Captain America: Civil War

I really enjoyed the last Captain America movie. The Winter Soldier was a spy movie and it was breaking the mould of what a superhero movie could be, whilst still having the familiar elements that everyone enjoys. Civil War on the other hand takes it all away and punches you in the face instead. It wants to make you certain that this is a balls to the wall action movie, but for me it didn't stand out against any of the other superhero movies that I've seen recently, which is really disappointing because it has Spiderman in it. Spiderman!

Captain America (Chris Evans) and his team of Avengers are facing public backlash when they accidentally kill a large number of aid workers in Nigeria whilst trying to stop a villain who has stolen a biological weapon. This leads to the United Nations proposing a policy which would bring the Avengers under their umbrella to be used only when they deem it necessary. Endorsing this deal is Tony Stark (Robert Downey, Jr.) who urges the other superheroes to sign, as they must do so voluntarily or else their actions are considered illegal. Captain America still refuses to sign, especially because his old buddy Bucky Barnes (AKA The Winter Soldier) is being accused of a variety of crimes that Cap believes he has no involvement in.

I saw somewhere that this movie is basically Avengers 2.5 and that's true. Instead of focusing on the hero of the title, it cuts between both him and Tony Stark, making me think a much better title would be Captain America V Iron Man, but that's too much of a mouthful. There are definitely parallels to be drawn with the latest Superman movie, but they don't drag this film down as much. While there are definitely way too many characters in this movie, they have been set up in other films and that fives us an opportunity to be able to focus on the two new ones. But just because you don't need to introduce every single character that doesn't make the film less confusing. I found it hard to track every character's motivations in the film because they're all important to the plot.

The plot is definitely the weakest part and I know that it's a superhero movie so what am I expecting. Well, Civil War is essentially two movies. On the one hand there's the Avengers being split up and having to fight each other and on the other is a Captain America movie with Bucky being framed for crimes he didn't commit, so he has to clear his name while dealing with someone who wants revenge. I would totally be happy with the latter because you could shuffle some plot points around and drop a lot of the extra characters while still introducing others. But people want to see that shot where the two groups meet each other in the middle of the screen. I wasn't really impressed with the way the final fight between Cap and Iron Man played out. It seemed very out of character for both of them.

Since we've spoken ad nauseam about all the actors who've played these characters before, I'll quickly talk about the new and expanded upon parts. Chadwick Boseman is introduced as Black Panther and I really liked his arc. Boseman's performance was solid considering his character is not that well known to cinema audiences and he's up against characters that have been well known for almost a decade. Tom Holland was absolutely perfect as Spiderman. They nailed his non-stop talking and genius way better than both Tobey Maguire and Andrew Garfield and it's very disappointing that he wasn't in the film for long at all. Daniel Brühl was criminally underused as the movie's bad guy and he really just felt like 'generic German villain'. I really appreciated that Emily VanCamp's Sharon Carter was expanded on because that was sorely lacking from the last movie. Finally, Paul Rudd slipped into the main group with ease and he has great chemistry with everyone else.

I know I've already compared this to Batman V Superman but it's pretty hard not to. Did I enjoy it more than that movie? Yes? Is it the best Marvel movie so far? I don't think so. There were some shining moments which I enjoyed, but I mostly felt ambivalent throughout. I know that it's leading to brighter things in the future though so I'm hopeful.

Midnight Special

Unique American filmmaker Jeff Nichols has achieved critical success with his first three features Shotgun Stories, Take Shelter and Mud, none of which found similar triumphs at the box office. His latest feature, Midnight Special - starring Michael Shannon, Joel Edgerton, Kirsten Dunst and Adam Driver - is his most ambitious film to date, and with his largest budget thus far, so it has a lot to prove to audiences and critics alike.

Alton Meyer (Jaeden Lieberher) sits in the rear of a car with Roy (Michael Shannon) and state-trooper Lucas (Joel Edgerton) as they cruise through the night with no headlights, evading a state-wide manhunt issued by the AMBER alert system. Alton wears bright-blue goggles and can only be outside at night. He has some serious powers that nobody fully understands and has been the religious focus of a cult on the ranch that he was taken from. The FBI and the NSA are out on the search, with agent Sevier (Adam Driver) trying to gain as much information about the boy as quickly as possible. Nobody knows where they’re going, not even us. All we know if that it’s crucial to the future of the planet.

