Cinema Update!
Get ready friends, it is Oscar season! We’ve made it through the dumping grounds of October, and it is now time for the best of the year to surface in preparation for the Oscars. Right now, the films the studios have been saving all year are riding a wave into theaters and include such anticipated films as The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, Changeling, Doubt, Frost/Nixon, Revolutionary Road, The Reader, The Wrester, Gran Torino, Australia and Slumdog Millionaire. Be excited! This is the best time of the year for the theater.
Anyways, as I promised, the latest cinema update!
A quick summary for lazy readers:
AUSTRALIA: B-/C+ (filmyness), B+ (enjoyability)
SLUMDOG MILLIONAIRE: A (filmyness), A+ (enjoyability)
CHANGELING: A/A- (filmyness), A (enjoyability)
I went to Australia on Friday, Slumdog Millionaire for the second time this week Saturday, and The Changeling today. So let’s start with Australia…
AUSTRALIA
Dir. Baz Luhrmann (Moulin Rouge, Romeo + Juliet), Starring Hugh Jackman and Nicole Kidman
TRAILER LINK
Australia is definitely a unique film that has its ups and downs. After seeing the trailer many times, I was psyched for a serious drama about 1940s Australia. However, the first 30 minutes of the film were unexpected- is this a drama? Is it a comedy? Is it a fairy tale? Is it a western? At 2 hours and 45 minutes, the film has its fair share of time to develop and its just as well because this movie is one that takes a while to find its legs. The first 30 minutes or so are deceptively bad. In retrospect, it almost seems like a different director and crew created them, but once the film settles down, it’s obvious that it is definitely worth the ride. Variety writer Todd McCarthy put it best- it’s “like a Rolls-Royce on a rocky country road, it's full of bounces and lurches, but you can't really complain about the seat.”
Australia stars Nicole Kidman and Hugh Jackman and is directed by Baz Luhrmann, director of Moulin Rouge and Romeo + Juliet. In tradition of his other films, this movie is epic and visually stunning. With a $150 million budget, Luhrmann goes to all ends to create this dramatic war romance about the conflict between politics, Australian ranchers, and the aborigines. When Kidman’s husband suddenly dies, she inherits his Australian pet ranch as well as its cast of workers, including Jackman, a cattle driver, and several aborigines. The film follows its characters from the ranch to the never lands to Darwin to outlying islands and back. By the end, it has evolved from being discombobulated and awkward to being worthwhile and engaging. I recommend it- as long as you can accept that it is far from perfect. On the whole it's a fun movie with visually stunning landscape (and manscape haha that would be Hugh Jackman).
B-/C+ (filmyness), B+ (enjoyability)
Now let me interrupt this blog to say STOP what you’re doing right now. Turn off the TV, call up the babysitter and get in the car because the only logical thing for you to do is to go see Slumdog Millionaire. I’m completely serious. It is definitely the best movie I’ve seen all year and probably the best I’ve seen in a few. I’ve seen it twice in the last week, and that’s saying a lot considering how little I’ve been going to movies this last month and how picky I am, being a film major.
Slumdog Millionaire
Dir. Danny Boyle (Trainspotting), Starring Dev Patel and Freida Pinto
TRAILER LINK
Slumdog Millionaire is the gold ticket low-budget Indie of the year. The film is centered on one young guy’s game of Who Wants to Be a Millionaire? When I first heard the premise, I thought, that’s the stupidest thing in the world. Why would I pay to see a movie about Who Wants to Be a Millionaire when I could watch it on TV, and why would they make a movie about it to begin with? However, it turns out that it is a super creative story-telling device.
After he is taken into custody for supposedly cheating on Who Wants to Be A Millionaire in India, Jamal Malik (Patel) tries to prove his innocence by demonstrating that he really did know all of the answers- every step in his life is a clue. Soon it becomes evident that Jamal is not interested in the money- though he grew up in the slums and has a pitiful job- and what he really wants is for the love of his life to see him on the show and come find him. This movie is a thrilling tale of persistence and triumph despite growing up in one of the poorest slums in India. I think the real critics can put it better than I can:
"One of the year's best films. What I feel for this film isn't just admiration- it's mad love" - Peter Travers, Rolling Stone
"A bouyant hymn to life, and a movie to celebrate" - Richard Corliss, Time
I think Richard Corliss got it exaclty right- "a bouyant hymn to life." Of all the thousands of movies I've ever seen, I can't think of any other film that is so full of life, which is why it struck me as such a beautiful and trilling cinematic experience. By the end of the film, I was so invested in the characters' stories that it left me reeling for days. It's not often that you get such a high off the movies- but that's certainly what keeps me going back. You watch a lot of crappy movies to find a diamond in the rough like this, but boy is it worth it. I've seen it twice already and I know I'll be back soon!
