Two films to touch on this week for home viewing. One is just plain interesting, and the other one I could not stand.
PERSONAL SHOPPER
Directed by Olivier Assayas
Screenplay by Olivier Assayas
Starring Kristen Stewart
This is the second film that Assaya and Stewart have made together. They just came of Clouds Of Sils Maria. Clouds had this strange mystical feel about it, and so does this film.
This film follows Maureen (Stewart) in France as she is a personal shopper for a star. At the same time we find she is still in France waiting for a sign from her twin brother who passed away. Her brother has told her if he dies first he will give her a sign.
If you follow my blog here you know I am a huuuuge Stewart fan. I think she is making great choices with her films. Also she is taking many chances with odd roles.
She is absolutely fantastic in this movie. She is in every scene, often playing off no one.
I just do not know if I liked the script. I just feel, like there are two story lines clashing with each other. If they cut out maybe the story of the brother I think it would be a cleaner story. I really enjoyed just following her as a personal shopper and the story of intrigue that went with it (No Spoilers). Plus I did not like the odd mystical sudden ending.
Still....for an odd film it kind of sticks with you. That may be because of Stewart's performance.
3 stars out of 5 for Personal Shopper.
War For The Planet Of The Apes
Directed by Matt Reeves
Screenplay by Mark Bomback and Matt Reeves
Based On The book by Pierre Boulle
Starring Woody Harrelson; Amiah Miller; and a bunch of stinking apes
Well....Critics love this movie. I have to tell you I detested this film. I even waited to do this review ....giving myself space to think if I am being fair. Well I gave this film space...I still detested it.
Why?
-Films like this...action films...social films...I need a hero...someone to cheer for. There is no one to cheer for here. You have apes killing soldiers laying on the ground. You have soldiers killing ape babies. They even tried to touch our heart strings with them saving a young girl, Nova...played wonderfully by a Amiah Miller. However....the apes killed her father!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! It is their fault she is alone!!!!!!!
Yes the film looks good and the apes look freakishly real...that saves it from being my worst movie of the year so far. And it has Woody Harrelson...that helps.
1 1/2 stars out of 5 ...I hate this movie.
THE FOREIGNER
Directed by Martin Campbell
Screenplay by David Marconi
Based on the book by Stephen Leather
Starring Jackie Chan and Pierce Brosnan
It is funny how this film is marketed. Jackie Chan is everywhere. However this film is more Pierce Brosnan. Jackie Chan pops in and out as he lays low. I would bet Brosnan is in the film more and has more lines.
Let me get to the review. As you see in the trailer, Chan plays Fan, he wants revenge for an attack on his daughter by some IRA faction. Bronson is an official government something-something, who happens to be a former member of the IRA. Is he involved? Is he a good guy or bad guy?
This film has a lot going for it....
-The script is smart, it takes its time, and kind of makes sense. It also delivers plenty of action that Chan fans buy their tickets to see. Also important the action falls in line with the storyline, it does not break up the many facets of the mystery within the storyline.
-Brosnan and Chan are wonderful. It is nice to see Chan back; and it is a shame this film is not Oscar bait, because Bronsan gives an Oscar nominated worthy performance, he is that good.
Negatives?
-Some of the fight scenes seen a little old fashion, where the bad guys take turns to fight Chan instead of all coming at once which would make sense.
-I do not get political, but I question the timing of this film. The last week of September there was 212 incidents of gun violence in film that week. 108 of them used automatic weapons. That was the last week of September. Now we are in the beginning of October, in the shadow of Vegas, and here we are again with automatic weapons.
Hollywood stars are hypocritical here. If automatic weapons were not in this film would it change things? Probably not, but it would not hurt. It takes away the "norm" if that makes sense. So the finger can point back at them also. I cringed at the automatic weapons in this film. It was uncomfortable. So what I am saying is that Hollywood actors, who have pull, should shut-up and maybe push back on this. Yes I get it people like their action. However can you have the action without the automatic weapons?
Still I am not a political blogger, I am a movie blogger and this film, The Foreigner, gets 4 out of 5 stars. It is well written with two really good performances. Well worth a trip to the theater...it is fun.
HAPPY DEATH DAY
Directed by Christopher Landon
Screenplay by Scot Lobdell
Starring Jessica Rothe and Israel Broussard
If you follow my blog often you know horror films are not my thing.
This one had a small positive buzz surrounding it.
So I opened my mind and off I went.
"Ya Know" It is pretty good. It is a Ground Hogs Day Horror film.
Positives:
-Jessica Routhe, as the bitchy Tree, is fabulous here. She changes from scene to waking up again scene. As an actor it must be confusing as hell...like "Where The Hell Are We now? 3rd wake up or 4th wake up?". She pulls off this diufficult part. She is bitchy, she is funny with really good soft comedy timing. She makes this movie work...I mean it is a weird premise and she makes us go with it.
-The screenplay by Lobdell is scary and also has small comic moments that help. Also I like that she gets weaker each time which adds peril to the plot. Throw in some twists and it works!! However....
Negatives:
-I still do not understand why this is happening!!! Maybe to right the wrongs in her life....in her personality. Maybe there could be an explanation in the script somewhere!!!
