I was sold with
the Godzilla trailer – much as I tried to avoid watching it. But if member serves me right I saw it before
Noah @ IMAX Wadala. The trailer was so
brilliantly made that I sent a shiver up my already weak spine. My only apprehension after the trailer was –
like in many cases before – whether the trailer was the movie. Godzilla, I am thrilled to say, had much more
to offer.
Showing posts with label David Strathairn. Show all posts
Showing posts with label David Strathairn. Show all posts
Saturday, 17 May 2014
Thursday, 14 February 2013
Lincoln
It has taken me
5 days to come around to writing this review.
Primarily because I was trying to play back the entire movie in my head as
many times as I could. I may have been
better off going back to watch the movie again when I think about it. I guess better sense takes its time to
prevail.
Saturday, 11 August 2012
The Bourne Legacy
So firstly lets get some facts absolutely straight.
1. The Bourne Legacy was and is NOT part of the Bourne series
2. The Bourne Legacy was written by a guy called Eric Van Lustbader in 2004.
3. There are 6 more novels in the series – Betrayal, Sanction, Deception, Objective, Dominion and Imperative
4. The movie has nothing to do with the novel or any of the 6 novels released thence.
5. Robert Ludlum has nothing to do with the novels of Lustbader. He has just permitted him to use the character. He has also been credited as the inspiration for the movie but that’s where it all ends.
First Doug Liman, then Paul Greengrass and now Tony Gilroy joins the list of directors who have been involved in Bourne Movies to date. Liman kick started it all and Greengrass was responsible for the 2 sequels that followed and are rated by many as the best in the series. Greengrass has nothing much to fear after the release of Legacy. Not because Gilroy is a bad director by any stretch of imagination. But more because if Matt Damon is not in a Bourne movie then it has probably lost half its sheen.
Thankfully, Jeremy Renner doesn’t play Bourne. The character of Bourne as shown in a few pics and rushes from the previous movies is played by Damon. But 13.839 seconds of screen time is all he gets. Renner plays the role of Aaron Cross who is part of a programme called Outcome which is being run in parallel to Operation Blackbriar and Treadstone. It is spearheaded by Eric Byer (Edward Norton).
With the shit hitting the roof after Pamela Landy’s (Joan Allen) exposé on Blackbriar, all so called “patriotic agencies” start dismantling their respective programmes. Outcome is part of this initiative. For the un-initiated, dismantling would mean doing away with – leaving no proof – incinerating all evidence – killing everyone remotely associated with the programme.
And so each and every field agent is done away with from Karachi to Seoul to back home. Aaron Cross is however, in a training exercise in Alaska and manages to evade extermination. He heads straight across to the only person who also miraculously survives these attempts to eliminate - Dr. Marta Shearing (Rachel Weisz). And the story that follows is like most other Bourne movies.
Credit to Gilroy – who has also written the previous ones – for ensuring the consistency in the story line and little or no gaps. But then, he has also not come up with anything spectacular or new. So if you have seen the previous ones you may be a tad disappointed. But if you haven’t then you may miss out on certain key connections that are important. More importantly – where were you when all the excitement was happening?
Bourne Legacy is a must watch for self confessed Bourne fans. The final chase sequence is very good and edge of the seat material. The build up towards the finalé is however quite slow with just a couple of exciting moments such as when Martha and Aaron meet for the first time after they escape being killed. Overall a well made movie. But not so important to watch on the big screen. Good performances overall. 6.5 on 10.
Watch the trailer on http://www.imdb.com/video/imdb/vi1065461017/
1. The Bourne Legacy was and is NOT part of the Bourne series
2. The Bourne Legacy was written by a guy called Eric Van Lustbader in 2004.
3. There are 6 more novels in the series – Betrayal, Sanction, Deception, Objective, Dominion and Imperative
4. The movie has nothing to do with the novel or any of the 6 novels released thence.
5. Robert Ludlum has nothing to do with the novels of Lustbader. He has just permitted him to use the character. He has also been credited as the inspiration for the movie but that’s where it all ends.
First Doug Liman, then Paul Greengrass and now Tony Gilroy joins the list of directors who have been involved in Bourne Movies to date. Liman kick started it all and Greengrass was responsible for the 2 sequels that followed and are rated by many as the best in the series. Greengrass has nothing much to fear after the release of Legacy. Not because Gilroy is a bad director by any stretch of imagination. But more because if Matt Damon is not in a Bourne movie then it has probably lost half its sheen.
