Escaping To Freedom

It has been quite a long time since I have been so emotionally moved by a film the way I was with Lenny Abrahamson's movie Room.  It is an extraordinary film that will move you in ways that you never thought were possible.  It is impossible to feel just one way about this movie; you will feel all sorts of ways about it.

Room is the story of a kidnapped mother and her son who escape confinement from a room that they have been held captive in.  What makes this story even more amazing is that the son, Jack (Jacob Tremblay), has never seen the outside world for reasons which I will not spoil here.  This is an amazing movie that works on so many different levels.  Ma (Brie Larson) and Jack interact with each other and function like a typical family, and that just about makes you forget about the extreme circumstance that they are in.  Watching them together warms your heart, and it is only after Jack goes to sleep at night and we see Ma alone, or with their captor, that we understand their situation.  I like the fact that Ma doesn't tell Jack the truth about the outside world until she feels he is ready.  She is very protective of her son, and wants the best for him no matter what she has to do.

Brie Larson, in her Oscar-winning role as Ma, is such a complex, emotional tour de force.  As much as Ma wants what is best for Jack, we clearly see that being confined in Room is getting to her.  However, what makes Brie Larson's performance so extraordinary is that she rarely shows this by crying.  It is her body language that is key in showing us as the audience how scary and aggravating being in Room is.  On more than one occasion, her performance brought tears to my eyes not only because of what Ma had to do to protect Jack, but also because she knows she has to reveal to him the truth about the outside world which is a truly daunting task for her.  We also see, after Ma and Jack escape captivity, that being captive for so long has affected them quite deeply and it is difficult for them to get used to the outside world again.  Brie Larson's performance is one that cannot be put into words simply because there is no one way to describe it.  It is just that great.

Jacob Tremblay, in a breakout performance, plays Ma's son Jack.  It is hard to find good child actors in film, but Tremblay's performance is truly genuine.  Because Jack has no knowledge of the outside world, it is amazing to see how much fun he has in Room.  When we finally do see him escape, you are at the edge of your seat because you want him to get to safety, and he knows he has to but he is also soaking in everything around him.  Also, at the end of the movie, Jack misses Room so much that he even asks to go back there to visit just so he can say goodbye.  It was great to watch Tremblay as an actor just being himself as a kid in this movie, and he and Brie Larson have great chemistry together.

Joan Allen and William H. Macy play Ma's parents, Nancy and Robert.  What is key about their performances is how differently they react to the fact that they are now grandparents.  Nancy is very accepting of Jack, and she even cries when Jack tells her he loves her.  Robert, on the other hand, cannot even look at Jack.  There is a scene at the dinner table that shows us how truly great William H. Macy is as an actor.  He does so much with his eyes that you end up sympathizing with his character.

Lenny Abrahamson is the director of Room.  I love the way he filmed this movie because, while Room is a very confined space, the way he films around it makes it feel like a wide open space.  This movie could have easily felt claustrophobic, but instead you feel a bit like Jake because Room feels bigger than it actually is.  The parts of the film at night with Ma and their captor, Old Nick, are filmed like a horror movie which, again, makes us feel the way Jake would feel.  In contrast with the scenes in Room, every scene after their escape is filmed in wider shots which is a great visual metaphor that symbolizes their freedom.  This is a truly well-crafted and remarkable directorial effort.

As I mentioned before, it is hard to get through Room without shedding a tear.  Even though the movie clocks in at just under two hours, it instead feels like a truly emotional story of epic proportions.  This is a heavy movie, though, so I would watch it on a dreary day.

A Spy For A Spy

Bridge of Spies was one of my favorite movies of last year.  I always get excited when Steven Spielberg has another movie being released, and this film was no different.  Among a plethora of masterpieces, Bridge of Spies is one Spielberg's best.

Bridge of Spies is the story of an American insurance lawyer who defends an arrested Soviet spy, and then goes on to negotiate an exchange of the spy for a captured American spy plane pilot.  This movie may go down as one of my favorite films of all time.  Like so many films that I love, this story follows an ordinary man who is thrust into an extraordinary situation.  It also focuses on a controversial topic: everyone, no matter if they are innocent or guilty, deserves a defense.  James Donovan (Tom Hanks) defends Rudolf Abel (Mark Rylance) because it is his job.  He does this even though it puts his family and his reputation at risk, and he does it because it is the right thing to do.  Even after Abel is found guilty, Donovan suggests that he remain alive just in case an American spy gets captured so that a swap can be negotiated.  When that point in the movie comes, things start to pick up dramatically.  The lengths that Donovan goes to are enormous, and you really fear what might happen if things go sour.  This is a powerful film that wields multiple emotions, and will leave you breathless until the end.

