Winter's Tale (A New York Winter's Tale)

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This film is based off the novel with the same title written by Mark Helprin. Peter Lake is a burglar trying to escape his past with Pearly Soames. Before leaving, he finishes one last job. Instead, he falls in love with Beverly Penn (a dying heiress). Peter finds himself fighting against evil forces for love and life.

This film was directed by Akiva Goldsman. This film is nothing like the commercials. There is no traveling into the future to learn about the past, and the film is mainly focused on the past. The story assumes that you already know about this world, so it does not establish anything about it. It also creates the characters in this world and assumes that you will just accept it as a magical/religious tale, so that you will just suspend belief and follow it. Using religion as a form of magic is very unique, and strange. Unfortunately, that means there are no explanations. All that can be understood is that there are demons and angels who work using miracles like magic. That aside, following the effects more than the story will allow its audiences to figure most of it out. The way this story is presented, the future seems like a waste to the first part of the film. The past is barely established. There is also no great resolution for this film. The battle between Peter and Pearly should've been more elaborate to give the final grand blow. The characters are developed in anyway, and never learn any great mystery about themselves of this world. Which is a shame, because there is a lot of emotional situations happening that you can not connect to. The special effects were often subtle, which looked great on screen. It gave the film its mystery. The computer animation coupled with the backdrop were impressive to watch on screen. Colin Farrell played the role of Peter Lake. He was great creating this one dimensional character. If the story allowed, his character could have been greater. Russell Crowe played the role of Pearly Soames. He established a great opposing villain to Lake. Unfortunately, the story gives no real justification to his purpose for opposing Lake. Jessica Brown Findlay played the role of Beverly Penn. She was good playing a general love interest role.

I give this film 2 out of 5 stars! It had a great basis for a magical, and religious, love story. Without its character development, or establishing anything about the world, it fails.

Answer to last blog: Director Atom Egoyan, Devil's Knot, directed the film Chloe.

Que: Which film, featuring actor Will Smith, did director Akiva Goldsman not produce?

I Am Legend

Hancock

After Earth

I, Robot

Devil's Knot (2013)

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This film is based off the true events of the Memphis Three case. Stevie Branch, Christopher Byers, and Michael Moore are murdered in West Memphis, Arkansas.  After a shocking confession, Damien Echols, Jason Baldwin, and Jessie Misskelley are accused of murdering the three boys due to a satanic ritual.

This film was directed by Atom Egoyan. This film follows a well known story that has been previously shown in documentaries. This film does not resort to sensationalism, or much altering, to make it more glamorized. It follows the trail and shows the troubles the defendants faced when the world was against them. It also slowly delves into hidden truths about the failed police investigations, and the failure of the courts in hearing all evidence equally. It also shows what later evidence has revealed about the murders. This film keeps more to the evidence and trails instead of showing more of the secondary character's strife. It does well at slowly peeling away at the evidence for people who are not familiar with the incident. The story does present an image of how a terrified public can be misguided in their decisions because of blind faith. A good thing the film does is in keeping the characters realistic. Reese Witherspoon played the role of Pam Hobbs. It is great watching her take on more mature roles. In this film she plays the role of a grieving mother seeking an answer to her son's death. She does an emotional performance that could have been built on make the story more compelling-especially during the ending. Colin Firth played the role of Ron Lax. His character is a desperate private investigator working for the defendant's lawyers. His character really drives the story since he links together all the missing facts. He does offer the film some emotion, but his character remains too much like a struggling investigator without varied deep emotions.

I give this film 3 out of 5 stars! It is a general good film that presents the facts of a troubling trail. It just lacks the right amount of compassion to drive this film.

Answer to last blog: Actor Frank Grillo, The Purge: Anarchy, did not star in the film Captain American: The First Avenger.

Que: What other film has Atom Egoyan directed?

The Blind Side
Chloe
The Bad Lieutenant: Port to Call-New Orleans
Broken Embraces

The Purge: Anarchy

Caution: Might Contain Spoilers!

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This film is a sequel to The Purge. Sergeant Leo Barnes decides to purge, so that he could get revenge for his deceased son. Eva and Cali (mother and daughter) Sanchez are attacked and hunted by uniformed people. Shane and Liz's car wires are cut forcing them to become stuck outside on purge night. Their lives all intermingle on the same night as they try to survive together.

