rebelprince89 Blog

The ultimate Bond!

rebelprince89 — Fri, 24 Apr 2009 18:48:53 GMT

"Casino Royale" blew me away. It is a fantastic movie in every way, and also the best Bond so far! I have always liked Pierce Brosnan (for some reason, other people didn't) in this prestigious role, and now that he has retired as a 00 agent, it is great to see someone even better replace him.
"Casino Royale" revisits the beginnings of the well-known British secret agent, and it does so in a very stylish manner. Every second of the movie is carefully thought out, and it really is perfect. James Bond is now played by Daniel Craig ("Elizabeth", "Sylvia", "Lara Croft: Tomb Raider"), who adds an interesting twist to this well-known character. Apparently, in the beginning, Bond couldn't care less if his martini was shaken or stirred, his first kill was pretty rough and not at all elegant, and he was also a little kinky. Of course, he has always been very cool, with the latest gadgets, fast cars and beautiful women.
Speaking of women, "Casino Royale" doesn't disappoint. The latest Bond girl is Eva Green. As every good Bond girl should be, she is not both beautiful AND brainy, and is very believable in her role. Also, she is one of few 007 love interests to not be interested in Mr. Bond... until she is, of course.
And of course, there is action involved, and lots of it. However, the movie is very smart - not all action consists of explosions, guns and foreign assassins (although, it's not like these elements aren't there!). In order for Bond to successfully accomplish his mission, this time he doesn't need to kill anybody... he needs to win a game of poker. Although this may sound like a major turn-off, it is magnificently executed - the scenes around the table are awesome, exciting and full of drama. Also, there is a sub-plot involved, because you don't just become 007: there is something for Bond, James Bond to do before he gains his title.
"Casino Royale" is one of the most satisfying movies to come out in 2006. It is everything a James Bond movie should be, and then some. Judi Dench is at her usual super-self, Eva Green is mesmerizing, and Daniel Craig... let's just say he might as well be the ultimate James Bond!

A wonderful European treat!

rebelprince89 — Fri, 24 Apr 2009 18:48:04 GMT

"L'Auberge Espagnole" is a fascinating movie. Its title is very adequate - in literal translation, it means "Spanish Inn", but in colloquial French, L'Auberge Espagnole describes a crash of different cultures. Both of these meanings link to the movie very well.
The movie follows a post-graduate exchange student, Xavier (Romain Duris) , on his trip to Barcelona, and the extraordinary moments he there witnesses. The title refers to the apartment he is staying, packed with students from all over Europe, and the chaos in which these weird, but lovable people live. All these people are very different and well played by the multinational cast. Throw in the equation Xavier's jealous ex-girlfriend Martine (foolishly first-billed, but lovely Audrey Tautou), his new crush, the beautiful lesbian Soledad (Cristina Brondo) and his third love interest, the painfully shy Anne-Sophie (Judith Godrèche), and you've got an amazingly entertaining, at times depressing, but always very meditative movie, "L'Auberge Espagnole". It is a wonderful celebration of youth every young person should see.

Rich and shallow.

rebelprince89 — Fri, 24 Apr 2009 18:46:16 GMT

Marie Antoinette is one of history's most (in)famous monarchs. It's not like she did anything special for her people, considering that after her reign, France was faced with many debts to settle. However, she certainly had that je-ne-sais-quoi about her, and so does Sofia Coppola's movie. It is not a perfect movie in any way (it's not even a well-done movie), but it will surely amuse for its two hour length.
Every single shot of "Marie Antoinette" is a pleasure to look at, beautiful and full of rich colors. However, this cannot be due to wonderful filmmaking - we're talking about Kirsten Dunst and Versailles. Dunst is gorgeous, and the role suits her perfectly. No matter how many myths have been told about the queen's vanity, and no matter how many shoes Copolla fits into a shot (there is even a pair of blue Converse All-Stars), she rises above these shallow approaches to acting, and makes Marie a vulnerable, observant woman. As for Versailles, the castle is a character of its own, and one of the most important aspects of this movie. As the curtain drops, on her way to the guillotine, Marie Antoinette looks sadly through the window of her carriage onto the wonderful Versailles scenery, the last words are "I'm saying good-bye", and so are we.
The problems with this movie are not its stars, the direction, and not even the script. The problem is that it's preposterously egoistical. The first and the last half-hour are interesting-enough, with character development and interesting portrayal of the era. However, there is an hour in between that drags along most boringly. It is such a shame that Copolla blew her chance to make a great movie, and it would've been great. Instead, "Marie Antoinette" feels like a Versailles slumber party, hosted by wonderful people, rich and shallow.

