Film Review: ‘The Great Gatsby’

Film: The Great Gatsby

Best Song: ‘Young & Beautiful’ by Lana Del Rey

Best Line: ”And I like large parties. They’re so intimate. At small parties there isnt any privacy” – Jordan Baker

Review:  The gorgeous clothes. The vintage cars. The grand houses. I want it all!  This modern version of  ’The Great Gatsby’ is poetic and beautiful. The cinematography is phenomenal and the 3-D experience grabs you and pulls you into the heart of the action.

The classic tale of Gatsby is told through the eyes of director, Baz Luhrmann (who brought us a more modern version of Romeo and Juliet). The movie is set in Long Island, NY in all its 1922 roaring glory. The parties are happening, the champagne is flowing, the clothes are sparkly, and the money is growing. Staying true to the 1920′s theme the costumes were lovely – the beaded flapper dresses, feathered headpieces, and three-piece suits….transports you into the beloved  iconic fashion era of the 1920′s. The movie does get off to a slow start but once Jay Gatsby (Leandro DiCaprio) appears on the screen. BAM! The pace picks up. The film has some great action scenes with stellar car races, jumping parties, and fast-paced conversations. One of my favorite scenes was the unbelievable  and extremely lavish party at Gatsby’s mansion. I racked my brian trying to figure out how many hours all those actors and extras had to put in to dance like it was their last day on earth. It was EPIC! I just wanted to put on my dancing shoes and join in. The soundtrack for the film, which was produced by Jay-Z puts a  modern twist on a great classic.

It continually blows my mind that Leonardo DiCaprio hasn’t won an Oscar yet. Every role he plays is, so complex and amazing. This role is no exception. DiCaprio brought a wide range of  emotional depth to his role as Jay Gatsby. The struggle between attaining financial success and pursing the love of his life appears tortuous. Carey Mulligan is also brilliant in her role as Daisy (Gatsby love interest). There is no denying the on-screen chemistry between DiCaprio and Mulligan. They’re intimate exchanges are AH-mazing!

I really adored this version of ‘The Great Gatsby.’ I left the theater wanting to read the book  again and reacquaint myself with the classic story. Be forewarn this movie is long at 2 hrs 23 min. I anticipate the reviews for this film will be a bit controversial. The Director took some major risk with the story and the creative direction of the film. Moviegoers will either love it or hate it. I loved it and thought the movie was brilliant. I would see it again in a second. Its one smashing film!

Film Review: ‘Zero Dark Thirty’

Film: Zero Dark Thrity

Best Line: “I’m the motherfu$%!# that found this place” – Maya

Review: ”Zero. Dark. Thirty!” What a film! The fact that a woman is behind the directing makes it even better. I LOVED it!. I’m often a little leery about going to see any type of war films or anything to do with war. I prefer to watch movies about unrealistic romantic plots, where a man confesses his love to a woman at first sight. (Blame my self-induced Jane Austen romantic coma. I’m still trying to awaken from my romantic coma. It’s been 15 years. There’s no hope for me.) Zero Dark Thirty doesn’t have a single “love scene” and there certainly aren’t any men running around confessing their undying love. Nope. Just the opposite. This movie focuses on the “decade-long manhunt for Al Qaeda terrorist leader Osama bin Laden after the September 2001 attacks and his death at the hands of the Navy S.E.A.L. Team 6 in May 2011.” This film is VERY intense…..and I do mean intense. Do not go to this movie if you have a “weak” heart. There are several scenes during the 2.5 hours of the film, where I thought my heart was going to jump out of my chest. All the unexpected car bombings and shootings was enough to make me sweat. The action in the film matches the film’s intensity. I’m positive it contributed to me being on edge during the movie. There’s a scene where Navy S.E.A.L Team 6 storms Bin laden’s compound and I thought I was going to have a panic attack – I have issues. No judgement. I felt like I was right there with them on the front lines. Kathryn Bigelow’s ability as a director to capture the real emotions of fear, unrest, adrenaline, and confidence during the scene was pretty epic. I might be a tad bit dramatic but when the film concluded and the credits began to roll, I had to stay in my seat for 10 minutes just to catch my breath. I felt like I had just went through battle. Phew…

