Midnight in Paris

Midnight in Paris (2011) – Movie Review

Director: Woody Allen

Screenwriter: Woody Allen

Producers: Letty Aronson, Jaume Roures, Stephen Tenenbaum 

Studio: Sony Pictures Classics 

Production Companies: Gravier Productions, Mediapro, Televisio de Catalunya

Top Billed Cast: Owen Wilson, Rachel McAdams, Marion Cotillard, Kurt Fuller, Mimi Kennedy, Michael Sheen (no relation), Nina Arianda, Adrien Brody, Gad Elmaleh, Carla Bruni 

LOGLINE: When a writer goes to Paris with his fiance and her parents he finds all the inspiration he needs on his fantastical midnight strolls.

VIEWING CIRCUMSTANCES: At the cinema (Dendy, Canberra) with my wife, after having a beer and a sake at the Nara festival.

FIRST IMPRESSIONS: Good movie. In fact, I'm going to say my favourite Woody Allen film. The film fraternity will probably kick me out for saying that (instead of Annie Hall or Hannah and Her Sisters, which are generally considered the book ends of the golden period of Woody Allen), but being the Francophile that I am, he had me with the opening 3 minute sequence which consists of nothing but music and beautiful shots of Paris.

STORY: The story is pretty stock standard (Hero travels to new worlds to find what he's missing) but with some nice quirks and, of course, Jewish-style neuroticism, which Woody Allen is famous for, but this subtler form in his older age is more to my taste.

PRODUCTION: Lovely cinematography, set design and costuming etc all adds to the magical feel of the film, like an American made Amelie.

PERFORMANCE: Owen Wilson plays a great Woody Allen (he doesn't actually play Woody Allen but you get what I mean), though the costuming of a 50-something Jew on a 40-something Yank didn't work as well. Carli Bruni, the real life French President's real life Wife (and ex-nude model and pop star) was great as the tour guide, and Marion Cottiard was gorgeous and brilliant as always. Kurt Fuller played the Jeffrey Tamboresque role well and loads of great cameos particularly Adrien Brody's. Rachael McAdams? Not sure, I have a hard time critiquing unlikable portrayals because they're, well, unlikable... but I think she did pretty good.

OVERALL: A lovely little flick very french, very clever.

MEETSLINE: Back to the Future meets Amelie

FAVOURITE QUOTE: " for that moment when you are making love with a woman of true greatness you will feel immortal."


"That Paris exists and anyone could choose to live anywhere else in the world will always be a mystery to me."

"Gil: I would like you to read my novel and get your opinion. 
Ernest Hemingway: I hate it.
Gil: You haven't even read it yet. Ernest Hemingway: If it's bad, I'll hate it. If it's good, then I'll be envious and hate it even more. You don't want the opinion of another writer."

"Luis Buñuel: A man in love with a woman from a different era. I see a photograph! 
Man Ray: I see a film!
Gil: I see insurmountable problem! Salvador Dalí: I see rhinoceros!"

"Ernest Hemingway: You'll never be a great writer if you fear dying, do you? 
Gil: Yeah, I do. I would say it's my greatest fear."

"You're very kind, but I wouldn't call my babbling poetic. Although I was on a pretty good roll there."

"That's what the present is. It's a little unsatisfying because life is unsatisfying."

RECOMMENDED ACCOMPANIMENT: French wine, camembert, brie, baguette, etc.

RATING:

4 1/2 out of 5 reels of film.

Movie Review by A.B. McBlogsmith the Backwards Cap Film Reviewer

(C) Review Flix 2011

Avatar

Avatar (2009) – Movie Review

Director: James Cameron

Screenwriter: James Cameron

Producers: James Cameron, Jon Landau

Studio/s: 20th Century Fox

Production Companies: Lightstorm Entertainment, Dune Entertainment, Ingenious Film Partners

Top Billed Cast: Sam Worthington, Zoe Saldana, Sigourney Weaver, Stephen Lang, Michelle Rodriguez, Giovanni Ribisi, Joel David Moore, CCH Pounder, Wes Studi, Laz Alonso

LOGLINE: Jake Sulley takes on an 'Avatar', an alien body that you project your mind into, to infiltrate the Na'avi to help the mining company persuade them to move off the rescource rich patch they inhabit, but when he falls in love with their princess and the mining company become more and more greedy Jake and his loyal scientist friends must teach the Na'avi how to fight the humans.

