Change Your Image
All_Seeing_I
Ratings
Most Recently Rated
Reviews
American Hustle (2013)
An inconsistent tone doesn't make it any less enjoyable
I bought my ticket thinking this was going to be a "spoof of superhero movies"; perhaps my friend was wondering what else Louis CK and Christian Bale would be doing starring in the same film. Perhaps it was these wildly inaccurate expectations, perhaps it was the fact I've grown cynical about the general quality of mainstream Hollywood releases, but when all was said and done I really, really liked this movie.
The film starts off with a small cast of characters but quickly widens into a complicated (but never too complicated) "caper story" about an ego-motivated FBI agent trying to entrap a group of politicians and mobsters for his own personal glory. A group of interesting and mostly sympathetic characters gets brought into the mix, who (aware or unawares) find themselves in more and more danger as his plan grows more elaborate.
It addresses interesting themes like overconfidence, greed, cowardice, how one can pursue admirable goals outside the law, how seeking justice for its own sake can sometimes harm, how a normally worthy cause can be pursued for all the wrong reasons, and the difficulty of pulling yourself out of a morally problematic position when it has spiraled into something far worse than what you had originally imagined.
None of this is to imply that this is somehow an intellectual movie. Other stories have explored these themes in more profound ways, and at times it feels as if the film is using its moments of levity as an excuse not to dive as deeply into the aforementioned issues (both intellectually and emotionally) as they could have. ("But...it's just a comedy!") Then again, maybe this was deliberate, as treating this kind of material too seriously can often backfire. Sometimes it is good to know your limits, in which case a decision like this is not cowardice - but in any case, the writers have still woven an interesting, entertaining story out of the material (brought to life expertly by the director and actors).
The movie is still not perfect. It only barely manages to keep all the characters and their relationships in the forefront, making me wonder how many scenes had been dropped along the way. This may sound like a serious criticism, and sometimes it really did feel as if the film was ignoring an important player or dynamic for a little too long. But none of it got to the point that it ruined the story, or made me stop being interested in the characters. Impressively for a film made in modern Hollywood, no major character is left underdeveloped. And in spite of cuts (?) for the sake of pace, relationships are at least fleshed out well enough for us understand what is playing out, and to feel invested in them.
More importantly, it strikes me that this may only be a consequence of so many characters playing an important role in the story (though never to the point where it gets convoluted or confusing). Ordinarily I do not see this as a virtue, but when it is done in a convincing way, and when their personalities and dilemmas are interesting, it makes their occasional "leaves of absence" more forgivable. It is a strange way of complimenting how interesting and/or well developed so many of the "secondary characters" were – we feel as if they are getting short shrift, that they are being ignored for too long, but only because in many other movies their counterparts would be so poorly developed we would not really care! Our attentions would be focused on the few interesting characters in the movie (if we could find any at all).
One other point the film has in its favour is the skill of its ensemble cast - which, for the most part, was very well chosen and has great chemistry. Many people I know in my personal life have mentioned how convincingly Jennifer Lawrence played a woman many years her senior; I did not even recognize her at first. (Perhaps this should not be surprising; she is an actress after all, but it is interesting how often we suspect performers are just "playing themselves".) In any case, it is certainly a far cry from Katniss Everdeen. I enjoyed the (not quite?) subversion of the "dumb blonde" stereotype; you can never be sure just how much of it she has figured out.
I am sure I would notice a few logical problems on repeat viewing – they are all but inevitable in most plot-heavy stories. Whatever. In spite of its flaws this is a well-made, entertaining movie. I would certainly recommend it to the general audience member.
There is a more serious flaw I have touched on, however, and that is the film's somewhat inconsistent comedic tone. Sometimes it gives us much- needed comic relief that really hits the mark, but other times it plays out in a really goofy, over-the-top way that feels out of place. (One of the opening shots is a perfect example of this; while thematically appropriate, it is a ridiculous gag that makes the character look more clownish than he is and really does give a false impression of what is to come). As genuinely funny as these jokes were, and as sparingly as they are sprinkled throughout the movie, there is just enough of this goofiness to give it a kind of "Seth Rogeny" vibe that might compromise some viewer's emotional investment. It's no "Back to the Future" either, which was silly in a way that was whimsical and heartwarming. This is a different, more serious story demanding a different kind of approach, and some of the jokes and gags really do feel out of place here, perhaps even jarring.
But never mind. 8.5/10, rounded up to 9 because some of its flaws were probably difficult-to-avoid consequences of its strengths.