Jessica Chastain plays Maya – a CIA operative. Maya is sent to Pakistan to interrogate Al Qaeda prisoners who are directly linked to Bin laden. Agent Maya is a tough chick with controlled emotions. She’s passionate about her work and deeply committed to locating and killing Osama bin laden. The dialogue between characters is brilliantly written. The banter between all the CIA agents is quick and witty. You must keep up in order to get all the necessary details for the movie to make sense. (There was a woman in the theater that was playing a version of “where’s waldo” with Osama bin laden’s character. She kept asking her husband which one was Osama. It was quite annoying since she carried on like this during the entire film. I finally had to say “shhh” after an hour and a half of this nonsense.) The first scene in the movie locks you in and doesn’t let go until the end. The movie is told in chronological order and I found it very easy to follow. I’m not sure what was up with “confused connie.”  The storytelling in this film is that of a fully mature bottle of vintage Merlot. Like with any vintage Merlot it takes time for the wine to develop. Once the wine has fully matured the pay-off in taste is divine. That’s how I felt during the course of this movie. The story takes time but its smooth and concise. I enjoyed every minute of it.

*Side note* Hottie Alert! There’s some serious eye candy in this film. Manly type men. (You know the ones. The kind of  men that wear plaid shirts, grow a semi-beard, and chop wood for fireplaces in log cabins) Agent Dan –  played by Jason Clarke and Larry – played by Edgar Ramirez were beautiful to look upon. Each time those scruffy, good-looking, tall drinks of water graced the screen. I was all in. Hey boo! Military men just moved to 2nd place on my dating list. First place belongs to Mr. Darcy from “Pride and Prejudice.” Duh.

Film Review: “The Hobbit” (An Unexpected Journey)

Film: “The Hobbit” (An Unexpected Journey)

Review: Peter Jackson is the man! I had the pleasure to attend an advance screening of the highly anticipated movie “The Hobbit  - An Unexpected Journey”. I waited in line for 2 hours and it was well worth it. I saw the movie in 3D, which was an added bonus. The movie was phenomenal not only in storytelling but also in art direction. The CGI(computer-generated imagery) was in full force. One of my favorite scenes is when Thorin (dwarf king) fights the leader of the Orcs. There’s blazing fire, fallen trees, with slow motion running…its brilliant. It’s action packed from start to finish! There are hobbits, dwarves, trolls, goblins, elves, wizards, and orcs – I’m forgetting anyone. All the important elements and components to create an EPIC fantasy-adventure film where in this movie. I must say it was such a delight to view the movie in a theater with true fans of J.R.R Tolkein books and Peter Jackson’s iconic filming making. The audience erupted in applause when the opening credits and title grazed the screen. In the beginning of the film you get this sense of ultimate peace and tranquility where Bilbo Baggins the hobbit resides. The colors of the green lush fields and wild flowers are so vivid. The film was shot in beautiful New Zealand. It was a brilliant constant to the stark, dark, and cold forest scenes which was the majority of their journey. The premise of this film revolves around the dwarves making their way back home to “The Blue mountain” (the last of the Dwarves kingdom). The dwarves lost their home to the evil and vicious – Smaug, a gold loving dragon. Smaug takes over the dwarves castle, occupying their fortune and home, forcing them to take refugee in a near by land. Years pass and the Drawves want to reclaim they’re home and fortune. In order for them to take back their kingdom they must destroy Smaug. The only problem is defeating the dragon. Dragons can detect the scent of drawers but not hobbits and that’s where Baggins comes in. Baggins will join the expedition as the honorary burglary and assist with the dwarves reclaiming their rightful inhertiance.

Gollum was my favorite. He was quite hilarious, when he wasn’t being creepy. For some odd reason I was freaked out by Gollum in the “Lord of the Rings” but in “The Hobbit” I found him to be endearing….go figure. Thorin (the drawf  king) played by Richard Armitage was Ah-mazing! I’m a little basis since he also played John Thornton in “North and South” – one of my favorite BBC miniseries.

