Well I have 3 new releases this week for home viewing...2 were soso. 1 is really good but hard to watch. So here I go:
PASSENGERS
Directed by Morten Tyldum
Screenplay by Jon Spaihts
Starring Jennifer Lawrence; Chris Pratt; and Michael Sheen
What an odd film.
The trailer tells you kinda know what happens, but not really. I think that is what threw viewers off.
The viewers think they are going to see a Gravity type of film, Maybe true a little bit, that part felt like it was a thrown together story line.
Well lets get to it:
First Chris Pratt's Jim Preston is kinda creepy. No spoilers here but what he does is wrong....and you do not see that in the trailer.
Then you have two people stuck on a spaceship, I think this could be interesting to see them in almost a Before Sunset world. Talking and building a relationship.
However...like noted that is difficult ....because Jim Preston is a stalkerish guy that is kinda in the back of your mind.
So in the first half which is kind of likable, if you try to ignore the creepy factor. Now we get to the second half which revolves around saving the spaceship from doom. I had problems with this because it kinda felt manufactured, like they said at one point we need action...now!!! I just wanted to get back to the problem with the two stuck on a spaceship and trying to get along. Plus it seemed rushed at the end, like they edited the crap at the end which made it feel like....well my thought was....what happened to our two leads????!!! Again No Spoilers but....we just get a narration to close things up. Just messy. When people left the theater you can see the look on their faces, it was like ....aaaah okay.
3 stars out of 5 for the first half and the acting as you would expect is great (Though I am not a Michael Sheen fan at all), it just needed a better script or maybe trust the actors you have and let them be and stay with the first half. If that makes sense.
ELLE
Directed by Paul Verhhoeven
Screenplay by David Birke
Based on the novel by Philippe Djian
Starring Isabelle Huppert
The film starts out with a violent rape scene.
It has you squirming in your seat.
Then the film settles in as we watch Michelle settle into life after the rape. As she oddly moves on like nothing happened.At this point we see her fears, her secrets, her past (which includes a family embarrassment).
There is a lot going on in this film and it keeps you on the edge of your seat. Mainly because she does not report the rape!!!
Now it works because of Huppert period. She is vulnerable, yet strange, yet odd.....okay I cannot describe her. But she is such a great actress we cannot stop watching her. She sucks us in. A well deserved Oscar Nod.
What the film does wrong is that it thinks it is hiding a secret. However I figured it out a half an hour in. After that I got a bit frustrated, mainly because the violence could be stopped. And in the strangest of all things it seems like she likes the violence.
It is an odd film with lot going on film. 3 1/2 out of 5 stars for Elle.
FENCES
Directed by Denzel Washington
Screenplay by August Wilson
Starring Denzel Washington; Viola Davis; Stephen Henderson; Jovan Adepo; and Mykelti Williamson
Acting Acting Acting Acting
You will not find a better acted film from last year. Everyone in this film is incredible. They suck you into their characters, their life.
Saving the best for last:
Denzel Washington- Lets face it when you think of Denzel Washing ton you smile. Because he is the great Denzel Washington. Then you see him as Troy Maxon. You hate him. You want him to shut up. Which tells you right there....how good Washington is.
Mykelti Williamson-as Gabriel. He literally absorbs this character. You want to take care of him. Love him. He does that with dialect and his body motions.. I have no idea why he is not thought of during award season.
And The Best For Last.........
Viola Davis-She is on another level.There is Viola Davis and Michelle Williams,.....the rest of the actors out there are not close. Here as Rose Maxon it seems she seeps off the screen. There is no other word for it. Maybe bleeds off the screen. Wonderful here almost seems like it does not say enough.
Great acting.....leads to a a disturbing script.
This is a story of a family. That is hard to watch. A family that has a leader that is a bully. That is angry at the world and takes it out on the ones close to him.
Based on the stage play and it stays close to form. It is unsettling. It is not an easy watch, but the acting is at such a level you cannot stop watching. It is one of those movies that you want to recommend, however you feel bad by putting someone through the frustration of watching Troy Maxon.
A difficult film to review but I would give it 4 out of 5 stars. It stays with you that is for sure.
From the shadows as always thanks for your time.
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