Film Review: Snowden

Oliver Stone’s Snowden mixes biopic with political thriller. It is an enjoyable enough watch.

In June 2013, Edward Snowden meets with filmmaker Laura Poitras and journalist Glenn Greenwald in a hotel room in Hong Kong. Intelligence contractor Snowden wishes to blow the whistle on mass surveillance techniques by the NSA…

How do you make a recent and very well publicised event an interesting enough subject for a feature film? By making it a personal story. At least, this is what director-writer Oliver Stone and co-writer Kieran Fitzgerald have done. Most viewers will be aware of Edward Snowden and his whistle-blowing activities, so Stone needs to offer them a hook. He does this by combining a biopic format with the minutae of the events that occurred in June 2013, when The Guardian first broke the NSA story.

The title character’s story is told in flashbacks marking pivotal eras in his adult life. Those who are unaware of Edward’s background will certainly find this interesting. It charts the journey of a conservative protagonist who wants to serve his country, to a cynical individual who wants to inform the world. In this sense, Gabriel Sol’s nickname for him, Snow White, seems very apt.

Edward encounters several characters that have an impact on him. Significant to the personal story is his relationship with girlfriend Lindsay. However, it terms of personal revelation, his relationships with colleagues and mentors is more pertinent. As the film progresses, the reason he decided to whistle blow becomes abundantly clear.

The present day activity is mildly interesting, but does not hold the same weight as the flashbacks. Whilst it is entertaining to see how Edward got the information through security, the later scenes in Hong Kong are less exciting. Here, Stone aims for tension in exhibiting the meetings between the protagonists and journalists, and his escape from the hotel. However, as most viewers will know about Edward Snowden, it fails to achieve the palpable tension the film is aiming for.

Joseph Gordon-Levitt delivers a solid performance as Edward. Shailene Woodley is well cast as Lindsay, as are Scott Eastwood and Ben Schnetzer in minor roles. Nicolas Cage is joyous in his small appearances.  The subject matter is certainly up Oliver Stone’s street. Whilst mildly entertaining, Snowden does not deliver the insight or energy of Stone’s earlier pictures.

Snowden is being screened at the BFI London Film Festival in October 2016.

Previews: Ant-Man Trailer, Irrational Man Trailer and More

Previews of forthcoming attractions this week include the latest Ant-Man trailer, Irrational Man, Steve Jobs…

Ant-Man Trailer

Here is the latest Ant-Man trailer. The film looks like it will have a healthy dose of comedy, and given that the film is about an ant-sized superhero, this will be welcome. Starring Paul Rudd and Michael Douglas, Ant-Man hits the big screen on 17th July 2015.

Irrational Man Trailer

Woody Allen’s latest film Irrational Man stars Joaquin Phoenix as a philosophy professor who  gets caught in a love triangle with two women. Emma Stone returns for her second performance in an Allen film whilst it is the first for Parker Posey and Joaquin Phoenix. Irrational Man opens in UK cinemas on 11th September 2015.

Steve Jobs Trailer

Here is the debut trailer for Steve Jobs. The film comes with quite a pedigree; it is directed by Danny Boyle, written by Aaron Sorkin, and stars Michael Fassbender, Kate Winslet and Seth Rogen. Steve Jobs will be released in UK cinemas on 13th November 2015.

The Walk Poster

The Walk is based on the true story of a man who walked between the two World Trade Centre towers in New York. The film stars Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Charlotte Le Bon and Ben Kingsley, and is directed by Robert Zebecks. The Walk hits the big screen on 2nd October 2015.

Creed

The Rocky franchise gets another instalment, albeit with a bit of a difference. Michael B. Jordan stars as the son of Apollo Creed, and sees Sylvester Stallone reprise his role as the boxing legend. Creed also reunites Jordan with his Fruitvale Station director Ryan Coogler. Creed is set for release on 27th November 2015.

The Diary of a Teenage Girl Trailer

The Diary of a Teenage Girl has already won praise at film festivals this year. The film is about a teenage girl growing up in San Francisco in the 1970s. Starring Bel Powley, Kirsten Wiig and Alexander Skarsgård, The Diary of a Teenage Girl will hit the big screen in the UK on 7th August 2015.