This film was directed and written by James DeMonaco. The same director who worked on the first film. This film shifts it story telling from suburban family values to the streets. The original showed how a family would struggle to survive, but the sequel shows what happens on the streets to the unprotected. It is a marked improvement over the original, because it builds on the world it developed. However, this film is greatly hindered by its need to preach about the vileness of the government. It also further drives home the ideal that money is evil by making all the continued purge murders wealthy. The few poor purgers only seek revenge. There is also an underlying message about guns. Since it tries too hard to tell these aspects, the rest of the story lacks the deep emotional sympathy needed to make it impactful. The characters and the story remain very cliched and predictable. This film also lacks a staple villain to make the film terrifying. The main villain, another ploy at the government, is more annoying than anything else. This film tries more for jump scares than actual frightening or unnerving segments. Since its focus is on the ideals there are no real scares in this horror film. There is violence, but its nothing too morbid. There is a small nod to the predecessor with the return of a familiar character. Frank Grillo played the role of Sergeant Leo Barnes. He was great for the film, because he offered the film its controversial perspective: when is it right to purge? This character is used to showcase the obvious answer. However, he offers the series a humanizing hero. Zoe Soul played the role of Cali Sanchez. She is purely there to offer the rational thoughts to Barnes by being a loud mouthed teenager. Her character is irritating in the appropriate ways for this film. Carmen Ejogo played the role of Eva Sanchez. She was the highly cliched mother character that was seen in the first film. Kiele Sanchez and Zach Gilford played the role of Liz and Shane. They worked well at being the obvious targets. Their characters did offer the film most of its dark humor though.

I give this film 3 out of 5 stars. It is better than its predecessor, but it still boggled by its ideals. Those ideals are presented in a dark fashion makes it passable as a horror film. 

Answer to last blog: Actor Jason Clark, Dawn of the Planet of the Apes, starred in the film The Great Gatsby.

Que: What film has actor Frank Grillo not starred in?

Warrior

The Grey

Captain America: The First Avenger

Captain America: The Winter Soldier

Dawn of the Planet of the Apes

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This film is a sequel to the film Rise of the Planet of the Apes; which is a reboot from the Planet of the Apes franchise. In 2016, the ALZ-113 virus has killed the majority of the human population. Caesar governs a group of rapidly evolving apes in the Muir Woods. After believing that the humans have perished, his son (Blue Eyes) comes across one. Caesar's home becomes threatened by this group of human survivors seeking a way to improve their lives.

This film was directed by Matt Reeves. This film builds upon its predecessors story marvelously by expanding the universe. The story presents these apes with more intelligence and a very humane quality. The film also presents the decline of human civilization by trending on the ruins of its former existence. They also make it plausible for apes to dominate life. While providing its audiences with building tension, it provides an idea that humans aren't the enemy. It shows that with intelligence comes good and bad individuals. Knowing where the direction of the story is going, the film is fairly predictable. However, this film keeps it from being too obvious. It is great watching this adaptation explain how it happened, instead of creating time paradoxes. The computer generated apes looked great on screen. The motion capture also worked wonders for providing a more human feel to them. This does provide a more realistic appearance for the simian cast; which works better than humans in costumes and make-up. Often, they are frightening in an understandable way. There is more violence in this film, but nothing too morbid. Fortunately, for fans of the film, another sequel is already the works. It is unfortunate that some of the old cast did not return for this film. But, it allowed the film to carry into a new chapter. Andy Serkis voiced the character Caesar. This man has landmarked his career from using motion capture and vocal talents. This film carries his talents into new depths. He gave the character so much believability that it made the film successful. He also kept the character strong with a touch of vulnerability that made him likable. Jason Clarke played the role of Malcolm. He offered the human version of the story. The character is familiar, but warm hearted. 

I give this film 5 out of 5 stars! It is a great sequel that provides summer audiences with plenty of action.

Answer to last blog: Director Spike Jonze, her, directed the film Being John Malkovich.

Que: What other film has actor Jason Clark starred in?

The Great Gatsby

Gangster Squad
Argo

American Hustle

her (2013)

Caution: This Might Contain Spoilers!

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Theodore, a lonely note writer, decides to install a new operating system program for companionship. This OS program was designed to meet all of his basic needs for a friend. They start a unique relationship that changes both other their lives. 

This film was directed and written by Spike Jonze. This takes it time to explore the ideas of a relationship between an highly intelligent, and ever evolving, computer program with a human. It becomes more believable because the computer program develops an automatic personality that changes based on experience. I do enjoy how this film explores a lot of the facets of a relationship such as this. They introduce surrogates (a living body for the program) and other human reactions. It also delves into the concepts of human relationships. It explores what could happen with technology such as this. The heart of the story comes purely off the connection these actors establish. This film is moderately science fiction making the plot more believable. This is also very much an adult film, and not just because of all the cussing either. There is a lot of sex, particularly during the first half of the film, that it could almost feel like a porno. This film uses subtlety for its futuristic technology, which works wonders for the film. Joaquin Phoenix played the role of Theodore. He re-created himself to create this character. He made the role very sincere with a slightly creepy edge. Scarlett Johansson voiced the character Samantha. Purely from her voice, she was very impressive. She gave the operating system a personality that could be understood and loved.

I give this film 5 out of 5 stars! This is a very intelligent film about a possible upcoming future. It might not be suitable for children, but it is worth a watch.

Answer to last blog: Actor Eddie Redmayne, My Week with Marilyn, starred in the film the Other Boleyn Girl.

Que: What other film has director Spike Jonze directed?

The Big Lebowski

Being John Malkovich

A Clockwork Orange
American Beauty