January Round Up

Roper Review – January Round-Up.

Nothing like a bit of healthy escapism to deny the winter blues. I missed a few big hitters this month but saw a decent array of flicks to warm the cockles. Here are my thoughts.

Mission Impossible: Ghost Protocol

Mission Impossible 3 was a film that truly surprised me. More than just a solid action flick, it was a taut and intense affair that elevated Ethan Hunt to the likes of Bourne and Bond. Brad Bird’s (of Pixar fame) follow up lacks the bite of the previous entry into the series, largely thanks to a lackluster enemy, but still has some stand out action set pieces.

The nonsensical plot involving nuclear missiles is easily forgotten, but as you watch Cruise dangle off the tallest building in the world with only one hand, you’ll forget all about his personal life and simply route for Ethan’s survival. Simon Pegg provides some humor in a surprisingly meaty role as the ‘techy’ in Ethan Hunt’s team. You get the feeling the studio feared Cruise’s personal life affecting the box office takings as he gets less attention in this film, but still proves he is one of the most committed actors in Hollywood as he leaps, dives, shoots and fights his way around the world in a nicely entertaining affair.

***

The Artist

If a better film comes out this year, it will have to be an instant classic. What seemed like a ‘darling’ little film at last year Cannes film festival has become a huge hit; rightly so, but rather surprising considering it is essentially a black and white, silent film.

Funny, tragic and romantic thanks to stellar performances by the films leads, it tells the story of a silent movie star who cannot cut in in the world of ‘talking pictures.’ A magical score and perfect pacing elevate this film from art-house experiment to top-notch entertainment. Fight against any reservations you may have and go and see this gem.

*****

Goon

A foul-mouthed Canadian comedy sees American Pie’s Stifler (Seann William Scott) playing a simple small town bouncer who is drafted to a major league Hockey team when his talent for fighting is recognized. A simple sports comedy, you know if you’ll like it from the trailer. Some successful slapstick (and surprisingly brutal) moments provide the laughs but it’s a very forgettable flick.

**

War Horse

Spielberg’s predictably epic adaptation of Morpurgo novel fails as much as it succeeds. It is beautifully shot, stirringly scored and well acted all round; however, it is also overlong and jarringly episodic.

The sanitized war scenes display the horrors of war in family friendly fashion, and there are some stand out moments that show that the master director knows how to tug the heartstrings and quicken the pulse. Joey’s (the horse) flight through no mans land, and a tragic tale of two German siblings who want to escape the fighting will linger with you long after the film finished. However, so will a sickly sweet after taste of a overtly sentimental film that has long dull stretches, and a structure that doesn’t allow you to get attached to any character before they are either killed or left behind as Joey continues his journey. Not a complete failure, but far from Spielberg’s best.

**

Haywire

A direct to DVD plot, staring a professional female kick-boxer is an usual choice for Oscar winning director Steven Soderbergh, but thanks to his undeniably stylish talents this is an thrilling and classy action thriller. The story is a simple revenge thriller of a government agency that turned on its star assassin. Newcomer Gina Carano plays the assassin, and she is tough as nails!

She fights her way through a star-studded ensemble cast in a series of realistic looking bare bones conflicts. It is pure style over substance, but it is done so well you won’t really care.

****

Coriolanus

Ralph Fiennes adaptation of a lesser known Shakespeare play is a good attempt to modernize the story, but unfortunately the story is so poor it drags the film down. Set in a war torn Rome, it revolves around a soldier who is declared a war hero, yet despises the very people that idealize him. Gerard Butler plays the soldier’s arch nemesis. He is someone who can’t act his way out of a paper bag, and remains as wooden as ever. It starts promisingly, but just like the original play, as an awful ending that ruins the exciting build up. Avoid.

*

The Descendants

George Clooney’s greatest performance is the only reason to see this depressing and slow melodrama from the usually excellent Alexander Payne. Set in Hawaii, the plot concerns a Clooney’s character trying to rekindle his relationship with his daughters as they cope with the loss of their mother.

Beautifully shot and performed, but the plot revolves around one emotional conversation to the next. There are moments of comedy, but the whole film is too downbeat, and too emotionally restrained to engage.

**

The Gray

Liam Neeson continues his acting renaissance as Hollywood’s new hard man in this thrilling and moving adventure. When a plane carrying manual workers crashes in the mountains of Alaska, the survivors must face the harsh conditions with no hope of rescue. To make matters worse, they are also been pursued by a pack of wolves.

Liam Neeson has fought the dark side, batman, highlander, the Nazi’s and now a pack of canines. Somehow his natural gravitas, and superb direction from Joe Carnahan makes this a gripping and at times insightful journey. Highly recommended.

Chronicle

This film has come out of nowhere, just like the powers the films stars encounter. A superhero movie, filmed through a video camera a la Cloverfield, paranormal activity etc, Chronicle is fantastic. Arguable the home movie gimmick isn’t needed as the concept is interesting enough.

Choosing to ignore Peter Parker’s motto ‘with great power comes great responsibility,’ the boys initially use their newly found telekinesis for Jackass style pranks. Eventually they learn to harness their power and fly, but unfortunately, not all of the boys choose to use their powers for harmless pranks. A morality tale, a study of friendship and a thrilling action film, Chronicle is a marvel.

****