VIEWING CIRCUMSTANCES: At the IMAX Cinemas in 3D (IMAX, Darling Harbour).

FIRST IMPRESSIONS: Awesome! I had heard a lot of buzz, but hadn't listened closely to any of it so as not to build up an expectation, which was probably best. Shortly after seeing it two of my friends were talking about it and the conversation went something like this: 
A-"Have you seen Avatar?" B-"Are you kidding? How good is it?" A-"I know right?" B-"Ridiculous" A-"Just quietly I think it could be man kinds greatest achievement" B-"Just quietly I think it's the reason man kind exists".
Now, I think that if I had have heard that before I saw it I would've been disappointed. But let's face it, I don't think any movie, probably not even my favourite (Lord of the Rings) could live up to that hype.

STORY: Yes, what you've probably heard is true; the story is the weakest part of an otherwise strong movie. It is unoriginal, on the nose, corny and sometimes plain patronising. Having said that, it's also a ripping tale and mythologically strong. i.e. Even if it isn't original or delicate it's still a fun, meaningful adventure.

PRODUCTION: Breakthrough, brilliant and awesome. On the back of the (also breakthrough) production techniques of Lord of the Rings, Cameron took things to yet another level and single handedly (for better or [more likely] worse) shepherded in a whole new generation of 3D movies. 

PERFORMANCE: Sam Worthington is strong in the lead though I don't think he quite had the American accent down 100% (I'd have preferred if they let him play it straight [Aussie]). I get the feeling that Sigourney's role was maybe a little too easy for her and she might've been erring on the side of boredom. The vocal actors are all strong, led by the best of the lot, Zoe Saldana. Stephen Lang did well with a one dimensional "shapeshifter". Michelle Rodriguez takes my Best in Show award. 

OVERALL: James Cameron can be as subtle as a sledge hammer at times (unobtanium? come one) but the dude can tell a story and as unoriginal as this is it still hit some major mythic chord within me and resonated.

MEETSLINE: Pocahontas/Dances with Wolves (same movie) meets  Independence Day (only humans are the aliens in this one).

FAVOURITE QUOTES: "I see you"
"Run! Definitely run!"
"Sky People cannot learn, you do not see"
"It is hard to fill a cup that is already full."

RECOMMENDED ACCOMPANIMENT: Blue centered-grapefruit

LINKS: Deconstruction to come soon: http://filmdeconstructions.blogspot.com/

RATING:

4 1/2 out of 5 reels of film.

Movie Review by A.B. McBlogsmith the Backwards Cap Film Reviewer

(C) Review Flix 2011

The Help

The Help (2011) – Movie Review

Director: Tate Taylor

Screenwriter: Tate Taylor
Base on the Novel by: Kathryn Stockett

Producer/s: Michael Barnathan, Chris Columbus (of Harry Potter Fame), Brunson Green,  

Studio/s: Disney, Dreamworks

Production Companies: Participant Media, Harbinger Pictures, 1492 Pictures

Top Billed Cast: Emma "Woman of the moment" Stone, Viola Davis, Octavia Spencer, Bryce Dallas Howard, Jessica Chastain, Allison Janney.

LOGLINE: In 1950s, Jacksonville, Alabama a white girl goes about writing a book from the point of view of "the Help", the black women, most of whom derive from slave families, who keep house for white families.

VIEWING CIRCUMSTANCES: At the flicks (Dendy, Canberra), with my wife, with popcorn and choctop and coke.

FIRST IMPRESSIONS: I wasn't expecting to love this movie, I had pretty much written it off as a touchy/feely, 'chick flick', and thought that I'd basically seen it just from the trailers. But it exceeded all expectations and frankly all but blew my socks off.

STORY: The strong part of the film, and that's saying something because the production is classy and the performances are great! 

PRODUCTION: Wow, for basically a first timer, Tate knocked it out of the Park. The story goes that he and the writer were school friends and he optioned the movie writes for a dime before the book was even published and promised her he'd make it and make it well. I'd say he more than delivered on that promise.

