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Saturday, October 19, 2013

"Captain Phillips"


A day that starts like any other... ends with a story of a lifetime.

Director Paul Greengrass (“Bourne” trilogy) and writer Billy Ray retell a ripped-from-the headlines story of a U.S. cargo ship getting hijacked by Somali pirates in 2009, the first in 200 years.  Adapted from "A Captain's Duty: Somali Pirates, Navy SEALS, and Dangerous Days at Sea," "Captain Phillips" is a dramatic docudrama, shot in a similar fashion as “United 93.”

If anything can be learned from last year's best picture, “Argo,”or nominated “Zero Dark Thirty," when expertly executed, the journey matters, even when most are familiar with the destination. 

The opening scenes offer a glimpse of the harsh life on the shores of impoverished Somalia and a normal American life. Tom Hanks (“Cloud Atlas”) is Richard Phillips, a family man from Vermont and commanding officer of Maerks Alabama.  His job is to steer the ship, carrying food and commercial goods, from Oman to Kenya, around the pirate-infested waters of the Horn of Africa. 

The day aboard the ship begins with a safety drill, which rapidly turns into a traumatic ordeal as soon as Phillips spots two small boats carrying pirates on their tail.  While the ship has speed, height and hoses as means of protection, it's not enough to fend off one determined skiff. 

Phillips has established initial contacts with government agencies and got most of his crew hidden in the belly of the ship.  But soon he and his officers find themselves surrounded by four armed Somali pirates.  There's one particularly tense scene where one of the pirates is ready to pull the trigger on one of his officers, whilst Phillips tries to rationalize and plead with the leader, Muse (Barkhad Abdi). 

The pirates demand room-by-room search to find the majority of the crew.  Secretly communicating with one another, Phillips and his crew engineer a trick to injure one of the pirates.  This leads to unpredictable chain of events where the pirates finally agree to take off in a lifeboat – taking Phillips with them.  Cash emptied from the safe deposit box is meager; they want millions.  

Now with a single life at stake, one might think that the suspense may lessen.  On the contrary, the tension, underscored by a pulse-pounding soundtrack, skyrockets to an unbelievable level in the last third of the film.  The nighttime standoff and sea rescue mission are grippingly well-orchestrated, a testament to one of the finest filmmaking.  The cool coordination, negotiation and precise execution conducted by the rescuers contrast with the chaos and confusion inside the compact confinement of the lifeboat with Phillips and the pirates.

Hanks excels as Phillips with his everyman persona.  His portrayal shows a deep range of emotions.  Beginning with a crestfallen look when he realizes the magnitude of the situation, to bravery and composure under pressure, shifting to guttural fear, desperation, agony, shell-shocked and relief.  Hanks shows one of the most outstanding acting during what could be the last stretch of Phillips' life.  Your stomach will be tied in knots and you'll eventually exhale along with him. 

Abdi, an amateur actor, holds his own.  His Muse's nickname may be “Skinny,” but he doesn't skimp on threats, even when he realizes he's running out of time and options.  And his right-hand man, is one scary dude.  All the shouting can be a little excessive at times, but the foursome perform well.  Even when you can't condone the pirates' actions, it does give you an understanding where they're coming from. 

A riveting, real-life thriller, "Captain Phillips" is one of the best films of the year.

Thursday, October 17, 2013

"Frozen"

 
[Originally posted on 12/03/13]

The creation of the ice palace alone is worth the price of admission!  At a glance, the story has the makings of a Disney classic.  A vast kingdom, an evil villain, a prince charming, a beautiful princess and a true love's kiss.  But it flips the formula for a real sisterly love.  It's refreshing in a way that the story doesn't rely on a princess-in-distress getting rescued by a prince, or a warrior princess swinging a sword to defeat the enemy.  "Frozen" is a cool treat for jaded, modern audience.

DVD: http://tinyurl.com/loxeop8
DVD (blu-ray): http://tinyurl.com/mq65d39

Tuesday, October 15, 2013

2013 Top Holiday Movies

[Originally posted on 12/03/13]

Just how promising does this year's holiday movies lineup look?  Must-see films compete for your attention.  Action fantasy sequels to comedy sequels, family favorites to surefire crowdpleasers, and prestigious awards contenders, here's a list of top holiday movies to be excited about.

