Writer/Director Baz Luhrmann has made a sweeping film that can be summed up the same way I would sum up its female lead Nicole Kidman.

Just because something is beautiful doe not mean it is worth paying money to see.

There was a great deal of effort and expectation put behind this production. With all of the wonderful cinematography and breathless acting, the film is waaaaay toooooo loooooong and far to aware of itself.

This film will remind you of Gone With the Wind (the connection is unavoidable) and this production does not do well by the comparison. Since this is the case, I have to recommend you forget this one and go see the classic.




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Labels: Bryan Brown, David Wenham, film, Hugh Jackman, movie review, Nicole Kidman

Short Review: You have Wolverine, the coolest of all superheroes. You have him in his own origin movie completely unleashed from those stupid X-Men movies. How do you screw this up?

Well, apparently just like this.



Have you have seen a basketball player break away with the ball and sprint down the court all alone, no one in sight? They carefully, and skillfully approach the hoop and go for a simple layup.

And miss.

That is this movie.

If you have any expectations just assume they will not be met. Hugh Jackman fronts this, what should be the first in a series of Wolverine films. Instead of launching a new franchise, he's the captain on a rocket that explodes on the pad. I take that back, it pathetically fizzles and slowly falls over.

What's wrong? The film never gains any lift, it feels tired and slow. The main conflict doesn't have enough weight behind it because the narrative needlessly shifts from place to place from character to character without settling on a solid, meaningful path.

There's nothing wrong with the performances and there is certainly nothing wrong with the production in general. This is a well made film in many respects. The problem completely lies in the script by David Benioff (Troy) and Skip Woods (Swordfish). If this film would have had a straight, good guy/bad guy storyline and dropped all of the pitstops this would have been a watchable wad of Hollywood nonsense.




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Labels: Dominic Monaghan, film, Gavin Hood, Hugh Jackman, Liev Schreiber, Lynn Collins, movie review, Ryan Reynolds, superhero

Screenwriters: David Benioff (The Kite Runner)
Director: Gavin Hood (Tsotsi)
Actors: Hugh Jackman (The Fountain), Ryan Reynolds (Smokin' Aces), Liev Schreiber (The Manchurian Candidate) and Dominic Monaghan (Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers)

Labels: film, Hugh Jackman, Liev Schreiber, movie trailer, Ryan Reynolds

Christopher Nolan (Memento, Insomnia, Batman Begins, The Dark Knight) is clearly one of the best of his generation of American directors. This film is further testament to his deft hand at the art of directing and for his ability to reduce intricate narratives to consumable and enjoyable films.

This film tells the story of a dueling duo of turn-of-the-century illusionists. The two ramp up their efforts to upstage one another to a point of ridiculous extremes and, of course, end up hurting everyone around them in the process. While this may not seem like much of a concept, the script (by Nolan and his brother Jonathan Nolan) is actually quite well done. The two illusionists Robert Angier (Hugh Jackman) and Alfred Borden (Christian Bale) are complicated men and this film has the patience to allow both Jackman and Bale the opportunity to get into their characters and flesh them out. The competition between the two men is reasonable at first but quickly takes an extreme turn. The lengths at which these men go to out do the other are so obtuse they could easily overtake the film and push it into being laughable. Because Nolan’s script and direction allow for Jackman and Bale a patient forum to explain these men, the film doesn't suffer from its excesses.

The concepts of the duality of man fill this production. Each person, with the exception of the God-figure Cutter (Michael Caine) an illusion engineer and stage manager, each character is swamped in dual roles that thwart their happiness. Their professional aspirations and their private need for vengeance trap the men. They are stuck creating great works in order to destroy their enemy. Olivia (Scarlett Johansson), a stagehand who gets wrapped up in the lives of these illusionists, finds herself being a lover to both men while deceiving them both in due course. Even the central illusion of the piece belays the dual nature theme. Both men obsess over a trick known as “The Transported Man” which is an impossible illusion involving body doubles. Nolan plays out his themes and symbolism with careful direction. Unlike many of his contemporaries, Nolan’s voice never shouts over his work.

Looking at the this overall, it is a wonderfully executed and smart work and matches Nolan’s other efforts. The performances across the board are very strong and inviting. Comparisons to the film The Illusionist is unavoidable. Both are haunting tales about turn-of-the-century stage magicians and were released practically side by side. This film has a smarter edge and better acting. The other is far more attractive and sports a superior final act. Between the two however, this film wins. With the quality of the performances, along with Nolan's clever hands holding the reigns, this film gives more to its audience. Even with its rather obvious final act this piece still finishes with a greater satisfaction.


