Captain Phillips is one of the most intense showcases of acting talent by Tom Hanks. His ability to bring to life the scary events that occurred are utterly mesmerising. The final 10 minutes of this film maybe the finest acting of any actor ever. It's a must see film for this year any year from here on. Click thru for other films to check out this weekend and an interview with Director Jim Mickle of We Are What We Are.
We Are What We Are is a masterfully well-done remake to the 2010 film directed by Jorge Michel Grau. Co-Writer and Director Jim Mickle has reinvented the story line and thus created his own taut and thrilling story of the Parker family, website – http://parkerfamilytradition.com/.
http://vimeo.com/74278582
The film holds back from the typical horror tricks and rather builds on the tension with dark quiet moments. The girls in the film really take control of the action and what they do at the end of the movie is worth all the slow tension building. Overall its a thinking thriller that allows you plenty of room to imagine all the horrors, rather then be cheaply shown it. Michael Parks desperate pursuit is also a wonderfully paced example of a fulfilling conclusion to his character's story. It's haunting and horrorfying without being obsence and gory. But you will also NEVER be able to look at Chili the sameway either.
I had the chance to chat with Jim Mickle about his film.
A.C.O.D. stands for Adult Children of Divorce and is the newest film starring Adam Scott and a slew of his comedic pals.
The film has some really funny situtations and quirky characters that really make it an enjoyable film to watch. Surprisingly, Adam Scott's "straight" edge to his character makes him fall into the background of most scenes. But this is actually to the betterment of the film experience as we get to see Mary Elizabeth Winstead, Richard Jenkins, Catherine O'Hara and especially Jane Lynch have memorable moments. Jane Lynch is at the top of her sarcastic bullying demeanor that creates some fantastic sequences. Jessica Alba has a cameo as one of the other ACODs and she not only looks amazing but easily steals the limelight from Scott. Clark Duke is sadly the only understated comedic role and the one I wish had more freedom with his outragenous. Overall a really enjoyable film that hits on so many truths about marriage and divorce.
The costumes and look of the film fully capture the magic of Shakespeare's descriptions. There are also solid perfomances and readings of the characters, Paul Giamatti's Friar Lawrence is especially well-acted. But overall I was really caught up in how much I liked older film versions. This one has all the right elements and moments to make you fall back in love with the tragic events of R & J, but it doesn't hold strong to the true political, social and gender issues that the play invokes. For example, my favorite moment from the play is Mercutio's Queen Mab speech. Christian Cooke looks the part perfectly, but he doesn't grasp the emotion of previous Mercutios. Baz Lurhmann's R&J had Harold Perrineau as Mercutio and his Queen Mab speech is haunting. You understand that when Mercutio utters,
- Sometimes she driveth o'er a soldier's neck,
- And then dreams he of cutting foreign throats,
- Of breaches, ambuscadoes, Spanish blades,
- Of healths five fathom deep; and then anon
- Drums in his ear, at which he starts and wakes,
- And being thus frighted, swears a prayer or two
- And sleeps again. This is that very Mab
- That plats the manes of horses in the night
- And bakes the elflocks in foul sluttish hairs,
- Which once untangled much misfortune bodes.
- This is the hag, when maids lie on their backs,
- That presses them and learns them first to bear,
- Making them women of good carriage.
- This is she!
He is talking about life and death and the struggles of war. Romeo has to calm him down because he gets so worked up. It's an extremely powerful speech. Christian Cooke doesn't reach that level. I feel like this version of Romeo and Juliet looks the part but doesn't understand the real heart behind the issues Shakespeare was trying to talk about. You don't quite believe Hailee Steinfeld as Juliet, she feels like a secondary character. We really don't get the emotion behind Juliet's actions. Shakespeare was making a point with this line, "Juliet and her Romeo". It's HER story, so the fact that this film makes her not have more powerful moments is a bit weird. Claire Danes was stoic in Baz' production, she has as much say and power as Leo's Romeo. Claire could stand up to Tybalt. In this film, Tybalt's confronting of Juliet is merely a lost short jumble of anger. Juliet, her nurse and her mother share a moment in the play and in the films where she is being informed about a suitor. The character of Paris in the play is a legimate threat to the happiness that Romeo seaks. Paris isn't just another figure in the mix, his character has weight. It also makes Juliet all the more destructive by choosing Romeo. She defies the laws of that of that time. She confronts her own parents, a very minor scene in this film. She is the young hero of the story that tragically loses her life. Romeo is merely a love-struck youth, he has neither the understanding or intelligence to fathom what he is asking of Juliet. I was disappointed by this film because it doesn't truly make Juliet the star. Shakespeare did, and thus so should everyone else who remakes this classic.
