Category: 2012-2013

“Lawless” (2012) starring Shia LaBeouf, Tom Hardy, Gary Oldman, Mia Wasikowska, Jessica Chastain, Guy Pearce, & Jason Clarke

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When the law became corrupt, outlaws became heroes. -Tagline

Tom is a big draw for actors, b/c people wanna work w/ him. Well, when you think about it, my character is a fan of his brother. He’s the leader, the shot-caller essentially. […] There’s a lot of my dichotomy w/ Tom in my life and btwn. Jack and Forrest. I look up to Tom as an actor, and I respect him as an actor. -Shia LaBeouf, during press tour for Lawless (Spring 2012)

In 1931, in Franklin Co, VA, Forrest Bondurant (Tom Hardy) is a legend among the locals. Together w/ his older brother, Howard (Jason Clarke), and younger brother, Jack (Shia LaBeouf), he runs a distillery/bootlegging biz. When the D.A. Mason Wardell arrives w/ Special Deputy Charles Rakes (Guy Pearce), the Bondurants refuse to pay the required bribes. Meanwhile, Forrest hires a waitress for their gas station/cafe, Maggie (Jessica Chastain), who has a mysterious past in Chicago. Jack becomes interested in a Mennonite preacher’s daughter, Bertha Minnix (Mia Wasikowska). Jack and his friend, Cricket (Dane DeHaan), deal a big load of liquor w/ a powerful gangster, Floyd Banner (Gary Oldman). Jack shows off w/ his new car/clothes, attracting the attention of Rakes.

Jack [in opening voiceover]: You can make moonshine whiskey from just about anything. Turnips, pumpkins, blackberries, cornmeal, tree bark. Anything.

This movie premiered at the Cannes Film Festival; it’s based on real events, as explained in the 2008 book The Wettest County in the World by Matt Bondurant (grandson of Jack). The timeline and sequence of events found in the book differs from the film. Chastain had her hair cut/dyed, as she didn’t want to wear a wig. Forrest was supposed to look slimmer, BUT Hardy had to bulk up for The Dark Knight Rises (2012). LaBeouf (who naturally has a slight build) gained 40 lbs. The 3 onscreen bros all lived in the same house while filming on location (in Georgia). Hardy and LaBeouf got into “a physical altercation” during the shoot. Hardy later said that LaBeouf “knocked me out;” the younger actor said that Hardy started aggressively wrestling w/ him (w/o warning). LaBeouf said he drank moonshine during filming (as part of his process). He admitted that his drinking and aggressive attitude caused Wasikowska to try and leave the film- wow! If you know re: LaBeouf’s (troubled) personal life, this won’t shock you.

Forrest: It is not the violence that sets men apart, alright, it is the distance that he is prepared to go.

There is much to admire re: Lawless, BUT it is an uneven movie. I liked the (unique) way that modern and period music were blended; it was quite effective. The movie drags on about 10-15 mins. TOO long and is light on character development (w/ an international ensemble cast). Warning: The blood and violence may be TOO much for sensitive viewers. The main villain (Pearce) is vain, sadistic, and prejudiced; as one journo at Cannes commented, this performance was “somewhat campy.” We know that Hardy is a strong screen presence, BUT could’ve had a few more lines; his character “talks” w/ his fists (like most of the men in this community). Much more could’ve been done w/ the 2 separate romances, esp. btwn. Hardy and Chastain (who had a LOT of chemistry on the promo tour). I was a BIT surprised that Maggie was the one who approached Forrest; he’d just been watching her for some time. As Chastain commented: “In some ways, he’s like a little boy.”

[1] This is a dark movie where it seems those out of the religious community live and survive by force. In comes law enforcers from outside led by a sadistic sergeant, and we have an explosive mix. […]

This film isn’t about gung-ho good v evil. This is a lot more. […]

Action comes generally in short sharp moments, but thankfully doesn’t detract from the rest of the movie. Surprisingly some great acting and great camera work.

