Thursday, December 29, 2011

MISSION IMPOSSIBLE: GHOST PROTOCOL (2011)


Directed By: Brad Bird
Written By: Josh Applebaum & Andre Nemec
Based on the television series by: Bruce Geller
Cinematography By: Robert Elswitt
Editor: Paul Hirsch

Cast: Tom Cruise, Paula Patton, Jeremy Renner, Simon Pegg, Lea Seydoux, Josh Holloway, Anil Kapor, Michael Nyqvist


TANNER HALL (2009)


Written & Directed By: Francesca Gregorini & Tatiana Von Frustenberg
Cinematography By: Brian Rigney Hubbard
Editor: Michelle Botticelli, Sharon Rutter & Lauren Zuckerman

Cast: Rooney Mara, Brie Larson, Amy Ferguson, Tom Everett Scott, Chris Kattan, Amy Sedaris, Tara Subkoff


THE ORPHANAGE (2007)


Directed By: Juan Antonio Bayona
Written By: Sergio C. Sanchez
Cinematography By: Oscar Faura
Editor: Elena Ruiz

Cast: Belen Rueda, Fernando Cayo, Roger Princep, Geraldine Chaplin



Laura, a former orphan, raises her adopted son Simón together with her husband Carlos in an old house and former orphanage where she was raised. While at the orphanage Simón tells Laura that he has five invisible friends which she believes are a product of his active imagination. Laura decides to reopen the orphanage to cater for disabled children and throws a party. During the party Simón tries to persuade Laura to go and take a look at his friends cabin but she's too busy. Later on she sees a mysterious masked boy and realizes that Simón has also disappeared. Laura feels the presence of other people in the house and months later Laura invites a team of parapsychologists to try to unravel the mystery.

When it comes to films that Guillermo Del Toro has his hands in. The film seems to contain a mythology all it’s own. Which is what makes these films worthwhile and magical. They are rich with not only imagery, but also imagination. The scope may seem small, but in reality it is a wonderland that knows no limits. The film is no mere horror film. While it is scary. It is more of a adult fairy tale with suspenseful moments. It’s a dark tale with reality overtones, but at it’s heart. It is playful and has no limits.

The film continuously keeps you guessing. It’s never boring as you find yourself getting more and more enraptured by the story and you begin to identify with the characters and worry about them. The film manages to stay luscious in it’s beauty though there is mainly only one location a sprawling house and yard around it.
The film can be heartbreaking, but it is for a reason that assures you of it’s decisions. The film is a gem that can be breathtaking in it’s beauty. It’s not a simple film, but seems like it is one.

It took me awhile to finally watch this film. It was a film that came acclaimed, but also one that i knew I had to see in the right mood. I knew it was a film that I would appreciate. It’s usual style. But I really would appreciate it’s visual style, but I really wanted to pay attention to it’s other qualities. I was not disappointed in the least. The film has an iconic character who seems at first like a boogeyman that haunts the main character and the film. Until we finally understand everything.
This is a film that is best to go into blind and discover it’s pleasures.

Even my firend who usally doesn't watch foreign films. Watched thisin theaters and enjoyed it.

This is a definite addition to the film library.

GRADE: A

Wednesday, December 14, 2011

JEFF OF THE CINEFILES: HALL OF FAME: FILE #0017: TAPE (2001)


Directed By: Richard Linklater
Written By: Steven Belber (Based on his play)
Cinematography By: Maryse Alberti
Editor: Sandra Adair

Cast: Ethan Hawke, Robert Sean Leonard, Uma Thurman


RAMPART (2011)


Directed By: Oren Moverman
Written By: Oren Moverman & James Ellroy
Cinematography By: Bobby Butowski
Editor: Jay Rabinowitz

 CAST: Woody Harrelson, Robin Wright-Penn, Sigourney Weaver, Steve Buscemi, Ice Cube, Brie Larson, Anne Heche, Ben Foster, Cynthia Nixon, Ned Beatty, Jon Foster, Jon Bernthal 

SLEEPING BEAUTY (2011)



