nightcrawler

Movies I've Seen in 2014 - Nightcrawler

Starring: Jake Gyllenhaal

Supporting: Bill Paxton, Rene Russo, Riz Ahmed

Directed by: Dan Gilroy

Plot: Desperate for work, Lou Bloom stumbles upon the art of "nightcrawling" otherwise known as filming for late-night L.A. crime. Aided by a news veteran, he soon finds success, but with it comes a deep spiral into madness, blurring the lines between work and ethics. 

REVIEW

Gyllenhaal has been on fire with his movie roles lately. Choosing instead to play meatier, darker characters rather than star in the latest blockbuster (sorry, Prince of Persia) Gyllenhaal has clearly found his place when immersing himself in the creepiest and/or most complex character that he can find. He proves his chops in Nightcrawler, a well-written and directed film about sociopath, Lou Bloom, and his escapades in L.A. crime. While there happen to be some plot holes, and there could be more character development and back story, it's clear that this is Gyllenhaal's rodeo. While it may not be an award season contender, it's safe to say that Gyllenhaal has made his mark as a talented actor that's only just begun to find his footing. 

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gone girl

Movies I've Seen in 2014 - Gone Girl 

Starring: Ben Affleck, Rosamund Pike

Supporting: Carrie Coon, Neil Patrick Harris, Tyler Perry, Kim Dickens

Directed by: David Fincher

Plot: Picture-perfect on the outside, Nick and Amy Dunne's marriage hit a speedbump when on the day of their 5-year marriage anniversary, Amy goes missing. Her disappearance soon becomes the "It" topic on all media,  especially when suspicions rise on whether or not Nick is truly innocent. 

REVIEW

Fincher has done it again. With Gone Girl being one of my top books that I've read in a while, and Fincher being one of my all-time favourite directors, it's safe to say that I had quite some high expectations going in, and I was not disappointed. The film stays quite true to the book, somehow being able to capture it's tone in the different parts, something I didn't think was possible to do in the movie adaptation. Gone Girl has an unbeatable plot, with plot twists at every turn, amazing cinematic choices chosen by the movie god himself, Fincher, and a cast that does not miss a single beat. It's safe to say that award season has begun. 

My accolades towards Fincher has always been and will always be endless. Never have I seen him make a wrong choice, even when critics claim he has created a weak movie. In my opinion, Fincher has a formula that he follows with every movie he makes, and he knows it works; Gone Girl is no exception. I truly think Affleck describes it best when he says that Fincher "does everybody's job better than them." His directing style is hard to describe, but with quick jump cuts, never focusing too long on a close-up, and of course choosing to put reliable info over useless action in simple talking scenes, Fincher has got it down pat. There's nothing he does better than thrillers. That's a fact. It's been said that he makes his actors do multiple take after take, more than any other director regularly does, and with Gone Girl he proves why that was a wise thing to do. No scene feels rushed or unnecessary, but instead in harmony with the film surrounding it. To start talking more about the beauty and art of Fincher's wide-shots and long yet somehow always intriguing simple scenes (how in the world does he make a simple conversation between two people so gosh darn compelling?!), would be to start ranting. Let's just end it with: Fincher is god. 

The plot itself, written by first-time screenwriter/ the novelist herself, Gillian Flynn, is stunning and compelling the whole way through. To say that it is dark and dreary would be a complete understatement. Flynn and Fincher flesh out characters that are anything but one-dimensional. Accompanied by Trent Reznor's basically perfect score, the movie captures the exact mood each scene requires. Mysteries and clues are never revealed too quickly, but instead are given just the same air of mystery and tension one gets while reading the book. As an adaptation, I don't think I've ever been happier to see so many key points still being in the film. Yes, obviously it took out some scenes and didn't flesh out certain characters as much as the book (*cough* Andie *cough*), but overall, it did it justice. It's hard to write a proper review for Gone Girl without writing any spoilers despite the best-selling novel being out there. But you know, just gotta appeal to the people. 

