New Beginnings: Review of Jack Ryan: Shadow Recruit

As an action character Jack Ryan has become a firm favourite of this genre ever since first Alec Baldwin then Harrison Ford brought him from page to the screen in his three memorable 90s flicks, The Hunt for Red October, Patriot Games and Clear & Present Danger. But Ryan has now been absent from our screen for over 11 years ever since the rather limp Ben Affleck effort, The Sum of All Fears. This year we turn to British Thespian, Kenneth Branagh to bring this character back to life by starting from the beginning in his reboot, Jack Ryan: Shadow Recruit. But in a movie age dominated by Ethan Hunt, James Bond and Jason Bourne, how will brain box Ryan stand up? 

After a helicopter crash ends his promising military career, Jack Ryan (Chris Pine) is thrown a lifeline by veteran CIA officer Tom Harper (Kevin Costner) who recruits him to work within a special unit that observes Wall Street very closely! While working, Ryan stumbles across a series of illegal accounts belonging to Russian millionaire Viktor Cheverin (Kenneth Branagh) and soon it becomes clear that this man is intent of reducing America to ruins! But his role has put a strain on his relationship with girlfriend Cathy (Keira Knightley) who through complete accident becomes involved with his world!

Jack Ryan: Shadow Recruit is a decent reboot attempt and it gives this character a sound base in which to work from, but although this is a relatively entertaining ride, it doesn’t quite fit as perfectly as we had hoped. Ryan’s back story is only mentioned fleetingly in Red October and here we get to see it live- problem is that it doesn’t feel nearly explored enough and as we begin with Ryan witnessing 9/11 whilst in college and then enlisting. After his helicopter is hit, his rehab scenes are simply glossed over and never really get a true depiction of his difficult recovery. When Harper mysteriously appears with no real introduction, things feel a little too conveniently put together!

But one area that Branagh’s reboot does score some key points is in its realistic transition of Ryan going from being a desk jockey to a field agent. The man on display here is a nervous wreck after his first (and difficult) kill and isn’t used to making moves without confirmation, this is demonstrated in a funny sequence where he has to make his way down a staircase with Harper telling him when to move! Being a junior version of this character, he isn’t the resourceful and hard nosed character that Ford brought us so memorably, but this works in the films favour and we have to learn to like this character with all his faults as he strives towards perfection!

The centre romance between Ryan and his doctor lady Cathy doesn’t quite gleam like it should, but we are however given a girlfriend who most men would kill to have! Cathy rather than running a mile when she learns of his job, aides him in his efforts which includes going head to head with Cheverin! This is a girl who knows who to think fast and here we see a flicker of the Cathy that we will become such a rock to Ryan in the later movies- although they argue constantly, the pairs love is solid. Also this lady is an inventive one, evidences by her dropping everything and getting a Visa in less than four hours! Now that earns some kudos!

The action in Jack Ryan: Shadow Recruit feels a little bland and throughout we never feel the adrenaline rush we are supposed to, but this is just beginnings of this franchise and hopefully the newer efforts will raise more pulses. Also Cheverin is rather routine bad guy and although he is menacing whenever he appears, we don’t feel that he is any particular threat and would probably have been better placed during the original series two decades ago.

Chris Pine proves he is the new go to man for reboot and makes a good early impression as the new Jack Ryan and the sense of vulnerability he gives the character swerves him well in the long run. Will this man leave as lasting impression as Han Solo before him? Time will tell this, but for now he has made a good start! Kevin Costner makes for a great mentor figure and he is tasked with the movies more gritter aspects and through his coolness on screen, Costner succeeds admirably and for the future this could prove an inspired choice!

Against odds, Keira Knightley greatly impresses as Cathy and although some most likely frowned upon her inclusion, this gives evidence to the fact that Knightley can be good in blockbusters. Shame the same cant be said about Kenneth Branagh whose rather flavourless turn as Russian Cheverin makes him a forgettable villian!

There may have been a few bumps in the road, but Jack Ryan: Shadow Recruit is still solid fun and hopefully in future installments of this reworked franchise will make for similar and smart thrillers from what we are accustom to! Hello again Jack, nice to have you back on screen.

