Quick Review:While We're Young: Directed by Noah Baumbach, Starring: Ben Stiller,and Naomi Watts.4/12/2015 I have never seen a film that so wholeheartedly flawed and yet so good. While We're Young is a shallow movie with such an out of nowhere twist that it almost seems the entire thing should fall apart. It doesn't though. Noah Baumbach's script is too clever for that. To keep it all from falling apart Baumbach keeps something consistent. While We're Young is consistently hilarious. See this actually surprised me because I am kind of unfit to "get" the humor that the film has to offer. It's about an couple in their 40's (Ben Stiller and Naomi Watts) meeting a couple in their 20's (Adam Driver,and Amanda Seyfried),and using them to take part in activities that make them feel younger. The comedy comes from the contrast of the cultures. But then a question comes up. Is the younger couple using them for their own means? I won't go into this too much,but this is where the big twist of the film comes in. The reason why the entire thing has a chance to fall apart after the twist was because the beginning part of the movie has the contrast comedy I have mentioned,and next part...I won't spoil. But again the movie is consistently hilarious so the film doesn't end up doing that. Instead the twist happens and it doesn't matter. What's there is too funny,and while the fact that the film is shallow bugged me at first even that seemed to work for the benefit of the twist because it seemed easier for the film to change gears. The actors also are just really fun to watch. Stiller and Watts have great chemistry,and their bits of physical comedy are gold my favorite coming from when they both start to dance hip hop. It's a great scene,and Stiller and Watts' movement is gut busting. Driver and Seyfried feel slightly underutilized,but they each get in their jokes. I would like to make special mention of the camerawork done in the film. There's a scene at a table that without it's cinematography could have felt bland,but it all keeps you on your toes. While We're Young is not the streamlined film I hoped it would be,but it's also just really, really funny. With the right cast it turns into something special that I think you guys should check out. I give While We're Young an 8.5 out of 10.
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My god this is a weird movie. The Voices is a film about a psychopath named Jerry (Ryan Reynolds) who's cat tells him to murder people as his dog says not to. This is also one of those movies I'm going to have to warn you guys about because it's definitely a movie only a select few will enjoy. That's because no matter how good Ryan Reynolds is (and he is truly great) it's a mean movie at times that doesn't quite balance out it's funny,and disturbing levels. This makes it feel jarring with a disturbing and disheartening scene streamlining into a happy, hilarious,and fun scene. That may have been less noticeable if the film weren't so well made. I know it's weird that I say that,but each scene is pulled off so well that each has some kind of effect making the differences so much easier to spot. But again each scene is pulled off really nicely,and this can probably be attributed to Ryan Reynolds throwing himself so much into the role of this psychopath. Jerry is interesting to watch,and he's empathetic especially when you see just how horrible his world is around him if he takes his meds and lets everything go back to normal. You feel bad for the guy. He's just your run of the mill person,but he's also insane. Reynolds also voiced the talking pets in the film,and they are very funny especially his foul mouthed cat named Mr. Whiskers. There's also some particularly funny work from the supporting cast. Still though this is not as funny as a movie as one might want. There are some brutal scenes here. If only had contrasted a little bit better with the funny stuff. I give The Voices a 7 out of 10. Quick Review: Little Shop of Horrors: Directed by Frank Oz, Starring: Rick Moranis, and Ellen Greene4/7/2015 I am actually going to be starring in a school production of Little Shop of Horrors in a week (To those in the St. Louis it's Maplewood Richmond Heights School District April 18 at 7:00 pm,and April 19 at 2:00 pm). That out of the way I have been watching a lot of other high school productions of Little Shop of Horrors on Youtube. And while I am a humble person most of the time I have had in watching these other productions quite a fun time gloating. But having watched this movie I was left in awe,and not because the movie is perfect. That's far from true however most of my problems are actually based more on the exclusions rather then anything that is necessary toward film criticism. But what baffled me is just how much energy the film has. There's a quality to all the songs because they are always exciting to watch with all the actors putting their hearts and souls into it. This gives the film a lush,and energetic feeling that while I liked both I feel Les Miserables (2012), and Into the Woods (2014) both lacked. It's a heck of a lot of fun to watch these actors especially Steve Martin as the Dentist,and Bill