-The hospital.Where is everybody???!! Did they run out of money for extras???!!!
It is Friday The 13th. Halloween is coming!! This is a funny harmless, not overly gory horror film.
It delivers what you want 3 1/2 out of 5 stars for Happy Death Day!!
Three films to cover this week for home viewing including one of the best films of the year!!
BABY DRIVER
Directed by Edger Wright
Screenplay by Edger Wright
Starring Ansel Elgort; Jon Bernthal; Jon Hamm: Eliza Gonzalez; Lily James; Kevin Spacey; and Jamie Foxx
Well!!!!!!!!!!!
This is the type of movie I shy away from. What a surprise!!
The marketing for this film was way off. They tried to sell it as a Fast And Furious Film...all action.
Well do not be fooled. This is a Steve McQueen heist film. This is a Tarantino bloody and dry humor film. This is a the best romantic film of the year. Thrown all together in a mixing bowl...stirred up and somehow it works. Great script and great direction by Edger Wright makes this all work.
Casting and performances were spot on....
Foxx and Spacey giving their best performances in years.
Newcomer Gonzalez holds her own versus the big time stars.
Hamm who gives his best performance since Mad Men...is just sinister.
However.....lets face it ...this film belongs to the leads Elgort ( who was wonderful in Fault) and James ( who I thought was underrated in Cinderella). They have great chemistry and most of the time are acting one on one with these big stars who I just mentioned. It is a lot to ask of them and they are magnificent.
Music-Then there is music. I mean it can feel like a musical or a music video. The film almost has a beat of its own. The music is fun.
Weakness? Only a few.
-We have Stormtrooper problems which ....if you read my reviews means....bad guys cannot shoot.
-Closing was a bit sloppy or rushed using montage scenes which I hated. I spent an hour and a half with this couple, do not give me an open ending. But I have to admit a PT 2 would be intriguing.
4 1/2 stars out of 5 for this big surprise!! It is just fun!! I want to see it again!
THE HOUSE
Directed by Andrew Jay Cohen
Screenplay by Brendan O'Brien and Andrew Jay Cohen
Starring Will Ferrell; Amy Poehler; and Jason Mantzoukas
Okay .../..it is not that good.
The funny thing is the idea...or the plot...is a good idea. A mother and father desperate to get money so their daughter can go to the university of her dreams. So the dad (Ferrell) and mom (Poehler) with their best friend Jason (Mantzoukas) decide to start a casino. However the plot which sounds funny has a terrible script that just comes across flat, with few laughs.
I mean, I guess that is all I can say about it. I know my it is just a short review for this unrealistic, over the top, not very funny film. Oh and surprisingly Ferrell and Poehler have no chemistry. They seem almost like they are stumbling through the film together. Now Mantzoukas seems to get more laughs than the two big stars....again not a good sign. You know there was a problem when the outtakes are not even funny.
Well 1 1/2 stars out of ten for The House. A disappointment . Oh....... but you get a good cameo by Jeremy Renner!
THE BEGUILED
Directed by Sofia Coppola
Screenplay by Sofia Coppola/ Based on screenplay by Albert Maltz and Irene Kamp
Based on the Book by Thomas Cullinan
Starring Nicole Kidman; Kirsten Dunst; Elle Fanning; Colin Farrell; and Oona Lawrence
This is a remake of a 1971 film starring Clint Eastwood. The Beguiled follows 7 females who are staying at a school in Virginia during the American Civil War. They find an injured Union Soldier on the property, they take him in which leads to betrayals and back stabbing.
It is an odd film that is for sure. It has a slow burn in the beginning, then it picks up at about the one hour mark, and then in the last 10 minutes it slows down to almost a haunting ending.
In fact the whole movie feels haunting. Coppola use the time period well with candles lighting each room, creating shadows and darkness making the movie almost seem more haunting then it really was. Throw in the costuming...all the women in white against the shadows and darkness makes the ladies seem like ghost against the darkness.
So the atmosphere is spot on but so is the casting:
We see Oona Lawrence first as the movie opens, who takes on an almost protective role of Corporal McBurney (Farrell). Like she did in the film Southpaw she holds her own, and then some, up against some big time actors.
Kidman as Miss Martha plays her character hauntingly quiet. She says so much with a look. Her eyes always seems like they are saying something. A wonderful performance.
Duntst (Looking sans make-up) as Edwina has a difficult role. She tries to be proper but she is desperate to get out and see the world. Her part is tricky, playing both sides of the house, but she pulls it off.
Best for last....Farrell plays Corporal McBurney as, at first, sweet talking man from the North. Then as the movie moves on (no spoilers here as usual), he becomes desperate and full of rage. A great performance.
Well there are negatives...
-As noted before the film really gets intense, then the film kinda levels off to an almost quiet ending. As the credits roll you sit there and think...Okay..that was pretty good. The ending is almost too quiet. There is so much tension in the middle of the film and then it just ends. Also...I just feel like there is a sadness for Dunst. I want to know more about her character ( again no spoilers). Just wanted more meat at the end if that makes sense.
Well 3 1/2 stars out of 5 for the dark; haunting; and well acted The Beguilded.
