4/14/2015

"Some would die to act. Others just die on set"

Title: The Last Showing 
Year: 2014 
Genre:Thriller 
Director: Phil Hawkins 
Writer: Phil Hawkins 
Runtime: 89min 
Cast: Robert Englund, Finn Jones, Emily Berrington, Malachi Kirby, Keith Allen 
Produc.: The Philm Company, Little Fish Films 
Budget: $2 million aprox. 

Long ago, Robert Rodriguez walked into a classroom to talk to some kids about movie-making, in a speech that would only last, believe it or not, less than 8 minutes. Anybody would have think this sounded crazy, but having seen the video I must confess that what he did was a mixture between giving good tips, very clear, and to encourage them to be creative and intelligent, and not think so much about the money. What I, however, most take from it, was the part where he says "Take stock in what you have. Your father owns a liquor store? Make a movie about a liquor store." That day Robert was sincere, and we may or may not like his work, but the truth is that with his formula he´s made himself a place in modern industry. 
Changing celebrities, just now I´ve finished watching another movie, but of his namesake Robert Englund, of whom actually I haven´t seen a thing since his last personification of Freddy Kruger. But, why do I jump from one filmmaker to another? Because seeing Englund impersonating an old deranged man and the situation in question, was also as to wonder if he himself might have being inspired by "El Mariachi´s” director. 
In The Last Showing, a couple attends a special showing, only for them, of Wes Craven's classic The Hills Have Eyes 2 (1984), to see that the projection is cut and then they find themselves trapped in the multiplex. The culprit of all is the projectionist itself, Stuart (Robert Englund), who manages to drug Allie (Emily Berrington) and separate her from Martin (Finn Jones), forcing him to follow his commands to the letter, if he wants to get her back alive. So far nothing´s unusual, right? Well, it turns out that this multiplex is full of security cameras and monitors, and Stuart intends to record everything while using the monitors for his messages, plus also recording with a handheld camera. Still, all quiet ordinary, right? Well, it turns out that, just as before has Rodriguez said, the filmmaker without any money must contrive with what he has, and Stuart, with 25 years of experience in this place, knows by heart how to operate the cameras and the electrical system, as every inch of the place, and has had sufficient time to make a big film set out of his workplace, devise a strategy to attract his actors and even write his script. Stuart aims to make the first film with non actors and real deaths. 
Phil Hawkins creates a character that unlike Rodriguez´s students, is out of his mind, apart from having diverse knowledges in cinema, including audio and video montage and data transfer. 
Although it looks as the typical movie of "if you want to live, abide by my rules," the director is clever in the use of resources, handling all the possibilities of a multiplex and in sufficient credibility, while forces his characters to act for him his wanted twists, without not knowing it at all. Furthermore, Stuart keeps on expressing out loud his clear understandings of clichés and narrative structure, while he "directs" his forced cast, one that does not even know the script, nor wants to play it. 
As to the end, I´d say it has very interesting things, when deepening a little more into Stuart´s artistic view. But there are unintelligible attitudes of both the projectionist and the policeman called to the scene, but that doesn´t interfere with the rest. It´s worth watching. 

My rating: 7/10

3/19/2015

"Cinema just meant for kids"

Title: Paddington 
Year: 2014
Genre: Comedy, Family 
Director: Paul King 
Writer: Paul King and Hamish McColl (written by); Michael Bond (character Paddington Bear)
Runtime: 95min 
Cast: Hugh Bonneville, Sally Hawkins, Julie Walters, Ben Whishaw, Madeleine Harris, Samuel Joslin, Nicole Kidman 
Produc.: StudioCanal, Anton Capital Entertainment (ACE), TF1 Films Production, Canal +, Ciné +, TF1, Amazon Prime Instant Video, Heyday Films 
Presup.: $55 millions approx. 