Inner Struggle: Review of From Here to Eternity

Classic From The Vault 

From Here to Eternity (1953) 

Director: Fred Zimmeman 

By Alex Watson 

Most times when you watch a classic war movie, it focuses on the men’s heroics on the battle field and the courage that goes with it, but we rarely see the struggle faced by soldiers at home. In 1953, director Fred Zinneman adapted James Jones’ well received novel From Here to Eternity, which focuses on a US Army Base on the lead up to the Pearl Harbour attacks in 1943, the result was one of the most iconic and heartbreaking war movies of all time and gave birth to one of cinema’s most notorious kissing scenes!

Private Robert E Lee Prewitt (Montgomery Clift) arrives at Schofield Barracks, Hawaii after being transferred. His new superior Captain Dana Holmes (Philip Ober) knows of his boxing past and is keen to use him in the upcoming boxing championships, Prewitt however relents due to quitting boxing. To get him to fight, Holmes encourages all NCO’s to make his life hell on a daily basis until he gives in! Meanwhile Holmes’ bored wife Karen (Deborah Kerr) takes up an affair with his trusted aide Sergeant Milton Warden (Burt Lancaster) which will lead them down a dangerous path!

Winner of the Best Picture Oscar in 1953, Zinneman’s From Here to Eternity is an excellent war movie in ever sense of the word and its depiction of internal struggle of portrayed splendidly. In this movie, each man is fight his own personal war but unlike the battle field, here there can be no possible victory! Prewitt is the subject of horrendous prejudice by the NCO’s of his platoon because of his refusal to fight and his disillusion with army life increases throughout the movie despite the odd kind word by Warden. Eventually he is pushed to breaking point, and when he is old fighting spirit reappears it is both glorious but also devastating! He does find solace however, in a romance with nightclub girl Lorene (Donna Reed), although their ideals for the perfect life may not correspond.

Warden and Karen’s romance is the movies true centre point and it gives way to the infamous beach scene where the pair kiss on the sand whilst being hit by the waves! Their romance initially is a way for the manly Warden to get one over on his arrogant superior, despite warnings from fellow soldiers about Karen’s previous affairs! Although their romance blossoms into something much deeper, Warden wrestles with his desire to start a new life with Karen and his commitment to the Army, but from the very start their romance is doomed to fail because Warden is already married to the service and cannot imagine life anywhere else! But perhaps the real tragedy comes from the downfall of Private Angelo Maggio (Frank Sinatra), Prewitt’s confident friend who is bullied severely by racist Sergeant ‘Fatso’ Judson (Ernest Borgnine), who enjoys regularly beating his soldiers in the stockade!

The actual Pearl Harbour bombings pay only a small part in From Here to Eternity, but when they hit the result mirrors the confusion and terror faced by the soldiers involved and their peaceful base is literally blown to pieces by the Japanese bombers, Tora, Tora, Tora would give a much more in depth look at this 17 years later!

Both Burt Lancaster and Montgomery Clift give towering and Oscar nominated performances in this movie, Lancaster’s Sergeant Warden is a man dedicated serviceman, but soon learns that opening his heart might be a dangerous thing to the woman he yearns to love! This a reminder of what a dominant force that Lancaster could be one our screen and the 1950’s belonged to him! Montgomery Clift plays a far more sensitive and suffering man, Prewitt just wants to play his bugle and forget about boxing, but his unable to forget to tragic incident that made him quit! One of cinema forgotten talents, Clift’s affecting turn gives Zinneman’s film its soul.

Supporting wise, Deborah Kerr and Donna Reed (who won an Oscar) are both coequally superb and Kerr gives the film its key female presence and despite this being a male dominated movie, she truly stands out as the woman who desired to find something resembling happiness in life! But the Oscar winning Frank Sinatra steals the supporting honours as Angelo and many forget what a capable actor Ol’ Blue Eyes was! Though how he got the role would later influence the horse head sequence in The Godfather years later!

From Here to Eternity is a true golden oldie and through its strong performances and affecting story, it a film that deserves revisiting again and serves as proof that not all wars are fought on the battlefield! Just be careful recreating the beach kiss, those waves might just ruin the moment!

A Tortured Soul: Review of Inside Llewyn Davis

Inside of Llewyn Davis

Directors: Joel & Ethan Coen

By Alex Watson

 

No matter what the story or how unlike-able the character, the Coen Brothers are one the truly great American film making duos of years gone by and whenever we leave on our their movies, we are forever filled with questions about what we have just witnessed! These two specialize in a type of quirky yet thoroughly engaging type of film making that has yet to be equalled, and based on their mass critical acclaim for their new movie Inside Llewyn Davis (including the Grand Prix at the Cannes film festival) it seems their fine run is not due to end any time soon. For this episode, the Coens covet the New York folk music scene and give us the story of a man who is still trying to find himself and annoying many people while doing it!

