Movie Review: The Great Gatsby (2013)

The most recent adaptation of F. Scott Fitzgerald's classic "The Great Gatsby" stars Leonardo DiCaprio as Jay Gatsby, Tobby Maguire as Nick Carraway, and Carey Mulligan as Daisy Buchanan.  This classic tale is narrated by Maguire's character, Nick, who finds himself entwined with his wealthy and mysterious neighbor, Gatsby.  Nick becomes involved in engineering the re-meeting of his new friend and his married cousin, Daisy.  The film follows the life of these characters interacting during one summer of the Roaring Twenties in the New York area (the fictional West Egg and East Egg).

This film is breathtaking to watch as it's a visual treat to see Gatsby's over-the-top glittering parties come to life and the costumes are amazing.  The soundtrack is interesting as it's contemporary rather than period though it's not a choice that will win over all audiences.  Not everyone is interested in Jay-Z's music playing in a film set in the 20's.  Overall it's more style than substance but there are some interesting performances here.  Joel Edgerton is good as Tom Buchanan, Daisy's husband, and I liked Isla Fisher as Myrtle.  As for the lead roles, I did like DiCaprio but Maguire was a bit dull and Mulligan is okay but no depth.

It's beautiful but lacks the passion and heart that would've made this great.  Pass if you don't like rap with your flappers - C+

Movie Review: Oranges and Sunshine (2010)

"Oranges and Sunshine" is based on a true story of the work of Margaret Humphreys, a social worker in the UK.  Margaret discovers a deportation scandal where British children were relocated to Australia and Canada.  Deported children were promised oranges and sunshine but often found hard labor, abuse, and long years separated from their families.  Margaret works to bring attention to the issue and attempt to reunite families though she is often at personal peril and must be separated from her own family.

This is a difficult film to watch at times, but it's an important story to tell.  The film does an admirable job telling the story but at times it's difficult to follow due to the accents of the actors (there was no subtitles available on my DVD).   It's not too hard to grasp the overall intent of the film and follow though but subtitles would definitely make this film a bit more user-friendly.

Good story but a bit difficult to follow due to accents - B

Movie Review: The Secret Life of Walter Mitty (2013)

"The Secret Life of Walter Mitty" is the 2nd adaptation of the short-story with the same name by James Thurber.  Walter (Ben Stiller) leads a very uneventful life though he frequently lapses into quite vivid and exciting daydreams, which often feature his office crush Cheryl (Kristen Wiig).  Major changes at the magazine "Life," where Walter is the long-term employee in charge of photographs, throw Walter's life in turmoil especially when it appears that he has lost the negative that will be the magazine's final cover.  Walter decides to track down the globe-trotting photographer, Sean (Sean Penn), in search for the missing negative.

Having read Thurber's story years ago, I watched this film with some expectations.  Overall I thought the film gives a good try at bringing the story to the big-screen with a lot of exciting visuals and beautiful scenery.  I also liked how Walter's loved ones and Cheryl in the film treat him given his obvious zoning out.   Adam Scott, who plays Walter's boss/bad guy, makes the most of his role as the foil.  However, I didn't like how disjointed the film feels - there seems to be a pull towards action, drama, romance, and comedy all within the film and the result is that there are moments and key scenes that feel really out of place. Also there is a lot of product placement within the film and this also adds to the disjointed feeling particularly when the characters seem to go out of their way to mention a product (ahem, Papa John's and e-Harmony).

Overall, there's not the charm or bite from the original story in the film and the commercial feel to it and disjointed writing/directing distract from some beautiful scenery - B-.

Movie Review: Ain't Them Bodies Saints (2013)

"Ain't Them Bodies Saints" is a romance/drama focusing on a pair of young lovers, Bob (Casey Affleck) and Ruth (Rooney Mara), in 1970's Texas.  When the film begins Bob, Ruth, and a friend are in a shootout with the police.  The result is that the friend dies and Bob takes the blame for shooting a policeman, which was really a pregnant Ruth.   Bob goes to prison for the crime while Ruth vows to wait for him and has the baby alone.  Years later Bob breaks out of prison and is on the run hoping to reunite with his family.  Meanwhile, Ruth is a single mother of a toddler and has become friendly a police officer involved in the shootout.

While not a flashy film, "Saints" is a solid drama with good acting, directing, writing, and editing.  I really liked Mara in the lead role here.  She shined as the outlaw turned devoted single mother and there's a real depth to her character.  Ruth is clearly torn between the life she leads with her daughter and the deep love she shares with Bob.  Affleck is strong in his part, as the outlaw determined to be with his family no matter what, but look for smaller supporting roles from Keith Carradine and Nate Parker too.  I really liked the comparison in the film between Bob and Ruth in terms of their perspectives on their criminal past and the theme of finding rest or respite.  Overall I think this is a touching film and is well-done though not a flashy film.

Don't overlook this one for a solid romantic drama - B+