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Sunday, April 26, 2015

"The Age of Adaline"


“You've lived... but you've never lived a life.”

What if you could remain forever young? Would you want to live forever?

Adaline Bowen (Blake Lively, “Green Lantern,” “The Town”) looks like any other young woman, except that she's 107 years old. At age 29, she was in a car crash and practically died. Her car plunged into a river in a snowstorm, but due to a bizarre lightning phenomenon, her heart was revived. Not only she survived, it froze her in time and since that day she has never aged a day.

A widow with a small child, Adaline had managed through the earlier decades until she realized that she couldn't go on without arousing suspicions. After all, genetics, cosmetics, diets and exercises could only do so much. Reluctantly, she left her grown-up daughter, although they have remained in touch over the years. The mother-daughter bond remains, as clearly seen in her interaction with her now elderly daughter (Ellen Burstyn).

Adaline moves to a new place every decade and establishes a new identity. By and large, she never allows herself to be attached to anyone or anything, except her dog.

But life has other plans. Love strikes when she meets a princely philanthropist, Ellis Jones (Michiel Huisman) at New Year's Eve event. He ignites romance through their common passions for literature, history and adventure. Adaline ends up agreeing to meet his parents, William (Harrison Ford, "Ender's Game") and Kathy (Kathy Baker), for their 40th year anniversary celebration. William turns out to be a man with ties to her past and their exchange would change the course of her eternal life.

Lively is lovely. With praises to the costume designer and makeup artist, she's refined in style. She carries herself with an old-fashioned elegance and air of mystery. There's a saturnine tinge, as a soul who experiences a long life of solitude and sadness for not being able to live normally, getting close to anyone, or growing old with loved ones. But she also manages to appear natural when she feels affection or shares laughter.

Adaline is fascinating by nature and it's a shame that the filmmaker did not explore more about her experiences and develop her as a character. Instead, she looks like gliding from one scene to another and her life is shown like a montage with minimal milestones. The movie also chooses to use lengthy expository voice-overs to explain the supernatural occurrences, which would have been better off toned down, or having the consequence discovered or experienced first-hand.

Other films with similar theme, “Tuck Everlasting” and “The Curious Case of Benjamin Button,” and on television, “Forever” show (season 1 on ABC, currently playing), delve deeper. They make you think or question your perspectives about youth and aging, humanity and mortality, life and living.

“The Age of Adaline” is a plushly packaged and has its fantasy charms, but it could have been infinitely more impactful.


Wednesday, April 22, 2015

Upcoming Movies: August 2015


[Originally published on 8/04/15]

August 7
"Fantastic Four" (http://www.fantasticfourmovie.com/) - Four young outsiders teleport to an alternate and dangerous universe which alters their physical form in shocking ways. The four must learn to harness their new abilities and work together to save earth from a former friend turned enemy.

"Ricki and the Flash" - A musician who gave up everything for her dream of rock-and-roll stardom returns home, looking to make things right with her family.

August 14
"The Man from U.N.C.L.E." (http://manfromuncle.com/) - In the early 1960s, CIA agent Napoleon Solo and KGB operative Illya Kuryakin participate in a joint mission against a mysterious criminal organization, which is working to proliferate nuclear weapons.

"She's Funny That Way" - A screwball comedy featuring the interconnected personal lives of the cast and crew of a Broadway production.

August 21
"Hitman: Agent 47" (http://www.foxmovies.com/movies/hitman-agent-47) - An assassin teams up with a woman to help her find her father and uncover the mysteries of her ancestry.

August 28
"Regression" - A father is accused of a crime he has no memory of committing.

Sunday, April 19, 2015

"Ex Machina"


From 4/16/15 press screening:

Ava, the AI in “Ex Machina,” may be fictional, but the progress of artificial intelligence (“Her,” “Transcendence”) in the real world is accelerating at a rapid pace. So much so that Stephen Hawking (“The Theory of Everything”), a world-renowned astrophysicist, has recently warned that artificial intelligence poses a threat and could spell “the end of the human race.” This sentiment is echoed by Elon Musk, founder of SpaceX and Tesla, as well Microsoft founder, Bill Gates. Earlier this year, AI experts signed a letter issued by the Future of Life Institute, pledging that they would safely and carefully monitor such progress so that its growth doesn't go beyond our control.

In “Ex Machina,” a directorial debut by writer Alex Garland, a young coder, Caleb (Domhnall Gleeson), wins an office prize for a weeklong retreat with Nathan (Oscar Isaac), the company's reclusive CEO and inventor of the world's most popular search engine, Blue Book. Reachable only by helicopter, the mountain cabin surrounded by pristine nature of remote Alaska, is actually a custom-built research facility. Nathan has been working on a secret project, artificial intelligence in the form of humanoid-robot named Ava (Alicia Vikander).

Caleb learns that he's the human component in the Turing Test ('Turing' from Alan Turing, “The Imitation Game”), where he's tasked not only to evaluate Ava's advanced capabilities, but also human-like consciousness. The method is simple. Caleb is to engage Ava with get-to-know-you conversations. They're separated with a transparent wall and their interactions are monitored by Nathan. With every session, Caleb and Ava learn more about each other and develop a relationship.

