One of the best parts of a film about a musician is that the story can be told through straight acting, and through the songs performed by the musician. What makes telling parts of the story through song so gratifying, is that the musician is using his given talent to let the audience know what he has experienced. The backgrounds of musical icons will usually contain some sort of tragedy or misfortune that was suffered through in life. By the escape of music, however, these musicians will find salvation through their lyrics, and will share their talent and lives with the world. Director Scott Cooper has adapted Thomas Cobb's novel, Crazy Heart, to tell the story of a once famous country-music star Bad Blake, played by Jeff Bridges, who sets out on the road to redemption after an extended history of regretable life choices.
Bad Blake's life is slowly falling apart. He's almost broke, an alcoholic, has been in and out of marriages, can't seem to find new material to write about, and his fame is nearly gone, which leaves him playing in bowling alleys. He eventually crosses paths with an aspiring journalist named Jean Craddock, played by Maggie Gyllenhaal, who just like Bad, is trying to forget about her past mistakes, and makes a comfortable living with her son. What is so intriguing about her character, is that what starts out as interviewing Bad for a story, turns into her becoming a catalyst for Bad Blake wanting to turn his life around. But this doesn't come without its setbacks.
The songs performed in the film blend perfectly with the events played out in the story. They describe heartbreak, ruined futures, and the neglect of the special things in life. The film's main ballad, "The Weary Kind," tells of the need to be strong of heart, and give as many tries as you have to in order to get your life back on track. The lyrics tell of what has happened in Blake's life, and hint at what's to come. The way how the music continually reinforces the film's messages makes the songs all the more effective in the storytelling.
Even though the movie is about the journey of redemption for a troubled life, it also emphasizes that as humans, we're all capable of hitting the occasional speedbump on the way. Whether we are like Bad and need to set our lives straight, or even if we're like Jean and our lives are going smoothly, it is natural for everyone to make mistakes. What's important, is that we recognize them, and try to rebuild our lives.
Jeff Bridges' performance is the gem of the film. His singing and musicianship is as breathtaking as the southwestern landscapes through which he travels. His portryal of a broken-down soul trying to save himself can relate to anyone, and shows that it's never too late to turn your life around. In the end, Jeff Bridges more than succeeeds in getting his message across. He makes us inspired.
Final grade: A-
Monday, March 22, 2010
Friday, March 19, 2010
A 'Wonderland' That's Short on Wonder
The name of Tim Burton has long been synonymous with the capability of creating lush, imaginative worlds for the screen, and pairing them up with strangely mystical stories. These stories can be considered to be in the same realm as the classic Grimm's fairy tales, and are every bit as immersive as they are darkly beautiful. Most people will argue that some of his films like Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, Corpse Bride, and Sweeney Todd fit that criteria all-too perfectly. Burton's latest undertaking, adapting Lewis Carol's timeless children's story Alice in Wonderland, seemed to be another perfect pairing of story and director. Who else but Tim Burton would you expect to bring Carol's fantastically bizarre Wonderland to the screen? Burton creates another enchanting world with colorful visuals a plenty that's hard to divert your eyes from. Alas, that's all this movie has to offer. A film with little story is hardly the case when one thinks of Tim Burton. Sadly, Alice in Wonderland is that type of film.
This latest trip into Wonderland is the first starring-vehicle for Australian newcomer Mia Wasikowska, who plays the title-character. Alice grows tired of her mundane life and the expectations put upon her by family and friends. In an attempt to escape an arranged marriage, she chases the White Rabbit (voiced by Michael Sheen), and eventually falls down the rabbit-hole into the dreamlike Wonderland. There, she meets the Mad Hater, played by non other than Burton's other half, Johnny Depp; and is told that she must find what's known as the Vorpal Sword to slay the dragon-like creature known as the Jabberwocky, in order to restore the rule of the White Queen (Anne Hathaway) from the Red Queen (Helena Bonham Carter). You'd figure there would be more story to be offered in-between these main plot points. Don't be fooled. This is just about all there is.
Given the much-beloved source material, it is expected that a movie like this would retain the magical touch that made the original novel a joy. The beauty of the world is surely at play, but it doesn't help make the film any better when it seems like many of the CGI characters have more life than the human characters. The Dormouse has her ongoing spunk and swordmanship, and the Caterpillar, though rather rude, is an insect of knowledge. The standout of all the CGI creatures is the Cheshire Cat, with his devious personality and smooth-talk.
