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Posted : 2 months ago on 30 September 2009 08:25
(A review of Crank: High Voltage)
"Who's got my fucking strawberry tart?"
In spite of only earning a mere $43 million at the global box office, 2006's Crank became an instantaneous cult hit. This cult status ensured that writer-directors Mark Neveldine and Brian Taylor would be given the chance to produce a sequel, which has at long last arrived in the form of Crank: High Voltage. This is merely a celebration of action-comedy; a barely coherent collection of stunts, fights, plot absurdities, profanity-laced dialogue and sex...all set at breakneck pace. It's a grindhouse film for the MTV generation, and it's one hell of a rip-snorting rollercoaster ride in which Neveldine and Taylor push their movie to the limit and beyond (with absolutely no regard for restraint or basic standards of common decency).
For those who recall, Chev Chelios (Statham) "died" at the end of Crank - he fell from a helicopter and landed on the pavement several thousand feet below. But in this sequel, he's alive and well. Clearly, the best explanation as to how Chev survived his fall is no explanation whatsoever. The moment he hits the pavement, he's hauled away by a group of Chinese thugs and taken to a seedy laboratory. His heart is removed and replaced with an artificial heart in order to keep him alive so his other organs can be harvested. Needless to say, Chev is unwilling to be a mystery donor. After busting out of the operating room, he embarks on a hunt for his missing heart while killing assorted forms of scum along the way.
This premise sets up another 85 minute of insanity similar to the first film, with Chev engaging in a wild orgy of violence and sex. His trustworthy doctor (Yoakam) is once again on the other end of a phone line, and informs Chev that he has to keep his artificial heart powered in order to sustain his citywide rampage. The electricity becomes derived from all manner of sources - tasers, car batteries, powerlines, friction, and so on. This contrivance also leads to an over-the-top cartoonishness, and any semblance of realism is quickly drained from the material.
Realistically, the only way to follow up on the outrageousness of Crank without creating a pure re-tread is to push the envelope. The envelope isn't merely pushed; it's blown wide open. Crank: High Voltage actually makes the original Crank seem like a safe, studio-friendly venture. Lionsgate evidently didn't set any restrictions for Neveldine and Taylor to obey, so the filmmakers were free to turn the movie into a masterpiece of camera gymnastics and dark comedy. The notion that these films are cinematic video games is pushed even harder (especially by Mike Patton's score), and the movie once again rests on the shoulders of Jason Statham and Amy Smart (who are apparently game for any kind of public debauchery the writing/directing duo can cook up). The phrase "over-the-top" is perhaps an insulting understatement, much like the words "morally bankrupt". Thank God it's also endlessly entertaining, and easily one of the most hilarious movies of 2009.
In spite of my better judgement, this reviewer adores the Crank movies. Crank: High Voltage may even be superior to its predecessor simply because it's even more energetic and inventive. It's also one of the craziest, most ridiculous movies ever made - and that ain't an insult. Just when you believe things can't get any crazier, Neveldine and Taylor take another unpredictable turn. For instance, there are a few newscast segments featuring John De Lancie as an anchorman whose bitingly satirical anecdotes are a highlight. There's also a wonderfully executed parody of the old Godzilla movies (featuring exaggerated puppet versions of Chelios and his opponent) included at the most random time plainly because the kitchen sink had been tossed in and the filmmakers were struggling to find something else. But since Crank: High Voltage is in full excess mode, not everything works. For example, a superfluous dream/flashback sequence with a young Chev and his mother on a British talk show brings the movie to a grinding halt and temporarily hinders the pacing.
Neveldine and Taylor's shooting style is varied and frenzied. The movie looks remarkably good considering its low-budget origins, not to mention the fact that it was primarily shot with consumer digital cameras easily obtainable at your local electronics store. Like the first movie, the handheld shooting style allows a viewer to see the world from Chev's perspective. The editing is rapid (probably about two cuts per second on average) and a wide variety of visual tweaks are employed (freeze frames, comic book-like captions, cartoon sound effects, and even pixilation to "obscure" supposedly graphic sexual acts). But like the original movie, the plot and characters are elementary; the type of stuff found in direct-to-DVD offerings. Also, too, since this sequel adopts a lot the same cinematic techniques of its predecessor, as well as the general template, it does feel derivative from time to time.
Crank: High Voltage works as wonderfully as it does primarily because Jason Statham is so pitch-perfect; merging bona fide action star with genuinely sharp comic timing. Statham is an effective straight man doing what straight men do best - ignoring the silliness around him, and approaching everything without a wink or a smile.
There are a bunch of returning faces from the first Crank, most notable of which is Amy Smart who's terrific as Chev's public-sex-prone girlfriend Eve. Dwight Yoakam is another highlight as Chev's hedonistic, amoral friend and medical advisor. Efren Ramirez also returns, playing the brother of his character from the original film (how clever). The most surprising addition to the cast is an utterly unrecognisable and underused David Carradine, who's hidden under age make-up in a weird, hysterical and brief riff on his old Kung Fu movies. Keep an eye out for Corey Haim as well, who amps up the sleaze for his minor role.
Critic-proof movies are all the rage in this current cinematic climate. Crank: High Voltage is pretty much critic-proof. If you find yourself hating this film (a perfectly reasonable reaction), you're probably not the audience for this type of flick. While this argument could be used for countless other brain-dead summer actioners, the Crank films stand out due to one very crucial factor: they have balls. They're unapologetically R-rated action films which focus on the gore and are low on silly CGI. If you loved the first Crank, you're likely to enjoy this sequel just as much.
Be sure to stay throughout the credits for an assortment of bloopers.
7.5/10
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Posted : 2 months ago on 29 September 2009 07:15
(A review of Crank)
"I'm going to get that little fucker if it's the last thing I do...It may actually be the last thing I do."