Check out Yahoo! Movies for synopsis and trailers:
http://movies.yahoo.com/blogs/movie-talk/holiday-movie-preview-25-films-most-excited-172234763.html

Sunday, October 6, 2013

"Gravity"

Lost in space.  Never before has it felt terrifyingly realistic.

“Gravity” is a work of fiction, but it certainly doesn't feel like it.  This summer at Comic-Con, director Alfonso Cuaron said that it took over four years to figure out the technology of zero gravity and shoot the film.  The proof is unmistakable.  This is one film meant to be seen on the big screen, in 3-D, and better yet, IMAX.

The silent opening stuns with the truth about being in space; it's simply not livable.  Then in an astounding, long continuous take of earth and space, a shuttle comes into view and magnifies, with living beings gliding in space.  It shows how small humans are in the greater universe.

Dr. Ryan Stone (Sandra Bullock, "The Lake House"), a medical engineer on her first mission, is in the process of installing a scanning device under the guidance of fleet commander Matt Kowalski (George Clooney, “The Descendants”) and communication with NASA.  There's another astronaut working on the exterior of the spacecraft and other crew inside.

While Kowalski goes on a jovial spacewalk, there's news that clouds of debris are brewing and heading toward them at breakneck speed, a chain reaction after a satellite is destroyed by the Russians.  From the first strike, you'll find yourself holding your breath and feel Dr. Stone's disorientation where she spins and spins, and greatly fears of getting stranded and adrift in infinity.  When she and Kowalski finally connect, the goal is to get to the ISS and Chinese space station, call for rescue and find their way back to earth.

Clooney charms in his limited role, injecting levity and making light of the dark doom. Ultimately though, this is Bullock's picture.  Survival becomes Dr. Stone's sole mission.  Alone and adrift, she's low on oxygen and fuel, nauseous and dizzy, desperate and scared to death.  She must let go of the past, find the will to survive, make the right trajectory to the space station and find a way back home.  The destruction of the space station in the vast vacuum of space is eye-popping.  The countdown toward earth in the end is one of the most distressing scenes.

Cuaron and crew have designed a visual masterpiece, with symbolic scenes that represent rebirth.  There's a claustrophobic feel and realism to the scenes.  When every second counts, every gasp and grasp, every jerk and hit could mean a chance for life or death.  The 3-D is fully utilized, from sprays of flying debris to specks of floating tears or fires.  The sound design goes for maximum impact, alternating between piercingly earthshaking and eerily quiet.

In the last several years, there have been films that clearly merit technical accolades, visually or acoustically - "Avatar," "Inception," "Life of Pi."  "Gravity" falls in this category.

A singular survival tale in space, “Gravity” is an experience that marvels and mesmerizes.  It's probably the closest you'll ever be to being in space in this lifetime.

 

Friday, October 4, 2013

Upcoming Movies: November 2013


[Originally posted on 11/01/13] 

November 1
"Enders Game" (http://endersgamemovie.com/ ) - The International Military seek out a leader who can save the human race from an alien attack. Ender Wiggin, a brilliant young mind, is recruited and trained to lead his fellow soldiers into a battle that will determine the future of Earth.

"About Time" (http://www.abouttimemovie.com/ ) - At the age of 21, one man discovers he can travel in time and change what happens and has happened in his own life. His decision to make his world a better place by getting a girlfriend turns out not to be as easy as he might think.

November 8
"Thor: The Dark World" (http://marvel.com/movies/movie/182/thor_the_dark_world) - Faced with an enemy that even Odin and Asgard cannot withstand, Thor must embark on his most perilous and personal journey yet, one that will reunite him with Jane Foster and force him to sacrifice everything to save us all.

"Dallas Buyers Club" - The story of Texas electrician Ron Woodroof and his battle with the medical establishment and pharmaceutical companies after being diagnosed as HIV-positive in 1986, and his search for alternative treatments that helped established a way in which fellow HIV-positive people could join for access to his supplies.

