Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close

Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close is a 2011 film starring Thomas Horn, Tom Hanks, and Sandra Bullock. It was based on the novel of the same title, written by Jonathan Safran Foer, which was published in 2005. The film was directed by Stephen Daldry who also directed the 2008 film, The Reader.

This was probably one of the most heartwarming movies. How could it not be? It talks about a son who lost his father during the 9/11 attack. It talks about how the mother and son deals with it, with a little help from the grandmother. It also showed the return of the grandfather, who abandoned the boy's father when the latter was still a child. It's a family drama film, and an inspiring one at that. It utilized puzzles and adventure, and the journey it made me take was incredible. 

It dealt with a lot of sensitive and current issues. For starters, it's about terrorism. Sure, it wasn't featured in the actual film; however, the act of terrorism committed on September 11, 2001 provided the basic premise of the story. It provided the setting where and when the story took place. It also tackled death. Although the premise locates this story as part of the aftermath of 9/11, anyone who had lost a loved one would be able to relate to this film. It talked about family, the dynamics of a family that got broken. The trauma other family members could go through after losing someone in an unexpected time and event. It's always hard to lose someone, but I felt how it was so much harder for people to deal with a death caused by such tragedy. 

It also depicted other things like conquering one's fears, dealing with strangers, family problems and a whole lot more. This movie had so much to offer because it explored different elements that surrounded its core story. Jonathan Safran Foer created an amazing story in his work, and Eric Roth did great in translating the book to a screenplay. 

This was the first piece of literature that I came across that talked about the 9/11 attack. This was the first movie I saw that talked about 9/11. I guess it was different than watching war films. I've seen a few war films: Saving Private Ryan, Flags of our Fathers, Letters from Iwo Jima to name a few. I enjoyed watching these movies, and I even consider Saving Private Ryan as one of my all time favorite films. However, I would be the first to admit that there's a challenge to situate things mostly because I was not around during those times. I had several history classes, I had come across stories and details about it so I can say I am familiar with the war, at least to a certain extent. However, 9/11 was something that happened in my lifetime which made me relate to it more. I remember being in the classroom when I was in the fifth grade talking about how the twin towers fell, or watching the news on TV witnessing how people were crying and suffering. In both cases, war or 9/11, I could only imagine the horror of having to deal with losing someone unexpectedly. 

The story, which was basically the journey of the boy to re-connect with his father, was really moving. I still consider myself to be young, still a kid. However, seeing a much younger boy go through what he went through could make your mind wonder about your own life. At least that's what happened to me. It was very clever to use a key to be the primary object of the journey, because Oskar, the kid, wanted to find a "door" that would allow him to make his connection with his dad longer. 

Tom Hanks and Sandra Bullock are both award winning performers; and they just showed why they got all those awards. Tom Hanks is one of my favorite actors. I became a huge fan of his when I saw Saving Private Ryan, and as I've mentioned, I think it's one of the best films of all time. I've also always been a supporter of Sandra Bullock, although it's mostly because of her comedy films. I strongly believe she's one of the best actresses in the industry today. Thomas Horn has a lot of potential. Considering he was just discovered after joining a game show, the kid delivered in the film. His acting was superb! The supporting actors were great too. Everyone was great. 

The film, as a whole, was beyond excellent. There was a scene, however, that I didn;t exactly appreciate. It was theone where Oskar asked The Renter if he, Oskar, could tell his story to the old man. That scene was a bit dragging for me. I felt that it was too much and halfway through it, I jut wanted the scene to be over. However, as soon as it stopped, and Oskar was shown with his head on the table, I immediately went back to admiring the movie. It really was an amazing movie, and I would never understand why it didn't do well in the box-office, or why some of the critics hated it. I guess, we have our own opinions, and mine clearly shows how much I liked this movie. I'm glad it got a lot of recognition from different institutions because the film deserved every one of it.

