Midnight in Paris

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

I love a trailer that give the feel of a film without actually giving away what happens in it. I did know the synopsis, but still it's refreshing.

This film is just delightful. A simple look at the effects of nostalgia. It's also the first Woody Allen film to have used a digital colour grade and he uses it subtly but to great effect, saturating certain scenes in a warm golden glow that really does produce a nostalgic look and increases as the film progresses.

Owen Wilson is a great everyman. He's a great window to this world of an idealised Paris. The standouts for me however were Corey Stoll as Ernest Hemingway and a short cameo by Adrien Brody as Salvador Dalí.

I've only seen a handful of his prolific filmography but this has all the characteristic wit and repartee that's associated with him. Easily enjoyable.

Paranormal Activity 3

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

I've never seen that trailer before. But the same as the one that's been playing in our local cinema for the past 3 months before practically every movie, about 80% of that footage is not in the finished film. False advertising maybe, but it does mean that you get all the surprises in the cinema and no doubt the deleted and alternate stuff will make for some fun extras on the dvd, like the first 2.

So this time we have the two guys that made the "is it real or fake" documentary Catfish earlier in the year. There's no indication from that that the'd be any good at doing a horror but they do make a pretty convincing reality with that.

Here, it's much harder to believe the conceit that in 80's someone was documenting their entire life on some magical VHS camera that could record widescreen high definition. It also has the usual prequel problem of showing events that would definitely impact the characters later on but that they don't seem to recall in the earlier movies. True they vaguely mention something about their childhood, but there's stuff in this one that I find it hard to believe you could easily forget.

It really is just a repeat of the exact same formula used in the last two. It has a very Poltergeist feel, what with the spooky girl talking to invisible friends, the tv static magically coming on and even the parents smoking pot in bed. I notice they even mention Carol Anne in a scene from that trailer that isn't to be found in the finished film.

They manage to add to the mythology, give hints at possible explanations as to where this all started, but again nothing concrete. There must always be room for sequels I guess.

But is it scary? Well it really is almost exactly the same as the last two, so if that spooks you, chances are this one will too. The best addition to the jump scare tactic is the panning camera they mount to a fan. A great conceit that is easily exploitable and done so quite well. Things get pretty nuts in the climax of this one. Probably more so than the previous two films, which could be its saving grace. Yet still I'm going to feel slightly unsatisfied when they refuse to tie up loose ends like that.

I'm all for this franchise ending the Saw films halloween horror rein once and for all, I just don't want to see it take its place and overstay its welcome. Some say it already has. If they do ever make another it had better be something drastically different, they've milked this found footage conceit enough.

The Three Musketeers

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

Paul W.S. Anderson takes a classic novel and Pirates of the Caribbeans it up. The end result is a film that aims to be modern and entertaining first and foremost, regardless of the adherence to period or source material. It is the glossiest production we've ever seen from him and it definitely delivers on the action, fantastic as it may be. His nack for shooting in 3D with real locations rather than post converting helps a great deal with the lavish look. As do the delightfully outrageous production design. The costumes are simply gob smacking. Comically stylised period costumes I'd call it. The end result is something that looks far more expensive than what it probably cost, knowing Anderson's penchant to stretch his dollar, which seams to make him so popular with the film studios, regardless of whether he can for coherent or satisfying plots and characters.

If I had a dollar for every time Da Vinci's secret works were used as macguffins in films these days I'd have enough to finance the sequel the film so desperately tries to set up. Truth be told I don't know the novel or indeed any of the other adaptations that well, my knowledge of the Thee Musketeers extends only as far as that Brian Adams song, however I highly doubt that Da Vinci's plans for a hot air ballon pirate ship were part of it. Nor were Milady de Winter's Mission Impossible style action. But who's to let that get in the way of entertainment?

Truth be told there are some amusing performances, I particularly liked Freddie Fox as the King. And if you're willing to put aside logic and history and all that kind of stuff you can still have a good time. It's pretty light stuff.

Contagion

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

Steven Soderbergh's latest and as usual he's gone out of his way not to repeat himself. It's a very naturalistic version of a viral epidemic, following multiple character's stories around the world as the unknown virus spreads.

While everything is kept very grounded and realistic, I also found it a little cold and distancing. I was hoping there might be more tension built but the whole thing is kept very procedural. Part of that might be due to the limited time we get with characters because of the multitude of plot lines going on at once. Each story felt like it was its own film that they had to boil down to the bare essentials to fit them in.

Chances are they all probably did film an entire movie worth of each plot line. It's the kind of thing Steven Soderbergh does. It also might explain the unusually high number of Oscar nominees in the cast. Although again, that's not out of the ordinary for him either.

I'm interested to see this at Imax instead of the fuzzy 35mm film print I watched today. I believe this is the first film shot on the Red One that's been mastered in 4k. As it was it didn't look that spectacular on this screen. But that could also be due to the very sickly looking colour palette they've used in the grade. Blyeah.

There are plenty of different scenarios and characters in the film that I haven't seen much before. It's a pity we only get to skim the surface, otherwise this was very interesting.

Terri

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

Another indie high school coming-of-age dramedy. Is ok.

