The Rocketeer - 6 stars out of 10

The Rocketeer - 6 stars out of 10

“The Rocketeer” could have easily been a forgettable movie.  The special effects pale in comparison with modern superhero movies (or even “Terminator 2,” which came out the same year) and the origin story isn’t too thought-provoking.  But the setting is what makes this movie memorable. The 1930's gangster culture and the contrast between Hollywood society and aviators make for several interesting dynamics.  There is just something magical about a man with a jet pack flying through Golden Age Hollywood.  Or perhaps it is the musical score by James Horner, saturating the film with heroism.  Whatever the reason, this edgy Disney film became a cult classic.  From the moment that Horner’s Rocketeer theme (one of my favorites) plays during the opening credits, you know that it is going to be a classic.  The acting of Billy Campbell and Alan Arkin is decent, and it’s interesting to see 21-year-old Jennifer Connelly.  But for me, the highlight is Timothy Dalton as Neville Sinclair.  He gives this character so much depth with that Bond-like smoothness.  “The Rocketeer” doesn’t have the greatest special effects and the story is a bit too coincidental, but it is full of great action sequences and will leave you feeling nostalgic.

[Pictured: He isn't the most memorable hero, but that jet pack is iconic!]

Mr. Nobody - 8 stars out of 10

Mr. Nobody - 8 stars out of 10

“Mr. Nobody” is a complete mindbender that will have you thinking for days after you finish watching.  On the surface, this is a simple story of an old man reflecting on his life.  But deep down, it is a fascinating examination of how the effects of a single decision can radically change one’s life.  I love films that explore the effects of a decision through the many-worlds interpretation style and this one is on a higher level than the rest.  Movies like “Atonement” and “Back to the Future” use one event to show two possible futures.  “The Butterfly Effect” follows one timeline and shows how the choices of the different characters alter the timeline.  But “Mr. Nobody” follows an ever-growing number of possible futures that continually branch off of each timeline with each decision that the character makes and presents the different storylines in a nonlinear narrative style so that we see approximately 9 different versions of Nemo’s life at once.  Additionally, the story begins at the end of Nemo’s life so that we do not know which version of his life is the truth.  Many actors have impressed us by playing multiple characters in one film, but Jared Leto breaks convention by playing several versions of the same character and interpreting each with different characteristics.  I spent a lot of the film wondering if he played the 118-year-old version of Nemo because the voice is so different.  The script is pretty clever, purposely confusing us but giving us enough explanation to follow along until the truth is revealed at the end.  I don’t know how anybody even conceptualized this story, and Jaco van Dormael must be a genius for being able to keep track of these alternate universes and blend one into the next.  “Mr. Nobody” is not for those who are easily confused… but if you are willing to watch it twice or do some research during the final credits to fully digest its content, this is the sort of film that can change the way that you look at the world.

[Pictured: One decision can change a lifetime]