Wednesday, August 17, 2016

Thoughts on the New "Ben-Hur" film?

 With the latest version of Lew Wallace's tale coming to theaters this weekend, I guess this would be the time to discuss if anyone is interested in the film? I would like to get a discussion for this post and if it plays well, then it shall be a weekly discussion. 

 I have seen the 1959 version with Charlton Heston and I really enjoy the historical aspects and setting of the film, plus the chariot race sequence is stunning to watch. While I am not a religious person, I am a fan of historical epics like "Spartacus", "El Cid", "Lawrence of Arabia" and many others. I am curious in checking the new version of it in theaters. 

 What do you think? Will you go see it? Not see it? Or wait till it comes out on Redbox? Write your thoughts below and thanks for participating.
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Thursday, August 11, 2016

21 Anticipated Films For Fall/Winter 2016

With the summer movie season about to end next month, I guess it is time to look forward to films that will be release later this year. Whether they are blockbusters, indie or star studded, these are the ones I am looking forward to. Note that some of these could be delayed for a couple of months. Feel free to comment on my choices and tell me what I should have added.

21. Desierto (October 14th)

Acclaimed Mexican filmmaker Alfonso Cuaron produces his son's, Jonas, thriller about a crazed vigilante hunting Mexican migrants across the border. Gael Garcia Bernal stars as one of the migrants while Jefferey Dean Morgan portrays the gun toting vigilante.

The film's themes of immigration and justice seem relevant today and let's hope Cuaron can help his son break into the family business while staying original. 



20. Passengers (December 21st)

Mortem Tyldum follows up "The Imitation Game" with this science fiction love story starring two big names, Jennifer Lawrence and Chris Pratt. The film follows the two characters as they accidentally wake up from hibernation on board a space vessel. The ship is headed to a far away planet that will take about 90 years and I'm guessing the film will follow the two as they try to kill time and fall in love.

I am excited for this because I love science fiction and the premise sounds original. The script has been floating around for awhile with Keanu Reeves and Rachel McAdams originally set to star. Though, I did hear the film might get delayed due to problems with the special effects.

19. The Handmaiden (October 14th)

Park Chan-Wook has directed an interesting number of films from the Vengeance trilogy that included "Oldboy" and his last film "Stoker" all deal with dark subject matter. Based on a historical crime novel "Fingersmith" by Sarah Waters, Wook translates the tale from Victorian England to 1930's Korea where a con man hires a female pickpocket to be the maid of a wealthy heiress in order to steal from her estate. 

The film's premise has me intrigued and it's erotic thriller themes harbor back the films of Brian DePalma and Paul Verhoven. Wook's previous films proves he is a master of the genre. 

18. Billy Lynn's Long Halftime Walk (November 11th)

Ang Lee's previous film, "Life of Pi", combined live action and CGI that became a visual cinematic drama. Based on a novel of the same name, the film follows a young soldier's victory tour while he remembers what really happened during the war.

Lee has assembled an ensemble cast that includes Vin Diesel, Chris Tucker, Steve Martin, Kristen Stewart, Tim Blake Nelson, Garret Hedlund and many more. Unknown actor Joe Alwyn will portray the title character. Like "Life of Pi", Lee will be shown in 3D but will be shot at 120 frames per second.

17. Nocturnal Animals (December 9th)

Tom Ford's follow up to his 2009 film "A Single Man" stars Amy Adams as a woman who gets her ex-husband's new novel as Jake Gyllenhaal plays a character in the novel. Both characters face paranoia amongst themselves.   

While the story may sound complicated, it also makes me want to go see it more. "A Single Man" was a well shot film and may lightning strike twice for Ford, who has a very good eye for storytelling. 



16. Sully (September 9th)

Clint Eastwood directs Tom Hanks as Chesley "Sully" Sullenberger, the airline pilot who was hailed a national hero after crash landing the disabled plane into the Hudson River. Saving all lives on board, it was deemed the "Miracle on the Hudson" by the media.

