the Savages

So I was tossing up between a few films to get for the week, but I have been really into the T.V show Dexter lately, so I could only spring for one actual movie. I can't remember what the other ones where to be honest, but I just saw Philip Seymour Hoffman on this cover and was sold.

I got home last night and wasn't really in  the mood to watch a whole movie but I wasn't tired enough to sleep. So I figured I have to take it back soon and may not get another chance so begrudgingly I sat down and pushed play, and before I knew it, it was finished. It's not that often that I will be watching a movie and be so into it and captivated by it that it could of just kept going and I would be non the wiser

It follows the story of an elderly man, Lenny Savage (Philip Bosco) who, after his long term girlfriend passes away, and after a few incidents of unexplained behavioral issues, he is diagnosed with dementia. His two estranged middle aged children Wendy (Laura Linney) and Jon (Philip Seymour Hoffman) are left to deal with the situation. Bringing him out of the perfect retirement city Sun City, Arizona, Lenny is non-the-wiser brought to the cold and snowy city of Buffalo, NY and placed in a retirement home close to Jon. Wendy, going through a semi-mid life crises decides to stay with Jon and help keep an eye on her father, as Jon deals with his own life issues.

It is superb direction by writer and director Tamara Jenkins (Slums of Beverly Hills). Respectfully earning herself and Acadamy Award nomination for the film and alongside Laura Linney (Wendy) for the same film. It was subtly comical with a heart wrenching performance by all that just made you want to jump into the screen, give them a hug and lend a hand.

Great film by a great cast. 4.5 stars out of 5

peace and love friends.

Whip it!

Drum roll please, for the directorial debut of one miss Drew Barrymore. So i was at the local cinemas tonight and the choices being Final Fantasy IV and Whip it!. I haven't seen any of the previous final fantasy films so personally I wasn't too concerned to see it and had heard mixed reviews on the works of Whip it!, however, being a fan of Drew Barrymore I was quite keen to see how she managed the underated yet gigantic role of director.

Having an acting resume of over 50 films Drew's career is not one to be shunned (It's actually no wonder she hasn't attempted to direct sooner). So when this twice nominated golden globe actress decides to direct her own feature film, move over hollywood because there are very few people that have the power to stop her.

Whip it! starring the likes of the afore mentioned Drew Barrymore, Ellen Page (x-men, juno), Jimmy Fallon (Saturday Night Live) and more, has been in the works for the past 2 years. The girls having taken serious Roller derby training to make the film has authentic as possible.

The story follows a small town girl Bliss (Page) and her journey to escape the small town blues. In a bid to escape the same miss America pagent style lifestyle that her mother grew up with and is forcing upon her, she is introduced to the thrill seeking, daredevil world, of Roller Derby. A female only full contact sport, where more or less they ride around in circles and beat the crap out of each other. For Bliss it is love at first sight and she begins her journey of self discovery.

The story itself was well written with great scripting. The only real flaw worth mentioning is that a few scenes I found to be inconclusive. For example the swimming pool scene, which to be honest was just kind of awkward (reminded me of a coke commercial), and then the final Scene with Oliver (Landon Pigg). Did they break up? I still don't know.

But overall it was enjoyable to watch, the costuming and design was top notch and it was convincing performances by the entire cast, And shed great light on an unrecognized sport. I'd recommend it.

3 stars out of 5. 

peace and love till next time.

ben

What's next?

So it has been a while, my apologies to all my 2... possibly 3 followers so far. I have watched several movies of recent but choosing one to write about is whole new issue. I watched films such as Lost In Space the 1999 remake of the t.v series starring Matt Leblanc, however I didn't wish to write a completely negative blog. I also watched recently I'm Not There the Bob Dylan Biopic starring the likes of Heath Ledger, Cate Blanchett, Richard Gere and Christian Bale. I was planning on writing about this film as it was an amazing picture with an outstanding performance by Cate Blanchett, however I'm not even going to pretend that I was able to completely follow it.

So, as I did wish to write something and at a complete loss of what to write about I decided to write about a film I watched recently at the cinemas, and I choose it for no other reason really than the fact that I just watched it and like it.

Up in 3D animation!!!

Now I am aware that every girl between the age of 11 and 19 has most likely seen it and loved it because it made them cry and every guy refuses to see it has they dare not be deemed a pussy. However, as there were no other movies playing I decided to see it.

I was the first time I had seen a movie in 3D animation. I was pretty wary at first as I was expecting it to be the really obnoxious 3D where they throw flame throwers and punching gloves in the story for no other purpose than to scare the audience and make them look a trifle silly for trying to dodge it. But in the first five minutes I was blown away by the complexity of it. It simply gave a third dimension to the screen, almost to the sense of watching a live production....almost. So if you have the chance to see movie in 3D animation I would highly recommend it. But I digress...