Masterminds

New comedy Masterminds tells the true story of a group of idiots who pulled off a $17 million heist. The film stars Zach Galifianakis, Kristen Wiig, Own Wilson and Jason Sudeikis. Masterminds will hit UK screens on 7th August 2015.

 

 

God’s Pocket and Directorial Debuts

This week sees the release of John Slattery’s directorial debut God’s Pocket. Slattery is better known for his on-screen skills, notably in television’s Mad Men, as well as roles in The Adjustment Bureau and Iron Man 2. John Slattery’s debut is the latest in a long line of actors who have stepped behind the camera following an already successful on-screen career. Here I take a look at previous directorial debuts…

Robert De Niro

After two decades and numerous acolades for his acting skills, Robert De Niro turned director in 1993 with A Bronx Tale. Critically successful if not a commercial smash, A Bronx Tale saw De Niro taking cues from his long-time collaborator Martin Scorsese in terms of themes and style. De Niro’s only other directing credit is The Good Shepherd (2006).

Ben Affleck

After starring in numerous high-profile movies and winning an Oscar for his writing, Ben Affleck’s directorial debut arrived in 2007 with Gone Baby Gone. The film was well-received, although Affleck’s directing skills may have flown under the radar in the UK at that time as the film was not released due to similarities to a high profile case. However if anyone was in doubt of Ben Affleck’s directing abilities, he displayed them ably in 2010’s The Town and 2012’s Argo, for which he was awarded the Best Director Oscar.

Drew Barrymore

Former child star and Hollywood stalwart Drew Barrymore directed a documentary for television in 2004. However it was her feature debut Whip It in 2009 which brought her to the attention of critics and audiences as a director. Since then, Barrymore has only stretched her directing muscles with a Best Coast music video, featuring an array of young Hollywood talent.

Joseph Gordon-Levitt

Another former child actor, Joseph Gordon-Levitt had reinvigorated his acting career with roles in 500 Days of Summer and Inception before turning his attention to directing. With a number of shorts under his belt, Gordon-Levitt’s directorial debut came in 2013 with Don Jon, which he also wrote. Starring in the title role, Gordon-Levitt displayed a promising talent as filmmaker.

God’s Pocket is out in UK cinemas on 8th August 2014.

Film Review: Don Jon

Although it is tonally uneven, Joseph Gordon-Levitt’s directorial debut Don Jon is an entertaining film.

New Jersey guy Jon (known as ‘Don Jon’ to his friends) cares about his body, pad, family, friends, and girls. He also has a habit of watching online porn. When he falls for a beautiful girl, it is unclear how he will balance the two…

For much of Don Jon, the tone is comedic. The central character is a young, rather stereotypical heterosexual man, and the audience is invited to laugh both with and at him. The final third of the film plays on what has come before to a certain extent, and is far more introspective than what has come before.

Don Jon is something of a coming of age story wrapped up in a comedy about a porn addict. There may be an issue with the way in which the film is being sold; those expecting an out and out comedy may feel dissatisfied with Don Jon.

The message that writer-director and star Joseph Gordon-Levitt delivers is quite clear. There is no more nuance than what is presented. In some ways, Gordon-Levitt is skewing a proportion of the audience who the film will appeal to. The concurrent themes of family and religion are played out in an overt manner; some subtlety here would have been welcome.

Gordon-Levitt’s direction is good; there are some distinctive touches in Don Jon. The cinema scene is particularly amusing. The soundtrack feels fitting. Gordon-Levitt and Julianne Moore deliver decent performances. Scarlett Johansson amuses.

Don Jon shows some promise for Joseph Gordon-Levitt; the next project he takes on will perhaps say more about his direction as a filmmaker.

Don Jon is being screened at the BFI London Film Festival in October 2013.

Film Review: Looper

Rian Johnson’s Looper is entertaining dystopian science fiction. It is not entirely satisfying, but does the trick overall.

In 2044, Joe is a Looper, ready to assassinate anyone who the mob of 2077 send back in time. When hired guns like Joe have their contract terminated, they find out by having their future bodies sent back to 2044 to be exterminated. When Joe’s future self gets sent back it triggers a momentous chain of events…

On the surface, Looper is very much like a cross between The Terminator and X-Men. Strong elements of these earlier science fiction movies are overt in Rian Johnson’s film. Johnson paints the future with the kind of dystopic imagery often seen in films of this genre from the 1980s.The film does make overt an overt reference to the styling, which perhaps acts as a metaphor for the narrative itself.

