Director: Marc Foster
Starring: Daniel Craig, Judi Dench, Olga Kurylenko
Bond is out for revenge, even if he is in denial about it.
Fast paced, one cold hearted attack after another, this is less about storyline, and more about Bond getting some of that angst out to maximum effect. Plus, someone tried to shoot 'M', how dare they! This all leads Bond to discover an international baddie organisation more convoluted than the Russians during the Cold War. They have their sticky fingers in everything without any of the goodies knowing about it, mainly because, they seem to be the goodies! Confused? Don't worry, Bond sorts it all out.
The storyline does get a little bit swamped by the thrills and chills, I admit, but I have that fantastic information retention, so I didn't mind. The director was an interesting choice for an movie that is so action focused. Marc Forster's previous movies include Finding Neverland (2004) and The Kite Runner (2007). Not your average action movie director choice. But his direction is more than competent, and it includes some beautiful scenes that really highlight contrasts in the landscape.
Daniel Craig was definitely a cold heartless bastard out for revenge, and played it beautifully. His emotional story ark was fantastic. The movie script wasn't absorbed by it, but was blended in perfectly with the chasing of the bad guys across the world. Olga may be beautiful, but she ain't a bond girl. Something was missing. She just didn't quite fit into the movie. Judi Dench was fantastic, as always. Gemma Arterton was not used well, but her small part was good. Someone had to be the real bond girl.
I loved the modern twist to the storyline. Bad guys using Humanitarian organisations to get the world's good intentions to work against themselves, and how governments seem to do really bad things with the best intentions in times of financial instability. Considering the UN just decorated one of their ceilings with money from a relief fund in Spain, it seems the idea does have a grain of truth in it.
The continuity from the last movie was good, though it seems I am one of few that seemed to be able to follow it. Maybe I am better at information retention, but I did not see Casino Royal just before I watched Quantum of Solace, and I was able to follow the storyline fine. Some of the continuity wasn't needed, for example, bringing the same CIA agent back. Actually, why bring the Americans into it at all again? This is Bond.
Credibility was also a question that I heard rise after people saw the movie. I ask you this. If you want to watch something credible, what are you buying tickets to a Bond movie for? Thrills and chills and unbelievable moments are what you are going to get. Deal with it.
Fun fun fun. Do not expect high quality cinema, but high quality bangs and smashes.
Saturday, 29 November 2008
Friday, 28 November 2008
Burn After Reading (2008)
Director: The Coen Brothers
Writers: The Coen Brothers
Starring: Brad Pitt, Frances McDormand, George Clooney, Tilda Swinton, John Malkovich
I could just say it was written and directed by the Coen Brothers, and that is all the information your would need. It immediately implies all the things that can be good about a movie. An original concept that is put together with fantastic acting and storytelling, more than competent direction and cutting (which is becoming rarer and rarer in hollywood sadly), and a subject matter that both informs and amuses.
The scoop? An alcoholic CIA agent decides to quit and write his tell all memoirs when the agency tries to demote him. A middle-age-ish simple minded gym assistant is obsessed with the idea of plastic surgery. The charmingly stupid workmate and friend finds what he believes is top secret spy shit. Returning it to the alcoholic CIA agent turns into an ordeal when they want a reward, and that want turns into blackmail. The truth is, however, that the ramblings of a drunk ex-CIA agent are worthless. But she wants that plastic surgery, and she will get money for it even if she has to take it all the way to the top. Their bungling takes them further than they, or us, could have imagined .
We are taken into the sick, silly but sadly slightly true world of what can go wrong when honestly stupid folk try and be smart in a country that isn't that smart to begin with.
This is Americans laughing at themselves with tears in their eyes, and it is definitely worth going along and joining in. You will want to turn away from the sad reality of it all, but you can't. Grippingly good.
Writers: The Coen Brothers
Starring: Brad Pitt, Frances McDormand, George Clooney, Tilda Swinton, John Malkovich
I could just say it was written and directed by the Coen Brothers, and that is all the information your would need. It immediately implies all the things that can be good about a movie. An original concept that is put together with fantastic acting and storytelling, more than competent direction and cutting (which is becoming rarer and rarer in hollywood sadly), and a subject matter that both informs and amuses.