I recommend the hell out of this movie- unfortuantely it is only on limited release (it's a low budget indie), but hopefully it will be to a theater near you soon.
A (filmyness), A+ (enjoyability)
And finally... on a more serious note,
CHANGELING
Dir. Clint Eastwood (Million Dollar Baby, Mystic River, Flags of Our Fathers), Starring Angelina Jolie
TRAILER LINK
Well, I finally made it out to see Changeling and boy was it worth it! I mentioned that Slumdog was the best movie I've seen so far this year- Changeling is definitely the second best film I've seen all year. I imagine it's hard to go wrong when you're dealing with Clint Eastwood and Angelina Jolie- and finally! A movie in which I don't despise John Malkovitch!
There is only one word for this movie- gripping. The true story recounts Christine Collins's tragic dealings with the corrupt LA Police Department. On March 10, 1928, Collins returned home to find her 9 year old son Walter gone without a trace. She immediately reports his disappearance to the police, and months after their neglect of the problem, they call her up and tell her they found her son in Illinois. However, she immediately recognizes that it is not her son. He is several inches shorter, circumcized and his dental records don't match her sons. The police insist that this boy is her son, but after she incessantly fights them, they throw her in a mental institution and declare her insane. The movie is about her struggle to find her son, the crime resulting in her son's disapperance, and the fight agains the LAPD's corruption.
Though long, this movie kept my interest until the very end. A beautiful period piece, excellent acting, excellent writing (apparently they didn't rewrite the screenwriter's original screenplay, which is basically a first in history- that shows how good it is)- it's really a great movie. I'd say more, but I don't want to spoil it. I highly recommend this movie- it's a great crime/thriller and I really sympathized with the characters. It's definitely one of the best movies of the year.
A/A- (filmyness), A (enjoyability)
On the whole... these are three kick-ass movies and I recommend all of them! Though not the best of the year Australia was fun. Slumdog Millionaire was definitely the best film I've seen so far, and Changeling would be the second best. Interesting that all three movies have awesome soundtracks. HIGH RECOMMENDATION! If I had the time and moolah to see each many times in the theater I probably would.
More later... I'm gonna try to go see two movies this weekend. Milk and Rachel Getting Married possibly. We'll see.
Anyways, as I promised, the latest cinema update!
A quick summary for lazy readers:
AUSTRALIA: B-/C+ (filmyness), B+ (enjoyability)
SLUMDOG MILLIONAIRE: A (filmyness), A+ (enjoyability)
CHANGELING: A/A- (filmyness), A (enjoyability)
I went to Australia on Friday, Slumdog Millionaire for the second time this week Saturday, and The Changeling today. So let’s start with Australia…
AUSTRALIA
Dir. Baz Luhrmann (Moulin Rouge, Romeo + Juliet), Starring Hugh Jackman and Nicole Kidman
TRAILER LINK
Australia is definitely a unique film that has its ups and downs. After seeing the trailer many times, I was psyched for a serious drama about 1940s Australia. However, the first 30 minutes of the film were unexpected- is this a drama? Is it a comedy? Is it a fairy tale? Is it a western? At 2 hours and 45 minutes, the film has its fair share of time to develop and its just as well because this movie is one that takes a while to find its legs. The first 30 minutes or so are deceptively bad. In retrospect, it almost seems like a different director and crew created them, but once the film settles down, it’s obvious that it is definitely worth the ride. Variety writer Todd McCarthy put it best- it’s “like a Rolls-Royce on a rocky country road, it's full of bounces and lurches, but you can't really complain about the seat.”
Australia stars Nicole Kidman and Hugh Jackman and is directed by Baz Luhrmann, director of Moulin Rouge and Romeo + Juliet. In tradition of his other films, this movie is epic and visually stunning. With a $150 million budget, Luhrmann goes to all ends to create this dramatic war romance about the conflict between politics, Australian ranchers, and the aborigines. When Kidman’s husband suddenly dies, she inherits his Australian pet ranch as well as its cast of workers, including Jackman, a cattle driver, and several aborigines. The film follows its characters from the ranch to the never lands to Darwin to outlying islands and back. By the end, it has evolved from being discombobulated and awkward to being worthwhile and engaging. I recommend it- as long as you can accept that it is far from perfect. On the whole it's a fun movie with visually stunning landscape (and manscape haha that would be Hugh Jackman).
