Dienstag, 24. Februar 2015

FOXCATCHER - Movie Review

 Title: Foxcatcher
Running Time: 129 min
Director: Bennett Miller
Starring: Steve Carell, Channing Tatum, Mark Ruffalo, Sienna Miller

Review:
It is three-for-three for director Bennett Miller, because since he has moved from documentaries to theatrical motion pictures all of his films managed to get multiple nomination at the Academy Awards. Actors seem to benefit from his talent as well: "Capote" earned the late Philip Seymour Hoffman an Oscar, "Moneyball" elevated Jonah Hill from stoner comedies to credible dramas, and now, funny chap Steve Carell gets to show off his serious acting chops with his Oscar-nominated portrayal of real life wrestling coach John du Pont. Next to him star Mark Ruffalo and Channing Tatum as Olympia winners Mark and David Schultz.
But "Foxcatcher" isn't a sports movie at all. It is rather a study of three men's psyche and their distinct relationships with one another. Miller creates an unsettling atmosphere here: With slow pace and an almost non-existent score, a lot of scenes are simply unpleasant to watch, but it feels like this is absolutely intended. There is a constant tension even during dialogue that on paper and taken out of context would seem perfectly normal.
And this is where the actors come in, all of whom probably give the best performances of their careers so far. Rufallo plays the most relatable of the characters with an immense amount of heart and genuineness, and Channing Tatum is incredibly convincing in portraying this rather dull man, whom you'll still care about because Tatum manages to portray a whole lot of emotions just through his eyes and gesture. Both of them have a few wrestling scenes together and it becomes clear that these two have trained quite a lot. Swift, precise, and yet requiring great physical strength, their movements are exactly what I would imagine professional wrestling should look like, and at no point does it look like they're using a double. All this isn't necessarily what gives the movie its big creep factor, but it is their natural performances that give Steve Carell the perfect chance to play his disturbingly dubious John du Pont off of. He is unrecognizable in this role and gives such a brilliantly haunting performance that you feel uncomfortable due to his mere presence. His expression, his posture and his voice transform completely as he creates a tension that only grows bigger as the film progresses. It is not until the climax of the movie that you can gasp of relief, and relief is probably not even the right word for it.
So in the end, "Foxcatcher" might be the greatest movie you will never want to watch again, simply because it creates an atmosphere that works a little too well. Still, if you are a fan of psychological dramas or cinema itself it really is worth watching. Just don't choose it for a "fun little DVD Night" with your friends.
 
For Fans Of:
Raging Bull (1980)
We Need to Talk About Kevin (2011)
Zodiac (2007)

Click Here To Watch Trailer!


And check out my friend's review over at B.A.'s Screentest for a second opinion!

Sonntag, 22. Februar 2015

15 OSCAR FACTS

 Hello there puny humans,
tonight Hollywood's biggest award show will be taking place. So before you grab your snacks and watch the rich and the famous receive even more praise and gold, I rounded up 15 facts about the Academy Awards you might not know about:

1. Back in the day of silent film, there was a category called Best Dance Direction.

2. Billy Crystal has hosted the Oscars nine times, beginning in 1990 and most recently in 2012.

3. The youngest category of them all is Best Animated Feature which was introduced in 2001, with Shrek as its first winner.

4. After audiences were hugely disappointed that The Dark Knight didn't get a Best Picture nomination in 2009, the number of possible films nominated for that category was increased from five to ten.

5. It Happened One Night (1934), One Flew over Cuckoo's Nest (1975) and Silence of the Lambs (1991) are the only films to win in all of the "Big Five" (Actor/Actress/Film/Director/Script).

6. The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King was nominated for eleven Oscars and won all of them, which makes it one of only three movies to receive that many Academy Awards.

7. No actor or actress has ever been nominated as often as Meryl Streep, with nineteen nominations of which she won three.

8. Walt Disney won a total of twenty-two Oscars, and is therefore the undisputed record holder.

9. The oldest winner of an acting award is Christopher Plummer, who received an Oscar at age 82 for his role in Beginners (2011).

10. Youngest winner of an acting award is was the ten year-old Tatum O'Neal in 1973.

11. Quvenzhané Wallis was the first person born in the 21st century to be nominated for an Academy Award.

12. Marlon Brando refused his award for Best Actor for The Godfather (1972) to protest against discrimination toward Native Americans by the U.S. and Hollywood.