[2] You are left with the impression that Hillcoat is pulling out all the stops to give this commercial appeal. Not only are the good guys a bit too good, the bad guys a bit too bad, leaving the audience in no doubt who to cheer for, but is also trying to make a film trying to appeal to both teenagers and a female audience. […] …the story loses focus and is trying to do too much.

[3] Unfortunately, Lawless is tedious through and through. It’s sequences go from bursts of heartless violence to development-less talking. The problem is its atmosphere, which could also be attributed to the choice of digital photography. It tries to be gritty, with its music hinting back to one of my favourite western TV shows, Deadwood, but the slick cinematography is just completely lifeless. […] It was a huge mistake to try and force some romance subplots in here. There’s nothing too bad about Lawless, besides its humourless and cold approach, it’s just disappointingly average given the talent.

-Excerpts from IMDb reviews

Park Chan-wook’s 1st American Movie: “Stoker” (2013) starring Mia Wasikowska, Nicole Kidman, & Matthew Goode

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India Stoker (Mia Wasikowska) was not prepared to lose her father and best friend, Richard (Dermot Mulroney), in a tragic auto accident. The solitude of her woodsy family estate, the peace of her tranquil town, and the unspoken somberness of her home life are suddenly upended by not only this mysterious accident, but by the sudden arrival of her Uncle Charlie (Matthew Goode), who she never knew existed. When Charlie moves in with her and her emotionally unstable mother Evie (Nicole Kidman), India thinks the void left by her father’s death is finally being filled by his closest bloodline. Soon after his arrival, India comes to suspect that this mysterious, charming man has ulterior motives. Yet instead of feeling outrage or horror, this friendless young woman becomes increasingly infatuated with him.

-Synopsis (Fox Searchlight Pictures)

India: You look like my father.

Charles: I am so sorry.

India: It’s your loss, too.

This is probably a film that most of you haven’t heard of before; I learned about it from the Fatal Attractions pod (which focuses on the erotic thriller genre). This is the 1st American movie helmed by South Korean director Park Chan-wook. The screenwriter is also a man of color, Wentworth Miller (best-known as the star of Prison Break); he graduated from Princeton w/ a degree in English Lit. Stoker is inspired by Hitchcock’s Shadow of a Doubt (1943); there is a mysterious uncle who re-emerges into the life of a family after many yrs. of absence. It soon becomes obvious that this man could be dangerous.

India: He [her father] used to say, sometimes you need to do something bad to stop you from doing something worse.

This film (w/ a run time of 1 hr. 39 mins.) is a character-driven thriller which is moody, atmospheric, and tense (though NOT in an obvious way). The pacing may seem slow to some viewers, as it takes some time for the plot to get moving. The main location is an elegant/historic estate in Nashville, TN. Though they play Americans, Wasikowska and Kidman are Aussies and Goode is a Brit. Two of India’s classmates (Alden Ehrenreich and Lucas Till) would go on to their own movies and TV shows in a few yrs.

Mia’s posture: her stillness and her straightness speaks to the personality of a character who likes everything ordered around her. -Park Chan-wook, director

We know that life as a teen can be V tough, esp. when you don’t fit in w/ your family and/or peers. Evie laments the fact that she and India don’t have a close relationship; India was more of a “daddy’s girl” (we see them hunting/bonding in flashback). India is an outcast at her HS; she wears a sullen expression, doesn’t speak much, and dislikes being touched. After school, a few of the boys bully her w/ insults (yikes), though there is one boy who is sympathetic. India plays the piano, as does her Uncle Charlie; this brings them together in a (pivotal) scene. So far, I’ve seen Wasikowska in HBO’s In Treatment, Jane Eyre (2011), and Tracks (2013) co-starring Adam Driver. I think that (like Driver) she has intensity onscreen (even w/o speaking) and plays troubled/sensitive characters V well. If you’re looking for something out of the ordinary, you can rent this movie (Amazon).