Tom Hanks, in probably the most wholesome performance of his career, plays James B. Donovan. Donovan is a man who remains relatively calm throughout this entire ordeal, no matter how dire it seems.  Hanks also brings hints of wit and charm to his performance which shine brilliantly throughout the film, particularly in his scenes with Mark Rylance.  Hanks can do so much by doing so little.  There is a scene in the movie where Donovan watches people get shot, and the emotion in Hanks' eyes is one of pain, shock and disbelief.  This scene alone shows why Hanks is the kind of actor that he is.

In my opinion, Steven Spielberg is the greatest filmmaker of our time.  He is also my personal hero.  No matter what is going on in my life, his movies can always calm me down.  He is the director of Bridge of Spies.  When this movie was in theaters, there was some criticism that it did not have that typical Spielberg magic.  However, I never saw that as a bad thing.  This feels like a passion project that is boldly directed by the greatest who ever lived.  Every single frame of this movie is important to the storytelling.  The scene on the bridge at the climax of the film, in particular, is well-paced and is quite the white-knuckler.  The dialogue scenes are fresh to watch because instead of just cutting back and forth between the actors, there are many wide shots that help us see how differently the characters behave in certain situations.  There is also a brief torture sequence in the film which is quite jarring to watch because we are not used to seeing that in Spielberg movies, and he films it in a way that is MEANT to be just so.  The use of slightly muted colors in the film also help in visually describing how grim the situation is, while at the same time giving us hope for the outcome.  This movie is masterfully crafted, and gives you everything you would want from a Spielberg/Hanks movie and more.

Bridge of Spies is an extraordinary film, and is one that makes you think about what is going on in this country today.  There is a certain humanity about the movie that shows that one person can indeed make a difference.  As a Spielberg fan, as a fan of movies, and as a fan of good stories in general, I highly recommend this movie to everyone.

Being Your True Self

In my humble opinion, The Danish Girl is a movie that represents the kind of film that Hollywood does not acknowledge nearly enough as it should.  I personally feel that the LGBT community is largely under-represented within film history.  The fact that this movie was acknowledged at the Academy Awards is a small step in the right direction, but there is still a long way to go.

The Danish girl is loosely inspired by the lives of Lili Elbe and Gerda Wegener.  Lili Elbe was one of the first recipients of sex change surgery.  This is a movie that could have easily been filled with exaggerated, emotional crying scenes.  Instead, this movie gives us a very powerful look into what both Einar Wegener/Lili Elbe and Gerda Wegener are going through.  Yes, this is an emotional movie.  However, that is not only due to the premise of the movie but also because of the incredibly powerful and delicate performances of the actors.  This movie does have its issues.  Early in the film, Gerda is criticized for painting all portraits, yet when she starts painting portraits of Lili her career suddenly takes off.  I wish there had been an elaboration on what exactly made Gerda's portraits of Lili so different from her previous ones.  I also would have liked to see more of what Einar went through during the actual operation.  I feel like I would have understood his suffering more if there was more than just a glimpse of it.  I also feel like Lili's last name was shoehorned into the film.  I think this could have been added earlier.    This movie also touches on a very controversial issue: that feeling the way Einar Wegener feels about himself means that there is something wrong with him.  There is NOTHING wrong with being who you truly are.  There are people in the world who cannot and/or will not be accepting of other people simply because of their gender, but that is only because they do not understand them.  Love has no gender, and it is high time that more people accepted that. 

Eddie Redmayne plays Einar Wegener/Lili Elbe.  This performance is one that gets better as the film progresses, and that is due to the character development.  As the movie begins, we see subtle hints that Wegener like dressing in women's clothing.  He is scared and hesitant at first, but then we really see him come into his own and truly embrace Lili Elbe.  Eddie Redmayne gives such a beautiful and emotional performance in every frame of the film, right down to the subtle physical movements. The scene of Einar in front of the mirror is quite well done by both Eddie Redmayne and the director, Tom Hooper.   

Alicia Vikander plays Gerda Wegener.  Her performance is extraordinary because instead of being an emotional wreck and crying throughout the film, she holds herself back and restricts herself emotionally as her character attempts to understand what her husband is going through.  This makes Vikander's performance much more emotional.  There is one scene in the movie where we see that Gerda's portraits of Lili have actually made Lili more popular than Gerda.  I personally think that if there had been some elaboration on this, the film would have carried more emotional weight.  Vikander's Academy Award is very well-deserved, and I cannot wait to see what her career has in store for her.