Possibly the part I was the most excited to write about: the performances. If there's one thing you can trust Fincher on, it's his casting. He always casts against type, and it is always perfect. Seriously, when was the last time he casted someone wrong? He proved us of his talent once again with a pitch perfect cast for Gone Girl. Not only do the two main leads perfectly embody Nick and Amy, but the side characters match their roles to a tee as well. Let's begin with Affleck and Pike. Affleck delivers probably the best role of his career as Nick Dunne, a selfish, empathy-lacking, but charming mama's boy. Aah, yes, there is no better role for that Affleck smile. Don't doubt him though, Affleck brings a depth and likability to Nick that another actor perhaps couldn't. For a huge part of the movie, he perfectly teeters on being the worst husband in the world, as well as carrying an air of mystery ("did he do it? did he not?"), all while still somehow being weirdly... relatable. It's a role to prove the haters wrong. Although, the show truly does belong to Pike, as many critics claim. She doesn't play Amy; she is Amy. From head to toe, inside and out, Pike shows the dimensions and hidden layers required to play someone as charming, conniving, psychotic and hypnotizing as Amy Elliot Dunne. Embodying multiple emotions in once scene, from anger to vulnerability and just plain iciness, Pike hits all the right notes. She is the person you cannot for one second keep your eyes' off of, especially during the infamous "Cool Girl" speech. She delivers an award-worthy role (you can expect the Academy talk to begin anytime now), that will haunt you for a while to come. Most importantly, Pike captures the most important characteristic about Amy: you never know what she's thinking, yet she emotes so much with her eyes at the same time. It's like you can see the frailty and vulnerability behind her irises, but her thoughts and intentions consistently stay cloudy, leaving you to scream with Nick, "What are you thinking, Amy?" The side characters are perfect. Neil Patrick Harris and Tyler Perry, like mentioned by many, play perfectly against type, proving that they have what it takes to tone it down and play a great dramatic role. Patrick Harris' creeper status never becomes too exaggerated, but is enough to leave you chills and uncomfortable even in your seat. Perry manages to still have some great one-liners as the confident asshole lawyer, Tanner Bolt, but he never goes over-the-top, choosing instead to be a low-key cocky that you still manage to like (and understand why he wins so many cases), and meshes well with Affleck's outbursts. Two outstanding female roles come in the form of Carrie Coon and Kim Dickens. Both women are never weak and play great independent characters, all the while being multi-layered and perfectly teetering the line of doubt about Nick. I'll say it again: Fincher knows his casting. 

In conclusion, watch Gone Girl. There is no experience like a Fincher film experience. There's no better directing: the guy knows what he's doing. He knows how to adapt a story and how to tell a thriller so that you're revealed facts at the exact right time, and he knows how to create a mood like no one else. Flynn's novel is the perfect story to constantly leave you at the edge of your seat, with a killer ending that will have PLOT TWIST! written all over it. A Reznor and Fincher collaboration is a gift to the world that one must experience. Lastly, the performances, especially Pike and Affleck's, is one that many critics and audiences will be talking and raving about all the way to the Oscars. Gone Girl is a gift that one should take. 

the skeleton twins

Movies I've Seen in 2014 - The Skeleton Twins

Starring: Bill Hader, Kristen Wiig

Supporting: Luke Wilson, Ty Burrell 

Directed by: Craig Johnson

Plot: After going 10 years without talking to each other, the Dean twins reconnect when Milo (Bill Hader), a gay, struggling actor living in LA, attempts suicide. While the initial first meeting was a little shaky, Maggie (Kristen Wiig), Milo's twin still living in their hometown, dealing with her own demons, invites Milo to stay at her place for a while. Slowly, both twins come face to face with their inner struggles, the past, and what went wrong in their relationship. 

REVIEW

It is rare to find a dark comedy that truly finds the correct balance between heavy themes and deep material, as well as lighthearted jokes and actual, well, comedy. The Skeleton Twins is the first "dark comedy" I've seen in a while that manages to find the balance. Is it perfect, no, some scenes can often come across as cheesy or predictable, but as a whole, it's a relatable story that really tugs at the heart strings all while making your stomach ache with laughter at the same time. 

