Bronson

The first major film by Nicholas Winding Refn, Bronson is a Dramedy with a twist.  Based on Charles Bronson's mad life in and out of jail, before he spent 33 years in solitary confinement, his artwork and his feelings towards life.


Much like The Joker, there is no method to his madness.  He is not mad in fact, he is as sane as many.  He just chooses to be the 'madman', using his huge body strength to tear through men like a duck through water.


Its a remarkable film that chops and changes back and forth from dramatization to stage play.  Its a mix of Stanislavsky's method to Brecht's alienation.  Tom Hardy as always lives a role through and through, from the weight gain to the accent.    Its not as good as Drive for me, although I love the similar use of soundtrack choices.

Rampart

Rampart is the story of a policeman in the 90’s around the Rampart district scandal.  The Rampart scandal surrounded the corrupt cops and their malevolent practices in order to get convictions.  Police brutality, theft, falsifying evidence amongst a few things that became commonplace in the police HQ as well as on the streets.

The film focuses on one particular street cop caught up in that corrupt life “Date Rape” Dave Brown.  Nick named ‘Date Rape’ due to an alleged rumour that he killed a date rapist in revenge for his crimes.  Dave is savvy, has all the right words to say, a repeat philanderer/ladies man (however you want to look at it), dysfunctional family in tow, career spiralling out of control.  He manages to bury his ‘date rape’ reputation by getting the criminals in by any means necessary but when a particular much publicised sting gone wrong begins to bite him back, she starts to fall deeper and deeper into his own personal hell.

Stellar acting by Woody Harrelson as Dave Brown, but even his great acting doesn’t save this film.  It’s too long, boring at times and he is completely unlike-able.  Its a smart choice by Harrelson, flexing his acting chops off to show that he isn’t just that guy from Cheers, but it was a little too far the other way.  The Messenger for me is a better advocate for Harrelson’s talent.  Ben Foster (briefly) stars as well as produces the film.  He is also a great actor sitting on the fringes and never really coming into the forefront.  I hope 2012 is the year that both get to come forward and really show themselves off.

Rampart is okay, worth waiting for DVD on this one.

My Week with Marilyn

I am a big fan of Marilyn Monroe.  There I said it.  She was beautiful, charming, witty, did I mention stunning?  I have read a lot of biographies and exposes on her life, fascinated by why a talented young woman died so young and so alone.

My Week with Marilyn is a film about the short time she was in the UK filming The Prince and The Showgirl and falling in love/lust with a young runner on the set called Colin Clark.  Based on the true memoirs/story by Clark, it documents the beginnings of her marriage to Arthur Miller, her conflicts with acting and being a star, as well as the serious depression she was then suffering.

Colin offered her a small way out, a breath of fresh air, breathing space in her otherwise conflicted and stressful world.  Monroe, played skilfully by Michelle Williams, captivates the audience, colleagues and all those around her with a small look, the slight lilt in her voice and even the way she walks.  We get an insight to Norma Jean before Marilyn is switched on and running on all cylinders.  Sadly, Marilyn was surrounded by enablers, people that feared their own careers would be over if she suddenly realised how talent she actually was.  They kept her drugged up, constantly falling in and out of depression, repeatedly suffering miscarriages.  Marilyn was a mess, only kept together by small delights in Colin and countless men before and after him.

William’s portrayal of Monroe is so good, I forget what the real Marilyn looks like half way through the film.  Her open face, constantly surprised, the voice, the walk, even the way she looks at you is perfect.  Eddie Redmayne (fantastic in Savage Grace and Pillars of the Earth), now coming up the ranks as Britain’s hottest new thing, uses his innocent face to really play the young infatuated love interest really well.

Kenneth Branagh was also fantastic in the film playing the ever crazy and easily frustrated Laurence Olivier directing and acting alongside the ever trying Monroe.  Some of the lines he comes out with are priceless. 

Overall this film is wonderful, giving a real insight into Marilyn’s complicated world.  It left me with a bitter-sweet taste in my mouth.  Someone so talented is crushed within an inch of her life, it’s a miracle she made it that far.  The saddest part is that Hollywood hasn’t learned from its mistakes, Monroe was not the first to crash and burn and certainly won’t be the last.

We Need to Talk About Dad

We Need to Talk About Dad is a feature length documentary about a family in turmoil years after a tragic event occurs and the young son witnesses it.  He is never really able to deal with what happens and years after the event, his family still do not discuss what happened with a view to move on.


Its a really moving piece of a young man's struggle to trust his parents but also be able to trust his own judgement for the rest of his life.


It shows a family barely holding itself together under a veil of 'the happy family' but scratch the surface and you find the ugliness beneath.  Without giving away too much, the father was sent to jail for an incredibly violent act against the mother, which the young son Henry witnessed.  I really feel for Henry and his need to understand what happened but also his need to move on.  It seems he is constantly blocked by his parents (who don't want to discuss it all as it will open a far larger can of worms, larger than Henry himself).


It is a beautifully shot and sensitively handled documentary and can't help but feel that the real victim of all of this is Henry.  I only hope he is able to keep talking and keep moving through the hard times and be able to form better relationships as an adult.

The Rum Diary

Johnny Depp - check

Rum and ting - check

Exotic locations - Check

No Brainer right?  Wrong.  Its Hunter S Thompson which means it will be a bit trippy, written with creative flair that the words and sentences create beautiful images in your head.  Any film based on Thompson's work is alternative, for the person that likes to think about what they are watching.

This film was sold as mainstream, mainstream actor/locations/funny bits in trailer/major cinema release.  All those things above must mean most people/The masses can watch it and enjoy it right?  No.  The film has all mainstream elements except the story/script.  Most will go to watch Johnny Depp be very Deppish because that's what he does.  Problem is this film is not made for the masses and that's where it fails.  Most of the people in the audience just didn't get it. 

I quite enjoyed it but noticed all the best bits were in the trailer.  No one laughed when they should have been laughing so I felt like I was the only one in the room actually 'getting it'.

Its a real shame as I really liked Fear and Loathing... (another fabulous but equally trippy Thompson/Depp creation) and this fits with that mould. 

Its not a must see, worth getting on DVD.

Charles Bradley - The World (Is Going Up In Flames)

I have been listening to this song over and over. I heard it on the credits of a movie the other day (but can't for the life of me remember which one it was, might have been Ides of March).
Anyway, its beautiful, soulful and delight for my ears. Check it.

The Ides of March

Clooney directing, Gosling acting?  Sounds good no?

The story is of a young political hotshot, manager, spin doctor managing an up and coming senator/president wannabe.  He believes his cause.  What his senator stands for.  Morally, it makes him feel like he is also changing the world with his speech writing and shaping of a future president.

Sadly integrity in this industry is rare and this catches up with him and sucks him and wears him down.  He fights so hard to keep his honesty and dignity intact that he is blinded by what is about happen.


Clooney directs this well, his character is not too good. One dimensional, we have seen this politician before in many films.  He doesn't really shine in this role. Gosling however seems to shine in every role he is in.  He does well with a role that is a bit limited.  He has a knack of acting his socks off without saying a word.


The first half of the film is boring.  A run of the mill political drama that The West Wing does far better.  The second half is where it gathers momentum. The acting sublime.  From the flirty moments between Evan Rachel Wood and Ryan Gosling that sparkle from the amazing chemistry and great script to the harsh stand offs between Clooney and Gosling, this is where this film shines.


The only other gripe is that Paul Giamatti and Phillip Seymour Hoffman are wasted in this film.  2 acting powerhouses wasted in what could have potentially been amazing.


Overall the film was a bit meh and quite dissappointing.