Thankfully, Jeremy Renner doesn’t play Bourne. The character of Bourne as shown in a few pics and rushes from the previous movies is played by Damon. But 13.839 seconds of screen time is all he gets. Renner plays the role of Aaron Cross who is part of a programme called Outcome which is being run in parallel to Operation Blackbriar and Treadstone. It is spearheaded by Eric Byer (Edward Norton).
With the shit hitting the roof after Pamela Landy’s (Joan Allen) exposé on Blackbriar, all so called “patriotic agencies” start dismantling their respective programmes. Outcome is part of this initiative. For the un-initiated, dismantling would mean doing away with – leaving no proof – incinerating all evidence – killing everyone remotely associated with the programme.
And so each and every field agent is done away with from Karachi to Seoul to back home. Aaron Cross is however, in a training exercise in Alaska and manages to evade extermination. He heads straight across to the only person who also miraculously survives these attempts to eliminate - Dr. Marta Shearing (Rachel Weisz). And the story that follows is like most other Bourne movies.
Credit to Gilroy – who has also written the previous ones – for ensuring the consistency in the story line and little or no gaps. But then, he has also not come up with anything spectacular or new. So if you have seen the previous ones you may be a tad disappointed. But if you haven’t then you may miss out on certain key connections that are important. More importantly – where were you when all the excitement was happening?
Bourne Legacy is a must watch for self confessed Bourne fans. The final chase sequence is very good and edge of the seat material. The build up towards the finalé is however quite slow with just a couple of exciting moments such as when Martha and Aaron meet for the first time after they escape being killed. Overall a well made movie. But not so important to watch on the big screen. Good performances overall. 6.5 on 10.
Watch the trailer on http://www.imdb.com/video/imdb/vi1065461017/
Wednesday, 5 January 2011
Good Night And Good Luck
I could not have asked for a better movie for my 100th review!!! Here is one that missed out in all 6 categories that it was nominated in. In Art Direction and Cinematography, it lost out to Memoirs of a Geisha. In Direction to Ang Lee for Brokeback Mountain. Original Screenplay and Best Movie to Paul Haggis’ Crash. Latly, David Strathairn was pitted against Terence Howard (Hustle and Flow), Heath Ledger (Brokeback Mountain), Joaquim Phoenix (Walk the Line) and the eventual winner Philip Seymour Hoffman (Capote). In all of the above, one really cannot find fault with the jury. Its like being caught between the Devil and the Deep Blue Sea – in a positive manner though. So I guess, they took the easy way out and gave George Clooney the award for the Best Supporting Actor for Syrianna as a way to make up for the losses that he had for Good Night and Good Luck (GNAGL).
Edward R Murrow (David Strathairn) is an extremely focused journalist. He not only believes in but also practices the simple fundamental concept of journalism – Report the Truth. And in the process, he spares no effort in getting the truth out and fighting for the cause of reporting it. He has an agreement with William Paley (Frank Langella), they be all and the do all @ Columbia Broadcasting Services (CBS) that corporate will not interfere with editorial – come what may. He has managed to get his way to date but then his team stumbles upon an opportunity to really take the system on.
Junior Senator Joseph McCarthy (himself through footage) has taken it upon himself to wipe the country clean of communism. And to do that, he would go to great lengths to ensure that people with even the remotest inclination or association with communist meetings or labour unions would be grilled to the core and even sentenced if required. Anyone who so much as dares to speak against McCarthy’s views would be prosecuted. And therefore no one does. Not if Murrow has his way. Murrow and his team led by producer Fred Friendly (George Clooney) take up the seemingly suicidal task of showing McCarthy his place in the real world.
My first memories of David Strathairn was in the 1992 movie Sneakers in the role of the blind Irwin ‘Whistler’ Emery. And the second time I remember seeing an extremely sincere performance from Strathairn was in a movie that I reviewed earlier called We Are Marshall in the endearing role of President Dedmond. But then there are roles which people are remembered by. Roles which prompt people to say – “hey isn’t that “XYZ” from “ABC”. What a brilliant performance right”!!! Edward Murrow’s role does just that one for Strathairn. It is going to remembered for a really long time to come for most people. Strathairn is ably supported by the ever cool George Clooney who has also come on tops in his second directorial venture. Needless to say, it will not be his last. Superb performances by the rest of the cast i.e. the ageless Patricia Clarkson, the amazing Frank Langella and the ever sure Robert Downey Jr. make GNAGL a delectable treat for the avid movie goer or otherwise. That it has been shot in Black & White only adds to the charisma of the entire movie. 8.5 on 10 easily. Must Must Must watch if you haven’t.
