Baz Luhrmann’s vision of the Roaring Twenties dazzles as a purely sensory piece of sight and sound. The hollow narrative doesn’t stop The Great Gatsby from entertaining as a gorgeous, glittering work of visual art.
-Diva Velez, TheDivaReview.comIt looks great, and it’s an impressive tale to bring to the big screen, but the lack of interest in telling the story keep “Gatsby” from being a great film.
-Kristian Harloff, Schmoes Know
There’s never been a movie quite like this. A 3D romantic drama is new ground for Hollywood and if Gatsby’s success is any indication, we will see a lot more of these in the future. I wasn’t too sure what to expect going into this film because I intentionally neglected to read the novel in high school. It turns out, going in without any context was a a good move. The film really surprised me in a way I don’t think would have been possible had I been more familiar with the material.
The cinematography and time period of this film is every bit a character as Leonardo DiCaprio or Toby Maguire themselves. New York City becomes a living, breathing creature as the characters travel from the mansions of West Egg through the grimy dust of the isolated coal mining town, the “Valley of Ashes”, connecting the wealthy to the sparkling skyscrapers of Manhattan.
The bright lights of 1920’s Manhattan
This movie’s biggest strength is it’s incredible visual style. It is by all accounts a Baz Luhrmann film. The Great Gatbsy looks absolutely fantastic; filmed with precise detail, Luhrmann brings his frenzied visual sense to every scene. The parties, street races, and even moments of dialogue are framed with his own unique stamp.
The decade of the Roaring 1920’s and all the excesses of wealth are on prominent display here: fancy costumes, fast cars, giant parties, extravagant furnishings, bootlegged alcohol. The divide between the rich and the poor is vast and it really takes a toll on the less fortunate. The film does a great job showcasing just how this particular lifestyle dynamic alters the fate of Gatsby and his acquaintances.
Gatsby is no stranger to extravagant house parties
This film has more to offer than just a unique visual style. A great, anochronistic soundtrack composed by Jay-Z pumps through all the party scenes and brings a cool modern twist to the otherwise period setting. All the acting is more or less first-rate, albeit deliberate. Often lines are recited or narrated like being read from the pages of the book. Although intentional, it can be kind of jarring.
Gatsby’s lavish mansion in West Egg – a bit excessive
The Great Gatsby is a ton of fun and deserves to be seen on the big screen. It is the first of its kind, a 3D drama that comes complete with director Baz Luhrmann’s unique and energetic visual style. Clocking in at well over 2 hours, it does seem to drag just a bit in parts of the second act, but not enough to deter the overall enjoyment of the film. Leonardo DiCaprio puts on an outstanding performance as Gatsby that will help this film become the definitive version of the literary classic for years to come.
FilmFire review:
4/5 forms
Not all of Oblivion’s big ideas stick – in fact some of them threaten to send the film spiralling into its namesake – but at its best, the film achieves something that is highly elusive in modern film: it is completely and utterly engrossing.
-Adam Ross, The AristocratExtraordinary, if a little hard to follow at times. A jaw-dropping, exciting and the most visually stunning and innovative science-fiction thriller to hit the screen since ‘Blade Runner’ . Cruise delivers one of the best performances of his career.
-Pete Hammond, Movieline
This spring movie season has been brutal. There have been a few hidden gems among the mess, but very few and far between. Side Effects and Spring Breakers come to mine as some of the standouts, but it’s tough to be satisfied with 2 quality films in a 4 month stretch. So, it’s quite a relief to be nearing summer movie season once again. This summer looks to have some exciting films in store. If not as hyped as last years disappointing Summer of the Superhero Sequel, they will at least be interesting to talk about. Which brings us to Oblivion, The first notable release of summer 2013.
This is Joseph Kasinski’s 2nd turn as director after Tron: Legacy a few years ago. Although a lot of people were disappointed in that film, I was very impressed with it’s style and visual flair. Fortunately, Kosinski does the same great work with Oblivion. It is absolutely gorgeous.
Oblivion follows some pretty conventional and familiar sci-fi tropes; but it doesn’t hinder the film as much as you would think. Of course, you have a steady dose of grungy future environments, outcasts dressed in steam-punk garb and other tired elements of this recent wave of sci-fi.