This being Wasikowska's first major role, she plays the part of Alice as we all would like it: adventurous, intelligent, and quizzical of her new surroundings. Unfortunately, since the visuals are the film's only high points, and the make-up effects of other characters are so demanding of attention, it takes away from Alice the opportunity to shine. But the CGI effects aren't all that's to blame. Since the story lacks in content, it also is deprived of any memorable dialogue. A majority of Alice's dialogue is comprised of asking questions such as "What am I doing here?" "Why was I brought here?" "How do I defeat the Jabberwocky?" and so on. As for the Red Queen, let's just say you could make a drinking game based on how many times she screams "Off with their heads!"
Sadly, even Johnny Depp wasn't that much of a standout as the Mad Hatter. When Depp plays characters such as Willy Wonka, Sweeney Todd, and Captain Jack Sparrow, you become swept away by his talent, energy, and by the new heights to which he brings his characters. As the Mad Hatter, he didn't do anything new or exciting; he just wore distracting make-up, mumbled a lot of nonsense, and performed an embarrassing dance to celebrate the end of the final battle.
Tim Burton is certainly a master of his craft, and when he wants to tell a darkly entertaining and striking story, he can surely bring it to life. Every director, however, has at least one movie that can't quite measure up to his or her most treasured works. Too bad for Burton that it had to be his adaptation of a dearly loved classic.
Final grade: C
This latest trip into Wonderland is the first starring-vehicle for Australian newcomer Mia Wasikowska, who plays the title-character. Alice grows tired of her mundane life and the expectations put upon her by family and friends. In an attempt to escape an arranged marriage, she chases the White Rabbit (voiced by Michael Sheen), and eventually falls down the rabbit-hole into the dreamlike Wonderland. There, she meets the Mad Hater, played by non other than Burton's other half, Johnny Depp; and is told that she must find what's known as the Vorpal Sword to slay the dragon-like creature known as the Jabberwocky, in order to restore the rule of the White Queen (Anne Hathaway) from the Red Queen (Helena Bonham Carter). You'd figure there would be more story to be offered in-between these main plot points. Don't be fooled. This is just about all there is.
Given the much-beloved source material, it is expected that a movie like this would retain the magical touch that made the original novel a joy. The beauty of the world is surely at play, but it doesn't help make the film any better when it seems like many of the CGI characters have more life than the human characters. The Dormouse has her ongoing spunk and swordmanship, and the Caterpillar, though rather rude, is an insect of knowledge. The standout of all the CGI creatures is the Cheshire Cat, with his devious personality and smooth-talk.
This being Wasikowska's first major role, she plays the part of Alice as we all would like it: adventurous, intelligent, and quizzical of her new surroundings. Unfortunately, since the visuals are the film's only high points, and the make-up effects of other characters are so demanding of attention, it takes away from Alice the opportunity to shine. But the CGI effects aren't all that's to blame. Since the story lacks in content, it also is deprived of any memorable dialogue. A majority of Alice's dialogue is comprised of asking questions such as "What am I doing here?" "Why was I brought here?" "How do I defeat the Jabberwocky?" and so on. As for the Red Queen, let's just say you could make a drinking game based on how many times she screams "Off with their heads!"
Sadly, even Johnny Depp wasn't that much of a standout as the Mad Hatter. When Depp plays characters such as Willy Wonka, Sweeney Todd, and Captain Jack Sparrow, you become swept away by his talent, energy, and by the new heights to which he brings his characters. As the Mad Hatter, he didn't do anything new or exciting; he just wore distracting make-up, mumbled a lot of nonsense, and performed an embarrassing dance to celebrate the end of the final battle.
Tim Burton is certainly a master of his craft, and when he wants to tell a darkly entertaining and striking story, he can surely bring it to life. Every director, however, has at least one movie that can't quite measure up to his or her most treasured works. Too bad for Burton that it had to be his adaptation of a dearly loved classic.