Right off the bat, it’s clear that Midnight Special is a surprisingly beautiful movie. Shot on film and harking back to some of the more minimalistic 70s and 80s sci-fi flicks, it doesn't present a hyper real world or a CGI riddled environment, but the level of thought behind every visual decision from DoP Adam Stone is obvious. With large sections of the film occurring at night, it’s these sequences that shine, and there’s certainly no pun intended there because half the time it’s literally impossible to see what’s going on. The action is just hinted at; the silhouette of a car travelling down the road with no headlights on, the thin sliver of light on the horizon. The night scenes show a degree of subtlety which is often left abandoned by sci-fi films for fancy special effects sequences. Sequences which ultimately destroy any sense of noiresque mystery that make films of this ilk so unique.

But you didn't come here to read about the visuals, and Midnight Special’s soundtrack is just as impressive. The immersive sound-scape manages a lot with the few action sequences at hand, and in quieter scenes the subtle layers of environment come alive. David Wingo’s intense score pulls you in and somehow manages to only become intrusive at a couple of moments. But Ed, what about the costuming? Well the decision to give Alton goggles was...alright alright, so I admit, I might have struggled a bit with Midnight Special’s story. An obvious homage to Close Encounters of the Third Kind, Midnight Special’s ambitious plot is mysterious, and often captivating but most of the time I just couldn't get enough information to really care about the characters or invest myself in the story.

Take the beginning for instance, through an intense opening montage we learn that a boy has been supposedly kidnapped from a ranch belonging to a religious cult, we know that Edgerton and Shannon’s characters are involved, and that’s about it. It’s clever and provides a set up that draws us in, but it continues like this for most of the film, with the little crucial details that keep us asking questions just not provided. It’s frustrating to say the least, especially since the film’s story clearly has some interesting things to say.

Before more is revealed, you’re forced to side with either a misguided cult or two men who have kidnapped a young boy, yet any presumptions you might make about either side are not backed up with anything indicative of what you might expect, which makes it difficult to decide who - if any of them - is doing the right thing. It’s also unclear exactly what Alton’s powers are - even when we see them in use - and how they relate to these theories about another dimension of beings. The third stakeholder in the story is the government, specifically the FBI and NSA, who are the clear antagonists. The NSA agent Sevier - an Edward Snowden-like figure who secretly helps Alton - is sort of like the comic relief, and well played by Adam Driver. In fact the film has great performances all round, especially from Michael Shannon and Jaeden Lieberher. Sadly though the performances can only convey so much.

Midnight Special is an expertly constructed film. It’s beautiful, well acted and has so much potential lying under the surface. However, whilst I’m normally one to favour the ambiguous plot-line, it consistently failed to reveal enough to keep me on the edge of my seat, or away from that all-too-telling watch glance.

Eddie The Eagle

If you’re looking for an intellectual and in-depth look into the world of Olympic sport, you’ve found the wrong film. If you’re looking for a highly accurate depiction of the life of the real Eddie ‘The Eagle’ Edwards, you’re not likely to find that here either. But if you don’t smile at least once during this film, you’re made of stone.

Eddie The Eagle follows the (highly fictionalised) true story of a young man named Eddie Edwards (played by Taron Egerton of Kingsmen fame) who has had dreams of becoming an Olympian since he was a child, however lacks any real athletic ability or talent, and has no idea which event he wants to compete in. After trying and failing repeatedly to impress British Olympic Association representatives and meeting stonewall after stonewall, in steps Bronson Peary (Hugh Jackman), an ex-olympic ski jumper that fell from grace. After much pestering by Eddie, he agrees to coach him (partly in order to save his life) and the pair form an unlikely bond.

The positives: The story is fun and entertaining and definitely has its ‘awww’ moments interspersed with moments of surprising sincerity, where we’re reminded that heart is an important part of being human. The film appeals to a wide audience as this story really could be about anyone, and all of us have been in Eddie's shoes at least once before: the important part is getting back up after a fall and trying again. Eddie’s unfailing optimism that he will succeed makes us care about him, a testament to Edgerton’s acting. Hugh Jackman’s performance as the hardy but somewhat unhinged coach plays well with the slightly off kilter Eddie, and their relationship tends to create much of the comedy in the film alongside the obvious jabs at English sport. Jo Hartley’s performance as Eddie’s mother was also a surprising standout.