Written & Directed By: Julia Leigh
Cinematography By: Geoffrey Simpson
Editor: Nick Meyers

Cast: Emily Browning, Racheal Blake


SERAPHIM FALLS (2006)


Directed By: David Von Ancken
Written By: David Von Ancken & Abby Everett Jaques
Cinematography By: John Toll
Editor: Conrad Buff IV

Cast: Pirece Brosnan, Liam Neeson, Anjelica Huston, Michael Wincott, Ed Lauter, Xander Berkeley, Tom Noonan, Kevin J. O’Connor, Angie Harmon, Wes Studi, Jimmi Simpson




Patty Jenkins Has dropped out of Directing Thor 2. Which was an odd fit from the beginning. That gave me hope either she would make the film more dramtic and character based with ok effects or effects heavy showing that Jenkins could be more of a mianstream director. She has already Made MONSTER as a artsy independent film. That got her a foot in the door. She dropped out of this film over creative differences, But she managed to stay on good terms with the studio and saying she might direct a original superhero character film (Hawkeye???) Just not a sequel to a already started franchise shows the studio wants to keep a tone. Which would be great if thor was good or as good as Captain America movie, but the studio's winningness to hand the reigns to director's more attuned to television on one hand, Shows a willingness to give these rookie director's a step up to features a chance, but it reaks of hiring a director who is used to working fast and loose on budget if need be and will follow the studios orders and notes to a t. Afraid to lose the big break that they are getting. Not trying to make the film with their own artistic whims. Though very basically. (Working in television, You have such a short schedule to shoot and edit. You hve to do it quick and fast) and know they will get not the best quality but disposable enough to entertain and make enough money to make a sequel. Not having to endure fights with a director who has a vision and has enough clout to get what they want or won't bow down and worries about not having their vision onscreen. If jenkins would have stayed it would have been a interesting experiment. As she would have been thor's second director. Who is more well known for directing dramatic films and more actor films then film with action. Kenneth Branagh i could see why he at leat took the first film as it is filled with tons of drama as it is a story about gods and mythology. isfilled with great family dynamics and tales of drama. yet he turned out a film that while entertaining with a greatcastwas pretty basic and uninteresting. Notentirely his fault but understandable why he would choose not to return. It also seemed more interested in effects and action. Whcihnever felt special or awe inspiring. In fact it felt almost second rate.

Thursday, December 8, 2011

JEFF OF THE CINEFILES: HALL OF FAME: FILE #0016: EDWARD SCISSORHANDS (1990)


Directed By: Tim Burton
Written By: Caroline Thompson
Story By: Tim Burton & Caroline Thompson
Cinematography By: Stefan Czapsky
Editor: Richard Halsey
Production Design By: Bo Welch

Cast: Johnny Depp, Winona Ryder, Dianne Wiest, Anthony Michael Hall, Kathy Baker, Vincent Price, Alan Arkin, Conchata Ferrell, O-Lan Jones


MY LIFE AS A DOG (Mitt lliv som hund) (1985)


Directed By: Lasse Hallstrom
Written By: Lasse Hallstrom, Reidar Jonsson, Brasse Brannstrom & Per Berglund
Based on the novel by: Reidar Jonsson
Cinematography By: Jorgen Persson
Editor: Christer Furubrand & Susanne Linmann

Cast: Anton Granzelius, Tomas Von Bromssen, Melinda Kinnaman, Leif Ericsson


Sunday, December 4, 2011

NICE GUY JOHNNY (2010)



Written & Directed By: Ed Burns
Cinematography By: William Rexer
Editor: Janet Gaynor

Cast: Matt Bush, Ed Burns, Kerry Bishe, Callie Thorne, Jay Patterson


FORMULA 51 (2001)



Directed By: Ronny Yu
Written By: Stel Pavlou
Cinematography By: Hang-Sang Poon
Editor: David Wu

Cast: Samuel L. Jackson, Robert Carlyle, Emily Mortimer, Meatloaf, Rhys Ifans, Ade, Sean Pertwee