But don’t worry, it’s not just another sci-fi retread set in a post-apocalyptic Earth. One would think that a film set on an empty planet would be a chore to watch, but Oblivion actually makes incredible use of it’s surroundings. So many beautiful sprawling shots of the scorched landscape, crumbling rock formations, ruined landmarks, etc. But what elevates this movie above more recent offerings in the genre is the completely original story that makes up the backbone of all the beautiful imagery. After a full summer of sequels, prequels and superhero blockbusters last year, Oblivion is a really refreshing summer action film.
An interesting thing about this film – despite it’s originality, it completely respects all great sci-fi that has come before it. It borrows here and there from one film or another and an important sequence at the end appears to be a tribute to 2001: A Space Odyssey.
The presence of everyman Tom Cruise may irk some, but you have to admit he does a great job in this type of role. He’s played this character before but he’s good at it. He brings a gravitas and sense of respect to the role that a lesser actor wouldn’t have been able to accomplish.
Oblivion is a ton of fun and a great way to start out this summer movie season. It’s probably not a masterpiece, but you could do a lot worse than spending a few hours at the theater with spaceman Tom Cruise and steam-punk Morgan Freeman. The only major negative: the lack of a soothing voiceover from the angelic Mr. Freeman.
FilmFire review:
4.25/5 forms
It’s bold, it’s beautiful, it’s a sheer delight… and a more disciplined approach might have made a masterpiece out of it.
-Rob Vaux, Mania.comTarantino’s spaghetti western of the American South is an untamed blast of stylishly rendered, outrageous entertainment.
-John Wirt, The Advocate
A new Quentin Tarantino movie is something I always look forward to and Django is no exception. Not all of them hit the mark for me, but they’re always interesting at the least and borderline genius at best. Pulp Fiction has been one of my all time favorite films since I first saw it and his others typically find a place in my yearly top ten lists. Django Unchained will most likely do the same.
If Inglorious Basterds is Tarantino’s revisionist history masterpiece, Django Unchained is him getting the rest of the revenge out of his system. This is a brutal, blood soaked hero’s journey and Quentin, as usual, gets the last laugh – whether it be Kill Bill‘s Bill or Hitler and the Nazis (Basterds) and now to slavery and plantation owners in Django. Let’s just say the slave owners don’t end up faring too well in this film.
It definitely would have been interesting to see Will Smith play Django, as was once rumored before the cast was finalized, but Jamie Foxx is flat out awesome as the character. For a relatively quiet performance, Foxx is great exuding all the slow burn, built up intensity that Django unleashes.
I’m curious as to what makes you so curious.
…
I like the way you die boy.
…
Django, the ‘D’ is silent.
…
Kill white folks and they pay you for it? What’s NOT to like?
Leonardo DiCaprio breaks the mold and plays the first major villain of his career as plantation owner Calvin Candie, and he is exceptional. Cristoph Waltz, once again puts on an absolute show acting under Tarantino’s direction, playing bounty hunter/Django’s mentor Dr. King Schultz. Quentin builds the perfect amount of tension between the two characters during a few extended scenes and it really pays off.
Not only is Django a violent revenge fantasy against slavery, it is also one of the laugh out loud funniest movies of the year. That sounds strange coming from a movie that deals with such sensitive subject matter but Tarantino is a master of weaving humor and lighter moments among the brutality.
Though not as masterful storytelling wise as Inglorious Basterds was, Django Unchained is a wildly entertaining entry in the revenge genre from Quentin Tarantino. An outstanding cast of characters (Even Samuel L. Jackson shows up as one of the more interesting supporting characters you’ll see this year) make up for a bit of unevenness with the plot. The usual lengthy dialogue scene or two show up here, but don’t slow the pace down as much as you’d expect. See it.
FilmFire review:
4.25/5 forms
Visually it is sometimes amazing, but it is a large troll step down from the last trilogy.
-Mark R. Leeper, Mark Leeper’s ReviewsNot all the scenes are necessary, and a great deal of the movie is set-up, with Jackson reveling in his own return to Middle Earth. But it’s an enjoyable experience.