Murray is hilarious in a short cameo. However this madcap energy combined with the short running time makes the film feel rushed like while we enjoyed our time with the characters we really didn't get to know them. This however wasn't a huge deal to me. This is a fun musical. I give Little Shop of Horrors a 8.5 out of 10. Reviewed by Stephen Tronicek. Warning: There are spoilers in this review. The film came out in 1994 so not that big of a deal,but I think it's not possible to discuss the film without speaking about some of the plot elements. Heavenly Creatures is a film that is mostly about the hidden desires of the people in a less accepting time. This kind of surprised me. Going in I knew that this was simply a pre Lord of the Rings Peter Jackson film that starred Kate Winslet. Well let me tell you something. Heavenly Creatures is a film about how love can lead to insanity,and then murder that in this much more enlightened time is gut wrenching. It's the true story of two girls that in 1953 killed the mother of one of them. But as I said it's also a character study of people who hold hidden desires. See when these two meet they soon develop a relationship that at first seems domineering (one of the girls is meticulous and scheming and the other is naive),but soon develops into a loving relationship. A relationship that both the girl's parents,and the society around them start to criticize. Heavenly Creatures was actually based on true events much of it coming from her diary. In it she explained the way that they used to escape into a fantasy type world. I think that this only seals the deal on the whole "less accepting time" thing. As the girls begin to lose their grip on reality the film get's more and more intense,but also surprisingly more loving as the relationship develops into something more intimate. It all reaches it's breaking point at the aforementioned killing,and Jackson made the right choice making it as brutal,and disturbing as possible bringing many emotions to the surface. It also presents the idea of "what if" this had only taken place in our time. If there are problems with the movie I think that the actors do kind of over act the entire thing. This was Winslet's first film role,and she doesn't seem quite as good as she usually is. Also the film isn't quite as menacing as it could be. Sure as the characters descend into madness it get's pretty harsh,but this is no Black Swan. Jackson's direction easily harnesses this energy though,and soon uses it to disturb the hell out of the audience creating a fascinating portrait of how two loving girls were pushed to murder. It would be a tragic masterpiece if only it would have gone further. Still I give Heavenly Creatures a 9 out of 10. Reviewed by Stephen Tronicek Ahh thank god. After watching It Follows I found myself confused,and clouded. It was definitely scary, I mean like keeps you up scary,but the way the entire thing had been shot and cut annoyed me. Some scenes felt incomplete,and the more that this happened the more confused I became not understanding the logic of the characters. But the entire production has grown on me,and after connecting a couple of things the film turns out to be something that is at the very least a decent scary movie. Even if some of it's subtext is not shown as well as it could have been. It Follows as most of you know by now is about a ghost or killing entity that our main hero get's from having sex. That's a perfect allegory for the fact that teenage angst can be destructive,but the film doesn't actually explore these themes as much as I wish it had. Instead it goes for a dark depressing mood that while I think fit the film also clouded it a bit. Maika Monroe is well suited for her role,but I feel a few of the actors weren't very effective. However much of the other stuff was. The music in this film almost makes it. The soundtrack is so disturbing,and scary that it almost does all the scaring. Listening to it now I feel very scared. And that's what really matters with a horror film. If you walk out of the theatre,and you are uncomfortable that you just want to curl up in a ball then that's a good thing. It Follows is not a perfect movie but it's a scary one,and sometimes that can be enough. Overall I would give It Follows a 7.5 out of 10. A little dark,and moody to really "enjoy" but there's no denying that it scares the shit out of me. I have posted both a trailer and a song. I dare you to get through the song without being disturbed. Reviewed by Stephen Tronicek. Quick Review: Sucker Punch: Directed by Zach Snyder, Starring: Emily Browning, and Oscar Isaac.4/1/2015 There comes a time when a small,and insignificant critic must say "Hey guys I think you messed up on this one" to all the other critics. This is one of those times. I really liked Sucker Punch and the fact is most critics played the "The movie is about hate toward women" card. That is not true... or at least is one of the things that the movie may project at it's simplest form. On the surface. But what fuels Sucker Punch is the layers of it,and the disturbing subtext that comes with them. Now I won't describe that right now,and frankly I couldn't completely do