One Fantasy Tale To Rule Them All: Part Two

The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers was my least favorite film in The Lord of the Rings series for a few years.  I could not get past the fact that nothing good happens in the film.  However, as I started to understand the three-act structure of a play I began to understand why this film has such a dark tone.

The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers is the second chapter in the Lord of the Rings trilogy, and is the story of Frodo Baggins and Sam Gamgee being led to Mordor by Gollum while the other members of the fellowship fight against Saruman and the Uruk-Hai of Isengard.  If you watch The Lord of the Rings films as one movie, which is the way I look at it, The Two Towers is the second act in the story.  Usually, the second act is where everything goes to hell, and we see the characters at their lowest points.  From the death of of Theodred, to the battle of Helm's Deep, to the conflicts between Frodo and Sam and their subsequent capture by Faramir and his men, this entire film is extremely grim.  Did the protagonists achieve victory at Helm's Deep?  Yes, but at an extreme cost.  The fortress was nearly taken, and if Gandalf had not shown up with backup in time all would have been lost.  The Two Towers also splits up the screen time between the three separate groups of the fellowship with perfect precision, and also manages to end on a cliffhanger for each group.  When I saw this movie in the theater I wondered how in the world this movie would not buckle under the pressure of having to tell three separate stories, but thanks to the director and screenwriters this movie flows perfectly.  We also get to see the forming of a friendship between Gimli and Legolas, which brings levity to the movie.  There is also see a flashback scene with Boromir, Faramir and Denethor which adds more evidence to Denethors' reasoning for his feelings towards Faramir.  Also, there is an incredibly moving sequence where we see what will happen if Aragorn and Arwen are together.  This is a sorrowful sequence that shows that, even if they end up together, Arwen will always be alone.  When you combine this sequence with Hugo Weavings' monologue and Howard Shores' music, this is one of the most powerful sequences in modern cinema.  Sams' speech at the climax of the film is also incredibly moving for a couple of reasons: First, if any other actor was delivering this monologue this sequence would have fallen completely apart.  Sean Astin lends such an emotional weight to this particular piece of dialogue that you cannot help but wipe a tear from your eye.  Secondly, during this sequence there are a couple of shots of Gollum with a sad expression on his face.  The takeaway from these shots is that even though Gollum will stop at nothing to get The Ring of Power back into his grasp, he still does not understand all the evil that is spreading in the world.  This film has the most emotional core of all the films, and you will find it hard not to weep before the end.

Obviously, the standout performance in The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers is Any Serkis as Gollum.  The fact that this was done as motion-capture, and not just as a visual effect, is why the entire film works so well.  Elijah Wood and Sean Astin were not acting against a bluescreen.  They were alongside a real actor that could convey emotion, and make us as the audience believe in the character.  Gollum looks incredibly realistic because of this, and Serkis' performance has been etched in stone as the man who revolutionized the motion-capture technique.

Peter Jackson is the director of The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers.  I love the way Jackson starts this film because we see what happens between Gandalf and the Balrog, and this adds more emotional weight to his reveal later on in the film.  The wide shots of all the different landscapes are breathtaking to see, and all the set pieces and costumes are designed with meticulous detail.  Also, the sequences in which the characters are preparing for battle at Helm's Deep are quite well done because we see all the characters individually getting ready, and then we see the wide shot of the orcs slowly marching on the fortress.  This builds tension for the battle sequence and feels like you are experiencing it in real life because the characters are feeling it right along with you.  In my opinion, this film feels more personal than the other two films in the series, which probably has to do with how hard Jackson and the screenwriters worked to craft this particular story, and Jackson once again does a masterful job of bring the world of Middle Earth to life.  

It feels to me as if The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers is the underappreciated chapter in this film series.  There is so much going on within the three separate groups of characters that it can be difficult to take it all in.  However, I can honestly say that if you enjoyed the books, and the first film, then you will at least like this particular chapter in one of the greatest film trilogies ever made.

Historical Home Run!!!

