THIRD PERSON

Liam Nesson, Olivia Wilde,

Adrien Brody, James Franco,

Mila Kunis, Maria Bello,

Kim Basinger, Moran Atias

"Life can Change at the Turn of a Page"

Paul Haggis, the writer-director of the acclaimed multi-story film "Crash" is back with the same type of story telling. This time, it is three different stories which play out in Rome, New York and Paris. The tales seemingly share the common themes of dealing with the betrayal of trust, estranged relationships and the tragedy of losing a child.

Liam Neeson is a writer cooped up in a swanky hotel room in Paris trying to finish his second novel to prove that he isn't just a one book author. In Rome, Adrien Brody plays an unscrupulous businessman who steals designs from clients. He finds himself embroiled in a shady deal with a beautiful woman who may or may not be a con artist, herself. While Mila Kunis is cast as a former actress who now works as a chambermaid in a hotel in New York and is currently in a bitter custody battle with her ex-husband. The three tales eventually cross over as certain characters overlap and their narratives merge.

But what worked in the Oscar winning "Crash", unfortunately does not apply in "Third Person". Although each of the stories have enough drama based on their merits and could actually be turned into a full length movie separately, it doesn't work as a whole.

There are a lot of deliberate yet confusing details which aren't fully explained in the course of the movie. You start to notice small yet very significant details which further add to the confusion. You begin to question yourself whether it was just you who noticed them or if it was purposely added for some reason. Such as a note which was written in one hotel room in Paris, ends up being read in another hotel room in New York.

The stellar cast gave credible performances even as the script is poorly executed. As the film rolled towards its very vague conclusion, I was already way too sleepy to actually force my brain cells to make some sense, any sense about the total nonsense that just unfolded.

THE FAULT IN OUR STARS

Shailene Woodley, Ansel Elgort,

Laura Dern, Willem Dafoe

"They Don't Have Forever,

They Have Each Other"

Yet another best seller novel which was adapted into a movie. Both of which were much hyped and generated quite a frenzy from the fans. Of course, as usual I never read the book. I'm too cheap to buy books, I'm too lazy and/or I don't find the time to just stay put and read.

Having said that, neither am I, a person who goes for hyped up 'events'. Be it the newest restaurant that draws a long queue, or a novel that lands in the best seller lists. I would shun away from it - just because it is the latest trend and wait patiently till the hype subsides, then I make my move. Yet I keep myself informed and know all about the latest 'happenings' in town. 

"The Fault in Our Stars" as everyone knows is about two young adults with terminal cancer who fall in love. Hazel (Shailene Woodley) is young, smart and quite witty and walks around with a portable oxygen tank which eases the flow into her respiratory system given that she has only one lung.  While Augustus or Gus (Ansel Elgort) is the typical charming boy next door type with a pleasant smile and you wouldn't know he has cancer unless you are shown his prosthetic leg.

They met at a cancer support group and even though Hazel was put off by Gus' attitude - they eventually realize they are mostly in the same wave length when it comes to their attitude towards life. They exude a certain level of maturity which gives them strength to accept their fate without dwelling on their illnesses. But rather focus on living their lives to the best of their abilities.

I have a feeling this common bond would have been more palpable in the pages of the novel because I hardly felt any chemistry between them in the film. Shailene Woodley was a revelation though and I like her comfy style of acting in her role as Hazel. She made Hazel, an endearing character. Unfortunately, I can't really say the same about Ansel Elgort. He needs to attend more acting workshops to add more depth and dimension to his portrayal.

Naturally any type of love story, be it tragic or not would draw in the crowds. I can see how such a plot would appeal to a wide spectrum of audience. But I'm now too sarcastic to get swayed merely by the love story angle. That is why I like the part where Hazel and Gus go to Amsterdam to meet their favorite yet reclusive author. The guy turns out to be quite a jerk but I think that unpleasant encounter was a good 'conflict' which contributed to the personal growth of the two leads.

I also like how Hazel and Gus were not cut out as tragic characters but as 'normal' people who just happen to be in the terminal phase of cancer. Not to make light of their illness but they handled the aspect of dying in an acceptable and non offensive manner. Certainly not dwelling on something they could not control but celebrating life in all its glory, something we should all emulate!

