Category: 2015-2016

Movie Review: “Far From the Madding Crowd” (2015) starring Carey Mulligan, Matthias Schoenaerts, Michael Sheen, & Tom Sturridge

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I re-watched this movie (Amazon Prime video) recently after listening to a (glowing) review on the Swoon Worthy pod. I recall NOT being V impressed w/ it when it was released in theaters; I saw it w/ my mom (when she lived nearby). I’m now more motivated to read the book; in my HS English classes, we read Tess of the D’Urbervilles and Jude the Obscure– two of Hardy’s other famous novels. I’m NOT sure how close this adaptation stays to the source novel, BUT I do think it makes for a successful romantic drama. The director (Thomas Vinterberg- Danish) and lead actor (Matthias Schoenaerts- Belgian) are NOT British; perhaps this contributes to the freshness and modern vibes. I’m also a fan of Carey Mulligan; I think she capably handles a LOT of types of roles.

Some of y’all regular readers will know of this (iconic) story: Bathsheba Everdene (Carey Mulligan) is a beautiful/independent/young woman who’s pursued by 3 different suitors: quiet/reliable sheep farmer- Gabriel Oak (Schoenaerts), charming/impulsive Army officer- Sgt. Frank Troy (Tom Sturridge), and a middle-aged/gentleman farmer- William Boldwood (Michael Sheen). As Mark Kermode noted, John Schlesinger (who directed the 1967 adaptation) was primarily interested in the relationship of Bathsheba (Julie Christie) and Sgt. Troy (Terence Stamp), the screenwriter here (David Nicholls) fleshes out the roles of all 3 men. Mulligan does a fine job in creating (different types of) chemistry w/ her co-stars. I noticed how hands-on Bathsheba got; she works alongside household servants, farmhands, etc. Her companion is a cheeky/observant young maid, Liddy (Jessica Barden); the actress has a prominent role in the series Dune: Prophecy (HBO MAX).

What is missing from the 1967 film (will review soon), is the (intro) segment w/ the growing friendship of Bathsheba and Gabriel during when she was working on her aunt’s farm. We get a sense that he admires her for her practical side, NOT only her beauty and friendly/open nature. At that time, Gabriel was of higher social status than Bathsheba (on the way to owning the farm he leased). There is a deleted scene (check YouTube) where Bathsheba saves Gabriel from (possible) death; that scene should’ve been kept in the final cut! After the (tragic) loss of his flock, Gabriel is forced to leave the farm and seek out work; by coincidence, he comes upon a barn on fire. He works (along w/ many farmhands) to save the barn; after the smoke clears, Bathsheba (the mistress of this farm) emerges!

Some viewers were confused as to how such a smart businesswoman could fall SO hard/fast for a man she barely knows. We have to remember that Bathsheba is only in her early 20s and inexperienced w/ men and love; Frank is NOT much older than her (and used to getting his way w/ women). They have a meet-cute, BUT it’s potentially problematic, as it occurs late at night while she is surveying her property. Frank appears in the fields soon after, saying that he’s there to help bring in the harvest. IF they’d lived in our (modern) times, this pair could’ve had a brief fling and gone their separate ways (astute viewers commented). In Victorian England, that was NOT an option!

I feel many elements combined to make this a captivating (though NOT an escapist) film; Hardy always contains dark themes after all. I was esp. impressed w/ the cinematography, music, and how Sheen brought (unexpected) empathy to the role of Mr. Boldwood. Book readers have commented that Mr. Boldwood is arrogant, entitled, and obsessive. I got (more) of an appreciation for Shoenaerts; he is tall/broad, w/ expressive eyes, and a strong screen presence (needed for a character who doesn’t say much). I think will have to look up more of his films; Mulligan picked him out for Gabriel after seeing him in Rust and Bone.

