man decides to try and find a wife leading to all sorts of hilarity. I've always wondered what a Buster Keaton sound film would look like and it seems as though co-writer-director-star Pierre Etaix answered that for me. I absolutely loved this film. The slapstick and the sight gags are hysterical and I marvel at the way Etaix uses editing and sound to add to the comedy. It should be seen by any student of film comedy. Again, he IS relatively obscure especially when compared Chaplin, Keaton, Lloyd and even Jacques Tati but he really shouldn't. I'm glad his films are finally released so more people can check out his genius. I can't recommend this enough!

[malcolm1980]

1/25

Fury (Fritz Lang) **** - A man on his way to meet his fiancee gets arrested on a kidnapping charge. While he is held in jail. the citizens of the small town get riled up by rumors and hearsay and they turn into an angry mob and decide to lynch him. This is one of Fritz Lang's works in Hollywood and this feels like a Fritz Lang film through and through despite the fact that it's in English. A lot of it reminds me of M, if the protagonist of M was an innocent man. This would make a great double feature. Spencer Tracy and Sylvia Sidney are both terrific. It may get a little preachy here and there but there's no denying the power of this real thought-provoking film. It also feels strangely relevant today as well.

[malcolm1980]

1/30

Sisters of the Gion (Kenji Mizoguchi) ***1/2 - You gotta hand it to Kenji Mizoguchi. This film is only 70 minutes long in its present state but it feels very dense and very rich in story, character and theme. It's about two sisters who are geishas, one submissive and traditional and the other cynical, manipulative and a misandrist. Polar opposites but both get screwed over by the male dominated society in different ways. This is a more explicitly feminist film than Mizoguchi's other woman-driven film Osaka Elegy (both starring Isuzu Yamada who's also brilliant in this one) and I'm surprised that a male director in 1930's Japan could direct such a film. Though it hammers the point a bit too hard in the end, it is still a compelling, very well-acted drama.

Follow the Fleet (Mark Sandrich) ***1/2 - After reading the synopsis, I personally feared I would be unfavorably comparing this film to Swing Time that other Fred Astaire-Ginger Rogers musical released in 1936 or even to On the Town, another musical featuring sailors on leave. But thankfully, I don't need to because this is a wonderful musical on its own. Fred and Ginger play ex-lovers/dancer partners who reconnect after the guy joins the Navy. There's music of course courtesy of Irving Berlin (great songs) and of course whenever Fred and Ginger dance, it's magic. However, I think Harriet Hilliard as Ginger's on-screen sister in love with a sailor almost steals the show despite the Fred and Ginger fireworks.

[malcolm1980]

1/31

Into the Woods (Rob Marshall) ***1/2 - I'm a huge musical and I'm a huge Stephen Sondheim so I was really looking forward to this one. Count me as one of the fans of the film version of Sweeney Todd, This adaptation of the popular Broadway musical which reinvented and deconstructed fairy tales way, way before Disney started doing them is not perfect. But goshdarnit, it is still a pretty damn good one. Though it does have the tendency to be a bit stagey in parts, I think Rob Marshall and James Lapine managed to adapt it pretty well on film. It IS Rob Marshall best film since, well, Chicago. The actors are excellent with everyone nailing their songs, speaking as someone familiar with the score and knowing a lot of the songs by heart. Meryl Streep, Chris Pine and Anna Kendrick most especially.

Birdman (or The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance) (Alejandro Gonzalez Inarittu) **** - Ever since Alejandro Gonzalez Inarittu burst into the scene with Amores Perros, I thought he was an interesting filmmaker to watch but after not being too impressed with subsequent films all of which seem to think that piling on misery and misfortune equals artistic brilliance or something. So it is very refreshing for him to do a black comedy for a change. And it paid off. I loved this movie. The film's gimmick of sorts: Making most of the film appear like one long tracking shot is not just a gimmick, it works to illustrate the urgency and frustration of an aging has-been actor (who used to play a superhero in movies) trying to mount a big Broadway play. Michael Keaton makes use of his entire range as an actor in this one and every one of the cast supports him ably with Edward Norton and Emma Stone almost stealing the movie. The awards love this one is getting is merited. It does come off as self-consciously arty but it does so in such an exciting, entertaining way. One of the best films of the year.

Land Without Bread (Luis Bunuel) **** - A short but very affecting documentary by Luis Bunuel which depict the day to day lives of a very impoverished village in the rural areas of Spain. Despite being less than half an hour long, it manages to be more unforgettable and haunting images than some films three or even four times its length. It’s sometimes hard to watch but despite the grotesque imagery, it’s also oddly beautiful. It is documentary but it really feels like a Bunuel film through and through. Bunuel did this to shine a light on the condition of the area at the time. I looked it up and apparently, in the present day, this place is doing a lot better. So…mission accomplished?

Dodsworth (William Wyler) **** - An automobile tycoon decides to retire and tour Europe with his younger wife. While there, his younger wife goes through a midlife crisis and starts having affairs with different men in order to feel young again. I was surprised by how much this film almost feels like an Ingmar Bergman film with its depiction of what’s essentially a marriage crumbling before our very eyes. Walter Huston is fantastic as the middle-aged man who finds out his riches can do little to save his seemingly perfect marriage. It’s quite adult (considering this was made AFTER the establishment of the Hays code) and a lot of it still holds up to this day. I have to say this could one of if not THE best film by director William Wyler.