The negatives: Although the story is a fun ride, it misses a lot of the charm of an original quirky film and does appeal more towards those who love the formula-style in their movies: there isn’t much in terms of ingenuity or innovation, just a straightforward narrative. Although it’s not necessarily a deal breaker, what you see is essentially what you get, which will be a disappointment for some people if you were looking for that indie film vibe.

Overall, the film has its rough patches and certainly misses its beats here and there, but it hits its target audience and the message of the film is has its charm. Its nice to have a film that reminds us that you don’t always have to win to be a winner.

Temps

The sole purpose of a romantic comedy is to leave audiences with the feeling that yes, everything will be right in the end. That guy and girl are going to be together through the power of love and nothing will get in their way. You don't want to see a movie about real life, that's why it's a movie. But when that rom-com comes along that does end on a down note, it'll probably stay with you longer.

Jefferson (Grant Rosenmeyer) is a ski-bum who does temporary office work in order to save up enough money for his next ski trip. At this job he meets Stephanie (Lindsey Shaw), who he quickly develops a casual relationship with. But soon enough Stephanie wants to have some clarity with what their relationship is, even though Jefferson is happy with just keeping it casual. This causes conflict between the two and Jefferson realises that he is in a state of arrested development but has no desire to get out of it.

Like most indie movies, Temps has a pretty simple plot and it really works in its favour. The exploration of the characters and their motives is quite deep and it works well as a reflection of Generation Y and non-committal approach they have to life, as well as the surprise when someone their age actually displays some maturity and direction in life. There is a scene in which Jefferson runs into an old drinking buddy of his and is baffled at the fact that he is married with a child. The fact that his friend feels sorry for him, goes completely over his head.

Temps also takes a realistic stance on the idea of relationships. It comes very much from the school of (500) Days of Summer in that people and situations change. I've always been a fan of these movies over generic rom-coms where guy-gets-girl and everyone is happy, because that's not how most people experience relationships. The idea of the grand romantic gesture doesn't exist and there's no way to get back someone you've previously had a falling out with. This film reflects that perfectly.

The performances in Temps are quite genuine and convincing. Grant Rosenmeyer (who you might recognise as the little kid in The Royal Tenenbaums) gives a top-notch performance as Jefferson. The maturity he experiences through the film is great and his chemistry with co-star Lindsey Shaw is fantastic. Shaw takes her character through a number of emotional tight spots and carries it off exquisitely, especially the scene in which it is revealed that she has had a boyfriend all along. Reid Ewing provides some of the much needed lighter moments in the film and brings some comedic emotion to the film.

All in all, Ryan Sage's Temps definitely sits in a certain time and place that should be fairly relatable for it's target audience (of which I'm surely a part). Yes, being an indie movie does mean that the production value is pretty much nonexistent, but the emotions are there and that's what hooked me in.

Trailers Week 94: 24/04/16

Café Society

After the recent spate of movies looking at 1950s Hollywood, it's time for Woody Allen to take his turn, but in his own popular style.

The Founder

I thought Super Size Me was the only movie we were only ever going to get about the Golden Arches. Now, we get to see where it all began.

The Girl on the Train
Sometimes a trailer can make a movie come across as a confusing mess. I present Exhibit A.

The Infiltrator
Bryan Cranston goes so deep in his undercover that he turns into a Latino. I know it's too much to hope for this to turn into a comedy.

Equals
If I lived in a boring sterile world like this, I wouldn't want to touch anybody else either.

Hands of Stone
This looks like the spiritual sequel to Raging Bull. But haven't we seen enough boxing movies?

Jason Bourne
Goddammit Jason! I was just telling people not to see boxing movies. At least you do other stuff I guess.

The Magnificent Seven
Speaking of people who do different things, take a look at this ragtag group who all have their own special skills.

Independence Day: Resurgence
In this new trailer we get to see some more landmarks get destroyed and some younger heroes save the day.

Classic Trailer: Purple Rain
Finally this week, it would be wrong of us not to pay our respects to Prince, so here's his very first movie.