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Two Films of Luca Guadagnino: “I Am Love” (2009) & “A Bigger Splash” (2015)

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I Am Love (2009) starring Tilda Swinton, Flavio Parenti, & Edoardo Gabbriellini

Emma (Tilda Swinton) left Russia to live with her husband in Italy. Now a member of a powerful industrial family, she is the respected mother of three, but feels unfulfilled. One day, Antonio (Edoardo Gabbriellini), a talented chef and her son’s friend, makes her senses kindle. -Synopsis

After watching Challengers this Spring, I decided to look up films that Luca Guadagnino directed in the past. For most (American) viewers, he became one to watch w/ I Am Love; Swinton has worked w/ him on many projects. This is a domestic drama w/ fine food, timeless fashion, and romance. The story is set in (modern-day) Milan, yet the visual style reminded me of a bygone era. The title is taken from the aria La mamma morta, part of the 1896 opera Andrea Chénier by Umberto Giordano; music is a major element here. Swinton learned both Italian and Russian for the part- wow! Swinton’s IRL daughter (Honor Swinton Byrne) played Emma as a child. As the idealistic heir of the biz, Flavio Parenti does a fine job (and looks gorgeous). Fans of Adam Driver (like me) will recognize Italian actress Alba Rohrwacher; they acted together in Hungry Hearts (2014). Here she plays Elisabetta, the artistic daughter of the (buttoned-up) Recchi family.

[1] Who is Mr. Guadagnino, the director? Where does he come from? He seems incredibly sure of himself. Costumes, interiors, landscapes are a visual feast. The score is also a very bold touch.

[2] While I was moved by much of the visual beauty of the film and the idea of breaking with tradition and listening to the voices within, I was infrequently emotionally involved with the characters and I Am Love felt distant and often contrived.

[3] Throughout the movie, it seemed that the food acted as a metaphor: Emma was starting to taste a whole side of her existence about which she’d never known.

-Excerpts from IMDb reviews

A Bigger Splash (2015) starring Ralph Fiennes, Dakota Johnson, Matthias Schoenaerts, & Tilda Swinton

The lives of a high-profile couple, a famous rock star (Tilda Swinton) and a filmmaker (Matthias Schoenaerts), vacationing and recovering on the idyllic sun-drenched and remote Italian island of Pantelleria, are disrupted by the unexpected visit of an old friend (Ralph Fiennes) and his daughter (Dakota Johnson), creating a whirlwind of jealousy, passion, and- ultimately- danger for everyone involved. —Synopsis (Fox Searchlight)

Swinton plays Marianne Lane, a British rock star (similar to Bowie) on an extended vacay on an island of Italy. Paul De Smedt (Matthias Schoenaerts) is her quiet/chill bf of several yrs. The happy couple is forced to host Marianne’s music producer/ex-bf, Harry Hawkes (Ralph Fiennes), when he drops in w/o warning. Adding to the disruption, Harry brought along a much younger/American woman, Penelope (Dakota Johnson), who turns out to be his daughter! As Marianne has recently injured her vocal cords, she speaks V little (and almost in a whisper). Harry (never at a loss for words) takes over the villa’s kitchen, invites his friends over, and does a (hilarious) dance! We start to wonder: What is his motivation to be here?

If you enjoyed The White Lotus, I think you may also like this film (which is a blend of comedy, drama, and mystery). The (natural) way that Guadagnino deals w/ nudity, sensuality, and intimate relationships is rare (esp. for those who don’t see a LOT of European films)! As one viewer wrote: “Guadagnino is a remarkable filmmaker with a retro eye and a futuristic sensibility.” There is a small side plot involving young men (refugees from North Africa); this felt superfluous to some viewers. At a Q&A session for this film, Guadagnino (now 52 y.o.) explained that his mother is Algerian (raised in Morocco) and a Muslim! However, when she married the director’s father, she was estranged from her family.

[1] The quartet core together concocts a palpable interplay between each of them, Ralph Fiennes is the MVP simply because he is all over the place and wondrous to behold under a fully liberated context, and at the same time his performance knowingly triggers a tint of abstruseness which belies the nature of every human soul…

[2] A Bigger Splash is a character development masterclass by Guadagnino. Over the first hour, the film gives everything to build up the intricacies of each character’s attributes so that every subsequent variation and elaboration feels exhilarating. This is a film about people and relationships; how different associations can sometimes coalesce, yet at other times grate, how secrets and history must awkwardly co-exist with the fantasies of perfection.

