Time Is Running Out: Review of Gravity

Gravity

Director: Alfonso Cuaron

By Alex Watson

 

As numerous space exploration movies have taught us, nothing in space ever goes according to plan and any character on display will be fighting for their very lives. This week we are given what could just be one of the best films of the year as we review Alfonso Cuaron’s film Gravity. Since receiving a lengthy standing ovation at the Venice Film Festival earlier this year, they hype about this movie has been through the roof. But as we have so often seen, sometimes like space, things don’t quite go to plan!

On a routine mission, spacewalking astronauts Dr Ryan Stone (Sandra Bullock) and Matt Kowalski (George Clooney) are hit in mid orbit by debris from a destroyed Russian satellite separating the two in midst of space! With Oxygen levels running low, the pair have limited time in which to find a way to safety.

The first thing I have to say about this movie is…. believe the hype! Because Gravity is a truly thrilling and gripping story of survival and through Cuaron’s skilful direction we are given an eye of the human race’s very instinct to stay alive. From the very outset there is a slow boiling sense of tension and when the big moment comes this picture comes into pulsating overdrive and it rarely pauses for breath! In 3D this will be one of the events of the year, but the most refreshing element of Cuaron’s movie is there is no logic or scientific thinking needed- just sit back and enjoy this stunning ride!

Forgoing any kind of back-story or explanation as why the pair are in space, this movie starts with a stunning 10 minute opening shot where at first we only hear our heroes through radio transmissions and Kowalski saying “I have a bad feeling about this mission”. As they gradually come into view things seems calm and docile as they hover overlooking earth. We then hear of a debris from a Russian satellite approaching, the pair pay this no attention, but soon it becomes apparent that this will get problematic. When the hit occurs- carnage ensues! While Kowalski strives to control the scenario- Stone is sent whirling around on a disconnected shuttle arm and is forced to release from her cord, sending her spinning into the great unknown!

Throughout Gravity there is a sense of time counting down and as we view an extreme close up Stone’s face frozen in panic, we don’t need to be told that things have gotten out of hand. But as Cuaron goes behind her space visor- we see that her Oxygen level is less than 5%- on that level literally every breath is going to count! As the movie progresses, we yearn for Stone to find a way to survive but as she frantically calls out to dead radio- our fists clench in fear. Rather than recount the events and spoil any surprises, I will simply say that it is best to go out there and discover this tale for yourself- because every one of the 90 minutes is worth the ticket price.

Alfonso Cuaron also succeeds in gaining two powerful performances from his actors, with Sandra Bullock the standout performer, many people (including myself) have been dismissive of Bullock over the years, despite an Oscar win. But there she shows just what she is capable of with a mesmerising and affective performance and right through this movie she holds the centre! George Clooney is equally impressive as the calm and charismatic Kowalski and he is the element that gives this movie its moments of human emotion and it is his encouragement and thinking that gives the pair a shot at survival!

Expect to see this movie on every major award list this winter and Gravity deserves every accolade it gains because it is one of the most breathtaking experiences of the year and show us just how impossible life in space can be (just read the opening title cards!). Enjoy this ride, be sure to bring along a defibrillator, because your heart might just stop!

Robopocalypse Now: Review of Pacific Rim

Pacific Rim

Director: Guillermo Del Toro

By Alex Watson

Earths extinction is once again upon us this week and it again involves giant fighting robots… no wait come back! There is no Michael Bay or Optimus Prime involved in this one instead Mexican visionary Guillermo Del Toro brings us his vision of the apocalypse and in this one involves creatures coming from the sea to threaten humans everywhere in Pacific Rim which after an epic trailer campaign promises to bring action on a grand scale. But will there be anything new under the bashing of steel?

When a series of devastating attack occurs from oversize monster from beneath the ocean (nicknamed Kaiju’s) the world’s best scientists develop the Jaeger program headed by Stacker Pentecost (Idris Elba) which consists of gigantic robots piloted by two man teams which allows them do battle with the beasts! But as human begin to win the fights; the beasts begin to evolve which seems to doom humanity to a watery grave! Former pilot Raleigh Brackett (Charlie Hunnam) is recalled to do battle, but will his skills be enough to save the people?