Sometimes movie-goers require a dosage of simple, unadulterated fun in the form of a film that's content with serving up a nourishing dose of action, violence and sex. So thank Mark Neveldine and Brian Taylor that the delightful action-comedy Crank exists. Geared towards the dormant 13-year-old in every male, Crank doesn't merely unfold...it explodes onscreen, careening from one chest-thumping scene to the next. It delivers 85 minutes of pure action and hilarity, with minimal encumbrances (like exposition or character development) and with only skeletal fragments of plot. Crank also throttles forward with a glorious tongue-in-cheek approach - the over-the-top action is delivered with a side order of cheese, and plenty of humour accompanies the cocktail of testosterone and adrenaline (emphasis on "adrenaline"). The film is every bit as trashy, vulgar, sexist, brainless, excessive and callow as you'd imagine, but this reviewer enjoyed every delirious minute.
Former professional assassin Chev Chelios (Statham) awakens in his apartment at the beginning of the film after having been poisoned by his rival Verona (Cantillo) with a lethal dose of the "Beijing Cocktail". Chev only has about an hour to live, but learns that he'll be able to slow down the effects of poison and live long enough to exact revenge if he keeps his adrenaline levels high. And thus, Chev begins a citywide crime spree. In order to keep his adrenaline pumping he resorts to barbaric violence, cocaine, shootouts, car chases (usually in stolen cars), epinephrine, caffeinated drinks, nasal spray and a very public display of affection. And during all this chaos, Chev's "doctor" (Yoakam) - you'd use quotation marks too, if you saw how this guy runs his practise - dispenses advice through a phone line, though he insists there's no actual cure for what Chev has been injected with.
Directed and written by Mark Neveldine and Brian Taylor, Crank is an exercise in overblown simplicity. Prior to this movie, Neveldine and Taylor had only worked as cinematographers and camera operators, which probably explains why the visuals overwhelm all narrative requirements. The story is every bit as dumb as it sounds, but who cares? Why watch Crank for incisive dialogue or intelligent plotting? It has a niche audience, and it aims solely to satiate them. Once you suspend your disbelief, respect the film's decision to dispose of all logic by the 10-minute mark, and realise that the creators are only interested in cramming as much action as possible into a tight runtime, you're in for a fun, action-packed ride that's all about the forward momentum.
Neveldine and Taylor employ every stylistic cinematic technique imaginable. In fact, there are times when the movie feels like little more than an opportunity for the two writer-directors to show off. With split screens, distorted images, first-person shots, slow-motion, fast-motion, freeze frames, animated representations of Chev's heart, colour saturation and use of Google maps, the look of the film is frenzied and adrenaline-pumping; replicating the emotions and anxieties of the protagonist. However the style crosses over into tedium from time to time due to sheer repetition. There's so much happening during every single frame and there's so much action that it all feels like a far too generous helping of junk food. After all, at its most basic level, Crank is overstylised junk food. If one removed all the visual tweaks and tongue-in-cheek humour from the equation, one would be left with a story better off in a direct-to-DVD action flick starring Van Damme or Steven Seagal.
British badass Jason Statham (of Transporter fame) carries the whole feature on his well-formed shoulders; pushing the envelope of acceptable antihero boundaries. With his eyes full of fire, Statham turns Chev Chelios into a laser-guided missile of mayhem, unable and unwilling to stop until he finds an antidote and/or slaughters everyone responsible for his corpse-bound state. Thankfully Statham brings a degree of dimension to the role, and his acting is top-notch. Since Crank is mostly a one-man show, the rest of the cast just needs to be present, accounted for, and playing their minor part for the film to succeed. But oddly enough, the supporting players are just as effective. Jose Pablo Cantillo is all teeth and terror as Verona, while Amy Smart is frequently amusing as Chev's girlfriend Eve. There's also Efren Ramirez (probably best known for Napoleon Dynamite) who plays Chev's sidekick Kaylo with subliminal flamboyance.
Some audiences may choose to dismiss Crank as an over-inflated excuse for blood, guts, firepower and fisticuffs...to an extent, that's correct. But it's also hilarious, irresistible, macho fun. It's best described as a live-action video game (some levels even play out like levels of Grand Theft Auto) with an unhinged Jason Statham in the centre of it all. Stuffy, serious critics may dislike Crank due to its contrived story (after all, why couldn't Verona just shoot Chev instead of poisoning him?) and shallow characterisations, but the movie is more geared towards those who'll take it in the intended spirit. Be sure to keep watching 'til the end credits expire for a scene which cements its live-action video game pedigree.
Followed by Crank: High Voltage in 2009.
7.5/10
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Posted : 2 months ago on 28 September 2009 07:15
(A review of Charlie & Boots)
"Do you remember when I was little, you always promised me that one day we'd go and cast a line off the northernmost tip of Australia?"
The concept of an Australian comedy featuring the once-in-a-lifetime pair-up of Paul Crocodile Dundee Hogan and Shane Kenny Jacobson would appear foolproof. And while this movie doesn't live up to all of its potential, Charlie & Boots (the sophomore effort of director Dean Murphy, who previously teamed up with Paul Hogan for 2004's Strange Bedfellows) is an endearing, poignant and sweet comedy-drama. This is a film infused with so much heart that even the feel-good clichés it occasionally employs seem charming. It's simply an ideal vehicle for its two primary stars.
The plotline is reasonably straightforward. After the tragic death of his beloved wife Grace (Thompson), Charlie (Hogan) - a hardworking farmer - is left devastated and withdrawn. On a whim, his older son Boots (Jacobson) decides to take an impromptu fishing trip with Charlie, as it could shake his old man out of the doldrums and perhaps repair the rift between them. Once Boots gets Charlie in the car, he informs him they'll be travelling from their Victorian hometown to Cape York (thousands of kilometres away) for a spot of fishing off the country's northernmost tip (a trip long promised but never accomplished). Charlie is at first none too co-operative, but Boots does his best to be upbeat. Along the way they pick up an attractive young female hitchhiker with boyfriend trouble (Griffin), and they fend off a succession of older women who are interested in Charlie.