Folk singer Llewyn Davis (Oscar Isaac) is a man at the crossroads of the life, he is continually depressed at the death of his former musical partner and seems unable to catch a break in the music scene. His friendships have become strain due his constant scrounging off others and it appears he may have impregnated his best friend Jim’s (Justin Timberlake) wife Jean (Carey Mulligan) and by a freak accident he has ended up looking after someone’s cat! But through a series of coincidences, Llewyn’s life may just change- but will it be for the better?

Cruelly snubbed by the Academy this year, Inside Llewyn Davis is yet another fine Coens brothers movie, a more low key story than we are used to from this duo, but it is also one of the most wistful and hauntingly beautiful movies of 2014. The grimy cinematography from Bruno Delbonnel is like a euphemism of Llewyn downcast mind and under the cloudy and snowy skies the movie simply gleams and contributes the downer feel of the movie. Their quirky presence is as always present and correct and we are given may humorous moments that help lift our spirits through including an hilarious and bizarre sequence when Llewyn is forced to help record the sci-fi song ‘Please Mr Kennedy’, all I will say is expect the strange and laugh loudly!

Slow in pace it may be but the movie benefits largely from this because it allows us to get a better picture of the man himself and the cat that accompanies him. The sequences on display are  a weird and wonderful mix, including a lengthy on the road sequence where Llewyn meets heroin addicted Jazz player Roland (John Goodman) who mocks him for being a folk musician and his beatnik partner Johnny Five (Garrett Hedland) and a pain filled yet comical dinner sequence with his only fans/providers the Gorfeins. These moments provide a uniqueness to the film and give moments of heartbreak, danger and dark humour. Plus in great Coen Brothers style, they typically and unashamedly leave us hanging with their end- then again what fun would their movies be if things were explained?

The Coens always have a knack of given us a hero who isn’t always easy to emphasize with and this is certainly the case with Llewyn! Normally for a tortured soul like this, we could feel some degree of sadness that his friend threw himself off the GW Bridge- but here we have man who is very glass half full, because that perfectly resembles his effort in life. Llewyn is unable to function either a musical duo or on his own, his half hearted audition to big a Chicago promoter (F Murray Abraham) is just painful to watch. But that doesn’t stop him from having a self destructive streak! The man has left such a trail of wreckage behind him that he is referred to by Jean as “King Midas’ idiot brother, because everything you touch turns to shit!”

But bizarrely all things he does wrong. only succeed in drawing the audience towards him and in a clever twist, the Coens asks us to make our own mind what we think about this man? Is he really this ignored musical genius that he believes he is or just another washed up act? Through Inside Llewyn Davis we hope for the man to clue in and to turn things around, but you get the sense that wouldn’t be cool for a man of his stature!

The real success of this movie goes down to Oscar Isaac’s magnificent performance as Llewyn, and as this man he perfectly brings across a terrific sense of weariness and self loathing which make him stand out on screen. After stealing Robin Hood away from Russell Crowe and giving ace support in Drive- Isaac has arrived on the big stage and the Coens have found a man who fits this role perfectly! it is a shame he was deprived of an Oscar nomination, as it would have been fully earned Carey Mulligan is equally superb as the forever angry Jean and her many sarcastic and venomous spouts at Llewyn for impregnating her provide the perfect comedic moments!

Folk music may have been an unlikely story for the Coen Brothers, but it is one of their best works yet and it is a real crime this has missed out on so many major awards when it begs for mass approval! The protagonist on display may not be liked by all, but you can’t deny he give us one hell of a ride! See you real soon Ethan and Joel!

Board Games That Will Become Movies

We’ve all had the swings and roundabouts of playing boardgames as a family- with the loud cheers of delight defeating our nemesis, and the equally cries of frustration and despair when some cheats which normally result in the board upturned and things been thrown!

After the announcement that there will be a Hungry’ Hungry Hippos movie, it does beg the question of which next treasured childhood fame will be trounced upon? Here are some contenders,

Operation: A sadistic surgeon decides to perform horrific yet hilarious experiments on his patients, this would essentially be another Human Centipede movie, but if they have the iconic red noise buzzing then it could be interesting

Monopoly: This would probably be a modern view on wealth and corruption, but it would be an interesting rivalry piece as rival players each bid to take over different parts of London- better save the get out of jail free cards though!