PERFORMANCE: Great performances all round, Emma stone was great in the lead but Viola is perfect and Allison Janney, who probably had the toughest role (it's hard to play a likable bigot!) also knocked it out of the park.

OVERALL: Ain't too many movies that can make me cry, let alone laugh and cry let alone admit to the ocular seepage. This is one such movie.

MEETSLINE: To Kill a Mocking Bird meets Driving Miss Daisy.

FAVOURITE QUOTE:

RECOMMENDED ACCOMPANIMENT: Fried Chicken. (Strongly recommend NOT eating Chocolate or for that matter any pie).

RATING:

4 out of 5 reels of film.

Movie Review by A.B. McBlogsmith the Backwards Cap Film Reviewer

(C) Review Flix 2011

Grown Ups

Grown Ups (2010) – Movie Review

Director: Dennis Dugan (Dir: Heaps of Adam Sandler Movies)

Screenwriters: Adam Sandler, Fred Wolf

Producer: Adam Sandler, Jack Giarraputo

Studio: Columbia

Production Company: Happy Madison

Top Billed Cast: Adam Sandler, Kevin James, Chris Rock, David Spade, Rob Schneider, Salma Hayek

LOGLINE: A bunch of 40-somethings bring their families together for a reunion at the lake house they stayed at as a basketball team when they were kids. Shenanigans ensue.

VIEWING CIRCUMSTANCES: At home, in bed, with my wife. 

FIRST IMPRESSIONS: Light hearted (aka silly) ensemble comedy. Basically an Adam Sandler pic.

STORY: Predictable and ordinary, with some funny jokes etc.

PRODUCTION: Dennis Dugan has directed just about every Adam Sandler Movie. I don't mean every movie he's been in I mean the Happy Madison (his production company) ones like Happy Gilmore, I Now Pronounce You Chuck & Larry etc. (not Click, Funny People, Reign Over Me etc). In other words the sillier ones not the classier ones. So you pretty much know what to expect. I will say this though, Cinematographer Theo Van de Sande, who has also worked on a bunch of Sandler/Dugan flicks, seems to have taken it up a notch with this one. Some of the establishing shots of the Lake House are beautiful. 

PERFORMANCE: Not a stretch from any of these guys, who seem to be just hanging out, having fun.

OVERALL: If it's light entertainment you want you got it. If it's anything more, no go.

MEETSLINE: Happy Gilmore meets Semi-Pro

FAVOURITE QUOTE: none.

RECOMMENDED ACCOMPANIMENT: Home-style Burgers and fries.

RATING:

3 out of 5 reels of film.

Movie Review by A.B. McBlogsmith the Backwards Cap Film Reviewer

(C) Review Flix 2011

Boy

Boy (2010) – Movie Review

Director: Taika Waititi (Dir: Flight Of The Conchords, Eagle vs Shark)

Screenwriter: Taika Waititi

Producer: Cliff Curtis (Actor: Uncle Bully in Once were Warriors, Amir in Three Kings)

Studio: New Zealand Film Commission

Production Companies: Unison Films, Whenua Films

Top Billed Cast: James Rolleston, Taika Waititi, Te Aho Aho Eketone-Whitu

LOGLINE: 1984. When Boy's dad rolls back into town after a stint in the joint and who knows what else, the two Maori men struggle to find a rhythm as they search for hidden money, party and hang out with their upstart bikey gang.

VIEWING CIRCUMSTANCES: At home in the loungeroom with my wife as part of our unofficial kiwi film fest in honour of the RWC in NZ this month.

FIRST IMPRESSIONS: Boy oh boy what a great film (pun totally intended). Just the right mix of quirk, drama, comedy and culture (both pop culture and Maori culture).

STORY: All though I've only given Boy a 1/2 a reel of film extra than my rating of Eagle vs Shark, writer/director Taika Waititi's previous effort (that I watched after this film by reviewed before [i'm playing catch up]), this is a vast improvement and a really classy flick.

PRODUCTION: cool. slightly more slickerer (that's totally a word) editing and higher production value than Eagle and some inventive shots and sequences. 

I love the way he mixes and weaves multiple, unrelated pieces of pop culture into to style of the film, similar to how Baz Luhrmann's Moulin Rouge is a Bollywoodesque modern western rock musical set in Pari, in, made Australia or Edgar Wright's Scott Pilgrim vs The World, which mixes comic book, music video and video game cultures.