This is a superbly relaxed, warm and good-natured movie that celebrates the relationship between father and son. Gradually, as the trip unfolds, an uneasy companionship emerges as the two begin to learn more about each other and the dramas that ruptured their lives. The movie exposes family conflicts, and watches the protagonists as both of them divulge emotional revelations while their relationship is slowly put back on track. Charlie & Boots can also be perceived as a picturesque tourist guide of rural Australia. During their travels the characters encounter the Grampians, Tamworth, Forbes, Tenterfield and even the spectacular Great Barrier Reed. A lot of these locations are low-key (Baz Luhrman wouldn't have used them), and the radiant cinematography courtesy of Roger Lawson does justice to them. Dean Murphy's direction is frequently competent, keeping things wonderfully minimalist and naturalistic (an efficient set-up that poignantly observes Charlie's grief is a particular highlight). Dale Cornelius' delightful score adds yet another layer of enchanting flavour. The movie may be little more than a string of vignettes that all adhere to a similar formula, but everything fits together nicely. Just how well it'll play for an international audience is a mystery, though.
Charlie & Boots is heavily laced with dry Aussie wit that's well suited to Australian audiences, who should also readily identify with the characters and be enthralled by their warmth. Most of the film's good-natured comedy is derived from witty lines and a number of hilarious comedic set-pieces (such as a sequence involving a not-too-bright police officer). Yet despite the film's strong points, there are problems with the screenplay (penned by director Murphy and Stewart Faichney). The main problem is that the whole thing is painfully by-the-numbers - it's your usual bonding road-trip movie which obeys the rules of the genre (we know Charlie and Boots will patch up their relationship, for instance). Here's another thing: laughs are a tad too limited considering the talent involved. It's never particularly dull per se, but it only rarely takes off in a way that's seriously exhilarating.
Getting Paul Hogan and Shane Jacobson together in a movie was a terrific idea (however tenuous their physical resemblance). Hoges is his usual brilliant self as Charlie; delivering a trademark performance that has echoes of his glory days. The former Crocodile Dundee star is able to express an inner sadness that's deeply affecting, and the gradual breaking down of his character's bitterness and reserve is effectively conveyed. Meanwhile, Shane Jacobson is pitch-perfect - likeable, sympathetic and above all relatable as Boots (whose real name is revealed in an amusing, nicely judged scene). He perfectly embodied the hard-working Aussie bloke in the 2006 hit Kenny, and in Charlie & Boots he brilliantly embodies your typical middle-aged man.
In the supporting cast there's the young Morgan Griffin, who would've been 16 or 17 during production. Griffin brings a delightful warmth and buoyancy to the material, and an audience will miss her (as the boys do) when she abruptly leaves the story. Roy Billing, in a brief cameo, is another amusing highlight. The movie is in loving memory of Reg Evans who plays an amusing minor role in the movie, and who died in the 2009 Victorian bushfires.
All things considered, Charlie & Boots is a pleasant, enjoyable little Aussie film of male bonding which is both funny and touching. Its charm is very pervasive, and it's difficult not to yield to it. Any Australian who has ever taken a multiple-day road-trip will easily relate to the situations the protagonists encounter (car trouble, snoring relos, etc). Charlie & Boots may be a highly clichéd affair, but it'll surely plant a smile on your face - and who can complain about that? Be sure to watch until after the end credits for a bonus laugh.
7.3/10
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Posted : 2 months, 1 week ago on 27 September 2009 01:55
(A review of Hunger)
"There is no such thing as political murder, political bombing or political violence. There is only criminal murder, criminal bombing and criminal violence."
Nominally, Hunger is a motion picture about the life of IRA activist Bobby Sands who died in 1981 as the result of a hunger strike. But this startling feature film debut of British visual artist Steve McQueen (no relation to the late actor whose name he oddly shares) doesn't hew to conventional biopic storytelling - instead, it's essentially a relentless and powerful montage of events (mainly the countless protests) that unfolded in Belfast's notorious Maze prison during the 1980s. As a matter of fact, Bobby Sands (played by Michael Fassbender) is not properly introduced until approximately half an hour into the movie. With Hunger, McQueen (who scripted the film with Irish playwright Enda Walsh) has crafted an effective episodic motion picture. The perspective segues smoothly from prisoner to guard to prisoner, and so on, until the film at long last settles on Sands.
From beginning to end, Hunger is a masterwork of detailed atmosphere. Steve McQueen directs with staggering Kubrickian precision; offering a strong, visceral sense of the unspeakably brutal and violent world it portrays with its regular riots, beatings and body searches. The director brings Belfast in 1981 to life with substantial skill, aided by Sean Bobbitt's brilliant cinematography and Tom McCullagh's stunning production design. Hunger truly captures the frigid conditions the naked prisoners endured, while also itemising the nightmarish muck as the prisoners covered the walls with their own faeces to compel British officials into action. McQueen doesn't shy away from any details as he transforms this hell into visual poetry; concentrating on the naturalistic moments the inmates happened upon while wordlessly carrying out their orders and smuggling plans. McQueen insists a viewer not only see but ponder the imagery, and the director allows a viewer to do so by employing contemplative, sometimes agonisingly long, speechless takes.
Indeed, Hunger contains barely any dialogue - it elects to let the stark, unflinching images speak volumes about the madness at hand. The contrast of routine English police manoeuvres with the feral panic of the Irish prisoners is riveting, and coloured enthrallingly by the unspoken moments of reflection as both sides attempt to deal with the daily blasts of violence. Yet, this is not a movie based solely on its imagery - a crucial element of the film is the detailed use of sound. Music is used sparingly, with the omniscient soundscape of the prison's interior instead used to heighten the most poignant moments. And the more Sands withers away towards the film's dénouement, the more minimalist the sound design is rendered (at one point supplying nothing but the sound of wind and Sands' cavernous breathing).
After accomplishing so much using images, McQueen stops to acknowledge the power of words during one of the film's final acts. McQueen's nearly always-in-motion camera and artistic eye is set aside for a riveting 25-minute conversation between two characters. For this sequence, Sands discusses his decision to embark on a hunger strike with Father Moran (Cunningham). The two men debate the merits and ethics of the protest; lending insight into Sands' determination. While the dialogue is insanely spellbinding, it's the execution that's amazing - the bulk of this conversation occurs in one single, 17-minute unbroken take. It's simply a tour de force of writing, acting and moral complexity.