While I am by no means a sports aficionado, I do love learning about its' history.  The film 42: The Jackie Robinson Story expresses in great detail the aspects of Jackie Robinsons' life and career that most people might not know about.  It is one of my favorite films in the past several years.

42: The Jackie Robinson Story chronicles Jackie Robinsons' life and career from 1945 to 1947.  What makes this movie so brilliant is that it touches on key historical moments with the Brooklyn Dodgers organization that are an important part of sports history. While Jackie Robinson breaking the color barrier in Major League Baseball is absolutely the driving force in this film, and executed to perfection, the other historical moments help you realize that the Brooklyn Dodgers orginization could have cracked and crumbled at any time.  These moments also help you realize that what Jackie Robinson was doing was actually important for many people.  One example of this is when Leo Durocher (Christopher Meloni) gets suspended for adultery, and the Dodgers need to hire a new manager.  Yes, the Dodgers do have Jackie Robinson, but without someone to be the captain, the team would have fallen apart.  Another moment is when Pee Wee Reese (Lucas Black) puts his arm around Jackie Robinson (Chadwick Boseman) at Crosley Field in Cincinnati.  While this moment has been disputed among sports historians, I am glad it is in the film.  This is an important moment for Reese because he is letting his family, friends and everyone else know that he does not care what they think.  He supports Robinson and what he is doing for the sport.  Obviously, the most important thing about this film is the story of Jackie Robinson.  I love that the movie begins with Robinsons' start in the Negro Leagues with the Kansas City Monarchs, and that it shows his rise to the Major Leagues.  While Robinson is famously known for playing with the Brooklyn Dodgers, I personally feel that showing how he got started is an important piece of history that the general public might not know about before seeing this film.We also see that, obviously, Jackie Robinson had a tough start to his career.  Crowds booed, yelled racial slurs, and there was even a petition signed by certain members of the Brooklyn Dodgers that said that they refused to play with Robinson.  Still, Robinson remained strong.  However, there is an important sequence in the movie that I want to talk about.  What makes it even more important is that this actually happened.  There is a sequence in the film where Philadelphia Phillies Manager Ben Chapman (Alan Tudyk) is constantly insulting Jackie Robinson and yelling racial slurs at him.  This scene is important because it shows that Robinson has just about had enough, and that it was extremely hard for Robinson to turn the other cheek at times.  The next scene in the hallway under the dugout between Robinson and Brooklyn Dodgers general manager Branch Rickey (Harrison Ford) is incredibly emotional to watch because Rickey tells Robinson that he has to endure and let this all go because if he does not, then nothing that he has done in his career will have ever mattered. As excellent and inspiring as this film is, there are a couple of minor discrepancies that I have with it.  First, Jackie Robinson calls his girlfriend, Rachel (Nicole Beharie), and proposes to her even though they are opposite sides of the country.  That's all fine, but where did he get the ring and where did they get married?  Those details were not clear.  Also, I would have preferred to see this film end with the Brooklyn Dodgers going to the World Series instead of with them winning the division pennant.  As much as they talk about going to the World Series in this movie, it seems fitting that that is how the movie should have ended.  Other than these two minor flaws, this is one of the best sports history films I have ever seen, and I am proud to have it in my collection.

Chadwick Boseman plays Jackie Robinson.  Robinson is cocky on the field and smooth with his lady, and Boseman captures those particular aspects of Robinson perfectly.  Bosemans' acting chops particularly shine when he is expressing Robinsons' attitude towards segregation.  Robinson walks into "white" bathrooms without hesitation, and never lets the people get to him.  The way Boseman smiles after Robinson almost getting hit by a pitch just oozes an "Is that all you got?" attitude.  Robinson resents segregation, and because of that he does not see what he is doing for sports as that big of a deal.  He just wants to play baseball.  This is an incredibly fine performance by an actor who got my attention immediately when I saw this movie in the cinema nearly four years ago.