Alarmingly, during recurring power outages where the monitors are out, Ava reaches out to Caleb and tells him that Nathan cannot be trusted. She provides tidbits that seems to support her pleas. It doesn't help that Nathan is arrogant, controlling, eccentric and sardonic. Parts of his interactions with Caleb are unintentionally, creepily humorous. It becomes clear why Caleb is chosen for the experiment.

You'd feel things are not what they seem and something sinister is going to surface, but you don't know what, when or how. It's tantalizingly thrilling. The removed and austere ambiance of the glass-and-stone, sprawling facility adds to the undercurrent tension. The only other person there is a housemaid (Sonoya Mizuno) who doesn't speak English.

Vikander is a wonder, walking a fine line between human and machine. Her Ava, partially translucent with wires and circuits and partially covered in human skin, is both mechanically perfect and surrealistically human. Brilliantly and elegantly designed, she's intellectually and emotionally intelligent, independent, intuitive, beautiful and powerful. But there remains a question whether her emotions are real or simulated.

The reveals come in pieces and they boggle the mind. Ethical quandaries of identity, humanity, freedom, life and mortality. If you could create a machine with human consciousness, would you... just because you could? What if artificial intelligence goes beyond artificial? Does it have the right to exist? How would it be integrated to society? What are the implications? What will become of mankind?

Strikingly compelling, cerebrally cool and eerily suspenseful, “Ex Machina” delivers on the futuristic visual and philosophical level and ceases with an ending that lingers in your mind.  

https://www.thecoastnews.com/movie-review-ex-machina-is-a-thrilling-look-into-artificial-intelligence/

DVD: http://tinyurl.com/exmachinadvd

Wednesday, April 8, 2015

WonderCon 2015

The 2015 WonderCon was TV-heavy, and while it's great for certain members of the audience, one would typically have to be fans of the shows to enjoy the panels.  There's barely any movie presence - studios, exhibits or panels alike (with minor exceptions, see below).  Panels were dominated by TV or industry professionals and exhibits ruled by comics. 

*** 

The feature films segment, presented by Warner Bros, was initially planned for an hour, but cut down in half at the last minute. 

As lackluster as it was, here are the highlights:

"Mad Max: Fury Road"

The opening scene, with a lone figure standing in a wasteland, is the calm before the storm. A man with a partial steel mask rising from the sands trying to free himself from the chain that ties him to another man.  And this other man, presumably dead, is trapped in a vehicle buried in the sandstorm.  He tries to shoot off the chain and bite the other man's hand to no avail, so he carries that man with him.  He encounters several scantily-clad beauties in white, washing themselves off with water, and also a one-arm woman, appearing to be the leader, first eying him warily and then ferociously charging at him.  It turns into a frenzied fight; hard-hitting beating, kicking, punching, rolling, bashing and dragging.  Then a desert battle shown in rapid-fire scenes; firefights, explosions and chases (although not clear who's chasing who or for what) with road-bikes, tankers and war rigs. 

Wildly kinetic and viscerally brutal, that was one heck of a footage!

"San Andreas" - in attendance: director Brad Peyton, stars Carla Gugino  and Alexandra Daddario

It's been said that California is due for "The Big One."  Here viewers got a devastating taste of what possibly could happen if the massive earthquake struck.  It's special effects-galore with lands cracking and splitting, skyscrapers crumbling and slamming down, ships blown up, tidal waves rolling and swallowing up everything in its destructive path.  It reminded me of "2012," but the footage also zoomed in on one family and its struggle to survive. 

The director would like to build a ride and put the actors on it, presenting the worst-case scenario (although it's unlikely that every chain of event would happen at the same time), but also ground it in the realm of possibilities. It's a story about honest reactions of a family under attack and what these people are going through - not from aliens, dinosaurs or monsters - but from something that could possibly be real.  The actresses mentioned about tons of stunt work, such as getting dropped several floors down and being immersed in the biggest water tank possible for the underwater scenes. 

It looks like the movie goes for big, both on the action and emotion. 

***

Highlight of TV pilots:

"The Messengers" (CW; April 17, 2015) - in attendance: executive producer Trey Callaway and co-executive producer/creator Eoghan O'Donnell, stars Shantel VanSanten, Jon Fletcher, J. D. Pardo, Joel Courtney, Diogo Morgado, Anna Diop and Craig Frank

After an extraterrestrial object crashes into earth and explodes, five ordinary strangers fall dead and come back to life.  They will soon realize that they're connected and destined for a greater cause.  They're now bestowed with supernatural gifts and are known "Angels of Apocalypse."  Each character has a dire moment on the show where illuminated wings can be seen sprouted from his or her shoulder.  Their paths will cross and choices must be made.  They must unite and prevent the impending apocalypse. 

