Tuesday, October 15, 2013

Captain Phillips







Release Date: Oct 11, 2013 
Runtime: 2 hr. 13 min. 
Director: Paul Greengrass 
Cast: Tom Hanks, Catherine Keener.

As the year winds down, the awards' season is merely ramping up, for the ultimate showdown of talents and films alike. At the forefront is Paul Greengrass' "Captain Phillips," based on the Maersk Alabama hijacking back in 2009. Recalling the attacks by Somali pirates and the courageous action of the crew, it's a tense, dramatic thriller worthy of review. Starring Hanks as the titled hero opposite a cast of unknowns, the film takes an objective approach to looking at two sides of the story. Alternating between the crew and the Somali pirates, the contrast of motives is intriguing and highly insightful. Disparately, the buildup is slow and long, adding to the runtime and delaying the onslaught of anxiety. But the last 40 minutes are a ticking time bomb waiting to explode, with the last 10 affirming why Hanks is still one of the greatest. His experienced turmoil is deeply compelling, bearing down on the soul and eliciting powerful emotions. With "Gravity" gaining momentum and a slew of high caliber films coming down the pipeline, "Captain Phillips" will be have plenty to compete for in the upcoming months. But if the past is any indication, Hanks will have his fighting chance. After all, he's been lost at sea before.

Rating: 4 stars

Wednesday, October 9, 2013

Gravity







Release Date: Oct 04, 2013
Runtime: 1 hr. 31 min. 
Director: Alfonso Cuarón 
Cast: Sandra Bullock, George Clooney.

Space. Infinite...awe-inspiring...and utterly terrifying. It's the fabric to Alfonso Cuarón's highest achievement yet, and one of the most ground-breaking films in cinematic history. Known for his unique dexterity of single-shot sequences, Cuarón delivers another stunning masterpiece that defies the laws of physics. The first 10 minutes alone will leave you breathless with sweeping views of Earth followed by heart-pounding suspense. The singularity of perspectives, moving in and behind the helmet glass, is truly remarkablefully immersing you in the environment as well as the mindset. Sandra Bullock gives a phenomenal performance as first time mission specialist, Ryan Stone. Her vulnerability and fears are captured in range, whether careening through space or confined in a capsule. Using visual metaphors to embody humans' resilience and will for survival, Cuarón sheds new light into the blackness of space and depths of despair. The cinematography is one to be savored, further glorified in IMAX and even 3D. Accompanied by a moving score by Steven Price, each scene is as enrapturing as the first and seemingly tangible. Though Cuarón has only directed a handful of films, "Gravity" may just be the push he needs to get his Oscar nomination. Til then, experience space like you've never experienced it before.

Rating: 5 stars

Don Jon







Release Date: Sep 27, 2013  
Runtime: 1 hr. 29 min. 
Director: Joseph Gordon-Levitt 
Cast: Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Scarlett Johansson, Julianne Moore, Tony Danza.

Sex, love...or something like that. Marking the directorial debut of Joseph Gordon-Levitt is a (not so) romantic comedy about relationships and its abject complexities. JGL stars as Jon Martello, a womanizer and church goer who's addicted to porn. When the woman of his dreams catches his eye, his once orderly life gets thrown into disarray. Having starred in a variety of films much to critical acclaim, Gordon-Levitt proves again his prowess as a skillful chameleon. Going full-on guido for the role, and convincingly so, he plays a dislikable character who must mend his ways. Stepping behind the camera, he seems like any seasoned pro, showing off his artistic flair and knack for creativity. The interjection of scenes with bursts of erotica is visually stimulating and striking, if not somewhat overpowering. That being said, the repetition of frames can get dull at times, though it does lay the framework for which the story aligns. Humor is key to any good relationship and "Don Jon" is clearly no exception. Highly entertaining and intermittently relatable, it's a non-stop riot, especially in the woes of dating. While the film objectifies sex and fixates on stereotypes, the satirical nature is key in keeping it leveled. Bringing freshness to an industry overrun with veterans, the career path looks bright for this rising, young director.

Rating: 3½ stars