Harrison Ford turns in a downright brilliant performance as Branch Rickey.  Rickey is a man who, like Jackie Robinson, not only resents segregation, but shows incredible determination in bringing the first African American into Major League Baseball.  He also offers reassurance and encouragement to Robinson when he needs it.  Ford steals every scene he is in in this movie, and damn near runs away with the whole thing.  His scenes with Boseman are fantastic, and the scene where Rickey listens to Robinsons' home run that solidifies their pennant win is incredibly emotional.  In my opinion, he should have gotten an Oscar nomination for his wonderful work in this film.

Brian Helgeland is the director of 42: The Jackie Robinson Story.  I love what Helgeland did with this film.  The costumes, the historical baseball fields, and the classic baseball jerseys are all a sight to behold.  What is important to note in this film is that every scene is about something.  The story progresses in every frame, and that is a testament to Helgeland, who also wrote the screenplay.  There is also a specific look to this film that makes it feel authentic.  Helgeland created true art when he made this movie.

Since I first saw this movie nearly four years ago, it has since become a favorite of mine.  I love learning history by watching movies.  If you are a fan of sports, and/or sports history, you will definitely love this film.

Fantasy Can Set You Free

Saving Mr. Banks is one of my favorite films in recent memory.  Everything from the story, the acting and the character relationships all come together in a magical package.  Of course, the fact that it is the story of how one of the most beloved Disney classics was made makes Saving Mr. Banks all the more special.

Saving Mr. Banks is the story of P.L. Travers' meeting with Walt Disney to discuss the adaptation of Mary Poppins for the big screen.  What I love so much about this film is seeing how the story unfolds.  We see from the very beginning that P.L. Travers (Emma Thompson) is conflicted about collaborating with Walt Disney (Tom Hanks) because on one hand Travers is afraid of what Disney will do to Mary Poppins, but at the same time she is completely broke and needs money, which she will get if she grants Disney the rights to Mary Poppins.  This leads to some uncomfortable, and sometimes hilarious, meetings with Disney in which Travers insists on having her way.  The scene where Travers goes off on Disney about using animation in the film is considerably tense to watch given the nature of the scene, and also because of the immense talent that spews from Emma Thompson and Tom Hanks.  Finally, in an emotional scene where both Disney and Travers forgive the ghosts of their pasts, Travers realizes that Disney knows what he is doing.  Saving Mr. Banks is a remarkable film filled with emotion and brilliant performances.  It is an instant classic.

Emma Thompson plays P.L. Travers, and I daresay it is one of the best performances of her entire career.  What is so brilliant about the way Thompson plays her character is that even though she is rather pessimistic about meeting Walt Disney, and downright rude to many people on multiple occasions, you can almost forgive it all because of how much her past haunts her.  Also, just by Thompsons' body language and the way she expresses herself, you can tell that Travers is uncomfortable being in Los Angeles.  The climactic scene where Travers sees Mary Poppins at the premiere is particularly emotional to watch because Travers knows that her past does not haunt her anymore.  Thompson displays a wide array of emotions that make you feel for her character that will make you feel her characters' conflict right up until the end of the film.

Tom Hanks plays Walt Disney.  What is truly wonderful about Hanks' performance is that he portrays Disney as a man who gets irritated by Travers, but never angry.  Disney is a man who is willing to do whatever it takes to make Travers happy, so that even when he demands, "Get on the horse, Pamela!", he does so in the nicest possible way.  There is a beautiful scene where Disney reminisces about giving up the rights to Mickey Mouse, and it is in this scene where he finally realizes the kind of struggle that Travers is going through.  This is another landmark performance by Hanks that will go down as one of his best.

John Lee Hancock is the director of Saving Mr. Banks.  What Hancock does so well is re-create 1960's Los Angeles as well as Disneyland.  Everything looks completely authentic, right down to the premiere of Mary Poppins.  I also love the way the flashbacks are used in this film.  For me personally, flashbacks in movies can be annoying.  However, in this film there are certain things that remind Travers of her tragic past, and then she snaps back to reality.  These sequences not only suggest that Travers has not mentally dealt with the ghosts of her past but, from a creative standpoint, they also are done in an original way.  I also want to point out that the characters of Travers Goff (Colin Farrell -- in a role that I believe he should have gotten an Oscar nomination for) and Ralph (Paul Giamatti).  Ralph is much like Travers Goff in that he sees the good in everything, and does not let anything get him down.  I believe this is why P.L. Travers gets along with Ralph so well, and I think this was a brilliant move by Hancock as a filmmaker to make these characters similar in nature.