Amazing!

rebelprince89 — Fri, 24 Apr 2009 18:45:33 GMT

Despite a Golden Globe nomination in the "Best Movie" category and a stellar cast, the movie "Bobby" hasn't been talked about much, its theatrical and DVD releases failing to attract many audiences. It's a pity, though, as "Bobby" is one of the year's best, blending emotional, historical and artistic value in its 120 minutes without any problems.
The movie follows a (big) number of characters and their problems during the day Robert Kennedy was assassined. The stories of these characters are all equally engaging, each reflecting either an issue of the era, or a universal problem, which ultimately leads to the profound, yet non-preachy conclusion that the key to a better world is human kindness and honesty. Paul (William H. Macy), the owner of the AmbassadorHotel where the bloodshed will take place is trying love both his wife (Sharon Stone) and his affair (Angela). A fading singer (Demi Moore) finds comfort in alcohol instead of in her loving, significant other (Emilio Estevez). A young girl (Lindsay Lohan) is marrying a man she doesn't love (Elijah Wood) in order to save him from going to Iraq. A well-to-do couple (Martin Sheen and Helen Hunt) are trying to make sense of their lives. Two friends (Brian Geraghty and Shia LaBeouf) are introduced to the wonders of LSD by a hippie drug dealer (Ashton Kutcher). The ethnically-diverse kitchen staff (including Laurence Fishburne) confront racial prejudices. John Casey (Anthony Hopkins) is an aging doorman dealing with the aging process. The list goes on and on, but none of this numerous cast members ever loses momentum, and never is a plot line sacrificed for the sake of another (a miracle in a 22-lead cast). Finally, as the movie comes to its inevitable climax, one is overwhelmed by the emotional, political and cultural messages tastefully planted between the lines, and it takes a second viewing to truly appreciate what both Bobby the person and "Bobby" the movie tried to do - provide answers for not just the American society, but also for humanity.

Viva la vie boheme!

rebelprince89 — Fri, 24 Apr 2009 18:43:13 GMT

It was obvious after "Chicago" and "Moulin Rouge" that the genre of movie musical was experiencing a renaissance of some kind. This paved the way for many projects to arrive from Broadway to the big screen, but there is always one significant problem - who is the target audience? More so, are the consumer generations of the 21st century ready to buy in to singing and dancing when telling a story? God forbid a movie doesn't have a plot or a point; it is automatically labeled with the words "tedious", "boring" and the pejorative "artistic".
So, here comes "RENT". It is exactly a kind of movie musical studios would be frightened to invest in. The very slim plot is simply an excuse to present a generation of artists, some of them gay, lesbian or transgendered, and their bohemian lifestyle. As they fight AIDS, hold protests and revolutionize against selling out, you are expected to believe that they simply often burst into song when you least expect it and don't give a damn that the things they talk about may be considered controversial, sinful or wrong (especially since they perform these songs boldly, unlike the very stylized approaches of "Moulin Rouge" or "Chicago"). I am glad to say that, despite all this, the movie miraculously works on its every level.
The characters of "RENT" are based on real people and their experiences in the impoverished East Village, New York City. Among them is Roger, an HIV-infected ex-junkie musician who is liked by Mimi, a 19-year-old stripper junkie. Roger shares his flat with Mark, who is a film-maker looking for the way "to express, to communicate" which becomes particularly hard when his girlfriend Maureen dumps him for another girl, the wealthy Joanne. Add in a philosophy teacher who can't find meaning in life until he meets Angel, a man in drag, and you have a huge spectrum of characters, which can sometimes present an obstacle in some movies. The strength of "RENT" is that it treats all these characters as one, combining their different characteristics into one sample of the New York Bohemia.
Another fantastic aspect of the musical is its music - literally every number is a showstopper, from the emotional "Seasons of Love" and "I'll Cover You" to the rockin' "Rent" and "What You Own". "La Vie Boheme" is a challenge of a song, since it contains more than twenty references, and it is fun to research them and trace the influences these people grew up with - Maya Angelou, The Sex Pistols, Michael Cunningham, just to name a few. Another fun sequence is "Out Tonight" which celebrates being young and having fun, but then subtly fades into "Another Day", which explains the philosophy of living in the moment and enjoying every day like it's the last.
"RENT" never fails. Despite some slight misjudgments and some slower pace at times, it is always strong, bold and delivers its message. It is also never pretentious, because even if you have never lived this kind of life, it is inviting and seductive. More than anything, "RENT" is playful, and that is its sexiness - recognizing and understanding the philosophy of "no day but today".