Fight Club

Fight Club was released in 1999 and starred Brad Pitt, Edward Norton, and Helena Bonham Carter. It was directed by David Fincher, and its screenplay was written by Jim Uhls, based on the 1996 novel by Chuck Palahniuk. It's considered to be one of the most controversial films at the time, and for good reason. It has violence, consumerism, and total chaos. Somehow, I understood why this film didn't sit well with a number of people at the time. However, watching it from a context that's closely related to what the movie was tackling, I had fun watching it.

This film had everything I want in a movie: comedy, action, and a psycho-thriller concept. It had social commentaries, and it dealt with sensitive issues including death. The beginning of the film was hilarious, yet also touching. The script was obviously geared to a lighter direction with the use of humor. However, the message behind the funny lines were moving as well, showcasing how desperate people are in the face of death, how people need people to lean on during difficult times. Although the film made use of wit and humor, it maintained the seriousness of these issues.

I guess the basic premise of the film is the story of man who has trouble sleeping. In the beginning, it was shown how he initially dealt with it, going to different support groups. This also served as a venue to meet Marla Singer (Carter). It also served as a platform for fight club.

It also depicted different aspects of society. Starting with the protagonist, played by Edward Norton, he embodies a normal man, with a normal job, living the normal life. In the beginning of the film, he was portrayed as a soldier of consumerism, building up his condo unit through Ikea catalogues. He bought whatever he saw was fit for his home. He lived a routinary life, flying to places where he was needed. Then, there's Tyler, a character that embodied how it was like to fight against consumerism, to not be a victim of what society dictates as a good lifestyle, a man that aimed to change the world. He was a man willing to use violence to declare war against the principles he thought were destructive. At the end of the day, considering these beliefs and actions, what defines a man?

It took me a couple of minutes to realize what the fight club represented. I might be wrong, but from what I got, it represented freedom. Going against social norms and doing what you want. It's a form of release for these people, a form of letting go of their inhibitions and succumbing to their desires of another life. Sometimes, we are put in a box, pressured to do what we ought to do; and sometimes, we just want to be a different person even for just a short moment. The fight club provided that opportunity.

I like the twist at the end regarding the characters of the narrator (Norton), and Tyler Durden (Pitt). It's like Shutter Island meets bloodshed. Once the truth was revealed, the film became even more exciting. This also cues Norton's character to chase time and prevent the start of chaos. The ending will show whether he succeeded or not.

Edward Norton is really one of the best actors of our generation. So is Brad Pitt, although I haven't seen a movie of him in a while. It's just weird how (if Wikipedia's claim is accurate) Brad Pitt was paid 17.5 million dollars, and Edward Norton was only paid 2.5 million. I know Brad Pitt's a big star, but so is Edward Norton. Plus, Norton had a lot more to do than Pitt. But I guess that's Hollywood transaction. I wish Norton was paid a little more, since he definitely gave a performance worth the bucks. Helena Bonham Carter looked twisted in this movie, and I mean that in the best way possible. It was her character though. It's just weird because she will be in Dark Shadows, and I've seen the promotional posters, and it's like Marla Singer all over again. But I guess that shows what an actress she is that she can embody these types of characters. Meat Loaf as Robert Paulsen was one of my favorite characters in the film.

I broke the first two rules of Fight Club by writing this. The first rule of fight club is you do not talk about fight club. The second rule of fight club is you do not talk about fight club. I guess, the fight club members would understand when I say I broke the first two rules to highlight the brilliance that is the film. It became part of this generation's culture. I am glad it did. Fight Club is one of the most entertaining films, backed with a strong message.

Thor

Thor was definitely something. I didn't know what to expect mostly because he's the least known superhero in my world. I'm well aware of Thor as a god in mythology but not as a superhero. Although I've known there was such a character, I never knew about who really was, his character, his background, his story. I didn't even know his weapon was a hammer. I guess that sums up my ignorance towards the character.

