Nov 4: Red Lights

"Psychologist Margaret Matheson and her assistant study paranormal activity, which leads them to investigate a world-renowned psychic who has resurfaced years after his toughest critic mysteriously passed away."

Directed by: Rodrigo Cortes, Rated: R, 113 minutes

For those of you who have been reading this blog from the start, you know how big of a fan I am of Rodrigo Cortes' 2010 masterpiece, Buried. It's a film that proved to be incredible on both technical aspects and on how to craft a story. Well, Cortes' followup, Red Lights, doesn't have the wow factor of buried, nor is it really an experiment in filmmaker. It is, however, a well-crafted thriller that has plenty of things going for it. Unfortunately, in contrast, there are a handful of things to dislike about the film, such as a rather weak second act that leaves the movie stumbling onward towards its conclusion.

I still stand by Ryan Reynolds and feel he was completely overlooked for the Oscars in 2011. 

The film's introduction is incredibly engaging. Sigourney Weaver plays Margaret Matheson, a psychologist who makes a living off of proving the illegitimacy of so-called "psychics" that scam their audiences into believing what they do is real. Her assistant, Tom Buckley (Cillian Murphy) is a genius physicist but refuses to teach in his field, because of his loyalty to Margaret and the fact he finds what they do incredibly interesting. When retired all-star psychic, Simon Silver (Robert DeNiro), decides to get back into the game years after an accident, the world turns its focus upon the man, as do Tom and Margaret. A shroud of mystery surrounds Silver and Tom struggles to find out how he manages to seemingly read minds, bend spoons, and do all sorts of psychic things. As the secrets begin to unravel, Tom realizes that there is much greater things behind all of the happenings. Unfortunately, he's too caught up in everything and the only way "out" is to continue moving forward, facing Silver head on. 

You don't fock around with this guy. 

The first thirty minutes of Red Lights shows the duo taking down a handful of psychics by hijacking radio frequencies and all sorts of clever methods to prove they're fake. It's a job I certainly would love to have myself as I can only see great joy in ruining the lives of these high profile scam artists. It's also one of the better parts of the film and starts the film off with a lot of excitement. Unfortunately, the second act loses the energy of the intro and as more questions are raised, Red Lights grows tiresome. Lucky for us, by its conclusion, the movie regains its composure and delivers a pretty unique and unpredictable finish that honestly leaves you satisfied, even if some of those questions are still left unanswered. It's something that is easy to look past after the credits roll, but after processing your thoughts about everything, you're left with a rather bland taste in your mouth.

Mainstream psychics like this asshole need to "cross-over" into oblivion. 

A large part of the (somewhat) success of Red Lights is its cast. Cortes managed to recruit some incredible actors for his followup and they elevate it to something worth watching. Sigourney Weaver's role is somewhat substantial and reminds us that she's more talented than her sci-fi cameos. Robert DeNiro also seems to be getting a better grasp on his career, and doesn't quite remind us of his past greatness, but takes a step back toward it.  But even with two powerhouses, the star of Red Lights is Cillian Murphy, who shows us time and again that he's one of the greatest actors working today. He's mesmerizing as Tom Buckley and steals every scene he's in. He has this intensity about him that you don't find a lot and as his paranoia combines with his own intelligence (that Murphy always brings to the table), you can't help but understand his skewed frustrations. Personally, I would watch the man talk to a wall for ninety minutes, as I find him that interesting, and Red Lights does a great job of complimenting his abilities. The film also packs a strong supporting cast that includes Elizabeth Olsen, Toby Jones, and Craig Roberts. 

Seriously, world. Give this man every damn award you can think of. Shower him with love. Admire his talents. IDOLIZE HIM.

Red Lights received an incredibly small release in theaters and a quiet release on DVD. It's a film that deserves some love and attention for its acting and at times, its clever script. Rodrigo Cortes proves again that he's a talented filmmaker and while it's not on the same level as Buried, Red Lights still manages to be successful. It's suspenseful with plenty of twists, and has a unique ending that left me wanting a sequel (that would head in a completely opposite direction). Call me a nice guy, but I can forgive the film's faults and definitely recommend it. While it's not worth running out and buying, it's certainly worth renting and I really hope more people give this under-looked film a chance. If anything, the love and attention you'd show the film would at least give Cortes the money he deserves to continue making movies that are far more unconventional than what we're used to seeing.