Take Shelter

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

No one does a slow decent into madness better than Michael Shannon. He's always fascinating to watch and does the crazy really well. Just look at Revolutionary Road and my personal favourite, Bug. Love that film.

Here he's supported by Jessica Chastain, who's just jumped onto the scene this year in a big way. Thanks to her performance and the great writing we get far more believable scenarios and reactions than any film that has "the wife" character archetype. You know, the one that's always nagging to much or blowing up at the protagonist or just seems like a hysterical woman. Here everything is far more understated and believable. An while she does have some of those reactions they always manage to still be supportive of the protagonist. It's really great.

The film works as an examination of what it is to loose your mind, to be aware that your are going crazy and it's gradual and sad. The impending apocalyptic storm he imagines is the perfect metaphor for this and hangs a sense of dread over the film. For the longest time, you're left up in the air as to whether he is truly whacked out or some kind of mad prophet.

The apocalyptic visions are provided by The Brothers Strause, who do absolutely fantastic work for a really tight budget. Just look at Skyline. Thankfully though, unlike that film they had nothing to do with the writing or directing. And unlike that film the effects here add so much to the story and the mood.

The ending is one I will need to think about long and hard before I make any judgments. It's not a big shock or twist but it does give you much to think about depending on how you interpret it. I haven't decided fully what I think it means yet. Fortunately it doesn't detract in any way from what came before it, it only enhances it and serves to emphasis particular points. Very interesting.

So although I'm still thinking about it, I will say I did like it. It's only playing on one screen in Perth so seek it out, it's worth your time.

Sleepers

IMDB
First time viewed: Yes
Current Release: No
Watched With: Myself

I first read about this film when I was brushing up for a game of six degrees of Kevin Bacon. It was a good one to know, Brad Pitt, Dustin Hoffman and Robert De Niro are easy links. But I never actually watched the film. Never even knew what it was about.

First half of the film is kids growing up in the late 60's, getting into trouble and being raped in prison and the last half is a courtroom drama trying to convict two of them for a revenge killing on the guard that raped them, where one friend is also the prosecution.

What I like about Barry Levinson's editing is the way he allowed spaces for the film to breathe and for John Williams' evocative score to come centre stage. It sounds very different to his other work I've been listening to of late and a great reminder of his versatility.

The impressive cast all do great stuff. It held my interest. Not really my kind of film but I still enjoyed it.

Attack the Block

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

Awesome! Joe Cornish has made a great debut feature. Again, don't know if this was ever going to get a release in Australia. In situations like this, it's easier to just order a bluray from overseas.

Those creatures are nasty little things. They remind me of Critters but pitch black with glow in the dark teeth. They are simple and effective.

The young cast of mainly unknowns are great. There's an authenticity to their speech and behaviour and it's an unexpected demographic to see in a sci-fi action which is probably why it works so well. Like the best sci-fi, it also serves to make for some interesting social commentary.

I found the whole thing fascinating and completely enjoyable. It's a lot of fun, seek it out.

What's Your Number?

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

This one doesn't have anything more to offer than the trailer. In fact there are even a few scenes in the trailer that aren't in the finished film, including Andy Samberg's, which makes me wonder if there was some kind of trouble behind the scenes of this one, I know the release was delayed for a while.

Aside from a great deal of craning in and out of high windows I was surprised how loose some of the camera work was. I see director Mark Mylod has done a lot of TV, and that's what this feels like except with worse writing.

The set up and first act of the film is actually the most enjoyable part. After that it's just going through the motions with nothing new or different to add. The only real reason to watch this is the gratuitous shirtlessness from Chris Evans which they shoehorn in at every available opportunity.

Star Wars: Episode VI - Return of the Jedi

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

Ewok blinks. Is it just me or does Wicket have digital eyes now? And of course the infamous Vader NOOOOOOOO!

This is the one I watch the most as a child and it's still probably my favourite. As I said in my Phantom Menace write up, I loved the ewoks as a kid. It's hard to feel guilty about that now.

This one is pretty much all action. Probably another reason I like it so much as a kid. I can barley keep my eyes open so that's all I'm going to say for now. Another epic series done!

Star Wars: Episode V - The Empire Strikes Back

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

They've changed the Emperor and a bit of his dialogue. That's the biggest new thing I can see in this bluray version. Or was that in the 2004 edition? So confusing.

A lot of people consider this the best of the series, I do like this one a lot. Hoth ice battle is awesome. And of course the big revelation at the end, which doesn't quite work if you watch it with the prequels first. Many consider 4, 5, 1, 2, 3, 6 to be the best order to show to a first timer but even that is problematic.

Star Wars: Episode IV - A New Hope

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

Continuing to watch through the new commentaries on the bluray. Those special edition changes still irk me for the most part. Especially since the CG was still so early then it doesn't hold up that well today. A lot of the changes are practically invisible and very much welcome, such as the cleaning up of matte lines and matching plates a little better.

On the bluray you can still see the jumps in the outlines of the garbage mattes for the ships as they fly by. It's pretty cool.

What else can one say about the original Star Wars? It's a monumental film, a moment where the game changed significantly. Iconic and very cool to watch through again.