Post Christmas/New Year Movie Catch-up

It's been a while since I wrote anything, so I thought I'd do a quick catch-up.

Child 44

An adaption of the book by Tom Rob Smith. Leo Demidov (Tom Hardy), a former Soviet war hero and working for State Security, tracks down a child-killer while trying to save himself from an ambitious colleague (Joel Kinnaman).

Not as good as it could have been, too much of the plot revolves around Leo and his wife trying to avoid the Gulag and, when he does catch up with the villain, it's almost an afterthought. Not bad, but might lead to better sequels.

Noah

Based on the book of Genesis characters, Noah (Russell Crowe), the last descendant of Abel, is tasked by God to save the creatures of the Earth at the cost of the human race, which has become corrupt and barbarous.

Despite a faintly ridiculous plot, it's a reasonably coherent film, marred only by it's length.The acting is good enough, even from Ray Winstone as Noah's nemesis, but it's only an average pizza movie. Ray Winstone as God might have been entertaining, though.

The Wolf of Wall Street

A story of greed and excess from Martin Scorsese, Jordan Belfort (Leonardo DiCaprio), an out of work trader, realises there's a clever way to separate the unsuspecting from their money...

Can't say I like it, 'cause I don't. It's puerile and hollow, a pale shadow next to any of his previous films, even Goodfellas.

Taken 3

The latest of the Taken series sees Bryan Mills (Liam Neeson) framed for the murder of his ex-wife, kill a load of Russian gangsters and finding out it's her new husband wot done it. Or something. I am past caring.

Birdman

Winner of this years Oscar for Best Film, beating Grand Hotel Budapest, Selma and The Imitation Game, Riggan Thomson (Michael Keaton), a has-been actor used to super-hero roles, tries to stage a play on Broadway.

I'm not quite sure how this got onto the list, but it must have seemed a good idea at the time. A gesture to stepping outside the comfort zone, perhaps. It does seem like a film that actors, especially film actors, would understand, a sort of in-joke. It left me feeling a bit cold, however, with the mix of fantasy and reality recalling Terry Gilliams The Fisher King, without any of the latter's charm. Played straight, it might have worked.

Star Wars: The Force Awakens

I got to see the latest Star Wars and jolly good it is too. Abrams hasn't disappointed. The production is slick, with unobtrusive CGI. The plot, while including elements of the original, is workman-like and has enough twists and turns to make it enjoyable. The best parts for me, however, are the knowing nods to the fans (I especially liked the Millenium Falcon with a tarpaulin over it). Above all, there was no cuteness in it: no Ewoks or Jar-jar. And the Stormtroopers still can't shoot straight.

Rather than show yet another trailer, Disney are promoting Star Wars: Rebels, which is worth a look:

Have a happy New Year, everybody.

Broken City & Glengarry Glen Ross

I received this through my LoveFilm subscription. After resigning from the N.Y.P.D. due to a shooting in suspicious circumstances, private investigator Billy Taggart (Mark Wahlberg) is asked by Mayor Hostetler (Russell Crowe) to investigate his wife's suspected adultery.

Both actors are too good to just phone in the part, but Wahlberg is outclassed by Crowe here, although the latter is somewhat miscast I think. The supporting cast is pretty top notch, especially Alona Tal as Taggarts' assistant. The thing that lets the movie down, however, is the plot, which you can see coming a mile-and-a-half away. Maybe a better scriptwriter would have introduced a few twists and turns to ramp up the tension. Not a bad movie, but an opportunity missed.

Glengarry Glen Ross I'd never seen before, despite it being over twenty years old, and I spotted it amongst the freebie's we can't sell at the shop, so I snagged it. Four salesmen (Al Pacino, Jack Lemmon, Ed Harris, Alan Arkin) at a real estate company and their manager (Kevin Spacey) are presented with a problem when their superior (Alec Baldwin) calls with a new monthly "incentive":

Originally this was a stage play by David Mamet, which he then wrote as a film script, but it still has that feel. It's an excuse for everyone to give 150% and they don't disappoint (even Alec Baldwin shines and he's only on for twenty minutes), but it's Jack Lemmon's film, playing a worn out desperate man looking for one last success. Highly recommended.

Man of Steel - "Welcome to the Planet"

More Summer of Cinema with the Superman reboot in 3D. Clarke Kent faces his ultimate challenge when his Kryptonian past catches up with him and the people of Earth.

Absolutely fantastic. I enjoyed every minute, although it was a bit exhausting. Henry Cavill was good as Superman (he's a big, chunky lad!), coming to terms with his destiny, Amy Adams as Lois Lane was as cute and sparky as you'd expect, but it was Russell Crowe as Jor El and Kevin Costner as Jonathan Kent that gave the film it's class acting, Crowe especially relishing the role. Michael Shannon's Zod was also notable, making the character less of a meglomaniac than Terence Stamp's version and more someone driven to save his people whatever the cost.

However, it was the Giger envisioning of Krypton was what made it special for me: it was a suprise and felt absolutely right, giving Krypton an organic, metalic, insectoid, alien look, working especally well in 3D.

Highly recommended: go and see it and be as gobsmacked as I was!

American Gangster

Frank Lucas (Denzel Washington) inherits a drug empire from his boss and decides to cut out the middle men by smuggling heroin directly from Vietnam using the coffins of dead servicemen unaware he is being tracked by a detective (Russell Crowe) and his team.

Based on a true story, it's a very good film, with hints of The French Connection. Washington dominates as an increasingly paranoid Lucas, enemies both within and without, but Crowe is good as his nemesis. The 70's are also suitably evoked with a really good, authentic soundtrack.