The Jungle Book

The Jungle Book is one of those stories that people of all ages have grown up with, whether it's the books, the original 1967 Disney animated movie or any of the other movie versions that have been released since. The latest version has come along at a time when making a live action version is possible without relying on unpredictable trained animals (like they did in the 90s.) And while there's a lot of good in this movie, there's also a lot of bad.

Mowgli (Neel Sethi) is a young boy who has grown up in the jungle. He was found by the black panther Bagheer (Sir Ben Kingsley) and raised by the wolf Raksha (Lupita Nyong'o). During a peacetime period brought on by drought, Mowgli comes under the attention of the tiger Shere Khan (Idris Elba), who threatens the entire jungle unless Mowgli is turned over to him. Mowgli realises that the best thing for him to do is find his true place in the world and go to the man-village where he was originally from. Along the way, he comes across the snake Kaa (Scarlett Johannson), befriends Baloo the bear (Bill Murray) and angers King Louie (Christopher Walken).

The original Disney animated movie was very much targeted toward kids, no doubt about it. This one, I'm not so sure. Yes, the plot is pretty basic and doesn't need too much attention to follow it, but it is a really intense movie. Every time Mowgli found himself in a dangerous situation, I couldn't help but get caught up in the moment, so I can't imagine how terrifying some of it must have been for kids under ten. The way the world is presented to us is pretty ingenious. Everything seems out of proportion and way bigger than it would be in real life. That's because we're seeing the world through the eyes of a ten year old. Of course elephants will seem like the biggest things in the world. While we're on the topic of the animals, I have to mention how fantastic the visual effects are. So much research must have gone into how each individual animal species moves, because when you see them, you almost forget that they aren't even there with Neel Sethi, yet he reacts amazingly to them.

While all this is great, there are still problems. I felt like some of the characters were only included in the film because the filmmakers felt obliged to put them in there rather than serving any plot points. For me Kaa was the big one. She only appears briefly (basically all her part is in the trailer) and all we want to see from that character is the crazy eyes. The other one is King Louie. I find his character particularly problematic. He doesn't appear in any of the original books, but rather was created for the Disney animated movie. In 1967, I'm sure it was okay to have a parody of a black jazz musician in your movie, but when you've got a very obvious Christopher Walken doing a very obvious impression of a black person (blackvoice?), it goes a bit far. I know Christopher Walken loves to sing, but does he need to? That leads into the next problem. This isn't a musical like the old one, so why shoehorn in two songs. "Bare Necessities" and "I Wanna Be Like You" were the most popular songs from the original sure, but I found that breaking up the action with these songs just pointless.

Overall, the voice cast is pretty solid. Idris Elba and Ben Kingsley are amazing. Elba has a rather menacing voice as it is, but when it's coming from a tiger, well that's just terrifying. Kingsley is such a talented voice actor that you end up paying more attention to his character than the voice. And that's a problem that sticks out with the rest of the characters. The cast is so well known that they become removed from the parts they play. This is most noticeable with Bill Murray who seemed to be playing more of a version of himself than Baloo.

The Jungle Book is hanging in a weird limbo for me. I wouldn't say I particularly enjoyed it, but I wasn't bored. There was always something that was intriguing for me on screen and at times that distracted me from what was going on with the story. I also couldn't help noticing that this movie took some beats from The Lion King, which was a huge distraction.

Trailers Week 93: 17/04/16

Suicide Squad
In this week's super villain dose we see a lot more Batman.

Doctor Strange

Meanwhile over in the Marvel Universe, we get our first look at Benedict Cumberbatch as Doctor Strange, featuring a glimpse at a bald-headed Tilda Swinton. Sooner or later every actor in the world is going to have a character in these two worlds.

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles

Somehow I can't see the kids getting behind the characters of Bebop and Rocksteady like they did in the 80's. I also can't see them enjoying old types of jazz and ska either. And what's with the desecration of the Beastie Boys' classic song? Is this movie just a criticism of music? Because that underlying message might actual make it watchable.

Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them

All you Potheads get ready to delve back into the wizarding world to learn about some magical beasties.

A Monster Calls

I mean surely not all kids movies have to be absolutely terrifying these days.

The Angry Birds Movie

Time for some green ham and eggs...

The Secret Life of Pets
I wish my dog got into wacky adventures when I'm not around.