This is a story about the hope we hold in the end and the people we love the most.  It's also a story about faith; finding faith in ourselves, and sometimes putting our faith in strangers, and in things greater than ourselves.  Lucifer, "Prince of Death," makes an appearance and plays a role in tempting and testing humanity.  And finally, it is a story about good and evil, right and wrong, and how our choices affect everything and everybody around us. 

I'm not a fan of angsty teenage supernatural shows on CW in general and the execution wasn't the best.  But the premise appeals to me, so I will give this a try.

"American Odyssey" (NBC; April 5, 2015) - in attendance: executive producers/writers Peter Horton, Adam Armus and Kay Foster, and star Peter Facinelli

A U.S. Special Forces team, which successfully killed an Al-Qaeda leader, is ambushed and murdered in Mali.  These heroes are not massacred by Islamic extremists, rather, an American private military group, purportedly sent by corrupt entities to cover up some criminal, for-profit dealings.  The sole survivor, coincidentally saved by the virtue of timing, is the only female soldier, also a wife and a mother.  She happens to be the one retaining suspicious evidence in a flash drive, a large money transfer document between a local bank there and a U.S. corporation.  She must use everything in her power to remain alive, find the right allies, and make the long, arduous journey home. 

Back in the States, a corporate litigator (formerly a U.S. attorney) gets wind of the shady conspiracy and starts digging.  But before he could go deep, the investigation claims its first casualty.  There's also a political activist, in communication with a computer hacker and reporter, trying to prove that the soldier is indeed alive and to uncover the truth behind the story fronted by the U.S. government. 

The panel discussed the shooting of the show, initially set to be in Toronto, but moved to Morocco for authenticity.  The studio found a Morrocan boy, who had no acting experience, a block from their office.  He plays a character who is imperative for the soldier's early survival. The lead actress (who wasn't present at the panel) was said to be drawn to the show because of the physical, mental and emotional challenges.  And for Facinelli, he would like to do dramatic and enjoys conspiracy thrillers.  The show is about a soldier, lawyer and protester trying to set the truth free at all costs and make a difference. 

I found the pilot to be dramatic and bleak, but engaging.  I hope the show will connect the dots soon and don't drag them out so that it won't be one too many players or extends its welcome.  At the same time, the show has a tough task balancing out the layers so that it will last as a series.  For now, the show has promise and I will make it into my initial viewing schedules.

***

I also attended a writers panel of some of the most popular TV shows.  Discussions include writers creating a blue print for their series, and story break, where a writer pitches an idea and breaks things down beat by beat, either show how each character would act and move forward or go for the big moments and merge them into one story.  Writers pay attention to chemistry among actors and how they grow, and they do adjust scenes based on what they see on set.  A TV pilot, said to be the captain of the series, could be changed.  For example, a pilot might be shot in New York and when the series gets picked up, the shooting might be moved to Los Angeles due to tax credit.  As a result, the audience might not see the exact same sets in subsequent episodes as they appeared in the pilot.

***

WonderCon is getting more popular every year, as proven this year by sold-out tickets and growing attendance (now topping at 60,000).  Even with minimal programming this year, it's  enjoyable as ever (just check out some of the cosplays!).  While nothing comparable to Comic-Con, it is  an entertaining alternative for pop-culture fans.  A word of advice, buy your ticket early next year!

Monday, April 6, 2015

Upcoming Movies: July 2015


[Originally published on 6/30/15]

July 3
"Terminator Genysis" (http://www.terminatormovie.com/) - John Connor sends Kyle Reese back in time to protect Sarah Connor, but when he arrives in 1984, nothing is as he expected it to be.

"Magic Mike XXL" (http://www.magicmikemovie.com/) - Three years after Mike bowed out of the stripper life at the top of his game, he and the remaining Kings of Tampa hit the road to Myrtle Beach to put on one last blow-out performance.

July 10
"Minions" (http://www.minionsmovie.com/) - Minions Stuart, Kevin and Bob are recruited by Scarlet Overkill, a super-villain who, alongside her inventor husband Herb, hatches a plot to take over the world.

"Self/less" (http://selflessmovie.tumblr.com/) - An extremely wealthy man, dying from cancer, undergoes a radical medical procedure that transfers his consciousness into the body of a healthy young man. But all is not as it seems when he starts to uncover the mystery of the body's origin and the organization that will kill to protect its cause.

July 17
"Ant-Man" (http://marvel.com/antman#) - Armed with a super-suit with the astonishing ability to shrink in scale but increase in strength, con-man Scott Lang must embrace his inner hero and help his mentor, Dr. Hank Pym, plan and pull off a heist that will save the world.

"Mr. Holmes" - An aged, retired Sherlock Holmes looks back on his life, and grapples with an unsolved case involving a beautiful woman.

July 24
"Pixels" (http://www.sonypictures.com/movies/pixels/) - When aliens misinterpret video feeds of classic arcade games as a declaration of war, they attack the Earth in the form of the video games.

July 31
"Mission Impossible: Rogue Nation" (http://www.missionimpossible.com/) - Ethan Hunt and team take on their most impossible mission yet, eradicating Syndicate, an international rogue organization as highly skilled as they are, committed to destroying the IMF.