Michael Jackson + Haka = Fully Sick!

PERFORMANCE: The Boy in Boy is great. These kiwi kid actors are amazing. (Don't forget Melanie Lynskey of Two Half Men and Anna Paquin of X-Men fame both started as kiwi kid actors and the girl in Whale Rider was amazing. They should release a double feature DVD or even big screen screening of Whale Rider and Boy and call it "boy and girl".)


The auteur (writer/director) Taika is awesome as the dad.

OVERALL: Watch this space - Taika co-wrote and directed Eagle vs Shark, 10 episodes of Flight of the Conchords and now this little gem, more good things to come I'm sure!

MEETSLINE: Baadasssss! meets Whale Rider

FAVOURITE QUOTE: "Maori Smurf"

"Teacher: Now, who knows what disease this sheep has? 

Kingi: AIDS?
Teacher: Not AIDS, you dork!"


"Boy: So what you guys been up to?
Dallas: We are self employed now
Boy: What's your job?
Dallas: Chucking mud at those cows"


"Mr. Langston: People call me a dumb honky all the time. I don't go round punching them.
Boy: Why not?
Mr. Langston: Because they're usually children."

RECOMMENDED ACCOMPANIMENT: Ice block, "pipeweed", beer or 'real milk'

LINKS:

RATING:

4 1/2 out of 5 reels of film.

 Movie Review by A.B. McBlogsmith the Backwards Cap Film Reviewer

(C) Review Flix 2011

Whale Rider

Whale Rider (2002) – Movie Review

Director: Niki Caro

Screenwriter: Niki Caro

Based on the book by: Witi Ihimaera

Producers: John Barnett, Frank Hubner, Tim Sanders

Studio: New Zealand Film Commission

Production Companies: South Pacific Pictures, Apollomedia, Pandora Filmproducktion

Top Billed Cast: Keisha Castle-Hughes, Rawiri Paratene, Vicky Haughton, Cliff Curtis, Grant Roa

LOGLINE: A powerful, spiritual young Maori girl struggles to earn her grandfather-guardian's love and respect after her birth (being a woman) broke the line of chiefs that went all the way back to the begining. 

VIEWING CIRCUMSTANCES: At home, in a single sitting, in my loungeroom with my wife, on a weekend. Part of the New Zealand film fest we're havign in honour of the Rugby World Cup in NZ this month.

FIRST IMPRESSIONS: Wowsers. I'm usually more of an action/comedy/eipc/anything-but-drama kind of guy but this movie, which is pretty much pure drama rocked me! I do have a soft sport for the Haka, even though I'm an Aussie and the Kiwis are are natural enemy, there is a certain level of respect. Without trying to sound condescending, NZ is like Australia's little brother and when they do something kind we (or at least I) feel kinda proud of them. Well in the film and music realms anyway - not in rugby, and certainly not when it's against us!

But there sure are some great films coming out of the little island nation at the moment, Lord of the Rings (my favourite/the greatest film ever), Flight of the Conchords, Eagle vs Shark, Boy and others I'm sure that I haven't sen yet (what's Jane Campion up to? She must have one out...)

STORY: Powerful, heart renching stuff - yes I know, I'm the backwards hat film reviewer, I'm supposed to be cool and into 'regular' (i.e. vacuous) films, but I'm aloud to have a couple of dramas that I did, and besides there are only so many 'regular' films one can watch before you have to turn to other stuff not only to because you're mind might explode from numbness but also because you just ran out of films to watch. Anyway the point is this is a great story. It follows along the mythological pattern of the monomyth/hero's journey pretty strongly, what with the her being of coming-of-age age and quasi-orphaned etc. But it does it really well.

PRODUCTION: Fairly low key, but that was all that was required.

PERFORMANCE: Knock-your-socks-off good, espeically from the twelve year old Keisha Castle-Hughes but really all round. How did they not all win Oscars for their respective roles?

OVERALL: A beauty. Pretty full on, high ups and low downs (but not to messed up). Overall a great flick.

MEETSLINE: The Bible etc meets Maori culture.