Eastwood still proves at the age of 86 that he can direct and Hanks seems to be casted well as Sully. It would be interesting to see what happened after the crash and the investigation that went on.

15. Allied (November 23rd)

Robert Zemeckis has an interesting career of hits and misses. This is the man that brought us "Back to the Future", "Who Framed Roger Rabbit" and "Forest Gump". After his motion capture films were not received well, he returned to live action filmmaking with "Flight". "Allied" is set during WWII  as Brad Pitt and Marion Cotillard as spies on assignment in Casablanca.

The trailer for this just got released and I am intrigued with the project as I will watch anything set during the Second World War. This marks Pitt's third WWII film (fourth if you count "Seven Years in Tibet'.) and his previous ones were well received.

14. The Accountant (October 14th)

Continuing on his comeback streak, Ben Affleck headlines this action thriller that also has dramatic elements. He plays an accountant with highly math skills and tries not to socialize with others. Also, he is a freelance assassin with J.K. Simmons playing the agent in charge of catching him. Anna Kendrick, Jon Bernthal, Jeffery Tambor and John Lithgow co-star in the film.
                                             
The trailer does a great job of showing and not tell, letting the viewer see what is going on. Let's hope the film plays out well by the fall. 

13. The Magnificent Seven (September 23rd)

Based on the classic 1960 western, which itself was based on Akira Kurosawa's influential "Seven Samurai". "Training Day" director Antoine Fuqua assembles the seven with Denzel Washington as the team leader. Chris Pratt, Ethan Hawke, Vincent D'Onfrio, Lee Byung-hun, newcomers Manuel Garcia-Rulfo and Martin Sensmeier sling their guns for good when a mining town is taken over by a corrupt land baron.

I am truly excited for this mainly because I am a western fan and it has been steady following "True Grit" and "Django Unchained" being on the big screen. Plus, I like the fact they are taking the title of the film and making their own new version instead of copying it.

12. Miss Peregrine's Home For Peculiar Children. (September 30th)

Eva Green plays the title character who is a headmistress at a gifted school where the students have strange powers. She employs a 16 year old boy to work at the school and is given the task of protecting the children when they are under attack.

Tim Burton is a director I have admired when I was growing up. His first two "Batman" films, "Beetlejuice" and "Edward Scissorhands" were gems of my childhood. This film seems to be a return form of his earlier work and a dash of X-Men. While it is based on a young adult novel,  Burton's themes are in there and we could well see a franchise grow. 
                                                                                 
11. The Girl on the Train. (October 7th)

While I have not read the novel it is based on, the trailer for the film reminded me a bit of Alfred Hitchcock. A woman on the train (Emily Blunt) witnesses the disappearance of a woman whom she has been obsessing while commuting to work It also co-stars Justin Theroux, Haley Bennett, Luke Evans, and Allison Janney.
                                                  
With it's themes of obsession and voyeurism, it truly has strains from Hitchcock. It also reminds me of "Gone Girl", another thriller based on a best selling novel. 

10. Hacksaw Ridge (November 4th)

Say what you want to say about Mel Gibson but the man has talent, both in front and behind the camera. He directs this true WWII tale of an American soldier who receives the Purple Heart for his effort. Due to his religious belief, the soldier never fired a weapon. Andrew Garfield  stars as the man with Vince Vaughn, Sam Worthington, Hugo Weaving and Teresa Palmer.

The film also reunites Gibson with his "Braveheart" writer Randall Wallace who wrote the screenplay. While Gibson's drunken comments made him a persona non grata, do not let that get in the way of his artistic vision. 

9. Doctor Strange (November 4th)

While I have enjoyed the films of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, I feel that I know what I am going to watch. Growing up reading comics, Doctor Strange, or "Sorcerer Supreme", was an interesting character for Marvel. A surgeon turned sorcerer of magic who can travel to other dimensions. It is safe to say that Benedict Cumberbatch is the perfect actor to play this character based on the photos and trailers released.

