Oct 18: The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel

"British retirees travel to India to take up residence in what they believe is a newly restored hotel. Less luxurious than its advertisements, the Marigold Hotel nevertheless slowly begins to charm in unexpected ways."

Directed by: John Madden, Rated: PG-13, 124 minutes

When I first saw a trailer for The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel, I assumed it would be a safe movie you can watch with your grandparents, have a few laughs, and easily waste a couple of hours with a nice little movie. After seeing the movie, all of these thoughts have been changed, and the movie turns out to be something remarkable, spiritual, and much more profound than anything I expected. I have to give myself a little slap on the wrist for thinking so lightly of this movie, as in complete honesty, it's easily one of the best movies of 2012. Oh, and it has an incredible cast. 

British and over 60? Welcome aboard!

The film follows a bunch of retired people that are all looking for a way out of their regular lives. Evelyn (Judi Dench) is trying to cope with the loss of her husband and wants to travel the world, something she never had the opportunity to do so. Graham (Tom Wilkinson) has a past he's trying to reconnect with and hopes to visit some people he grew up with. Douglas (Bill Nighy) and Jean (Penelope Wilton) are a newly retired couple that aren't happy with their home and want something more full of life and energy. Muriel (Maggie Smith) is a racist old woman who needs a hip replaced and the only place to do the surgery sooner than later is out of the country, much to her dissatisfaction. Madge (Celia Imrie) and Norman (Ronald Pickup) are two old-timers that are very young in the mind and are rather promiscuous. All of these older people come together in a hotel in India, run by Sonny (Dev Patel), a young man trying to turn the rather lackluster hotel into something much more grand. As all of these men and women begin to understand the complexities of India and its people, they all go through their own changes, mostly for the best. 

Oh, Wilkinson! You crazy!*

The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel is very unexpected and quite the treat. It's a lovely little film that shows the struggles of those thought to be past their prime and the youth and life they discover in one of the most beautiful countries in the world. The film is sweet, never forced, and genuinely funny. I rarely laugh at loud at movies (it takes a lot to impress me) and I let out plenty of chuckles throughout the film, either be it at hearing something I'd never expect one of these actors to say, or the sheer brilliance of the script. All of the cast are exceptional and even the young Dev Patel handles his own incredibly well. His character is very much a throwback to the classic optimistic and overwhelmed characters you'd see in something from the 50s or 60s and yet he manages to maintain a sincerity to the rather cartoon character he plays. The movie also features plenty of scenes that pull at your heart strings and leave you "with something in your eye". The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel is a movie that wraps you in with the cast and humor and leaves you happier and more satisfied than you could imagine (in a non-dirty way). 

Although, she'll have you either way. 

I would highly recommend The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel. As I mentioned, it's easily one of the best movies of the year and deserves to be talked about come the end of the year. After watching The Darjeeling Limited in 2007, I was immediately fascinated with India and have always wanted to travel there. With this film, that craving reemerges and director John Madden does a fabulous job at capturing the culture, the people, and even the modernizing of one of the most interesting countries in the world. I really love this movie and hope that you'll look past the rather generic, yet simple trailers and give The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel a shot. You won't be disappointed. 

The Good:

a great little look at India, from its people to its culture and even the food

The Better:

having a terrific cast come together for a film that's not only fun, but means a lot more than you'd think

The Best:

an ending that's sweet enough to be happy with and not feel like it's what you'd expect, even though you have a rough idea of where it's heading

Overall: 8.5/10

Trailer:

*I whole-heartily love this man. 

Aug 25: RocknRolla

"In London, a real-estate scam puts millions of pounds up for grabs, attracting some of the city's scrappiest tough guys and its more established underworld types, all of whom are looking to get rich quick. While the city's seasoned criminals vie for the cash, an unexpected player -- a drugged out rock 'n' roller presumed to be dead but very much alive"

Directed by: Guy Ritchie, Rated: R, 114 minutes

A Guy Ritchie film is always a unique film, combining high energy with wild characters and even wilder situations. RocknRolla is no exception to that fact and while it's not Ritchie's strongest outing, it still proves incredibly entertaining. Sure, the plot can be a little confusing at times as there is so much going on and so many different people in the film but, once it's over, you don't feel like you missed anything. Hell, a painting at the central part of the story is just a MacGuffin to move the plot forward. Once you realize that, it's all easy riding from there. Ritchie is a master of dialogue and RocknRolla features wise-cracking, genius writing that makes the characters even more enjoyable. The film can be quoted just as much as his other films and has equally memorable moments. 

