Been Away

I should be posting more stuff soon, reality kept me occupied.

The Master: A Review

This is it, the film I've been waiting for all year, the film everybody's been raving about. I just have to say, having seen it twice, I am not sure what to say.

The story follows Freddie Queyle, a WWII veteran, a drunk with sex obsession. Having returned from the War, with a severe psychological condition, Freddie attempts to adjusts to the Post-War World (Working as a Dept. Store's Photographer & at a farm, both ends up with him leaving due to drinks related issues). Lost, Freddie stows away onboard a Yacht (The Alethia) where he met Lancaster Dodd, founder of a movement called The Cause. Despite warnings from people around him, Dodd takes Freddie under his wing, somehow attracted to him. Together they travel to spread the Cause's teaching, and Dodd attempts to "cure" Freddie.

People have been making connections between Scientology and The Cause. Having no knowledge whatsoever of the former (apart from the publicised stuff in the media), I simply could not see what they see.

Thinking this film is about a certain movement is the first mistake I made when I saw the film for the first time.  After second viewing, I am still no closer to an answer. The film has such rich materials and each is dealt with very subtly, making the film's intention ambiguous.

The cinematography had to be one of the most beautiful I've seen in films this year. Shot on 65mm film (the first film that did so in years), the wide shots really made my jaw drop, such wide scope! (And I saw the film in a cinema with a rather small screen).

Much like his previous collaboration (There Will Be Blood) with Director Paul Thomas Anderson, Jonny Greenwood composed a minimalist, unconventional, atmospheric, and haunting score.

But the biggest win in this film, is in the acting department. Joaquin Phoenix (in his first performance after his "retirement") gives a very convincing and disturbing performance as Freddie. From the way he talks, moves, the glint in his eyes, you could see and feel the madness radiating from within. Phillip Seymour Hoffman on the other hand, is a complete opposite of Phoenix. Dodd (or "Master") is a very controlled, intelligent, sophisticated man. Having these two together in the same scene is always a wonder to behold. Amy Adams as Peggy, Dodd's (3rd?) wife is gentle, kind, but also creepy, fierce, and at times domineering.

It is the relationship between these three characters that is really the heart of the film.   Overall, the film is a triumph and without doubt special among the rest of this year's releases.

5/5

ARGO: A Review

Based on a declassified true story of a CIA operation in the late 70's and early 80's.  ARGO follows CIA Agent, Tony Mendes from the planning stage to the execution of the plan in the field.

The film starts with angry mobs filling the street outside the US Embassy in Tehran, demanding the return of a former Dictator that is harboured by the US. The Mob eventually gets in and takes the Embassy. Six people however, managed to escape to the safety of the Canadian's Ambassador Home.
Knowing that the Iranian militants will soon find out and attempt to capture the six people to be executed with the others. Racing with time to prevent it, CIA begins an operation to extract the six out of Iran without the militants' knowledge.

Argo is appropriately gritty, just like any film of its genre. The Hollywood scenes set a very nice contrasts between the worlds in Argo (Iran, CIA, Hollywood).  These scenes are also among the film's most humorous moments.

The Six Civilians actors play their part well, not only have they been made up as similar to their counterpart as possible (As shown by the end credits) the actors successfully made you care about these people which gives us the epic finale.

Without doubt, one of this year's best films.

4.5/5

Looper: A Review

Judging from people's reactions, Looper could very well be this year's INCEPTION. A high concept film loved by critics and audiences.

I must say, I was among one of the few who were not excited about the film. The marketing of the film never really did "get" me.

Therefore, I went into the cinema, expecting a standard chase thriller between Willis and Levitt. I was wrong.

The Film is brilliant, the idea is absolutely brilliant and (despite how weird it is) Levitt's make-up, made him a convincing "young Bruce Willis"

Set in the not too distant future, 30 years before time travel is invented. Crime organisations utilise the technology to dispose "Undesirables" from the future in the past, effectively erasing these people from existence. Doing the dirty jobs done are the "Loopers", who are paid by Silver attached to their target's back. However, Looper's life span are limited. Sooner or later, every Looper is required to dispose of their future selves, and spend the next 30 years living their life quietly, before they are sent back to the past ("Closing the loop") to die.  Levitt's future self (Willis) arrived in the past to die, only, he already concocted a plan to do something else. Something that set him and his younger selves at the barrel of each other's guns.