November 15
"The Book Thief" (http://www.thebookthief.com/) - While subjected to the horrors of WWII Germany, a girl finds solace by stealing books and sharing them with others. Under the stairs in her home, a Jewish refuge is being sheltered by her adoptive parents.

November 22
"The Hunger Games: Catching Fire" (http://www.thehungergamesexplorer.com/us/epk/catching-fire/) - Katniss Everdeen and Peeta Mellark become targets of the Capitol after their victory in the 74th Hunger Games sparks a rebellion in the Districts of Panem.

"Nebraska" - An aging, booze-addled father makes the trip from Montana to Nebraska with his estranged son in order to claim a million dollar Mega Sweepstakes marketing prize.

November 29
"Frozen" (http://movies.disney.com/frozen/) - Fearless optimist Anna teams up with Kristoff in an epic journey, encountering Everest-like conditions, and a hilarious snowman named Olaf in a race to find Anna's sister Elsa, whose icy powers have trapped the kingdom in eternal winter.

"Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom" (http://www.mandelamovie.co.za/) - A chronicle of Nelson Mandela's life journey from his childhood in a rural village through to his inauguration as the first democratically elected president of South Africa.

Tuesday, October 1, 2013

"Rush"


If you dismiss “Rush” as a car racing movie, don't. Character-driven, it's so much more than that.  It brilliantly details the relationship between “frenemies” Formula One legendary race car drivers in the mid 1970s, British James Hunt (Chris Hemsworth, “Thor,” “The Avengers”) and Austrian Niki Lauda (Daniel Bruhl).  While both are driven to win, the two men can't be anymore different.

Hunt is a looker and womanizer, leading a wild lifestyle, filled with drugs, booze and women. He's introduced as popular and more of a star than his soon-to-be rival, Lauda.  He ends up marrying a glamorous model, Suzy Miller (Olivia Wilde, "Tron Legacy"), but not surprisingly, it doesn't last. Wilde is memorable in their parting conversations. 

Lauda goes against his privileged family's career expectations and makes his mark a race car driver on his own.  Professional and methodical, he funds his own dream and works his way into the circuits.  He understands race cars inside out and works with his mechanics to build a superstar car in the early days of his career.  He's disciplined and dedicated, an early riser who arrives on the track before sunrise, goes home after the race, and takes care of himself and his car.  Eventually he settles down with a sensible lady, Marlene (Alexandra Mara Lara).  One particular scene in Italy, where he drives a passerby's car after he and his future wife get stranded on the side of road, is delight.  That scene distills Lauda's character.

Racing in “a coffin surrounded by octane” is a dangerous sport, to be sure.  It's for those who crave for extreme speed, risk and danger.  A daredevil like Hunt, who's willing to die to beat his rival.  Even the calculated one, like Lauda, is aware and estimates the chance of getting killed each time he accelerates on the pedal.  The one time he goes against his better judgment has serious consequences.  There are graphic scenes where drivers get killed, maimed or scorched, including a grueling recovery.

“Rush” is a winning work from director Ron Howard.  The men's characters are well-defined, yet not one dimensional.  The relationship between the two is not as black-and-white.  Ultra-competitive, at times contentious, but their mutual respect and admiration are apparent.  They push each other's limit beyond what's possible and are champions in their own rights.  Hemsworth may be the face of the film and he's fine here, but Bruhl has a more meatier role and far wittier lines. 

The round-the-world race sequences, culminating in the fog-shrouded and soaked-road of the Grand Prix against the backdrop of Mount Fuji in Japan in 1976, are breathtaking. You'll feel as if you're there.  Sometimes being under the helmets and behind the wheels on the race track, others cheering in celebration and gasping in horror as an audience.  You'll hear the engines roar in your ears, sense the grinding of the nuts and bolts, smell the fuel, swirl around dirt and smoke, see the rain pelting the glistening tires, feel the triumph and fame.  The hair-raising music, composed by Hans Zimmer ("Man of Steel"), heightens the urgency of life-and-death situations.  

A rush of motion, sound and emotion, “Rush” is a winner.