There is a distinct split in Looper from when Joe reaches the farmhouse. Prior to this, the film runs in the Terminator vein. With the change in scenery however, Looper appears to ape X-Men. The first half of the film is stronger than the second. The futuristic depiction and pacing in the first half makes the second half less satisfying.

With its allusions to the 1% and a corruption-led future, Looper feels very contemporary. Despite the bleak vision of the future, Johnson’s film is ultimately positive. The ending points to more traditional values, despite all that has preceded it.

Joseph Gordon-Levitt put in a solid performance as Joe, despite some distracting prosthetics. Bruce Willis and Emily Blunt offer good support. Pierce Gagnon is excellently cast as Cid, bringing the right sense of unnerving to the character.

Like some other time-travel movies, Looper throws up questions over plotting. However, the film is never dull. Looper is a enjoyable addition to the genre.

Looper is out on DVD and Blu-Ray from 28th January 2013.

Film Review: The Dark Knight Rises

The Dark Knight Rises is a triumph of contemporary Hollywood. It has set a bar that few superhero films will ever hope to reach.

Eight years after the death of Harvey Dent, Gotham city is a safer place thanks to the law enacted in the former district attorney’s name. The Batman has not been seen, and Bruce Wayne is living a recluse life holed up in Wayne Manor. A storm is coming however, one that looks to shake Batman from his retirement…

The Dark Knight Rises had big shoes to fill, given the commercial and critical success of its predecessor The Dark Knight. Thankfully Christopher Nolan’s film does not disappoint. From the very first scene, TDKR enthralls viewers. This is unrelenting, with the film absorbing viewers fully for its 164-minute duration.

Nolan’s direction is superb. Action sequences are thrilling, and the film moves along at a good pace. The third act in particular generates immense tension, with the climax a fantastic ending to both the film and the trilogy. There are moments in TDKR when it is difficult not to get swept away in the sheer exhilaration of it all.

Written by David S. Goyer, Christopher Nolan and Jonathan Nolan, The Dark Knight Rises perfectly balances bravura action with a meaty storyline. Characters get sufficient screen time, despite the abundance of them. New characters given depth, and appear authentic. The film features characters that have appeared in previous Batman films. TDKR offers different depictions of them that completely fit in Nolan’s universe. TDKR, like the previous two films, attempts the most realistic sphere for superhero movies. In keeping with this verisimilitude, themes that feature are very contemporary and resonant concerns.

Once again, Wally Pfister’s cinematography is wonderful. The film is really worth seeing in Imax; the footage filmed in this format is incredibly impressive. Hans Zimmer’s score is memorable, and the perfect accompaniment to the sublime on screen action.

Christian Bale offers a solid and completely believable performance, reprising his role as the caped crusader. Tom Hardy is barely recogniseable as Bane, while Anne Hathaway is excellently cast as Selina Kyle. Joseph Gordon-Levitt is also a highlight as police officer John Blake.

The Dark Knight Rises is a fitting end to a fantastic series of films. The film is impossible to fault. It is the perfect antithesis to the action-comedy romp of the Marvel films. Though this is most entertaining, The Dark Knight Rises is in a league of its own. At times dark, at times mesmerising, the film is wholly compelling.

5 Criticisms That Won’t Be Made of The Dark Knight Rises

The third trailer for The Dark Knight Rises was released earlier today. It made me think of the criticisms levelled at predecessor The Dark Knight, and Christopher Nolan’s last film Inception. Undoubtedly there will be one or two people who will level these barbs at TDKR just to go against the grain. Nevertheless, looking into my crystal ball, I predict that none of these will be valid criticisms of The Dark Knight Rises…

1. There Are Too Few Main Characters

A common criticism of The Dark Knight was that there were too many important characters vying for the spotlight. Bane and Selina Kyle are Batman’s adversaries in The Dark Knight Rises, plus there are new characters played by Joseph Gordon-Levitt and Marion Cotillard. So it is doubtful that TDKR will be accused of having too few main characters.

2. The Plot Is Too Straightforward And Simple

An extension of the first point; given the number of characters that feature, it is unlikely that viewers will complain that the plot is too elementary. Inception and The Dark Knight were considered as being complex or convoluted by some, so it is probable that The Dark Knight Rises will follow suit.

3. The Production Values Are Poor

From the three trailers that have been released, as well as the first scene screening, it is difficult to accuse The Dark Knight Rises of  being a poorly produced affair. The effects in the football stadium sequence look amazing from the trailer. Other criticisms may be well-founded, but it will be difficult to argue that TDKR does not look like a superlative blockbuster.

 4. The Score Lacks Grandeur

After his bombastic Inception score, composer Hans Zimmer returns for The Dark Knight Rises. Given the grandiose nature of his previous scores, it would be surprising if TDKR does not follow suit. The trailers at least indicates the score will rival that of its predecessor.

5. Gotham City Looks Like Croydon

The Dark Knight Rises was filmed in Croydon, as well as a number of over locations across the globe. So whilst some of the footage will actually have been filmed in Croydon, it is highly unlikely that Gotham will look like London’s, ahem, finest borough. New York with hints of Chicago, it is doubtful that Gotham will bear any relation to Croydon.

The Dark Knight Rises is released on 20th July 2012.

The Dark Knight Rises New Poster

I write ‘new poster’, but in reality this has been floating around for days. I thought I would post it as I like Batman, and it is an intriguing poster. It has been made clear that this is Christopher Nolan’s last Batman film, so the most literal translation is that Batman dies in the film. This would certainly hinder the possibility of any Joel Schumacher-style monstrosities. However, the protagonist dying seems a little too bleak. Perhaps it signals the end of Batman as a crime-fighting vigilante, and the beginning of his career as the guardian of Dick Grayson? After all, little is known about the character played by Joseph Gordon-Levitt. Whatever the case, it seems that Bane will prove more than a match for Batman, in terms of physical prowess at least…

Film Review: 50/50

An emotional comedy drama, 50/50 efficiently tugs at the heart strings. Jonathan Levine’s film boasts a good script and some excellent performances.

Adam is a twenty-seven year old guy with a fairly average lifestyle. When he is diagnosed with cancer, Adam struggles to come to terms with the shock. Adam must fight the disease whilst his family, friends and girlfriend come to terms with his condition. He has support from his new therapist, as well as best friend Kyle…

The balance of comedy and drama shifts in sync with the progression of the film. Will Reiser’s script works well, turning comedy to drama swiftly, and vice versa. 50/50 is successful because it posits a situation that most can comprehend, even if they cannot identify with. The film should hold particular resonance with viewers of a similar age to the protagonist. Adam’s lifestyle before cancer is completely normal, and therefore identifiable.

Levine’s film could have been entirely sentimental, given the subject matter. However the humour saves 50/50 from being a complete sobfest. The character of Kyle, played by Seth Rogen, counteracts the often serious tone, frequently providing the comic relief. In the second half of the film, the tone becomes distinctly emotional. Most viewers will struggle not to shed a tear at some point.

Joseph Gordon-Levitt offers a strong central performance as Adam. He is convincing throughout the film. It is Anjelica Houston who is really exemplary, however. Such is the power of Houston’s performance, she is able to reduce the audience to tears in every scene that she is in. Anna Kendrick provides good support in a role well suited to her, while Seth Rogen plays the type of role he has often played before. In this case, the comedy sidekick is a very necessary character, and Rogen does a decent job.

Viewers should have few complaints about 50/50. It is sentimental when it needs to be, but can just as easily switch to comedy. Highly recommended viewing.

50/50 Trailer

http://www.premierpr-online.co.uk/player/player_480x300.swf?file=http://www.premierpr-online.co.uk/cinema/505001?user=ppr?a=false

Jonathan Levine’s 50/50 is a comedy drama due for release on 25th November 2011. The film features an impressive cast which includes Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Seth Rogen, Anna Kendrick, Bryce Dallas Howard and Anjelica Huston. 50/50 is about a young man who finds out he has been diagnosed with cancer. A serious subject matter, which appears to be dealt with with both humour and soberness, as the trailer suggests. The film is also being screened at the London Film Festival this month.