A must-see!

rebelprince89 — Fri, 24 Apr 2009 18:42:37 GMT

"Transamerica" is worth watching solely because of Felicity Huffman's performance. The terrific actress plays Bree, a not-quite-yet woman waiting for the final sex-reassignment operation. However, a couple of days before the operation, Bree gets a phone call from NYPD, informing her she has a son and that she needs to get there and bail him out. Bree reluctantly does that, but instead of telling her hustler son she is his mother, she tells him she is a missionary and offers to drive him to California, where he wants to become a porn actor.
This is a movie with real people and real problems. On the way to the East Coast, there are many twists and turns awaiting Bree and her son, and it adds to the humanity of these two, well, unique people. A very admirable aspect of this movie is that it never treats transsexuals as jokes - and Felicity Huffman always plays her character with respect. It is truly an Oscar-worthy performance. Another outstanding performance here is by Kevin Zegers, playing Bree's problematic son - and just you wait 'till you see the background story. All in all, a movie to watch at least once, and an actress to cherish.

A wonderful film for a lazy afternoon.

rebelprince89 — Fri, 24 Apr 2009 18:41:02 GMT

"Driving Lessons", Rupert Grint's first important movie since "Harry Potter" is a throughly enjoyable effort. It tells a story of Ben, a 17-year old Jesus-obsessed high schooler, hired to take care of a second-rate ex-actress Evie (Julie Walters). Evie is very free-spirited, and after the initial shock (and a life-altering road trip), Ben starts questioning his values, upbringing and desires, much to the dislike of his controlling mother (Laura Liney).
The themes and the plot are masterfully thought-out, and although this movie could easily be tagged as "coming-of-age" or "disrespectful-of-Christianity", it never really falls into cliches of these categories. The very subtle execution and fantastic performances promise to make it watchable and easy to relate to. Grint is amazing as Ben, boldly venturing into much more mature material than his previous efforts, and Julie Walters is hilarious as Ben's confidante and roll model. Although there are plenty of laughs, the movie is essentially a drama, handling the conflicts these characters deal with in a very serious manner. A highly entertaining and engaging film about seizing the day and making your own choices.

A delightfully twisted, if uneven movie.

rebelprince89 — Fri, 24 Apr 2009 18:40:14 GMT

Two terrific actors try to out-smart each other in "Sleuth", a re-make of a 70's movie starring Laurence Olivier and Michael Caine. This version also features Caine, but now he plays the "other" role, with Jude Law filling his shoes quite successfully.
Andrew Wyke (Caine) is a wealthy novelist living in a high-tech mansion, and he doesn't seem to mind horribly that his wife is cheating on him with Milo Tindle (Law). Milo comes to the mansion in order to discuss this arrangement, and also to persuade Andrew to sign the divorce papers. However, their very polite and sophisticated argument slowly evolves into something much more dangerous.
It is in a movie like this, that it is evident what terrific actors Caine and Law are. They are able to be interesting and versatile, so that when the score of their cat-and-mouse game turns, you actually believe it is the other man who suffers. His Royal Majesty, Kenneth Branagh, directs the movie with a firm hand, and it is very cathartic to watch all this talent go on display. However, I cannot bring myself to give it 4 stars, because of one 30 minutes-long scene somewhere around the middle, which is unbelievingly absurd, and obvious, and makes the characters look like they are blind/stupid/naive beyond reality. However, this doesn't make "Sleuth" bad - but it unfortunately makes it only a fun, engaging thriller instead of a perfect movie it could have been.