Even though I have never seen Mary Poppins, Saving Mr. Banks makes me want to see it.  This is a wonderful movie that has an extremely emotional core.  This is a film that is for everybody, and I highly recommend it.

Take To The Skies

When you hear the name Tom Cruise, one of the films that automatically comes to mind is Top Gun.  This movie is the definition of an 80's summer blockbuster, and has gone on to become an instant classic.  I firmly believe that Top Gun should be in every film connoisseurs' collection.

Top Gun is the story of a young pilot in the United States Navy who gets chosen to attend an elite fighter weapons school.  What this film does beautifully right from the opening montage is introduce you to the world that you will experience in this film.  Top Gun does a wonderful job of getting you excited to watch it just by its' credits sequence alone.  I do have to say that I do not consider this movie to be just an ordinary action film for many reasons.  Ironically enough, one of those things is the action sequences because of the subtext behind them.  You truly get the sense of the kind of danger that fighter pilots bravely, and voluntarily, put themselves into every time they go up in the air.  There are also great performances by the actors, and the main character, Maverick (Tom Cruise) has a troubled past that he is attempting to put behind him.  As exciting as this film is, there are several plot holes that I need to address.  At one point during flight school, Goose (Anthony Edwards) tells Maverick to execute the "Turn and Burn" maneuver to confuse their opponent, Jester (Michael Ironside).  However, we then see Jester execute the maneuver first.  How did Jester know they were going to execute that maneuver??  Also, how does Maverick know where Charlie (Kelly McGillis) lives even though he has never been to Miramar??  Another thing that bothers me about this film is that at one point in the film, Charlie is instructing the class, and giving performance reviews of the pilots' techniques based on the previous days' competition, except there is one problem: we never actually see that particular competition.  Considering how incredible the aerial footage is in this film, I would have loved to see that.  Also, why is there no altercation between Iceman (Val Kilmer) and Maverick after Goose dies?  Isn't it Iceman's fault that Goose is dead?  If Maverick and Goose were as close as the film claims they are, why isn't Maverick more upset about this???  Also, there is a shot in the film of Wolfman (Barry Tubb) calling someone to let them know that Maverick quit Top Gun, but we never actually see this happen.  Considering how crucial of a story point this is for the movie, and for Maverick as a character, the film would have had more substance had we actually seen this happen.  Also, during the climax of the film, Maverick is at Vipers' (Tom Skerritt) home for advice.  Maverick says, "Sorry to bother you on a Sunday", which implies that he called, wrote a letter or something to that effect beforehand to make plans to see Viper.  Again, we never actually see this happen.  I feel that the story would have flowed more smoothly had a scene like this been included.  Am I picking apart this film?  Absolutely.  Am I being too hard on such a beloved classic? Possibly.  The bottom line is that this movie could have been better, but as it stands it is a decent film.

Tom Cruise, in the role that made him a star, plays Maverick.  One of the other things this film does very nicely is introduce you to the characters.  From the beginning we see that Maverick is cocky and arrogant, and because of this, not many people like him. However, at the same time we see that he is an excellent pilot.  Also, the death of Goose is a crucial moment for Maverick as a character because it brings him down to Earth, so to speak.  Maverick is hot-headed guy who lives in this fantasy world where nothing can hurt him when he is flying, and Gooses' death brings him back to reality.  Cruise is fantastic in the role, playing all of these dimensions in such a well-rounded way.  There is also an emotional side to Maverick that Cruise actually plays quite beautifully because he plays it in such a way that we see that Maverick has a vulnerability to him, but at the same time he does not show weakness.  This is the role of a lifetime for Cruise that will go down in the annals of film history.

