2011 was a very good year for films:
-The Help my number 2 film of that year
-The American version of The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo
-The hilarious Bridesmaids
-The Artist took us back to the silent film age.
-Harry Potter And The Deathly Hollows pt 2
-The funny and emotional Crazy Stupid Love
-Two small very good film The Way and My Week With Marilyn
Yes a very good year but my number one film that year:
SUPER 8
Directed and Screenplay by J.J. Abrams
Starring Joel Courtney; Elle Fanning; and Kyle Chandler
What is Super 8?
It is a film about a young boy in 1979 dealing with loss.
It is a film about a father dealing with loss and learning how to communicate with his son.
It is a film about a summer adventure of a group of boys and a girl who decide to make a Super 8 film and stumbling on a government secret.
It is a film about a boys summer crush with a girl, who up until this summer, had not said a word to him.
It is a film with an alien that may or may not represent what is happening in this boys life.
If you love Netflix's Stranger Things...you will love this!!!!
There is a lot going on in this film and it all works. The film takes you back to a time and place where kids rode bikes freely and had adventures within their own town (Like Goonies or Stand By Me). Where you had to wait DAYS to get a film developed. Where kids made up films or games to keep busy. All this captured perfectly by J.J. Abrams (Who is of course directed the new Star Wars film). The look of this film is fantastic!! With a dash of blue light coming across the screen once in awhile giving us the feel that we are watching a Super 8 film. He also is the screenwriter and you can see the nods to his producer Spielberg in this film with the bikes and humor and the adventure.
Here he put together a great ensemble of young actors to work with. Highlighted by Elle Fanning who swoops in and almost steals the film. Watch her in the scene when she asks Joe how she looks acting like a zombie. She owns the screen. Don't believe me? Watch her here or in Maleficent; or Phoebe In Wonderland; or her small role in Benjamin Button; We Bought A Zoo (she kind of stole that film also). She is only 19, and has to be the brightest actress on the horizon at the age of 19.
Before I finish, I have to mention two great performances one by an unknown actor Joel Cortney in the lead as Joe. Joe is lost in the world, and is in love and is scared all at the same time. Also, another great performance by Kyle Chandler as the father and police officer.
Faults: I still am not sure if I like the ending. It was kind of flat. There is a theory out there that maybe the alien part of this film or maybe the whole film was not real but an escape for a child who is going the trauma. I tend not to lean that way but it is an interesting thought for any first time watchers out there just to think of as they watch.
Now for fun and not so fun facts:
-Originally when the boys were waiting for Alice to pick them up they were supposed to be talking. However JJ Abrams heard them singing and changed things up....thus My Sharona.
-5000 children auditioned for all the parts
-In the first draft the alien was never shown at all
-During the town hall meeting if you look close Dakota Fanning...Elle's sister is at the meeting.
When the film came out I do think it was a hard film to market because it touched on so many things...so they went with the alien theme and it is so much more. The alien represents yearning and pushing forward.
The Film plops you down in the 70's. You know that house. You know those bikes. You know those cars on your street. You know those friends. 4 1/2 stars for Super 8. Well written. Well directed. Well acted. Exciting and funny. Watch the credits!! Move it to the top of your queue!!!
From the shadows as always thanks for your time.
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