Edward R Murrow (David Strathairn) is an extremely focused journalist. He not only believes in but also practices the simple fundamental concept of journalism – Report the Truth. And in the process, he spares no effort in getting the truth out and fighting for the cause of reporting it. He has an agreement with William Paley (Frank Langella), they be all and the do all @ Columbia Broadcasting Services (CBS) that corporate will not interfere with editorial – come what may. He has managed to get his way to date but then his team stumbles upon an opportunity to really take the system on.
Junior Senator Joseph McCarthy (himself through footage) has taken it upon himself to wipe the country clean of communism. And to do that, he would go to great lengths to ensure that people with even the remotest inclination or association with communist meetings or labour unions would be grilled to the core and even sentenced if required. Anyone who so much as dares to speak against McCarthy’s views would be prosecuted. And therefore no one does. Not if Murrow has his way. Murrow and his team led by producer Fred Friendly (George Clooney) take up the seemingly suicidal task of showing McCarthy his place in the real world.
My first memories of David Strathairn was in the 1992 movie Sneakers in the role of the blind Irwin ‘Whistler’ Emery. And the second time I remember seeing an extremely sincere performance from Strathairn was in a movie that I reviewed earlier called We Are Marshall in the endearing role of President Dedmond. But then there are roles which people are remembered by. Roles which prompt people to say – “hey isn’t that “XYZ” from “ABC”. What a brilliant performance right”!!! Edward Murrow’s role does just that one for Strathairn. It is going to remembered for a really long time to come for most people. Strathairn is ably supported by the ever cool George Clooney who has also come on tops in his second directorial venture. Needless to say, it will not be his last. Superb performances by the rest of the cast i.e. the ageless Patricia Clarkson, the amazing Frank Langella and the ever sure Robert Downey Jr. make GNAGL a delectable treat for the avid movie goer or otherwise. That it has been shot in Black & White only adds to the charisma of the entire movie. 8.5 on 10 easily. Must Must Must watch if you haven’t.
Friday, 13 August 2010
We Are Marshall
Now this one is an out and out A Grade Sports Movie. Must watch and must rank in the top 10 sport movies of all time. Easy pick for anyone who is looking for videos for a team building or an inspiration building class. And it definitely rates along with the likes of Miracle on Ice & Remember the Titans. However, the message is distinctly different and that makes it even more enjoyable and long lasting.
In December 1970, the entire Marshall University Football Team along with support staff and a few fans – dies in a plane crash. All 76 of them. In one sad but true instance – they are all gone. A team that more or less held the fabric of the town together. They were not really the best ever to play the game. But played it with a zeal and passion that would get them all the way to the top of the ladder when the time for judgement came. All of a sudden, the entire town, shell shocked comes to a grinding halt. Almost every family has lost a dear one – a son, a father, an uncle, a cousin, a very close friend, a hero.
Completely crippled by this, President Dedmon (David Strathairn) is about to call of the entire football programme for the year. However, the football team co-captain, Nate Ruffin (Anthony Mackie) will not give up without trying. Prior to the fateful game, Nate has dislocated his shoulder and therefore is not with the team when the flight crashes. He rallies every student in the university who assemble that evening to push the committee to reverse its decision to stop the football programme.
Prez Dedmon then begins his arduous task of firstly hiring a coach. Red Dawson (Matthew Fox) Assistant Coach is approached first. Red decided not to take the flight @ the last minute and drive home instead. He is obviously ridden with guilt and shock and still reeling under the impact. He politely declines. No coach, obviously so, is willing to take up the challenge of stringing together a football team when only 3 members of the original team are alive currently. No one with the exception of Jack Lengyel (Matthew McConaughey) who in his words thought, “what if I were to lose my kids – that would hurt. And then I thought get that to a family, a team, a whole town – that must hurt real bad”. Much to the surprise of Prez Dedmon, he offers to take up the job and starts with the tiring task of putting together a football team that would get some sense of semblance and self respect back into the lives of the people in the town.