[1] The look and feel of Stoker is impressive. The atmosphere is well-sustained throughout. If I had a criticism, it would simply be that the story ultimately isn’t all that original and there aren’t really a lot of surprises. What it does do though is to take a fairly standard psychological thriller story and make it interesting by way of cinematic techniques.

[2] The film has a set of amazing talents. […] The violence is a bit tamed for a Chan-wook Park film, but here, he aims more at the fortitude. He fills them with an impressively energetic style which helps executing its eeriness. The gorgeous cinematography captures the melancholia of their world. Everything is just stunning.

...the film rather tests the anxiety of the audience in these strange haunting exteriors. The film is not trying to be innovative, but the reason why it’s interesting is because of its intense use of filmmaking styles.

-Excerpts from IMDb reviews

“Gayby” (2012)

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Jenn- a straight woman (Jenn Harris) and Matt- a gay man (Matthew Wilkas) are best friends from college now in their 30s. Jenn teaches hot yoga and has been single for a long time. Matt owns/manages a comic book store and can’t get over his ex-bf (who left him after 7 yrs). They decide to fulfill a promise to have a child together- the old fashioned way! They do spend some time dating new people- w/ mixed results- as it’s tough to be single in NYC. I heard about this movie a few weeks ago on the Designated Driver podcast; Adam Driver (and his future wife- Joanne Tucker) have supporting roles in this comedy. Driver plays Neil, Matt’s laid-back/supportive co-worker; Tucker plays the over-educated yoga studio’s admin. The writer/director, Jonathan Lisecki, plays the role of the (self-proclaimed) “bear”- Nelson.

There are many NYC-based character actors here (all of whom do a fine job). I recognized a FEW from the Law & Order franchise. Wilkas is V fit/youthful; I recognized his name (as former partner of Olympic skier Gus Kenworthy). He and Harris have terrific chemistry together; you truly buy them as BFFs (almost like family). Louis (Louis Cancelmi) is the brooding artist who comes to paint Jenn’s apt; he’s married to actress Elizabeth Waterston (daughter of Sam). Scott (Mike Doyle) is preppy/handsome; he comes to buy comics w/ his young son. Adam (Dule Hill, from one of my fave TV shows- The West Wing) is one of Jenn’s dates; he is charming (as usual) and does a BIT tap dancing (how he started in theater). Sarita Choudhury (a prolific Indian-American actress) plays the healer who Jenn goes to for herbs/natural remedies; she recently made a splash on the SATC reboot- And Just Like That. Choudhury is one of MANY actors I saw while living in NYC; she’s even more beautiful in-person! Driver (in perhaps his 2nd feature film role) is adorable as a nerdy/sweet guy; he wears his hair short (just covering the tops of his ears). Check this movie out IF you’re in the mood for something fun!

[1] It’s light hearted and funny throughout the story. […] The story is quite positive as well, even though the lead characters are not super successful people, they are portrayed to be good people that are down to earth and easy to relate to. 

[2] Director Lisecki has taken the bold step of using an actor- Jenn Harris- who isn’t an incredibly gorgeous woman. […] Jenn Harris looks like a person who could be your friend, or, for that matter, your yoga instructor. […] Harris is an excellent actor, and so is Matthew Wilkas. The supporting cast- including Lisecki himself- is highly competent. The dialogue is witty, the characters are endearing, and the movie is very enjoyable.

[3] While the theme of “gay guy and straight woman decide to make a baby” has been done MANY times (“The Wedding Banquet” is probably the Gold Standard) even back in 2012, this rendition absolutely comes off as believable, with well-formed characters, great acting and a solid script.

-Excerpts from IMDb reviews

Adam Driver’s 1st Feature Film: “Not Waving But Drowning” (2012)

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This movie (focused on female friendship) was written/directed by a young woman, Devyn Waitt. We first see a short film titled The Most Girl Part of You, based on a short story by Amy Hempel. In the days following his mother’s suicide, a teen boy named Big Guy (Ryan Munzert) and his BFF Amy (Lili Reinhart- one of the stars of Riverdale), begin to see each other in new ways. This story is dark, yet also sweet, perhaps reminding one of first love. The second story is about moving away from family, becoming distant from an old friend, and trying to make a new life.

