Most war movies
speak about how a bunch of dedicated, strong, dexterous, agile, smart officers
in the American services (Army, Air Force, Navy, Seals, Marines etc.) fight
against all odds to kill their enemies and win a war in the most impossible
circumstances. Petty Officer 1st
Class – Marcus Luttrell (Mark Wahlberg) – gives us the other perspective of a
war. One in which not all battles end
with victory on the American side.
Showing posts with label Eric Bana. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Eric Bana. Show all posts
Friday, 7 February 2014
Tuesday, 14 June 2011
Hanna
If I am not wrong, this is the first time that acclaimed director Joe Wright has made a departure from his forte of movies under the genre “Drama” and moved to “Espionage”. But then again, Hanna is actually one of the slowest action movies that I have seen in a long time. So it maybe correct to classify it as just Drama. In typical Joe Wright fashion (Atonement, Soloist, Pride & Prejudice), the movie pays painful attention to detail and consistency. It uses the right camera angles and the right cuts to create the maximum possible impact that Wright can deliver. Unfortunately, Wright is probably not cut out to deliver action / espionage movies the way a Tony Scott (Spy Game) or a Stephen Gaghan (Syrianna) can manage. Mind you I am at no point discounting Joe Wright’s capabilities as a director. He has been up there with his movies to date. But Hanna just didn’t cut enough ice with this amateur critic. At times, it just drifted too much for my comfort. Maybe it was the exceptional slowness that got to me.
Hanna is a story of revenge. Erik Heller (Eric Bana) is a CIA operative who has defected a few years back – over a decade ago. He is betrayed / cheated by his handler Marissa Wiegler (Cate Blanchett). But if u view Marissa’s actions through the lens of the CIA, she was entrusted with a job and she got it done like any effective agent would have – ruthlessly. Nevertheless, Heller holds a grudge against Marissa not just because she tried to kill him but in the bargain also killed Eric’s wife. Heller escapes with his daughter Hanna (Saoirse Ronan) and over the years equips her with all that he has learnt during his years as an operative to be a vicious assassin. All with a single minded intent of killing Wiegler. All of this, in the jungles of Finland – how exotic I say. 17 years from Hanna’s birth, she tells her father that she is “ready” and switches on a tracker which gets the CIA to her (and not the other way round) – the mission begins.
I must say, I was a tad disappointed with Hanna – yet another case of the cover being better than the book… or in this case the trailer being far superior to the movie. The performances from all 3 lead actors were extremely good. Saoirse (pronounced SEER sha – never hurts to repeat it as often) Ronan proves yet again that she has an extremely bright future in Hollywood. I must watch The Lovely Bones sooner than later to figure out how she was in that one. But in 3 movies – Atonement, The Way Back and now Hanna – she has been very good to say the least. Cate Blanchett is and will be one of THE most versatile actresses to hit the screen. Her negative role as Wiegler was exceptional but a little below par on the Blanchett scale. Eric Bana was ice cold as always. Overall, Hanna survives more due to the performances and not as much due to the narration. I give it a 6 on 10. Worth a dekko positively but be prepared for a slow movie with some very strong moments.
Watch the trailer at http://www.imdb.com/video/imdb/vi984063257/
Hanna is a story of revenge. Erik Heller (Eric Bana) is a CIA operative who has defected a few years back – over a decade ago. He is betrayed / cheated by his handler Marissa Wiegler (Cate Blanchett). But if u view Marissa’s actions through the lens of the CIA, she was entrusted with a job and she got it done like any effective agent would have – ruthlessly. Nevertheless, Heller holds a grudge against Marissa not just because she tried to kill him but in the bargain also killed Eric’s wife. Heller escapes with his daughter Hanna (Saoirse Ronan) and over the years equips her with all that he has learnt during his years as an operative to be a vicious assassin. All with a single minded intent of killing Wiegler. All of this, in the jungles of Finland – how exotic I say. 17 years from Hanna’s birth, she tells her father that she is “ready” and switches on a tracker which gets the CIA to her (and not the other way round) – the mission begins.
I must say, I was a tad disappointed with Hanna – yet another case of the cover being better than the book… or in this case the trailer being far superior to the movie. The performances from all 3 lead actors were extremely good. Saoirse (pronounced SEER sha – never hurts to repeat it as often) Ronan proves yet again that she has an extremely bright future in Hollywood. I must watch The Lovely Bones sooner than later to figure out how she was in that one. But in 3 movies – Atonement, The Way Back and now Hanna – she has been very good to say the least. Cate Blanchett is and will be one of THE most versatile actresses to hit the screen. Her negative role as Wiegler was exceptional but a little below par on the Blanchett scale. Eric Bana was ice cold as always. Overall, Hanna survives more due to the performances and not as much due to the narration. I give it a 6 on 10. Worth a dekko positively but be prepared for a slow movie with some very strong moments.
