biopic – Page 5 – Let's Talk About Movies

Selma [2014]

January 27, 2015

“Selma” mesmerized me from start to finish. It is everything a film about a towering figure like Martin Luther King ought to be: majestic and emotional, respectful but not worshipful. It manages to humanize a historical figure without diminishing him in any way, thanks to director Ava DuVernay’s sure hand, a superior screenplay by Paul Webb, and an incredible performance by David Oyelowo in the leading role (why was he snubbed by Academy voters I’ll never know). I say “incredible” because after just a few minutes’ time, I forgot about the actor and allowed myself to believe that I was actually watching the real Martin Luther King. What’s more, DuVernay has assembled a first-class team of collaborators in order to bring the 1960s period to life without ever looking, or feeling like your typical Hollywood period piece. Cinematographer Bradford Young, art director Kim Jennings, costume designer Ruth E. Carter, and every other colleague’s contributions feel organic and smooth, which is no easy accomplishment. “Selma” focuses on King’s famous 1965 voting-rights march from Selma, Alabama, to the state capitol in Montgomery. The cast is overflowing with talent, and every actor gets at least one moment in the spotlight. Carmen Ejogo, Tom Wilkinson, Oprah Winfrey, Giovanni Ribisi, Tim Roth, Cuba Gooding Jr. and Martin Sheen are just a few of the notable players who bring their best game to this terrific piece. But what do we learn that we don’t already know about Martin Luther King? That depends on how well-read you are on the great man’s life and work. I learned that, although kind and peaceful, he was still willing to make “unpopular” choices in order to achieve his goals. He is a man of many parts, and this film allows us to see a number of those aspects. That’s what makes “Selma” so memorable and above all, powerful. It’s easily one of 2014’s finest films.

Rating: 3.5/4

The Imitation Game [2014] ★★★½

January 7, 2015

TheImitationGame-BC Everything adds up- just like a perfectly solved mathematical equation- in “The Imitation Game”, a fantastic movie about the life of Alan Turing, the man who helped crack the notorious German enigma code during World War II (and ultimately won the war). This is one of the best biographies I’ve seen in a long time; It puts most of Hollywood biopics to shame and offers a candid portrait of an intriguing figure whose private life and struggles make for compelling drama. Best of all, he is brought to life with charm and credibility by the gifted Benedict Cumberbatch (get him on that Oscar list right away). We first meet Alan in 1951 when he arouses the suspicion of a local police detective in Manchester, then the film goes back in time, as we witness his recruitment by the British Government at the beginning of the war. What follows is so interesting, that even a mediocre dramatization would command our interest, but director Morten Tyldum (in his English language debut), screenwriter Graham Moore, and the actors go above and beyond the norm. Cumberbatch, whose star status is already on the rise, gives an Award caliber performance. Everything about the film is first-class: Oscar Faura’s cinematography, Maria Djurkovic’s period production design (with an incredible eye for detail), Alexandre Desplat’s score, and the contributions of such fine actors as Matthew Good, Keira Knightley and Mark Strong. “The Imitation Game” held me spellbound for almost two hours. It’s definitely one of 2014’s best movies.

Rating: 3.5/4

Unbroken [2014] ★★½

January 5, 2015

Solidly crafted, impeccably acted and self-important in the way that Oscar loves, Angelina Jolie’s “Unbroken” is also incredibly close to exploitation. That’ll happen I guess, when your driving plot depicts the incredibly true story of Olympic athlete Louis Zamperini, from a crash landing of his plane at sea during WWII to 47 agonizing days in a life raft, followed by seemingly endless abuse as a Japanese prisoner of war. Usually I’m a sucker for this kind of picture, which has a great deal of sentiment built into it but I found its execution too blatant and might I add cheesy. Still, because the material itself is absorbing and pretty powerful at times, and because it’s a handsome production, “Unbroken” is very watchable. It has all the makings of a crowd-pleaser and I think a lot of viewers will be responsive to it. Good actors like Jack O’Connell (as Zamperini), Domnhall Gleeson (son of the great Brendon Gleeson) and Takamasa Ishihara (as a sadistic Japanese prison warden) fill the cast. But for the most part, they are called upon to approach their parts in the most transparent way possible. Nothing is left for us to discover on our own. And ultimately, that’s my problem with the movie, which clocks in at 137 minutes. As much as I admire Angelina Jolie’s skills, I wish someone else had tackled this delicate subject.