TRANSCENDENCE

Johnny Depp, Rebecca Hall,

Paul Bettany, Morgan Freeman

"What if a New Intelligence was Born?"

Nowadays, Johnny Depp has evolved into either essaying roles of freaky yet unique characters or some normal guy stuck in a uniquely strange scenario. I guess the key word here is 'unique' and I understand for any actor it is imperative to delve into a role that will stand out from the numerous predictable ones.

It must be quite challenging for Johnny Depp specifically to always find roles which won't be, for lack of a better word, boring. I respect him for that and admire his guts since most of these roles although unique, per se, these movies don't really rake in the big bucks like blockbusters do.

In "Transcendence", he is cast as Dr. Will Caster, a technology expert at the forefront of artificial intelligence research. An advocacy which he and his wife Evelyn (Rebecca Hall) have passionately worked for ages. Their dream is to create an all knowing computer that has the personality of a human. Their work is abruptly cut short by an organization that opposes AI in any shape or form.

An incident occurs which puts Dr Caster's life in danger so before he dies, he decides to 'upload' his brain and his 'personality' into the computer. Upon his passing, Evelyn waits for the machine to wake up with Will's persona deeply embedded within its wired components. Behold! It works and it is presented through a computer monitor with a disembodied voice and Will's flickering face on screen.  It is quite freaky, creepy and everything that makes the hair on the back of your neck stand up straight.

As the film progresses at a slow and very long pace, we soon find out just how dangerous it is to play God and the perils of technology overload. Much of the movie focuses on the interaction between Evelyn and Will through the screen.

You keep asking yourself is it really Will or just some hologram presence of an uploaded version of him. Can machines really feel or are they just programmed to 'feel'? Are we being slowly trained to be more machine-like as we become more and more dependent on technology? Or do we project our personality unto our gadgets?

Either way, it is a dangerous world to live in as social interaction is minimized or practically non existent. But the scarier thought is we don't need a film like "Transcendence" to show us the dangers as we are all currently hooked on being connected at all times. Other people don't re-wire our brains, it just happens as we live more of our lives online. We're slaves to convenience.

Personally, there is nothing wrong with this premise. We just need to know when to 'disconnect' and be truly present in the 'here' and the 'now'. Heh! Well look who's talking?! I get hives when there is no wifi connection at any establishment I visit even for 10 minutes. 

47 RONIN

Keanu Reeves, Hiroyuki Sanada,
Ko Shibasaki, Cary Hiroyuki Tagawa,
Rinko Kikuchi

"Seize Eternity"

After my sister had surgery, she couldn't move much so we had movie marathons. Perfect time to catch up on my long list of accumulated movies to watch.

First off is this fictional tale about a 18th century historical event in Japan in which a group of "ronin" (master-less samurai) avenged the honor of their dead Lord/Master. It is strictly forbidden for a ronin to seek revenge. But this group believed that their master was set up after he was accused of assaulting a court official. They planned and waited for one year before they set off to kill the one they hold accountable for the 'injustice'.

The event itself is still widely revered in modern day Japan as annually on the 14th of December, people hold a festival at the Sengakuji temple to commemorate it.

"47 Ronin" is clearly a fictional tale as it has a Caucasian dude named Kai (Keanu Reeves) known as the 'half-breed' who joins the 47 leaderless samurai. There is also a witchcraft element to the film which sets a fantasy tone amidst the beautiful backdrop of a small mountainous district. All of the characters, except of course for Reeves are portrayed by Japanese actors who all just happen to speak English, fluently. 

Yet it is also a vividly graphic reenactment of the events that led to the revenge. Good sword play skills are displayed in the cleverly choreographed fight scenes. The costume design from the wardrobe of the samurais to the kimono worn as well as the manner of styling their hair are all authentic and reminiscent of a long gone era in Japan's rich cultural history.