Watch the trailer at http://www.imdb.com/video/imdb/vi984063257/
Sunday, 6 March 2011
Star Trek
Most of us have grown up with the joke which said why did Captain James Kirk go into the ladies toilet. TO BOLDLY GO WHERE NO MAN HAS GONE BEFORE. These 9 words have always been on top of mind recall the minute you say Star Trek or anything related to the Starship Enterprise. Or for that matter NCC 1701 which is the registration number of the Enterprise. And most of all the magic 4 words that is known to everyone in the enterprise because they are most useful in the desperate times that its members find themselves more often than not – BEAM ME UP SCOTTY (Simon Pegg)!!! J J Abrams (the director of Mission Impossible III) takes us on the journey before getting to the Starship enterprise that you and have seen; with the use of stunning visual effects all through. Would have expected nothing less with Star Trek.
This story begins with a very young George Kirk (Chris Hemsworth) who is suddenly saddled with the leadership of the space craft when they get attacked by a huge Romulan Ship out of the blue. The Romulan Captain, Nero (Eric Bana – a very sinister looking one) asks for a face to face with the captain of the ship. He is in search of a half breed Vulcan who goes by the name of Spock (Zachary Quinto). But he doesn’t realize that he has gone back in time and is now over 25 years behind time. Frustrated, he kills the captain and opens fire on the ship which is now led by George who orders immediate evacuation of the flight and ensures that his pregnant wife, Winona (Jennifer Morrison) is taken to safety. Malfunction of the auto pilot forces George to stay back in the craft and eventually give up his life.
Growing up fatherless has its drawbacks and James Tiberius Kirk (Chris Pine), genius by any standards is a rebel without a cause at just over 20 years of age. He aces all his tests but doesn’t want to join the forces. As if he were trying to prove a point. But all of that is till Captain Pike (Bruce Greenwood), who served with George Kirk, bumps into young Jim at a bar brawl. He spends sometime trying to drill sense into the bull headed young man and asks him to enlist with the forces. The next day, James Kirk enlists himself and begins his training. Over time he gets to meet Spock, who is considered as arguably the best brain in the part of the universe that we come from and also becomes close friends with Leonard “Bones” McCoy (Karl Urban). Spock and James start off as individuals who hate the sight of each other. Surprising right, considering they are always seen as best of friends. Just one of the few surprising things that will come your way as you watch the prelude to the real thing.
As mentioned earlier in the review, special Effects have always been the hallmark of the Star Trek series and most die-hard fans would not have it any other way for sure. And you will not be disappointed one bit with this version either. That along with Make Up, for which it won its only Oscar last year added with the tremendous fan following that it has ensures that Star Trek finds itself @ 189 in the imdb top 250 list. There are some solid performances as well from the entire star cast. None that are stupendous in anyway but definitely above average. The use of sound and light to deliver the traditional feel of battles in space is beautiful. The only reason it lost the Oscar for Visual effects was that it came up against Avatar in the final draw. I would peg this as a must watch for fans of the series or otherwise. It plays quite regularly on Star Movies I think. Catch it the next time for sure if you haven’t seen it yet. 7.5 on 10.
Watch the trailer at http://www.imdb.com/video/imdb/vi1761608473/
This story begins with a very young George Kirk (Chris Hemsworth) who is suddenly saddled with the leadership of the space craft when they get attacked by a huge Romulan Ship out of the blue. The Romulan Captain, Nero (Eric Bana – a very sinister looking one) asks for a face to face with the captain of the ship. He is in search of a half breed Vulcan who goes by the name of Spock (Zachary Quinto). But he doesn’t realize that he has gone back in time and is now over 25 years behind time. Frustrated, he kills the captain and opens fire on the ship which is now led by George who orders immediate evacuation of the flight and ensures that his pregnant wife, Winona (Jennifer Morrison) is taken to safety. Malfunction of the auto pilot forces George to stay back in the craft and eventually give up his life.
Growing up fatherless has its drawbacks and James Tiberius Kirk (Chris Pine), genius by any standards is a rebel without a cause at just over 20 years of age. He aces all his tests but doesn’t want to join the forces. As if he were trying to prove a point. But all of that is till Captain Pike (Bruce Greenwood), who served with George Kirk, bumps into young Jim at a bar brawl. He spends sometime trying to drill sense into the bull headed young man and asks him to enlist with the forces. The next day, James Kirk enlists himself and begins his training. Over time he gets to meet Spock, who is considered as arguably the best brain in the part of the universe that we come from and also becomes close friends with Leonard “Bones” McCoy (Karl Urban). Spock and James start off as individuals who hate the sight of each other. Surprising right, considering they are always seen as best of friends. Just one of the few surprising things that will come your way as you watch the prelude to the real thing.