Co-starring Rachel McAdams, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Mads Mikkelsen, and Tilda Swinton, the trailer promises new things coming to the MCU. 

8. The Birth of a Nation (October 7th)

Actor Nate Parker makes his writing/directing debut about real life slave Nat Turner who led a rebellion in 1831. Parker portrays Tuner and the trailer promises nothing will be held back. 
                                        
The film made its debut at the Sundance Film Festival where it has been received praise. A trailer for the film was released back in April and it was also well received leading to be an early awards contender.

7. Assassin's Creed (December 21st) 

A criminal is saved from execution when a mysterious organization sends him into the Spanish Inquisition to relive his ancestor's memories.

While I have not played the games, I am aware of the story and it intrigues. I like the mixture of science fiction and historical fiction that the film will bring. Michael Fassbender not only stars but produces the adaptation bringing his "MacBeth" director Justin Kurzel on board. Marion Cotillard, Jeremy Irons, Brendan Gleeson and Michael K. Williams also star in the film. The tone of the film has been described as having elements of "The Matrix" but I hope it is just a pinch of it.

6. La La Land (December 4th)

Damien Chazelle's follow up to "Whiplash" is a musical starring Ryan Gosling and Emma Stone playing two people who fall in love in Los Angeles. Stone plays an aspiring actress working at a coffee shop while Gosling is a jazz pianist playing at dingy bars.

While I have seen a few musicals, I am excited to see Chazelle's continued theme of music but in a different context. J.K. Simmons also stars in this,, reuniting him with the director that got him an Oscar.

5. Silence (TBD, Winter 2016?)

I am excited with the announcement that Martin Scorsese's long awaited passion project is headed to the big screen. Based on a historical novel, the film follows two Jesuit priests (Played by Andrew Garfield and Adam Driver) who travel to Japan in the 17th century, where they face persecution after trying to find their mentor.
                                                                                                                  
Though I am not a religious person, I do enjoy the historical background and Japanese culture. While there are images on the web, a trailer has not been released. Who knows though, it could be released any day.

 4. In a Valley of Violence (October 21st)

Ti West steps back from his horror roots (highly recommend "The House of the Devil" and "The Innkeepers") and goes to the old west. Ethan Hawke stars as a drifter who goes into town and faces problems with the townspeople. John Travolta, Karen Gillan and Taissa Farmiga co-star in the film as the residents of the town.

The sad thing about the film is it's getting a VOD release rather than a theatrical release, which it deserves. It should be interesting to see what West can do with the western genre.

3. A Monster Calls (October 21st)

Spanish director J.A. Bayona's debut "The Orphanage" carefully blends tragedy and horror while "The Impossible" is a well crafted survival drama that proved his artistic skill. Here, he tells the story of a young boy who has to deal with both bullying and his mother's terminal illness. He then encounters the "monster", a humanoid tree, who takes him on a ride that will seem to change his life.

The film stars Felicity Jones, Sigourney Weaver, Toby Kebbell and Liam Neeson, who lends his voice to the title character, star in the film. I am excited for the film because I enjoy the theme of escaping into a fantasy.

2. Rouge One: A Star Wars Tale. (December 16th)

Set between "Revenge of the Sith" and "A New Hope", a group of Rebels is charged with stealing plans for the Death Star. While set in the same universe, the film will focus more on the Rebellion efforts to defeating the Empire.

Growing up, I was introduced to the original trilogy and I will always have fond memories of watching them. While a lot of people (including me) were disappointed with the prequels, last year's "Episode VII" proved a return form to the franchise. With "Godzilla" helmer Gareth Edwards on board, he describes the tone of the film as being a war film. That alone and the trailer released can confirm that I will show up opening night. Edwards assembles stars such as Felicity Jones, Diego Luna, Forest Whitaker, Riz Amhed and Ben Mendelsohn for the film.

