Film Review -- Interstellar

The much-anticipated new film from Christopher Nolan stars Matthew McConaughey, Anne Hathaway, Jessica Chastain, Michael Caine, and Matt Damon. In the not-so-distant future, the Earth will have been rendered practically inhospitable, both by mankind's actions and by a devastating blight that has affected most of the world's crops. Murph (Mackenzie Foy), ten-year-old daughter of Cooper (McConaughey), a space pilot-turned-farmer, senses a mysterious force in her bedroom, which she initially believes is a ghost. It reveals coordinates that lead Murph and Cooper to the top-secret NASA headquarters, which must now operate in complete secrecy because public funding for space exploration would be viewed as lunacy in a famine-stricken world. There, Cooper reunites with his old colleague, Professor Brand (Caine), and his daughter, Dr. Amelia Brand (Hathaway). They convince him to pilot an ambitious mission to try to save the human species. A wormhole discovered near Saturn (which, since they are artificial, no one knows who places there) leads to another galaxy that hosts three potential habitable planets. Cooper and Dr. Brand, along with physicist Romilly (David Gyasi), geographer Doyle (Wes Bently), and two intelligent robots, TARS and CASE (voiced by Bill Irwin and Josh Stewart, respectively) must travel to these planets, already inhabited by one scientist each, who were sent on an earlier mission, to determine if any of them is capable of being humankind's new home. In accepting this mission, Cooper must come to terms with the fact that time is relative, and therefore that by the time he returns - if he ever returns - he will have missed most of his children's lives, something that grown-up physicist Murph (Chastain) deeply resents. The ambitiousness of Interstellar is undeniable. It is truly a groundbreaking visual masterpiece, and just gorgeous to watch (and absolutely worth the extra cost to be seen in XD/IMAX). The plot itself has some obvious problems, and although I am a stickler for good storytelling, plot inconsistencies are usually easier to forgive in well-done sci-fi, and even easier when it packs such an incredible visual punch as this film does. Even so, the story does impressively hold its own throughout the three-hour running time, and for that I had no problem suspending my disbelief. Interstellar is a breathtaking film that will certainly rank among my favorite films of the year. 

Should you see it: Yes
Grade: A-

Film Review -- The Judge

The Judge is a 2014 drama directed by David Dobkin and stars Robert Downey Jr., Robert Duvall, Vera Farmiga, Vincent D'Onofrio, Dax Shephard, and Jeremy Strong. Successful Chicago lawyer Hank Palmer (Downey Jr.) reluctantly returns to his small hometown of Carlinville, Indiana to attend his mother's funeral. The sad event forces Hank to confront his strained relationship with his family, mainly his brothers Glen (D'Onofrio) and Dale (Strong), and his father, Joseph (Duvall), the town's beloved judge. Only a couple of days later, Joseph is accused of running over a recently released convict whose case was the judge's biggest regret. It is up to Hank to defend his father and save his legacy. The film's premise is very interesting, as it is both a mystery/thriller as well as a family drama. However, I thought that these elements were poorly executed; the plot was predictable and there was just too much family drama, almost to the point of unbelievable (it plays out as a male-driven August: Osage County, since there's everything from secrets to betrayal to incest). It isn't all bad though, with the excellent performances being the standout, especially from the central Downey Jr.-Duval duo. With a running time of almost two-and-a-half hours, The Judge is ultimately an over-long, soap opera-ish melodrama that doesn't quite live up to its potential.