The Family Fang
Jason Bateman directs this drama about one really messed up family.

Our Kind of Traitor
A very intense looking British spy thriller based on a novel by the amazing John le Carré, which means it'll be a thinker. It's good to see Damian Lewis going back to his natural accent.

The Birth of a Nation
I get that it's a movie about a slave uprising, but they could have really picked a better title. This is already the name of a super racist movie from 1915.

Almost Christmas
Has no one learned that getting families together at Christmas is a huge mistake? It never works.

No Men Beyond This Point
This mockumentary about how humans no longer need men to reproduce looks absolutely hilarious.

The Neon Demon
Nicolas Windig Refn returns with this psychological thriller about the modelling industry.

Godzilla Resurgence
Finally we end with the latest Godzilla movie out of Japan. Sure, it may not have the special effects that we're used to, but it'll probably be better than the ones Hollywood can't seem to get right.

The Witch

The horror genre is one that rarely captures real slices of life. Yes, they can be based on true stories, such as The Conjuring, but those films only relate to specific incidents. What if you could make a horror movie that represented an actual fear and paranoia that people had for hundreds of years? That would be pretty scary. It's also been achieved by first time director Robert Eggers with The Witch.

After being banished from a New England plantation, William (Ralph Ineson) and his family set out to find land on which they can live. They find a nice plot on the edge of a dark forest, because that's not at all foreboding and terrifying for your young children. Whilst playing with her baby brother, Thomasin (Anya Taylor-Joy) manages to lose him, despite the fact that he was right in front of her. Soon other strange goings-on result in her mother Katherine (Kate Dickie) accusing Thomasin of being a witch.

I think we have come to expect horror movies to follow a certain pattern, so when they deviate from that we are surprised by our uncertainty and makes the movie that much more scary. Such is the case with The Witch. It's definitely unlike any horror movie you've seen, mainly because it's not that scary. It is however incredibly unsettling and taps into a primal level of paranoia that exists in everyone. Well, that is the case up until the last scene of the movie. See, what happens throughout is that you start to get an unnerving feeling that Thomasin might indeed be the witch because she is the only one present when any of the witchy things happen and it even gets to the point where she doubts that she herself may actually be a witch and she just doesn't know it. It also doesn't help that the religious fervour stirred up by the family adds to her doubt. But it's super disappointing when you're going to throw away all that tension and paranoia that you've spent a whole movie building up away to say, "Hey guess what? There was actually a coven of witches hanging out in the woods the whole time." This is an M. Night Shymalan level twist that this movie really really didn't need. A cut before this and only then I would have been satisfied.

Ralph Ineson probably gives the most dedicated performance in this whole cast. His devotion to speaking old English is incredible and I could absolutely see him existing in a vacuum where he is actually from the 17th century. This use of language only makes his character's religious devotion more believable. Anya Taylor-Joy did an okay job at playing Thomasin, but I did feel like her character was slightly lacking and there was definitely more to be explored between her and her brother Caleb, played by Harvey Scrimshaw. Kate Dickie was amazing as the personification of hysteria. We only briefly see the human incarnation of Black Philip, but I found Wahab Chaudhry's performance was incredibly unsettling, but then again the goat who played him for the majority made some very interesting choices.

For me, The Witch was heading to be a solid 4 star film. It gave me the right amount of chills that told me I was in for a nightmare filled sleep. However, the film went on for two seconds too long and I lost all interest in what I had just spent the previous hour and a half watching.

Trailers Week 92: 10/04/15

Swiss Army Man
It's Weekend at Bernie's meets Castaway. Danny Rad plays the dead best friend of a crazy Paul Dano.

Blood Father

Mel Gibson gets all shooty again. I guess the moral is we shouldn't even look at him?

Blackway

This is one bad looking revenge movie. The only part I can seem to understand is Ray Liotta being the bad guy.

The BFG

If I'm being completely honest, I think that if any Roald Dahl books needs a new live action adaptation it's James and the Giant Peach. I know that's a wildly unpopular opinion, but you know, I'm sure Steven Spielberg has done a good job.

Memoria

So I guess this movie is trying to say that categorically skaters come from abusive backgrounds?

David Brent: Life on the Road

Ricky Gervais returns as David Brent in a new mockumentary about his life after The Office.