When talking about book adaptations, there are several reasons why I've always believe it better to analyze a film, regardless of the source. Generally speaking, what happens is that the written and visual languages are too different and don´t always match. Additionally is to consider that, according to what the book might have made you feel, the anger or pleasure with which you´ll receive the new piece. An example of this is the rejection lately received by the Fifty Shades of Grey (2015) premiere, which has undeservedly created many detractors, just because the book is apparently so bad that, for many, to having been adapted is offensive. 
Exactly the opposite is what´s happened to the screen´s version of children's book Paddington Bear. Given the affection and attachment to its main character (a small bear with a red hat), touching people´s hearts after nearly six decades, has prevented many from being harshest critics. 
At Christmas of 1958 writer Michael Bond bought his wife a teddy bear seen in a shop, near the station that would name the character. Subsequently, this gift would inspire him to create his Peruvian orphan bear, which after arriving in England would be received by the Browns, a London family. 
Briefly going over some comments I got convinced that the director was able to meet the expectations. If what I saw is fairly similar to what´s described by Bond, not only this man has managed to entertain, but also conveyed a message of acceptance and tolerance. Bond talks about how insignificant may sometimes be differences between people, when it comes to solidarity with those in need. In this instance, also being the case of someone who’s not only in need, but who is also going to help improve an outlook of family misunderstandings. Needless to say, all this must be taken from a context, where the rest in no more than a fantasy, where a talking bear is rescued by humans who treat him like a person. 
Message aside, if Paddington Bear had been strictly meant for children and, when adapted, taken on this same direction, it would be expected not to be up to a more mature audience. The narrative has been posed so that we see him embark on a wild adventure through London ground, between funny domestic accidents, exaggerated and unexpected persecutions, the search of a permanent home and the struggle to avoid falling into evil hands. 
Becomes unnecessary to seek for too much logic, because what you see is what it is. An innocent comedy with no winks or jokes meant for an audience with other kinds of interests. This adaptation is in no ways similar, for example, to the Harry Potter´s style, much more deeper and aimed to a wider audience. 
Paddington is another great mix of digital animation and live action, but unfortunately, beyond that, it has got not much else. 

My rating: 3/10

2/19/2015

"Fincher puts together an excellent puzzle"

Title: Gone Girl
Year: 2014
Genre: Drama, Mystery, Thriller
Director: David Fincher
Writer: Gillian Flynn (written by); Gillian Flynn (based on his novel)
Runtime: 149min
Cast: Ben Affleck, Rosamund Pike, Kim Dickens, Tyler Perry, Carrie Coon, Neil Patrick Harris
Produc.: Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation, Regency Enterprises, TSG Entertainment, Artemple - Hollywood, New Regency Pictures, Pacific Standard
Presup.: $61 million approx.

I think it wouldn´t be false, but just fair, to say that the quality of a good movie could be seen as directly proportional to its ability to captivate us. And I stress upon this for a very specific reason. Many of the greatest films have had probably got lots of errors that the enthusiastic viewer wouldn´t notice. For my part, after watching Gone Girl I could probably strive to recount the facts and perhaps come to the conclusion that there were some gross plot mistakes, but to be perfectly honest, I doubt anyone would want to spend five minutes of their lives trying to find them.
Anyone who´s seen Guy Ritchie´s Sherlock Holmes and liked it, probably would have overlooked if anything didn´t fit. The thing is that both, on the side of villains planning stuff, as in the deductive right guess of our detective, it´s so fast how it all happens, that to see the mistakes, if any, would be hard. What, however, isn´t for us so difficult to qualify as good, is the whole package.
The same could be said on the development of the facts in Now You See Me (2013), where events happen so fast that even once explained, one can´t do nothing but to force itself into believing them.
With Gone Girl it´s another case where many have decided to hate Fincher, unhappy with the unreliability of some things. I'm not a cop or possess detective skills, which maybe, these people did, but it's hard to believe that occasional inconsistencies could tarnish the whole argument. In any case, with or without errors, I think Gone Girl is a drama that qualifies as good.
It all begins one morning when Nick (Ben Affleck) leaves his place, to then return and that his wife has disappeared (as the title suggests). Thereafter, the plot revolves around a puzzled and confused husband who´s got to work along with the police, while having to be very careful with what he says or doesn´t, concerning their marriage. All this, while justice seeks to find out whether this ally who´s collaborating, might himself have been the one they´re looking. Only, maybe Nick is guilty, but of another kind of crime.
During part of the film Fincher has us pinned in finding Amy (Rosamund Pike) and the reason of her dessapearance. Then, with the answer unveiled, he´s got us witnessing a twist, and where he allows us to have a closer look at the relationship between Nick and Amy, and to the why Nick had to go find her.
It´s difficult to write without revealing too much, but something than I can say is that it's great the way it addresses the sometimes so evident ignorance and chatter of people, when outsiders think they know everything about someone they haven´t even met, being so easy to talk without thinking.
Gone Girl is about a marriage with very serious problems and about a man stuck in something he doesn´t know if there´s a way out. Nick must give honest answers to prove his innocence, while he deals with the public opinion, which does nothing but to destroy him.

My rating: 8/10


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