Almost unwatchable.

rebelprince89 — Fri, 24 Apr 2009 18:39:29 GMT

Having seen "Marie Antoinette" and the first half of "Lost In Translation" (I wasn't able to get through the entire thing), I admit I am no fan of Sofia Coppola. I believe she is an over-rated director whose films are looked upon as deep and meaningful, while they are in fact quite shallow and pointless. Such was the case with "The Virgin Suicides".
The film revolves around four (or was it five?) good-looking sisters, who live in a very religious household and see suicide as their only escape from the shelter they've been put into. The story is told through the eyes of the neighborhood boys, who lust after these girls, but feel as if they don't know anything about these mysterious creatures.
The problem is, neither do we. The fact that I can't even remember how many of the sisters there were tells something - except for Lux, played by Kirsten Dunst, these girls are just there to fill the frame, and they have no characteristics or background stories. The first half hour of the film starts promising, with the death of the youngest sister, but after that, there is another hour or so of nothing. There is this guy, played by Josh Hartnett, who is in love with Lux, and then the movie is filled with tedious scenes that seem to go on forever... It is clear from the start that these girls are depressed because of the repressing environment they are growing up in, but the movie doesn't go anywhere from there.
I honestly do not understand why anyone would like this movie. What offended me the most was how pretentious it was. The only good thing about this film is Kirsten Dunst, who is gorgeous and exploited to the maximum - there are countless scenes of her in slow motion, waving, shaking her hair, winking, etc. It is a pleasure to see just how much the camera love sher - but you might as well just look at the DVD cover for hours and feel the same thing. You won't miss out on a good story, I promise you!

A treat for Burton fans!

rebelprince89 — Fri, 24 Apr 2009 18:38:46 GMT

Being a huge fan of musical theatre, and not so much of a fan of Tim Burton, I was very interested in Sweeney Todd. It looked like something that would be original, interesting and groundbreaking, and for the most part, it is.
"Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street" is a story of Benjamin Barker (Johnny Depp), who is living a happy life with his beautiful wife and baby daughter until a corrupt London aristocrat Judge Turpin (Alan Rickman) sets an eye on her. The outcome is tragic, resulting in Barker being in exile for many years, and fueled with angst once he is back in London. He there encounters Mrs. Lovett (Helena Bonham Carter), who makes the worst pies in London, with whom he starts on a terrifying journey of revenge, under a new name - Sweeney Todd.
The plot, atmosphere and the very dark humor of this musical is well-suited for a director like Tim Burton. Although I disagree about him being a great visionary, mostly because all his films are set in the same dark, gloomy environment, this is his best film, simply because of how well the material matches him. The photography, lighting and special effects are all outstanding and perfectly over-the-top. All Tim Burton's films have a sort of a parody feel to it, and "Sweeney" is no exception. It doesn't take itself too seriously, which is a good thing, because after rivers and rivers of blood you sit through, it requires a lot of comical relief to actually entertain you. The actors are top-notch, especially Helena Bonham Carter, who intentionally underplays her character and delivers a stunning performance. Depp is excellent as per usual, but it seems to me that he needs a nice, normal role for once, just so we can differentiate Sweeney Todd from Willy Wonka from Jack Sparrow.
As for the music, it's very enjoyable and fun, but not catchy enough. The actors all have fun with the quick, witty, syncopated rhythm of the music. Stand-out tracks include "The Worst Pies In London", "Poor Thing" and "Pretty Women". Sadly, I don't remember any words to the songs, and I've seen the movie less than 5 hours ago. The problem is, the songs are all to similar, and it seems like Burton dismissed them as an element not too important for the movie, which is a shame. Another thing I found annoying was the ending, which I felt was too rushed and not cathartic enough, neither musically nor story-wise. Other than these two remarks, "Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street" is a fun, mostly enjoyable movie that will leave Burton's fans amazed by the visuals, and us sheer mortals, by the pitch-perfect Helena Bonham Carter.