Final grade: C
Tuesday, March 16, 2010
A Twisty-Turny 'Island'
Federal detectives, a secluded mental-institution on an island, an escaped patient, strange doctors hiding the truth, this sounds like a cinematic work from the mind of Alfred Hitchcock. Well, yes and no. The new thriller Shutter Island certainly has that mysterious atmosphere that was present in many of his films, but the story is actually from a novel by Dennis Lehane, and was brought to the screen by one of today's Hitchcock equivalents of filmmaking genius, Martin Scorsese. This being his first psychological thriller since 1991's Cape Fear, Martin succeeds in bringing a sense of fear to the story he wants to tell. This time, Scorsese reunites with his frequent collaborator Leonardo DiCaprio, for a story of conspiracy and paranoia.
The story opens in 1954 with our two leads, U.S. Marshal Edward 'Teddy' Daniels (DiCaprio), a tough-as-nails detective from Boston, whose past is plagued with tragedy by the death of his wife (Michelle Williams), and is accompanied to the island by his new partner Chuck Aule (Mark Ruffalo). They are sent to the mysterious Ashcliff Hospital for the criminally insane on Shutter Island. The hospital shelters 66 inmates that are said to be there because it was impossible for them to be treated anywhere else. The head psychiatrist Dr. John Cawley, acted by Ben Kingsley with a disturbing blend of calm and creepiness, fills-in our two detectives of the escape of inmate Rachel Solando (Emily Mortimer), who has been placed in the institution for murdering her three children. As Teddy and Chuck begin their search for the woman it becomes clear that, as with all psychological thrillers, there is something much more going on in the background than our two detectives are aware of.
As Teddy and Chuck question patients and visit several sectors of the island looking for evidence, the audience is provided with snipets of Teddy's troubled past in the form of dream sequences and hallucinations. While his dreams do add significantly to the story in most cases, it gets to the point when some of them are a little too long, or slightly unnecessary. They are, however, disturbingly and beautifully realized. As the story progresses with the detectives exploring deeper into the island, the stunning aerial shots of the area help expand on the growing fear and isolation of the charatcers.
Patricia Clarkson shows up in the later half of the movie as an exiled escapee, and truly makes the most of her few minutes of screen time, offering a couple startling plot twists. And Max von Sydow is wonderfully frightening as an evil, Nazi-like psychiatrist. Clocking in at 2 hours and 18 minutes, the film tends to drag in the middle; but the big twist (or several twists) in the end make the movie worth sitting through, even though the plot revelations come at a somewhat overwhelming rate in the end. This being Martin Scorsese's second psychological thriller, Shutter Island is a daring break from his gangster epics, such as The Departed and Goodfellas. In the end, it's truly a mystery worth solving.
Final grade: B+
The story opens in 1954 with our two leads, U.S. Marshal Edward 'Teddy' Daniels (DiCaprio), a tough-as-nails detective from Boston, whose past is plagued with tragedy by the death of his wife (Michelle Williams), and is accompanied to the island by his new partner Chuck Aule (Mark Ruffalo). They are sent to the mysterious Ashcliff Hospital for the criminally insane on Shutter Island. The hospital shelters 66 inmates that are said to be there because it was impossible for them to be treated anywhere else. The head psychiatrist Dr. John Cawley, acted by Ben Kingsley with a disturbing blend of calm and creepiness, fills-in our two detectives of the escape of inmate Rachel Solando (Emily Mortimer), who has been placed in the institution for murdering her three children. As Teddy and Chuck begin their search for the woman it becomes clear that, as with all psychological thrillers, there is something much more going on in the background than our two detectives are aware of.
As Teddy and Chuck question patients and visit several sectors of the island looking for evidence, the audience is provided with snipets of Teddy's troubled past in the form of dream sequences and hallucinations. While his dreams do add significantly to the story in most cases, it gets to the point when some of them are a little too long, or slightly unnecessary. They are, however, disturbingly and beautifully realized. As the story progresses with the detectives exploring deeper into the island, the stunning aerial shots of the area help expand on the growing fear and isolation of the charatcers.
Patricia Clarkson shows up in the later half of the movie as an exiled escapee, and truly makes the most of her few minutes of screen time, offering a couple startling plot twists. And Max von Sydow is wonderfully frightening as an evil, Nazi-like psychiatrist. Clocking in at 2 hours and 18 minutes, the film tends to drag in the middle; but the big twist (or several twists) in the end make the movie worth sitting through, even though the plot revelations come at a somewhat overwhelming rate in the end. This being Martin Scorsese's second psychological thriller, Shutter Island is a daring break from his gangster epics, such as The Departed and Goodfellas. In the end, it's truly a mystery worth solving.
Final grade: B+
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