1. Arrival (November 11th)

When aliens land on Earth, the government enlists the help of an expert linguist (Amy Adams) and a scientist (Jeremy Renner) to determine if the aliens seek peace or violence.

French Canadian Denis Villeneuve has become one of my favorite filmmakers of the past five years. "Incendies", "Prisoners", "Enemy" and "Sicario"have all been both cerebral and entertaining, with the latter being my second favorite film of last year. The genre shift to science fiction seems to be a small exercise as he is currently filming the "Blade Runner" sequel. Either way, it should be a cinematic experience worth checking out.


          
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Sunday, August 7, 2016

12 Underrated Films of the 1970's.

When one thinks of cinema in the 70's, The Godfather Parts I and II, Blazing Saddles, Jaws, Taxi Driver, Star Wars, The Exorcist, Halloween and others all come to mind as highly regarded. That, people will remember the film with either an image or a famous quote like "Were going to need a bigger boat." While those are great, there are also other films that don't get the same treatment as them. For the past several years, I have viewed films from the decade to determine which ones are considered to be left in the dust. 

Before I begin, I just want to mention that I am going off on which films I have seen. There are films from the era that I need to watch (especially Stalker and Phantom of the Paradise) but I will get to them someday. If there is a film on the list that I forgot to mention, feel free to comment. While I have trailers for the film, some of them do contain spoilers. Thus, watch at your own risk. 

12. House (1977)

Starting off the list is a Japanese horror film from the fame Toho studios that has brought us Godzilla and many films of Akira Kurosawa. It tells the story of a group of school girls who go to one of their friend's family's summer house and they get haunted by the spirits.Director Nobhiko Obayashi, who worked in advertising, gives the film an almost dream like atmosphere that reminded me of another great foreign film from the era, "Valerie and Her Week of Wonders". His direction also seems cartoonish but it works given the story of the film, even when things turn a bit gory. 

Criterion recently did a restoration of the film and give this one a chance if you enjoy 70's horror. 

11. Duck, You Sucker! (1971)

The second part in Sergio Leone's second trilogy after "Once Upon a Time in the West" and before "Once Upon a Time in America" finds him tackling on the Mexican Revolution. Unlike his Man with No Name trilogy with Clint Eastwood, Leone's second trilogy was less cartoonish and after "West", derived away a bit from the Western genre. Rod Steiger plays a bandit who teams up with James Coburn's Irish rouge when they face the revolution in Mexico. 

The film does not romanticize the conflict and it shows just how bad it was to take a part in it. Both Steiger and Coburn give great performances and given the film's content, Leone does not skip his signature trademarks that make it a Sergio Leone film. 

10. The Long Goodbye (1973)

Robert Altman's take on the Raymond Chandler novel finds Elliot Gould as Philip Marlowe living in the 70's despite his old school behavior. In fact, much of the humor comes from Marlowe's character who seems like a man out of time, like Washington Irving's "Rip Van Winkle" and smoking in every scene.The film's murder mystery is almost put to the side as Marlowe goes on about his missing cat and being friendly with his hippie neighbors. Famed noir actor Sterling Hayden also appears in the film and in a non-speaking role, Arnold Schwarzenegger.

Paul Thomas Anderson's "Inherent Vice" and notably the Coen Brother's "The Big Lebowski" take influence on making a comedic film noir can be seen here. 

9. The Last Detail (1973)

Hal Ashby's sophmore effort after the now cult classic "Harold & Maude" follows Jack Nicholson as a renegade Navy officer who, along with another officer, escort a young cadet to serve military prison. Along the way, the trio causes mayhem and other crazy adventures as they try to give him a proper send off. 