Kelly McGillis plays Charlie.  Charlie is very much Mavericks' equal in terms of attitude, and she also offers consolation and encouragement when Maverick hits his low points.  She is an intelligent woman who helps Maverick realize the kind of man he wants to be.  McGillis shines in a role that, in the hands of a less capable actress, could have come across as just another pretty face.

Tony Scott is the director of Top Gun.  First and foremost, the aerial footage in this film is absolutely spectacular.  The scene in which Maverick is chasing Viper is particularly exhilarating to watch, and is filled with tension on many levels because you know Maverick has made a mistake in leaving his wingman and is being set up to be taken out, and yet watching him go toe to toe with Viper, the man who flew with Mavericks' father, is extremely exciting.  For me personally, it is the mark of a good director to get good performances out of the actors.  Scott not only does that, but the chemistry between the actors is great as well which speaks volumes about Scott as a director and the talent of the actors involved.

There are certain movies that come around once in a generation.  I would put Top Gun on that list.  While I am not in the camp of film fans who love and adore this movie, I do enjoy it.  If you enjoy action "blockbuster" kinds of films, I would recommend it.

The Gang's All Here

Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back was the first Kevin Smith film I ever saw.  This movie is hilarious and extremely profane, with enough pop culture references to make even a modest nerd go completely bonkers.  This may not be Kevin Smiths' best movie, but it is absolutely unforgettable.

Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back is the story of Jay and Silent Bob who decide to stop the movie Bluntman and Chronic from being made.  The movie is based off of comic book characters that, in turn, are based on them.  However, they did not get any of the profits.  While this is an irreverent comedy, there is actually a love story between Jay (Jason Mewes) and Justice (Shannon Elizabeth) that is well put together, and ends up being the heart and soul of the entire film.  I also enjoy this film because Jay and Silent Bob step out of their comfort zone of chilling at the Quick Stop, go on a road trip together, and get entangled in all sorts of adventures along the way.  Of course, the highlight of the film is when Jay and Silent Bob get into a bongsaber battle with Mark Hamill.  We all know how much of a nerd Kevin Smith is, and this scene reaches the highest peaks of geek mountain.  All in all, Jay and Silent Bob is pure uncensored fun that is, arguably, Kevin Smiths' most popular film.

Kevin Smith is the director of Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back.  One of the great things that Smith does with this film, as I mentioned before, is the love story.  There is a small, and hilarious, heist sequence about halfway through the film that serves as the catalyst for the beginning of Jay and Justices' relationship.  This sequence could have easily taken away from the main plot of the film.  However,  because of the way the sequence is structured, it actually fits quite well within the story as a whole.  I also love that this film pokes fun at Smiths' other films, as well as some of the actors' careers.  Kevin Smith movies were never meant to be for critics, and Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back is living proof of that.

When Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back was released, it was the culmination of Kevin Smiths' entire career.  Quite honestly, it still feels like that to this day.  If you are a fan of Kevin Smith, you should definitely check this film out.

Oil Is Thicker Than Blood

There Will Be Blood is an example of a film that lets you escape into the world that the filmmaker has created, and the characters are our guides throughout that world.  For me personally, this film was released at a time when I started to get serious about my love of film.  This film is a modern American classic on the grandest of scales.

There Will Be Blood is the story of a turn-of-the-century oil tycoon, and his slow descent into madness.  One of the major reasons why this film is so brilliant is because the structure of the narrative is extremely character-driven in a deliberate way.  There is a reason why there are certain plot holes in the film: it is because Daniel Plainviews' (Daniel Day-Lewis) greed and obsession is more important.  This is Plainviews' story, which is exactly the way he would want it.  There Will Be Blood has such a carefully crafted screenplay, and when you have the greatest actor of our time breathing life into the dialogue, it is absolutely unforgettable.

Daniel Day-Lewis plays Daniel Plainview.  What makes Plainview such a great, and ultimately unlikable, character is that he actually starts out as a decent human being who wants success so he can provide for his family.  Then, you start to see that he is actually full of anger and hatred that is ultimately fueled by greed.  The scene where Plainview admits his own faults to his "brother" makes you realize that you are not going to be a fan of him by the end of this film.  Only "Mr. Method" himself, Daniel Day-Lewis, could have developed this character in the way he was meant to be.  Plainview is ruthless, peaceful, aggressive, and calm.  Day-Lewis haunts you in every frame, and gives one of the best performances in the history of film.