In my humble opinion, “The Hobbit” is definitely this years BEST action packed movie! It was 3 hours long and I actually want to see it again. Rumor has it that it took director Peter Jackson 10 years to finish these film. I can’t wait for the next one which is slated for 2013 – “The Hobbit – The Desolation of  Smaug.” Followed by the final and third installment to be released in 2014 – “The Hobbit (There Back Again).”  Yes! Two more years of “hobbit awesomeness!”

Best Line in the Movie: “I’m looking for someone to take an adventure with” – Grandalf

Film Review: “Hitchcock”

Film:  Hitchcock

Review: The upcoming Oscar season is shaping up to be quite competitive. Between, Argo, Lincoln, Anna Karenina, and now Hitchcock – I can already see some major upsets. The film season hasn’t even concluded. We still have the  highly anticipated films - Les Misérables,  The Hobbit, and Django Unchained . 

I remember when I was a child gathering around the TV to watch Alfred Hitchcock Presents – TV series. My parents would allow my siblings and I to watch a couple of episodes under their supervision of course. I had nightmares from a few of those episodes. Even though the episodes were over 20 years old and in black and white, the sinister music and power of suggestion was just enough to spook my 10 year old little mind.

Alfred Hitchcock is arguable one of the greatest directors of all time. The film Hitchcok, touches on why he was so brilliant at creating movies. This film runs two parallel stories. The first being how Alfred Hitchcock made his mega-hit “Psycho” and the second, the love story of his marriage. You know its going to be a great film once Anthony Hopkins and Dame Helen Mirren appear. I’ve been a HUGE Anthony Hopkins fan. Ever since “Legend of the Falls”, I have found Hopkins, so fascinating on the silver screen. Hopkins was exceptional in this movie!  From the famous Hitchcock profile down to the iconic black and white suit, his transformation into the legendary director was epic.  He was also brilliantly funny with his dry and unexpected sense of humor. As good as Hopkins was in this film, Helen Mirren was the stand out star. She was strong, smart, witty, and even regal at times. Her portrayal of Alma Reville is definitely worth an Oscar nomination. Alfred Hitchcock and his wife had a true partnership….. in business and in love. Alma Reville knew just as much, if not more about the are of making an award winning film. There’s a perfect screen depicting this, when Hitchcok becomes ill while filming Pyscho. They’re two days behind schedule and Alma steps in to save her husbands struggling film. She’s also the driving force in Hitchcock securing distribution for the film when the studio wanted to shut it down. Pyscho was deemed “wildly inappropriate” for audiences by the motion picture associate. It was unheard of for a film to show a flushing toilet, suggestion of nudity, and violence during 1960′s. Psycho pushed the cultural boundaries and in the end became one of the most successful films of its time as well as Hitchcock’s career.

Hitchcock is lovely film with a beautiful story about how one man’s success was due to the amazing woman who stood behind him – his wife Alma. I guess that old saying is true -”behind every successful man is great woman”

Film Review: “Anna Karenina”

Film: Anna Karenina

Review:  In this mind-blowing, picturesque, sensual, and highly creative film, Joe Wright has created a MASTERPIECE!  The film is so visually stunning, I was captivated from beginning to end. It’s hard to believe that the majority of the film was shot on a single soundstage at Shepperton Studios in a dilapidated theatre outside of London. The call to set the entire film in a theater was brilliant!

The love story which was adapted from Leo Tolstoy novel Anna Karenina unfolds in the late 19th century Russia. Anna played by Keira Knightley is married to Alexi Karenin who is played by Jude Law.  Alexi is a senior Russian government official and lacking in emotion. Their marriage is loveless and the only fruit it bears is a beautiful son that Anna adores. Starving for affection, Anna is bewitched by Count Vornsky. It’s love at first sight! Neither Anna nor the Count will deny themselves the love they so desire from each other, thus igniting their tumultuous love affair. That’s what happens when you’re forced into a loveless marriage, you try to escape even through “sin.” Princess Kitty also has her eyes set on Count Vorknsy but the feeling is not mutual. He only has eyes for the beautiful and mysterious Anna. Poor Princess Kitty, she never saw it coming. Anna swooped in and stole her man (Count Vorknsy) in 10 seconds flat. Anna is unapologetic about her love for the Count. She considers her love for him to be punishment and torture… for which she will not retreat. The path of forbidden love will surely lead Anna to a life of abandonment - outcast by Russian high society. Alexi (Anna’s husband) does very little to prevent the inevitable. Anna is left to her own self-destruction and in the end there is no saving grace for her. A tragic but epic love story.