Atlantis: The Lost Empire (2001)
An underrated, entertaining adventure story
This pastiche of turn of the century adventure stories (specifically inspired by Jules Verne, apparently) has been mostly forgotten over the years, and overall doesn't seem to have a fantastic reputation. I would argue that this is not deserved. That doesn't mean this film is some kind of hidden gem. It is relatively formulaic (though that's to be expected, somewhat, considering what it's trying to do) and doesn't feature much depth of character. But I can forgive that in an adolescent adventure story if there is wit, pace, ambiance, humour, and spirit - which this film has in droves...and which is what I think the 12 year old boys this movie was obviously marketed to are really looking for.
I certainly was when I first saw it (at that age), and at that time it didn't disappoint. Viewing it through that lens, it still doesn't today. There is great imagination behind the portrayal of the Atlantean culture, some really comic characters (somewhat surprisingly, I thought all of them were unique and interesting to some degree - with the possible exception of the somewhat bland love interest, the antagonists, and the clichéd king of Atlantis), and a pace that never lets up.
If the film were too meandering or bloated, it would have fallen apart, but an awareness of what it wants to be (a straightforward adventure story) helps it succeed. The basic beats of the story are competent to prevent it from losing momentum, and since it never imagines it is a "great work of cinematic art", it never bothers bogging us down in poorly thought out character development (a not- uncommon flaw in bloated special effects movies, whose pretentiousness sometimes keeps them from being what would have been a decently entertaining action film...at half the length).
The visuals, however, are probably the shining star of this movie. Reportedly there was a lot of work put into developing the Atlantean culture; a whole language was even constructed (courtesy of Mark Okrand, who is famous for inventing the Klingon language used in the Star Trek universe), and the work shows. A lot of the appeal of fantasy movies is their ambiance, and this film gets that.
Sure, the film is no masterpiece, but that was less because of what it did wrong than the fact it didn't really go the extra mile character wise. The movie is competent, and has genuinely entertaining elements beyond the basic spine of the story, and for that I award it 7 stars out of ten.
Rubber (2010)
A film about a magical rubber tire should not take itself this seriously
Okay. So, normally, I like "so bad it's good" movies, even when they are done purposefully "bad", as this film is. Call it a guilty pleasure if you will. That being said, the choice to make this film a serious, somewhat symbolic kind of piece as well makes it difficult to enjoy.
Don't get me wrong, this kind of movie can be a great vehicle for satire, but you have to go about it in a certain way. Unfortunately, the literal content of the movie is just too ridiculous, and dwelt on too much, for us to take it that seriously. While other films can go this route and make a point, the symbolism is usually less complex, and the overall message a little less obscure. While I was straining to "decode" the content, I felt a bit like the filmmakers were trolling me, that they were mocking my taking a movie about a rubber tire as seriously as the characters in the film were. To enjoy this kind of movie you have to sit back and revel in the weirdness; trying to "figure out" the film pulls you out of that and made me, at least, perceive it as what it quite frankly is on a surface level: stupid.
It's a shame, because the concept could have made for a really funny B picture, and if the "allegory" (or whatever you want to call it) were just toned down a bit it might still have been enjoyable as it is. It is arguably stretched out in places, but other than that holds your attention surprisingly well for a film about a rubber tire. 5/10 for having an interesting concept, but sadly the film doesn't have too much else.
Transamerica (2005)
A surprisingly good film about honesty and trust
I watched this movie on Netflix expecting a very average (at best) movie about the difficulties of life as a trans-gender woman. The sort of plea for understanding that is made out of good moral intentions, but fails on artistic grounds. I was surprised and delighted to see a good story in its own right which both explored the psychology of a trans-gender woman, and told a genuinely interesting story about honesty and trust.
The main character, Bree, is awaiting her surgery to become a woman but finds out she has a son. The doctors want her life to be in order before she goes through with it so she agrees to drive her son across the country, back to the West Coast where she lives to prove they are on good terms and her life is in order. But she does not want to admit that she is trans-gendered to her son, or that she is his lost (and somewhat idealized) father. The longer she keeps it secret, of course, the greater the tension, and the less chance of forgiveness and trust when her son finally finds out.
The Bree character is repulsive on one level but also relatable. Feeling compelled to divulge a secret for moral reasons that could ruin you is something I can relate to and many will feel sympathy for Bree even as she goes down such a selfish and cowardly road.
The film eventually takes a turn that is expected on one level, but also tragic and horrifying, and in the end it makes for a suspenseful and moving story. The two leads give fantastic performances (I did not recognize the lead actress and did not know she was not played by a trans-gender woman), and Kevin Zegers makes for wonderful eye candy. Even if you're not trans (I am not, myself) and are just interested in a good story about family and reconciliation I recommend checking out Transamerica. I think you'll be pleasantly surprised!