Kevin Carr, 7M Pictures
The Hobbit is really long. It feels great to return to Middle Earth with Peter Jackson, but this is overdoing it just a bit. Having fond memories of the Lord of the Rings trilogy, I was initially a fan of stretching this book into 3 films. But after seeing the first one absolutely stuffed with backstory and unecessary tangents, I now think 2 films would have sufficed. Regardless, it’s an incredibly fun movie with some astounding visuals and great set pieces that brings back some of the joy I felt watching the previous entries.
The bulk of The Hobbit consists of a pattern of journey/battle/escape sequences as the team of dwarves ventures across Middle Earth. Although fun to watch, it starts to become repetitive. But the repetitive nature of these sequences make the showcase scene of the movie even better:
Jackson gives us a break from all this adventure at the perfect time. Riddles in the Dark is the best part of the film and features what should be award-winning motion capture work from Andy Serkis. Gollum once again is a complete visual masterpiece; his interactions with Bilbo are captivating and hilarious. Jackson does do great work with the large scale action sequences, but you can tell his true gift behind the camera with small character driven moments like this.
Oh, we like goblinses, batses, and fishes, but we hasn’t tried Hobbitses before. Is it soft? is It juicy?
…
Oh! We knows! We knows safe paths for hobbitses! Safe paths in the dark!… SHUT UP!
…
And if he loses? What then? Well if he loses precious then we eats it! If Baggins loses we eats it whole!
There are a billion characters in The Hobbit, most of which aren’t entirely fleshed out given this story only tells the first third of a children’s book. However, there are a few standouts. Martin Freeman does a great job portraying the character arc that Bilbo experiences throughout the journey. Richard Armitage has the perfect screen presence and command as dwarf leader Thorin Oakenshield. The remainder of the dwarves were pretty unmemorable.
Bilbo: I know you doubt me. I know you always have. I often think of Bag End. That’s where I belong. That’s home. You don’t have one. It was taken from you, but I will help you get it back if I can.
Overall, The Hobbit is a visual feast and brings back some good old Middle Earth nostalgia from Jackson’s LOTR trilogy. It’s on the long side and can become repetitive, but it’s not enough to totally hinder your viewing pleasure. I can’t speak for the higher framerate version that was released in some theaters, but I would probably check it out because technology is cool.
FilmFire review:
3.75/5 forms
This thought-provoking tale of survival on the high seas works on a variety of levels, but best of all it is a visual feast — brimming with wondrous, memorable images.
-Matt Brunson, Creative LoafingA thought-provoking religious parable. Profound, haunting and beautifully made.
-Fr. Chris Carpenter, Movie Dearest
Life of Pi, the latest from Taiwanese director Ang Lee, is an absolutely stunning piece of film-making that should be seen by everyone. Lee masterfully adapts the 2001 novel of the same name about a young Indian boy (Pi, short for Piscine Molitor, the name of a swimming pool complex in Paris he was named after) whose zookeeper Father takes the family on a voyage across the Pacific after deciding to relocate to Canada. What transpires isn’t exactly a surprise to anyone familiar with the source material, as the ship encounters high seas, floods and capsizes, leaving Pi as the lone survivor surviving human…
Stranded on a lifeboat…full of escaped wild animals.
As Pi explains later in life, “This is the story that will make you believe in God”.
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A MUST-SEE in 3D.
Done the right way and filmed with actual 3D cameras instead of a poor post-conversion to boost ticket prices (see: Clash of the Titans, Pirates of the Caribbean, etc.), Life of Pi has some of the most mesmerizing 3D imagery you will see in a theater. Other than possibly 2011’s Hugo, this is the very best use of 3D in a film to date. -
SPECTACULAR VISUAL EFFECTS.
The special effects in Life of Pi are so life-like it’s incredible. There are a wide range of things happening in this film that couldn’t possibly be shot in real life with real cameras and it is impossible to tell. Wild animals attack, massive lightning storms surge, magical islands are discovered..and it all looks as genuine as practical effects. -
IT IS SPIRITUALLY AND EMOTIONALLY PROFOUND.