It should come as no surprise that the performances are outstanding. Michael Fassbender (of 300 fame) literally gives his body and soul to the part of Bobby Sands; playing defiance and self-confidence throughout the film's initial two-thirds before wasting away to nothingness (there are a number of haunting, unforgettable images to behold here). Another note-worthy member of the cast is Liam Cunningham, whose acting throughout the aforementioned verbal tango with Fassbender is remarkable. Stuart Graham is also given a memorable role as a prison guard whom the film focuses on at certain points.
Digressions from acclaim must be made, however. The scope of Hunger is admittedly too narrow and its methods are too intensive to offer a comprehensive historical analysis of the troubles of Northern Ireland. Unfortunately, too, the movie doesn't offer any profound insight into its characters. Instead McQueen's movie remains a visual exercise which shows how the characters did what they did, and in what circumstances. The result is a consistently harrowing drama that feels somewhat underdone.
Hunger is a tough viewing experience due to the constant depictions of brutality, but it's more than a portrayal of bodily torment - it's a story of finding humanity amongst the walls of a prison during dark days.
8.3/10
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Posted : 2 months, 1 week ago on 23 September 2009 12:09
(A review of State of Play)
"You're just seeking the truth. You're a truth seeker. You can't help it, that is just who you are. You're such a hypocrite. You're not interested in me. You come in here, it's all about you and you getting your story. I trusted you. You're my friend! You were supposed to be my friend anyway."
By and large, remakes are superfluous. At face value, a Hollywood remake of the BBC mini-series State of Play is extremely superfluous. The intricate plot of the mini-series was weighted perfectly over six gripping hours of television, and its theme (centring on the corruptibility of people in power) was all tied to its Westminster setting. So why shift the scene to Washington, D.C. and adapt it for the big screen? The answer relates to Hollywood's compulsion to remake every good story in its own image (and to get maximum profits from minimal effort). But in this case there's further justification for a remake - since 2003, the state of play has changed in relation to newspaper journalism, and this is pushed to the centre of the frame in 2009's State of Play. In adapting the BBC mini-series for the big screen, the filmmakers have achieved something remarkable: they've condensed the meaty intrigue and thrills within six hours of material into two snappy hours, and still produced a coherent and engrossing film. A study of political power plays, calamitous sexual impulses and the twilight of printed journalism, State of Play is riveting, sublimely acted and smart - it's mainstream Hollywood thriller-making at its best.
The plot primarily concerns the seemingly accidental death of Sonia Baker (Thayer); the research assistant and secret lover of rising Congressman Stephen Collins (Affleck). The night preceding Sonia's death, a petty thief and a pizza deliveryman are shot dead in an alley. Hardened journalist Cal McAffrey (Crowe), who works for a deteriorating Washington newspaper, suspects these apparently unrelated deaths are part of a conspiracy waiting to be uncovered. Sharing a personal history with Stephen Collins and his wife Anne (Penn), he becomes conflicted over the type of story he wants to tell. Cal teams up with political blogger Della Frye (McAdams) and begins uprooting clues that implicate a murky corporate web of cover-ups, insiders, informants and assassins.
Despite a labyrinthine, multifaceted storyline, State of Play is rarely confusing and continuously engaging. It contains an intriguing plotline bursting with twists - and because it's so intriguing, a viewer will be on the edge of their seat awaiting the next big reveal. It's confident and masterful storytelling, handled by a team of excellent screenwriters: Tony Gilroy (Michael Clayton), Billy Ray (Shattered Glass) and Matthew Michael Carnahan (The Kingdom), each of whom draws on the thematic interests that fuelled the best of their previous movies (corporate abuse of power, journalistic ethics and Iraq-war-era government, respectively). Uncredited work on the script was also carried out by Peter Morgan of Frost/Nixon fame. State of Play is vehemently plot-driven, with conversations typically used for exposition rather than character development. However, thanks to both the acting and the screenwriting, virtually every character is given a satisfying degree of depth and dimension. Dialogue is crackling, sharp and at times utterly spellbinding.
Director Kevin Macdonald (The Last King of Scotland) competently orchestrates the movie, and is particularly adept at generating tension. Contributions across the board are sound, from Rodrigo Prieto's gripping, muted cinematography to Justine Wright's crisp editing and Alex Heffes' pulse-pounding score. There's no question that State of Play at times feels abridged, with an inability to capture the true density of the original BBC series (then again, what two-hour movie could?). Some of the intricacies and subplots are missing, but surprisingly little has been lost that actually mars the narrative structure, and the story unfolds with brilliant, riveting urgency. It doesn't shy away from the occasional bit of Hollywood hokiness, but by no means is the story transformed into a brain-dead product for the action market. Its target is mature adults - the ADD-inflicted teenage crowd are advised to stay clear.
State of Play is a thriller about conspiracy, murder and politics, but it also shines as a statement on the ostensibly inevitable demise of print media in favour of online blogs and cable news that post every story (or some version of it) the moment it happens. Some would argue that a very important brand of journalism is dying along with newspapers - Cal McAffrey is a genuine, old-fashioned reporter who takes days to write an article, thoroughly examines both sides of the story, refuses to rely on sensationalism and hearsay, and prefers to be right rather than first. This causes him to have a slightly antagonistic relationship with his editor (Mirren) who admires Cal's morals but knows the paper has to make money or perish (with all other considerations secondary). State of Play is an old-fashioned sort of thriller - solid, patient and thoughtful - so it's hardly surprising that it finds heroics in Cal's dogged brand of journalism. There's a definite elegiac quality to this film; particularly accentuated by an end credits montage that lovingly lingers on the process of newspapers being printed.
The acting is magnificent right down the line. Crowe works exceedingly well in the role of Cal McAffrey (it's difficult to imagine Brad Pitt in the part, who was originally cast), and the actor submits his finest work in years. But the biggest surprise is Ben Affleck, who offers his best work to date. It's a nuanced, wistful performance that proves the actor still has some skill left in him (though it's difficult to accept Crowe and Affleck as college roommates). Rachel McAdams holds her own with Crowe in every scene (a real accomplishment), and plays Della Frye as callow but not cynical. Wisely, the relationship between Della and Cal is not a romantic one. Helen Mirren is marvellous as the newspaper's editor (a role originally played by Billy Nighy). She chews the scenery without ever going over-the-top. Jason Bateman deserves a massive kudos for his brief but pivotal role as the scumbag who becomes the linchpin to the entire case. Robin Wright Penn is her usual brilliant self as Anne Collins, while Jeff Daniels the Harry Lennix add their immeasurable professionalism to a couple of important peripheral characters.
