Inglourious Basterds was not what I expected. But then again, Quentin Tarantino has a knack of being different than what one would expect. I haven't seen all of Tarantino's films but I would call myself a fan, because I really like the ones I have seen.
When I say Basterds wasn't what I expected, I guess I just mean that it wasn't all Brad Pitt all the time, the way the trailers make it out to be. Now that I've mentioned him I guess I'll start with what I thought of Brad Pitt. First off, I do not like him. The whole I'm-cheating-on-my-amazingly-gorgeous-wife-with-Angelina-Jolie thing really pissed me off. Unfortunately, my personal feelings toward celebrities tend to affect my opinions of their work. I do this for musicians too. Anyway, I was pleasantly surprised by him. Pitt did a great job with his southern accent (according to this list, he is pretty bad at accents). It makes Lt. Aldo Raine more likeable and provides the comic relief. While Brad Pitt was funny in this movie, I wasn't blown away by his acting.
I was very impressed with Mélanie Laurent as Shosanna. For one, she's beautiful, and two, she did wonderfully at being classy and composed and a little wrathful at the same time. I need to look up some of her French films and watch them. Hopefully she'll make her way back to the States soon. I do want to mention that Christoph Waltz, the guy that played Col. Hans Landa, a higher-up in Hitler's SS, is really, really good at being evil. It makes me a little frightened for his family.
Tarantino's way of using music to convey emotion and create drama and suspense is no less than superb. Something big is about to happen, and a song that shouldn't fit but somehow does is blasted at full volume. It makes my heart beat faster. The anticipation of the forthcoming events is so wonderful. Quentin Tarantino does this in all of his films (okay, all the ones I've seen) and every time it produces the same remarkable effect. When you can feel your pulse pounding, the music vibrating in your chest, and you can't take your eyes away from the screen, you know he did something right.
The Bottom Line: A: Take some pretty excellent acting, mix it with a storyline that makes you wanna go redneck and kick some Nazi ass, and throw in some blood and guts for good measure. Bake at 350 for 153 minutes, and you've got a winner. Mr. Tarantino, I bow to you.
Monday, August 31, 2009
Sunday, August 23, 2009
The Time Traveler's Wife (2009)
I should start this off by mentioning a few things. First and foremost, I've never written a real movie review. I used to have a book that I would write them in for myself, for reference, but they were more like lists. This is the first time anyone will read my reviews. My hope is that my reviews will get better with time, along with this blog as a whole. Second, I probably made a poor choice for my first blog. I saw The Time Traveler's Wife through a filter of being totally in love with the novel on which it is based. Now on with the show...
I came across The Time Traveler's Wife on a bookshelf at Target. It was sort of a random choice. I read it quickly and became enamored with the characters and the very palpable love they felt for each other. It's a difficult plot to explain, but is basically about a man named Henry DeTamble who has a genetic disorder that causes him to time travel involuntarily. He meets Clare Abshire when she is six, and when he is 30-something, though Henry is only eight years her senior. The story is of their relationship, and the troubles caused by Henry's disorder.
I don't know exactly when I became aware that a movie based on the book was being produced, but I know it was a while ago. I read that it would be released during the 2008 holiday season, and then it was pushed back to Spring, and then finally Summer. Turns out it was because Eric Bana had to regrow some hair to do a few reshoots, but that's neither here nor there. My point is, I have been waiting and waiting to see this movie.
I checked IMDB religiously for new details. Finally, a cast was announced. I was totally thrilled to find out Rachel McAdams would be portraying Clare Abshire. I adore her. She is beautiful in a very natural way that I admire. Eric Bana as Henry DeTamble, though? You mean the guy that played Bruce Banner in that really shitty Hulk movie? Are you serious? And who decided it was a good idea to cast the Office Space guy as Gomez?
I was very wrong. Eric Bana did an amazing job. He was Henry. Bana looked almost exactly how I had pictured Henry, handsome with a bit of scruff. Ron Livingston played a really good Gomez. He was funny and charismatic, the way Gomez is supposed to be. But Rachel McAdams just is not Clare. I don't know who I would have chosen in her place, but Clare is supposed to be fiesty, vibrant, and completely in love with Henry. I just didn't buy it and for the first time my lovely Rachel disappointed me. I do want to add that I was very impressed with Brooklynn Proulx's portrayal as young Clare. She was cute as a button and already a great actor. I hope to see more of her soon.