Buckaroo: An un-ruly and mean tempered horse causes carnage in a small town when one too many items are put on his back and is forced to be tamed! My main hope here is this doesn’t descend into something schmaltzy like The Horse Whisperer, but if played for laughs it could work!

Scrabble: Not sure how on earth any producer could makes this beloved word game work? Well maybe kind of Bobby Fischer type story could do the trick? Where a troubled man takes on a Scrabble champ and inspires his nation, worth a try surely!

Jenga: People try to construct a giant building of blocks, but it collapses repeatedly! Throw in an against the odds story as well some montages and this might not suck!

Hungry Like The Wolf: Review of The Wolf of Wall Street

The Wolf of Wall Street

Director: Martin Scorsese

By Alex Watson

When a Marty Scorsese movie hits cinema’s that can mean only one thing, it’s Oscar time! After being an Academy favourite for so many years, it seems odd that he has only been rewarded once for best director! But rarely since the turn of this century has his name not been among the nominees and thus year he brings a sex, drugs and wild party filled three hour movie depicting the rise and fall of a daring young stockbroker in his film The Wolf of Wall Street. 

Jordan Belfort (Leonardo DiCaprio) is a young man on Wall Street with big ambitions. But when he loses his promising broker role in the 1987 stock market crash, he is forced into a new life! But when lands a job at a second rate dealership on Long Island, his eyes are opened to a whole new opportunity to get rich quick where he sells cheap and lousy stocks to the working class of America. Assembling his own business, Belfort soon makes a killing and is able to fund a fast and furious life style, but the richer he grows, the more eyes begin to focus on him!

The Wolf of Wall Street is by far Scorsese’s greatest effort of the twenty-first century so far and his portrayal of the rich man gone wild Belfort is a wildly entertaining affair and Scorsese’s comic touch makes this movie all the memorable. The story is simple, Belfort’s world is one where only the smartest survive and to be a success he has to prey on the weak. His early scenes where he discovers penny stocks are a good indicator of his future plans and as he easily dupes folks into buying garbage, a Wall Street hero is soon born! His dubious morals and ethics are always as in our mind, but thanks to Scorsese’s directorial flair, our thoughts are pushed firmly to the back!

Many may find this movie a surprise due to the sheer amount of great laughs on display and as Jordan and his other money find the lifestyle of their dreams, the drug use increases and their actions become way more erratic- and sides will burst as a result! A taster of the painfully hilarious scenes to come, sees Jordan attempting in vain to drive home his Lamborghini whilst basically paralyzed on a particularly powerful Quaalude is a sure fire candidate for one of the years best! As he crawls and rolls his way to his white target, this a great display of sheer physical comedy by Leo.

Much of the success of The Wolf of Wall Street goes down to the magnificent protagonist we are given. Jordan is a man who by all accounts we should loathe with intensity, as he robs from the poor, rich and all in between to fund his own pocket. But you cannot deny his business brains and his cocksure charm makes him all the more appealing. But its his adoration of himself and his careless breezing through life that will eventually bring about his downfall and cleverly, Scorsese brings a third act that brings a glimmer of fear and conscience to Jordan as the problems mount up and his life begins to crumble apart!

Now in his fifth collaboration with Scorsese, Leonardo DiCaprio gives what us perhaps his best ever performances. As Belfort, DiCaprio brings a flair and a ever so smooth touch to his role that makes his man shine on screen and solidifies without doubt that he us one of the best actors of his generation!

But DiCaprio is also in good company and Jonah Hill gives an excellent supporting turn as his equally drug addicted and unusual second in command Donnie, a man with creepily white teeth who marvels at Belfort’s wide world. Hill is uproarious but thankfully never reduces his character into being a stereotype. But its Matthew McConaughey who makes the biggest and funniest impact with his early appearance as Jordan’s early career mentor who provides with life advice which will eventually lead him down a road to ruin! With Matt and Leo facing off for best actor glory at this year’s Oscars, it will be a fascinating battle!

With its drug and money fueled content, The Wolf of Wall Street is a Marty film to truly savour! For this I will advise the following, go see this, laugh till your head drops then quit your job IMMEDIATELY after watching and go work on wall street, understand? OK now go! Come back so Leo and Marty, we love you guys.