Director McG (surely in the Guiness Book for the director with the shortest name in Hollywood) stitches together a multifaceted movie which examines the stress that we go through with a loss of a loved one. Every possible relationship has been dealt with to the best possible manner. Starting with that of Paul Griffen (Ian McShane) who is one of the most influential people in the town and loses his star quarterback son, Chris, in the crash. Paul goes on to become the biggest stumbling block in the lives of the group that want to restart the Football programme. His inability to cope with the loss of his son has been handled extremely well. Then there is Annie Cantrall (Kate Mara) who is Chris’ girlfriend and is engaged to be married to him. What does she do with the ring that Chris gave her? There is Tom Bogdan (Biran Geraghty) who misses the ill fated game because he overslept. Now how is he going to come to terms with the entire concept of being alive because he was irresponsible?
We are Marshall is one of the sports movies that really takes the focus out of the winning part in most such movies. It focuses more on the building of a team from scratch. It focuses on building relationships block by block, day by day. It focuses on how we need put several times of a higher effort to get things done when the chips are down. It focuses on how we need to really get creative in times like the Marshalls faced in the 70s. It focuses on the all important – never say die – spirit that epitomizes successful sportsmen. Definitely a must watch. Add to your collection if you can – 7 on 10 from my side as a movie.
In December 1970, the entire Marshall University Football Team along with support staff and a few fans – dies in a plane crash. All 76 of them. In one sad but true instance – they are all gone. A team that more or less held the fabric of the town together. They were not really the best ever to play the game. But played it with a zeal and passion that would get them all the way to the top of the ladder when the time for judgement came. All of a sudden, the entire town, shell shocked comes to a grinding halt. Almost every family has lost a dear one – a son, a father, an uncle, a cousin, a very close friend, a hero.
Completely crippled by this, President Dedmon (David Strathairn) is about to call of the entire football programme for the year. However, the football team co-captain, Nate Ruffin (Anthony Mackie) will not give up without trying. Prior to the fateful game, Nate has dislocated his shoulder and therefore is not with the team when the flight crashes. He rallies every student in the university who assemble that evening to push the committee to reverse its decision to stop the football programme.
Prez Dedmon then begins his arduous task of firstly hiring a coach. Red Dawson (Matthew Fox) Assistant Coach is approached first. Red decided not to take the flight @ the last minute and drive home instead. He is obviously ridden with guilt and shock and still reeling under the impact. He politely declines. No coach, obviously so, is willing to take up the challenge of stringing together a football team when only 3 members of the original team are alive currently. No one with the exception of Jack Lengyel (Matthew McConaughey) who in his words thought, “what if I were to lose my kids – that would hurt. And then I thought get that to a family, a team, a whole town – that must hurt real bad”. Much to the surprise of Prez Dedmon, he offers to take up the job and starts with the tiring task of putting together a football team that would get some sense of semblance and self respect back into the lives of the people in the town.
Director McG (surely in the Guiness Book for the director with the shortest name in Hollywood) stitches together a multifaceted movie which examines the stress that we go through with a loss of a loved one. Every possible relationship has been dealt with to the best possible manner. Starting with that of Paul Griffen (Ian McShane) who is one of the most influential people in the town and loses his star quarterback son, Chris, in the crash. Paul goes on to become the biggest stumbling block in the lives of the group that want to restart the Football programme. His inability to cope with the loss of his son has been handled extremely well. Then there is Annie Cantrall (Kate Mara) who is Chris’ girlfriend and is engaged to be married to him. What does she do with the ring that Chris gave her? There is Tom Bogdan (Biran Geraghty) who misses the ill fated game because he overslept. Now how is he going to come to terms with the entire concept of being alive because he was irresponsible?
We are Marshall is one of the sports movies that really takes the focus out of the winning part in most such movies. It focuses more on the building of a team from scratch. It focuses on building relationships block by block, day by day. It focuses on how we need put several times of a higher effort to get things done when the chips are down. It focuses on how we need to really get creative in times like the Marshalls faced in the 70s. It focuses on the all important – never say die – spirit that epitomizes successful sportsmen. Definitely a must watch. Add to your collection if you can – 7 on 10 from my side as a movie.
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