13. For the 1941 Academy Awards, sisters Joan Fontaine and Olivia de Havilland were both nominated for the Best Actress award. Fontaine won the Oscar. Jealousy between the two sisters continued to escalate after this and the two have been estranged for decades.

14. Nobody really knows where the name "Oscar" comes from.

15. The first Oscar ceremony, in 1929, lasted 15 minutes.


There you go, these are my 15 facts about the Academy Awards! So now, I just hope you'll have a lot of fun with tonights ceremony.

Your Cinemartian

Donnerstag, 19. Februar 2015

BOYHOOD - Movie Review

 Title: Boyhood
Running Time: 165 min
Director: Richard Linklater
Starring: Ellar Coltrane, Ethan Hawke, Patricia Arquette, Lorelei Linklater, Marco Perella

Review:
Have you ever watched a film with a big time jump in a character's life and thought: "These actors totally do not look like they could be the same person!" Well, that will most definitely not happen here as "Boyhood" did the unimaginable and was actually shot over the course of twelve years, so that its actors could age in reality the same way they do in the script. This level of commitment (and risk) has been unprecendented by any production, and to put this in perspective: Ellar Coltrane was six years old when he was cast as the protagonist. By the end of shooting, he was eighteen. But does all this effort really enrich the film? Or is it just a nice little gimmick after all?
Well, the crew's patience definitely paid off, because "Boyhood" is an impressive piece of cinema. It really is overwhelming how much of a difference it makes when you see the cast actually age. The characters feel so incredibly real that the film does not need a clear story line or cohesive plot, because you imidiately care for the characters. Instead, the movie perfectly captures what childhood, parenthood and living in the 2000's is like, and as it progresses you will find shades of your siblings, cousins, friends, parents and of course yourself. Obviously, nostalgia adds a lot to it as well, because you will see a lot of songs, films, games and events brought back to life in front of your eyes once more.
Artisticly, Linklater handles the challenge of having to do multiple time jumps formidably well, as he gives the audience a chance to piece it together themselves. Never do we see an on-screen date displaying the current year, but rather hints like a small line of dialogue or a certain trend that you can connect to a particular time. Further, he had to change and develop the script as years passed, and to add genuineness to it, he tied real-life events of main actor Ellar Coltrane's life into the one of our main characters. At this point, credit also needs to go to the cast. Coltrane starts out as a fine child actor, but gets better with age, and the director's daughter Lorelei Linklater is alright as well, eventhough we don't see much of her when she's older. So especially in the beginning, it is to Ethan Hawke and Patricia Arquette to carry the emotional weight of the film. It's their interaction with the child actors that brings out the best in them and throughout the whole movie they do an absolutely fantastic job. Particularly Arquette has a lot of scenes with a great emotional power.
At some point, the movie drags on a little and it is in fact very long, but it manages to pick up a bit of speed again and once the end-credits roll it still feels kinda weird that the journey has now ended
All in all, "Boyhood" is the ultimate coming-of-age movie, that engages you completely as you watch this boys life unfold on screen. One of the most real and genuine movie experiences you'll get, and a film that you might not rewatch that often, but that you should have seen at least once. Especially, if you are a child of the "Harry Potter generation"!


For Fans Of:
Before Sunrise (1995)
Before Sunset (2004)
Before Midnight (2013)
Dead Poet's Society (1989)
Perks of Being a Wallflower (2011)

Click Here To Watch Trailer!

And check out my friend's review over at B.A.'s Screentest for a second opinion!

Montag, 16. Februar 2015

JOHN WICK - Movie Review

 Title: John Wick
Running Time: 101 min
Director: Chad Stahelski
Starring: Keanu Reeves, Michael Nyqvist, Alfie Allen, Willem Dafoe, Adrianne Palicki, Ian McShane

