This was one of the more predictable Oscars in recent memory with most, if not all, of the favourites winning. I am sure that debate will rage online for a few more days about the merits of the awards but that seems a little pointless.
For my two cents, it was great to see that, after all of the speculation, Heath Ledger did win for best supporting actor. It was an unhinged performance and, with his majestic turns in Brokeback Mountain and the smaller film Candy, it is a shame that we will not see how far he could have taken his talent. And, like many others I will now have to run out and catch-up with Slumdog Millionaire (I was planning to regardless of it's win - honest!).
In all of the post-Oscar excitement I did want to recommend another film which may get lost in the noise: Lat den ratte komma in (Let the Right One In) is showing at The Paramount in Wellington (sorry, not sure about further afield). It is a terrifically low-key, atmospheric, horror/drama that is a joy to experience on the big screen with an audience. I will write a full review later in the week but it really will be gone very quickly; it lasted about a week in Auckland! If you like horror, or just a good (foreign) flick, then check it out!
It started over ten years ago. I walked out of the screening of a film (I forget which one - probably with good reason!) and there it was; one of the most intriguing posters I have ever seen. Peering from a few blades of grass were a few familiar looking eyes. The title, however, was not familiar; this was particularly strange in that period of my life. I was intrigued! What plonker was making a WWII movie a few months after Saving Private Ryan?! Were they mad, or just stupid? Terrence Malick? Never heard of him; probably some MTV Video junkie with too much luck. Well, it shows what I knew!
It turns out that, along with the return of George Lucas (Star Wars: The Phantom Merchandising Opportunity) and Stanley Kubrick (Eyes Wide Shut) that year, there was another esteemed auteur returning to cinema. And, people seemed to be even more excited about him than the company he was keeping!
Terrence Malick made two of the finest films of the '70's (Badlands and Days of Heaven); which in my book is the finest period of film-making, full-stop. Then he up and disappeared. No explanation and no goodbyes; just gone! As the man never gives interviews we are still not entirely sure what he got up to in those years; one, unlikely, theory is that he was a hairdresser in Paris. However, the good news is that he is now back in the film-making business. After '98's The Thin Red Line he made The New World in '05 and has a new film, Tree of Life, due later this year.
Suffice to say, after the intrigue generated by many news articles, I was at the cinema for The Thin Red Line on opening night. I expected it to be good; never did I imagine that it would change my perception of what good cinema was forever!
I believe that the theme of my filmgoing life can be summed up by what happened at the end of the film. I sat, eyes wide, mouth wider, mesmerised. Behind me I heard an exodus the likes I have never seen in a cinema before, or perhaps since! Teenage boys fled, grown men proclaimed it "the worst film they had ever seen", and women wept (okay, I made that last one up!). Within the space of a minute I sat alone; well, almost alone; one other couple seemed awestruck as well. I loved the film, but the wider movie going audience did not seem taken by it at all.
For years after, if I mentioned The Thin Red Line, people would cringe and tell me how awful it was, and then talk about the wonders of Saving Private Ryan. Now, I agree that Saving Private Ryan is a terrific movie; it is technically brilliant, the script is tight with clearly delineated characters, and the action scenes are visceral with a good sense of geography. However, it is also very manipulative and one dimensional. The Nazis could have stepped straight-out of a comic book and the bookend scenes in the army graveyard are horrifically obvious. It is, essentially, a finely made boys on a mission movie, an A-Grade Dirty Dozen if you will, dressed up in Dad's finest tuxedo. It has one message: War Is Bad (mmm-kay!).
The Thin Red Line, while also technically brilliant, plays a different tune. And this is where, I believe, the bulk of the movie audience gets off the train. The film is not about a narrative, or characters, it is about war itself. And not the idea of war that has permeated the public conscious for the past few millennia; with horror intermingling with thoughts of glory and brotherhood. It takes a step back and asks from where does war come. As Man, the bringers of war, partake in it, and as Man is hewn from nature, what is it in nature that gives rise to such horrific acts. Why do strangers, men with no personal grudges, travel so far to kill each other? Where does all of the hatred come from?