Pacific Rim certainly delivers on a big scale and fans of a big and dumb blockbuster will be given more than their monies worth! Del Toro’s love of B movie action is evident from the very beginning and the action that follows is executed with glee from the Hellboy director. The scenes of robots doing battle with the various hideous monsters send a shiver down the spine as numerous cities descend into rubble during the heat of combat, in particular a stunning final showdown through a rain swept Hong Kong. But we learn these are no ordinary creatures and they might just be smarter than they appear- with devastating results!

But although tremendously entertaining, the plot is rather paper thin and seems to rely mainly the thrills that come from the fight scenes and the techno-babble that follows with such fancy terms as ‘Drift Compatibility’ are never fully explained to us. They are also saddled with a truly wooden script which apart from giving the occasional zinger fails to raise this film above the standard big budget thriller.

The development of the characters in is equally very underdeveloped and during the wave of chaos, we never truly get chance to get to know our heroes. Although the names they are given are very imaginative, we aren’t given anything truly special. Raleigh is a tough soldier but his grizzled image doesn’t add anything to the story and the standard inclusion of his losing a loved one feels like a typical clique! Pentecost has great authority buts seems to spend his duration of screen time just barking out orders, though he does get given one of the movies best line as he tells his fellow workers “Today, we are cancelling the apocalypse!” The biggest crime of belongs to other Jaeger pilot Chuck Hansen (Rob Kazinsky) who churns out an Aussie accent so ludicrous it would make even Steve Irwin squirm!

Sadly the performances in Pacific Rim match the characters on display with Charlie Hunnam giving a rather one performance as Raleigh which is a role that requires him to do nothing more than talk tough and have the occasional scrap, highly regarded off TV’s Sons of Anarchy, you feel they could have gotten more an actor like Hunnam. Idris Elba is his usual cool self throughout and does his best with the material given but Stacker is a rather stiff offering as a character and during his numerous long talking periods you really want to shout “Skip to the End” before he bores the monsters to death! Rinko Kikuchi does excel in her first English speaking role as Mako, a first time pilot with a troubled past and is able to bring up a wonderful demonstration of innocence and becomes the emotional high point of the film! And of course being a Del Toro movie, Ron Perlman makes an appearance as a sleazy black market dealer.

However all faults aside, Pacific Rim is still one of the more enjoyable films we will see this summer and with its no nonsense story line of robots fighting monsters it gives a buzz that will be felt throughout each impressive encounter. This may not have met the expectations that its excellent ad campaign had promised but it will certainly become a Friday favourite in years to come, so to all I give this message- just disengage your brain and take pleasure in the ride!

An Act of Valour- Review of Flight

Flight

Director: Robert Zemeckis

By Alex Watson

 

Robert Zemeckis is a director who has come up with some truly iconic films over the last 20 years and among other things possesses a good eye for a gripping story. But in the last few years his live action films have been absent from our screens and he has spent his time perfecting the art of motion capture in his Christmas films The Polar Express and A Christmas Carol, but this week he returns to the fray with his film Flight which gives us a compelling example of a man battling his demons in the midst of a media storm.

After a horrific airplane crash, Captain Whip Whitaker (Denzel Washington) is hailed as a hero for performing a risky manoeuvre which saved the lives of many passengers. But despite his heroics Whitaker is concealing a very dark secret that he is an alcoholic and was heavily intoxicated at the time of flying the plane- a crime which could lead to life imprisonment! Whip soon finds it fight to keep his demons under wraps as media attention intensifies, which will lead him to some fateful decisions.

Flight is a welcome return to the screen for Zemeckis and it makes for compelling viewing, particular during a captivating opening sequence as we watch Whip’s plane begin to fall apart mid flight! During this sequence our breath will held for long moments of time as we see him and panicky co-pilot Ken Evans (Brian Geraghty) hurtle towards the hard ground and in a spilt-second Whip is forced to roll the plane upside down to avoid a fatal crash! In this moment adrenaline is pushed to maximum levels and by the end you feel like applauding this man for his efforts.

But its Whips battle with the bottle that holds much of the attention on screen- when we first meet him he has awoken from a heavy night on the tiles with a random girl, bottles galore line the room and you can tell this wasn’t any ordinary night. Moments later we see him snort cocaine and we then learn he has to fly a plane in less than two hours! Alarm bells are already ringing and from the nervous looks he gets from co-workers you can tell he has been here before! In the midst of his heroism, Whip is still faced with the cold, hard fact that he was drunk flying a plane and slowly but surely, those who care for him start to feel less sympathy towards our hero.