Rating: 2.5/4

Exodus: Gods And Kings [2014] ★★½

December 22, 2014

poster Christian Bale starring as Moses in an epic movie directed by the great Ridley Scott (“Gladiator”) sounds like Oscar bait. Truth is: it isn’t. And the sooner you realize that, the more fun you’ll have at this enjoyable (if overlong) slice of history. It may not be a perfect film, or even a great one, but it has much to recommend it: tremendous ambition, a great cast and amazing sets. You probably know the story by now: Upon learning of his Hebrew identity, the hot-blooded warrior Moses (Bales) rises up against the Egyptian Pharaoh Ramses (Joel Edgerton), setting 600,000 slaves on a long and difficult journey of escape from Egypt. The pace of the story is slow at times, but in terms of spectacle, “Exodus: Gods and Kings” delivers what you would expect in the era of CGI: the coming of the plague and the race across the Red Sea are particularly impressive. I must confess though that while I wasn’t bored, I still had trouble connecting with this long movie on an emotional level. Those action highlights got my blood racing, for which I’m grateful, but I wish they were in the context of better storytelling. And ultimately, that’s my problem with the movie. I still give Scott credit, not just for tackling this subject matter, but for making a broadly entertaining, great-looking movie, even with all its flaws. Now excuse me while I go watch Cecil B. DeMille’s classic “The Ten Commandments”.

Rating: 2.5/4

The Theory Of Everything [2014] ★★★½

November 25, 2014

Eddie Redmayne has emerged as a fine actor over the past few years, in films like “My Week With Marilyn” and “Les Miserables“. With his performance in “The Theory Of Everything”, he reaches a new plateau, transforming himself into the brilliant Stephen Hawking, who was diagnosed with motor-neuron disease at just 21 and was given only 2 years to live. It’s the kind of role that showoff stars leap at. Luckily for the film and us, an actor got there first. Redmayne does nothing to turn Hawking’s illness for mainstream consumption. As a result, he gives a towering performance; fierce, witty and moving. He uncovers an imprisoned character’s beating heart. What’s more, he is matched by Felicity Jones (“The Invisible Woman“), who is simply terrific as Hawking’s determined wife Jane. They meet and fall in love just before he starts experiencing the first symptoms of illness. He tries to push her away but she refuses. What happens next? You’ll have to see for yourself. But you should know that there are no missteps along the way and it’s hard to take your eyes off the screen, even during the most difficult moments. That’s because it all seems genuine and above all, touching. And at the heart of this uniquely compelling film is a performance that impels us to think about Stephen Hawking, not Eddie Redmayne. But when it’s over we realize what an extraordinary feat we’ve witnessed. Some actors seem to be courting award attention when they play a disabled character, and many have been rewarded for their efforts. I have a feeling that Redmayne is simply a dedicated actor whose only goal is to make us believe he IS the character he’s impersonating. Either way, I hope he gets rewarded come Oscar time. It’s a great, soulful performance. Sit back and behold.

Rating: 3.5/4

Life Itself [2014] ★★★½

September 20, 2014

Everything you need to know about Roger Ebert, the legendary film critic who passed away in 2013, is in Steve James’ fantastic documentary. Cancer destroyed Ebert’s body and robbed him of his voice, but he kept reviewing films on his blog till the day he died. In his final days, director Steve James followed him as he suffered, but remained strong and hopeful, reflecting on his family, his early career, and of course the movies. For these reasons and more, Steve James set out to fill in the blanks of his astonishing story. The result, “Life Itself”, is an incredibly touching documentary that hits you hard. The title derives from Ebert’s autobiography. But don’t do an Internet search until you let this movie work its way into your mind and heart. Just hearing him review a movie alongside his partner Gene Siskel (who passed away in 1999 at age 53) should be enough to hook you in. “Life Itself” will get to you. If I were Ebert, my thumb would probably hit masterpiece level. His life certainly did.

Rating: 3.5/4

Jersey Boys [2014] ★★½

June 22, 2014

Every Clint Eastwood picture brings its great expectations, and rightly so. Which is why I was a bit disappointed with his latest effort “Jersey Boys”, a big screen adaption of the Broadway show of the same name, about the rise and fall of the popular 60’s band “The Four Seasons”. I give Eastwood and the actors credit for their commitment to this tough assignment, but it’s still not quite right, despite the colorful production and the many memorable songs. John Lloyd Young, who won a Tony Award for his portrayal of Frankie Valli onstage, reprises his role and does such a good job.The other members of the Four Seasons are played by Vincent DiPiazza, Erich Bergen, and Michael Lomenda and they are equally convincing. Hearing songs like “Sherry,” “Big Girls Don’t Cry,” and “Walk Like a Man” is nothing short of wonderful. But anyone looking for greater insight into these guys’ personality will have to look elsewhere. This film is strictly superficial. And ultimately that’s my problem with it.There is much to admire in the masterful filmmaking and superior performances on display and there is no way one can dismiss a film of such high quality…but I never felt entirely satisfied.