that https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5gXir4Pu0f0 watch this instead. But I will go over it simply. See the film exists in 3 realities. One is an insane asylum, one is a brothel the film's characters think they are in to escape the asylum's horrors,and one is a fantasy action realm where our characters imagine themselves completing epic quests which in real life are them stealing things to escape the asylum. The problem with the movie ultimately comes in the fact that it's so good at being a gonzo,but forgettable just a little bit trashy action movie that it forgets to remind us that more is going on. The key to enjoying the film is to make assumptions on what all of the action scenes mean,and their purpose to the film. If you just think about it the film hands you everything you need to understand it on a silver plater. And once you do understand it,a large amount of really dark subtext kicks in,and turns the film from a trashy action movie to an action film with a lot more emotional heft then most. Especially when you consider that the serendipity of many of the scenes only heightens the film;s resonance. But again the action scenes kind of distract from all of this so it's difficult to get to the core of the movie. It's a good thing at least that while they are scattershot the action is spectacularly executed. This is kind of a trademark of director Zach Snyder,but here he seems to have more freedom with it and just does cool stuff. The acton is fun to watch,but that doesn't mean it truly holds up. It's just kind of junk food,but the good kind. The acting in the film is only good enough to keep it going,but still I liked Oscar Isaac's interesting,but somewhat sadistic performance. Over all I really enjoyed Sucker Punch as both a disturbing drama,and awesome action movie. Even if it never really gives into what's so good about it. I give Sucker Punch an 8 out of 10. Reviewed by Stephen Tronicek. Quick Review: Gone Baby Gone: Directed by Ben Affleck. Starring: Casey Affleck, and Morgan Freeman.3/25/2015 Gone Baby Gone is a special treat of a crime drama. It's a potboiler or what is usually a mystery that's kind of trashy,and hinges itself on twists. Think Gone Girl. That's a perfect example of how these things can be good. This is a better one. The simple thing that makes Gone Baby Gone a perfect experience is that it's not confusing,and shockingly effective. That's all you want from one of these movies. Casey Affleck stars in his brother Ben's directorial debut. He,and some others are all hired to look for a little girl who has disappeared. Affleck and the others near the beginning of the film seem to not fit in to it,but as they slowly sink into the thick atmosphere the film creates it all comes together. It of course helps that film comes with some shocking action scenes. There's an incredible sequence near the mid point of the movie where Affleck has to gun down a couple of people in a house, and then encounters a horrific image. This should be jarring,but the film plays the action as scary. This gives the scene a crazy gut punch that is both unnerving,and intense. And that's not even the biggest surprise of all. I told you these films hinge on twists, on the curtain they keep down until the pull it out from in front of you. Gone Baby Gone has a scarier twist then even that fight scene suddenly taking a thrilling warp from being a by the numbers detective movie to a critique on whether or not the right thing to do is always the best option especially when it comes to a little girl. This film is left me fascinated,and completely surprised. This is great work. I give Gone Baby Gone a 9.5 out of 10. Reviewed by Stephen Tronicek. Run All Night is a film that is just about perfect...for it's genre. Yes, that does in fact make a difference. This genre is the "Over 50 year old man who can kick ass" genre. Now every movie in this genre I feel loads the character development at the beginning,an doesn't spread it out. Here we have Liam Neeson playing Jimmy Conlon, a man who has killed,and regrets it. His son gets into trouble with the son of Jimmy's former partner leading to the partner's son dying. Ed Harris who plays the partner decides to go after both Jimmy and his son, and sends the police after them too. Now the characters,and situation are set up. Now what these films do is put these characters through a sequence of action set pieces not allowing them to develop much more. This becomes a problem because while the films are exciting they also become very shallow. Now the same happens with Run All Night. The film slowly becomes quite shallow,but boy does it fight like a mad dog not to. This can be attributed to a couple of things: 1. The strong set up. The set up is preposterous,but it sticks with you. It's just really fun,and gives a good reason for some great set pieces especially one that happens in the woods. 