Five Great Movie Soldiers

• Corporal Dwayne Hicks (Michael Biehn-Aliens): Tough colonial marine on the outside, heart of gold on the inside. Hicks firmly made his mark on the Alien franchise with suitable charm and badass attitude! When he sticks his rifle in the xenomorph’s mouth and cooly says “EAT THIS!” his steadfast soldiery is well demonstrated. But his main quality us his loyalty to the ones he loves and in his company, Newt and Ripley’s safety is never in question.
• Colonel Nathan Jessup (Jack Nicholson- A Few Good Men): The hardened veteran has a way with words and through them his full force is felt! Jessup lives by the book and will damn sure die by it, his court room scene facing off against Tom Cruise shows his full force as the Colonel without shame about the order he previously gave for this he will go down swinging. His ice cold persona under pressure makes him very memorable on screen and this is one man who knows “How to sidestep a few landmines”
• Captain Benjamin Willard (Martin Sheen- Apocalypse Now): The mysterious CIA officer is very much a blank slate, but he has a ruthless streak a mile wide and this is exactly why the army has sent him into the ‘heart if darkness’ to kill notorious renegade Colonel Kurtz. Throughout Coppola’s Vietnam war film, Willard shows his hard edge as his mind beings to turn to the other side as he nears his target! The iconic shot of him rising from the shadows covered in mud to confront Kurtz becomes the movies defining image.
• Sergeant Vernon Waters (Adolph Caesar- A Soldiers Story): Of all the leaders on display, this one is not a go to guy for encouragement. A light skinned African American, he has a pathological hatred of the other men in his all black company and seems to relish hurling them with abuse and violence- the hate that comes from his fellow men will eventually lead to his murder! Although despicable, Waters makes from a memorable nemesis and through one memorable monologue, his past demons are reveal and for one moment we actually feel a sliver of empathy.
• Sergeant Barnes (Tom Berenger- Platoon): Not afraid to bend the rules of war, the battle scarred Barnes is one soldier that you do not mess with, full stop! Murder, intimidation and lying, nothing us too low to stay ahead for this man and in the field he lives and breathes war and this makes him the very definition of evil in Oliver Stone’s legendary film. In the land of the lawless Barnes is very much the demented ruler!

Solomon Unchained: Review of 12 Years A Slave

12 Years A Slave

Director: Steve McQueen

By Alex Watson

Steve McQueen will forever hold a place in history on this blog as it was his movie Shame that became the first ever movie reviewed here! Well this week I returned to the place where it all started, at the Cornerhouse cinema in Manchester to watch his new piece of cinema, 12 Years A Slave. Based on the true story Solomon Northrup, this again will make for tough yet compelling viewing!

Born a free man, Solomon Northrup (Chiwetel Ejiofor) is a talented violin player living with his wife and children in Saratoga, New York. But when he approached by two ‘entertainers’ who lure him to Washington in the promise of a lucrative gig! Only he then finds himself drugged and sold into a life of slavery! Facing great hardship, Solomon must learn to think smart to stay alive, particularly when facing his cruel master Edwin Epps (Michael Fassbender).

12 Years A Slave is movie that deserves the unanimously positive praise that has been heaped upon it, and in the hands of McQueen we are given a fascinating look a man literally stripped of his identity and cast into a terrifying new world! But those expecting an uplifting and rousing tale of the human spirit need to be prepared for a few shocks, as McQueen demonstrates the full barbarity of slave life, and for this no stone is left un-turned. In one particularly horrific scene, we see Solomon semi lynched and left to hang from a tree for several minutes while several people come and go!

The life of Solomon is a bruising tale and this is made obvious when he wakes up in shackles after being tricked by the two entertainers, shortly after this while protesting his freedom, he finds himself being slapped by a slave trader (Paul Giamatti) and told his name is now ‘Platt’. Life initially life is good under his first kindly master, Paul Ford (Benedict Cumberbatch), who seems to relish his knowledge and gives more duties to him. But when a ‘disagreement’ with racist carpenter Jimmy (Paul Dano) turns nasty, his life is thrown into turmoil!

From here, 12 Years A Slave is given a dramatic shake up by the introduction of the heinous ‘slave breaker’ Edwin Epps, a slave owner who sees it as his biblical right to flog his slaves, which in one disturbingly memorable scene is shown to us, and we view the bloody effects it has soon the human body! For this the head honcho takes pride in his work! Epps is a highly complex man, with a severe drinking problem and a fiery temper! But he seems to have immense compassion for slave girl Patsey (Lupita Nyong’o), which continually puts him at odds with his jealous wife (Sarah Paulson). Solomon soon learns that to survive this man, he must play dumb to stay alive!