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Labels: Christian Bale, Christopher Nolan, film, Hugh Jackman, Michael Caine, movie review, Scarlett Johansson

In his recent book Everything Bad Is Good for You: How Today's Popular Culture Is Actually Making Us Smarter, Steven Johnson argues that today's movies and television shows are much more complicated than in days of yore and that this sophistication exercises our brains in beneficial ways. I'm not sure I agree with the thesis, but exhibit A in his defense might be The Prestige, an enjoyable and interesting film nearly spoiled by needless complication.

The movie takes place in the late 19th century and involves two aspiring stage magicians who start out as friends, but become bitter rivals. They are obsessed with discovering each other's tricks, while each plots to sabotage the other's act. The period setting and the focus on illusionists and their techniques together with the revenge and obsession angle make for a very agreeable combination. The films creators, however, tell the story in a way that makes the first half very difficult to follow. Make sure your soda is caffeinated, not in order to stay awake, but because you will need every bit of mental acuity to keep up.

The central problem is that the story is told in flashbacks from a main plot line. There are, however, two separate flashback threads, one that starts at the beginning of the protagonists careers (thread A), and one that begins much later (thread B). Thread A is further fractured by constant cuts between the separate activities of the two rivals. Matters are not helped by the fact that thread B and the main plot line both have the two men reading each other's notebooks. Now add three actresses who all look as if they could be sisters, and you can begin to understand the challenge. At times I felt like a pilot in a fancy new jet fighter, whose acrobatics were impressive, but the G forces drained the blood from my head. Fortunately, the theater was equipped with inflatable leg cuffs that kept me from passing out.

Despite the foregoing, the plot and characters were compelling enough to make me want to stick with it. The plot was coherent in spite of the way it unfolded. The ending involved the resolution of two interlocking mysteries. The film handled one half of this pair perfectly. The writers signaled the other half far too early and drained the finale of some surprise, but this is a minor criticism.

One of the more enjoyable aspects of the film is piecing together the many connections, foreshadowing, and allusions after you leave the theater. This is the kind of movie that could pay rewatching. Since I invariable watch a movie the first time for the plot, and subsequent times for outstanding dialog and characterization, I'll probably pass on that, as the script and acting are serviceable, but not stellar.

I recommend this film for its many pleasures, but it will make you work for them. Whether it will make you smarter is different question.


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Labels: Christian Bale, Christopher Nolan, film, guest review, Hugh Jackman, Michael Caine, movie review, Scarlett Johansson

Screenwriter: Darren Aronofsky (Requiem for a Dream)
Director: Darren Aronofsky (Pi)
Actors: Hugh Jackman (X-Men), Rachel Weisz (The Constant Gardner) and Ellen Burstyn (The Spitfire Grill)

Labels: Darren Aronofsky, film, Hugh Jackman, movie trailer, Rachel Weisz

This sprawling movie, taking place during World War II and obviously set in Australia, tells the tale of a couple (Hugh Jackman and Nicole Kidman) who drive a couple thousand cattle across the country. As they travel, they witness the bombing of Darwin by the Japanese forces.

It looks good but Nicole Kidman is on screen. She has a batting average that is on par with Dan Ackroyd and Pauly Shore - Bewitched, The Golden Compass, The Others, Eyes Wide Shut, Practical Magic, The Invasion, Billy Bathgate, Batman Forever, and on and on. You have to wash your hands after you handle her resume for fear of contracting E. coli. Having Kidman in the production is not a good sign.

It has a great look and certainly seems to show promise. Make your own judgement, check out the new trailer below.





Screenwriters: Baz Luhrmann (Strictly Ballroom), and Ronald Harwood (Being Julia)
Director: Baz Luhrmann (Romeo + Juliet)
Actors: Hugh Jackman (The Fountain), Nicole Kidman (The Human Stain), David Wenham (300), Bryan Brown (F/X) and Bruce Spence (Mad Max 2: The Road Warrior)

Labels: David Wenham, Hugh Jackman, movie trailer, Nicole Kidman

Labels: David Wenham, Hugh Jackman, movie trailer, Nicole Kidman

Screenwriters: Mark Bomback (Live Free or Die Hard)
Director: Marcel Langenegger
Actors: Ewan McGregor (The Island), Hugh Jackman (The Prestige), Michelle Williams (Brokeback Mountain), and Maggie Q (Balls of Fury)

Labels: Ewan McGregor, Hugh Jackman, Maggie Q, movie trailer