If all this sounds great so far, it’s just the tip of the iceberg. Life of Pi isn’t just a substance-less visual spectacle, it is a spiritual and emotional journey that manages to entertain while exploring the truths of religion. So much more than just bells and whistles, this film digs deep into heavy themes and ends with a very satisfying and profound thesis that blends perfectly with the spectacular action taking place. -
ANIMALS!
There are tons of animals in this movie. Animals are fun and awesome to watch. However…if you have a weakness for this sort of thing, bring the tissues. These animals are wild and like to kill and eat each other. That’s what they do, and it can get kind of gruesome. -
GOOD OLD-FASHIONED ADVENTURE.
On top of everything else, it’s just a great high seas adventure tale. If you don’t want to find any deeper meaning in it, you don’t have to. It entertains on all levels. On the surface, it plays as a classic castaway-esque narrative of trying to survive at sea. And it is very good at it. Come for the adventure, or come for the spirituality. Your choice.
Animals have souls… I have seen it in their eyes.
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If every unfolding we experience takes us further along in life, then, we are truly experiencing what life is offering…
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It’s important in life to conclude things properly. Only then can you let go. Otherwise you are left with words you should have said but never did, and your heart is heavy with remorse.
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All of life is an act of letting go but what hurts the most is not taking a moment to say goodbye.
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It was a time filled with wonder that I’ll always remember.
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Above all… it is important not to lose hope.
So, those are a lot of reasons to see Life of Pi. Here are a few more: If you want to see an astonishingly realistic bengal tiger snatch beautifully colored flying fish out of air from a lifeboat, or a breathtaking phosphorescent blue whale leaping over a sea of illuminated jellyfish in three dimensions, this movie is for you. It’s practically for everyone besides maybe small children and people who hate animals.
See it and see it in 3D. The glasses are annoying but that’s okay, it’s worth it. It’s rare that I would classify a film as an “event movie” that’s worthy of seeing opening night with the crowds in 3D, perhaps even multiple times, but Life of Pi is one of them. An emotionally rewarding film that is also a staggering feat of technical genius. Don’t miss this.
FilmFire review:
4.5/5 forms
A terrific supporting cast, especially the non A-list actors, make the dramatic license taken justified and redeem Affleck for miscasting himself in the hero’s role.
-Bruce Bennett, Mad About Movies
Let’s face it, Ben Affleck is a better director than an actor. Argo is an amazing story hindered only by the lead actor’s performance, and it’s a shame because casting a different actor could have brought much more to the role.
Let’s weigh the pros and cons of Argo :
Pros
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A large supporting cast that is excellent
Bryan Cranston. Alan Arkin. John Goodman. Victor Garber. Kyle Chandler. Zeljko Ivanek. Titus Welliver. Richard Kind.
All these actors round out the supporting cast and really elevate the believability of the events on screen. -
Very tight editing
From scene to scene, Argo never misses a beat. Every shot has a purpose and the film flows nicely, never allowing the audience to lose interest. The tension is at a perfect level throughout and does a great job keeping one invested in the events that play out. -
An intense and horrifying opening sequence
To kick this movie off, Iranian citizens overthrow the U.S. Embassy in a violent and brutal manner. It is a heart-stopping scene of terrorism and very effective at setting up the crisis that plays out during the rest of the film. -
It successfully depicts a historical event while satirizing Hollywood
Argo maintains a humorous almost light-hearted take on the Hollywood system while the serious events of the main plot are taking place. And it manages to take nothing away from the grimness and severity of the situation, which adds a nice light undertone to the film. Also, it takes a pretty big shot at the legitimacy of film journalism.
Jack O’Donnell: They’ve got revolutionary guards going door to door. These people die, they die badly.
Cons
- Ben Affleck isn’t a good actor and is miscast. That’s it. Everything else about this movie is great.
FilmFire review:
4/5 forms
For all its good intentions and spurts of innovation, it never really comes alive as living, breathing history. Instead, it too often plays like an audio reading of the Congressional Record, with some unwieldy domestic scenes tossed in for good measure.