To delve into that topic a little bit deeper, I'll begin with discussing the serious part of Skeleton Twins. A main theme throughout the movie is suicide, and understanding the reason behind it. After all both main characters contemplate it at the beginning of the movie, as well as face demons and depression throughout. Little messages and life lessons are laced throughout this major topic, such as, displayed in a beautiful speech spoken by Hader's character, Milo, the feeling of "peaking in high school" and not achieving your dreams that you dreamed so much about, and just, to put it frankly, being nothing. As a person with unreasonably high hopes for myself, this speech resonated and hit home to me, something that Skeleton Twins tends to do quite often inbetween subtle one-liners. Usually such dark topics are put in dramas; after all, who wants to joke about suicide? Well, The Skeleton Twins does, and to be honest, without Hader and Wiig as the lead, the witty banter might not have been as successful. The key behind the movie is the subtle lines and jokes that the twins make while still dealing with the mess that they call their lives. A perfect example is Milo's suicide note, a scene way early on in the film. All it says is simply "To whom it may concern: See you later :)" I nearly choked on my drink reading that onscreen. It's that exact funny, dark humour that continues throughout the movie. 

A big kudos to Craig Johnson to putting so much emphasis and care into his characters. Another huge part of Skeleton Twins that made it so fantastic was the fact that each and every character wasn't just another voice in the background. Sure, Hader and Wiig lead the pack, but that doesn't mean that the background characters are left voiceless and one-dimensional. It's true, while some of the writing is absolutely, unbelievably fantastic (the lip-sync scene between Hader and Wiig is still playing in my mind), there are some scenes that teeter on the typical, and might not have worked quite as well had it not been played by such amazing actors and had the characters not been so lovable. That's his one true downfall, to be frank: the characters are great, but sometimes the plotline is not. He adds layer upon layer to the two main actors, some of them unneeded or unnecessary (SPOILER: Wiig's character claims to have cheated with 3 men. Yes, I know this happens, but seriously, lowering it down to 1 wouldn't have made a difference. At all.) Although, I'll end on a positive note. Johnson succeeds in bringing stereotypes down (even if he can't do the same with plots), as Luke Wilson's typical husband role is more someone you can imagine seeing down the street than a Hollywood suburban white knight. The same goes to Ty Burrell, who gives a subtle yet strong performance. 

This would not be a review without a (not-so) brief opinion on the powerhouse performances of the two leads. Both Hader and Wiig prove to audiences that they are far more than just SNL alums, and have talents that go far beyond that of comedy. Their improv roots do help as their deadpan scenes are hilarious and, like mentioned, a specific lip-sync scene will become an instant classic. Seriously, I dare you to watch that scene and not laugh, smile, or have it remind you of your own crazy antics when you lip-sync. Anyways, both actors succeed in bringing depth to two very challenging roles: characters that are broken, but can only mend each other. Twins that deal through pain with sarcastic remarks, but have sorrow behind their eyes whilst delivering said remarks. Their chemistry as a team is amazing. You truly feel the brother-sister relationship, even as the moods differ. It's no shocker they can have a witty banter, or just all-out funny scenes with each other (they did share the SNL stage for years), but it's also refreshing to see that they can have deep, emotional scenes, where they show their inner selves and pour their hearts out to each other. Wiig is fantastic, making what would be a not-so-likable character into someone you can sympathize with. Her performance is perfectly understated, and it's nice to see Wiig approach humour and drama without so much glitz and glamour. Hader is the real standout here. In his first huge dramatic role, he is a revelation. While many of us know Hader for his Stefon character, Milo is nothing close to that. Hader shapes Milo into a real human, and not into, as his character puts it "another tragic gay cliche." His deadpan delivery is spot on, delivering each and every one-liner (such as gems, like "I can't wait to be the creepy gay uncle") perfectly and without too much theatrics. Yes, he does have his huge moments to shine (Hader in drag is great), but the real surprise is when Hader shares his soul onscreen. You see pain behind his eyes even when he's alright, and when he admits his vulnerability onscreen, he is at his rawest moment. This is truly a great first role to a fantastic career in movies for Hader.