All things considered, State of Play is a rare, top-notch thriller that cares about story and characters rather than high-octane action or sex. There are downsides to the overall endeavour (the film feels underdone and truncated, the final twist is clichéd, and the reveal of corporate skulduggery seems far too easy), but in an environment where dumb thrillers outperform the smart thrills by wide margins, we must be thankful to witness a thriller of this standard entering the multiplexes...even if it is a remake.
8.5/10
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Posted : 2 months, 1 week ago on 22 September 2009 07:02
(A review of (500) Days of Summer)
"It's official. I'm in love with Summer. I love her smile. I love her hair. I love her knees. I love how she licks her lips before she talks. I love her heart-shaped birthmark on her neck. I love it when she sleeps."
(500) Days of Summer is a romantic comedy designed for viewers who don't usually like romantic comedies. Or, to rephrase, it's a movie for those who appreciate the emotional resonance of a rom-com but are unenthusiastic about the clichés and formulas associated with the genre. In fact, what sets (500) Days of Summer apart from its cookie-cutter rom-com brethren is its subtle mocking of convention. Much like Woody Allen's Annie Hall did for a previous generation, this is a film that best captures a contemporary romantic sensibility. For his feature film debut, former music video director Marc Webb has done so much right that it's hard and perhaps borderline mean-spirited to point out the few minor foibles.
The protagonist of the story is hopeless romantic Tom Hansen (Gordon-Levitt) who reflects on the several hundred days he knew Summer Finn (Deschanel). The moment Tom spots her in the workplace, he's instantly smitten. After a few encounters at work, the two become romantically involved. But there's one crucial obstacle in their relationship: radically opposing perceptions on love. Despite Summer's firm stance that she's not looking for anything serious, Tom harbours delusions that she's falling head-over-heels for him.
The story of Tom and Summer's relationship is not conveyed in a simple linear progression, but rather told out of order (with a counter that reveals which day it is). As the narrative whipsaws back and forth, the film allows us to see moments of happiness and sadness, tenderness and anger, togetherness and separation...all right next to each other. It shows how memories of the good and the bad intertwine and obscure each other, depending on the moment. The screenwriters brilliantly realise that, even in the pain of a break-up, all the happy, earlier memories of a person will forever exist. It's unbelievably difficult to just get over someone when you can still vividly recall how they used to look at you.
In a sense, (500) Days of Summer feels like an anthology of bits and pieces that don't often feature in rom-coms. Adamantly eschewing convention (no cute meetings or last-minute dashes to the airport), this is a movie concerned about the thrill of realising a girl you desire has similar taste in music, and the hollowness of going out on dates when you're still pining for your ex-girlfriend. Scott Neustadter and Michael H. Weber's screenplay is smart, witty, frequently hilarious, and rooted in recognisable truths that give weight to what would otherwise be merely amusing. Also, viewers aren't damned to endure gross-out gags or unfunny pratfalls, because the comedy (of which there is a lot) evolves organically. The script isn't ridiculously profanity-ridden either, though the sole use of the f-word perhaps provides the biggest laugh. Not everything works - an omniscient narrator seems lazy and overused, and Tom has a kid sister (Moretz) who's wise beyond her years - but even if something falls flat, there's plenty of charm to allow us to discount these misgivings.
Director Marc Webb brings the script to life with the utmost pizzazz; indulging in a full armada of visual tweaks and ocular gags. There are faux old movie recreations (most notably of Ingmar Bergman's The Seventh Seal) that place Gordon-Levitt and Deschanel in the action, a clever split-screen sequence that balances Tom's hopeful fantasy with the less optimistic reality, and a wonderful song-and-dance number to convey the joyfulness of Tom's first night with Summer (set to You Make My Dreams Come True by Hall & Oates). This breezy song-and-dance sequence is especially critical to putting the movie in proper perspective - for the entirety of the film, viewers are not objective voyeurs...they're gazing through Tom's eyes.
(500) Days of Summer has quite a neo-Woody Allen vibe, calling to mind two classic romantic comedies courtesy of the writer-director: Annie Hall and Manhattan (though Joseph Gordon-Levitt is better looking than Woody and infinitely less neurotic). These aforementioned films recognised a simple fact that few rom-coms acknowledge: not all romances, no matter how promising, end happily. (500) Days of Summer also understands this, as well as the fact that every high of a relationship has a matching low.
The amount of movie-goers who develop crushes for Zooey Deschanel is borderline embarrassing, and this reviewer is as guilty as anyone else. But you can't help it; every time she appears in a movie, she's absolutely enchanting. (500) Days of Summer cleverly trades in on that - an early sequence (with wry narration) explains "the Summer Effect"; presenting hard data which reveals, for example, that she substantially increased profits at an ice cream parlour during her time of employment there, and the average percent of the asking price she usually pays for an apartment. Summer is always in danger of becoming a romanticised abstraction, but Zooey's wonderful performance and inherent beauty keeps the character profoundly human. Her charm is effective, and a viewer can easily understand why Tom would be so enamoured with her and want to hold onto her, even when she's clearly and defiantly pulling away from him.
Joseph Gordon-Levitt (best known for his recurring role in the TV series 3rd Rock from the Sun) is note-perfect, and so effortlessly charismatic that it's hard not to like him. Thanks to the flights of fancy taken by the script, Gordon-Levitt must speak French, sing awful karaoke, and lead a song-and-dance number in the streets (among other things), all of which he accomplishes with marvellous aplomb. Gordon-Levitt and Deschanel are an outstanding screen couple with unusually brilliant chemistry. The entire cast is simply perfect from top to bottom.
Romantic comedies are too often robbed of integrity on account of the constraints of the traditional hackneyed formula. Movies such as (500) Days of Summer, with a willingness to deviate from convention, therefore seem more honest and excellent than usual. With its boundless charm and witty screenplay, this is an easy film to fall in love with.