2. The actors. Jimmy is set up to have a lot of regret,and what really keeps him interesting is the fact that Neeson shows every single bit of that. Neeson has always been a really nice dramatic actor,and I was glad to see that he was able to use that in this film. There's a great scene where he talks to Ed Harris (also doing great work) in a restaurant. The men sit,and talk, flaunting their acting skills in the process. It's a nice surprise in a film like this. Joel Kinnaman plays the son,and I'm surprised to see some nuanced work out of the man who played the new Robocop (which by the way he kind of sucked at). 3. The action.There are a couple of scenes that seem a little shaky,but the action here is coherent and convincing enough to keep the film exciting even as it tapers off near the end. All of these things combined with the formula that fit's this genre creates an exciting if not fully satisfying experience. I give Run All Night an 8 out of 10. Reviewed by Stephen Tronicek. Quick Review: Divergent: Directed by Neil Burger, Starring: Shailene Woodley, and Theo James3/20/2015 I liked Divergent more the second time I watched it. It was difficult to find out why? The reason it's so difficult is the first time I saw it I thought that it was a cheap looking knockoff of The Hunger Games that had too much going on. But all those things I'm ok with now. The fact is the first time I saw it I also thought it was a lazy movie. A movie that couldn't be bothered to try and seek it's own identity,and just be something that has been done to death. I suddenly realized that this is the wrong way of looking at it. That was me being a stuck up and pretentious type of critic. Now that works sometimes,but not always. Sometimes you have to sit back and take entertainment like this for what it is,and you'll have quite a bit of fun. Divergent as most of us know is about Tris a girl who lives in a world of factions. When she takes a test,and finds out she doesn't fit into one aka "Divergent" she has to join one and disguise herself in it. There's other stuff but it's difficult to explain how it even starts,and I don't actually know quite how that story does. But these are all half measures I'm talking about here. How if your not a snooty pretentious asshole like me you'll like it. Not exactly the biggest praise ever. Well here's something that I can truly say that's good about the movie. It's exciting. This is probably more for me then for anyone else because I am close to it's target audience,but enough of it works. I think this can be attributed to some spectacular and sweeping cinematography that I didn't pay attention to the first time. Seriously while most movies opt to use shaky cam in action scenes these days Divergent doesn't. That makes it even more exciting the fact that it actually has some streamlined action scenes. The acting also passes. I say passes because while only one person is truly good the rest are fitting enough to keep the movie going even though that's it. Shailene Woodley is the best new actress we have working. The Descendants,The Fault in Our Stars, and the previously quick reviewed White Bird in a Blizzard prove that. Divergent thankfully keeps it that way. Woodley sells this movie, and it's too bad that the other actors are only serviceable. But again it works as a teen movie that's best watched if you don't take it so seriously bolstered by exciting cinematography,and one great performance. I give Divergent a 7 out of 10. Reviewed by Stephen Tronicek, Chris Kaufman's movies are always trying to explain the complex emotions that people experience. The greatest thing about his work though is the fact that he does this through creating weird experiences that trigger an emotional response from the audiance. In this case Being John Malkovich is about a puppeteer played by John Cusack who discovers a portal into the mind of John Malkovich leading his entire world to be turned upside down. It's also a film that through it's rich imagery,and wonderfully realized characters conveys a wide range of emotion. Characters have hidden desires,and hope to understand them, and in the chance to become John Malkovich suddenly are able too. I've decided to not reveal how the characters hidden thoughts and hopes rise to the surface, but it's weird. It's also very interesting. This is a film that soon becomes a love story that is surprisingly tender, and a twisting psychological mind-bender about the danger of trying to control the people around you and even yourself. That's all I really have to say without giving away what happens. There are some wondrous sequences in this film though. There's a specific chase scene through the mind of John Malkovich that is just incredible. The film's also got distinct look with sets that almost look like the false sets that a puppeteer would use to tell a story. The film will definitely not appeal to those that are looking for something simple,but for those who are looking for a deeper experience that you can dig into and interpret should experience this movie. It almost baffles me how effecting this film is,and it's an experience that flooded me with the emotions of the characters. And their depth was a wonder to behold making this truly one of the best films I have ever seen. I give Being John Malkovich a 10 out of 10. |
AuthorI am a 17 year old film enthusiast that is happy to be sharing my opinions on this site. Archives
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