Gravity

IMDB
First time viewed: No
Current Release: Yes
Watched With: Jess, Jim, Tim, Arielle, Ichina, Tom

Write Up.

Back to Imax this time. I was having withdrawal. I've been looking into good 3d home systems in preparations for the home video release but still don't think it's going to be the same as on the big screen. Soak it up while you can folks!

Escape from Tomorrow

IMDB
First time viewed: Yes
Current Release: Yes

Ahh yes, the film shot guerilla style at Disneyland. I think this novelty will ultimately overshadow anything else about the film, it's a daring feat to be so subversive to the notoriously protective company.  And what they get away with (so far, Disney has wisely chosen to just ignore the small film) is pretty amazing.

The film itself is a real oddity though. At times a real lynchian nightmare and at others a very amateur home holiday movie. I loved the sci-fi-esque ideas present in the film, the themes are obvious and work fine and I even was surprised at the execution of much of it. There are segments where the tone really works and the absurdist humor is on full display.

But this is all coupled with some very primitive acting and dialogue and a pretty messy structure and pace. A very mixed bad and a cult oddity at best. Still, worth a look especially for Disney fanatics.

The Frozen Ground

IMDB
First time viewed: Yes
Current Release: Yes

Another very dark police procedural. But despite an impressive cast this film was merely a series of events rather than a good dramatic retelling of true events with characters we cared about. Consequently the film never really took off for me. The repetitive droning score became annoying after a time and the films self importance seemed a little pretentious, especially with the inclusion of photos of the real victims during the end credits.

It's an okay first effort for new writer director Scott Walker, technically it seems fine. There's just no heart to it.

Prisoners

IMDB
First time viewed: Yes
Current Release: Yes
Watched With: Tyler, Tom

A very grim and quite lengthy police procedural, thoroughly engaging with some great showcase acting for the male leads and beautifully shot by Roger Deakins. Although it's long, the pace never really lets up, the tension is always there and they do cover quite a bit of ground which allows for some twists and turns along the way.

While I don't normally go for procedurals this is far more focused on the drama, the effects of a tragic incident on everyone involved. Pretty much none of the characters make it through these events unscathed and some of them practically embrace their dark side to cope.

This is easily the scariest Hugh Jackman has ever been on screen. I wish we saw more of this rage in the Wolverine movies. Jake Gyllenhaal's detective is methodical and introverted. It's a subtler performance by comparison but even his character has lapses of control. The supporting cast are all great as well, although Viola Davis and Maria Bello aren't really given much to do.

It's hard to say it's an enjoyable experience but it's certainly riveting and looks and sounds top notch. Be prepared for a long watch though as the snowball effect of one bad deed birthing more not only takes its toll on the characters, but the audience as well. (I.e., don't think it's a good idea to drink one and a half frozen cokes while watching or your bladder might explode.)

Captain Phillips

IMDB
First time viewed: Yes
Current Release: Yes
Watched With: Warren

Thank god I remembered this was a Paul Greengrass film and chose to sit further back from the screen than I normally like to. His usual shaky cam is on full display here and that coupled with the rocking high seas makes for a very sickness inducing movie, so you have been warned.

After what might be the most offensively scripted opening sequence I've ever seen (not even Tom Hanks and a cameo from Catherine Keener can make that work) we quickly get to the Somali pirates and out to sea. From there the film is a slow build of tense events all leading to the inevitable conclusion. And with a far more engaging script.

Much like the similarly themed A Hijacking that came out not long ago, it's a long ride and the film really wants you to feel it (although everyone gets off way easier in this film). I'd like to think that cutting down the running time would make a more effective film but that agonising waiting is a big part of it. I was certainly more engaged in the first half though and loved the staging of the hijacking. Once the navy becomes involved everything for both the characters and the story is downhill.

Tom Hanks gets his big showy performance right at the end which will probably make you forget the very grounded work he does throughout the film. And the newcomers that form our Somali pirates do some good stuff too.

It's a pretty thrilling ride (albeit a long and bumpy one) and could possibly get some awards attention this year.

King Kong

IMDB
First time viewed: No
Current Release: No
Watched With: Tyler

Write Up.

After watching the original we thought we'd better watch this one too (and do my king kong jigsaw puzzle that's been sitting in my room for 3 years). Maybe I should find those two from the late 70's...

Man, for all its faults it has some ridiculously crazy action set pieces. With dinosaurs. Gotta love that.

A Letter to Momo

IMDB

First time viewed: Yes

Current Release: Yes

Watched With: Michael

Managed to squeeze this in before the Anime festival this year came to a close. Good thing too, because it was by far the most enjoyable of the films I saw. Every time I saw those goblins in press releases and on posters I couldn't help but crack up. What great character design. And they are even better when animated and speaking.

It's a sweet little story about a girl coping with a big shift in her life. I guess traditionally she'd be whisked away to a magical land to learn to find herself but here, the magic invades her life and manages to screw it up even more.

The character drama works much better here, none of the melodrama the Japanese seem so fond of, much more realistic and even handed. And the goblin characters are adorable and hilarious. Looks shmick, as you'd expect from Production I.G. A real winner. Seek it out!

Diana

IMDB
First time viewed: Yes
Current Release: Yes

Probably should have called it Diana and Hasnat, but I guess that doesn't have the same ring to it. The film focuses almost exclusively on this relationship and consequently much of the running time feels like repetition, going through the "I love you / you're too famous we have to break up" cycle again and again.

Naomi Watts does a good impression though.

I don't want to seem hypocritical, considering I've been annoyed at biopics like Jobs, which tried to tell the whole story and end up not being interesting at all but I think this film needed a better angle, there's not much here which just makes it feel more exploitative. 

And for a film that's primarily close ups in fancy rooms, it should have been more in-focus.