In the midst of all the harsh realities, McQueen does inject occasional moments of beauty with such simple thing like shots of the surrounding New Orleans swamp lands. But ending given is wonderfully under played and McQueen opts for as less sentiment as possible and the intense close up on the pained expression of Solomon us worth more than any grandiose speech that could have been prepared!

Performance wise, Chiwetel Ejiofor is given a role that finally allows him to shine as a leading actor and after years of being capable supporting folly in movies like Inside Man and Love Actually, Ejiofor effortlessly carries the movie and becomes its emotional soul!

Michael Fassbender earns top honours in the supporting category and his role as monstrous slaver Epps is scene stealingly brilliant. But more skillfully, Fassbender gives the man a thinly veiled sense of humanity amidst his racist self hating. But its newcomer Lupita Nyong’o who really steals our hearts as the tormented Patsey who throughout shows an immense commitment to her role and seems odds on to be a favourite comes awards ! Also Brad Pitt crops up in a brief but very relevant appearance as Canadian abolitionist Saul.

It may some times be a tough sell, but 12 Years A Slave is one of the more fervidly emotional and real dramas we are likely to view in 2014 and thankfully in the hands of McQueen and Ejiofor, we are given a journey to remember- maybe see you again at the Cornerhouse Steve? Though I need a word about your reaction to my Hunger question!

Promises I Keep: Review of The Three Burials of Melquiades Estrada

New Cult Classic

The Three Burials of Melquiades Estrada

Director: Tommy Lee Jones 

By Alex Watson

 

Westerns are a form of film making which is very infrequent these days, but whenever one of them roles around, we are given a glorious reminder of just show stunning and thrilling they can be! In 2006 Tommy Lee Jones wowed Cannes and gave us the first classic Western of the 21st century with his movie The Three Burials of Melquiades Estrada, a gripping tale of a man fulfilling a long held pledge to an old friend!

When ranch hand Melquiades Estrada (Julio Cedillo) is accidentally shot dead by Border Patrol agent Mike Norton (Barry Pepper), the local authorities turn a blind eye to events and give him a paupers funeral. Disgusted by their disregard for events, Estrada’s friend Pete Perkins (Tommy Lee Jones) digs his friend up and vows to fulfil his promise of burying his body on Mexican soil. But in order to redeem his enemy, Perkins forcibly drags Norton along his mission as the pair set out to lay Estrada’s soul to rest!

The Three Burials of Melquiades Estrada is one of the most intriguing and beautifully shot movies of years gone by and in the hands of first time director Jones, we are given a fascinating story of conquest, love and more importantly redemption! The script by veteran Mexican screenwriter Guillermo Arriaga is a real slow burner but the film greatly benefits from this and gives a real ambiance to the proceeding events.

As we witness the apathetic attitude of the seedy local sheriff (Dwight Yoakam) who merely wishes to put the body in the ground and be done with it, we yearn for Pete to set things right. But the biggest catalyst of all is Norton- a man brutal in his job and at home to his wife (January Jones) and he takes great pleasure in hurting the ‘wetbacks’ he had to deal with daily! When Pete drags him from his home by gun point, the movie kicks into life and the winds of change coming over.

The scenes of the two men trekking cross country to Mexico are the most  alluring of The Three Burials of Melquiades Estrada and as they near the destination they come across many unique and heartbreaking scenario’s such as a lonely and isolated blind man who listening to a Spanish radio station (who can’t understand Spanish!) and an encounter with a poisonous snake brings Norton into contact with a former victim he abused! Together these scenes an eclectic mix of humour, anguish and determination of the human spirit!

But it’s Norton trying to achieve restitution for his acts that holds the movie together! From the very get go, it is made apparent that this a man who according to his wife is ‘way beyond redemption’ who doesn’t treat people with anything approaching respect. But as he is dragged across the Mexican countryside, his guilty conscience begins to set in and inside we can tell Norton is battling to save his soul before it is too late! But fittingly we are given an ending which has a twist on that at first leaves us baffled, but also leaves a final interaction between the two men which is beautifully uplifting.

