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Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy - Movie Review
Grade: C
Tomas Alfredson’s film adaptation of Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy is so indubitably intricate and complex, that only those willing to engross themselves in the film will find any sort of gratification. While Tinker is stunningly a visual chef-d’oeu·vre, its convoluted attempt to compress a thrilling and extensive tale of espionage falls more into a category of the insipid.
Based on John Le Carre’s book of the same name - infamously known as the novel that changed the game of the “spy” genre - Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy tells the story of George Smiley (Gary Oldman), a former espionage who is called from retirement to find a mole within British Intelligence. Years after a failed incident in Cold War Hungary, Smiley is given information that a double agent is midst the top of the British agency - nicknamed the “circus” - and was responsible for the mishap. The film then revolves around Smiley’s venture to identify the mole, which includes an impressive limey acting force of Colin Firth, Toby Jones, Ciaran Hinds and David Denik.
War Horse - Movie Review
Grade: B-
The father of high budget and gaudy blockbusters has returned with a film that just screams Oscar bait. Predictably Spielberg, War Horse boasts an epic blockbuster with stunning cinematography, a sense of passion, and overall a heartfelt period piece. But although the film is perfectly coherent in its emphasis on sentimental value, it unfortunately, remains content with its soundness and unambitious nature.
Based on both Michael Morpugo’s novel and the 2007 stage adaptation of the same name, War Horse focuses on the “miracle horse” Joey, apart-Thoroughbred stallion that’s small size and superficial-based appearance deems him the archetypal “underdog.” When he is impulsively auctioned bought by farmer Ted Narracot, his son Albert (Jeremy Levine) - a dedicated adolescent who is seemingly the sole believer in Joey’s potential - trains the stallion who Albert ends up forming an almost brotherly bond towards. When the Great War encumbers all of England, the Narracot family’s financial position - much to the dismay of Albert - forces them to sell Joey, enrolling his friend in the unforgiving war. The film then focuses on Joey’s journey throughout the war, and Albert’s expedition to reunite with his horse. Overall, the film’s simple revelation is that a strength of a relationship coincides with an unbreakable bond; Resulting in a premise that is predictable and somewhat cliche, but it is approached in such a way that is truly relatable.
The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo - Movie Review
Grade: A-
The questionable effort to craft a film adaptation of Stieg Larson’s The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo - a novel that has already requited a film a mere two years ago - may be deemed redundant. But with that set aside, director David Fincher’s English-language version proves why he is one of the most diverse and adept filmmakers alive. Although it suffers from the same bland tonal issues that plagued the near flawless Social Network, Fincher’s Dragon Tattoo is all in all an invigorating thriller, an accomplished technical feat, and overall a commendable film that is superior to the original in every imaginable way.
Writer Steven Zaillian (who has won fame via Schindler’s List) is true to Larson’s lucrative franchise as its extensive plot pans out in its lengthy 158 minute run time. The film focuses on Millennium investigative journalist Mikael Blomkvist (Daniel Craig), who is publicly disgraced by making unobvious accusations against a major CEO. In order to stray away from public attention, an aristocratic family - headed by Henrik Vanger (Christopher Plummer) - hires Mikael to solve Vanger’s niece’s murder that has plagued that families relationship for four decades. When this cold case proves to be too challenging, he hires Lisbeth Salender (Rooney Mara) - an expert researcher whose extreme riot girl/gothic style coincides with her “insane” psychological state. Dragon Tattoo’s puzzle-like plot structure can categorize the film as a contemporary noir, revolving around its dumbfounding details and disclosing aspects. Overall, the film’s unraveling nature attempts to dive into the dark aspect of mankind; And although the it follows the same plot as the original, David Fincher’s approach does succeed in crafting a haunting mood of malevolence, something I cannot say for the Swedish version.
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The Descendants - Movie Review
Grade: B
Looking back at the critical success of films such as Ordinary People - a film that upset Raging Bull about a family’s reaction to their son’s death - and Kramer vs Kramer - a Maryl Streep and Dustin Hoffman acted film about a couple’s divorce - American cinema has undoubtedly been infatuated and touched by contemporary tragedies. Alexander Payne’s follow up to Sideways, The Descendants, continues this trend that connects first-world families to a universal sense of tragedy, displaying that individuals - rich or poor - must deal with adversity and affliction. Payne’s film stays true to its portrait of grief, but the success of the film derives from the fact that the film is able to blend sentimentality, humor, and agony - resulting in a truly an emotional piece that accurately conveys human emotion.
Based on Kaui Hart Hemming’s novel of the same name, Payne’s film takes place in the “luxurious” Hawaii, breaking the stereotype that there is a perfect paradise. George Clooney plays Matt King, a lawyer who on behalf of the other “descendants” in the King tribe, is on the verge of selling his inherited land. Just as King is in the process of executing the deal, his wife Elizabeth is in a boating accident and goes into a coma. Matt King -whose stern behavior and overly ardent work ethic has deemed him the “back-up parent” - then gathers his two daughters Scottie and Alex (Shailene Woodley) to unite the family for Elizabeth’s final days. But when Alex tells Clooney’s character that his wife had an affair with a man named Bryan Speer (Matthew Lilliard), the film then focuses on Matt’s attempt to confront his wife’s lover. The Descendants then jumps around from this confrontation to the many plot strands it leaves in its trail.
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Young Adult - Movie Review
Grade: B
Suffering from a misleading marketing campaign, Young Adult - the second collaboration between Juno director Jason Reitman and writer Diablo Cody - is considerably more philosophical than its advertised raunchiness. But with that said, the true direction that this film takes results in a work that is surprisingly, a substantial character study led by a powerhouse acting force. While the surface of the film will likely disappoint the mainstream audience it was marketed for, this comedy drama offers a reflective piece about life’s complexity that not even Juno or even Up In The Air (Reitman’s previous film) can match.
Diablo Cody’s screenplay plays on the cliche that “grass is always greener on the other side.” Originally from the rural roots of Mercury, Minnesota - ”hick lake town” as it is referred to by - 37-year-old writer Mavis Gary (Charlize Theron) is living the life that many of her former classmates wish to have. Writing young adult (note the double entendre) novels in the studio apartment of her urban city, the former “popular high school queen” Mavis has everything anyone could hope for - except a sense of maturity. Tired of living her lonely life consisting of hopeless one night stands and countless episodes of Keeping Up With Kardashians, Mavis revisits Mercury to revisit her glory days and most importantly, reclaim her married high school sweetheart. Realizing the difficulty of her endeavor, Mavis forms a sweet albeit bizzare friendship with a former classmate Matt Freehauf (Patton Oswalt) and ends up question whether her life, in all actuality, is better than the lives of the “hicks” she left behind.
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