Whip is a well written character but at times isn’t easy to side with, his refusal to accept that he has problem has caused many problems in live and has all but alienated him from his ex-wife and son and through the film we see him constantly stumbling around- at one point two of his friends representing him are forced to give him cocaine to get him up and about before a big meeting (which leads to an un-intentionally hilarious moment.) But as the big investigation from the NTSB looms closer, we hope that Whip will do the right thing not try and bury the truth like he has so many times before.

His relationship with fellow addict Nicole (Kelly Reilly) is one that is very sweet and at times touching; but ultimately doesn’t feel completely necessary and in some ways feel like a bolt on story line to add romantic interest to the story and you come away feel that her inclusion might not have been important.

Flight however is built on the stunning performance of Denzel Washington who gives one of his best performances of the last decade. Skilfully Washington avoids the usual clichés that come with drunken hero role and gives us an alluring look at a man struggling to keep his head above water. Kelly Reilly is likewise impressive as drug addict Nicole and gives decent support against the strength of Washington, as Nicole she is a girl who is trying to go right but life has repeatedly pushed her down, after impressing in Sherlock Holmes and Eden Lake, it is nice to see Reilly stepping out onto the bigger stage.

But the talented Brian Geraghty is wasted in his role as overly religious pilot Ken Evans, particularly during the opening sequence as he spends most of his time in terrified outburst and his later scene with his overbearing wife will go down as one of the strangest of the year as he tells Whip the crash was pre-emptied and his wife cries “Praise Jesus”. An assured actor from films such as The Hurt Locker, we know he can bring so much more to screen!

Flight is a key reminder of the talent that both Zemeckis and Washington both possess and gives us one of the most exciting opening sequences of the year, for this I firmly recommend bringing an oxygen tank because things will get tense! Denzel Washington firmly earns his Best Actor nomination and it is the fact alone that makes the film worth seeing- but don’t be surprised if you develop a fear of flying after seeing this one!

Ain’t No Stopping Us Now: Review of Runaway Train

Classic from the Vault

Runaway Train (1985)

Director: Andrei Konchalovsky

By Alex Watson

The 1980’s contained many legendary action films whether it was Arnold Schwarzenegger cooling strolling into the cop-shop declaring “I’ll be back” in Terminator, Bruce Willis hunting terrorists in the Nakatomi Plaza in Die Hard or Indiana Jones running from a rolling boulder in Raiders of the Lost Ark. What made these stand out what their cool and icon characters and their thrilling action set pieces and in time they have become legendary. But there is one film that people tend to forget, which brought us some the most under rated thrills of 1985 and was set in the confines of a train, hold on to your seats in Russian director, Andrei Konchalovsky’s, Runaway Train.

Notorious bank robber Oscar ‘Manny’ Mannheim is a hero to the people of Stonehaven prison, Alaska particularly to young convict Buck (Eric Roberts) due to his criminal past and numerous escape attempts. Once again Manny breaks out of jail but is reluctantly convinced by Buck to let him come along. In an effort to make a clean get away, the pair jumps onto a departing locomotive. Only when the train starts to move, the old engineer suffers a fatal heart attack and leaves the train running with full throttle! The men are now faced with a perilous journey on board a vehicle they cannot stop!

Runaway Train in one of the 1980’s forgotten jewels because its premise (based on an idea by Akira Kurosawa) is very straightforward but very effective and the gripping story of survival guarantees heart rates to increase! From the moment the two men board the train, we assume this will be a bonding journey where the men will overcome their differences. But the second we see the breaks burn off the locomotive- we realize that events have taken a severe turn! Also it contains some the most breath taking action set pieces of the 1980’s which are skilfully directed by Konchalovsky.

But unlike the other films of its time, Konchalovsky’s film has an un-deniably bleak feeling to it and throughout it feels like the moment of doom is creeping closer, which is exemplified in one key moment where Buck is goaded by Manny into trying to make a suicidal journey onto the lead engine to stop the engine. When he fails Manny harshly assaults him and insults him, until he hits female engineer Sara (Rebecca De Mornay) causing Buck fiercely to react. But then in a moment of rare emotion, all three slump into resigned defeat- each realizing there is nothing they can do.

