Movie Reviews:Edward Norton Marathon
I may have mentioned that I still don’t have access to internet in my own apartment earlier. So basically what I do these days is go to school for a couple hours of practice and during that time torrent some movies to watch when I get home at night, hence the entry on Confessions.
After Confessions I downloaded The Illusionist and then I decided I miss seeing Edward Norton’s handsome face so why not do a movie marathon on him like I did with Matsuken? With that, I nabbed Fight Club and Keeping the Faith. There were raving reviews of American History X but after seeing the synopsis and the central theme, I decided it’s not for me. Same with 25th Hour and Leaves of Grass. They’re just way too Western/American. I’m probably going to download Primal Fear since it’s a detective mystery with psychological detailing.
It really makes me sad that there aren’t too many memorable movies that Norton has starred in unlike Leonardo di Caprio or Johnny Depp(ok he’s nailed every single portrayal so it’s fair)and it’s the same case with Kenichi Matsuyama. They’re actually similar in the way they both carry an unusual air and both perfectionists. It’s so unfortunate because they’re two great talents and yet they’ve played in mostly films or characters in good films that most people have just passed by. Some productions Matsuken acted in were honestly complete shit. And the only thing he’s known for is being L in Death Note. But honestly, as remarkable of a character L is, there’s not much acting in there since there aren’t many dimensions to him, being created from a manga. There’s so much more Matsuken could offer. K, I’ll stop ranting about him haha. Let’s get onto the Ed Norton movies.
I think 2006 was a really good year for Norton. Not because it was a year of romantic film for him, but that he played two characters that manifested the most natural elegance in him as a person. Personally, Painted Veil is a little too subtle of a film for me. It has meaning but too modest of a story that it would’ve been better read as a book than seen as a movie. You can’t make a movie without a little mind fuck in the end.
The Illusionist, on the other hand, was droolfest for me. I think I’ve seen pieces of it but never the whole thing. Anyway, now that I have, HOLY FUCK I totally buy this romantic mystery shit! I mean, it’s set in Vienna(!!), people wearing top hats with walking sticks and theatres and Edward Norton with a beard and brushed back dark, curly hair - is there anything more awesome than that??! I even watched it twice and cried(well, almost) the first time, lol. I could probably watch it a couple more times. I’m not a fan of Jessica Biel but I have to say, they are a really matching pair, at least in the movie - more than the actress who played Kitty in Painted Veil. I loved their dialogue in the carriage. I mean, there weren’t many lines, but every word was spoken with tremendous allure. Most importantly, I love everything about Eisenheim. I know he’s more of a fairytale character without much of a personality, but the whole idea of him is so fantastical - a magician-turned-craftsman with the air of an intellect who has travelled the world and solved its great mysteries. In his youth, he fails Sophie because he isn’t able to make them disappear and then at the end, he is able to do so. He is not only able to save Sophie from a miserable fate but also prevent a great political upheaval. The music was also very moving even though it was just repeated intervals(well, composers typically use that effect for motion music). It is a beautiful production. Did the same trick Disney does without being… Disney.
Fight Club is… an entirely different kind of story. It’s actually quite bloody now that I think about it. But just like Confessions, you know that there’s a bigger purpose behind the picture so you don’t focus on how nasty it actually is. I hate to be annoying but there’s no way someone can get beaten severely every single week and not become disable and even more so shoot himself in the head but survive. But there’s no doubt the movie delivers a huge message about what society has become in what is to be the 21st century - having been produced just before the turn of the century.
It begins with the popular theme of the mundane life of a young nine to five professional. It’s so mundane that it causes him health issues which then unravel a giant confusion. What’s cool is that up until when the protagonist starts having identity crisis, I never realized that he never announced his name so even the audience doesn’t know who he really is. But throughout the film, he calls himself Jack the Single Serving Friend, Jack the Reject, Jack’s Smirking Revenge etc… though I think it is just a reference. He defines himself with the kinds of furniture he owns. After he meets Tyler, he refers to himself as “clever guy” and calls himself a 30 year old baby - and interestingly, that’s precisely what he is though I think his dilemma was deeply rooted in his past of raised from a broken family. But again, the movie really isn’t about him. The movie is about the idea of him and the idea of Tyler. This is why he never had a name/identity. I’m cool with all that except Edward Norton would never want to be Brad Pitt, thank you. Just no.