Hiroyuki Sanada as Oishi, the leader of the Ronin was spot on. He has this certain quality to him which makes him perfect to be cast as a samurai. Although I have seen him in other movies in 'normal' roles and he excels in every performance. 

I, for one liked the film despite the fantasy element and the general cliches, such as having one white dude ostracized by an entire group in the beginning of the movie; then eventually proving himself to be a much welcomed part of the group. I know this concept is quite predictable in these sort of films. Hint: Tom Cruise in "The Last Samurai".

Yet I believe the triumph of good vs evil and the strong need for revenge against an injustice always make good plot lines to bank on. Never mind that the 'act of vengeance' is highly prohibited in the bushido (samurai code of honor), the 47 Ronin knew the ultimate consequence for their behavior would be to commit ritual suicide which is known as seppuku. They accepted their fate with pride, honor and dignity.

So regardless of the historical inaccuracy, "47 Ronin" was one entertainingly good Samurai movie, imho!

CHEF (2014)

Jon Favreau, John Leguizamo
Sofia Vergara, Oliver Platt

"Starting from Scratch
Never Tasted So Good"

After all the heavy dramatic films, I wanted to amuse myself with some light fare. "Chef" fit perfectly as it didn't require much deciphering. The plot was simple yet entertaining, the cast was good and it centered around food - so it was just what I wanted.

Albeit all the cooking and the delicious food made me hungry I'm glad it also filled my mind - with a steady plot line which was realistically authentic. A feel good movie just like a comfort food which eases both our stomachs and our general attitude towards life.

Carl Casper (Jon Favreau) an accomplished chef loses his job after a restaurant critic lambasted his food. His career in ruins, he decides to  venture out on his own. He retrofits a van and turns it into a traveling food truck that offers good, tasty food on the go. With the help of a good friend and his young son, Carl's food truck business is a huge success.

We should all emulate Carl's never say die attitude and never give up. We should never lose hope despite facing many obstacles and upheavals along the journey. That if we set out minds and our hearts into pursuing our goals and our passion, we have no way to go but up. That trials and failures are just as much part of the journey and they tend to push us forward, making us stronger and more determined to achieve victory and success.

Wow did I just get all of those life lessons from "Chef"? Probably the light hearted mood made me more philosophical about life?  I don't know but it seems that way!

THE JUDGE

Robert Downey Jr., Robert Duvall,

Vincent D'Onofrio, Vera Farmiga,

Billy Bob Thornton

"Defend Your Honor"

Brash city lawyer Hank Palmer (Robert Downey Jr.) is in a court room defending his client when he receives a call informing him about the demise of his mother. He returns to his hometown for the funeral and tries to reconnect with his brothers as well as with his father, a respected judge (Robert Duvall) with whom he has a strained relationship. 

While Hank's in town, the judge is accused of a crime (hit and run incident) so he reluctantly acts as his father's lawyer. As he discovers the truth about the complex case, father and son as expected constantly clash yet Hank struggles to remain focus on proving his father's innocence despite overwhelming evidence which point to the contrary.

Part courtroom drama, but mostly a family reconciliation drama, "The Judge" is a powerful portrayal of a highly poignant father and son relationship. Both of them trying to come to terms in finding a common ground with their principles, their pride and their profession.

Even though it sometimes feel like an episode of L.A. Law (yes, I know that was a long time ago!) or any TV show which features lawyers for that matter, the averagely predictable plot is buoyed by the top notch performances of Downey and Duvall. Their scenes together are the main draws of the film. The supporting cast are also good and their characters are well developed and multi-dimensional.

I'd like to add that I am glad to see Robert Downey, Jr in a meaty role that doesn't require him to don a superhero outfit. He has always been a good character actor even though he did dabble briefly in comedy and the rom-com genre, I prefer him in dramatic roles. He was perfectly suited for the cocky and abrasive Hank Palmer. I hope he is given the chance to show off more of his 'dramatic' side instead of just being stereotyped as a superhero figure - which can get old, really fast!

GONE GIRL

Ben Affleck, Rosamund Pike,

Neil Patrick Harris, Tyler Perry,

Carrie Coon, Kim Dickens

"You don't know what 

you've got , 'til it's ..."