-Matt Brunson , Creative Loafing
I was disappointed with Stephen Spielberg’s Lincoln. After last year’s very mediocre and overly sappyWar Horse, I expected somewhat of a comeback film for Spielberg and I had been anticipating Lincoln greatly. Then the awful trailer was released and I lost a lot of interest. The film is fine if expectations are kept low, but don’t expect a monumental piece of film-making that changes the way history is viewed.
Here is the basic outline of the story: politicians on opposing sides of the aisle argue vehemently over some topic and are so divided there is no hope for any resolution. Enter Abraham Lincoln who proceeds to tell a whimsical story that relates to the issue at hand that makes everyone laugh and smile and forget their differences. Rinse and repeat until the movie’s over.
I wasn’t enamored with Daniel Day-Lewis’s performance as Lincoln, it was played very low key and I didn’t feel it had enough gravitas for a movie centered around this character. Strangely, I think Lincoln himelself was probably my least favorite character in the movie. Tommy Lee Jones actually has the best scenes in the film, playing outspoken House representative Thaddeus Stevens:
Thaddeus Stevens: How can I hold that all men are created equal when here before me stands stinking the moral carcass of the gentleman from Ohio? Proof that some men are inferior. Endowed by their maker with dim wits, impermeable to reason, with cold pallid slime in their veins instead of hot red blood. You are more reptile than man George, so low and flat that the foot of man is incapable of crushing you.
The scenes of courtroom-esque drama and political maneuvering are done well and are very entertaining, but Spielberg for some reason tries to shoehorn terribly done family drama into the narrative that just doesn’t work at all. Joseph Gordon-Levitt shows up out of nowhere as Lincoln’s son Robert in a poorly executed plot that goes nowhere. Sally Field does great work as Mary Todd but she is given virtually nothing to do other than whine and cry about the war.
There is probably enough historically interesting about Lincoln to warrant a watch but it is a definite disappointment. The politics are a lot of fun but that’s about it.
FilmFire review:
2.75/5 forms
This is Washington’s movie from beginning to end, and full of little layers.
-Stephen Whitty, Newark Star-LedgerOne of Denzel Washington’s finest performances. And that’s really saying something, considering everything he has accomplished on screen.
-Clint O’Connor, Cleveland Plain Dealer
Flight is Robert Zemeckis’s first live action film in 12 years and he doesn’t appear to have lost a step. Clearly his current work isn’t going to hit the highs of such classics as Back to the Future, Forrest Gump or Who Framed Roger Rabbit?, but Flight comes close, at times. Seemingly a vehicle for Denzel Washington to flex his acting muscle, he puts on an absolute show playing alcoholic commercial pilot, Whip Whitaker.
Flight contains the most intense plane crash sequence you will ever see on film. This visually terrifying sequence within the first few minutes of the movie really does a great job maintaining the reality of what would be happening in the cabin of an aircraft during such an emergency. The way the shots are set up showcasing how Denzel handles the situation is fantastic and really shows what we’ve been missing from Zemeckis the last decade. The final shot of the plane’s wing crushing a church steeple as members of an outdoor congregation scatter in fright is truly haunting and about as effective as any scene this year.
Whip Whitaker: No one could have landed that plane like I did. No one.
So, the crash sequence starts Flight out with a bang, but does the rest of the movie hold up? Yes and no. There are some moderate pacing issues with what goes on with the narrative through the bulk of the second act. It slows down substantially from the adrenaline rush of the first few scenes and it actually is kind of jarring, but it never stops being entertaining. A tense courtroom style scene towards the end brings the energy back up and nicely brings the the film to a thematic close.
There is some great acting to be seen in Flight, and not just from Denzel (who probably puts on his best performance since his Oscar winning role in 2001’s Training Day) The way he handles the mix of physical toughness and emotional fragility of his character with such nuance is remarkable and he will assuredly be in the Oscar conversation this year. John Goodman also shows up, chewing the scenery in a comic relief type role that really pays off plot-wise towards the end and Don Cheadle does his usual great work as well, playing Hugh Lang, an attorney assigned to Whitaker’s case.
