Finding Dory

“I’m Sigourney Weaver, thank you for joining us”

There’s possibly nobody on Earth more excited for Finding Dory than Ellen DeGeneres, and this is very much her movie, however the stakes are high with this latest Pixar release. Their track record for sequels is second-to-none, and Finding Nemo is arguably one of their most well regarded films. Thirteen years on, does the Finding story really have the legs for a sequel?

Dory (Ellen DeGeneres) is an amnesiac. She’s also a fish. After returning home from the adventures of the first film, Dory struggles to fit in on the reef. Yet after a telling flashback, she remembers a key detail about her childhood and how she and her parents became separated. Darting immediately off into the distance, her friends Marlin (Albert Brooks) and Nemo (Hayden Rolence) - after calming her down - agree to help her look for her long-lost parents.

After the usual warm-up act from Piper - possibly the most adorable Pixar short to date - Finding Dory takes no time to remind us who the new titular character is, “My name’s Dory. I suffer from short-term memory loss”, certainly not the last time we’ll hear that phrase. After a life-story in well-handled flashbacks, we pick up essentially where we left off. Whatever may have happened to Dory, Marlin and Nemo in the short time-period that we’ve skipped, it’s clear that we haven’t missed anything important. Soon enough we’re following the trio on a quest to find Dory’s parents in what turns out to be a much lighter, safer chapter in the series.

Sure, Finding Dory is just as entertaining as the original, and continues the kids/adults balance that Pixar films handle so well, but despite several set-ups and the immense challenges posed to the marine trio, it doesn’t feature any real moments of peril like the first, or manage to traverse the emotional peaks and troughs that you might expect of it.

The Australian talent is sadly gone (not surprising as it's largely set in a different part of the ocean)

which means so are the suspiciously well-meaning vegetarian sharks, a source of entertainment and danger in the original. In the handful of scenes where there are challenges to overcome, we’re far from the edge of our seats. Before we even have the chance to experience any palpable tension, the situation is quickly resolved (often thanks to one of the various new characters and their slightly too convenient attributes) and Dory, Marlin and Nemo are able to continue onward, with little to no impact on the plot or character development.

It may not have the depth, but the story is at least well written - particularly the dialogue. There was a real danger that more focus could turn Dory into the Jar-Jar Binks of the series, but her forgetful yet bubbly personality stays surprisingly well balanced. Thankfully, the animation stays true to the original, with only small-improvements here and there that all but the most hardcore of fans wouldn’t notice. Thomas Newman’s soundtrack is good for the most part but doesn’t have the same energy or mix of raw emotions that his OST for the first film did (a real contender for best Pixar soundtrack).

Finding Dory kind of feels like it’s missing something. At its best, it’s regularly witty and light-hearted fun that works for both parents and kids - with a great moment involving Louis Armstrong, a truck and slow motion - but it doesn’t challenge its younger audience with moral hurdles or the emotional punch that we’ve come to expect from the better Pixar films.

A Most Violent Year

This film has a most misleading title. There is very little violence and it doesn't take place over a year. But J.C. Chandor's latest film is a tense and enthralling film about a legitimate businessman who is trying to make a life in a business that is full of crooks.

The film is set in the industrial areas of New York in 1981. Abel Morales (Oscar Isaac) owns a heating oil company and is looking to expand his business so that he is able to ship the oil straight to his warehouses instead of buying them through a middleman. Lately his company has been plagued by the hijacking of his trucks and he thinks it is his competitors, all of whom run less than legitimate business. Despite urging from his wife Anna (Jessica Chastain), Abel refuses to retaliate through violent means. This is due to his company being investigated by Assistant District Attorney Lawrence (David Oyelowo).

Writer/director Chandor has truly proven himself with this film. His previous two films Margin Call (a film about the 24 hours leading up to the Global Financial Crisis) and All Is Lost (a film starring only Robert Redford, who plays a man lost at sea) were both critically acclaimed but didn't get wide recognition from the public due to their esoteric nature. A Most Violent Year follows in this ambiguity and as such might see the same scorn from general audiences. However, this film is masterfully written and delivers on so many levels. The film doesn't lay all its cards on the table on the table from the outset, instead choosing to reveal backstory as it becomes relevant. It becomes apparent that Abel does not hold any criminal ties, despite the vibe that he does. Instead the real power is held by his wife Anna, who you see holds more power than he does.

The film has some very tense scenes which culminate in extremely violent actions, but they come from people who you least expect and are intended upon the unexpected, which really throws you on the back foot. As soon as I realised that this wasn't a straightforward crime drama, I was kept guessing as to what would happen. The whole time you are hoping that Abel comes through the events using his legitimate means.

The film is superbly shot by cinematographer Bradford Young and really captures the feel and look of New York in 1981. The production design is also remarkable. Anna's dresses are all vintage Armani, the cars are all of the era with late 70s Lincolns and the skyline of New York is transformed to be identical of how it was in 81. Alex Ebert's score is rousing and punctuates the tension that is rippling throughout the film.

For me, Oscar Isaac seems to be getting better and better with each film I see him in. Here, you can see the immensely frustrated businessman, with pressure coming at him from all angles. His performance is perfectly revealing and shows Abel's weaknesses as the film progresses. Jessica Chastain's character is likewise revealing and slowly becomes a terrifying character as you discover what she is capable of. David Oyelowo is just a superb chameleon and is fantastic at wholly becoming each character he plays. Albert Brooks is amazing as Abel's lawyer and Elyes Gabel is fantastic as one of the drivers who is constantly getting hijacked.

J.C. Chandor's A Most Violent Year may not be as exciting for some people due to its misleading title, but it ends up being a scary and tense film about a man who just wants to take the most right path in life.