The costumes are out of this world. I want them all! The rich colors and luxurious fabric speaks to the great opulence of old world Russia. Keira Knightly had access to $2.2 million dollars of Chanel diamonds while filming. The always talented Jacqueline Durran was the costume designer for this grand movie. Durran is also responsible for the iconic emerald green dress in Atonement. Wright and Durran have worked on several films together, so it was a no brainer that she would curate the costumes for Anna Karenina.

Someone get (cinematographer) Seamus McGarvey an Oscar. The cinematography in this film was beyond magical. It was like watching a Michelangelo painting in motion. Every scene was casted in the most elaborate decorative walls, enormous chandeliers, and glorious tapestry. One of the most epic scenes in the film is the live horse race inside the theater. I’m still trying to figure out how they choreographed “live horses” running at maximum speed on a theater stage. It’s unreal. This film is as funny as it is beautiful. I’m a HUGE fan of Joe Wright since he’s the brain child behind some of my favorite films, Pride & Prejudice and Atonement. I love Directors who direct a film, leaving traces of their creative DNA during the process. Wright is known for having some of the most exquisite scenery in his films. If you look at all his films – Pride & Prejudice and Atonement being the most popular. Both films are peppered with breathtaking scenery. If I had to suggest one film to see before the end of the year (2012) – Anna Karenina would be my pick. If only for the visual stimulation! This film is a MASTERPIECE!!!

Best line in the movie: ”You can’t ask Why about love!”  - Count Vorknsy

Film Review: “Lincoln”

Film: ”Lincoln”Review: And the Oscar for best picture goes to ….”Lincoln.”  The Oscar for best actor goes to…..Daniel Day-Lewis. The Oscar for best supporting actor goes to Tommy Lee Jones.  I think you get the picture. This film is epic in its storytelling, visuals, set direction, and costuming. I could go on and on. It’s a beautifully done film, telling the story of one of the greatest Presidents the United States of America has ever had. I realize its a bit early to speculate on Oscar contenders but I’m sure this will be in the running. The film is 2.5 hours long and does run at a slower pace. A pace for some that might be too slow. For me it was just right, I had a busy week and was hoping this film would not rush through the story.Lincoln is one of my favorite Presidents and this movie made me fall in love with his character even more. Spielberg did an enormous amount of research, which was demonstrated though out the film.  We know from history books that Lincoln was a warm, patient, energetic, and also very tall – standing at a staggering 6’4”.  Abe Lincoln was also a bit of a jokester and a long-winded storyteller. He loved telling stories and had a plethora of them to share. It seem to drive his administration mad. Daniel Day-Lewis transformation of the 16th President, (Abraham Lincoln) was uncanny. During the course of the film I thought I was actually watching President Lincoln in the flesh. I was amazed at how Lewis moved his body during the film to emulate the iconic President. Technically a biopic film, the movie focuses on the last 4 months of Lincoln’s life. Where he aggressively tries to procure the votes needed to pass the thirteen amendment. President Lincoln understood the urgency in freeing the slaves. He also understood that the freeing of the slaves could not be left up to individual states to decide. Lincoln knew without passing the 13th amendment, slaves would never actually be free. The constitution was the only way to protect the freedom of all men born and unborn. It will always be perplexing to me on how a single race conjured up a sick viewpoint on being superior. I will NEVER understand it. They had NO proof, NO facts, NO finding of any kind to confirm or suggest that they were superior. None! Not one! Yet, they vehemently denied other human beings the right to be free based off the color of their skin.Tommy Lee Jones who played  Thaddeus Stevens was the break out star in this film. His sarcastic humor and easily annoyed personality was the perfect balance to the inward thinking Lincoln. Jones dialogue with the other characters was so hilarious at times, that the audience was laughing out loud during the film. Sally Field, who played Mary (Molly) Lincoln was feisty and strong. A stark contrast to her small stature. She was a force to be reckoned with and could easily go toe-to-toe with her giant of a husband.I did leave the Theater thinking  ”what happened to the republican party”? It was the Republicans who fought tirelessly for the Thirteenth amendment to pass. The Democrats opposed it. I can’t believe the political party that was on the forefront of injustice is the same republican party today. Boy have the tables turned. As demonstrated this past Tuesday, 11/6 with the re-election of President Obama. If you were to look at an electoral map from 1864 for President Lincoln re-election and compare it to the electoral map of 2012 for President Obama re-election there are some strong similarities. Just who is the republican and democrat party and how have they changed? Another topic for another post.This film is a beautiful history lesson told through eyes of one of the greatest Directors, Steven Spielberg. The story of a President who changed the course of history by sacrificing his own life. I do believe President Lincoln was aware of  the great cost he would pay for fighting for the freedom of others. However, I think he recognized….”what good would it do, for a man to selfishly spare his own life when he had the power to save millions of lives.” His sacrifice was not lost on this great nation. I’m so thankful that Abraham Lincoln was born and became the 16th President of the United State of America. His life was destined to change the world and change the world he most certainly did!Thirteenth amendment to the United States Constitution

