Sunday, June 23, 2013

Movie Review: Lola Versus (2012)

"Lola Versus" is an independent film starring Greta Gerwig as Lola, whose life is turned upside down after her long-time boyfriend turned fiance breaks off their engagement.  Suddenly Lola is single for the first time in a long time and she struggles to find her way.

This film is promoted as a comedy but I really think it's more of a female-centered drama.  There are humorous parts, but I caution that the humor is very generational.  Some viewers will definitely be left scratching their heads.  I liked Gerwig in the title role as the very confused and self-involved Lola.  Zoe Lister-Jones is great in a supporting role as Alice, one of Lola's friends.  Look for Debra Winger in a small part playing Lola's mother.

I liked this film but I understand some of the mixed reviews.  I think billing it as a "comedy" was a mistake.  It's very much a drama with a touch of humor.  This one is not for everyone - solid B.

Tuesday, June 18, 2013

Movie Review: The Sessions (2012)

"The Sessions" is a drama based on the writings of Mark O'Brian (played by John Hawkes), who was a writer/poet paralyzed from the neck down due to polio.  O'Brian lives in an iron lung and relies on caretakers to help him with his basic needs.  His condition precludes him from experiencing sex so O'Brian hires sex surrogate Cheryl (Helen Hunt) after discussing the situation with his priest (played by William C. Macy).  Despite Cheryl limiting their contact to just six sessions together, she and O'Brian experience feelings for each other as O'Brian explores the physical side of himself for the first time.

I went into watching this film already a fan of John Hawkes from his work in "Winter's Bone" but was still amazed as his performance in this film.  He is truly a remarkable and gifted actor.  He apparently put a lot of thought into how he would physically bring O'Brian to life in the film and it shows.  I was really moved by his performance.  I liked Helen Hunt a lot in this film as well.  She brought a lot of depth to her character and was fearless in her performance.  This film handled the subject matter really well.  It's a movie on the surface with a lot of sexual content and nudity but watching it I wasn't distracted or overwhelmed but rather I was moved to tears at the emotional content.

Amazing acting in this one - watch it and be moved.  Solid A.

Monday, June 17, 2013

Movie Review: Silver Linings Playbook (2012)

"Silver Lining Playbook" is the story of Pat (Bradly Cooper) who has bipolar disorder and is released from a psychiatric institution to live with his parents (Robert De Niro and Jacki Weaver).  Pat wants to win back his estranged wife, who has a restraining order against him after a violent episode that is the cause of him being in the institution.  Pat meets Tiffany (Jennifer Lawrence), who is a friend's sister-in-law and is troubled with her husband's death.  Tiffany offers to help Pat communicate with Nikki if he helps her by being her partner in a dance competition.

First of all, I think the subject matter, mental illness, was handled very well in this film.  I haven't read the book so all I can judge is the film adaptation but I just thought the film did an excellent job of showing how Pat's bipolar disorder effected him, his family, and others around him.  Secondly, I thought the acting in this film was top-notch from Cooper in the lead to Lawrence, De Niro, and Weaver.  Also look for Chris Tucker playing a small but effective role as Pat's friend from the psychiatric institution.

The film is a little heavy at times due to the subject matter, but I think it's a well-told story with great acting so be sure not to miss this one.  Solid A.

Movie Review: Lincoln (2012)

"Lincoln" is Steven Spielburg's historical drama covering four months of President Abraham Lincoln's life with the focus on his efforts to pass the Thirteenth Amendment.  Daniel Day Lewis stars as President Lincoln who is concerned that the impending end of the Civil War will end his efforts to end slavery through constitutional amendment.  Sally Fields co-stars as First Lady Mary Todd Lincoln and Tommy Lee Jones costars as Republican Congressman Thaddeus Stevens, a fierce abolitionist.

There's so much that I liked about this film but I have to begin with the lead actor, Daniel Day Lewis, who really embodied President Lincoln and brought him to life.  Great performance.  I liked Sally Fields but was blown away with Tommy Lee Jones.  He was really great especially in several key scenes.  Look for a small appearance by Joseph Gordon-Levitt as Robert Todd Lincoln, the President's eldest son.  Overall I thought the direction, costuming, and cinematography were great as history was really brought to life.  My only quibble is that the film really felt long as if it could have ended several times before it actually did.  I'm sure there was so much material that it was difficult to edit down but I felt like I was watching a film that could have been made into a two-part mini-series.

Great acting though it felt a bit long-winded - A-

Movie Review: Hope Springs (2012)

"Hope Springs" is a romantic drama starring Meryl Streep and Tommy Lee Jones as a married couple, Kay and Arnold, who have lost the spark in their marriage.  Kay decides they need to attend an intensive couples retreat in a small coastal Maine town run by Dr. Bernie Feld (played by Steve Carell).  Arnold is hesitant to attend the retreat and even more hesitant about Dr. Bernie's plans for treatment.