The lack of Mickey is disheartening. 

The film follows Lenny Cole (Tom Wilkinson), a mob boss who has control over the real estate in London. The Wild Bunch, a group of criminals named OneTwo (Gerard Butler), Mumbles (Idris Elba), and Handsome Bob (Tom Hardy), look for a way to make money quick and turn to Lenny for help. After Lenny f**ks them over, the Wild Bunch look for a way to get back at him. Uri, a Russian developer who Lenny owes quite a lot of money to, agrees to help Lenny with his real estate business and gives him a painting to hold for "good luck". Unknowingly, the Wild Bunch steals Uri's money while Johnny Quid (Toby Kebbell) steals the painting. This piece of art shifts many hands throughout the film, including Stella's (Thandie Newton), a smart woman who knows the books as well as the streets, and even a couple of junkies who pawn it off for a "fix". As each party attempts to get away with the money or the painting, Lenny seeks revenge against the Wild Bunch and will do whatever it takes to get it back. If the list of actors wasn't impressive enough, the film also features Jeremy Piven, Ludacris, Marc Strong, and Karel Roden. 

I would totally watch a movie following just these guys and their "shaky" music-producing careers. 

The best part of the movie is the cast. Butler, Hardy, and Elba easily carry the film as the Wild Bunch and the chemistry the three have together is so entertaining, you can't help but wonder how close they are in real life. After 300, Butler kind of faded into the romantic comedy and super (stupid) drama worlds, so seeing him in a legit comedy caper (with a good amount of action) is so much more refreshing. Idris Elba, who as I have stated needs to be in so much more, constantly exudes his "cool factor" and Hardy, as Bob, is more hilarious than you can imagine. The situations that play out with him and Butler are not only surprising, but so entertaining. However, the man who steals the show is Toby Kebbell as Johnny. He's quite the eccentric character who doesn't seem right in the head but still seeks his revenge on Lenny. Hands down, Johnny has the best lines in the film and his jumping from coked out "philosopher" to violent criminal is perfect. I've mentioned how much I've enjoyed Kebbell in my Dead Man's Shoes and Wrath of the Titans reviews, and with RocknRolla, I'm even more surprised why he's not popping up everywhere. 

RocknRolla follows a familiar formula for Ritchie fans but does it with such gusto and pizzazz you can easily accept it as it's own original movie. The film is just too fun to hate and I would highly recommend it. While it's not as good as Ritchie's previous outings, Snatch and Lock, Stock, and Two Smoking Barrels, it's another great edition to his filmography. It's also worth noting that the film ends with a tease that the Wild Bunch will be back for a second movie and certainly leaves you wanting more. The film has been out for four years though and Ritchie is busy with the Sherlock Holmes franchise, so any hope for a sequel may be futile. 

The Good:

a phenomenal cast that's clearly having fun making the movie, and I can only imagine are dying to come back for a sequel

The Bad:

a story that's a little too messy...

The Ugly:

...and a conclusion that leaves much to be desired 

Overall: 7.5/10

Trailer:

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July 18: Batman Begins- 200th Review

"Bruce Wayne loses his philanthropic parents to a senseless crime, and years later becomes the Batman to save the crime-ridden Gotham City on the verge of destruction by an ancient order."

Directed by: Christopher Nolan, Rated: PG-13, 140 minutes

How fitting it is that my 200th review is the first film in an epic franchise that concludes this Friday with The Dark Knight Rises. Where do I start when discussing Batman Begins? It's the film that re-introduces one of the world's greatest superheroes and turns him into a legend of epic proportions. The film made Christopher Nolan and Christian Bale both house-hold names and set the precedent for not only superhero movies, but film as a whole. It combines both excellent story-telling and great spectacle, and shows that a blockbuster movie doesn't need to be all about the visuals. Batman Begins is a film that never loses itself in its scale, and knows that it's human emotion at the heart of the story. Batman is more than just a man in a suit and Nolan paints a tragic, yet beautiful portrait of the soul in the cowl- Bruce Wayne (Bale). 

He's also our rippest Batman, yet. 