One summer, blonde/bubbly Adele (Vanessa Ray) leaves her small town in Florida for NYC. She’d grown tired of her boring job and the (married) man who’d been chasing her. Her brunette/reserved BFF, Sara (Megan Guinan), stays behind. Adele has a small/crappy apt in a neighborhood that looks a BIT sketchy. One of her young neighbors, Kim (Isabelle McNally), wants to be her friend. Adele (though she has gone to college) can ONLY get a job cleaning a high-rise office building. Adam (Adam Driver) is her co-worker; this isn’t a big role, but it’s an important one.

After a huge pile-up on the freeway, Sara’s cop father (Scott Bryce from As the World Turns) becomes anxious/depressed. He thinks it’s too dangerous for Sara to drive her old car; she uses her bike instead. Sara starts work at a local retirement home where she monitors the hallways and teaches art. She meets Sylvia (Lynn Cohen- best known as Magda on SATC), an older woman who flouts the rules. It turns out that Sylvia also lived in NYC and had many adventures in her young life.

Feeling lonely/bored, Adele decides to go drinking/clubbing w/ Kim. They end up on a rooftop w/ a small group; it looks like everyone is having fun. Adele and one of the young men end up kissing, then he sexually assaults her (she’s scared/verbally protests). Sadly, she can’t bring herself to confide in anyone (certainly NOT her much younger sister- or even- Sara)! Adele is V curious re: the man who leaves late at night; she sneaks into his office and starts writing on his computer. She wants to be a journalist, she tells Adam.

Finding people you can trust is often tough in a new/big city. Adam is kind, honest, and a good friend to Adele. He has longish hair and wears tees, shorts, and a messenger bag. After Kim and her friends steal beer and cigarettes from a bodega, Adam pays the clerk. He looks disappointed as he tells Adele that she doesn’t need to hang out w/ people like that. After a few mins, she returns to where he was waiting nearby. Adele decides to go on a “day date” w/ Adam in Central Park. (FYI: This is Driver’s 1st feature-length film; it was shot about 4-5 yrs before it got released.) In Frances Ha, BOTH Ray and McNally have small roles (where they act alongside Driver). You can see this movie on YouTube.

[1] Firstly, the acting was superior to many other mainstream movies… In addition, the thoughtful plot provided refreshing insight into character development for this coming of age story.

[2] Regardless of your generation or gender, there’s much to appreciate in this film about two young women moving from their adolescent lives into the wider world. […]

The characters develop through multiple experiences that are sometimes uncomfortable or worse. Yet, overall there’s so much energy, humor, and truth that the film feels very balanced. The editing and music are dynamic and keep the viewer highly engaged.

[3] I very much related to this amazingly accurate portrayal of what it’s like to move to New York to “begin your life”. It deals so well with the divide between what you want/expect and what the real world is actually like. The visuals are great…

-Excerpts from IMDb reviews



“Frances Ha” (2012) starring Greta Gerwig, Mickey Sumner, Adam Driver, & Michael Zegen

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Frances lives in New York, but she doesn’t really have an apartment. Frances is an apprentice for a dance company, but she’s not really a dancer. Frances has a best friend named Sophie, but they aren’t really speaking anymore. Frances throws herself headlong into her dreams, even as their possible reality dwindles. Frances wants so much more than she has but lives her life with unaccountable joy and lightness. —IFC Films Summary