Section 1. Neither slavery nor involuntary servitude, except as a punishment for crime whereof the party shall have been duly convicted, shall exist within the United States, or any place subject to their jurisdiction.

Section 2. Congress shall have power to enforce this article by appropriate legislation.

Film Review: “Argo”

Film: Argo

Review: True stories always make for a great movie and this one did not disappoint. Argo is a real story about a “fake” movie. The film opens up with Iranian militants storming the U.S. Embassy in retaliation on America for allowing Shah (Iran’s King) to have protection on U.S. soil. During the chaos the U.S. diplomats slip out of the back door and take refuge at the house of the Canadian Ambassador for safety. Antonio Mendez played by Affleck is the CIA Agent who leads the mission to rescue the 6 U.S Dioplmats out of Iran. These 6 Americans are at the epicenter of the 1979 hostage situation in Tehran, Iran.  Mendez comes up with a very unique plan to get the diplomats out of Iran without tipping off the militants, disguise them (diplomats) as a Hollywood film crew. It was amazing to see the lengths the CIA took to ensure the Iranian government bought the “fake” movie story. Antonio had to convince John Chambers played by John Goodman to join his elaborate plan. Chambers was a famous hollywood make-up artist for film and TV during the 70′s. Alan Arkin who plays Lester Siegel also jumps on board as the “fake” Hollywood producer. Arkin also happened to be my favorite character in the entire film. His dry comedic humor is refreshing and keeps you laughing every time he comes on-screen. The film really packed a punch with the suspense! Are they going to escape, is someone going to snitch on them, will they get out of Iran safely? I thought my heart was going to fall out of my chest during the course of this film. Especially when the Americans were making their way through the Iranian airport.

The set and art direction for this film is brilliant. Often times I feel as though “period” films struggle to convince the audience of the past decade in the film. This was not the case with the Argo. The clothing, hair, geographic location, and props all felt very authentic to the late 1970′s era.

Argo is getting a lot of Oscar buzz and I can see why. From start to finish you are hooked on watching this film. It’s definitely worth checking out!