I wasn't sure how smoothly the timeline of the book would translate on screen, but it was done well. There was no confusion as to exactly when the audience was seeing. The camera work and editing in one particular scene really sticks with me. It's the showing of time passing between Alba's (Henry and Clare's daughter) birth and her fifth birthday. I can't describe it, but it's genius. Kudos to the guy (or girl) that put together that shot.
As it is quite a long book, the movie did leave out many details that really draw the audience to the characters. I know it wouldn't be possible to include everything, but without the small details the characters almost lose their humanity. We don't get to struggle with Henry's genetic anomoly and its effect on his everyday life, empathize with Clare's attempt to cope, or really experience the birth of their love.
The Bottom Line: C+: The acting was slightly above average. The settings (rural Michigan and urban Chicago) were breathtaking. I do want to add that someone who did not read the book told me that the film did not make sense and seemed to never end. So maybe it really doesn't make sense. According to this website, The Time Traveler's Wife may be coming to the small screen. I hope it's a success, this story deserves a lot more time, attention, and love.
I came across The Time Traveler's Wife on a bookshelf at Target. It was sort of a random choice. I read it quickly and became enamored with the characters and the very palpable love they felt for each other. It's a difficult plot to explain, but is basically about a man named Henry DeTamble who has a genetic disorder that causes him to time travel involuntarily. He meets Clare Abshire when she is six, and when he is 30-something, though Henry is only eight years her senior. The story is of their relationship, and the troubles caused by Henry's disorder.
I don't know exactly when I became aware that a movie based on the book was being produced, but I know it was a while ago. I read that it would be released during the 2008 holiday season, and then it was pushed back to Spring, and then finally Summer. Turns out it was because Eric Bana had to regrow some hair to do a few reshoots, but that's neither here nor there. My point is, I have been waiting and waiting to see this movie.
I checked IMDB religiously for new details. Finally, a cast was announced. I was totally thrilled to find out Rachel McAdams would be portraying Clare Abshire. I adore her. She is beautiful in a very natural way that I admire. Eric Bana as Henry DeTamble, though? You mean the guy that played Bruce Banner in that really shitty Hulk movie? Are you serious? And who decided it was a good idea to cast the Office Space guy as Gomez?
I was very wrong. Eric Bana did an amazing job. He was Henry. Bana looked almost exactly how I had pictured Henry, handsome with a bit of scruff. Ron Livingston played a really good Gomez. He was funny and charismatic, the way Gomez is supposed to be. But Rachel McAdams just is not Clare. I don't know who I would have chosen in her place, but Clare is supposed to be fiesty, vibrant, and completely in love with Henry. I just didn't buy it and for the first time my lovely Rachel disappointed me. I do want to add that I was very impressed with Brooklynn Proulx's portrayal as young Clare. She was cute as a button and already a great actor. I hope to see more of her soon.
I wasn't sure how smoothly the timeline of the book would translate on screen, but it was done well. There was no confusion as to exactly when the audience was seeing. The camera work and editing in one particular scene really sticks with me. It's the showing of time passing between Alba's (Henry and Clare's daughter) birth and her fifth birthday. I can't describe it, but it's genius. Kudos to the guy (or girl) that put together that shot.
As it is quite a long book, the movie did leave out many details that really draw the audience to the characters. I know it wouldn't be possible to include everything, but without the small details the characters almost lose their humanity. We don't get to struggle with Henry's genetic anomoly and its effect on his everyday life, empathize with Clare's attempt to cope, or really experience the birth of their love.
The Bottom Line: C+: The acting was slightly above average. The settings (rural Michigan and urban Chicago) were breathtaking. I do want to add that someone who did not read the book told me that the film did not make sense and seemed to never end. So maybe it really doesn't make sense. According to this website, The Time Traveler's Wife may be coming to the small screen. I hope it's a success, this story deserves a lot more time, attention, and love.
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