I was a bit ambivalent about this much hyped movie. Although I did not read the book by Gillian Flynn, I knew enough about the story line and it didn't strike me as being interesting. Another factor which added to my insouciance is Ben Affleck starring in the lead role. I've seen my share of his films and I've come to the conclusion that he is better suited behind the camera as a director than as the lead actor upon whose broad shoulders an entire movie would evolve around or dissolve for that matter.

In "Gone Girl", Affleck portrays what seemingly looks like an ordinary guy whose wife goes missing on the day of their 5th anniversary. Soon enough, it seems he isn't as ordinary as originally stated, Nick Dunne has secrets. I know from watching crime shows on TV that the first suspect in the disappearance of any spouse is their significant other.  True enough, the detectives zoom in on Nick Dunne as clues are unraveled and suspicions are confirmed.

The suspense factor in this cleverly directed film by David Fincher is palpable. He reveals just enough clues to the audience for them to be quite suspicious about Nick Dunne. Yet at the same time, he doesn't really outright make Nick Dunne guilty of a crime which gets murkier as the film progresses. We also learn that their marriage which looks good on paper wasn't as 'perfect' as expected. I guess no marriage is indeed perfect but the movie does project that married couples tend to showcase a different 'public' image than what really happens within the privacy of their marital union.

Of course, it would help if I had read the novel and would know in advance of the twist. This is where I believe the film lost its focus. The part where we find out what really happened to "Amazing Amy" (Rosamund Pike) and how she orchestrated the whole 'disappearance' was for me revealed way too soon. Never mind that the film runs at over 2 hours, the twist could have been handled better than it was presented in the film.

I maintain that the film is well directed and had enough suspense that one would expect from a thriller. The investigation was interspersed with a realistic angle of how quickly it turned into a 'reality show' and a media circus. Daily updates as well as the invasion of the 'suspect's' privacy were spot on. It makes you aware that behind all the incessant footage on the couples lives as shown on talk shows, there are real people who are going through enough turmoil and upheaval that the constant barrage of the TV crews on their front lawns would certainly not help them find any peace of mind.

"Gone Girl" is a dark and complex story with deeply unsettling and flawed characters. The type of story that does take a lot of mental prowess to wrap your head around because it is essentially quite creepy and disturbingly twisted. So you've been duly warned!

CANIBAL(CANNIBAL)

PELIKULA

SPANISH FILM FESTIVAL

Cinema 2, Greenbelt 3

I had my reservations about watching this film because I was under the impression it would show some really gory scenes. But it was not to be. Well I hope, I don't sound disappointed because I am glad with the way the film handled the cannibalism aspect.

Carlos is a prestigious tailor in a small town in Granada. But his well dressed and quiet demeanor exterior hides a chilling secret. He feeds on human flesh. But as I mentioned above, the film avoids gore but gets the point across in moments that do not involve actual.teeth.biting.into.raw.human.flesh scenes. Although the hunt and chase for his 'victims' is chillingly portrayed through silently haunting and terrifying vignettes.

Carlos is pretty much a loner, hardly socializes and does not really have any friends in town. But he is a much respected tailor and judging from his esteemed and well heeled clientele, he makes quite a good living as a tailor.  Things get a bit messy when his new neighbor Alexandra moves into the upstairs flat. A Romanian who speaks Italian, she is clearly a troubled soul and leads a chaotic life. A stark contrast to Carlos' ordinarily routine life.

An intriguing yet quiet attraction develops between the two of them, although neither of them act on it. Until one day, Alexandra just vanishes after she seeks Carlos help with a domestic dispute. A few days later, Nina her twin sister comes to investigate the disappearance and also finds herself drawn towards the reticent tailor who lives downstairs. She too is intrigued by the supportive Carlos who 'helps' her find Alexandra. Although, we know that he probably killed and ate her as well. 

As the film and their mutual attraction progresses, numerous questions abound. Little if ever any facts are known about Carlos. What drives him to kill women then eat them? Is he truly falling in love with Nina or is she just another victim for him? There are too many elements of the film and the characters themselves that is never really explored.  