The Good:

terrific acting that carries the film above averageness and turns the movie into a very interesting ride

The Bad:

a second act that's lacking the energy of the introduction and leaves you slightly bored

The Ugly:

knowing that there is a large majority of people that believe in psychics and rely on them for many of their day to day decisions

7.4/10

Trailer:

Sept 19: Snow White and the Huntsman

"In a twist to the fairy tale, the Huntsman ordered to take Snow White into the woods to be killed winds up becoming her protector and mentor in a quest to vanquish the Evil Queen."

Directed by: Rupert Sanders, Rated: PG-13, 127 minutes

Snow White and the Huntsman is a fine example of the sad lengths Hollywood has gone to bring us movies. With each new adaptation, the story of Snow White becomes more and more unoriginal, with each attempt turning the classic fairy tale into something redundant and boring. To be honest, I don't think that the original source material warrants this many adaptations or this much recognition to begin with, and seeing 2012 give us not one, but two movies based off it is just disheartening. With reluctance, I decided to give Snow White and the Huntsman a shot, on the off-chance that it was worth my time, and as much as I wish I liked it, it's just too messy to call great. 

Messy... and ... milky? Charlize Theron does it all. 

The story is a lot of what we already know but includes bits of "the untold story never seen before". This is Hollywood's excuse at making something original and a lot of what you see in Snow White is already what we've seen hundreds of times before... but with more action, and Thor! Kristen Stewart plays the lead character, being the "fairest of them all" in a land ruined by an evil queen (Charlize Theron). Once White escapes the prison the queen locked her away in, she teams up with the huntsman (Chris Hemsworth), who's originally sent out to kill White, a bunch of digitally created dwarfs, and a prince she's supposedly in love with. That's really it for the story, as there is not a lot of substance in the film or a lot going on to really justify a 127 minute run-time. 

Normal sized actors are digitally made into dwarfs, as opposed to you know... real little people. While this seemed interesting, the dwarfs are featured in only a few scenes, completely defeating the purpose of using known actors. 

While Snow White and the Huntsman is nowhere near as bad as I expected the film to be, it did leave me pretty bored by its rather lackluster finale. The film suffers from many problems, with Kristen Stewart's presence being the most severe, but does manage to provide a handful of moments that are not only pretty badass, but even magical at times. Director Rupert Sanders (now known as the guy that broke Stewart and Robert Pattison up) shows that with his debut film, he's actually someone to keep an eye on. His style and visual flair is reminiscent of Guillermo Del Toro and shows that there may be a future for the young man. Even then though, there's only so far a director can take a weak script. The script is incredibly weak in the dialogue and pacing departments and as I mentioned, manages to drag out an already mundane idea into something that lasts over two hours. The film has moments of pretty solid action, but there's just not enough of it to keep it interesting. There are also scenes feature great creature design and visuals, but again, there's not enough to make the film that memorable. 

More creatures please. 

It's worth mentioning that Charlize Theron steals every scene she's in as the queen. Had the film focused solely on her and her wicked ways, the movie could have been something incredible. But again, with everything else I mentioned that's good about the movie, there's just not enough of her. And it's also worth noting (as everyone else has) that Theron wins in a hottie contest any day against Kristen Stewart and the fact the producers thought we'd believe anything else is baffling. Stewart brings the film down even further and her lackluster, phoned-in performance (as always) is just a joke at this point in her career. Chris Hemsworth does a great job as the huntsman and hearing him tackle a Scottish (I think?) accent and channel his badass Gerard Butler is worth a peek at. He continues to prove he's an action star and  I can only wait to see what he does post-Thor. 

Unlike another 'product' out of Australia- Sam Worthington, Chris actually has some acting chops. 