Levitt did a very good job portraying Joe the Looper and so is Willis as Old Joe. Both character's motivations perfectly made sense, it's  a bit hard to pick sides (until certain point).

The director did a very good job in capturing the grimness of both the present and the future world. There is a Blade Runner and Children of Men-esque vibe in these two worlds.

Overall one of the most refreshing film to have come out in recent years.

4/5

Beasts Of The Southern Wild: A Review

An indie film that's been getting a lot of good receptions in worldwide festivals. Finally, I get to see it, and it is as good as they say.

Based on a play, the film tells the story about a little girl named Hushpuppy who lives with her father on an island in the middle of Lousiana Swamp in an area called the Bathtub.

The Bathtub is separated not only by the swamp from the main civilisation, but also by a concrete wall that acted as a dam between the two worlds.

Hushpuppy's life is great, until one day, she discovers her father is dying, and a hurricane strikes and destroys the bathtub. The hurricane also unleashes ancient beasts who feasted on everything on earth from the ice where they lay dormant for thousands of years.

The beasts, made their way to the bathtub, and the closer they are, the more hushpuppy's view on the world is changing.

The ending is the point where Hushpuppy's imagination and reality collide and where she finally sees everything clearly, as a grown up.

Being independently produced, the special effects in the film looks really amazing, and the soundtrack has to be one of the best soundtrack of the year. Rousing, and instrumentally diverse, it is a very enjoyable soundtrack.

This is a really good story about growing up, that feels like a combination of Steven Spielberg and Terrence Malick. The conflict between hushpuppy and her father felt very much like E.T and the view on nature felt very Terrence Malick.

4/5

Moonrise Kingdom: A Review

I haven't been following Wes Anderson's films, in fact the first one I saw was Fantastic Mr. Fox. I have been hearing a lot of stuff about how weird Anderson is, but having seen his live-action film in Moonrise, I have to say I really, really enjoyed his style. It's just so...Film..and that's just great.

Set in the 60's the film follows the story of two young lovers who run away from their respective problems in the world into a secluded beach they nicknamed, "moonrise kingdom", a place where they could be themselves and have fun, without having the issues of being treated differently by the society, a place where they belong.

Told in a very quirky fashion, the story delivers a very good balance of laughs, hearts, and dangers (whilst keeping its quirkiness).

Our lovers deliver such a good performance, and so are our grown ups. It's interesting seeing Bruce Willis play such a dorky police.

The cinematography is just gorgeous, every shot is a visual treat.

Without doubt, one of the best films of the year, a gorgeous looking, well written, well acted, well designed, and well directed.

5/5

The Bourne Legacy: A Review

The fourth instalment in the Bourne franchise, this time however, without Jason Bourne. Jeremy Renner, whose star seems to be getting brighter, and his face appears in Multiplexes every once a week stands as Aaron Cross, an Outcome Agents who searches for enhancement pills called "Chems".

The story itself is set somewhere within The Bourne Ultimatum timeline, Aaron Cross, a CIA Outcome Agent (yet another one of their divisions since Treadstone and Blackbriar apparently) is travelling through the woods and is addicted to his batch of "chem" pills which enhance his physical and intelligence capabilities.

Running out of options, Aaron travels to find the Doctor whom he thinks would be able to hand him the pills cold turkey. But alas, the pills are kept in Manila and they have to travel there first.

Directed by Tony Gilroy, the screenwriter for the first three, this Bourne outing is surprisingly dull. It started out too slow, and when things started to get interesting it ends.

However, I enjoy the gritty realism of the film, which is something every Bourne films was known for.

Despite being a Bourne film without Bourne in it, this film still stands pretty well on its own, but the utilisation of parallel timeline to the excellent Ultimatum made me couldn't help but missing Jason Bourne in action and Paul Greengrass's kinetic cinematography.

Also, there never seems to be any real face off between Cross and the villain Byer, and Cross also never feels like a proper protagonist and his journey is a bit lame compared to Jason (junkie in need of a fix vs man without memory), in the end aaron felt more like a side characters, because the protagonist, Jason Bourne is currently MIA.

2.5/5