Best line in the Movie: ”If I’m going to make a fake movie, it’s going to be a fake hit”

Film Review: “Flight”

Film Review: “Cloud Atlas”

Film: Cloud Atlas

Review: I grew up watching Sci-fi/Fantasy movies, so the premise of most science fiction films is not that foreign to me. What was foreign was the amount of stories the director and writer expected me to follow in a 3 hour time span. It was a lot to take in. I’m pretty sure if I had read the book prior to seeing the film I would have been better prepared for the sensory overload. There are a total of six separate stories that the audience must follow. The Pacific Journal of Adam Ewing – 1850, Letters from Zedelghem – 1931, Half-Lives: The First Luisa Rey Mystery – 1975, The Ghastly Ordeal of Timothy Cavendish – 2012, An Orison of Sonmi – 2144, Sloosha’s Crossin’an’ Ev’rythin’ After - post-apocalyptic distant future. Although each story has it’s own individual plot the core of each story is reincarnation, we’re all directly connected “from womb to tomb our lives are not our own”. It was a challenge at times for me to grasp the whole reincarnation notion, since my faith teaches me otherwise. However, I’m always game to see someone else’s idea on the afterlife. This movie visually was stunning! When the storylines got a bit foggy, I found myself zoning out admiring the visuals particularly when it came to the scenes involving Neo Seoul -2144. The colors were so vivid it was almost like I could reach out touch them. Especially during the scene involving the fast food restaurant.

One of the frustrating parts about the movie was how quickly is moved. At times I thought I was watching a theatrical ping-pong match. The film bounced around too much. Once you got locked into one story-line it would flip and show another story. It was hard to follow at times. When I could follow the movie there were some beautifully written dialogue. The kind of dialogue that great movies are known for.  I thought the acting was well done by both Halle Berry and Tom Hanks. They both played several characters and although their facial features were disguised, they were still recognizable behind all the makeup and prosthetics. Speaking of makeup, kudos to the makeup department. The physical transformation in all the characters was impressive. The standout actor for me was the insanely talented Jim Boardent who played Captain Molyneux/Vyvyan Ayrs/Timothy Cavendish/Korean Musician/Prescient. It was his role as Timothy Cavendish that really captivated me. The 65-year-old vanity press publisher who was trying to escape his attackers and is confined to a nursing home against his own will. He concocts a plan to free himself along with three other elderly residents. It was the only light-hearted scene in the entire film.

The length of the movie is a bit of an issue. I attended a 5:30pm showing and the movie ended at 8:30pm. If you do decide to see this film I would definitely recommend seeing it on lazy Saturday afternoon. It’s a toss-up for me if I would recommend this film to others not because I didn’t enjoy the film but because most people I know don’t want to sit through a 3 hour movie.

Setting aside the length of the movie and the quick-moving storyline, I still really enjoyed this film! There are times when I like to be challenged when watching a film and this movie definitely fit the bill. For those of you who lack interest in science fiction films painted with reincarnation and adventure well there’s always Anna Karenina which will be in Theatres November 17th!

 Best line in the movie: “My life amounts to no more than one drop in a limitless ocean. Yet what is any ocean, but a multitude of drops?”

The opinions about this film are my own honest opinions. My opinions were not influenced by the compensation I received for writing this review.

Movie of the Week: “Bright Star”

Movie of the Week: Bright Star

Review: Bright Star, the love story between the insanely talented poet John Keats and the lovely Fanny Brawne. This film is one big poem, spoken through the eyes of the director to her audience. Visually this film is a masterpiece, the cinematography is similar to that of a beautiful Monet painting. There are so many breathtaking scenes in this film that I had to pause it for greater appreciation. I love, I adore, I heart this movie and not because it’s a period film. The depth of this film is much more than your average period film. Like how two seemingly unattached people deal with the love they have for one another when life circumstances prevents them from capturing their happiness. Or how about when you struggle to succeed in your profession that’s also your passion. Throw in the challenges of life and how they don’t improve but get worse. This might sound like a depressing movie but it far from that. Bright Star is a testament to love and its weight. The stronghold that love has on your heart and emotions. Whether its painful or joyful you can’t let it go because once you discover true love it’s inevitable. The dedication that John shows to Fanny and Fanny show to John is so inspiring. They have a connection that transcends physicality. Their love for each other has a way of convincing you that life would be meaningless without the prospect of living and breathing the same air as your soul mate. I have yet to cross paths with the love of my life but I hope when I do I am wise enough to recognize it and never it let it go.

If you’re in the mood for an inspiring love story rich in poetry then definitely check out Bright Star.

Best line in the movie: ”there is a holiness to the heart’s affection, you know nothing of that.”