To raise such high-minded questions and then provide a succinct answer would be somewhat presumptuous. Malick instead offers thoughts, moods, and ideas, and lets the audience make up it's own mind. Ambiguity can be a wonderful tool when handled correctly; provided, of course, that the audience is open to it.
Most filmgoers appear to want an easy entertainment and not be challenged at the movies. Fair enough, I feel that way sometimes too; hence my eager anticipation of the bound-to-be-mindless Transformers 2. However, most films that I connect with and revisit, year-in, year-out, are films that challenge me; whether it be through narrative structure, subject matter, or ambiguity. To truly appreciate a Terrence Malick film you need to squeeze in-between the narrative and bathe in all of the complexity that is there to be found.
If I was asked who my favourite director was I would have to say Malick. There are others that I admire, yet, no one, to my mind, has a body of work as consistently brilliant, or that I connect with as much on a personal level, as him.
I am sure that I will revisit his individual films as I carry on through my blog journey. The point of this blog is that if you have never taken the time to journey into the head of Terrence Malick, and if you love all that the medium of film can offer, I really think that you should take the time to do so.
The new Transformers 2 trailer is online. Not giving away much in plot it does promise more robots, more explosions, and more Shia La Beouf. So, no surprises then.
Sub-woofers will be growling in pain from 25th June 2009, at a cinema near you!
I am glad that the first review on my recently christened blog will be a positive one!
Early rumour regarding Gran Torino suggested that this would be the final Dirty Harry film. Despite denials from the filmmakers, the trailer suggested that if not Dirty Harry in name, maybe Dirty Harry in nature?! It promised a grizzled old war vet coming out of retirement to kick-ass one more time. As much fun as that sounds, I am pleased to report that the film has more depth, humour, and surprises in store than would initially appear.
Eastwood plays Walt Kowalski, a Korean-War vet whose wife has recently died. Alienated from his family he spends his days tending his house, cleaning his prized '72 Gran Torino, and being appalled at the number of gooks and spooks (his words, not mine) living in his once fine neighbourhood. The man doesn't speak, he growls, and he generally does not have anything nice to say. It is only a matter of time before a lifetime of rage and bile comes spilling out.
The film is a little clunky in parts, particularly in the opening scenes while characters are being introduced. And the supporting characters are reportedly played, largely, by non-actors. While this works in the film's favour for the most part the actors do show their limitations on a few occasions. However, Eastwood's performance, not to mention his understated direction, hold the film together. Once the final act rolls into view any minor quibbles are long forgotten.
It is Eastwood's performance that makes this film worth seeing. In what he claims is his last acting role he does not disappoint. Bringing all of his cool action-hero swagger, and melding it with the fine craggy depths of his best acting roles, he creates a character both genuine and entertaining (it would have been nice to see him nominated in Brad Pitt's place at the Oscars this year). Add to that a script that refuses to take the obvious route and I cannot think of a better way for him to retire from acting.
You will likely see better films this year, but it will be difficult to find one that is as engaging and, frankly, as entertaining, as Gran Torino.
A new year brings with it a fresh batch of films to get excited about. In the past, I have often worked myself into a fever of anticipation for an upcoming film to find myself bitterly disappointed. So, I find that it is best to go into a film knowing as little as possible with the hope of being pleasantly surprised. Of course, monkey think does not necessarily mean monkey do! (I am the monkey; in case you were wondering).
So, with no further to-do here are my thoughts on some of this years upcoming flicks. Some of which I have my eye on and some that Hollywood hopes we have our eyes on!
Watchmen
I am genuinely excited and apprehensive about this one. The trailer is great and early word from test screenings have been very positive. However, after the uneven remake of Dawn of the Dead, and the exciting but shallow 300, I still need convincing that Zach Snyder has the ability to handle such a complicated plot. Thankfully it is not a long wait...
Star Trek
Despite appearances I amnot, underlined and bolded (in retrospect I guess I could have saved some time and actually underlined and bolded the word; not to mention the time taken to write this comment...) a trekkie. Star Trek 2: The Wrath of Khan is a classic, and a few of the other movies are entertaining enough, but the bulk of Trek is lost on me. If nothing else it does not look boring, so if Abrams and Co have concocted a good story it might work. Big might though!