Tommy Lee Jones along with his star direction, gives by far the film strongest performance as grizzled and committed rancher Pete Perkins and provides the emotional engagement that his movie needs. Barry Pepper also impressive as the mean spirited Norton and for thus gives a turn that us both vigorous and deeply humane, and he excels in the films  later stages.

It was a bold move for Tommy Lee Jones to take on a such a heavily affecting film, but it was a gamble worth taking as The Three Burials of Melquiades Estrada is one of the most picturesque and immensely moving pictures that you will witness. Be prepared to sit thoughtfully as the end credits roll and consider some hard life choices!

Birthday Treat

Morning Everyone,

As today is my 27th Birthday (twilight years approaching), I thought rather than reviewing something, that I would give everybody something fun!

On this day, I bring you the mania of Nic Cage, the man may make some shockers, but he is always gloriously crazy! Here are some of his greatest hits!

http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=xP1-oquwoL8

Am looking forward to a great day, January shall be a great month!

The Ultimate Prize: Review of American Hustle

American Hustle

Director: David O Russell

By Alex Watson

Films about confidence scams are normally a very suave and glittering affair and they always provide us with a story that is continually changing and usually there is a lot payoff that is mind blowing! Take for example the ending of The Sting, which still goes down as one of the great movie twists. This week, David O Russell makes a return to our screen to bring of a scam which is about to get out of control very quickly in American Hustle. 

In 1978, professional con artists Irving Rosenfeld (Christian Bale) and Sydney Prosser (Amy Adams) are making a killing by embezzling money out of desperate people. But when they are caught red handed by FBI agent Richie DiMaso (Bradley Cooper), they are forced into co-operating to aid the feds catch other corrupt individuals in exchange for staying out of jail! Soon DiMaso hatches a plan to go after Camden, New Jersey mayor Carmine Polito (Jeremy Renner), but as the mission goes ahead, Irving’s unbalanced wife Rosalyn (Jennifer Lawrence) threatens to hinder progress!

American Hustle is another fine effort from David O Russell and for the majority of the time this  very funny and enticing ride and the theme of corruption in 1970’s America aids the film well! There is also an entertaining feel in the films early part as we open on a tubby and balding Irving gluing part of a toupee to his head! And as we view their early swindles, it looks so easy and jovial, part of us would be delighted to join!

When they are caught by Richie, the party feel stops and smartly and a more hard and guilt edged feel comes over proceedings as our initial villains come to lament the choices they have made, but secretly know they cannot turn back without people getting majorly hurt! Things are also given an immense shakeup when mobster Victor Tellegio (Featuring a brilliantly menacing surprise cameo from a screen legend!) is introduced, a notoriously violent mobster who sees right through their fake Arab scam because he can actually speak Arabic! From this point on you sense these three are in over their heads and they will only sink deeper.

But perhaps the most thought provoking aspect of this movie us wondering just who the real bad guys are? Irving and Sydney are guilty are tricking people out of their money, but the FBI men are willing to wreck hard working people like Carmine, who only the best for his townspeople- simply because they can! Richie in particular, gets lost in the game and although initially having honorable intentions, soon becomes just like the criminals he puts away, although he has numerous warnings from his dull yet clever boss (Louis CK) he furiously disregards them and soon is on the road to ruin!

However, although things for the most part are well constructed, American Hustle does sometimes lose its way and with the various twists and turns that appear- events feel very dragged out and this movie is perhaps longer than it needs to be. Also the ending presented may not satisfy all tastes as it doesn’t have that uplifting or justified feeling we are all hoping for and events feel a little too neatly tied up!

But Russell’s movie produces a glut of stunning turns from his lead actors and theory are led by Christian Bale as the morally ambiguous Irving, who gives an excellent performance that is both very seedy but emotionally charged! Bradley Cooper also does well as Richie but is stuck with a less charming role and but gives him enough charisma to see things through.

On the female front, Jennifer Lawrence us scene stealingly brilliant as Rosalyn and she succeeds in both holding our attention but yet being brilliantly maniac-  her aggressive cleaning dance to Live and Let Die after an audacious revenge attempt is frighteningly memorable! Amy Adams as usual is solid and keep us guessing as to which she will fall on when the chips come down? Plus extra point for an impressive British accent!

American Hustle looks set to be a major player at the awards ceremonies this year, it may miss the main prizes, but the acting should merit at least one reward! David O Russell has found his A-Team (No pun intended Bradley) and his groove and is now fast becoming one of Hollywood’s best! Keep up the good work David.