[malcolm1980]

2/2

Mr. Deeds Goes to Town (Frank Capra) *** - A naive small town man finds himself the heir of a $20 million fortune by his deceased uncle. This is one of those major classics I always put off seeing but I guess now is a good a time as any to see it. I'm simply not a fan of Frank Capra. This one's pretty good and I can definitely see the appeal and there are some laughs but is not in my all-time favorite list. The film's golly-gee-willikers small town Americana attitude strike me as a bit dated. What is not dated though are the excellent performances. Gary Cooper is well-cast as the wide-eyed small town boy but it's Jean Arthur's performance as the cynical reporter slowly won over by this man that helps me buy into the feel-good message in the end.

[malcolm1980]

2/4

Foxcatcher (Bennett Miller) ***1/2 - Fascinating, gripping film about the bizarre relationship between rich philanthropist/ornithologist/wrestling enthusiast John DuPont and the Brothers Schultz who are Olympic gold medalists in wrestling. The film is deliberately paced with an odd sense of foreboding all throughout and if you know the true story (which I won't spoil here), you'll probably know why. The three main performances are outstanding. If there's anyone out there who doubts the credibility of Channing Tatum as an actor, this film will definitely erase those doubts away. He definitely gives his career-best performance in this film. I've always thought Steve Carrell is an excellent actor and it's great he gets the chance to stretch. I don't think Bennett Miller has made his definitive masterpiece yet but he's definitely a directorial voice to watch.

[malcolm1980]

2/5

Libeled Lady (Jack Conway) ***1/2 - When an heiress tries to sue a newspaper for libel for an erroneous headline, the managing editor tries to get her into a compromising situation to force her to drop it. Frankly, I'm surprised by how much I enjoyed this movie. The main quartet: Spencer Tracy, William Powell, Myrna Loy and Jean Harlow all shine. It's no His Girl Friday or Bringing Up Baby but this screwball romantic comedy still has some very funny moments, particularly the scene where William Powell tries to fish. That particular scene alone makes the film but there's still a lot of good stuff in it. It's not quite a masterpiece but it's a solid, entertaining film.

[malcolm1980]

2/6

Citizenfour (Laura Poitras) **** - Edward Snowden became a household name and controversial figure after it was revealed he was the whistleblower who disclosed that the U.S. government spies on its citizens through wire tappings and monitoring phone calls/e-mails. Structured almost like a spy movie, this documentary was actually part of the story. You see the events fold as they happen since director Laura Poitras along with journalist Glenn Greenwald interviews and documents Snowden as he disclosed this top-secret information. Whether or not you agree with Snowden's actions and whether or not you think he's a traitor or a patriot, this is still a fascinating, thrilling and thought-provoking film about a man who believes he's doing the right thing. It may also inspire debates on the limits and ethics of government surveillance to protect its citizens.

[malcolm1980]

2/7


That Thing Called Tadhana (Antoinette Jadaone) **** - "Tadhana" means "fate" to those of you who don't speak Tagalog. This film is absolutely wonderful. It has been described as a Filipino Before Sunrise and in essence it is though it is more comedic that any of the Before movies. The story is about two Filipinos who meet in the airport in Rome. The girl had found out her boyfriend of eight years who had been working there had cheated on her. The two connect and continue their trip through a series of conversations about their lives and loves. Can we make a law that all Filipino rom-coms MUST be written and/or directed by Antoinette Jadaone? This film is absolutely fantastic. It feels like it hit all the rom-com tropes but structure-wise, it really doesn't. It's also amazing that she made a film that's mostly two people talking cinematically dynamic and entertaining! Few people can do that! Oh, and the ending is absolutely perfect, as in the most perfect ending on any romantic comedy I've ever seen.

Wild (Jean Marc Vallee) ***1/2 - This is the film based on the memoirs Cheryl Strayed, who after being greatly devastated by the death of her mother and drowning herself in sex and drugs, decides to hike the Pacific Crest Trail alone. Reese Witherspoon gives her career-best performance in this film most especially in the last few scenes (one scene in particular is the best performance I've ever seen from her period). Beautifully photographed. It almost made me wanna go hiking (but then I remember the toenail scene). But seriously, the film would not have worked as well had Reese Witherspoon not bring it. And she did. Laura Dern managed to make an impression in her limited screen time as her mother.

The Color of Pomegranates (Sergei Parajanov) ***1/2 - This is a biopic of the 18th century Armenian poet Sayat Nova (yes, I've never heard of him before either) which depicts his childhood all the way up to his death to but it is not a "biopic" in the traditional sense. Director Sergei Parajanov instead tried to film his world poetically through striking images and strange tableaus. It is a film which you either buy into its conceit and embrace it or you fight against and dismiss it as pretentious hogwash. I have to say it took a while but it did win me over. Whether you'll love it or hate it, you still have to admit it's an unusual and visually unforgettable film.

[malcolm1980]

2/8


Jupiter Ascending (Andy Wachowski/Lana Wachowski) **1/2 - I have a weird relationship with the Wachowskis. I've seen most of their films but I don't particularly LOVE any of them. I mean, I like the first Matrix just fine and I do admire large parts of Cloud Atlas but mostly their stuff are problematic for me even though I do admire a lot of their originality and imagination. This is no different. I love the fact that this is a completely original piece and the world they built was fascinating. It's got some great visuals but the film sadly is highly problematic from a tone and script standpoint. It's too silly to be taken seriously yet at the time, it's too self-serious to be taken as a silly fun science-fiction. Yes, Eddie Redmayne is pretty awful in this. It feels like he's doing a bad Marlon Brando impression. I do recommend checking this one out solely for the scene that references Brazil that ends with a great cameo by (SPOILER).