Frances Halliday (Greta Gerwig) is a 27 y.o. “apprentice” dancer in NYC; she doesn’t yet feel like “a real grown-up.” She lives w/ her BFF since college, Sophie (Mickey Sumner), who works as an editor for Random House. They’re both trying to figure out adult life/responsibilities, BUT Sophie seems to be a bit more confident and put-together than Frances. The friends often sleep in the same bed and act like sisters. Frances breaks up w/ her bf, Dan (Michael Esper- primarily a theater actor). Dan had wanted them to live together and get cats (a rather pricy/ugly breed). Then, Sophie wants to move to her “dream apt. in Tribeca” w/ another friend; Frances is saddened that they won’t live together anymore. She makes two new friends, Lev (Adam Driver- before fame) and Benji (Michael Zegen- who co-stars on The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel), who have space in their Chinatown apt. available. Unlike most of her circle, Frances doesn’t come from money; her parents are middle-class. At a dinner party, Frances heard that Sophie and her bf, Patch (Patrick Heusinger), are moving to Japan for his job! What will happen to their friendship?

Lev: Just because you bought dinner doesn’t mean I’m gonna sleep with you.

Frances: I’m not trying to sleep with you.

Lev: No, I was pretending to be a liberated woman.

***

The way Adam says it is like a song: “Ah-ma-zinnggg.” I always think of that word that way now.

-Noah Baumbach, director

I came across this charming film when I was looking up works w/ Driver; he doesn’t appear much here (but his character is memorable). Driver and Baumbach became very good friends; he is the 2nd male lead in While We’re Young (2014) and the lead in the much-acclaimed Marriage Story (2019). The movie was shot in black and white to “boil it down to its barest bones,” and create an immediate “history” and “a kind of instant nostalgia” (according to Baumbach- who also directed). Frances goes on one date w/ Lev (who is a sculptor), but may have a connection w/ writer Benji (a stand-in for Baumbach w/ his dark hair/eyes, and slim/short build). I was pleasantly surprised to see that romance isn’t at the heart of this story- it’s about female friendship.

Sophie (on her visit to Lev and Benji’s apt): The only people who can afford to be artists in New York are rich.

Charlotte d’Amboise, who plays the head of the dance company (and a former dancer) is a well-known Broadway dancer, w/ such shows as Cats, Chicago, A Chorus Line, and Pippin. Frances’ parents are played by Gerwig’s real-life parents, Gordon and Christine. Gerwig was raised as a Unitarian Universalist; there’s a scene in the Unitarian Universalist Society of Sacramento (which she grew up attending). Rachel (Grace Gummer) stars as one of the modern dancers; her mother (Meryl Streep) starred as Aunt March in Little Women (2019) directed by Gerwig. The college seen in the movie is Vassar, a liberal arts university in Poughkeepsie, NY (which Baumbach attended).

Frances: I’m poor.

Benji: That’s actually offensive to poor people.

I could relate to this movie in many ways, as I also lived in NYC when I was in my late 20s. I went to grad school at Fordham. Like Frances, I was (usually) broke, since I worked as a substitute teacher (as well as a few smaller jobs in the summers). I lived in two NOT so fabulous apts (though the rents were high- as you’d expect). Unlike Frances, I didn’t have one particular bestie, BUT I did meet many smart/interesting people (some of whom became friends and I stay in touch w/ 10+ yrs later). I didn’t know where my life was going, BUT I think I put myself out of my comfort zone and kept a positive attitude (which Frances does as well).

[1] I felt there was something truly raw and authentic about everything in here, especially the characters’ interactions and dialogs. Apart from that, there is some great music… Lead actress Greta Gerwig scored a Golden Globe nomination for her portrayal here and it was very deserved I must say, especially as she also came up with the excellent script.

[2]The feeling of Frances not really knowing where she is going, bouncing from one flat-share to the next (albeit awesome flats) is very well done and Gerwig delivers it very well, somehow managing to get through all the traps of the genre.

[3] I’m not saying you should live your life like her or take advice from the movie. But it is very refreshing to see something, that is not very obvious. I couldn’t tell where the movie was going, but it was interesting to find out. And while some might find this boring, others will rejoice.

-Excerpts from IMDB reviews