And then there’s Marla Singer. For the entire movie I thought she actually used to be a singer until I found out it was just her last name. I think she is the worst romantic element that can ever be in a movie. You never find out when or why the chemistry started happening. They basically had sex by mistake, with one person completely unaware of doing it. However, I love it. She’s literally the female counterpart of the main character. At first you’d think she’s the most messed up person but eventually you find out she’s still not quite as messed up as him. I believe she also suffers from psychological disorders because of a past, but in her case it was probably sexual abuse. I never had respect for her until she compared the protagonist with Dr. Jekyll. And goddamn I love Helena Carter’s acting. She always plays every single role to perfection. She is a real actress. But thank goodness there weren’t much romantic action between her and Edward Norton because I’d literally throw up at my laptop screen.
Finally, there was a nice little twist at the end but maybe because it’s 2012 and I’ve seen/read lots of things with a similar agenda that it’s kind of old news already.
Then there’s Keeping the Faith. Why oh why did I trust the reviews… This was the worst an hour and a half of torrenting I’ve ever wasted. I totally take back what I said about the romantic element in Fight Club. This movie has the worst romantic element, and it’s a romantic comedy. The only reason why I could possibly have a tiny bit of respect for it is that Edward Norton himself directed it. But I have to make some things clear. First of all, it’s clear that no one in their right minds would choose Ben Stiller over Ed. That’s not even a question. Just wanna get that out of the way. Ok, maybe Ben Stiller’s wife would say otherwise, but if she had that exact choice…we never know. Second of all, there is no way anybody could be as perfect as Brian(portrayed by Ed Norton). That character is too surreal. Even if he’s a priest, there’s no way he can get over a best friend stealing the only love of his life in just a couple of days and share the happy ending with them. On top of that, everybody seems to want the self-problematic rabbi rather than the selfless priest - I think I’m gonna have a heart attack. Third and most importantly, the whole romantic plot doesn’t make any sense at all. Jake is initially supposed to get together with Rachel Rose, a perfectly attractive and nice woman who is already waiting for him. (By the way, Rena Sofer is much hotter than Jenna Elfman.) He then spontaneously goes to Anna’s apartment and sleeps with her. And then they fall in love. The fuck? The only difference between the rabbi and the priest then is that the priest can’t have sex. If it’d been Brian who knocked on her door, she would’ve slept with him the same. Come on, at least give a precursor of some seedling of love somewhere. The reason can’t only be that they had good sex. That’s not good enough in the real world. Sorry Ed, it’s a thumbs-down.
And now I’ve watched Primal Fear. It wasn’t the movie I expected. I think I remembered the wrong movie. Well fml then. It wasn’t too bad although I did speed through it… I was hoping Ed would take a lead part but he didn’t. The whole thing was about Martin(played by Richard Gere) getting mindfucked. It was all his character development. But I finally see Ed playing a villain, although I still don’t see his character a villain. Guilty or not it still doesn’t change the fact that Aaron(played by Ed) has a history of abuse from everybody important to him. In the end, he’s still a victim. Ed’s devil eyes are so adorable. Honestly, it’s just like a quick lightning bolt from a sunny day - unexpected, but the cool kind of unpredictability. It doesn’t make him hateful. Now THIS movie does a realistic portrayal of a priest. Archbishop. Even better. No faith or responsibility can take away human nature. Humans will always break a rule. It’s how you break it that matters. If he just slept with a lover it would’ve been perfectly understandable, but exploiting helpless innocents to deal with it is disgraceful. So it is fair. Although the movie ends with a nasty twist, I still think it’s a good ending. That’s the way things should’ve been.
Ugh, school’s starting. I’ll have to spend my evening hours studying instead of blogging and watching movies.