Since the days of the Lion King and Aladdin, children's movies have progressively gone down hill. They lack so much as the large companies are trying so hard to pump out so many movies that they lose track of the fine art in story telling. That's why this movie was so refreshing to watch.

The story follows an elderly man (Carl Fredricksen), having just watched a short montage of his life, having to deal with the loss of his wife and society deeming him unfit to look after himself he is told he must relocate from the house he has lived in his entire life and enter, retirement. The theme of the montage in a nutshell is, his childhood friend and now wife share a dream of adventure and one day traveling to paradise falls in south america in search of finding adventure after years of worshipping their childhood adventure hero, Charles Muntz, adventure extroadinaire. As their life unfolds they never manage to make it, which in turn becomes Carls biggest regret. So with no where left to go but retirement, Carl straps hundreds of helium balloons to his home and lifts off in search of paradise falls. Aided by the boy scout Russell, the talking dog Dug and Kevin the fabled bird, Carl seeks to find his adventure as his last act of love for his wife.

Although it wasn't a long movie, the story line was fantastic. It was simple yet creative, relateable and yet still a crazy adventure. The scripting was easy enough for a young child to follow and still get a great sense of story, whilst adults could follow it and find complexities that children so often miss. 

Also the detail to characterisation was nothing to look past. From the first montage scene of Carl Fredricksens life, you can't help but shed a tear.  To the simple reaction shots of the characters, especially Russell. one other thing I noticed that i liked was just the fact that carls stubble gradually got thicker as they were lost in the jungle. It's the attention to detail that impresses me.

So all in All it is a great film for persons of absolutely any age wanting to watch a heart warming story suitable for the whole family.

I give it 4 and a half scout badges out of 5.

Until next time friends.

peace and love.

Ben

Traffic

Ok so what better way to start then with this Acadamy award winning film of 200o. So I rented a few movies that I thought looked pretty decent and a disc of entourage to watch as my films for the week. I thought I would kick start the week of with a little entourage, and as I was watching one of the main characters was talking about getting a new writer to finish their film, "We need Stephen Gaghan", "Stephen Gaghan!?", "Yea, he wrote f@cking 'Traffic'". As he said this I looked in my pile of films and saw the words "Traffic". Crazy coincidence I thought! So off with entourage and in with Traffic.

Written by Stephen Gaghen (Rules of Engagement, Havoc) and directed by Stephen Soderbergh (Erin Brockovich, Oceans Eleven) and led by an All Star cast including Michael Douglas, (Basic Instinct, Black Rain) Benicio Del Toro, (21 grams, Snatch) Topher Grace (that 70's show, spider-man) Erika Christensen (Swimfan) and Don Cheadle (Crash, Oceans 11). The film follows several story plots that overlap as the characters are individually affected in some way by each others actions.

It is rare to find a movie that, could hold an audience purely on the storyline. It is also refreshing to see so many A-level actors in the same film, where individually they don't have the screen time they could potentially have had, had they adopted a different movie. But to see them believe in a story so completely they put money and ego aside to create a great all round story that was completely captivating to watch.

Micheal Douglas, having just taken over as head of the Drug department of the United States represents the American society and their stance on drug use. With drugs affecting every single American, and in some cases it being easier for the youth to get their hands on drugs than alcohol. It shows the beaurecratic side of the war, where it is merely a numbers game and an individual human being can be ranked as only a statistic. However, as Michael Douglas' character having to deal with his 16 year old daughter spiralling into drug use and addiction he realises the urgency of winning a losing battle.

Benicio del Toro represents the low income individuals who are so personally affected by the cruel world of drug Trafficking. Delivering his best performance to date, his character, a police officer in the country of Mexico struggles through inner morale issues, with so many voices telling him whats right, he has to choose for himself where his loyalties lay. 

The cinematic contrast through the use of Colour grading gives great depth throughout the film. using dark blues throughout the American scenes portays the way people subtract themselves from real issues as they are so caught up in the red tape and choosing to being so politically correct ALL the time, that it creates the atmosphere that a subject so painfully important, seem mello and swept under the rug. Where as the hot reds and warm colours of the mexican scenes makes everything seem so personal and that every little action affects every other person in a large way.

There is so much more to touch on and I could potentially dive further in depth to the second two sets of storylines led by Don Cheadle and Catherine Zeta Jones. But as this is the very first blog I may end it here.

so in conclusion I give this film a 4 and a half stars out of 5 and highly recommend it as a must watch.

Peace and love,

Ben

What's the deal you say?

Well I will tell you kind people! Since I spend way too much time (not wasted time I shall clarify!) watching films of many vast genres, I decided that I shall pass on my infinite wisdom. I do this in hopes of guiding you to make great film choices, especially when all lost and confused when wondering the hallowed aisles of your local video rental store. 

So I hope this is helpful to you, if not, then you have poor choice in films and are in need of some guidance :) so listen carefully!

sincerely,

Ben