Tom Hooper is the director of the The Danish Girl.  I love the way he frames this movie because there are many shots in the film, particularly of Eddie Redmayne, that are off-center.  This serves as a metaphor for how lonely Einar feels throughout the film.  There are also many beautiful shots of the landscape of Copenhagen that help show the passage of time.  The use of muted colors throughout the film is quite brilliant as well.  When it comes to the quality of work that Hooper does, he could be the next Steven Spielberg.

The Danish Girl is an extraordinary film that is emotional to watch.  Every frame of the movie tells a story, and it is a story that deserves to be told.  This movie breaks new ground in many ways, and for that it deserves all the recognition it has received and much more.

Peril On The Sea

I have always been a fan of movies that involve naval submarines.  It is thrilling to watch so many things happen within a pressurized metal container that is hundreds of feet below sea level.  Crimson Tide is a movie that is no exception.

Crimson Tide takes place on a United States nuclear missile submarine.  The submarine's first officer must prevent his captain from launching missiles without confirmation.  This movie takes the time to set up the situation and develop the characters so that, when things get sour, you care what happens to them.  There are also a couple of comedic pop culture references in the movie that help bring well-timed comic relief into an unstable and tense situation.  The authentic technical jargon is in the movie as well.  However, there are a couple of plot holes which I will address.  Firstly, it is not exactly clear how the USS Alabama obtained the classification of the enemy submarine.  It is also unclear how they found out the enemy rebels were fueling the missiles.  Despite these minor details, Crimson Tide is an entertaining movie that will leave you on the edge of your seat.

Denzel Washington plays Lt. Commander Ron Hunter.  Hunter is a young officer who has zero combat experience and when the time comes for him to assume authority he is hesitant at first, but then we see him gradually ease into his role aboard the submarine.  Denzel Washington brings a genuine reluctance and confidence to the role that makes you care about what he is going through.  It is not easy to go up against a cinema giant like Gene Hackman, but Washington does it perfectly.

I have always been a fan of Gene Hackman.  I have never seen him give a bad performance in anything he has done.  In Crimson Tide, he plays Capt. Frank Ramsey.  Ramsey is a man who just may be letting his experience work against him on his mission.  While he is a hard-ass, he does have a sense of humor that Hackman displays beautifully.  Also, the dialogue between Hackman and Denzel Washington is quite memorable which, again, makes you care even more about their characters.

Tony Scott is the director of Crimson Tide.  As with any Tony Scott film, the action sequences are impeccable.  However, what is key to the movie is the dramatic dialogue scenes.  While these scenes are slow and drawn out at times, they also help balance the pace of the movie.  Crimson Tide is a taut thriller at its finest.

Crimson Tide is a great film about youth and ability overcoming age and experience.  This movie reminds you why we go to the movies.  The acting is great, the action is great, and I would highly recommend Crimson Tide to anybody

Yeah, Well Great Movie Man

The Big Lebowski is a movie that I had heard endless great things about, but never actually seen until now.  The talented actors that are in the movie were enough to get me to watch it.  Overall, I was extremely pleased with the film.

The Big Lebowski is the the story of "The Dude" who wants repayment for his stolen rug, and ends up getting entangled in a kidnapping mystery. What I love so much about the film is the story.  This movie could have easily been confusing to follow, but in the hands of the Coen Brothers it is very entertaining and not one detail is skipped over.  Well, almost every detail.  There are a couple flaws in the film, one of them very minor and the other is glaringly obvious.  When "The Dude" (Jeff Bridges) first gets Walter (John Goodman) involved, he just picks him up seemingly out of nowhere.  I would have liked to have seen a story element that requires his involvement.  The more important flaw in this movie involves the character of Donny, played by Steve Buscemi.  There is absolutely no use for his character.  Donny exists only so Walter has someone to yell at.  He contributes nothing to the story, which is why his death falls flat for me.  Despite this issue, the film is executed very well and, even though it is a comedy, keeps you on the edge of your seat as you wait to figure out what happens.

Jeff Bridges plays "The Dude", a very simple and laid back man who does not have a care in the world.  Bridges plays the character perfectly, right down to his smartass remarks and even his physical movement.  One of the great joys in seeing The Big Lebowski for the first time was finally seeing Bridges play what is arguably his most popular role.

John Goodman plays Walter Sobchak.  Sobchak is man who is obsessed with the Vietnam Conflict, and gets extremely angry when something happens that he does not approve of.  I have always been a fan of John Goodman, and it was hilarious watching him play this character and get angry over the tiniest thing.  Sobchak is also a great contribution to the story because he is the whole reason that "The Dude" gets mixed up in this mess.  This a great character that is even better in the hands of John Goodman.