Wolverine
Sorry, X-Men Origins: Wolverine. This had promise; director of the effective Tsotsi, Hugh Jackman, Liev Schrieber as the bad guy; but with talk of studio interference and an ineffective trailer this will likely be as much fun as root canal.
Terminator Salvation
From McG, director of Charlie's Angels and, wait for it, Charlie's Angels 2: Full Throttle, comes another Terminator sequel. It should blow, right?! Is it just me or is down beginning to feel like up, and did I just see a cat and a dog making out? This actually looks good! McG (hard to take him seriously isn't it!) is making all of the right noises, Jonathan Nolan (The Dark Knight and The Prestige) did a rewrite, and it has Batman in it. Batman! This could still go pear-shaped but, fingers-crossed, this could almost erase the memory of T3.
Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen
Transformers was simultaneously awesome and awful. The awful was everything that Michael Bay appeared to bring to it; excessive slomo's, lingering shots of the military, and not a lot of sense. The awesome was robots! Big robots; beating the living shit out of each other! The sequel promises more awesome!
Fanboys
This looks pretty awful but I am intrigued by the concept. Some buddies try to sneak into Skywalker Ranch to show their friend, who is dying of cancer, Star Wars Episode 1: The Phantom Menace, before its release. It's a comedy.
So, let me get this right; they overcome many obstacles (they must do or it will be a short film) and then, presumably, see the film, see how god-awful it is, and then their good friend dies, bitterly disappointed. Sounds like a laff-riot!
Drag Me to Hell
Sam Raimi (Spiderman 3) goes back to his roots with a balls-to-the-wall horror-comedy! Could be fun.
Scott Pilgrim vs the World
New Edgar Wright starring Michael Cera. See me? I'm over there waiting in line!
I Love You Phillip Morris
Jim Carrey is one of the most under-rated actors today. He is incredible in Man on the Moon, The Truman Show, and Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind. Unfortunately, his studio comedies tend to be overly homogenised vehicles for product placement. So, it is with great joy that I see him in a comedy that promises to stretch his repertoire a little! I will save you the plot summary as the trailer sums it up nicely. From the writers behind Bad Santa, this could be a winner!
Judd Apatow has a solid reputation and track record. Early word says that this is a step-up from Knocked Up and that he goes a bit James L. Woods on it. It has Seth Rogen in it so I'm in.
And for those of you that have not yet seen Rogen in Freaks and Geeks, or, frankly, seen Freaks and Geeks at all, stop reading and go and find a copy. Now. Off you go!
Observe and Report
I don't know much about this one but it is Rogen doing a serious comedy. It has been described, in various places, as a funny Taxi Driver (if Travis Bickle was a security guard). Sounds good to me!
Up
The new Pixar flick is directed by the team behind Monsters Inc. Starring an adventuring, crime-fighting, pensioner, who always manages to have tea at three o'clock, it looks like a winner.
Where the Wild Things Are
I cannot possibly see how this book can be made into a feature-length film. Thankfully, Spike Jonze has a much better imagination than me. Hopes are high. The studio may have demanded some re-shoots. It is a gamble but I am hoping, not betting, that Spike delivers.
Inglourious Basterds
Tarantino's "men on a mission" WW2 picture promises great things. The most of which is seeing Freaks and Geeks'Samm Levine playing a Nazi-killing Jewish soldier. You've seen Freaks and Geeks, right?
Avatar
James Cameron, doing sci-fi, in 3D. I am not sold on 3D yet, but if anyone can do it, Jimmy can. If this does anything but huge business I will be very surprised. Of course, I said that about Titanic too....
I have saved the most intriguing release for last. Unfortunately, it is not out this year so we have to wait until 2011! Is it wrong to wish two years of your life away to see a movie now? Like, right now!
Okay. As you have probably guessed, I need to get something off my chest. So you may want to step back a little; maybe a little more!
I used to be obsessed with the Oscars. Even after I began to realise that the best film almost never won, and that the show itself was kinda naff, I still made sure that I would be home in time to catch the start. Not to mention spending the day trying to avoid any spoilers!