B-/C+ (filmyness), B+ (enjoyability)
Now let me interrupt this blog to say STOP what you’re doing right now. Turn off the TV, call up the babysitter and get in the car because the only logical thing for you to do is to go see Slumdog Millionaire. I’m completely serious. It is definitely the best movie I’ve seen all year and probably the best I’ve seen in a few. I’ve seen it twice in the last week, and that’s saying a lot considering how little I’ve been going to movies this last month and how picky I am, being a film major.
Slumdog Millionaire
Dir. Danny Boyle (Trainspotting), Starring Dev Patel and Freida Pinto
TRAILER LINK
Slumdog Millionaire is the gold ticket low-budget Indie of the year. The film is centered on one young guy’s game of Who Wants to Be a Millionaire? When I first heard the premise, I thought, that’s the stupidest thing in the world. Why would I pay to see a movie about Who Wants to Be a Millionaire when I could watch it on TV, and why would they make a movie about it to begin with? However, it turns out that it is a super creative story-telling device.
After he is taken into custody for supposedly cheating on Who Wants to Be A Millionaire in India, Jamal Malik (Patel) tries to prove his innocence by demonstrating that he really did know all of the answers- every step in his life is a clue. Soon it becomes evident that Jamal is not interested in the money- though he grew up in the slums and has a pitiful job- and what he really wants is for the love of his life to see him on the show and come find him. This movie is a thrilling tale of persistence and triumph despite growing up in one of the poorest slums in India. I think the real critics can put it better than I can:
"One of the year's best films. What I feel for this film isn't just admiration- it's mad love" - Peter Travers, Rolling Stone
"A bouyant hymn to life, and a movie to celebrate" - Richard Corliss, Time
I think Richard Corliss got it exaclty right- "a bouyant hymn to life." Of all the thousands of movies I've ever seen, I can't think of any other film that is so full of life, which is why it struck me as such a beautiful and trilling cinematic experience. By the end of the film, I was so invested in the characters' stories that it left me reeling for days. It's not often that you get such a high off the movies- but that's certainly what keeps me going back. You watch a lot of crappy movies to find a diamond in the rough like this, but boy is it worth it. I've seen it twice already and I know I'll be back soon!
I recommend the hell out of this movie- unfortuantely it is only on limited release (it's a low budget indie), but hopefully it will be to a theater near you soon.
A (filmyness), A+ (enjoyability)
And finally... on a more serious note,
CHANGELING
Dir. Clint Eastwood (Million Dollar Baby, Mystic River, Flags of Our Fathers), Starring Angelina Jolie
TRAILER LINK
Well, I finally made it out to see Changeling and boy was it worth it! I mentioned that Slumdog was the best movie I've seen so far this year- Changeling is definitely the second best film I've seen all year. I imagine it's hard to go wrong when you're dealing with Clint Eastwood and Angelina Jolie- and finally! A movie in which I don't despise John Malkovitch!
There is only one word for this movie- gripping. The true story recounts Christine Collins's tragic dealings with the corrupt LA Police Department. On March 10, 1928, Collins returned home to find her 9 year old son Walter gone without a trace. She immediately reports his disappearance to the police, and months after their neglect of the problem, they call her up and tell her they found her son in Illinois. However, she immediately recognizes that it is not her son. He is several inches shorter, circumcized and his dental records don't match her sons. The police insist that this boy is her son, but after she incessantly fights them, they throw her in a mental institution and declare her insane. The movie is about her struggle to find her son, the crime resulting in her son's disapperance, and the fight agains the LAPD's corruption.
Though long, this movie kept my interest until the very end. A beautiful period piece, excellent acting, excellent writing (apparently they didn't rewrite the screenwriter's original screenplay, which is basically a first in history- that shows how good it is)- it's really a great movie. I'd say more, but I don't want to spoil it. I highly recommend this movie- it's a great crime/thriller and I really sympathized with the characters. It's definitely one of the best movies of the year.
A/A- (filmyness), A (enjoyability)
On the whole... these are three kick-ass movies and I recommend all of them! Though not the best of the year Australia was fun. Slumdog Millionaire was definitely the best film I've seen so far, and Changeling would be the second best. Interesting that all three movies have awesome soundtracks. HIGH RECOMMENDATION! If I had the time and moolah to see each many times in the theater I probably would.
More later... I'm gonna try to go see two movies this weekend. Milk and Rachel Getting Married possibly. We'll see.