It is worth mentioning the script is written by Robert Towne, who the following year would win awards for writing "Chinatown", was considered a landmark as it contained profanity. While pretty tamed by today's standards, I might guess this must have shocked by those raised on musicals. The foul language is used well as it establishes the characters as human beings. Nicholson's performance continued his streak of playing characters who reject conformity, there is a scene where he confronts a bartender who refuses to serve them drinks that displays the film's sense of humor. I find that this film gets rarely talked about and it is worth checking out if you enjoyed "Easy Rider" and "Five Easy Pieces." 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6ZUfuN2DNJ0

8. The Driver (1978)

 For fans of 2011's "Drive", both film's openings and story are really similar. Ryan O'Neal stars as a nameless getaway driver while Bruce Dern is the cop determine to bring him down, even playing dirty. Writer and Director Walter Hill's follow up to his debut "Hard Times" features enough car chases to satisfy action fans and drama, all less than the 90 minute running time.

At times, I felt the film paid homage not just car culture but also to the western genre. This is seen when O'Neal's weapon of choice is a colt pistol and Dern referring to him as "Cowboy". Hill was also clearly influenced by Jean-Pierre Melville's "Le Samourai" in the mood of the film and the main character's lifestyle.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DHphfIAkAfg 

7. Sisters (1973)

 Brian DePalma's debut in the thriller genre is both a homage to Alfred Hitchcock and a technically brilliant horror film. Without giving too much away, Margot Kidder stars as a woman with a secret and Jennifer Salt as the neighbor trying to uncover the truth. What follows next may leave some viewers squeamish.

DePalma's use of split screen lets the viewers see the character's point of view and decides for themselves who is the guilty one. Hitchcock veteran Bernard Herrmann provides the chilling score. I am going to stop talking about the film and just tell you to go watch it. In fact, skip the trailer as it may give away the film. While Criterion has it in their collection, here is to them for an upgrade along with their other DePalma classics "Dressed to Kill" and "Blow Out".

 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XvsixXqC-gM

6. Assault on Precinct 13 (1976)

 Following "Dark Star", John Carpenter wrote and directed this low budget action thriller about a police precinct being attacked by gangs and the different people trying to stop them. Carpenter takes influence from the western genre, notably Howard Hawks' "Rio Bravo", and George A. Romero's "Night of the Living Dead". The film follows a police officer, a criminal and a secretary at the precinct as they face a gang who wants blood after one of their own is killed by police.

This film will foreshadow many of Carpenter's own films including "Halloween", "Escape From New York" and "The Thing" in characters being isolated while facing a threat, strong female characters, anti-heroes and his signature music scores. The 2005 remake starring Ethan Hawke is inferior when compared to this film and the time era it was released following Vietnam and Watergate. While the domestic release of the film went about quietly, it was both a critical and box office success in parts of Europe. Without the film, Carpenter would not have found financing for "Halloween".

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7wnAjYDVObs

5. The Ballad of Cable Houge (1970)

Sam Peckinpah's follow up to "The Wild Bunch" retains that film's themes but with a different, light-hearted tone this time. Jason Robards stars as Cable Houge, who is left behind to die in the desert and finds fortune when he finds water, quickly building a rest stop for stagecoach passengers. The film's comedic tone stems from Cable Houge being a relic of the past as the people he encounters are with the current time.

Estella Warren stars as the prostitute with the heart of gold and a young David Warner as a womanizing preacher who befriends Houge. Peckinpah would later go on to name this film as his favorite out of all the films he has made. Highly recommend if you enjoy westerns.

 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_4WgxKTJ09E

4. Sorcerer (1977)

 After the success of both "The French Connection" and "The Exorcist", William Friedkin had carte blance to make whatever film he wanted to make. His next film would be a new version of Henri-Georges Clouzot's "The Wages of Fear". Both films tell the story of four desperate men hired to drive two trucks filled with nitroglycerin on the rocky roads in a Latin American country.