-Excerpts from IMDb reviews

“Victor Frankenstein” (2015) starring Daniel Radcliffe & James McAvoy

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James McAvoy and Daniel Radcliffe star in a dynamic and thrilling twist on a legendary tale. Radical scientist, Victor Von Frankenstein (McAvoy), and his equally brilliant protégé, Igor Strausman (Radcliffe), share a noble vision of aiding humanity through their groundbreaking research into immortality. But Victor’s experiments go too far, and his obsession has horrifying consequences. Only Igor can bring his friend back from the brink of madness and save him from his monstrous creation. -Synopsis (20th C. Fox)

Igor [in opening voiceover]: You know this story. The crack of lightning. A mad genius. An unholy creation. The world, of course, remembers the monster, not the man. But sometimes, when you look closely, there’s more to a tale. Sometimes the monster is the man.

Who is Igor, some of y’all may be asking? Fans of Mel Brooks’ comedies will know Igor (Marty Feldman) as the wide-eyed/hunchback assistant to Gene Wilder in Young Frankenstein (1974). There is at least one joke from that classic in this movie. The directorial style is all over the place; some scenes are manic, while others drag on w/o much effectiveness. The editing is choppy; I’m guessing several scenes were cut for time (by the producers). The one female character, Lorelei (Jessica Brown Findlay), is underused and has V little character development. The romance is undercooked; the filmmakers should’ve just focused on the friendship (bromance). The soundtrack is often too loud and overbearing. There are horror elements, yet NOT much was scary (aside from one of the “monsters”).

Victor: Life is temporary, why should death be any different.

The late Christopher Lee said: “Every actor has to make terrible films from time to time, but the trick is never to be terrible in them.” I think we can apply that to McAvoy here; the Scottish actor gave it 100% (exuding energy and enthusiasm in the larger than life role). He was ALL in, so that his natural accent popped out when Victor is esp. passionate about something. Radcliffe is the POV character, which is a rare take; it’s easy to sympathize w/ him. The wealthy investor/med school student, Finnegan (Freddie Fox), doesn’t get much to do; he will soon he seen on S2 of House of the Dragon. The policeman obsessed w/ capturing these men, Inspector Turpin (Andrew Scott), will bring to mind Moriarty in the BBC Sherlock series (also played by the Irish actor). Many of the crew from Sherlock worked on this movie.

“The Gift” (2015) starring Jason Bateman, Rebecca Hall, & Joel Edgerton

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The Past Will Be Your Present. -Tagline for the movie

Simon (Jason Bateman) and Robyn (Rebecca Hall) are a young married couple whose life is going just as planned until a chance encounter with an acquaintance from Simon’s high school sends their world into a harrowing tailspin. Simon doesn’t recognize Gordo (Joel Edgerton) at first, but after a series of uninvited encounters and mysterious gifts prove troubling, a horrifying secret from the past is uncovered after more than 20 years. As Robyn learns the unsettling truth about what happened between Simon and Gordo, she starts to question: how well do we really know the people closest to us, and are past bygones ever really bygones? -Synopsis (STX)

This is the 1st film written/directed/produced by Aussie actor Joel Edgerton; I hadn’t seen much of his work before. As he wanted to focus on directing, Edgerton filmed his scenes as Gordo after 2 wks of shooting and completed them in 7 days. He had his hair dyed reddish-brown and wore brown contacts; he naturally has brown hair and blue eyes. This is a 3-hander w/ Edgerton, Bateman (who grew up acting), and Hall (an under-rated British actress from many indies). The cast fit their roles V well; Bateman is known as an easygoing/likeable guy (who the audience will want to root for), while Hall is able to convey strength and vulnerability (w/o saying much).