As mentioned earlier in the review, special Effects have always been the hallmark of the Star Trek series and most die-hard fans would not have it any other way for sure. And you will not be disappointed one bit with this version either. That along with Make Up, for which it won its only Oscar last year added with the tremendous fan following that it has ensures that Star Trek finds itself @ 189 in the imdb top 250 list. There are some solid performances as well from the entire star cast. None that are stupendous in anyway but definitely above average. The use of sound and light to deliver the traditional feel of battles in space is beautiful. The only reason it lost the Oscar for Visual effects was that it came up against Avatar in the final draw. I would peg this as a must watch for fans of the series or otherwise. It plays quite regularly on Star Movies I think. Catch it the next time for sure if you haven’t seen it yet. 7.5 on 10.
Watch the trailer at http://www.imdb.com/video/imdb/vi1761608473/
Tuesday, 11 January 2011
The Castle
I am actually enjoying the fag end of my vacation seeing more movies than ever. And I am being immensely helped with the Queensland floods. Not that I am happy about the floods. Some of the images that I am seeing on the Channel 9 news are scary as hell. But funnily, in a situation like this, this country doesn’t experience power failures. It is endearing to see the number of people who are braving the flood waters to save people all across the state of Queensland which has been covered by water to the extent of New South Wales – 810K sqkms i.e. 1/4th the size of India – Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh and Punjab put together. Stories of Davids taking on Goliath in the form of mother nature are trickling in. I had the good fortune of seeing a story on these lines but it was more like Daryl taking on Goliath and it didn’t have to do with floods but was inspiring and definitely strikes a chord.
Daryl Kerrigan (Michael Caton) is a family man. His idea of a good time is to spend as much time @ home with his wife, 3 sons, a daughter and 4 grey hounds. The great part is that everyone in the family also believes in the same. The family stays in a suburb that is extremely close to Melbourne Airport. So much so that he can as well call it his backyard - they share a wall with it. The idea was that the property would appreciate significantly over a period of time but 15 years later they are still very much at status quo, along with the 3 other families that have survived. They are not very educated with the highest qualification within the family being that of Tracey (Sophie Lee) who has completed a diploma in hair dressing – the proudest moment in Daryl’s life. Daryl is like a retired father who gets his thrills in collecting stuff just because it’s a good bargain – irrespective of whether he finds it useful or not. He makes his living by running a tow truck service.
So if you are wondering what is so Daryl v/s Goliath about the whole scene, you don’t need to wait for too long. The Melbourne city council decides that it is time to expand the airport. Backed with private investors, the project is expected to cost over $2 billion – remember this is set in the 90s where $2b was a hell of a lot of money. A casual visit from a surveyor doesn’t raise many eyebrows in the simple Kerrigan household. In fact Daryl is more than glad to show the surveyor around and proudly talks about the changes he is making. Needless to say, the evacuation notice arrives a couple of weeks later and leaves the household stumped. The other 3 families also receive similar notices. The law allows the government to forcibly acquire land / property and provide adequate compensation. But the Kerrigan family is not interested in compensation. Compensation can be provided for a house. Not for a home. What follows is the story of Daryl taking on the system, all the way upto the constitution of the country – the ultimate law.
The Castle is not the best made movie per se. But it is one that picks on a relevant topic which has a social implication. The government is definitely justified in asking for land for development but have they evaluated all options available before taking the last call of uprooting people from the truck loads of memories, blood, tears, toil and sweat that have gone into building their lives. Most importantly, it addresses the sensitivity with which the issue is dealt with and gives inspiration to loads of people who may have been denied justice in a case like this. Director Rob Stich is an Aussie director who seems to know his job. The movie appears to be shot on a shoe string budget but the narration is tight and there are no inconsistencies – the basis of making a good film. Add to it the sincerest of performances from the entire cast led by Michael Caton. One would also notice a very muscular and well built person in the role of Con Petropoulous the fiancé and eventually husband of Tracey Kerrigan. Takes a while to identify him but he is indeed Eric Bana in what he would probably term as one of the least intense roles he has ever played in his life. He has sure come a long long way. I give The Castle a 7 on 10. Surely must watch if possible.
Daryl Kerrigan (Michael Caton) is a family man. His idea of a good time is to spend as much time @ home with his wife, 3 sons, a daughter and 4 grey hounds. The great part is that everyone in the family also believes in the same. The family stays in a suburb that is extremely close to Melbourne Airport. So much so that he can as well call it his backyard - they share a wall with it. The idea was that the property would appreciate significantly over a period of time but 15 years later they are still very much at status quo, along with the 3 other families that have survived. They are not very educated with the highest qualification within the family being that of Tracey (Sophie Lee) who has completed a diploma in hair dressing – the proudest moment in Daryl’s life. Daryl is like a retired father who gets his thrills in collecting stuff just because it’s a good bargain – irrespective of whether he finds it useful or not. He makes his living by running a tow truck service.