As a final product, Snow White and the Huntsman is sub-par. It's not bad, but it's far from good and has too many glaring problems to ignore. With a right script, and a tweaking of the cast, I feel Rupert Sanders could have delivered something incredible. Channeling his Del Toro and emulating The Lord of the Rings is very ambitious for a film debut but I feel he did do a pretty good job. Is it worth recommending? Yes, but don't go into the film thinking it's something incredible. It's fine start for a talented director that leaves you not only disappointed in what the end result is, but excited for what's next. Though the film doesn't necessarily leave much of a window for a sequel, there has been announcements that this movie would be the start of a franchise. I, for one, am actually hoping that the films go forward fully aware of the changes that need to be implemented. Here's hoping Kristen Stewart dies in a fire or retires from acting. 

The Good:

great visuals that tease the talent of director, Sanders, and fleeting moments of awesome that show signs there's something great hiding somewhere inside, as well as a damn sexy and creepy Charlize Theron

The Bad:

a script with horrible pacing that struggles getting from one place to another

The Ugly:

Kristen Stewart... that is all

Overall: 6.7/10

Trailer:

Jan 12: Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy*

"In the bleak days of the Cold War, espionage veteran George Smiley is forced from semi-retirement to uncover a Soviet agent within MI6's echelons."

    Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy is not a movie for everyone. This is a movie that may be too smart for its own good. This is not a popcorn flick, nor is it something you can just have on in the background while you do stuff around the house. You need to sit down and focus, and I know a lot of people who can't do that. I actually had a couple leave about thirty minutes into the movie. So thus, this review will be my first super serious one. 

  The plot is simple- George Smiley (Gary Oldman) must figure out who the mole is at MI6. The ensuing attempt, however, is not that simple. The film cuts to flashbacks quite often, and you are left to your own devices to figure out what time frame of the scene you are watching. The location is constantly changing as well. With all of this jumping around, the audience is just as puzzled as Smiley, trying to solve the mystery. I believe this was all intentional. 

   The acting in Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy is absolutely phenomenal. Lead by Oldman, the cast never misses a beat. This is a movie driven nearly completely on the dialogue, and a cast this good was needed for this film to succeed. Oldman has had a career of playing a variety of characters, from the Dracula to Sirrius Black. This role is much more grounded and "normal" than a lot of his roles. The smallest nuances he has, from the way he moves his mouth to the way he touches his coat, are so perfect. Every little detail adds to his character, and he completely becomes George Smiley. One scene stands out, where he is retelling of his encounter with a captured Soviet. Instead of using a flashback, Tomas Alfredson (the director), let's Oldman act it out as though it is happening now. I read the script for this scene before I saw the movie, and seeing Oldman act it out was beyond any imagining I had. 

  Speaking of directing, Alfredson is masterful. The camera is almost a peeping tom, spying in on all of the actors and their actions. Many scenes are seen through windows and from a far that it really feels like you are just watching in on the events unfolding. The sound is exceptional as well, with just as much attention to the detail. The opening of a wrapper, the buttering of toast, and even the tiniest drops of rain are captured and intensified, contrasting with the silence and almost distracting the viewer. Again, I believe this is all to throw the viewer off, and have the reveal all that more suspenseful. 

  One of my only complaints of the film is how easy it is to get lost in the dialogue. Although the script is smart and tight, the characters use a lot of names you don't quite know the faces to until later in the film. 

  Overall, I found Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy to be an exceptional film and worthy of a viewing. I would love to have this film shown in a class or group and have everyone dissect it and give opinion. There is just so much on the screen that cannot be absorbed in one viewing, and I cannot wait to see this film again. 

Sight: Filmed with the grittiness of the 1970s, the camera work is praise worthy as you feel you are merely peeking inside the world of espionage. 

Sound: With a large portion of the soundtrack being from a direct source (radio, singing, record player), and the sound effects heightened, you feel you are really submersed in the world of the characters. 
Skill: Every actor in this film deserves praise, but it is Gary Oldman that absolutely steals the show. He is a master of his craft. 
Script: Well written and very suspenseful, the puzzle is slowly unraveled to a very exciting conclusion. 

Overall: 9.7/10

Best Quote: 

George Smiley: "We are not so very different, you and I. We've both spent our lives looking for the weaknesses in one another."