Rating: 2.5/4

Grace Of Monaco [2014] ★½

May 15, 2014

Shush. Do you hear that? That’s Grace Kelly turning in her grave. Kelly, a former actress turned Princess, is one of the most iconic women of the 20th Century, if not the greatest. But telling her story is no easy achievement. Enter French director Olivier Dahan, who brought visionary zest to Edith Piaf in 2007’s “La Vie En Rose” starring Oscar winner Marion Cotillard. So why not cast Nicole Kidman this time around as Grace Kelly? Add to that the underrated Tim Roth as Kelly’s husband, Prince Rainier, and the great Frank Langella as Father Francis Tucker and Kelly’s dear friend and what do you get? A disaster. Shush. Can you hear that? That’s blind ambition being gutted by terrible execution. Aside from the staggering beauty of Gigi Lepage’s costumes and Eric Gautier’s cinematography, nothing works. The actors are buried in the art direction, along with feeling. The film feels dull and lifeless. Dahan and his writer Arash Amel take risks by conceiving Kelly as an unhappy wife and princess. That made me crazy. But not as much as hearing Kidman’s cheesy speech about “love” and “fairy tales”. There may be worse movies this summer than “Grace Of Monaco” (bring it on, “Transformers”), but there won’t be a more crushing disappointment.

Rating: 1.5/4

Noah [2014] ★★½

April 10, 2014

On the surface, Russell Crowe starring in a biblical tale directed by Darren Aronofosky (“Requiem for a Dream”, “Black Swan”) sounds like Oscar bait. It isn’t. And the sooner you accept it, the more fun you’ll have at this satisfying disaster movie (that’s what I’m calling it). Hearing Noah’s Australian accent (lol) is jarring at first, but Crowe’s co-stars, including Jennifer Connelly, Logan Lerman, Emma Watson, Douglas Booth and Anthony Hopkins don’t sound biblical either. No worries. Aronofsky and his screenwriting partner Ari Handel will keep you in the game for as long as it takes. But it seems that they both want to have their cake and eat it too. That’s a tough trick to pull off and they almost get away with it. Almost. As a result, I can only call the finished film a mixed bag, with exciting scenes followed by dull stretches. But no movie so rich in imagination and so skillfully staged could or should be dismissed out of hand. In adapting a biblical story, “Noah” opens with the Original Sin. Some years later, Noah has a vision which he does not understand at first. Later on he begins to realize that God has chosen him to survive the great flood that will wipe humankind off the face of the earth (Yikes!). For that, he must build a huge ark and help the innocents of the world (mainly animals). Still with me? Good. Because Noah has an enemy as well, Tubal-Cain (well played by Ray Winstone), whose followers are descended from Cain, the first murderer. Yep you probably guessed it: they all want the ark.

At 138 minutes, “Noah” is an entertaining movie, not the least because it looks so great. Matthew Libatique, who has done consistently fine work for Aronofsky over the years, tops himself here, fashioning one spectacular scene after the other. His images aren’t meant to call attention to themselves. Their purpose is to serve the story in the best possible way, and in Noah’s case, they do. One can’t help but marvel at the results. So why didn’t I feel more emotionally connected to this beautifully crafted film? That’s because Aronofsky’s films are not known for their warmth. At least that’s what I tend to believe. The climactic scene in “Noah” ought to be moving, but it isn’t. I couldn’t feel a thing. Is Aronofsky purposely trying to avoid sentimentality? I’m not sure. Either way, I enjoyed watching his take on “Noah”, but I wish I had felt more when it came to a close.

Rating: 2.5/4

The Armstrong Lie [2013] ★★★

April 6, 2014

You won’t know what hit you after watching “The Armstrong Lie”. This power punch to the gut is one of the best documentaries you’ll ever see about the controversial cyclist. Armstrong has been duking it out all of his 43-year-old life with labels: Cancer survivor, Tour de France winner, liar, cheater, dope addict…you name it. Whew! Director Alex Gibney uses home movies and film clips of races and TV interviews with people who were affected by Armstrong’s lie to expose the truth. Armstrong doesn’t duck them this time, which makes this documentary even more credible and shocking. By the end of the film, the fallen idol emerges from his cage — damaged, for sure, but whole in a way we’ve never seen him before. Gibney began filming in 2008, when the seven-time winner of the Tour de France was getting ready for his long awaited comeback. Then doping allegations spiraled out of control and Gibney was forced to shelve his project. But in 2013, Armstrong opened up like a man injected with truth serum and the result is this truly fascinating documentary. If you’re curious about Armstrong and his “legacy”, consider this one a must see.

Rating: 3/4