So if you are wondering what is so Daryl v/s Goliath about the whole scene, you don’t need to wait for too long. The Melbourne city council decides that it is time to expand the airport. Backed with private investors, the project is expected to cost over $2 billion – remember this is set in the 90s where $2b was a hell of a lot of money. A casual visit from a surveyor doesn’t raise many eyebrows in the simple Kerrigan household. In fact Daryl is more than glad to show the surveyor around and proudly talks about the changes he is making. Needless to say, the evacuation notice arrives a couple of weeks later and leaves the household stumped. The other 3 families also receive similar notices. The law allows the government to forcibly acquire land / property and provide adequate compensation. But the Kerrigan family is not interested in compensation. Compensation can be provided for a house. Not for a home. What follows is the story of Daryl taking on the system, all the way upto the constitution of the country – the ultimate law.
The Castle is not the best made movie per se. But it is one that picks on a relevant topic which has a social implication. The government is definitely justified in asking for land for development but have they evaluated all options available before taking the last call of uprooting people from the truck loads of memories, blood, tears, toil and sweat that have gone into building their lives. Most importantly, it addresses the sensitivity with which the issue is dealt with and gives inspiration to loads of people who may have been denied justice in a case like this. Director Rob Stich is an Aussie director who seems to know his job. The movie appears to be shot on a shoe string budget but the narration is tight and there are no inconsistencies – the basis of making a good film. Add to it the sincerest of performances from the entire cast led by Michael Caton. One would also notice a very muscular and well built person in the role of Con Petropoulous the fiancé and eventually husband of Tracey Kerrigan. Takes a while to identify him but he is indeed Eric Bana in what he would probably term as one of the least intense roles he has ever played in his life. He has sure come a long long way. I give The Castle a 7 on 10. Surely must watch if possible.
Thursday, 23 December 2010
Time Traveller's Wife
Its funny when you are reading a book and the movie that is showing on the in flight entertainment system is the same one. In fact, I have been wanting to see Time Traveler’s Wife ever since I started reading the book and more importantly ever since a friend of mine said, “Massive movie buff eh. And you had no idea that the book was already made into a movie”? Now that’s what you call a little embarrassing. Not terribly embarrassing but just a little bit. I was now caught between a situation where the movie would reveal to me the end of an quite well written book where I could not help but picturise how it would look on the big screen. But my curiosity got the better of me and I went right ahead with the movie instead. A reasonably well spent couple of hours I must say although it came at the expense of ruining the suspense.
Henry DeTamble (Eric Bana) has a genetic disorder. It enables him to travel through time. Yep. You heard me right. The disorder manifests itself in times of acute stress and is magnified if he has been “under the influence” i.e. has a higher probability of occurance. The disorder first came to the fore when Henry was 6 years old. He was traveling with his mother, Anette DeTamble (Michelle Nolden) on Christmas Eve. Anette is a famed singer. Unexpectedly, an accident occurs that takes away Anette’s life but in the excitement, Henry finds himself in a totally unknown place - naked and mighty cold. And in the next few minutes he is back to the scene of the accident in the same state but not in the car but on the sidewalk watching in horror as his mother’s body is pulled out of the mangled remains of the car. Which is why Henry never celebrates Christmas like most people do – understandably so.
Clarie Abshire (Rachel MacAdams) is Henry’s wife - in the future. Henry’s illness typically takes him to places or people that is he most familiar with. And the first time he meets Claire is when she is a 6 year old @ the meadow close to her house. He appears out of nowhere and a curious Claire thinks that aliens have landed. Henry manages to convince her that it is no such thing and introduces himself to her. This marks the beginning of a friendship that will eventually, as mentioned earlier, turn into marriage. Remember that at the time Claire is 6, the true Henry is only about 14 and somewhere else in the world. The Henry that meets Claire is 30+.
Yeah, it all sounds extremely confusing I know. And hence a word of advise – read the book before you see the movie if you can. Director Robert Schwentke is known for movies such as FlightPlan and RED (which I missed last week) – both apparently as convoluted as his family name. TTW is no different. I guess he has a knack of looking for difficult topics to convert into a movie. In his attempt to recreate Audrey Niffenegger’s novel, he has not been able to bring to life some points – especially the times when Henry finds himself in a different era. The movie doesn’t portray the pain that he goes through at all. It also rushes through several portions of the process of building the friendship with Claire through the early years – a fact that is very crucial to the overall construction of the relationship between the two. Schwentke was probably more eager to get the movie done in under 2 hours rather than do justice to the entire topic.
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