X Men Apocalypse

 X Men Apocalypse

This probably is the worst written superhero film to date. Four writers are credited for this mess implying there were several rewrites and they still didn’t get it right. The divergent subplots did not coalesce. The overall plot is simple, world domination (it took four guys to figure this out!). Getting there was overly complicated. The disappointment is this film follows the last film” X Men First Class” which was a critical and financial success.

The cast is voluminous, with major and minor characters. The stalwarts are:

James McEvoy as professor Charles Xavier

Michael Fassbinder as Magneto

Jennifer Lawrence as Mystic

Nicholas Hoult as Beast

Having so many characters strains the cohesiveness of the film and sometimes is a distraction. Utilizing these characters was a challenge the director and writers failed. Some performances are brief and lacked impact. Remembering their names and powers is challenging for anyone over 60. Please refer to Wikipedia. 

Jennifer Lawrence is out of costume and looked especially fetching with blond tendrils falling on her shoulder. But when duty calls she releases her inner Smurf and transforms into Mystic blue and nude. Wolverine makes a cameo appearance. He is a human Cuisinart shredding soldiers with his talons. McEvoy and Fassbinder rekindle their love hate relationship. As the bad boy Fassbinder does little talking but much damage. McEvoy reprises his savoir of mankind role. There acting was a snooze,

The villain En Sabah Nur, the “First Mutant” (I thought that was Keith Richards?), is played by Oscar Isaac. With makeup and prosthesis, he is nearly unrecognizable, which for the sake of his career is a good thing. His star trajectory is on the rise (Star Wars, Ex Machina) so this role hopefully will just be a bump in his career

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For the most part the film was dower. Repartee was serious and not light hearted.  This movie is another downward spiral for the superhero genera. What hold the presses, to date the movie has made $402m (production cost $178m). Forget what I said!

The Hunger Games-Mockingjay Part 1

The Hunger Games-Mockingjay Part 1

If this picture was not part of the Hunger Game franchise it would have less audience and less box office. Thanks to the HG devotees they flocked to this movie like moths to a flame. This movie lacks the Lord of the Fly motif of the prior two films. Instead of a hunt or be hunted movie with big brother watching it is just a rebellion movie. There are references to the prior movies and the roles of some characters but this movie can stand on its own. I think Part 1 was put in the title to distance this movie from the others and garner a broader audience.

Part 1 means this is the pen ultimate movie. This is movie is a place holder for the final movie. It keys up atrocities committed by the Capital and retaliations by the Districts. All of this conflict will be resolved in the final film. Unlike the other movies Katniss does relatively little fighting.  This is here least energetic role and she looks shabby and unglamorous.  There are no flaming dresses here, rather grey jump suits are de rigueur. Grey is the dominant color of the movie; it could be seen as a metaphor, “the grey before the dawn”. On the whole this movie is a set up for a hoped for mega box office in the final picture.

There are old and new characters. I think this is Philip Seymour Hoffman’s last movie. He looked like a card board cut out of himself. The twinkle in his eye was gone. Woody Harrelson’s character was more fun drunk. Donald Sutherland returned with his evil Cheshire smile. He is basically Hitler with a white Santa beard. Stanley Tucci does not even stand up in this picture, he smugly reclines in a chair; he is still very annoying. Even poor Effie Trinket (Elizabeth Banks), the over the top image consultant, with much chagrin is forced to wear a grey jump which she accessories with grey bandana.

Julianne Moore plays President Alma Coin, leader of the rebellion. Her personality is best described as akin to cold salmon. She too is grey all over. It seems she went to the same hair stylist as Morticia Adams. There are other new characters. One is a video journalist who is a propagandist for the rebellion. Her most notable feature is the half shorn haircut currently in vogue adorned with a flower tattoo on the bald side. Her body will be easy to identify on the battlefield.

I know you join me in my anticipation for the final movie. How will I fill the void?

X Men-Days of Future Past

I do not understand what “Days of Future Past” means; I barely understand what “Back to the Future” means. This film stretches the mind. There are elements of H.G. Wells, Fatalisms, Determinism and I am certain some of Einstein’s theories were violated but I have no clue which ones. As dense as all this sounds the plot is not difficult to follow and holds the film together. Someone from the future goes to the past to change the future. Please hold off your spoiler e-mails, there is much more to the plot than this one line.

The film takes place during the Nixon administration in the 70’s. The clothing and absence of modern day gadgets frames the movie’s tone. The 70’s alone would be a good excuse enough to escape to the future.

There are some new mutants and some old ones. The main protagonists in this film are: James McAvoy (as the young Charles Xavier), Michael Fassbender (as a young Magnito), Jennifer Lawrence as Mystic, Nicolaus Hoult as Beast and Hugh Jackman as the ageless Wolverine. These characters are still fresh. The action is not recycled and holds your attention with good pacing. The film is not heavy on “buddyism”, there are a few grudges to settle, even if with one’s self. There are some well-placed jokes you should look out for. The Nixon actor would have been funny if he was not so close to the mark with his tubular nose and shifty eyes.