Hugh Lang: The FAA placed ten pilots in simulators, recreated the events. Every pilot killed everybody on board! You were the only one who could do it!
Flight is the complete package, expertly mixing great scenes of intense action with a mostly slower paced and dramatic narrative that concludes with a hugely satisfying ending. Denzel Washington is a total scene stealer here, and there are some fantastic performances to be seen by the character actors as well. Flight will definitely get some mentions around Oscar season and is a definite must-watch, the crash sequence alone is worth the price of admission.
FilmFire review:
4.25/5 forms
Visually dazzling, superbly acted, and massively ambitious. I’m going to be obsessed with this visionary saga for a while.
-Mike McGranaghan, The Aisle Seat“Cloud Atlas” is much easier to watch than it is to describe. It really is an extraordinary cinematic achievement.
-David Kaplan, Kaplan vs. Kaplan
A lawyer on a Pacific voyage in the 1800’s has his life turned upside down when his life is saved by a stowaway. A talented musician in the 1930’s writes letters to his lover while being blackmailed by an aging composer. A 1970’s investigative journalist unravels a conspiracy involving a nuclear power reactor. In the near future, an aging book publisher has a run-in with the mob and is held against his will in a retirement home. An enslaved clone discovers a hidden secret and incites a revolution in futuristic Korea. A post-apocalyptic tribesman goes on an incredible journey after his village is destroyed.
Every one of these stories take place in vastly different times and places but they all interact and influence each other in profound ways. Without one distinct narrative that acts as a through-line for the film, Cloud Atlas weaves these 6 tales in and out of each other throughout it’s 3 hour run time. And there is not a dull moment to speak of. The end of every scene is an expertly done transition to the start of a different, but thematically similar, scene in a different story line.
Dr. Henry Goose: : Fear. Belief. Love. Phenomena that determine the course of our lives. These forces begin long before we are born and continue after we perish.
- The individual stories are all an absolute blast to watch.
They range from emotionally moving to hilarious to horrifying and back again. I can’t even pick a favorite because they were all so fantastic. - It is a visually incredible film to watch.
There are insane amounts of detail packed into every scene. The special effects and makeup work are remarkable, gorgeous, haunting, stunning, insert-adjective-here. - It has top notch acting.
Most of the actors in this film played 6 different characters, one for each story. Some completely unrecognizable from the actor playing them. - The editing is unparalleled.
With so many stories and scenes perfectly intertwining, it’s a miracle this film makes any sense. But it is done so seamlessly, the six stories become one.
Cloud Atlas might be the closest thing to a perfect film I’ve ever seen. It has such scope and ambition and digs so deep I am still having trouble processing it. It’s certainly going to find a place in my all time favorite movies list. It has been my most anticipated film for quite some time and it definitely didn’t disappoint. SEE IT NOW.
FilmFire review:
4.75/5 forms
Looper is a superior genre film, an engrossing thriller that engages not only the senses, but our minds as well, just as good sci-fi should do.
-Randy Myers , San Jose Mercury News
If nothing else, Looper is one of the most ambitious movies you’ll see this Fall. The third feature film from up-and-coming writer/director Rian Johnson (Brick, The Brothers Bloom), Looper might not be a complete masterpiece, but it is a very unique twist on time travel films and even the sci-fi genre as a whole.
I’ll get the plot details out of the way quickly. Here’s all you need to know: Joseph Gordon-Levitt and Bruce Willis star respectively as young and old versions of the same character, a hired assassin who kills and disposes of criminals sent back in time 30 years.
Looper is an interesting film for a couple of major reasons:
a) It treats the “science” in science fiction in an almost subtle tongue-in-cheek way. Everyone knows the concept of time travel makes no sense and is just one paradox after another. Instead of trying to explain the intricacies of how it works, Willis’s character (old Joe) sums it up for us with this quote:
I don’t want to talk about time travel because if we start talking about it then we’re going to be here all day talking about it, making diagrams with straws.