Having confessed all that, I actually found the film quite enjoyable. At the beginning of the film, I was already starting to form my judgment, and I initially thought that I wouldn't like Thor's character. By the end of the film I was ok with him. I liked him  lot more in the Avengers movie though (Avengers movie review here: http://mrfilmreviewer.blogspot.com/2012/04/avengers.html) I was glad to see his transformation though, from an arrogant, self-centered character, to a selfless one. It's a huge cliche if you think about it, but it worked so I won't complain.

I liked how this film started. It had this massive build-up, and just when I was getting into the scene, it cuts it. I don't know if it qualifies as in medias res, given that the major story line started after this initial scene, but there was an attempt to utilize this technique. It was different, which made it interesting. I liked how it got back to how Thor was sent to earth, which was new to me, and how he met Jane, the character of Natalie Portman.

Kat Dennings' Darcy was my favorite character in the whole movie. I was very tempted to say Jane just because Natalie Portman plays the character, but Darcy just took the cake with her comic lines. Of course we all know she stars in 2 Broke Girls now, and we are aware of her comedy skills. But I chuckled in almost everything she said in this movie. I especially liked her relationship with the taser. I was also glad to see Agent Coulson much more screen time in this movie than he did in Iron Man. Although he wasn't exactly the good guy here, it was still nice to see Clark Gregg rock out the character of Coulson. Of course, the stars of the film - Chris Hemsworth, Natalie Portman, and Tom Hiddleston- were all amazing in this. I just have to say that Tom Hiddleston did Loki so well in both Thor and Avengers. He plays a villain very well.

All in all, I thought it was an enjoyable film. It didn't have a big climactic fight scene, relative to the other Marvel films. It had a lot of action scenes, with the last one revolving to the end of the relationship of Thor and Jane. (I liked that scene, if I'll be completely honest. It's one of the best moment sin the film. It was real, and there was pain.) Thor did not defeat The Incredible Hulk as my favorite superhero film, but it was still pretty good. I also give it plus points for showing Jeremy Renner as Agent Barton.

Gone Baby Gone

Where exactly is the line that distinguishes right and wrong? When can we say that we are doing the right thing? When can we justify actions that are frowned upon by society? Does the end justify the means? These questions provide the basic premise of the film Gone Baby Gone, starring Casey Affleck, Michelle Monaghan, Morgan Freeman, Ed Harris, and a lot more. It was directed by Ben Affleck, who also co-wrote the screenplay of the movie with Aaron Stockard.

Usually, I just go on and talk about the cinematics of a film, more than the message. I talk about the cinematography ad not what they mean. I praise the loudness of the audio when there is also power in silence. However, for this film, allow me to do something a little different.

This was a powerful movie. This had a message, and it would be a shame if I didn't discuss it. The basic plot of the film revolves around a couple who got hired to locate a missing girl. It might seem like a  generic story of kidnapping. Even the usual suspects were portrayed. But the movie took on so much more than that. Just when you thought you already know what's going to happen next, the film changed its direction. The film played with a lot of materials, but it always stuck with its core points. 

I liked the twists and turns in this film, it kept me anticipating what was going to happen. It didn't have a dull moment. It only had quiet moments, and even in those quiet moments, I could still feel the intensity of it. Even the black outs in the film was complementing the mood of the film. There's a subtle loudness to it that hooked me to it. This film might not be a perfect movie, but it was damn close to being one. Not only did this film have an amazing cast, it had a well-written screenplay, and a clear direction to back it up. 

This film was probably one of most moving films I have seen, given that I haven't seen a lot of films. It was an emotionally charged, thought provoking film. It begs you to question your principles, your morality, your stand on issues. It challenges you to look deep and reflect on how you, yourself, would have handled such a situation. It took me some time to finish writing this, and to be honest, I still don't have a definite answer. I guess that is part of the power of this film, you will never really know until you're in that point when you have to make the decision, to make the call. 

It also deals with the repercussions of such decisions. Did you or did you not make the right decision? For every decision, for every action, there are consequences. We all have to face it. Maybe sometimes, we will doubt ourselves. We may even regret the choices we made. However, once you've made the call, there's no turning back. 