9.3/10
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Posted : 2 months, 1 week ago on 20 September 2009 06:31
(A review of The Delta Force)
"It's a go. Take them down!"
Americans hate terrorism. This is not an audacious statement considering America's "War On Terror" throughout the early 2000s and beyond, but terrorism has been loathed as far back as the '80s. Currently during the early 21st Century, an intricate system of intelligence is utilised to track down terrorists and an intricate system of weaponry is used to blow them to hell. Back in the mid-80s, the Americans didn't have the benefit of such advanced technology... Instead, they relied on Chuck Norris. In 1986's The Delta Force, the Chuckster is portrayed dispatching Arab terrorists using an array of Norris-esque weaponry, ranging from his martial arts skills to large bazookas to a motorcycle that fires rockets. The film is unbelievably cheesy, often unintentionally hilarious, and rather pro-American.
After an introductory combat sequence which demonstrates the skills of the American protagonists, the action moves onboard a large passenger airplane. A pair of Arab terrorists hijack this plane, taking all passengers hostage and ordering the captain to reroute to Lebanon. These terrorists claim to be freedom fighters for a revolutionary organisation, but their cause is unknown...they just have a thing against America. A group of elite American commandos known as the Delta Force - led by Col. Nick Alexander (Marvin) and Maj. Scott McCoy (Norris) - are sent in to save the hostages and restore American honour. Rather than trying their hand at the fine art of negotiation, the Delta Force cut to the chase and pull out the heavy artillery.
The Delta Force was released in 1986; one year after a real-life plane hijacking in Athens. (This was on a TWA plane. In the film the plane which accommodates the hijacking is an AWT plane... clever.) The first hour of this movie is mostly devoted to retelling the events of this hijacking, but the second hour (when the macho Americans show up) has little basis in reality. This final half sends the message home that the best way to execute foreign policy on America's part is to shoot or blow up all terrorist threats. All this gung-ho business is like a different film altogether. It's full Chuck Norris territory: lots of machismo, gunfire and explosions. It's all very patriotic with the Americans saving the day and the hostages singing the American anthem. That's the '80s for you.
Considering this is an '80s action film with Chuck Norris and Lee Marvin, one expects The Delta Force to be chock-full of terrorist ass-kicking goodness and brainless action. Alas, the meaty action doesn't commence until the first hour has passed. Even with a plenty of action as the climax nears, the unusually long runtime of over two hours will prove a serious test of anyone's Chuck Norris attention span. The running time might've been more tolerable if the film provided interesting exposition, a compelling story or meaningful character development...but The Delta Force provides none of this - it's instead packed with filler. Empty threats against obnoxious hostages and hollow, repetitive dialogue does not make gripping cinema.
The Delta Force also exploits blatant stereotypes - there's the disillusioned soldier who returns to action because of his noble sense of duty, the abuse of a kindly priest, and even a pregnant lady who could go into labour at any moment. Meanwhile the terrorists have no legitimate motive or objective. At times, the depiction of these Arab terrorists is borderline racist - they're single-mindedly scheming, vicious, and they look very grubby.
If nothing much else, The Delta Force can be admired for its star-studded cast. Chuck Norris, as usual, just plays himself. The bearded action icon usually delivers his dialogue in a subdued fashion with no great conviction...but he's still watchable. This film marked the final screen appearance of Lee Marvin. He's pretty badass, though he's never given a chance to test his acting abilities. Also in the cast is a Who's Who of B-Movie star-power: Martin Balsam, George Kennedy (star of those Airport films from the '70s), Robert Forster (sporting dark hair, dark skin, a little moustache and a thick accent as the head Arab terrorist), Robert Vaughn, Shelley Winters, Steve James, Bo Svenson, and many others. The direction by Menahem Golan is adequate, and Alan Silvestri's score alternates between intense and cheesy power pop.
All in all, The Delta Force is your standard American cheerleading propaganda flick, with Chuck Norris and Lee Marvin holding the pompoms. The action is at times thrilling and the novelty value of seeing the Chuckster in '80s mode never wears off, but that's all there is to this one. For a film which lacks anything even resembling an intricate story or deep characterisations, there sure is plenty of talking. And considering this is a Chuck Norris movie, this is a problem. There's a far more agreeable 80-minute actioner lying somewhere within this somewhat tedious 125-minute feature.
4.9/10
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Posted : 2 months, 2 weeks ago on 19 September 2009 04:10
(A review of Missing in Action)
"The misfortunes of war!"
As soon as the movie industry felt the dust of the Vietnam War had settled, a deluge of Vietnam-related movies started pouring in. There were films such as Apocalypse Now, The Deer Hunter and Platoon which handled the source material respectfully. But the mid-late 1980s was the era of bazookas, guns and superhero-style action heroes. Once First Blood was released, a string of films flooded the market that attempted to transplant the history of the Vietnam War into the '80s action format. Furthermore, the subject of American soldiers left behind in Vietnam functioned as a catalyst for several '80s action flicks (Rambo: First Blood Part II being the most prevalent). The Chuck Norris vehicle Missing in Action was one such movie. This isn't the most egregious entry in this particular sub-genre, but it's hardly a classy fare. This is just your typical Chuck Norris romp: there's action, nudity, one-liners, stunts and a few moments of pure fantasy. And best of all, it's fun!
For this film, the Chuckster plays an American officer named James Braddock who spent several years at a Vietnamese Prisoner of War camp and believes there are still American soldiers being held captive in Vietnam. The plot, such as it is, involves Braddock returning to Vietnam in an attempt to locate a POW camp. With assistance from an Army buddy (in the form of M. Emmet Walsh) and an assortment of weaponry, Braddock ventures deep into the jungle to free the American MIAs.
Cue perfunctory explosions, action sequences, and lots of 'all gooks are villains' propaganda. The other actors featured in this movie function as mere props for Chuck Norris to dispose of in whatever way he sees fit. The only character who's even mildly developed is Braddock since the supporting characters merely make an appearance to move the story along before curiously vanishing. The film's attitude towards Vietnamese soldiers and officials is borderline offensive since they're depicted as unequivocally shifty, villainous and deceitful... But on the other hand, this is the 1980s! This is the age of cartoonish stereotypes!