Well, that day has long gone! I will probably still tune in, in the hope that this year the Academy gets it right, but any enthusiasm has long since ebbed away. And with this years nominees they have little chance of getting it right; well, maybe in the smaller categories.
By my count, the last time the best film of the year actually won the best film Oscar was 1992 for Clint Eastwood's magnificent Unforgiven! Last year the Academy came close to redeeming themselves. Alas, while No Country for Old Men is a classic, and certainly much better than the usual dreck that wins (Crash, anyone? Sorry, this may be a recurring theme; and quiet in the cheap seats; you know who you are!), it is no There Will Be Blood; a film, that I feel, will be remembered alongside the likes of Casablanca and The Godfather Part 2; it has a gravity and a focus of vision that is rare in any period of film-making, but, particularly so in films showing in today's multiplexes.
This year's best picture nominees are all fairly predictable. Feel good entertainment about someone overcoming all odds? Check. Bio of someone fighting against all odds? Check (times two). Nazis? Check. The big shock was no nomination for either of the well-received popular entertainments of last year; namely, Wall-E and The Dark Knight. Benjamin Button, the film with the most nominations, is the type of film that the Academy usually supports; a sentimental, yet epic plot, with over-arching themes that never quite gels as well as its technical prowess, or intentions, would have you believe.
Now, admittedly, four of this years nominees have been quite well received, with the other being commended on its best-intentions and acting etc, but with so many great independent and foreign films released each year, isn't it the film industry's role to seek out and commend the truly deserving films? Sure, they may end up being an already successful film, but it would be refreshing to see some thought going into the nominations instead of the Academy going through the same usual motions.
Anyway, my recommendation this year, as the red carpets roll out, is to head down to your local video store and take a chance on a film. This one would do very nicely! Or, if you are really daring, try to track this one down.
For some time now I have planned to set-up my own website. But, as I currently have neither the time, nor the inclination, this humble blog will have to suffice. It will come as no surprise to anyone that knows me that the bulk of the content will be focused on film.
I have been in-love (obsessed?!) with the flicks since my parents took me to Peter Pan when I was about 3. It was a confusing, terrifying, and, ultimately, magical experience.
At first I was not too discerning in my viewing choices and, although I took forever to pick a video at the video store, I always ended up with some trashy live-action Disney film. My Dad's recommendation to rent some crappy looking old film called Star Wars always landed on deaf ears; and he recommended it, exasperated with waiting for me to decide, without fail, every time!
Then, one Friday in 1984, my world, and my little six-year old brain, exploded! I am not sure how many times I had been to the cinema by this point, but, looking back, I believe it was only the second time. My Dad took the afternoon off work and we ventured to Hoyts Manners Mall. A smattering of folk sat in the theatre with us; the lights dimmed, trumpets blared, and yellow lettering blasted onto the screen: Star Wars, Return of the Jedi! It was glorious! And, I can assure you, that on the next trip to the video store we rented Star Wars!
My tastes have evolved since then but the allure of the flicks is still strong with this one. (Whoa, just how geeky am I?) My opinions have also grown stronger; when people ask me for my opinion on a film they usually regret it! So, over the years I have avoided, or softened, my criticism of some films. The Lord of the Rings? Ummm, yeah, nice scenery, and errrr, the costumes were good? The Matrix sequels? Well, I didn't have to pay for parking, so that was a plus?! Errr.... Crash? (The non-Cronenberg one). Now, I do try to be polite but I do have to draw the line somewhere! Crash was more manipulative than bad Spielberg (or good Spielberg, if we are being honest) and it had as much insight into race relations as these guys! However, I have to confess, as much as I can be considered a snob, I do have my own guilty pleasures. For example, The Blues Brothers. Good flick? Not really. Do I like it? Yes, I most certainly do! How can you not like this?
So, if anyone bothers to read my blathering, I welcome comments and would love the blog to be able to generate some healthy debate. But, if nothing else, it will be interesting to look back on my writing in a few years and see just how unenlightened my current 30 year old self is!
Anyhoo, as Superman once said: Up, up, and away! (I guess that settles it! Big geek!)