Casey Affleck is one talented actor. Maybe it runs in the family. But Casey Affleck must not be boxed to him being an Affleck. He have made a name for himself, and his performance in Gone Baby Gone is proof of the caliber of his talent. The way he delivers his lines just hit you in the heart, and he portrays the proper expressions. That makes the scenes even more genuine. Morgan Freeman is one of the best in the industry. There is something in the way he talks that moves or inspires me. He is simply one of the greatest actors Hollywood has ever seen. I felt like Michelle Monaghan could have been utilized a lot more. She is a wonderful actress, and I have seen her other works before. Having said that, she was absolutely fantastic in this. Amy Ryan deserved all the credit she got in this movie, including nominations from the Golden Globes and Academy Awards. She's the character you hate, only to realize the reason you hate her is because she was doing so well portraying the character. Ed Harris also had a strong performance in this movie. 

This movie, at the end of the day, leaves a challenge; one that calls for a fervent recollection of thoughts and actions. It's all about the decisions we make. I especially appreciated the ending of the film, how a simple conversation with a kid can reveal a variety of things. That scene alone encapsulated the movie's message for me: Sometimes, doing what we think is right is the wrong decision to make. 

Good Day For It

Good Day For It is an independent film starring Robert Patrick. I've become a fan of Robert Patrick after watching Bridge to Terabithia (http://mrfilmreviewer.blogspot.com/2012/04/bridge-to-terabithia.html) and I decided to see his other works. I've seen his other films but he only had supporting roles, so I decided to pick this one.

The movie had the same vibe as Winter's Bone, the independent film that led to the Oscar nomination of Jennifer Lawrence(which she clearly deserved).  My review of it here: http://mrfilmreviewer.blogspot.com/2012/04/winters-bone.html I saw a lot of similarities between the two films. First of all it had the independent vibe. The shots, the cinematography, a lot of things were indetical. Even the stories had parallelisms. I couldn't help but have flashbacks of Winter's Bone while watching the film. I do think that both were strong films.

The story revolved the reunion of a father and child. It was a slow-paced drama, and I don't usually enjoy films that move slowly. That was why I found it hard a bit to sit through the first few minutes. I felt that it was really going slow and I was starting to lose my interest. I guess I stayed because I believe that it would get better, and because I think Robert Patrick would not disappoint.

The whole movie moved slowly, but it still progressed. It retained its calm atmosphere for the most part. It had a couple of fight scenes as well, and that made the film more exciting. I guess that's the trend in independent films. They go for subtlety. Maybe I've been spoiled by studio films that tend to rush things in movies in order to create this fast-paced action flicks. I would say though that I actually liked the stillness of the film, probably because it was different. In my opinion, it still progressed constantly to make me want to see what would happen next.

It showcased the talent Robert Patrick has. He can do drama and action. It looked weird cause he looked a lot older than he did in Bridge to Terabithia, which was released just a few years before this film. I guess that's part of the conception of the film. However, looking old or not, no one can deny the greatness of Robert Patrick. He's easily one of the best actors out there. (I also read it somewhere that he's one of the most professional actors)

Robert Patrick was not the only star of the film. I honestly think this film had a pretty strong cast. I want to mention however the awesomeness of Hal Holbrook. He was amazing in this. Other standouts for me were Sarah, Emily, Rose and the Deputy. All of them gave strong performances. I think each character represented something, and that's what I liked about the interactions of the characters. My interpretations might be far from what the filmmakers intended to do, but as a viewer, I liked the thought process my mind was going through.

The film was predictable, but I think the ending was not as important as the development of the story. I think the story aimed at discussing the progression of how a kid finally met her dad. The unfortunate fact that on the day of their reunion, the dad was spotted by his enemies. The whole conception of it I think was strong enough to carry the film. The actors made it even better. Nick Stagliano definitely did a good job in this.