I have to say I was a little surprised by this movie.  I thought it would be more of a comedy especially with Steve Carell in it but it really was more of a thoughtful film about grown-up love.  Rather than going for laughs or glossing over the couple's problems the film is much more realistic and raw.  We see Kay's loneliness in her marriage and her longing for a more tender relationship with her husband.  We also see Arnold's stubborn resistance and later him wanting to try to make Kay happy.  Both Streep and Jones had very honest portrayals in this film and good chemistry together.  I even liked Carell in this role though it's a different one than his usual.  Only thing I really disliked was the soundtrack which was mainstream pop tunes played throughout the film.  It was a bit much and kind of distracting from the acting at times.

Don't expect a comedy with this one but rather a thoughtful, well-acted drama about love that has lost its spark - B

Wednesday, June 12, 2013

Movie Review: Life of Pi (2012)

"Life of Pi" is the film adaptation of the novel by the same name by Yann Martel.  Yang Lee directed the adaptation which is essentially the story of a shipwrecked 16 year-old boy named Pi.  Pi survives living on a lifeboat on the Pacific Ocean with a Bengal tiger named Richard Parker for 227 days.  The film is an adult Pi recounting his story to a novelist who is looking for material that would make a good book.

It's often difficult to take a fantastic novel filled with imagery such as "Life of Pi" and translate that into a film that does the written work justice.  I feel that this film succeeds where so many have failed.  The film is a combination of live-action and computer animation but it comes off beautifully and I feel that the film does justice to the novel.  Beautifully told visually and through direction, this film delivers.

Finally a book adaptation that does the job - solid A

Monday, June 10, 2013

Movie Review: Safety Not Guaranteed (2012)

"Safety Not Guaranteed" is an indie about a disillusioned intern at a magazine named Darius (Aubrey Plaza), who is asked to assist one of the magazine's writers, Jeff (Jake Johnson) investigate a mysterious newspaper ad asking for a companion to travel back in time.  Jeff, Darius, and another intern (Karan Soni) travel to a seaside town and attempt to make contact with the person behind the ad, who turns out to be Kenneth (Mark Duplass), a grocery store clerk.  Kenneth is turned off by Jeff's direct approach so Jeff sends Darius in to befriend Kenneth, gain his trust, and get the story.

There's so much to like about this quirky little film.  First, the story and dialogue are great.  No dragging here - the story flows.  Second, Plaza and Duplass were great in their roles and had good chemistry.  Both of their characters were well-developed and I felt like as a viewer I felt for them.  Third, I really like Johnson is this supporting role as he added a lot of levity to the film.   Watch for a small cameo by Kristen Bell as Duplass' character's former flame.

Overall I thought this was a well-written and well-acted quirky little drama/comedy.  Take a chance on this one if you like small films - A-

Sunday, June 9, 2013

Movie Review: Red Lights (2012)

"Red Lights" follows two academics, Margaret (Sigourney Weaver) and Tom (Cillian Murphy), who study the paranormal but their specialty is debunking supernatural phenomena.  Despite Margaret's warnings Tom becomes obsessed with investigating a popular psychic, Simon Silver (Robert DeNiro), who begins making public appearances after a 30-year retirement that coincided with his greatest critic's mysterious death.

This film has a really strong cast - Weaver, Murphy, and DeNiro are solid plus there's supporting performances by Joely Richardson and Elizabeth Olsen.  Murphy is especially stand-out in this role.  The script has weak moments as the story starts off well, then kind of gets stuck in a rut in the middle, and then attempts to recover at the end.  Personally I was okay with the ending but I can see where some wouldn't find it satisfying.  I think the bogged-down parts of the film and an ending that might be a turn-off is where many reviewers got turned off on this film.

This film deserves a bigger audience than it's gotten but it's not for everyone.  You've got to ride through the whole film, weak moments and all, to get to the big twist at the end.  B for me.


Movie Review: A Late Quartet (2012)

"A Late Quartet" is a drama centering on four musicians, who have played together successfully as a group for 25 years.  The group struggles to stay together when the eldest member cellist Peter (Christopher Walken) announces a health issue that threatens the group.   Viola player Juliette (Catherine Keener) finds herself between the other two members: first violinist Daniel (Mark Ivanier) and second violinist/her husband Robert (Philip Seymour Hoffman) when issues of ego and lust disrupt the quartet's harmony.

I found this film to be an in-depth character study of this small group of musicians with more of a "soapy" feel than a focus on music.  There's definitely drama among the group members when Walken's character makes an announcement that threatens the future of the group and awakens deep-seated issues arise among the characters.  It's interesting to look at the very tender balance that exists within groups, particularly artists, where the individuals give up solo glory for the good of the group. The cast is stacked with power and talent making this a treat to watch.  The direction was also very good.

Again, the focus is not on music so much as it is on relationships among the quartet members.  Watch this one for the well-developed and well-acted drama not for the music.  B+