With most superhero movies lately, the biggest flaw is the re-telling of the origin story, or how so-and-so became the hero. With Batman Begins, the origin story is turned on it's side, as it delves into the actual process Bruce goes through to become The Dark Knight. He's a man-made hero and we witness him training and learning how to not only fight with his fists, but with his mind and ideas. Unlike most origin stories, however; scenes of his training are intertwined with those of his homecoming to Gotham and even flashbacks to his childhood. It's all broken up very well and not one story gets too tedious. It's a unique way to build Bruce's character and we see how flawed a character the man really is. He's not perfect, but he's determined, and it's in that determination that a hero emerges. He's not from a distant planet, he's not bitten by a radioactive spider, and he's not in some accident involving toxic waste or a failed experiment. We literally see his creation every step of the way, from his suit and utility belt, to his own version of the Batmobile. His power is his muscle and his mind, all of which he pushes to the limits. It's in this humanity and realism of Batman Begins that the movie flourishes. Gotham is a city destroyed by crime, not by supernatural forces or super-powered villains, but simply by bad men with bad intentions. 

Ras al Ghul is the leader (also Bruce's mentor) of the League of Shadows, a secret organization that claims to be involved in the rise and fall of countless civilizations. In the eyes of Ras al Ghul, Gotham is a city on the verge of destroying itself and must be destroyed to not only save itself, but prevent the spread of it's evil. When Bruce gets wind of this news, he escapes his training grounds in Asia and returns home. He sees that the city is indeed not what he remembers it to be, and knows that something must be done. Bruce designs a symbol, inspired by his own fears, to take to the streets of Gotham. He knows that if he can create a persona, or even an idea, that's strong enough to evoke fear into the hearts of Gotham's criminals, things will get better. Thus, Batman, his symbol, is born. As Batman fights the criminal and the corrupt, he discovers that the man behind it all is Carmine Falcone (Tom Wilkinson), who owns half the city through payoffs and fear. If Batman can take down Falcone, he knows he can take down the mob. However, even the mob has it's tricks and Falcone has Dr. Jonathan Crane (Cillian Murphy), a psychologist who has a rather unusual way of "treating" his patients. Using a neurological toxin, Crane has the power to expose the hidden fears in everyone, and as the League of Shadows takes claim to Gotham, Crane relishes in the chaos and panic. Batman must face a great challenge before he can even make a dent in Gotham's crime. Of course, a hero is only as strong as his allies, and Batman has not only the loyal and wise Alfred (Michael Caine), but the courageous and honest Lt. James Gordon (Gary Oldman), the beautiful Rachel Dawes (Katie Holmes), and the inventive Lucius Fox (Morgan Freeman). 

There's so many good things about Batman Begins, it's hard to pinpoint any specific moment that elevates it to greatness. The realism is its biggest strength, and understanding that a man has the power and determination to become a hero makes it so much better. It also helps that the movie has a pitch-perfect cast, with each actor filling their respective role brilliantly. Bale not only becomes the suave, playboy Bruce, but the heroic, badass Batman. Michael Caine lends his natural sophistication and knowledge to Alfred. Gary Oldman, usually a chameleon in his roles, stands his ground as Gordon and makes you want to give every honest cop you know a hug. Morgan Freeman owns the role of Lucius Fox, a character that was all too unfamiliar before the film. Liam Neeson is the perfect mentor and teacher and, even if his cause seems immoral, you can't help but wonder if he's right. Cillian Murphy borders the thin line between genius and psychotic brilliantly. It's the sum of its parts that makes Batman Begins a masterpiece, and without any of these men in their roles, it would not be the same. Even the smallest characters add a lot to the film and I have got to give recognition to Linus Roache who gives a small, but incredibly effective performance as Bruce's dad, Thomas. 

He has less than five minutes of screen time but is so damn good in his role. He has an intangible characteristic that makes him shine, and every time I watch the movie I can't help but wish he was in it even more. 

Batman Begins is a quiet little masterpiece. In retrospect, it's a little difficult watching the film without realizing its importance as a precursor to The Dark Knight. However, even then, it's a strong film on its own and a beautifully dark introduction to the world's favorite hero. Christopher Nolan is a great director, and while Batman Begins is nowhere near the scale as its sequels, its self-contained, emotionally driven story turns it into something much bigger. I can't recommend this movie enough and I cannot wait for the trilogy's epic conclusion this weekend. 

The Good:

Christian Bale is Batman, I don't care what anyone says

The Better:

a realistic approach at one of the world's most recognized and loved superheros, giving Batman the dark, gritty tone he deserves 

The Best:

along with Bale, a phenomenal cast that rises to each and every occasion, owning his/her respective roles without any doubt

Overall: 9.4/10

Trailer: