In 1996 a virus is released that will wipe out 5 billion people, the remaining humans living under ground. Scientists in that future send back “volunteer” prisoners to find out how the virus was released and to get a sample of its original form. Unfortunately time travel isn’t quite an exact science and they send Cole (Bruce Willis) back to 1990 where he’s banged up with a real nut job, Jeffrey Goines (Brad Pitt) and has a sympathetic shrink Kathryn Railly (Madeleine Stowe).
I mention the last two as they are important characters in the plot. But the plot I cover is something like the first 20 minutes. This is a VERY convoluted movie and I don’t want to spoil any of it.
Time travel is easy to completely arse up, particularly when you hop back and forth like this film does. They’re very clever with it here though and the script writer was obviously careful with how they set out the various character paths.
Unfortunately it makes it a little hard to review without getting in to spoiler territory, so I expect this will be a short one.
It’s a Terry Gilliam film so obviously its pretty fucking weird. In fact with that first 20-30 minutes I wasn’t all that sure I’d like it. The mental hospital didn’t really look like one to me. Because it isn’t, it’s an abandoned prison. That aside and the fact that much of the film is dingy and dirty, and that there’s some strangeness for strangenesses sake, the look doesn’t really detract from the overall movie. I didn’t think it really added much either though besides the overt weirdness possibly adding to how nuts Cole might be. If your trying to help someone keep their mental faculties sticking them half way up a wall with eyeballs on screens and staring at them through a distorting magnifying glass probably isn’t going to work though. Just saying.
All the performances are great. Bruce Willis isn’t in full on action star mode here, but he plays very good slowly deranged. And the Brad Pitt we see is pre-star Brad. He is frankly one of the best actors of his age, and it shows through in his off the wall performance in this.
I’d say that this might be a bit nuts and out there for some people, but if you pay attention and you don’t mind a bit of strangeness you’ll enjoy the hell out of this movie.
Next up: The Hamster Factor and Other Tales of Twelve Monkeys. Which is a bit of a cheat as its basically the making of THIS movie, but its listed as a different documentary movie in most places and it’s feature length.
Further Reading: http://iheartthetalkies.wordpress.com/ reviews the latest releases. And I don’t, well maybe occasionally. So go read her blog.
Thursday, 29 April 2010
Wednesday, 28 April 2010
Movie 118: Real Genius
A 15 year old prodigy is admitted to college due to his aptitude with lasers. There he is taken under the wing of the previous “stud”, who was 12 when he entered, who tried to get him to relax more or he’ll go nuts. Like the other previous stud who lives in the steam tunnels under the college. Little do they know that they’re professor is using them to build a weapon.
This is an 80’s film. A very 80’s film. There was a glut of these movies back then. Not necessarily teenage geniuses, but the whole feel of the thing. And I love em.
I wouldn’t go as far as saying I LOVED this, but it was pretty damned good. It does have a slightly big failing which is an over reliance on the montage. There are 3 big montage sequences in this movie, possibly more but definitely 3. That’s 2 more than most. Yes, even Rocky had a montage but not every 20 minutes.
Not that I have a problem with them, it just cuts down on actual character time.
The characters themselves are great, which is why a slightly longer running time would have been fine. The young kid isn’t all that impressive, but the leads rarely are in ensemble comedy. His love interest, the hyperkinetic engineer who never sleeps, works very well in her small doses but seems to calm a bit towards the end. And of course the stand out is this kid called Val Kilmer. It’s a weird name, but if he plays more wacky characters like the one in this he could go really far.
All joking aside, this is Kilmer on his game playing the type of role he’s damned good at. The last film I saw him in, Heat, basically had him looking cool and saying nothing which DOESN’T work as well. He’s a wise ass dammit.
This being an 80’s film, and a college one at that, it has the rival dick student. For once he’s another nerd, though a relatively incompetent one, who sucks up to the dick teacher. Or should I say dickless. Yes, poor William Atherton is playing that role he plays in pretty much every 80’s film he’s in. I assume the guy is just a jerk. But your looking at a slightly less asshole version of his character from Ghost Busters, the Die Hards and I’m assuming Bio-Dome though I can’t remember him in that as I’ve repressed the memory.
This is a bit of a Sunday afternoon watch. It’s no Revenge of the Nerds, but its also no Revenge of the Nerds 4: Nerds In Love. Worth a look! Assuming Wargames isn’t on.
Next up: Twelve Monkeys
Further Reading: http://iheartthetalkies.wordpress.com/ reviews the latest releases. And I don’t, well maybe occasionally. So go read her blog.
This is an 80’s film. A very 80’s film. There was a glut of these movies back then. Not necessarily teenage geniuses, but the whole feel of the thing. And I love em.
I wouldn’t go as far as saying I LOVED this, but it was pretty damned good. It does have a slightly big failing which is an over reliance on the montage. There are 3 big montage sequences in this movie, possibly more but definitely 3. That’s 2 more than most. Yes, even Rocky had a montage but not every 20 minutes.
Not that I have a problem with them, it just cuts down on actual character time.
The characters themselves are great, which is why a slightly longer running time would have been fine. The young kid isn’t all that impressive, but the leads rarely are in ensemble comedy. His love interest, the hyperkinetic engineer who never sleeps, works very well in her small doses but seems to calm a bit towards the end. And of course the stand out is this kid called Val Kilmer. It’s a weird name, but if he plays more wacky characters like the one in this he could go really far.
All joking aside, this is Kilmer on his game playing the type of role he’s damned good at. The last film I saw him in, Heat, basically had him looking cool and saying nothing which DOESN’T work as well. He’s a wise ass dammit.
This being an 80’s film, and a college one at that, it has the rival dick student. For once he’s another nerd, though a relatively incompetent one, who sucks up to the dick teacher. Or should I say dickless. Yes, poor William Atherton is playing that role he plays in pretty much every 80’s film he’s in. I assume the guy is just a jerk. But your looking at a slightly less asshole version of his character from Ghost Busters, the Die Hards and I’m assuming Bio-Dome though I can’t remember him in that as I’ve repressed the memory.
This is a bit of a Sunday afternoon watch. It’s no Revenge of the Nerds, but its also no Revenge of the Nerds 4: Nerds In Love. Worth a look! Assuming Wargames isn’t on.
Next up: Twelve Monkeys
Further Reading: http://iheartthetalkies.wordpress.com/ reviews the latest releases. And I don’t, well maybe occasionally. So go read her blog.
Tuesday, 27 April 2010
Movie 117: Outlander
A space ship crashes in Norway, around 900 AD. There is one human survivor, but he has some company. A deadly alien called a Moorven. The Moorven slaughters a village and nearly starts a war, but out hero is blamed. Until the Moorven attacks again. Well, until he kills a bear and everyone suddenly likes him, THE the Moorven attacks.
For a film about an alien-kinda-but-he’s-actually-human-but-from-space fighting alongside Vikings to kill a big dragon beasty this takes itself pretty seriously. Which is the main problem, as it’s a load of old toot.
Btw if you have seen this you might have missed the “abandoned seed colony” bit at the start. This explains why Kainan the alien looks like a person. See, we’re from space too! Sorted. But they don’t go much further than that. I’m fine with that to be honest.
If this had gone whackier I would have liked it a hell of a lot more, but its too straight faced. The Moorven, while an interesting design and idea, is pretty damned hard to decipher. When its glowing like a bunch of fairy lights I had trouble telling what was tail and what was tongue. The effects just weren’t up for what they were trying.
There is some kind of light hearted moments, but they weren’t all that good either. And the comic relief, Boromir of all names, had a very mobile accent. Sometimes he was a bit Scottish, then he’d be Irish, then English. Bit piss poor that.
I did think it was a nice touch that the “alien” language he was speaking at the start was Norse, then he and everyone else speaks English for the rest of the movie. Somehow the little kid is the only person bar our alien who has an American accent, which was lazy as hell.
Ron Pearlman is in this. He isn’t in it enough. Man did they waste that guy, he’s in about 10 minutes of actual movie. And his accent is pretty fucking good! Didn’t expect that, but Ron is actually a rather good actor. I think his look is the main reason for being cast in a lot of films but if he looked more conventional he’d be all over the damned place.
What we have here is a wasted opportunity for a fun B movie. The Viking village looks good, but the special effects are terrible. As is some of the acting and that one important supporting characters accent. The creature effects don’t really work. The plot is REDICULOUSLY predictable.
I wouldn’t bother watching it if I was you, but the buzz seems to be that its pretty enjoyable. You’ve been warned if you think its arse afterwards.
Next up: Real Genius
Further Reading: http://iheartthetalkies.wordpress.com/ reviews the latest releases. And I don’t, well maybe occasionally. So go read her blog.
For a film about an alien-kinda-but-he’s-actually-human-but-from-space fighting alongside Vikings to kill a big dragon beasty this takes itself pretty seriously. Which is the main problem, as it’s a load of old toot.
Btw if you have seen this you might have missed the “abandoned seed colony” bit at the start. This explains why Kainan the alien looks like a person. See, we’re from space too! Sorted. But they don’t go much further than that. I’m fine with that to be honest.
If this had gone whackier I would have liked it a hell of a lot more, but its too straight faced. The Moorven, while an interesting design and idea, is pretty damned hard to decipher. When its glowing like a bunch of fairy lights I had trouble telling what was tail and what was tongue. The effects just weren’t up for what they were trying.
There is some kind of light hearted moments, but they weren’t all that good either. And the comic relief, Boromir of all names, had a very mobile accent. Sometimes he was a bit Scottish, then he’d be Irish, then English. Bit piss poor that.
I did think it was a nice touch that the “alien” language he was speaking at the start was Norse, then he and everyone else speaks English for the rest of the movie. Somehow the little kid is the only person bar our alien who has an American accent, which was lazy as hell.
Ron Pearlman is in this. He isn’t in it enough. Man did they waste that guy, he’s in about 10 minutes of actual movie. And his accent is pretty fucking good! Didn’t expect that, but Ron is actually a rather good actor. I think his look is the main reason for being cast in a lot of films but if he looked more conventional he’d be all over the damned place.
What we have here is a wasted opportunity for a fun B movie. The Viking village looks good, but the special effects are terrible. As is some of the acting and that one important supporting characters accent. The creature effects don’t really work. The plot is REDICULOUSLY predictable.
I wouldn’t bother watching it if I was you, but the buzz seems to be that its pretty enjoyable. You’ve been warned if you think its arse afterwards.
Next up: Real Genius
Further Reading: http://iheartthetalkies.wordpress.com/ reviews the latest releases. And I don’t, well maybe occasionally. So go read her blog.
Monday, 26 April 2010
Movie 116: Seven Samurai
A small mountain village in 16th century Japan is being plagued by bandits. They have no money and are near starvation, but decide to try and find some Samurai to help protect them. Finding ones that will work for food isn’t easy, but they manage to gather a miss fit band of young, old, inexperienced and nuts to keep the bandits off their back.
This is a premake of The Magnificent Seven and it’s REALLY fookin long. But the thing is, I can’t think of a scene that could really be cut.
This is my 4th Kurosawa movie, and again it only has a small amount of plot for a film of its length. And yet it’s entertaining through out. They take they’re time with the story, you see the Samurai all joining up more or less individually. They harvest crops in the village. The bandits, when they finally come, lay siege to the town and it’s a proper siege with probing attacks and all that malarkey.
I LOVE The Magnificent Seven, it’s probably my favourite western. All jokes aside about this being a premake, there are obvious similarities and pretty big difference. And both are fantastic films. I wondered how it would work in a swords and spears era. There are a few guns in the movie, but thankfully not many. But the deliberate pacing of how the bandits attack, and the fact that they pretty much only do it once, means it works fine. Mag Seven had the advantage of having more action, Seven Sam made the action more personal.
I mean think of one other epic where you get to see pretty much EVERY death, even for the minor characters who have no lines whatsoever. Can’t, can you?
That is one of the films few failings though. It was an issue on Hidden Fortress as well, but not as glaring. It’s REALLY obvious that no one is being stabbed. The killing is like a Shakespeare play, with slashes in front or barely stabbed stabbings felling people instantly. Its something you have to forgive though as it’s no doubt due to technical limitations.
Apart from that, there isn’t much to complain about. BFI did their usual shite subs job with no translation for pretty big swathes of film. No important dialogue is missing, but I feel like some funny insults might have been lost. It’s ironic that on the day I get HD TV I watch a 56 year old black and white grainy film, but it still looks damned good.
And before I go, no Kurosawa review is complete without saying something about Mifune. He’s more nuts than a bag of Snickers in this. And literally has his arse hanging out for a good chunk of the film. The whole cast is great, and there’s a fair bit of cross over with Fortress from what I could see. Not a major miss step in the bunch.
The one thing missing from this that IS in the western remake is that the bad guys aren’t fleshed out that much. They pretty much have one small scene at the start but remain faceless. That’s a bit of a blessing though as otherwise the thing would be 4 bloomin hours long…
Next up: Outlander
Further Reading: http://iheartthetalkies.wordpress.com/ reviews the latest releases. And I don’t, well maybe occasionally. So go read her blog.
This is a premake of The Magnificent Seven and it’s REALLY fookin long. But the thing is, I can’t think of a scene that could really be cut.
This is my 4th Kurosawa movie, and again it only has a small amount of plot for a film of its length. And yet it’s entertaining through out. They take they’re time with the story, you see the Samurai all joining up more or less individually. They harvest crops in the village. The bandits, when they finally come, lay siege to the town and it’s a proper siege with probing attacks and all that malarkey.
I LOVE The Magnificent Seven, it’s probably my favourite western. All jokes aside about this being a premake, there are obvious similarities and pretty big difference. And both are fantastic films. I wondered how it would work in a swords and spears era. There are a few guns in the movie, but thankfully not many. But the deliberate pacing of how the bandits attack, and the fact that they pretty much only do it once, means it works fine. Mag Seven had the advantage of having more action, Seven Sam made the action more personal.
I mean think of one other epic where you get to see pretty much EVERY death, even for the minor characters who have no lines whatsoever. Can’t, can you?
That is one of the films few failings though. It was an issue on Hidden Fortress as well, but not as glaring. It’s REALLY obvious that no one is being stabbed. The killing is like a Shakespeare play, with slashes in front or barely stabbed stabbings felling people instantly. Its something you have to forgive though as it’s no doubt due to technical limitations.
Apart from that, there isn’t much to complain about. BFI did their usual shite subs job with no translation for pretty big swathes of film. No important dialogue is missing, but I feel like some funny insults might have been lost. It’s ironic that on the day I get HD TV I watch a 56 year old black and white grainy film, but it still looks damned good.
And before I go, no Kurosawa review is complete without saying something about Mifune. He’s more nuts than a bag of Snickers in this. And literally has his arse hanging out for a good chunk of the film. The whole cast is great, and there’s a fair bit of cross over with Fortress from what I could see. Not a major miss step in the bunch.
The one thing missing from this that IS in the western remake is that the bad guys aren’t fleshed out that much. They pretty much have one small scene at the start but remain faceless. That’s a bit of a blessing though as otherwise the thing would be 4 bloomin hours long…
Next up: Outlander
Further Reading: http://iheartthetalkies.wordpress.com/ reviews the latest releases. And I don’t, well maybe occasionally. So go read her blog.
Sunday, 25 April 2010
Movie 115: Superbad
Best friends Seth (Jonah Hill) and Evan (Michael Cera) aren’t exactly popular, but two weeks before graduation Seth is teamed up with a girl in home ec who invites him to a party. Using other friend Fogell (Chris Mintz-Plasse) to buy booze with his new fake ID, which makes him 25 year old McLovin from Hawaii, they plan to try and get laid before they run out of time. Until everything goes wrong
I didn’t say hilarity ensues! Fuck….
Every ten years or so there’s a good movie like this. In the 80’s there’s obviously the Hughes flicks but they’re probably not quite in the same genre. Ferris Bueller is close though. Then came Dazed and Confused. Next there’s American Pie, just the first one as the second is a college movie. There’s a lot of drek in this genre, but Superbad is the next in the pattern.
And yes I know I’m late to the party on this being a good film. For most people this is the first time their introduced to the main players. Particularly McLovin. This is my third CMP movie though so I benefit from not associating him with this character for ever. He pretty much plays the same role as he generally does though. Same with Cera and I assume with Hill.
And pretty much the same with Seth Rogen as one of the cops who hang with McLovin.
Many of you will have seen this film, so I’ll get a bit bullet pointy with the good parts. First off, they portray being a teenager very realistically. At least this kind of teenager. The guys swear a lot, they are somewhat fascinated with the female of the species and most importantly they haven’t got a clue what they are doing and are a bit scared. The bromance relationship between the two leads and they way they act with each other throughout the film is also spot on. I can’t get in to it too much as I don’t want to spoil anything, but I can identify with the relationship between these two guys.
Much of the cast seems to be the right age too. There’s a few background people that are now semi well known in their own right, playing people in there early twenties which fits. Nice to see kids cast as kids for once.
There’s also plenty of crazy comedy and ridiculous situations too. But importantly, for me at least, it’s not heavy on the gross out humour. There’s some, but the film doesn’t lean heavily on it.
This is a great comedy with note perfect performances that portrays what its like to be a 17 year old boy pretty damned well. If you haven’t watched it yet and you were once one, go fucking see it. I guess girls will probably like it too though!
Next up: Seven Samurai
I didn’t say hilarity ensues! Fuck….
Every ten years or so there’s a good movie like this. In the 80’s there’s obviously the Hughes flicks but they’re probably not quite in the same genre. Ferris Bueller is close though. Then came Dazed and Confused. Next there’s American Pie, just the first one as the second is a college movie. There’s a lot of drek in this genre, but Superbad is the next in the pattern.
And yes I know I’m late to the party on this being a good film. For most people this is the first time their introduced to the main players. Particularly McLovin. This is my third CMP movie though so I benefit from not associating him with this character for ever. He pretty much plays the same role as he generally does though. Same with Cera and I assume with Hill.
And pretty much the same with Seth Rogen as one of the cops who hang with McLovin.
Many of you will have seen this film, so I’ll get a bit bullet pointy with the good parts. First off, they portray being a teenager very realistically. At least this kind of teenager. The guys swear a lot, they are somewhat fascinated with the female of the species and most importantly they haven’t got a clue what they are doing and are a bit scared. The bromance relationship between the two leads and they way they act with each other throughout the film is also spot on. I can’t get in to it too much as I don’t want to spoil anything, but I can identify with the relationship between these two guys.
Much of the cast seems to be the right age too. There’s a few background people that are now semi well known in their own right, playing people in there early twenties which fits. Nice to see kids cast as kids for once.
There’s also plenty of crazy comedy and ridiculous situations too. But importantly, for me at least, it’s not heavy on the gross out humour. There’s some, but the film doesn’t lean heavily on it.
This is a great comedy with note perfect performances that portrays what its like to be a 17 year old boy pretty damned well. If you haven’t watched it yet and you were once one, go fucking see it. I guess girls will probably like it too though!
Next up: Seven Samurai
Saturday, 24 April 2010
Movie 114: Dan In Real Life
Dan (Steve Carell) is an advice columnist who lost his wife a few years ago and is raising three daughters on his own. He goes to a family gathering and his mum makes him get away for a bit. While getting the papers he runs in to a woman, Marie (Juliette Binoche), who he instantly clicks with. Unfortunately she’s seeing someone. His brother (Dane Cook).
Hilarity insues. Well, that’s how it’s billed. This is billed as a flat out comedy, possibly partly because of the two main leads. And its part of the reason that the film doesn’t QUITE hit the mark in the way the directors last effort, Pieces of April, did. It’s a little bit too light.
Ironically the other problem it has is that it’s a bit tough to watch at times. Dan being tortured by his feelings for Marie, and some vice versa, are kind of heart breaking. It’s very realistic and generally the emotions and how they worked are played right, but its bad enough living through that kind of crap.
Carell is on great form here. It’s not typical goofy Office Carell, and its not full on indie Little Miss Sunshine Carell, it’s somewhere in between. He’s funny at times but not in the usual idiot way. But he plays a great range of emotion here too.
Binoche is….well she’s pretty adorable and easy to fall for. I haven’t seen her in much yet but if I’m right in thinking this is kind of the role she plays most of the time.
And I said it before, but I actually like Dane Cook. People generally seem to think he’s a dick, I happen to think he’s a damned fine comedic actor who has actual range outside of comedy. I think he could end up being a bit of a breakthrough guy. I’ve yet to see him playing someone who isn’t at least a bit of a full of himself over confident dude, and I’d like to, but I’m impressed so far.
The supporting adults are all fine, Frasier’s dad stalked in to this one from a few days ago. There is a bit of a let down in the cast with Dan’s daughters. They are fine enough actors and everything, the littlest especially, but the middle girl who I think is 14 is just a giant pain in the ass for 95% of her screen time. And it gets old. Real old. That might be realism, and it does highlight a point about how we never really get smart about love no matter what we might think when we’re older. I get the comparison that we’re all basically hormonal teenagers some of the time. But there must have been a less annoying way to do it.
This is a good family, and by that I mean portraying one, film. And it’s a not bad (I assume) light indie. But it’s too light. Or not light enough. It slots in to the weird middle area. Decent rent or TV watch, but it won’t be making any favourites lists of mine.
Did nearly cry at one scene towards the end though. Because I’m a big pussy.
Next up: Superbad
Hilarity insues. Well, that’s how it’s billed. This is billed as a flat out comedy, possibly partly because of the two main leads. And its part of the reason that the film doesn’t QUITE hit the mark in the way the directors last effort, Pieces of April, did. It’s a little bit too light.
Ironically the other problem it has is that it’s a bit tough to watch at times. Dan being tortured by his feelings for Marie, and some vice versa, are kind of heart breaking. It’s very realistic and generally the emotions and how they worked are played right, but its bad enough living through that kind of crap.
Carell is on great form here. It’s not typical goofy Office Carell, and its not full on indie Little Miss Sunshine Carell, it’s somewhere in between. He’s funny at times but not in the usual idiot way. But he plays a great range of emotion here too.
Binoche is….well she’s pretty adorable and easy to fall for. I haven’t seen her in much yet but if I’m right in thinking this is kind of the role she plays most of the time.
And I said it before, but I actually like Dane Cook. People generally seem to think he’s a dick, I happen to think he’s a damned fine comedic actor who has actual range outside of comedy. I think he could end up being a bit of a breakthrough guy. I’ve yet to see him playing someone who isn’t at least a bit of a full of himself over confident dude, and I’d like to, but I’m impressed so far.
The supporting adults are all fine, Frasier’s dad stalked in to this one from a few days ago. There is a bit of a let down in the cast with Dan’s daughters. They are fine enough actors and everything, the littlest especially, but the middle girl who I think is 14 is just a giant pain in the ass for 95% of her screen time. And it gets old. Real old. That might be realism, and it does highlight a point about how we never really get smart about love no matter what we might think when we’re older. I get the comparison that we’re all basically hormonal teenagers some of the time. But there must have been a less annoying way to do it.
This is a good family, and by that I mean portraying one, film. And it’s a not bad (I assume) light indie. But it’s too light. Or not light enough. It slots in to the weird middle area. Decent rent or TV watch, but it won’t be making any favourites lists of mine.
Did nearly cry at one scene towards the end though. Because I’m a big pussy.
Next up: Superbad
Friday, 23 April 2010
Movie 113: Moon
The future, man uses Helium-3 to create fusion energy. There’s a shit load on the moon so we mine it there. Though largely automated the moon base has one human operator, Sam Bell (Sam Rockwell). Sam is nearing the end of his 3 year contract and seeing as he’s only had GERTY (Kevin Spacey) the bases computer and time delayed messages from his wife, he’s going a bit nuts. Same has an accident when checking out one of the mining machines one day, which leads to him discovering something he should never have known.
And I won’t spoil it, but when the reveal happens I figured the gig right away
That aside, and I’m a big sci fi fan so I jumped straight to the correct conclusion, this is a well plotted and very well acted movie. Which surprised me some what as it’s the dude from Avatar. Not that he sucked in that movie, just that he didn’t have to do much.
For a film about one dude on the moon there was actually a surprisingly large cast list, but there’s only the two dudes I mentioned to talk about really. I will say that the supporting wife is a damned fine actress too though.
Kevin Spacey is basically channelling HAL here. I’d be surprised if it took more than a few hours to record GERTY, but he does a fine enough job. It’s surprisingly difficult to stay in an even tone with your dialogue and he nails it.
Sam has a LOT to play with here and he’s bloody brilliant. It’s a bit of a travesty, but not a huge surprise, that there wasn’t an Oscar nod in his direction for this. Whether he’ll get a chance to stretch like this again is another matter, but he acts the shit out of this movie. I can’t get in to it too much though as it’ll enter spoiler territory.
The film looks great. The moon base is lived in, the equipment has that Star Wars used feel to it. I buy it entirely. And the practical effects are spot on. Also, the music is by Clive Mansell who’s stuff I love. While its not quite as iconic as the Requiem For A Dream music it is some lovely understated piano and electronic work. I think it would probably be perfect to chill out to and might hunt it out.
Moon won’t be for everyone, it’s a little bit Twilight Zone and if you don’t like sci fi this probably won’t win you over. For everyone else it’s nice to see a smart one for a change, even if it is a bit predictable.
Next up: Dan In Real Life
And I won’t spoil it, but when the reveal happens I figured the gig right away
That aside, and I’m a big sci fi fan so I jumped straight to the correct conclusion, this is a well plotted and very well acted movie. Which surprised me some what as it’s the dude from Avatar. Not that he sucked in that movie, just that he didn’t have to do much.
For a film about one dude on the moon there was actually a surprisingly large cast list, but there’s only the two dudes I mentioned to talk about really. I will say that the supporting wife is a damned fine actress too though.
Kevin Spacey is basically channelling HAL here. I’d be surprised if it took more than a few hours to record GERTY, but he does a fine enough job. It’s surprisingly difficult to stay in an even tone with your dialogue and he nails it.
Sam has a LOT to play with here and he’s bloody brilliant. It’s a bit of a travesty, but not a huge surprise, that there wasn’t an Oscar nod in his direction for this. Whether he’ll get a chance to stretch like this again is another matter, but he acts the shit out of this movie. I can’t get in to it too much though as it’ll enter spoiler territory.
The film looks great. The moon base is lived in, the equipment has that Star Wars used feel to it. I buy it entirely. And the practical effects are spot on. Also, the music is by Clive Mansell who’s stuff I love. While its not quite as iconic as the Requiem For A Dream music it is some lovely understated piano and electronic work. I think it would probably be perfect to chill out to and might hunt it out.
Moon won’t be for everyone, it’s a little bit Twilight Zone and if you don’t like sci fi this probably won’t win you over. For everyone else it’s nice to see a smart one for a change, even if it is a bit predictable.
Next up: Dan In Real Life
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