FAVOURITE QUOTE: "My name is Paikea Apirana, and I come from a long line of chiefs stretching all the way back to the whale rider. I'm not a prophet, but I know that our people will keep going forward, all together, with all of their strength."

RECOMMENDED ACCOMPANIMENT: Pawa

RATING:

4 1/2 out of 5 reels of film.

Movie Review by A.B. McBlogsmith the Backwards Cap Film Reviewer

(C) Review Flix 2011

Rango

Rango (2011) – Movie Review

Director: Gore Verbinksi

Screenwriter: John Logan, Gore Verbinksi, James Ward Byrkit

Producer/s: John B. Carls, Graham King, Jacqueline M. Lopez, 

Studios: Paramount, Nickelodeon

Production Companies: Blind Wink

Top Billed Cast: Johnny Depp, Isla Fisher, Abigail Breslin, Ned Beatty, Alfred Molina, Bill Nighy, Timothy Olyphant, Ray Winstone

LOGLINE: A quirky lizard actor, starved for attention finds the courage he needs by taking on a character, Rango, when he enters a fringe town in the wild west of modern day animal society. His character is soon promoted to Sheriff and he becomes embroiled in a world of treachery and danger.

VIEWING CIRCUMSTANCES: (Today) At home, on a sick day (a real one, not a 'sicky'), in bed, with my wife, over several few hours with naps and a rugby match in between.

FIRST IMPRESSIONS: Clever, if not a little too self aware. I'm not sure if the screenwriting 101 stuff washed over with 'normal' audiences but I found it a little trite. Other than that though, pretty good.

STORY: Not the most original piece ever, but luckily the characters are interesting enough to carry the day. It borrows heavily from Chinatown and a bunch of Westerns and other films.

PRODUCTION: A great animation, the sunset scenes are gorgeous - very realistic, as are the shots of glass which is used as a symbol throughout to represent Rango's relationship to the world.

PERFORMANCE: Johnny Depp is a very talented actor and really gets to have a bit of a play/stretch his wings here, which I'm sure was as much fun for him as it is for us.

OVERALL: Pretty good, one of my favourite animations for a while (the other being Toy Story 3)

Oh, and I'm feeling better now, thanks for asking.

MEETSLINE: Chinatown meets Gore Verbinski's The Mexican and the entire Spaghetti Western Genre.

FAVOURITE QUOTE: 

RECOMMENDED ACCOMPANIMENT: A big jug of water!

RATING:

3 1/2 out of 5 reels of film.

Movie Review by A.B. McBlogsmith the Backwards Cap Film Reviewer

(C) Review Flix 2011

Star Wars: Episode IV - A New Hope

Star Wars: Episode IV - A New Hope (1977) – Movie Review

Director: George Lucas

Screenwriter: George Lucas

Producers: Gary Kurtz, Rick McCallum

Studio:  20th Century Fox

Production Company: Lucasfilm

Top Billed Cast: Mark Hamill, Harrison Ford, Carrie Fisher, Peter Cushing, Alec Guinness, Anthony Daniels, Kenny Baker, Peter Mayhew, David Prowse, James Earl Jones

LOGLINE: A simple farm boy comes into possession of two important droids and joins a small party together to take them to their rightful owner a galactic princess who's been kidnapped and held prisoner upon the Deathstar, a spaceship the size of a moon.

VIEWING CIRCUMSTANCES: I can't remember but it was probably on free-to-air television as a kid before I promptly fell in love with it and had my parents by the VHS.

FIRST IMPRESSIONS: Before Lord of the Rings came along, this was my all time favourite. To some Star Wars fans this is sacrilege. But why must we fight Kevin Smith? Can't there be two THE Trilogies?

STORY: George Lucas admitted/cited that he was strongly influenced by Joseph Campbell's The Hero with a Thousand Faces, which is a study of mythology (religious 'tales' etc) and the monomyth (the theory that all stories share the same certain stages). This story hits all of those marks and reinvents them for a modern audience, in effect making Star Wars the religion of a generation, which it was for me. Literally, I (along with many others), once put 'Jedi' down as my religion on the Australian Census.


Since this little secret came out The Hero with a Thousand Faces has become a bible for screenwriters.

PRODUCTION: A true breakthrough it what was possible from the medium of film making, George Lucas paved the way for many films and it still stands the test of time over 30 years later!