Review:
"Point Break", "Speed" and "The Matrix" are all among the most memorable action movies of all time and left no doubt that Keanu Reeves could get your blood pumping from excitement. "47 Ronin" and "Man of Tai Chi" on the other hand are films that a lot of mainstream movie-goers haven't even heard of. Yes, nowadays, it is very quiet around the biggest action star of the nineties, but with "John Wick" Reeves attempts to kick ass once more. And kicking ass he does!
"John Wick" is an absolute blast that delivers perfectly on many levels. Firstly, there is the writing: Though in its core our main character's motivation still is the 'typical dead-wife', the event that triggers his killing spree isn't her death, but rather the murder of his dog. However, that's not the only fresh thing the movie brings to the table. It really builds its own world in which criminals are somehow very familiar with each other, oddly casual and ridiculously pragmatic. This creates a certain kind of self-awareness that makes for some excellent humor while maintaining a gritty atmosphere.
The actors also must have had a lot of fun, as every single one of them contributes quite a lot to making their characters as interesting as they are relatable. Alfie Allen gets to channel a little bit of Theon Greyjoy from "Game of Thrones", and after portraying Mockingbird on "Agents of Shield" Adrianne Palicki gets to show off her fighting skills once more. Willem Dafoe is excellent as usual, and in terms of quality Michael Nyqvist's portrayal of the villain is poles apart from his rather forgettable performance in "Mission: Impossible - Ghost Protocol".
And then, on the top of his game, there is Keanu Reeves who has a powerful presence in this film. Not only does he sell the vulnerability of the titular character, but gets to show off magnificent fighting skills and just plain awesome stunt-work. He is an outright menace that works with such a ruthless precision that you'll whisper a "holy shit" to yourself multiple times. It's true, the action in this film is a non-stop thrill ride with beautifully choreographed fight scenes that flawlessly mix kung-fu, wrestling and guns. Luckily, director and former stuntman Chad Stahelski is completely aware of how to shoot these kind of sequences and amplifies their impact by refraining from quick cuts and shaky cam.
So in the end, "John Wick" is an action piece that stands out through impressive fights and its own unique world-building. Keanu Reeves' return to glory and definitively a must-see for every fan of the genre!

For Fans Of:
The Raid (2011)
The Equalizer (2014)
Shoot 'Em Up (2007)
The Matrix (1999)

Click Here To Watch Trailer!

And check out my friend's review over at B.A.'s Screentest for a second opinion!

Dienstag, 10. Februar 2015

Movie Newsflash: SPIDER-MAN JOINS THE AVENGERS!!!

 Hello there puny humans,
it's been wishful thinking, then a rumour, and now it's official: Marvel Studios and Sony are teaming up to put Spider-Man in the Marvel Cinematic Universe!
It's crazy! Release dates are being pushed around and new plans are made, but so far we just know that they try to get the web slinger right there next to Iron Man, Thor, the Hulk and Captain America. Sony will keep control over the character, but has made a deal with Marvel Studios boss Kevin Feige, that he will be involved in future decision of the product. Thus, Spidey will probably appear in a MCU film next, and only then will there be a new Sony produced stand-alone movie. Of course this big reveal brings a lot new questions as well:

Will he appear in 'Captain America: Civil War'? Well, I don't know. Peter Parker is featured prominently in the original Civil War comic book story, but production for that movie has already begun and it is not sure if he still fits into the film version Marvel has created.
Will Andrew Garfield still be playing Spider-Man? Nothing is said about casting so far, but there is a big chance that they will recast. Especially, because the Sony movies don't work with the story lines of 'The Avengers' and all the other films. So it's probably farewell, Andrew. It was a short but fun ride. [UPDATE: It is now officially confirmed that Garfield will no longer be Spidey]
How will they tie everything together? That's probably what tons of executive and creative people are trying to figure out since the news broke yesterday. Maybe he will pop in in a post credit scene, or they slightly change his origin and he just gains his powers during one of the upcoming MCU films, or he is just suddenly there.

Whatever will happen, these are huge news. It's the first time that studios are joining properties and so it is very exciting to hear that my favourite superhero is playing in the big league now. However, there are still tons of concerns about wether they will be able to do it just right. So far, Kevin Feige has done a phenomenal job handling all these different characters and I really trust his judgement, but he has quite a challenge ahead of him. Hopefully, this will be the last reboot our friendly neighbourhood Spider-Man ever needs!

If you want more information on the matter, check out my friend B.A.'s article about it!