Paul Thomas Anderson is the director of There Will Be Blood.  I mentioned earlier that this film lets you escape into the world that has been created, and it is Andersons' masterful directing that lets you do this.  We see sweeping shots of the vast landscape (before and after Plainview has built his oil empire), and we also are shown in great detail how the oil wells work.   I also love the final "I drink your milkshake" scene at the end because, even in a generic two-shot, Anderson shows that while Plainview has completely gone down the well of madness (pun intended), he still has as much power over everyone else as he did at the beginning of his career.  I also want to point out that there is no dialogue in the film for the first fifteen minutes.  Only a director like Paul Thomas Anderson could make a film like that so interesting to watch, and There Will Be Blood is truly a masterpiece.

There Will Be Blood is easily one of the best films in the past decade.  This film represents what happens when you get the right actor and the right director involved in a project.  If you can handle long films, I promise you that There Will Be Blood is completely worth it.

Superb Swan Song

The movie Unstoppable will always be a bittersweet film for me personally.  Tony Scott was one of my favorite directors, and I am still so deeply heartbroken that he is gone.  It is extremely rare when a film-makers' career ends on a high note, but the career of Tony Scott did just that.

Unstoppable is the story of a veteran train engineer and a rookie conductor who must stop a runaway, unmanned freight train that is carrying hazardous chemicals.  On paper, one would think that a film like this would be incredibly boring.  However, in the legendary hands of Tony Scott, this theoretical snooze-fest becomes an exciting, thrilling adrenaline rush that will leave you gripping the edge of your seat until your knuckles are white.  There is also a thematic element at play in this film that comes as a pleasant surprise given Tony Scotts' resume.  This film touches on the fact that occasionally the older, more experienced employee gets fired in favor of a young hotshot kid who takes risks and who basically gets the job because of his lineage.  This makes for great character moments within this action film.  Unstoppable is one of Tony Scotts' better films, if not the best, and it is because every element in the film works perfectly.

Denzel Washington plays Frank.  Frank is a seasoned train engineer who is one of the best at what he does.  He knows the ins and outs of what his job entails, and what a train is able to do.  There is a bitterness to his character as well because he has to break someone in who is eventually going to take his job.  The relationship that he has with Will (Chris Pine) is a classic case of age and experience being replaced by youth and ability.  However, once the drama in the story starts to unfold, we see that it is necessary for Frank to work with Will in order to succeed.  This is a character unlike anybody we have seen Washington play.  Frank is very much a reflection of who Denzel Washington is, and this is an authentic performance from one of the best in the business.

Chris Pine plays Will.  Will is a flawed character in a classical sense.  In his mind, he is ready for the responsibility of being the new rookie conductor.  Sometimes he makes the right decisions, and other times he is completely wrong.  What I love about this character the most is that we see that he works well under pressure.  Once he knows what is at stake and what the risks are, we see that he truly is the man for the job.  This also helps develop the relationship between Will and Frank.  This is a well-crafted, layered performance by Pine.

Unstoppable is the final film directed by Tony Scott.  What drives this film, probably better than any other of Scotts' movies, is the pace.  Like any great movie, Unstoppable takes the time to set up the characters first so that you care about what happens to them when the action starts to pick up.  In the case of this movie, the character relationships actually work to the actions' benefit.  These characters have never experienced anything like this, so as an audience member you feel exactly like they do.  It goes without saying that Tony Scott films action sequences like nobody else.  The sequence in which a locomotive attempts to pull in front of the train in order to stop it is quite harrowing to watch.  It is this combination of character relationships and action sequences that make Unstoppable such a uniquely perfect movie.

Tony Scott was a vastly under-appreciated and under-rated director.  His legacy will live on forever simply because of his signature style that he brought to his films.  Unstoppable is a fantastic piece of cinema that I highly recommend you see as soon as possible.