PERFORMANCE: Great performances all round from who were essentially a bunch of unknowns. It's a pity we haven't seen more of Mark Hamill since in non Sci-Fi/SW related stuff. Same goes for Carrie Fisher actually.

OVERALL: One of the greatest films ever made, it has not only influenced film but wider culture and life.

MEETSLINE: Sci-Fi meets Western and Opera.

FAVOURITE QUOTES:


"A long time ago in a galaxy far, far away"


"May the Force be with you"


"Boring conversation anyway"


"Stormtrooper: Let me see your identification. 
Obi-Wan: [with a small wave of his hand] You don't need to see his identification.
Stormtrooper: We don't need to see his identification.
Obi-Wan: These aren't the droids you're looking for.
Stormtrooper: These aren't the droids we're looking for.
Obi-Wan: He can go about his business.
Stormtrooper: You can go about your business.
Obi-Wan: Move along. Stormtrooper: Move along... move along. "

RECOMMENDED ACCOMPANIMENT: Blue Milkshake.

LINKS: 


Check out my deconstruction of Star Wars: Episode IV - A New Hope here: 

http://filmdeconstructions.blogspot.com/2011/09/star-wars-new-hope.html

RATING:

5 out of 5 reels of film.

Movie Review by A.B. McBlogsmith the Backwards Cap Film Reviewer

(C) Review Flix 2011

The Lord of the Rings - The Return of the King

The Lord of the Rings - The Return of the King (2003) – Movie Review

Director: Peter Jackson

Screenwriters: Fran Walsh, Philippa Boyens and Peter Jackson

Based on the Book by: J.R.R. Tolkien

Producer: Barrie Osborne

Studio: New Line 

Production Companies: WingNut

Top Billed Cast: Elijah Wood, Sean Astin, Ian McKellen, Viggo Mortenson, Andy Serkis, Dominic Monaghan, Billy Boyd, Cate Blanchette, Bernard Hill, David Wenham, Miranda Otto, Karl Urban, Liv Tyler, Karl Urban, Hugo Weaving, John Rhys-Davis, Orlando Bloom, John Noble, Bret McKenzie, Ian Holm, Martin Csokas, Sean Bean, Christopher Lee

LOGLINE: As Frodo, Sam and there ever more unstable Gollum approach Mount Doom, Gandalf, Aragorn, Theoden and others must fight to save Gondor from an army of Orcs and beasts and Nazgul.

VIEWING CIRCUMSTANCES: Originally on opening day with a sold out cinema at 9am with my mum, dad, brother and girlfriend (now wife), after a long line up to ensure god seats. Since then many times on DVD at home and at friends. (I once even watched every single frame of extra footage and commentary for all three of the special edition films, which adds up to well over 100 hours, in just under 2 weeks, whilst I was studying for uni exams)

FIRST IMPRESSIONS: Epic Climax to the greatest story ever told made into the greatest film series ever made.

STORY: Such scope and such detail. Such a great film! And for those that don't like the multiple endings, tough titties! It is aloud at least three and is it is ending three films.

PRODUCTION: Peter Jackson took his already breakthrough techniques to another leven of quality and quantity with this installment.

PERFORMANCE: All brilliant, business as usual on the LOTR set.

OVERALL: I watch FOTR more than ROTK which I watch more than TTT, but really the best way to watch them is to watch the extended editions back to back or at least on sequential nights.

MEETSLINE: Lord of the Rings meets Awesomeness

FAVOURITE QUOTES:
"My lords, you bow to noone"


"I am no man"


"Share the load"


"My Precious"

RECOMMENDED ACCOMPANIMENT: Cherry tomatoes!

LINKS: 

Check out my review of LOTR FOTR here:
http://reviewflix.blogspot.com/2011/09/lord-of-rings-fellowship-of-ring.html

Check out my review of LOTR TTT here:
http://reviewflix.blogspot.com/2011/09/lord-of-rings-two-towers.html

Check out my deconstruction of LOTR FOTR here:
http://filmdeconstructions.blogspot.com/2011/09/lord-of-rings-fellowship-of-ring.html

RATING:

5 out of 5 reels of film.

Movie Review by A.B. McBlogsmith the Backwards Cap Film Reviewer

(C) Review Flix 2011