The Chuckster is grudgingly assisted here by a woman at the U.S. Embassy in Vietnam (who seems like she was intended to be a love interest, but no real romance ever occurs...), and an ex-colleague who hooks him up with a bunch of backstreet arms dealers. Inexplicably, these arms dealers possess a large cache of machine guns as well as a helicopter and a bulletproof raft in a tiny storage room. It's also peculiar that Braddock just happens to have the thousands of spare dollars necessary to purchase all this expensive equipment. But then again, a viewer isn't supposed to question the plot - Missing in Action is about the action and violence, not a sensible storyline or anything deep.
And my word, it delivers in the action department with commendable aplomb. Gear yourself up for an unrelenting onslaught of rousing shootouts, car chases and explosions, with Chuck Norris in the midst of it all in regular Chuck Norris mode. Director Joseph Zito (who later collaborated with the Chuckster for Invasion U.S.A. in 1985) manages the action adeptly, though these aren't the most spectacular set-pieces you’ll ever witness. Jay Chattaway's accompanying score is of the usual '80s standard; combining the tense with the cheesy (though patriotic music is in surprisingly short supply). All of this stuff combines to generate an engaging escapist romp guaranteed to leave a smile on the face of any action fan.
It's possible to watch a Chuck Norris vehicle like Missing in Action and come away with the misimpression that the bearded hero has not said a word. He occasionally talks, of course, but his eloquence is strictly physical. Norris (with his minimalist, taciturn acting style that often earns him substantial criticism) has never displayed any genuine acting ability, but he's skilful enough to carry a simple, bullet-riddled, crowd-pleasing action movie like this one.
Norris' celebrated martial arts skills don't feature very prominently in this escapade. Instead, he mostly relies on machine guns or grenades. The iconic moment of Missing in Action depicts Norris rising out of a river in slow motion (looking suitably ferocious in green fatigues and a matching headband, along with his M-60) and blowing holes in three soldiers who made the grave mistake of laughing at him.
The moral of this story is clear: if a government denies a widely-believed possibility, they run the risk of Hollywood green-lighting a string of B-Grade films about it. Those who genuinely hate Missing in Action, perceiving it as jingoistic or racist propaganda, are missing the point of the film completely - it was never intended to be anything provocative or liberal...it's just a good old-fashioned guy flick featuring Chuck Norris who's a formidable adversary for the Vietnamese enemy.
Interestingly, if one watches the credits you'll see a certain Jean-Claude Van Damme listed as a stuntman.
5.9/10
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Posted : 2 months, 2 weeks ago on 14 September 2009 07:25
(A review of Action Jackson)
"Action Jackson... Some say he didn't even have a mother - that some researchers at NASA created him to be the first man to walk on the moon without a space suit. Others say his mother was molested by Bigfoot and, uh, Jackson is their mutant offspring."
Action Jackson is pure '80s blaxploitation - plenty of savagery, sex and sinew with a predominantly African American cast. The crowd-pleasing meatloaf at the centre of this macho action film is neither Stallone nor Schwarzenegger, but their former sidekick Carl Weathers instead. If you're familiar with the movies of maverick '80s super-producer Joel Silver, you'd have an accurate idea of what to expect from Action Jackson: there are shootings, stabbings, flaming corpses, broken bones, explosions, careening vehicles, and a nourishing dose of humour in the form of snappy one-liners. Fans of '80s action romps are destined to enjoy it.
Jericho "Action" Jackson (Weathers) is a Detroit police sergeant with an apparent inability to control his actions during heated situations (hence his notorious moniker). Jackson is pitted against esteemed car magnate Peter Dellaplane (Nelson) who's suspected of masterminding a murder spree against local officials from the auto workers' union. In typical action film fashion, Jackson dashes from clue to clue, and is framed for murder. With Dellaplane's mistress Sydney (Vanity) in tow, Jackson sallies forth to prevent an assassination, vindicate himself and bring down Dellaplane, all the while facing plenty of opportunities to live up to his titular nickname.
One thing's for certain: Action Jackson wastes no time before pumping up the noise levels. Five minutes into the movie, a flaming corpse plummets from a high-rise and smashes through a glass ceiling. Alas, the action subsequently takes a backseat while the film focuses on plot and characters. Unfortunately, the plot is hackneyed and the characterisations remain one-note. Despite clocking at a mere 90 minutes, the film feels unusually bloated since quality action sequences are on the short side. There's a bit too much flab.
Make no mistake: Action Jackson is a no-brainer action film. It's overflowing with so many genre conventions that it's almost as if the screenwriter had a checklist beside him while penning the script. Utterly useless policemen? Check. Slipshod depiction of police procedures? Check. A few opportunities for the buff hero to remove his shirt and display his impressive physique? Check. Amusing one-liners just prior to the death of a bad guy? Check. The list is endless. This is a strictly by-the-numbers fare. Action movie enthusiasts will be able to predict every beat, and any casual movie-goer will be able to foresee the outcome for any conflict that arises. Action Jackson is also irretrievably unrealistic. The bad guys are unable to shoot straight, characters turn up at the most convenient time, and so on. It's all quite hopeless.
Gripes notwithstanding, Action Jackson is very enjoyable - it's a straightforward, brainless B-Movie blast of entertainment. One-time stunt maestro Craig R. Baxley's direction lacks the oomph to convincingly propel the movie out of the doldrums, but he gets the job done. As to be expected from a product of the '80s, a lot of the action is clichéd stuff (for instance cars just happen to run into trucks hauling flammable tanks which are just eager to burst into fiery goodness).
Carl Weathers had a single note to play as Jericho Jackson, and he plays it terrifically with all the necessary charisma. However Weathers lacks presence, and isn't intimidating enough. R&B singer Vanity is passable as Sydney, and she's given a few chances to prove that her singing skills outshine her acting abilities. Unfortunately, the budding romance between Sydney and Jackson feels obligatory and unnatural. Craig T. Nelson is a serviceable villain, though he's nothing remarkable. Sharon Stone also appears for a brief period, and she's there purely to look nice (a job she accomplishes well). There are a bunch of other actors who make cameo appearances, including two of Weathers' Predator co-stars (Bill Duke and Sonny Landham), an '80s James Bond villain (Robert Davi), and two actors who played terrorists in Die Hard (Dennis Hayden and a very recognisable Al Leong).