Rogue One: A Star Wars Story

As excited as I am for this Star Wars prequel (and believe me, I am), this trailer doesn't quite make me anymore excited than I already am. Except for the AT-ATs. Ooh and the construction of the Death Star. Also who doesn't love Felicity Jones.

The Bye Bye Man

This week's token horror trailer seems a little gratuitous if you ask me.

Neighbours 2: Sorority Rising (NSFW)

For some reason two trailers got dropped for this movie this week and they're both red band ones. It's like playing a game of spot the difference. There are differences, I promise.

A Bigger Splash

Luca Guadagnino's latest film A Bigger Splash is somewhat ambitious in what it is trying to achieve. Guadagnino is known for his sweeping dramas and this film does follow his usual style, but on a much smaller scale. However, he attempts to surprise audiences with a sharp right turn, which is something that I don't think works to the film's benefit.

Marianne Lane (Tilda Swinton) is a rock star taking some time off after undergoing throat surgery. She is relaxing on the Italian island of Pantelleria with her documentary filmmaker boyfriend Paul (Matthias Schoenaerts) when she is intruded upon by old friend Harry (Ralph Fiennes). Harry has also dragged along his daughter Penelope (Dakota Johnson). Soon Harry has imposed himself upon the couple and is causing tension as he wishes to start up an old relationship with Marianne, which angers Paul to no end.

Up until two-thirds through the way of this film I was entirely on board with what was going on. I really enjoyed the dramatic tension that was happening throughout. But then at the end of the second act, one of the main characters is killed off. I am totally okay with this too, but what I found was that I wasn't entirely convinced by the reason for why it happened and I felt as though there could have been other stronger ways that it could have been presented. This totally changed the whole dynamic of the film to a thriller, but one where the stakes weren't that high. As a result I wasn't really concerned for any of the characters and if they would get out of it unscathed. It did lead to a great revelation however, one that has some pretty nasty implications.

Guadagnino has written some fantastic characters that are portrayed superbly. Top of this list is Ralph Fiennes. While he has played some truly reprehensible characters (a crime boss, a sadistic Nazi, the Dark Lord), I found his character of Harry to be the worst he's ever played. He is the kind of person who you just want to punch if he ever turned up in your life. But the reason he is so good is because he is so incredibly charming and intoxicating to watch. Tilda Swinton has been a long time collaborator with Guadagnino and their working chemistry really shows. She is also stunning to watch because as she barely speaks in the film, all of her performance is done through her physicality. Matthias Schoenaerts' performance straddles a fine line between main and supporting because he doesn't have the screen presence of Fiennes, but at the same time he's very good and important to the story. I want to say Dakota Johnson is good, but she doesn't do very much. However, she gives a better performance than all her previous work combined.

Despite the strange turn in the film, A Bigger Splash is a fantastic drama that is heightened by its small, vibrant cast.

Trailers Week 91: 03/04/15

Everybody Wants Some!!

Every trailer I see for Richard Linklater's exploration of 80's youth culture just makes me more and more excited.

The American Side

I'm not sure if this movie is supposed to be set in the 40's or not. Whatever it is, it looks like another love letter to Nikola Tesla, one of the greatest minds of the 20th century. Kind of like The Prestige, but without the cool magic stuff.

The Invitation

Watch as Logan Marshall-Green descends into madness. This trailer is throwing off the same vibe as last year's The Gift and if it's anything like that, then we're in for a treat.

Lights Out
I have a confession to make, I'm actually scared of the dark, so this will scare me more than anything. Why don't you just have the lights on all the time and then sleep with an eye mask? No ghouls can get you then.

Holidays
While we're on horror movies, this anthology movie looks like a great movie. Think Paris, Je Taime but with murdering people on the holidays.

The Conjuring 2
Wait, another horror movie? I guess people liked to be scared. Vera Farmiga and Patrick Wilson return as the ghost hunting husband and wife for an adventure in England.

Jane Wants a Boyfriend
Well this certainly looks like a rom-com with a difference. I think it looks like a lot of fun.

Me Before You
Get ready for a tearjerker...

Mother's Day
What are some other holidays this movie franchise can use? I can't wait for St Patrick's Day when Jennifer Lawrence gets drunk and pretends to be Irish.