Les Misérables (2012) - 9 stars out of 10
Oscar Week
"Les Mis" is the epic film adaptation of the famous musical that we have all been waiting for. The film would have benefited from an Intermission as its operatic setting created an inevitable 160 minutes of continual singing, but the performances are nothing short of incredible. Claude-Michel Schönberg's music is done justice by this talented ensemble cast. Russell Crowe really turned some heads with his unexpected performance as Javert. Who knew that this guy could sing? And yet, he commanded every scene with his booming baritone voice and energetic stage presence. Hugh Jackman has received universal critical acclaim for his portrayal as Jean Valjean and, while his acting was wonderful, it was very apparent at points that he was not always a tenor. There were some shining moments when he popped out an impressive full voiced high note, but his softer passages in the upper range were less than stellar and his vibrato really bothered me. Anne Hathaway, on the other hand, was stunning. She may only have 15 minutes of screen time but those are the best minutes of the entire movie. She wrapped up the Oscar for Best Supporting Actress with her tear-jerking rendition of "I Dreamed A Dream," expressing the anguish of Fantine through her tears. I get chills just thinking about it. I didn't feel as if Sacha Baron Cohen really belonged in this film but he was great as the innkeeper and played perfectly off of Helena Bonham Carter. Amanda Seyfried had some nice moments as Cosette, but also had some not nice moments. The best surprises for me were Isabelle Allen as Young Cosette (and looks EXACTLY like the illustration from the original Victor Hugo novel) and Daniel Huttlestone as Gavroche - I don't know how these young kids can have such amazingly clear singing voices. Also, Samantha Barks really impressed me as Éponine, nailing the second-most emotional moment of the film singing "On My Own." For as wonderful as it was to take in these performances, the true joy is the fact that these were all recorded live on-set (instead of ahead of time and lip-synching later). I love that the director chose this method to give the on-screen emotions a certain authenticity. The sets are great, the costumes are great, the setting is great, but the thing that makes "Les Misérables" memorable is its storytelling through seemingly unrelated characters who are brought together by their circumstances, and the amazing vocal performances that bring these characters to life.
Friday, February 22, 2013
Wednesday, February 20, 2013
The Master (2012) - 1 star out of 10
The Master (2012) - 1 star out of 10
Oscar Week
Paul Thomas Anderson, the king of hit or miss, majorly missed with "The Master." This movie is just awful. It is nearly as pointless as the cult that it portrays. Random rooms full of naked women, senseless use of the f-word, and the psychologically disturbing "Processing" sequences make this an unsavory work of "art." More than anything, I resent the three Oscar nominations for Best Actor (Joaquin Phoenix), Supporting Actor (Philip Seymour Hoffman), and Supporting Actress (Amy Adams). Even though I enjoy all three of these actors, none of them did anything of note in this film. In fact, the entire thing is very forgettable. The film lacks the emotional punch that these actors have to offer and the story never goes anywhere. Instead of the story progressing from point A to point B, it just exists in its current state as if it is stuck in "The Cause's" endless time loop. I can't understand why the critics enjoyed watching these characters sit around and talk about nothing for 2+ hours while an atonal musical score meanders around in the background, trying to unlock the mystery of how such an atrocity could be mistaken for a movie. I don't hate it as much as "Punch Drunk Love" but this film's very existence is giving me an immediate need to watch "There Will Be Blood" and prove to myself that all of Anderson's work is not crap.
Oscar Week
Paul Thomas Anderson, the king of hit or miss, majorly missed with "The Master." This movie is just awful. It is nearly as pointless as the cult that it portrays. Random rooms full of naked women, senseless use of the f-word, and the psychologically disturbing "Processing" sequences make this an unsavory work of "art." More than anything, I resent the three Oscar nominations for Best Actor (Joaquin Phoenix), Supporting Actor (Philip Seymour Hoffman), and Supporting Actress (Amy Adams). Even though I enjoy all three of these actors, none of them did anything of note in this film. In fact, the entire thing is very forgettable. The film lacks the emotional punch that these actors have to offer and the story never goes anywhere. Instead of the story progressing from point A to point B, it just exists in its current state as if it is stuck in "The Cause's" endless time loop. I can't understand why the critics enjoyed watching these characters sit around and talk about nothing for 2+ hours while an atonal musical score meanders around in the background, trying to unlock the mystery of how such an atrocity could be mistaken for a movie. I don't hate it as much as "Punch Drunk Love" but this film's very existence is giving me an immediate need to watch "There Will Be Blood" and prove to myself that all of Anderson's work is not crap.