As the 'secret' and twist is revealed towards the ending, the natural reaction of Nina is both shocking and a bit underwhelmed, to say the least. Until the final scene of reckoning for Carlos comes to a close, the film barely answers any of the questions that twirls inside the audience's discerning minds. 

The cinematography though is top notch with vividly clear scenes of a small town, the snow capped mountain (where he vacations in his cabin) which all nicely capture the quiet nature of both the main character as well as the manner the film unfolded across the screen.

Although I was relieved that the depravity of its main character was not exposed through bloody and messy scenes, I was also disappointed that the audience is simply made to accept Carlos for what he is - a cannibal who just happens to be a tailor!

LA GRAN FAMILIA ESPAÑOLA(FAMILY UNITED)

PELIKULA

SPANISH FILM FESTIVAL

Cinema 2, Greenbelt 3

People who regularly read this blog would know by now that I simply love voice-overs in movies. So the moment I heard a voice over annotating this Spanish comedy/drama, I was hooked.

It starts with Ephraim, the youngest of five brothers narrating that he and his siblings were named after the characters in his father's favorite film "Seven Brides for Seven Brothers". The brothers were named alphabetically from the Bible and in chronological order: Adam, Benjamin, Caleb, Daniel and Ephraim. That they are two brothers short is beyond the point. 

Early on, it is established that Ephraim is getting married on a very important date. It just happens to be the day of the 2010 World Cup finals where Spain will meet Holland in the finale. 

All the numerous characters loaded with a gamut of facial expressions, peculiar behaviors and multiple traits are introduced through various scenes that all blend together. As expected, there are also various sub plots that touch on family secrets, infidelity, sibling rivalry, and many intrigues, which intertwine together and combine to produce one charmingly chaotic yet very well developed story line.

"Family United" (its English title - even though you don't need to be fluent in Spanish to understand that the real translation is "The Grand Spanish Family") mixes the two big passion of Spain - football (or soccer as it is known in other parts of the world) and family. Throw in a wedding setting and naturally a lot of dramatic and poignant moments tinged with really funny scenarios are bound to amuse the viewers.

It is the performances of the ensemble cast which really stand out and no matter how different their personalities are, the 5 brothers prove that what really counts is la familia! 

TODAS LAS MUJERES(ALL THE WOMEN)

PELIKULA

SPANISH FILM FESTIVAL

Cinema 2, Greenbelt 3

This film explores in depth how a guy experiencing a crisis decides to approach all the women in his life for sound pieces of advice. Typical, no? Men cannot solve their problems without consulting the brainier specimen of the human species. Ha!

Kidding aside, you have to prepare yourself to listen closely to the dialogue since the film plays out in the various conversations that Nacho (Eduard Fernandez) has with the different women who have in some way or another influenced him his entire life.

Nacho, a 40 something vet finds himself in a bind after he stole 5 heifers from his father-in-law which he attempts to sell in Portugal. But his plan goes awry when the truck carrying these goods crashes somewhere along the route. His marriage is on the rocks so he cannot really talk to his soon to be ex-wife about his plan since he schemed it with his young mistress.

He turns to an ex-flame who tells him to confess and ask for forgiveness. After ignoring her suggestion, he approaches his mother. A wise woman who is willing to put up half of the money he lost yet at the same time suggests it might be best he goes to jail for his 'crime'. Two more women are consulted and both of them still unable to influence Nacho in a way that he thinks will be beneficial for his own good.

Nacho's common line is that "I'm not a bad person" like this statement would somehow justify his failed plan. Yet in some quiet and subtle manner, each of the conversations he has with these women, mark his ego and his conscience with self awareness of his own failings (not just with the heifers but in his life!) whether he cares to admit it or not. 

Great acting from Eduard Fernandez (an actor I've seen in several Spanish films) whose nuanced expressions reveal a gamut of emotions billowing inside his tension filled brain. Although there is no specific conclusion on how he intends to solve his massive problem, from the conversations alone, one can ascertain that Nacho (whatever he decides to do) will hopefully become more mature and wiser moving forward in his life's journey.