Should you see it: Yes
Grade: B-

Film Review -- Gone Girl

Based on the book by Gillian Flynn, who also adapted the screenplay, the film is directed by David Fincher and stars Ben Affleck, Rosamund Pike, Neil Patrick Harris, Tyler Perry, and Carrie Coon. The beautiful and intelligent Amy Elliott Dunne (Pike) disappears from her home in North Carthage, Missouri, on her five-year wedding anniversary. Her husband, Nick (Affleck) quickly becomes the prime suspect in the case. Amy, the inspiration behind her parents' once-successful "Amazing Amy" children's book series and a lifetime New Yorker, was unhappy and lonely living in her husband's small hometown, having been forced to move after both of them lost their jobs as writers in NYC. With the last of her trust fund, she helps Nick buy a bar - The Bar - downtown, which he runs with his twin sister, Margo (Coon). As the idyllic life they knew slips further and further away, the disintegration of their marriage is told in (mostly) two perspectives - Nick's, who recounts the events after his wife's disappearance, and Amy's, who paints the viewers a picture, through flashback diary entries, of the couple's happier days in New York. As the truth about what happened to Amy unravels, the viewer is taken on a shocking ride full of twists, turns, and secrets. This film is one of the very few examples of a film being better than the book. I found the book, while gripping and suspenseful in its first half, to be ultimately unsatisfying, as I was very disappointed by the second half. In case someone hasn't seen it yet, I'll keep specifics to a minimum, but I found the ending to be completely unrealistic and unbelievable. Although the ending is kept pretty much the same in the film, for some reason it worked better on the screen. This, undoubtedly, is due mainly to Fincher, Affleck and Pike. The director does a great job in creating a brooding, mysterious and visually beautiful backdrop, with the film being perfectly paced and styled. All of the actors are excellent, but especially the two leads, who nail their characters and portray them exactly how I had pictured in the book. The plot, although much improved in film format, continues to be VERY weak in many spots, but ultimately the other well-done elements turn it into a surprisingly good film. I wasn't expecting to like it very much, based on my disappointment with the book, but Gone Girl definitely makes for an entertaining, impressive film. 

Should you see it: Yes

Grade: B+

Film Review -- Begin Again

Written and directed by John Carney, this musical comedy stars Mark Ruffalo, Keira Knightley, Adam Levine, Hailee Steinfeld, and Catherine Keener. Dan Mulligan (Ruffalo) is down on his luck, both professionally and personally. Once a hugely successful music producer, he hasn't been able to recruit any new and exciting talent in quite awhile, largely due to his troubles at home --he is separated from his wife, Miriam (Keener), who left him for a doomed affair, and his relationship with his daughter, Violet (Steinfeld) is strained. One night, drunk and miserable, he hears Gretta (Knightley) sing at a rock club. Immediately recognizing her potential as a singer-songwriter (and seeing her as his potential ticket back into his label), he attempts to convince her to sign with him. She, however, has complications of her own, particularly in the form of lingering feelings for her cheating ex, Dave (Levine). As Dan and Greta set out to make their record - outdoors, in different parts of New York City - they both end up finding themselves along the way. It isn't surprising that this film is the work of Carney, the same man behind Once, one of the best musical films I've ever seen. This "American" version is more lighthearted, but really, really enjoyable. Knightley and Ruffalo are perfectly cast (and even Levine works), the script is funny and poignant and, best of all, the film steers clear of many tired rom-com clichés. And the music, to boot, is pretty great (my favorites - "Lost Stars" and "A Higher Place"). There are many reasons to go see this feel-good, touching film. 

Should you see it: Yes
Grade: A-

Film Review -- Dawn of the Planet of the Apes

The sequel of the prequel of the original sci-fi series (whew!) is directed by Matt Reeves and stars Andy Serkis, Jason Clarke, Keri Russell, and Gary Oldman. The film begins many years after Caesar, the chimpanzee whose abilities were heightened by an experimental drug, infects and frees other apes to form a powerful army. The ape colony now lives undisturbed in the mountains near San Francisco, a shadow of the city it once was after the so-called "Simian Flu" wipes out half of the planet's human population. Desperate to find an alternate power source to fuel the city, a group -- among them Malcolm (Clarke), Ellie (Russell), Alexander (Kodi Smit- McPhee), Foster (Jon Eyez), and Carver (Kirk Acevedo) -- venture into the woods to locate an abandoned dam that could be the solution they're searching for. Their interaction with the apes leads to a crossroads in the coexistence of the two species, and their bonds of trust will be tested as both fight to survive. Although it's been a while since I've seen Rise of the Planet of the Apes, I'd say that I enjoyed the films equally. I thought that the story of this film was very well-executed, as the plot was about as airtight as a sci-fi plot can be. I appreciated its simplicity; the writers did not attempt to construct an overly-complex narrative that would be nearly impossible to pull off in two hours. Instead, the tone and pace of the film were very solid. As in the first film, the CGI is remarkable. The lifelikeness of the apes is extraordinary, and professionals such as the terrific Andy Serkis continue to redefine the scope and range of an actor. In short, Dawn is an entertaining and worthy sequel, and sci-fi film in general.