Tuesday, February 19, 2013
Lo Imposible (The Impossible) - 8 stars out of 10
Lo Imposible (The Impossible) - 8 stars out of 10
Oscar Week
"Lo Imposible" is pure emotion. It is difficult to comprehend that this is a true story and the title is very aptly chosen. It does not take long for the tsunami to hit and once it does, you will not be able to catch your breath until the final scene. I wish that the writers would have spent a little more time developing the characters at the beginning so that we would feel a stronger connection between the separated halves of the family, but the connection eventually does manifest itself. The film is all about Naomi Watts in a much deserved Oscar-nominated performance. The sheer anguish that she brings to her role through her facial expressions and body language penetrates the screen and fills the entire room. She has always been one of my favorite actresses but the devastation of this role puts it on an entirely different level. She is complimented by Tom Holland whose passion to help others is a beacon of hope through the course of the film. After filming in a massive water tank for five weeks, it is easy to see the physical and psychological implications of this experience on these two actors' faces. Ewan McGregor also commands the screen with his emotions, no better example than his frantic cell phone conversation. The tsunami sequence is incredible, garnering respect for mother nature and building a respect for the terror endured by its victims. I am surprised that this film did not receive an Oscar nomination for Best Visual Effects. The creators of "Lo Imposible" have achieved an emotional level that few films can reach in this beautiful tribute to the determination of the Bennett family.
Oscar Week
"Lo Imposible" is pure emotion. It is difficult to comprehend that this is a true story and the title is very aptly chosen. It does not take long for the tsunami to hit and once it does, you will not be able to catch your breath until the final scene. I wish that the writers would have spent a little more time developing the characters at the beginning so that we would feel a stronger connection between the separated halves of the family, but the connection eventually does manifest itself. The film is all about Naomi Watts in a much deserved Oscar-nominated performance. The sheer anguish that she brings to her role through her facial expressions and body language penetrates the screen and fills the entire room. She has always been one of my favorite actresses but the devastation of this role puts it on an entirely different level. She is complimented by Tom Holland whose passion to help others is a beacon of hope through the course of the film. After filming in a massive water tank for five weeks, it is easy to see the physical and psychological implications of this experience on these two actors' faces. Ewan McGregor also commands the screen with his emotions, no better example than his frantic cell phone conversation. The tsunami sequence is incredible, garnering respect for mother nature and building a respect for the terror endured by its victims. I am surprised that this film did not receive an Oscar nomination for Best Visual Effects. The creators of "Lo Imposible" have achieved an emotional level that few films can reach in this beautiful tribute to the determination of the Bennett family.
Monday, February 18, 2013
Lincoln (2012) - 9 stars out of 10
Lincoln (2012) - 9 stars out of 10
Oscar Week/President's Day
"Lincoln" is just one of those films that recreates history before our very eyes through stunning acting performances and dialogue that captures the significance of the portrayed events. This film is almost as historically accurate as "Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter" (kidding)! While historians have been quick to nitpick about small details, this script comprehensively weaves together the final four months of Lincoln's life and shows the historic struggles to pass the Thirteenth Amendment. The writers managed to work in some comedic moments through James Spader (perfectly cast as W.N. Bilbo) amidst a lot of political discussion. The most impressive part of the script are the passionate monologues delivered by Daniel Day-Lewis. This film is all about Day-Lewis, who you would swear is actually Abe Lincoln incarnate. He looks exactly like him and the accent is perfection. He shows the human side of the typically meek Lincoln and I knew that he was a shoe-in for the Best Actor Oscar when he delivered his speech about being the most powerful man in the country. Sally Field and Tommy Lee Jones also earned Oscar nominations and they were good, but outside of Field's sarcastic reception line speech and emotional speech about her son, I did not see the Oscar caliber in these "good" performances. Aside from Day-Lewis, it is difficult to focus on any other individuals because there is an overwhelming plethora of characters in this film, but as an ensemble the entire cast provides the emotions to get across the levity of these historic events. Add in a nice score by John Williams and dozens of interesting visual shots by director Steven Spielberg and you have a well-rounded film. "Lincoln" is an incredible film from start to finish and in spite of a few slow parts, only one thing matters: Abraham Lincoln has been portrayed by many actors but this is and always will be the greatest depiction.
Oscar Week/President's Day
"Lincoln" is just one of those films that recreates history before our very eyes through stunning acting performances and dialogue that captures the significance of the portrayed events. This film is almost as historically accurate as "Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter" (kidding)! While historians have been quick to nitpick about small details, this script comprehensively weaves together the final four months of Lincoln's life and shows the historic struggles to pass the Thirteenth Amendment. The writers managed to work in some comedic moments through James Spader (perfectly cast as W.N. Bilbo) amidst a lot of political discussion. The most impressive part of the script are the passionate monologues delivered by Daniel Day-Lewis. This film is all about Day-Lewis, who you would swear is actually Abe Lincoln incarnate. He looks exactly like him and the accent is perfection. He shows the human side of the typically meek Lincoln and I knew that he was a shoe-in for the Best Actor Oscar when he delivered his speech about being the most powerful man in the country. Sally Field and Tommy Lee Jones also earned Oscar nominations and they were good, but outside of Field's sarcastic reception line speech and emotional speech about her son, I did not see the Oscar caliber in these "good" performances. Aside from Day-Lewis, it is difficult to focus on any other individuals because there is an overwhelming plethora of characters in this film, but as an ensemble the entire cast provides the emotions to get across the levity of these historic events. Add in a nice score by John Williams and dozens of interesting visual shots by director Steven Spielberg and you have a well-rounded film. "Lincoln" is an incredible film from start to finish and in spite of a few slow parts, only one thing matters: Abraham Lincoln has been portrayed by many actors but this is and always will be the greatest depiction.