I’ve been bullied and I’ve also been the bully. –Joel Edgerton (filmmaker) on the theme of the movie

Simon and Gordo grew up near this town in SoCal; Simon and Robyn recently moved into a mid-century modern house (w/ a LOT of glass). Simon has a new job at a big architectural firm; Robyn works from home as an interior designer. They seem to have a loving/strong marriage and want to have kids soon. Edgerton (who has a smaller role than Bateman and Hall) plays Gordo as a socially awkward striver eager to please. He leaves several gifts for the couple; secrets are eventually revealed re: Gordo’s connection to Simon. Bateman gets to stretch himself (show his range) here, esp. in the final act. This is a rare thriller that has (unexpected) thrills, even IF you’re a fan/know this genre well. It is best to go in NOT knowing much; this story will keep you on the edge of your seat (w/ its clever direction).

“Ant-Man” (2015) & “Ant-Man & The Wasp” (2018)

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Ant-Man (2015) starring Paul Rudd, Michael Douglas, & Corey Stoll, & Evangeline Lilly

Armed with a super-suit with the astonishing ability to shrink in scale but increase in strength, cat burglar Scott Lang must embrace his inner hero and help his mentor, Dr. Hank Pym, pull off a plan that will save the world.

I’m sure that some of y’all regular readers are surprised that I watch (a few) Marvel movies- LOL! In recent yrs, I’ve liked Doctor Strange and Black Panther (both of which I saw in theaters); I felt that Black Panther: Wakanda Forever (watched on streaming) was uneven (will do a review later). I have to admit, I would NOT have checked this out if charming/likeable Paul Rudd (Scott Lang) and Corey Stoll (Darren Cross- the main baddie) weren’t in prominent roles. I wanted Darren to have a BIT more character development; he does a good job at being a villain. The OG Ant Man is Dr. Hank Pym (Michael Douglas); I was a BIT surprised to see him (after many yrs). In the opening scene, VFX are used to make Douglas and Martin Donovan (who plays his rival) look younger. Scott’s trio of (diverse/formerly criminal) pals) add to the humor: Luis (Michael Pena), Kurt (David Dastmalchian), and Dave (rapper T.I. Harris). Scott’s young daughter, Cassie (Abby Ryder Fortson), is cute, bright, and a natural actor; she has great chemistry w/ her on-screen dad. Scott wants to better himself for his child, which is V touching and something which many parents/caretakers can relate to. I liked the directing style, action scenes, and special effects (esp. when the shrinking tech was used). The (unnecessary) kiss btwn Scott and Hope Van Dyne (Evangeline Lilly) at the end didn’t work; I think they should’ve stayed (platonic) friends. Yeah, we see that Rudd looks FAB (in the shirtless scene), BUT Scott and Hope don’t have romantic chemistry. You can watch this movie w/ your fam and have fun!

Ant-Man and The Wasp (2018) starring Paul Rudd, Evangeline Lilly, & Michael Pena

In the sequel, we get most of the cast back, and few more are added (incl. some surprises). However, it didn’t do anything much different w/ regards to style from the 1st movie. Scott (confined to house arrest at the opener) has a great relationship w/ Cassie, ex-wife Maggie (Judy Greer), and her cop bf- Paxton (Bobby Cannavale). The Wasp suit (worn by Hope) is even more advanced than the one we 1st saw on Scott; it was originally worn by her mom, Janet (Michelle Pfeiffer), who is thought to have died on a mission. I was glad to see that Pfeiffer is back on the big screen! As a protective dad, Hank is V reluctant to have Hope wear this suit; their relationship was complicated/strained over the yrs. Here we have new baddies (who aren’t as scary or interesting as Darren): a mysterious/disappearing woman- Ava (Hannah John-Kamen)- and a Southern criminal businessman- Sonny Burch (Walton Goggins)- w/ a crew of (diverse) henchmen. We also meet a prof- Dr. Bill Foster (Laurence Fishburne)- a former associate of Hank’s; I wanted to know more about him. I wasn’t as impressed here; this movie is NOT as memorable as the original and the baddies aren’t that intimidating. Also, there are a few slow scenes (which could’ve been cut) involving Scott’s pals (w/ whom he now runs a security business). Most of the MCU (Marvel Cinematic Universe) movies need better editing, from what I’ve seen and heard (from entertainment critics I follow).