Sincerely,
Your Cinemartian


Mittwoch, 4. Februar 2015

BIRDMAN - Movie Review

Title: Birdman or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance)
Running Time: 119 min
Director: Alejandro González Iñárritu
Starring: Michael Keaton, Edward Norton, Emma Stone, Naomi Watts, Zach Galifianakis, Andrea Riseborough, Amy Ryan

Review:
For today's kids, the name Michael Keaton will probably not ring any bells. Yes, the actor who was the original Dark Knight to a whole generation including myself has slowly vanished from the spotlight after turning down a third Batman film twenty years ago. Thus, you can't overlook the self-irony in this film as he plays a faded Hollywood actor who had been famous for his superhero role and even explains at one point that he said no to a fourth installment twenty years ago.
Alejandro González Iñárritu's "Birdman" however is special in so many more ways besides its meta casting. The director has truely created a piece of art. And not that conceided pseudo-sophisticated kind of art, but rather a matchless mix of comedy and drama, complexity and simplicity, imagination and reality.
Firstly, there is the astonishing fact that the movie is filmed to look like it is one big continuous shot. Apart from being incredibly complicated (as the film still uses minor time jumps), this technique puts the viewer right there with the actors and you are immediately sucked into the world of the film. You follow the characters on their way from one room to another, and stripping the cast off the ability to cut between lines seems to have brought out the best in them. Everyone in this film is phenomenal, from a perfectly cast Edward Norton to an Award-worthy Emma Stone to a terrific Zach Galifianakis who is surprisingly credible in a serious role. But the man of the hour is, of course, Michael Keaton who has found the role of a lifetime. His performance makes every struggle and every emotion so truthful that it is simply breathtaking.
This leads me to the second big strength of the film: characters and dialogue. If someone asked what "Birdman" was about, you would only scratch the surface if you summed up its plot. Ultimately, it is about everything. Not because it tries to jam so much in there but because it feels so very real, and real-life doesn't have just one theme. Every character is completely fleshed out and in their conversations you'll find an endless number of topics. Family, love, art, the movie business, film criticism, our relevance in life, our legacy, fame and the different masks we wear everyday. The movie wears one on its own, as it might be an arthouse film, but still pays great tribute to big blockbusters. It gives us so many images to interpret, but at several occasion it says that interpretations simply don't matter.
It is this duality that makes "Birdman or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance)" absolutely perfect. A thought-provoking film, without ever hitting you over the head with a wise message. It stirred up something within me that I haven't been able to shake off. Extremely powerful and endlessly captivating: A masterpiece!

For Fans of:
Black Swan (2010)
Memento (2000)
Tropic Thunder (2008)
The Secret Life of Walter Mitty (2013)

Click Here To Watch Trailer!

Montag, 2. Februar 2015

WILD - Movie Review

Title: Wild
Running Time: 115 min
Director: Jean-Marc Vallée
Starring: Reese Witherspoon, Laura Dern, Thomas Sadoski, Keene McRay, Kevin Rankin, Gaby Hoffman

Review:
Sometimes life writes the best stories. At least that appears to be the case with travelling or backpacking films. But what exactly fascinates us about movies that basically just consist of a person walking around? Well, it's most likely the motivation behind it, and as a result, these kinds of films can turn out to be very interesting character studies. Jean-Marc Vallée's "Wild" is an excellent example for that.
The movie tells the true story of Cheryl Strayed, a woman who hit rock bottom and leaves everything behind to go on an incredible thousand mile hike. On her way she is not only faced with physical challenges, but also tries to figure out what kind of person she is and ultimately, what kind of person she wants to become. Thus, Reese Witherspoon had to carry a lot more than a huge backpack on her shoulders, as the whole movie relied on her performance. But what a performance it is. It seems like Witherspoon put her heart, soul and body into her portrayal of this troubled woman, and there is a genuineness to it that makes it very easy to relate to her. Eventhough usually expressed by voice-over, at points you know what she is thinking just by the look on her face.
But big credit also needs to be given to director Jean-Marc Vallée, because in the end it is the combination of him and Witherspoon that makes this movie feel so real. He starts the film with the start of the trail, and gives us the backstory of the protagonist only through her thoughts and memories. They way he ties these inner processes into the film is impressively dynamic. As she makes her way through dry lands, rocks or snow, something small catches her attention and, wether it was audible, visual or just a feeling she has, reminds her of something in her past. Sometimes it stays small and other times it forms into a whole memory, just like it would in reality, but it is always just enough to give the viewer a deeper understanding of this woman's life with every bit.
So, superficially there really isn't a lot happening in this film, but under the surface it is the absorbing story of a person's fall from grace and her need for self-discovery after that. Striking both visually and contentwise, it is a sensational emotional journey, that is worthwhile for the attentive and patient viewer. If you are a traveller yourself, you might find shades of your own experiences in there.

For Fans of:
Into The Wild (2007)
127 Hours (2010)
Cast Away (2000)

Click Here To Watch Trailer!

And check out my friend's review over at B.A.'s Screentest for a second opinion!