Sunday, February 17, 2013
Life of Pi - 10 stars out of 10
Life of Pi - 10 stars out of 10
Oscar Week
"Life of Pi" is this year's Oscar Eye Candy, though its visual appeal is rivaled by its storytelling technique which is among the finest that I have ever experienced. There is no denying that it is a great movie with its 11 Academy Award nominations, though I did feel that it tended to drag a bit. I understand that it is necessary to devote a lot of time to mundane events in order to emphasize the period of time stranded on the boat, but I could definitely feel my interest waning. That being said, director Ang Lee has brought this epic journey to life and does so with strategically placed (and frequent) humor to break up its intense drama. I appreciate that, although the themes and dialogue of this film are clearly intended for adults, the entire thing is family friendly (unlike "Brokeback Mountain"). This film really transported me into another world with its unique Indian setting and creative visual imagery like the clear water at the Parisian pool and the reflection of the clouds off of the still ocean waters. The creativity with the ever-evolving ocean actually transforms it into its own character. Just about every scene has some creative visual effect that will make you say "Wow." This film offers some of the greatest CGI ever imagined. I still cannot accept that the lead actor never stepped foot on the boat at the same time as the tiger. Not even once. With 15 CGI artists working on just the tiger's fur, Richard Parker (the tiger) is the most amazing digital character ever created. The impressive visuals of the boat sinking, the jellyfish, and of course the Bengal tiger, are matched by wonderful acting performances. The stand-out performances are by Suraj Sharma (teenage Pi) and Ayush Tandon (child Pi), as well as Irfan Khan (adult Pi) and Tabu (Pi's mother). Their accents enhance the Indian atmosphere while being easy to understand. One of my main complaints - where was the Oscar nomination for Suraj Sharma! This year was one of the strongest classes for the Best Actor category ever, but this kid deserved to be on that list. Not only was he the only actor on the set, but he was constantly acting opposite of a character that he could not see. He did all of his own stunts and literally transformed his body over four months to show his physical breakdown as he starved to death. I understand that there were five big-name actors with great performances this year, but Sharma should have been on there too. But everything that I have stated cannot begin to compare with the revelation at the end, which is nothing short of jaw-dropping. Pi's story makes such a great movie on its own but once the symbolism is revealed, the entire film is transported to a level that not many stories achieve. "Life of Pi" is just one of those films that will remain popular for decades, simply because it offers such an enormous visual and intellectual reward for two hours of your time.
Oscar Week
"Life of Pi" is this year's Oscar Eye Candy, though its visual appeal is rivaled by its storytelling technique which is among the finest that I have ever experienced. There is no denying that it is a great movie with its 11 Academy Award nominations, though I did feel that it tended to drag a bit. I understand that it is necessary to devote a lot of time to mundane events in order to emphasize the period of time stranded on the boat, but I could definitely feel my interest waning. That being said, director Ang Lee has brought this epic journey to life and does so with strategically placed (and frequent) humor to break up its intense drama. I appreciate that, although the themes and dialogue of this film are clearly intended for adults, the entire thing is family friendly (unlike "Brokeback Mountain"). This film really transported me into another world with its unique Indian setting and creative visual imagery like the clear water at the Parisian pool and the reflection of the clouds off of the still ocean waters. The creativity with the ever-evolving ocean actually transforms it into its own character. Just about every scene has some creative visual effect that will make you say "Wow." This film offers some of the greatest CGI ever imagined. I still cannot accept that the lead actor never stepped foot on the boat at the same time as the tiger. Not even once. With 15 CGI artists working on just the tiger's fur, Richard Parker (the tiger) is the most amazing digital character ever created. The impressive visuals of the boat sinking, the jellyfish, and of course the Bengal tiger, are matched by wonderful acting performances. The stand-out performances are by Suraj Sharma (teenage Pi) and Ayush Tandon (child Pi), as well as Irfan Khan (adult Pi) and Tabu (Pi's mother). Their accents enhance the Indian atmosphere while being easy to understand. One of my main complaints - where was the Oscar nomination for Suraj Sharma! This year was one of the strongest classes for the Best Actor category ever, but this kid deserved to be on that list. Not only was he the only actor on the set, but he was constantly acting opposite of a character that he could not see. He did all of his own stunts and literally transformed his body over four months to show his physical breakdown as he starved to death. I understand that there were five big-name actors with great performances this year, but Sharma should have been on there too. But everything that I have stated cannot begin to compare with the revelation at the end, which is nothing short of jaw-dropping. Pi's story makes such a great movie on its own but once the symbolism is revealed, the entire film is transported to a level that not many stories achieve. "Life of Pi" is just one of those films that will remain popular for decades, simply because it offers such an enormous visual and intellectual reward for two hours of your time.
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