Should you see it: Yes
Grade: B+

Film Review -- X-Men: Days of Future Past

The next installment of Brian Singer's new X-Men franchise stars Patrick Stewart, Ian McKellen, James McAvoy, Hugh Jackman, Michael Fassbender, Jennifer Lawrence, Nicholas Hoult, Ellen Page, Peter Dinklage, and Halle Berry. Trapped in a dystopian, war-drenched world where mutants are actively hunted, Charles Xavier and Magneto (Stewart and McKellen) summon Wolverine (Jackman) to execute a dangerous, desperate plan to save their future: send Wolverine back into the past -- 1973, to be exact -- to stop Mystique (Lawrence) from killing famed scientist Dr. Bolivar Trask (Dinklage), the inventor of the Sentinel machines that would be responsible for the killing of the mutants in the war. Mystique's actions would result in her capture and subsequent torture, so that her shapeshifting powers could be harnessed to create the Sentinels' power of adapting to and overcoming any ability of their mutant foe. It is thus crucial for Wolverine to prevent Mystique from being captured, all while dealing with a debilitated young Charles (McAvoy) and the volatile young Magneto (Fassbender). I found this sequel to be on par with its predecessor, First Class, which is an impressive feat for a sequel. The story is interesting and well-executed, the ideal mix of plot development and special effects. Of course, since we are dealing with an action blockbuster, there are a few plot holes, but that is to be expected. All things considered, this film succeeds at being an entertaining franchise installment with the added bonus of having substance, too.

Should you see it: Yes
Grade: B+

Film Review -- The Grand Budapest Hotel

Written and directed by Wes Anderson, the film features a brilliant cast in Ralph Fiennes, F. Murray Abraham, Adrien Brody, Willem Dafoe, Jeff Goldblum, Edward Norton, Tilda Swinton, Jude Law, Bill Murray, Owen Wilson, Jason Schwartzman, Saiorse Ronan, and Tony Revolori. In the 1930s, in the fictional Eastern European nation of Zubrowka, sits the majestic Grand Budapest Hotel, one of the finest in the world, and a model for opulence and luxury. Its devoted concierge is M. Gustave (Fiennes), who takes a young refugee lobby boy, Zero Moustafa (Revolori), under his wing. Together, they must set out on a wild adventure to prove M. Gustave's innocence when he is accused of the murder of an elderly hotel client, Madame D. (Swinton) by her evil son, Dmitri (Brody).  I was skeptical at first to see this film because Wes Anderson's filmmaking vision is definitely not my cup of tea. Two of his recent features, Fantastic Mr. Fox and Moonrise Kingdom, I freely admit that I did not enjoy. However, in Budapest, his "crazy" style absolutely works, and works brilliantly well. The overflowing energy of the actors, the colorful sets, the melodramatic score, and the sharp dialogue create a whimsical and entertaining narrative. This is one of those films where its essence is difficult to put into words, since so much of what works is a combination of visual and auditory elements that create a filmgoing experience. In addition to being almost fairy tale-like in its storytelling, the film also succeeds in being a poignant and melancholy critic of the destruction that the rise of Fascism inflicted upon ordinary people in that time. The viewers only get to experience the once opulent Grand Budapest Hotel through the lens of an aging Zero (Abraham), now owner of the empty and decaying palace -- its business destroyed by the second World War and communism -- telling this fantastical murder mystery story to a young Author (Law). This is truly a one-of-a-kind, unforgettable film, and a triumph of imaginative filmmaking. 

Should you see it: Yes
Grade: A+