All in all, The Skeleton Twins is a fantastic contradiction. It has unrelatable plots with relatable (and lovable) characters. The darkest of themes is joined by the lightest jokes. It's a rare and great gem, that is definitely worth seeing. Admittedly, it's not for those who cannot stand such a simple plot. The magic is not in the climax, but in the relationships and chemistry between Hader and Wiig. It's in the snappy comebacks, and tense silences. It connects with people, and allows audiences to realize that, yes, we all go through sadness, and that maybe we're all just trying to figure out how to deal with it.  It's an indie that, while it may not be nominated during award season, it's one that will resonate in your heart. (P.S. if all that doesn't convince you, Boyd Holbrook is amazing eye candy.)

the maze runner

Brief note, as a huge movie buff, this is a new type of blog segment I'll be posting, titled...

Movies I've Seen in 2014 - The Maze Runner 

Starring: Dylan O'Brien

Supporting: Kaya Scodelario, Will Poulter, Thomas Brodie-Sangster, Ki Hong Lee

Directed by: Wes Ball

Plot: Thomas (Dylan O'Brien) awakens one day in a small community called The Glades, with no memory of his life other than his name. Thomas slowly learns that he and all the other boys are trapped in The Glades, with the Maze, an unsolved, constantly changing place, as the only way out.

REVIEW

In a sea of many YA book-to-movie adaptations, it takes quite a bit to even stand out from the bunch; Maze Runner, while not entirely perfect, succeeds in giving something different. The plot and storyline, is darker and the execution of the story is (dare I say) even a little bit more realistic than most YA adaptations. It does not beat around the bush; there is no romance, the world is bleak, and they are all risking death. Gathering plenty of comparisons to Lord of the Flies and Cabin in the Woods, it is certainly directed towards the older generation of YA than the younger kids and the love-obsessed. Kudos.

For a first-time director, Ball does quite a good job. I admit that occasionally, the pacing can be a bit off (at times situations occur a bit too fast, and others it drags a bit), but overall he shows promise that he can handle being behind the camera, and not just be in the art department. He captures the mood of certain scenes quite well. That said, his art background does come in handy. Since most of the movie takes place in the Glades, it's a good thing that, even though it's so small, it's so interesting. Peaceful and calming at a glance, but quite dire and almost lonely and pitiful as the movie goes on. The maze and the monsters within, including the "Grievers," mechanized spider/alien killers that easily terrify the audience, deserve a round of applause on it's own. The intricacy of the maze, yet the simplicity of the looks is fantastic, and the "Grievers," while on paper sound not that bad, are able to look like the monsters from your worst nightmares.

Performance-wise, the cast does a great job. It's great to see such diversity in the cast; a rare thing in Hollywood, and quite refreshing. This is O'Brien's first leading role, and as Thomas, he shows lots of promise in being one of Hollywood's great young actors. Even as a simple archetype at times, he shows depth and emotion, and turns the most obvious of stereotypes (he's curious! He's brave! He's not like the rest; he's the chosen one!) into something real. He will make you laugh, he will make you swoon, he will make you cry, and you will root for him the whole way. As for the supporting cast, it's easy to say that Poulter is the perfect antagonist to go against O'Brien. He is everything I said about O'Brien and stereotypes, but with an antagonistic point of view. While Gally could've easily been a 2-dimensional character, strictly there for causing trouble to Thomas, Poulter makes us see him as more than just a bump in the road, but as a real-life boy, with emotions and heart, and beliefs that he holds more dear than just about anything. In the last scenes of the film, Poulter is a powerhouse. Ki Hong Lee is magnetic as Minho, Thomas Brodie-Sangster is fantastic and charming, and Kaya Scodelario does the best she could do with what could be just a background role. I do wish there was more to Scodelario's character, but there's something in her eyes that still enchants the audience. Newcomer, Blake Cooper, is the heart and the humour of the film as Chuck. He is fantastic as a young boy, with dreams and hopes higher than the sky, and bravery that could shame even the most daring soldier.

All in all, The Maze Runner might not be winning any awards, nor is it up to the level of Harry Potter or The Hunger Games, but it's a step ahead of all the other YA movies. With a cliff-hanger ending that almost promises a sequel (lucky us, apparently they're filming or will be filming soon!), it keeps audiences wanting more. Yes, the plot is a bit by-the-book (as you're watching it, you should be able to know what will happen 2-3 scenes ahead), but then again, it's rare to find a YA movie that isn't. It does a good job at entertaining, and the cast is refreshingly new and talented. There's not much more to say than, let's see Phase 2.