Joel Coen is the director of The Big Lebowski.  I love watching anything that has one, or both, of the Coens behind the camera because everything is so perfectly framed.  The Big Lebowski is no different.  Joel Coen frames things so well that even the opening credits are enough to make a film junkie go bonkers.  He also knows that, even with a great cast of characters, this is The Dude's story and everyone else is just along for the ride.  Not a single frame is wasted, particularly on Jeff Bridges.

Even with its flaws, The Big Lebowski is a classic film.  The great story and characters make you want to watch this film over and over again.  Put this on any "100 Movies To See Before You Die" list.

A Night Out With "Miss March"

One of the great joys in doing this blog every week is writing about movies that I have never seen before.  Sometimes they are good and sometimes they are bad, but nevertheless it is good to talk about them.  Adventures in Babysitting certainly is a great, classic comedy.

Adventures in Babysitting is the story of a babysitter who gets thrust into a wild night of adventure with the children she is taking care of.  This movie is filled with laughs and hair-raising moments, and I loved every minute of it.  One would think that a movie consisting of countless misfortunes would get tiring, but nothing feels forced and everything flows with such ease.  From the moment the movie starts, you cannot wait to see what happens next.

Chris Columbus, in his directorial debut, is at the helm of Adventures in Babysitting.  Comedy is a difficult genre to master, and even though this was his first film it does not feel like it at all.  He has great comedic timing, and does not let this movie get boring at all.  Just when you think you know how a situation is going to pan out, he cuts away to something else that makes you sit up on the edge of your seat.  He also knows when to keep the camera on the actors during scenes which, in a movie like this, is the key to making us actually care about what happens to these characters.  It is no surprise at all that Columbus has had the career he has had.

Maybe it is just because it was my first time watching it, but when I hear film fans talk about great comedies, I never hear people talk about Adventures in Babysitting.  With a great director, a great cast and a slew of unforgettable moments, I absolutely loved this movie.  If you are in need of a good laugh, I cannot recommend this movie highly enough.

Needing A Woman's Touch: Part Deux

Mrs. Doubtfire is one of my favorite films.  It hits me on a very personal level no matter how many times I watch it.  It is so incredibly sad that Robin Williams is no longer with us because Mrs. Doubtfire will go down as one of his most memorable roles.

Mrs. Doubtfire is the story of an actor who disguises himself as a female housekeeper so that he can see his children after he and his wife get divorced.  As a child of divorce myself, this movie hits home for me in many ways.  I know what it is like to see my parents fight, and watching the effects that this has on the children in the movie is very sad to watch.  However, as soon as Mrs. Doubtfire comes into their lives everything changes for the better.  This is why the movie is so good, and why the ending makes you smile.  That being said, there are a couple issues I have with the movie.  I would have liked to have heard about, or even seen, a little more history of Daniel (Robin Williams) and Miranda's (Sally Field) problems.  It just seems that Miranda wants a divorce after only one fight.  Also, at the end of the movie I would have liked to see a scene where Miranda talks to the courts about letting Daniel see the children.  Other than that, this movie is perfect.

Robin Williams plays Daniel Hillard/Mrs. Doubtfire.  What is amazing to see is that Daniel will go to any lengths to see his children.  We also see that being Mrs. Doubtfire makes Daniel a better man.  The kids get their homework done, he cooks dinner for them and he gets them to bed on time.  Robin Williams' monologue at the end of the movie is also very special to me because somehow he was able to take everything that I had heard over and over again ( "it will be okay", "don't blame yourself", etc) and make it sound genuine.

Sally Field plays Miranda Hillard.  Miranda, quite honestly, is not a very likable character until the end of the movie.  This is uncharacteristic of Sally Field because she is typically known as a very likable person.  Even though Daniel has visitation rights with the children, Miranda clearly wants them all to herself.  It is also quite heartbreaking to see that she has no faith in Daniel's abilities to hold a job and get an apartment.  However, at the end of the movie she realizes that she has made a mistake in not letting him see the children.  It is great to see Miranda and Daniel getting along when the movie ends.

Chris Columbus is the director of Mrs. Doubtfire.  Robin Williams is the driving force of the film, and Columbus knows that.  The way he crafts the sequences (particularly the restaurant sequence at the end) is so beautifully done because the chemistry is so good between the actors.  Getting good performances out of the actors is the sign of a great director, and that is exactly what Chris Columbus is.

Mrs. Doubtfire is a great "feel-good" film.  Filled with great performances and great laughs, it really is one of the greatest comedies ever made.  You can always count on Robin Williams.