Action Jackson is an enjoyable guilty pleasure. It's packed with genuine '80s flair and dubious plot holes, in addition to explosions, stunts and special effects. It's a shame, then, that the film is only ever-so-slightly exciting.
5.9/10
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Posted : 2 months, 3 weeks ago on 11 September 2009 09:04
(A review of The Taking of Pelham 1 2 3)
"Life is simple now. They just have to do what I say."
The modern Hollywood remake train continues unabated with The Taking of Pelham 1 2 3; flash-over-substance specialist Tony Scott's reimagining of the crackling 1974 suspenser of the same name. In a sense, The Taking of Pelham 1 2 3 is similar to riding the subway: it moves forward at a decent pace, hitting all anticipated stops before reaching a predetermined destination. In other words, it's a suspense movie without any real surprises, twists or turns. Scott also imposes his signature bag of visual tricks - there's incessant camera movement as well as plenty of random zooms, seizure-inducing edits, bleary slow motion, and other assorted forms of superfluous visual assault. However, to the credit of Scott and screenwriter Brian Helgeland (whose name appears on about as many good films - Mystic River, L.A. Confidential - as bad ones - Sin Eater, The Postman), the story (essentially a psychological thriller) is not transformed into a brain-dead action film. The preposterous climax notwithstanding, this movie is light on pyrotechnics and special effects, and it's surprisingly low-key. Happily, too, it's an engrossing, enjoyable summer flick.
Just like its 1974 predecessor, The Taking of Pelham 1 2 3 disposes of anything resembling a setup. By the time the opening credits have elapsed, a sociopath who calls himself Ryder (Travolta) and his gang (Guzmán, Gojcaj, Vataj) have hijacked subway train Pelham 123. They take eighteen hostages in the first carriage (letting loose the inhabitants of the other carriages) before Ryder makes his demands known to the MTA: he wants $10 million in cash in an hour or he'll begin executing hostages. Walter Garber (Washington) is the unlucky dispatcher on duty at the time of the hostage-taking, and Ryder refuses to talk to anyone but him.
The Taking of Pelham 1 2 3 is the third cinematic incarnation of John Godey's 1973 novel (Joseph Sargent's 1974 movie being the first, and a 1998 television movie being the second). Suiting up the premise for a big-budget modern realisation is understandable since Helgeland is able to alter the original characters and their motivations, as well as updating the concept with modernised plot points (such as one involving a webcam). It's a shame, then, that Helgeland's script lacks surprises. The story has been bled dry of tension due to repetition, so its rote nature is disappointing.
The main divergence between The Taking of Pelham 1 2 3 and the 1974 original is that the characters are mined for additional depth here. In the original, Walter Matthau and Robert Shaw played simple roles (a hard-working cop and a bitter ex-military type), and their communications often centred on the transaction at hand. In this remake, Garber is given a wife and back-story, while Ryder has a history which reveals his motives (it's unfortunate that cinematic villains must always be explained so elaborately in this day and age, which detracts from the mystery and consequently most of the menace). In addition, the banter between Garber and Ryder is too draggy here. Their discussions about religion add a nice dimension to their relationship, but it's ultimately a lazy way for the villain to let slip personal information which will only undermine him later. At least Helgeland had the good sense to incorporate a nourishing dosage of wit during these lengthy passages of dialogue.
Meanwhile, Ryder's accomplices unfortunately lack distinctive characterisations and names barely stick (the original film gave them memorable colour-coded names - Mr. Grey, Mr. Blue, etc - which was recycled by Quentin Tarantino for Reservoir Dogs). Depiction of the hostages is slipshod in the film as well - clichés are thick (mother and son, the token black guy, etc) and ideas are inadequately explored (talk of taking control of the situation is limited to a few seconds of cheesy discussion).
Another small annoyance with The Taking of Pelham 1 2 3 is Scott's trademark visual style. To his credit, Scott has actually dialled down his style to an extent for this project (certainly, it isn't as indecipherably jittery as Domino). Following an almost unbearable opening sequence swarming with stylistic overkill, Scott settles down and shows a bit of restraint for the quieter moments. Harry Gregson-Williams' supplementary score is suitably intense, though it lacks the memorable zing of the theme from the 1974 original.
Much of the movie consists of tense verbal standoffs between Garber and Ryder, but Scott does play up the action when available. Most detrimental is the reworked climax which not only deviates from the simple, effective brilliance of the original's finale, but also employs the tritest of clichés: a chase sequence. Other elements, such as gratuitous car crashes (which are very crashy), are included to maintain some level of excitement, but they're easily spotted as slapdash audience response gimmicks. Worse, characters are usually shot in unrealistic hails of bullets (after being shot ten times, characters are still moving). Also, for no reason at all, Garber eventually morphs from humble civil servant and family man to a gun-waving, car-stealing John McClane emulation.
Where Robert Shaw's performance in the original film was calm and chilling, John Travolta plays Ryder like a bipolar bulldog with rabies. The actor was clearly treasuring the opportunity to depict an unhinged lowlife, but his exuberance borders on camp, with his verbal diarrhoea, overzealous shouting and wild gestures far too over-the-top and theatrical for the character. His utterance of the word "motherfucker" is extremely overdone (he also sounds contrived every time he says it). At the other end of the radio, Denzel Washington (who gained a bit of weight for the role) plays Garber as the quintessential everyman. It's an effective, low-key performance infused with humanity.
In the supporting cast there's James Gandolfini who's amiable as the Major, and John Turturro who submits an above-average performance as a professional hostage negotiator.
The Taking of Pelham 1 2 3 is not a bad film by any stretch, but it also isn't the great film it had the potential to be. Compared to the 1974 original, this reimagining is shakier, shootier, shoutier, swearier, crashier, and isn't surprising enough. Yet despite its flaws, it's also enjoyable.
6.5/10
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