Jennifer Lawrence has a big role in this sequel. Her dialogue is minimal but her body language speaks volumes. I really hope she does her own killer yoga moves. Michael Fassbender plays Magnito with dispassionate purpose destroying anything and anyone threatening his vision. His Germanic warmth is pervasive. I cannot talk about McAvoy since his condition would give away too much of the plot. As for Beast he is now in command of his blue fur and with better temperament (although he was funnier in earlier films). Jackman wears his patented scowl and takes copious rounds of bullets.  The ensemble of actors’ works well. The main characters give enough room to each other so no one is pushed out by the other one.

The arch villain is played by Peter Dinklage as Bolivar Trask.  This is the little guy from “Game of Thorns”. If they wanted someone evil they picked the right guy. He is a combination of a mad scientist with a touch of Joseph Menegle.

CG was good, but was it $200m good? The old standbys of building levitation and twisted steel were expected. Some of the newer creations were just a bit cheesy. Too many mega block buster films have made us jaded.

My favorite X Men movie is” X Men First Class”. This movie is right behind it. With a production budget of $200m (double that for marketing), this movie better do well and I think it will; I recommend it. There will probably be a sequel. Whatever conundrums make up the next title, my good friend Felix will explain them to me.

The Hunger Games- Catching Fire

 

Since this film is bullet proof my critique will just bounce off. This is the second installment of a trilogy (I think). From the inflated box office this movie has crossover appeal beyond the book’s devotees. It is a fast paced action film with a female leading star as the main protagonist which is rare in today’s cinema.

The story has two things going on, the nascent rebellion and the hunger games. These two events are related since the contestants of the Hunger Games are involved in the rebellion. From the movies perspective the parts do not complement each other. For now the contestants are more contestants than rebels. The games seem to be less brutal than the first movie; more contestants die off with a canon boom rather than being eviscerated on the big screen.

Jennifer Lawrence is a versatile actress (only 23 years old) who can go from playing a manic depressive to a dead eyed archer.  Acting as Katniss Everdeen is not too demanding; basically she is a super hero and that is usually uncomplicated. She does have some vulnerability, but she prevails with lethal effect. Lawrence has an athletic body which she uses to play the role. The Hunger Games are fast paced and unforgiving; there were some interesting killing scenes.  

Josh Hutcherson plays Katniss’s partner, Peeta Mallark in the games. His emotional range is limited to two facial expressions, stern and not too stern. As the forlorn love interest his bleakness serves him well.

It is refreshing to see Woody Harrelson playing a role other than a homicidal maniac. As the quasi alcoholic mentor to Katniss and Peeta, he keeps them alive during the games. Compared to his other demanding roles this was a cake walk for him.

Donald Sutherland plays evil President Snow with his usual languid performance.  His grandfatherly persona complete with white beard, belies atrocities he willingly inflicts. Sutherland’s air time is limited but his role is pivotal.

 Stanly Tucci plays the most annoying obnoxious TV host ever. Tucci has a rich resume of characters but as Caesar Flickerman he is over the top (in acting and in wardrobe). Caesar sells lies to his Capital audience.

This a great franchise for the stockholders and the audiences. Aside from the unique ways of killing people the script does not break new grounds. History is replete with true stories of resistance fighters sans stunt men.

Silver Linings Playbook - Yuck, Baltimore

Silver Linings Playbook

What a fabulous movie. After you read my review I recommend you go see it. It has the cinema trifecta: a great script, great directing and great acting. The actors play to each other, their timing is pitched perfect. Nuance makes for great performance. De Niro’s slight down turned lips, tilt of his head and begging eyes define the scene. Bradley Cooper captured the unsettling stare of man with psychological problems. Jennifer Lawrence invades Cooper’s personal space by literally by running into him.

Cooper left his Hangover, A-Team bad boy persona behind to become a head shaven garbage bag jogger and one hell of an actor. His character, Pat, is Bipolar; more manic than depressed. He is released from a psychiatric institute in Baltimore (yuck, Baltimore) to return home. He brings with him a lot of unresolved problems. Mental illness is a contagious disease and his family suffers from it.  Trepidation and sadness molds his mother’s face. Even De Niro cries; just two tears.

De Niro is a bookie who makes an oversized bet to solve his financial problems. Football is his salvation. He wants his son to watch the games with him so they can bond. His sincerity is questionable. Since he is very superstitious he feels his son’s presence with help the Eagles cover the spread. This home situation is not a place of mending.

Jennifer Lawrence uses her physical presence as part of her performance.  In most of the movie she is in Cooper’s face defining the tension between them. Cooper hopes to make up with his estranged wife and Lawrence pretends to help. Lawrence has her own issues. Unintentionally these two emotional cripples help each other find peace and love. This is the engine of the movie.

My one complaint is that Chris Tucker did not have more of role. He was the original manic actor but here he is subdued and understated. He is a psychiatric patient and Cooper’s friend. His limited scenes bring some of the funniest moments of the movie. His humor is better than any medication.

Ok, enough said. Go see this great movie.

joe