The scoop? An alcoholic CIA agent decides to quit and write his tell all memoirs when the agency tries to demote him. A middle-age-ish simple minded gym assistant is obsessed with the idea of plastic surgery. The charmingly stupid workmate and friend finds what he believes is top secret spy shit. Returning it to the alcoholic CIA agent turns into an ordeal when they want a reward, and that want turns into blackmail. The truth is, however, that the ramblings of a drunk ex-CIA agent are worthless. But she wants that plastic surgery, and she will get money for it even if she has to take it all the way to the top. Their bungling takes them further than they, or us, could have imagined .
We are taken into the sick, silly but sadly slightly true world of what can go wrong when honestly stupid folk try and be smart in a country that isn't that smart to begin with.
This is Americans laughing at themselves with tears in their eyes, and it is definitely worth going along and joining in. You will want to turn away from the sad reality of it all, but you can't. Grippingly good.
Tuesday, 11 November 2008
Brideshead Revisited (2008)
Director: Julian Jarrold
Starring: Emma Thompson, Matthew Goode, Michael Gambon, Greta Scacchi
Screen Writer: Jeremy Brock and Andrew Davies
I have never watched something so wonderfully British. A beautifully filmed costume period drama where time was taken in direction, not only of the beautiful locations, but of the actual storyline. The period drama has a long treasured and perfected history in the film industry, and a crowning glory of the BBC, but of late, efforts to master all the beauty while including a storyline seem to be completely botched (think the disaster that was 'The Other Boleyn Girl'). The moral of the story, best leave the British to what they do best, and Hollywood can return to churning out devastatingly bad contributions to the film industry that only the American's think are alright.
Brideshead is a return to form for popular period drama, along with the magnificent 'Duchess'. The plot development, though slow, is well thought out and unfolds masterfully. I did not think the flashforward to flashback at the start of the movie was required, but it does not make the film disjointed so it can be forgiven. The characters are a well balanced ensemble between the stereotype and the serious, and all themes of the plot seem to be addressed equally and seriously. There is nothing done flippant about this movie, so it is not cheapened in any way. Costumes and locations are exquisite (it goes without saying) and casting was superb. Stand out performance has to go to Ben Whishaw, who played Sebastian Flyte.
I cannot comment on the effort of adaptation because I have not had the opportunity to read the novel by Evelyn Waugh yet. Andrew Davies does have a fantastic track record, however, so I am sure it was in good hands. If certain scenes were left out, it was probably the normal amount that is left by the way side when books are adapted to the big screen, thanks to time constraints.
Do not go to this film if you are looking for fast paced or racey 'entertainment', but if you wish to be told a story about love and life and loss set in the beautiful past, even if it ends up being a bit oppressive with its serious subject matter and bitter sweet ending, this is the movie for you.
A beautiful, beautiful movie.
Starring: Emma Thompson, Matthew Goode, Michael Gambon, Greta Scacchi
Screen Writer: Jeremy Brock and Andrew Davies
I have never watched something so wonderfully British. A beautifully filmed costume period drama where time was taken in direction, not only of the beautiful locations, but of the actual storyline. The period drama has a long treasured and perfected history in the film industry, and a crowning glory of the BBC, but of late, efforts to master all the beauty while including a storyline seem to be completely botched (think the disaster that was 'The Other Boleyn Girl'). The moral of the story, best leave the British to what they do best, and Hollywood can return to churning out devastatingly bad contributions to the film industry that only the American's think are alright.
Brideshead is a return to form for popular period drama, along with the magnificent 'Duchess'. The plot development, though slow, is well thought out and unfolds masterfully. I did not think the flashforward to flashback at the start of the movie was required, but it does not make the film disjointed so it can be forgiven. The characters are a well balanced ensemble between the stereotype and the serious, and all themes of the plot seem to be addressed equally and seriously. There is nothing done flippant about this movie, so it is not cheapened in any way. Costumes and locations are exquisite (it goes without saying) and casting was superb. Stand out performance has to go to Ben Whishaw, who played Sebastian Flyte.
I cannot comment on the effort of adaptation because I have not had the opportunity to read the novel by Evelyn Waugh yet. Andrew Davies does have a fantastic track record, however, so I am sure it was in good hands. If certain scenes were left out, it was probably the normal amount that is left by the way side when books are adapted to the big screen, thanks to time constraints.
Do not go to this film if you are looking for fast paced or racey 'entertainment', but if you wish to be told a story about love and life and loss set in the beautiful past, even if it ends up being a bit oppressive with its serious subject matter and bitter sweet ending, this is the movie for you.
A beautiful, beautiful movie.
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