The element that makes Runaway Train such a great film is in the two lead characters because unlike many films of its era, neither of the two leads are particularly likeable. Manny is a cold and calculating bank robber who cares only for himself and in the beginning we learn he is no ordinary felon and for the last three years his cell doors have been welded shut due his escape attempts!! Buck is a naive convict who is imprisoned for statutory rape, he idolizes Manny but doesn’t seem to realize he will never get the thanks we wants for helping him escape.

As they work together to try and prevent a certain death, they become more endearing to us. And despite the increasing hopelessness, there is a near poetic ending as Manny finds a bitter sweet redemption and in a strange way wins our hearts, scored to Vivaldi’s ‘Gloria’ it is hard not shed a tear as the selfless act is played out.

Jon Voight gives one of the great performances of his career as the dangerous criminal Manny in Runaway Train. His menacing presence keeps our suspicions raised throughout, but Voight gives Manny more depth in the later stages which makes him an unlikely hero feel!

Eric Roberts is equally impressive as dim criminal Buck, his initially joy at being on the run with his hero turns to despair quite quickly! It is a shame that Roberts’ career hasn’t quite hit the heights hoped because here he gives an emotional and real performance that makes Buck the character we sympathize with.

Although it was un-seen upon release in 1985; time has been kind to Konchalovsky’s action classic and it will remain one of the most exciting and raw thrillers of its time. For an unpredictable and adrenaline filled ride Runaway Train is a film that is worth discovering. Just don’t expect Thomas to roll into view and save the day in this picture!

It’s the End of the World: Review of Seeking a Friend for the End of the World

Seeking a Friend for the End of the World

Director: Lorene Scafaria

By Alex Watson

Multiple times in the last decade we have seen disaster movies that we deal with earth coming to an end. This demonstration of this has had mixed results, from the hilarious yet scarily realistic Dr Strangelove by Stanley Kubrick, the overblown 2012 by Roland Emmerich to Lars Von Trier’s unique and surreal vision, Melancholia. But none of the films have asked the question of how we will spend our last precious moments? Do we spend them with loved ones? Or do we simply go crazy and live life to the fullest? All these questions are asked in debut director Lorene Scafaria’s, Seeking a Friend for the End of the World.

When it is announced that a comet is due to collide with the earth, insurance man Dodge (Steve Carell) is abandoned by his wife. With only 21 days left, the world and everyone in it descending into anarchy and everyone is letting loose! During this time Dodge comes across his British neighbour Penny (Keira Knightley), who is stuck and unable to get home. The two decide to go on a road trip that will benefit both of them, Penny will get a chance to fly home and Dodge might just get to reconcile with the love of his life- Olivia.

Seeking a Friend for the End of the World is certainly a very intriguing idea by Scafaria and it really does pose some interesting theories. Here we see a world has truly gone to hell in this vision and people are just going wild as the moments count down. In one memorable scene Dodge attend a party where the announcement that a couple has brought heroin raises happy cheers! Also we have a traffic reporter say “We’re fucked Bob!” when asked for an update! This bleak humour does raise some laugh out loud moments, but overall it just feels that it is trying a little too hard to be quirky and in some places it feels like it is straining for laughs.

The road trip between Dodge and Penny gives the feel a sweet feel as they bond with one another. Impressively it plays down potentially cringe worthy romance moments later on as the moment creeps closer. After a large riot throws these two unlikely people together, the story goes into familiar mode and the tale follows a similar path. We know that at some point there will be the big ‘I love you really’ moment and when it arrives it doesn’t quite bring the flutter to our hearts.

Pairing Steve Carrell with Keira Knightley might have had some movie goers sneering for the very moment it was announced, but strangely the pair work together on screen. Carrell is on safe ground as he has played the lovable loser before. Dodge is a sad sack of a man and the end of the world will surely be a relief. But in its latter stages Carrell avoids the sickly sweet and instead gives a very subdued performance which gives the film a better aftertaste. Knightley gives a more different performance than we have seen of her, instead we a more kooky and strung out Keira. Her comedic skills don’t quite register but in her more emotional moments she does hold her own.

For once we are given a very different view of the apocalypse and this time there are no big effects. Although it feels nice, Scafaria’s film will not be one of the more memorable films of this category. But in light of the circumstances, it will make you think long and hard about what to do if the world comes to an end. Make a list of things you’ve never done everybody- because you never what is going to happen next!