The science behind the time travel really doesn’t matter, so Johnson pokes some fun at the notion of trying to explain the impossible. A gusty move that I really appreciate.
b) The second half of this film is entirely different from the first. Sony did a great job with Looper‘s marketing campaign, not revealing much of anything from the final two acts. Not spoiling too much, the first half focuses mainly on time travel elements, the young and old Joe characters and their motivations. The second half of the film takes a strange turn when it comes to the plot and starts diving deeper into weighty themes like morality, fate, how one’s actions can affect the future, the importance of parenting, among others. It almost feels like 2 separate films in one, but the two halves do work well thematically.
A very ambitious and unique tale, Looper‘s pieces may not all fit together perfectly, but it is definitely a worthwhile and interesting trip to the movies. Highly recommended.
FilmFire review:
4/5 forms
This week we’re taking a look at a couple of indies that were in limited release this summer.
First up: Seeking a Friend for the End of the World, a quirky love story starring Steve Carell and Keira Knightley set during the apocalypse.
Seeking a Friend for the End of the World
“An enjoyably quirky, frequently funny and ultimately moving comedy-drama with a pair of terrific performances from Steve Carell and Keira Knightley.”
-Matthew Turner, ViewLondon
Seeking a Friend, the directorial debut from screenwriter Lorene Scafaria (Nick and Norah’s Infinite Playlist) tells the tale of two people trying to find meaning in the end of the world. Three weeks before an asteroid named Matilda destroys the planet, a lonely insurance salesman named Dodge (Carell) and his neighbor Penny (Knightley) embark on a journey to find his high school sweetheart. Half heartbreaking love story, half quirky road trip comedy, this is one of the more intelligent and charming comedies to come out in recent memory. Not only are Carell and Knightley fantastic as our two leads, but there’s also a bevy of great side characters that pop up throughout the film. Comedian T.J Miller and Community star Gillian Jacobs play a couple of forward-thinking waiters at the one remaining open restaurant, “Friendsy’s”. Rob Corddry and Patton Oswalt show up as Dodge’s friends trying to take advantage of the new social landscape the apocalypse provides. Martin Sheen, Connie Britton, Melanie Lynskey and Amy Schumer make surprising additions to the cast as well.
Seeking a Friend manages to maintain a unique mix of sci-fi and emotional beats that really pay off in the end. It may not be the most technically or scientifically ambitious film you’ll see this year but where it really shines is in it’s charm, quirk and intimate character moments.
“A movie that may be, in its own small, weird way, the most bizarrely bittersweet and oddly beautiful romance you’ve seen in quite awhile.”
-Stephen Whitty, Newark Star-Ledger
FilmFire review:
3.5/5 forms
Next is perhaps my favorite film of the year thus far, Safety Not Guaranteed. It tells the story of the following classified ad:
“Wanted: Somebody to go back in time with me. This is not a joke. You’ll get paid after we get back. Must bring your own weapons. I have only done this once before. Safety not guaranteed.”
Safety Not Guaranteed
“It is an offbeat charmer that is fun and engaging from a storytelling standpoint, but one that also brings a surprisingly rich emotional payoff.”
-Mike Scott, Times-Picayune
Safety Not Guaranteed is a delightful little story starring Aubrey Plaza (Parks and Recreation) as Darius, a journalism intern investigating a classified ad placed by Kenneth, an eccentric convenience store worker (Mark Duplass). Sounds pretty straightforward, but there’s a catch: Kenneth is seeking a partner to time travel with…and he may not be as crazy as he seems. What results is an unpredictable exploration of trust and what it takes to believe in something impossible. All the performances are great, especially Plaza, who has mastered the art of deadpan irony and she pulls it off here once again. Also making appearances are Jeff Garlin and Mary Lynn Rajskub, with Kristen Bell making a particularly meaningful cameo late in the story.
Possibly my favorite film of the year so far, Safety Not Guaranteed really excels in its relationships and character work that lead to an incredible and emotionally charged set piece in the final act. It’s a drama and a comedy blended with just a hint of science fiction and it does it all very well. If you’re getting tired of the all of the superheroes and blockbusters of the summer, this is the perfect film for you.
“The only thing that saddens me about this little gem of a movie is that it may not be seen by anyone.”
-Linda Cool, Quad City Times
FilmFire review:
4.5/5 forms
FilmFire 