While the original film is great, the remake gives the characters a background as to why they are in this situation. Roy Scheider, coming off of the success of Jaws, plays the role of an American who gets caught in the situation. The film also features an electronic score by Tangerine Dream, exotic locations and perhaps the greatest use of practical effects with the truck crossing the bridge. The film bombed at the box office due to being released a month after the hit that was "Star Wars" continued to play strong. It is a film worth checking out and recently, the film got restored to blu-ray.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3BDbIzovuos

3. The Conversation (1974)

Released between the two Godfather films, Francis Ford Coppola's paranoia thriller is often forgotten about. It follows Gene Hackman as a surveillance tech  who records a conversation of two people and what follows is a mystery and paranoid filled ride. The film's theme of privacy seems to be relevant in today's new digital age. The 1998 Tony Scott film "Enemy of the State" can be considered a continuation of this film as it feature Gene Hackman playing a similar character.

The film also features John Cazale, Harrison Ford, Terri Garr and Robert Duvall in supporting roles. The film could also be seen as a character study of Hackman's character, who is isolated from social outings despite the will to spy on other people. The sound design on the film does a brilliant job of allowing the audience to feel like they are listening with the main character. I am a fan of the paranoid thriller genre which included "Three Days of the Condor" and "The Parallax View", this one can be ranked amongst the best.

 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vrhRsZ56b4g

2. Barry Lyndon (1975)

Stanley Kubrick's entire filmography can all be considered masterpieces. After "2001", Kubrick landed a three picture deal with Warner Brothers which included "A Clockwork Orange", this film and "The Shining". The film follows Ryan O'Neal as the titular character, an Irshman, who works his way through high society in the 18th century. The character's hot headed temper results in him dueling with other people. This results in change, both good and bad. The film is based on a William Makepeace Thackeray novel, "The Luck of Barry Lyndon".  

When first released, the film received mixed reviews and subpar box office, given the film's three hour running time and at the time, the casting of Ryan O'Neal. However, the film is one of the best looking films shot in natural light (a la "The Revenant") and it makes each frame of the film look like a piece of art. O'Neal works perfect as Barry, who climbs up the social ladder. If you enjoy films like "Forrest Gump" or even "The Wolf of Wall Street", Kubrick's film, in my own opinion, has that same storyline.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9lzSoKOs1fc

1. The Devils (1971)

Based on Aldous Huxley's historical account, "The Devils of Loudon", Ken Russell's film is part historical drama, part black comedy and part surreal horror about demonic possession in 16th century France. Oliver Reed plays a rebellious priest who takes interest in his faith, women of the village and even has political ambitions. Vanessa Redgrave gives a great performance as a hunchback nun whose actions drives the film's story.

When first released, the film attracted huge controversy with its religious themes and obscene nature. The real shame though is after many years, Warner Brothers has not been able to release a proper restoration of the film. Luckily, I found a copy of it at a thrift shop in Wicker Park for five dollars. While the version I saw had a bad quality, it did not take away from the film I saw and really liked. One can find a used copy of it on Amazon for around two hundred dollars. Here is hoping Criterion would restore the film and find an audience.

 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tPConeKY3WA



  

      
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Saturday, August 6, 2016

Hello all

Growing up, my first exposure to film were the Disney animated films. Snow White and the Seven Dwarves, Dumbo, Pinocchio, The Jungle Book, Cinderella and I could go on all day on how those films were great. After a trip to Orlando, I got exposed to Star Wars, Indiana Jones, E.T., Back to the Future, Jaws and even The Terminator. Plus by being a Batman fan, I was also exposed to the films.

As I grew older, my taste in film has expanded. Looking at my DVD shelf, I have a whole variety of film genre from action, adventure, comedy, epic, drama, western, thriller, horror, suspense, science fiction, crime, foreign language, black & white and silent. In this blog, I would like to share my love of film and have a discussion, maybe even recommend some films I have not seen yet.  I will make my first post soon but welcome aboard!

JC  
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