***
Dir. Tom Hooper
I went into this film thinking it would be one of my five star reviews, an instant classic that would leave a legacy for generations to come. In 2010, Tom Hooper blew me away with The King's Speech, and I expected no less from this film. However, while this did do justice to the broadway musical and to Victor Hugo's novel for the most part, it was not the epic masterpiece I anticipated.
For those of you unfamiliar with the story, it takes place in the wake of the French Revolution, and is centered around the life of a man named Jean Valjean (Hugh Jackman). After spending 19 years in prison for stealing a loaf of bread, he undergoes a great change when he is shown mercy by a Bishop he meets. As the years go by and he becomes a respected member of society, he meets a helpless woman named Fantine (Anne Hathaway) who desperately tries to care for her daughter Cosette. As he takes the girl in, all the while pursued by the tyrannical Inspector Javert (Russell Crowe), his life plays a pivotal role in a number of other characters. The plot is epic, and I'm not gonna waste time summarizing every aspect of it.
Let me go ahead and say what kept me from giving this film five stars. It's no doubt the music and acting are great, but I expected more from Hooper from a cinematic standpoint. Nearly every shot is a close-up, to the point where it is tedious to watch. While I understand the desire to emphasize the facial expressions of the actors on screen, I also want to see more of the elaborate settings which the production crew has so artfully constructed. This film is just under 3 hours, and there's virtually no variety with the camera angles.
Furthermore, the pacing was very rushed. Most movies today have an average shot length of 1-1.5 seconds, if that. I expected something different from a film like this. There are several really spectacular images, especially at the beginning and end, that I wanted to see more of.
The best aspect was Hooper's choice to use live music rather than pre-recorded. Anne Hathaway's performance of "I Dreamed a Dream" was the most breathtaking scene for me. The way she embodied the character was truly remarkable. Next to her, the best acting was done by Jackman and Eddie Redmayne as Marius. Crowe gives a decent performance, but nowhere near as good as his work in Gladiator and A Beautiful Mind.
The screenplay combined elements from the Broadway Musical script and the novel, and was written beautifully. All 49 songs included, it was definitely one of the highlights of the film. The disappointing aspect was in how it was presented.
While Hooper's version of this classic tale was well done and satisfactory, I wasn't blown away as I thought I'd be. I went in thinking it would be as spectacular as Scorsese's Hugo last year, and found myself not half as moved by the time the credits rolled.
Thursday, December 27, 2012
Friday, December 14, 2012
The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey
****
Dir. Peter Jackson
This is a film over 70 years in the making, ever since J.R.R. Tolkien's beloved novel captured the hearts of readers across the globe. Marking the return of LOTR writer/director Peter Jackson, this first installment in the prequel trilogy is a brilliantly composed high fantasy film, bringing viewers back to the emotions and wonder experienced 12 years ago.
Set 60 years before The Lord of the Rings, we open in the land of the Shire, where the overtly conservative hobbit Bilbo Baggins (Martin Freeman) dwells, wishing nothing more than to remain there and do nothing out of the ordinary. Yet the character's life turns upside down upon a visit from the old wizard Gandalf (Ian McKellen), who appoints the unlikely hero for the most daring quest of his life. Joining a band of dwarves under the leadership of the great warrior Thorin Oakenshield (Richard Armitage), this small company sets out to reclaim their homeland Erebor from the mighty dragon Smaug.
With trolls, goblins, orcs, and the shadowy Necromancer (Benedict Cumberbatch) standing in their way, these adventurers must cast all fear aside as they set out on this journey.
Although I had seen some interviews and read a few articles discussing Jackson's plans for expanding the story into a full trilogy, using Tolkien's appendixes as well as LOTR material which they hadn't yet worked with, I was nevertheless hesitant about how they would accomplish this. However, after having seen this film I am very pleased at how Jackson and his co-writers have structured the plot. In this installment, heavy emphasis is put on the White Council: Gandalf, Galadriel (Cate Blanchett), Elrond (Hugo Weaving), and Saruman (Christopher Lee). This subplot is used very effectively, as it foreshadows the return of Sauron and the ultimate fight for Middle-Earth.
As with the first trilogy, this is a visual spectacle. From the elaborate images of the various settings to the magnificent make-up work done on each character, Jackson's innate ability in this area of storytelling is impossible to deny. While the CGI was a bit overused at points, there are few filmmakers who know how to effectively use it.
I was particularly intrigued by the amount of detail dedicated to each dwarf. Unlike LOTR, the various creatures of Middle-Earth are not represented in this company. In order for viewers to be able to distinguish between the dozen dwarves on screen, the producers had to make each costume and make-up component original. This was done beautifully, and there is great depth devoted to the composition of each character and setting.
Needless to say, the tremendous cast added to the film's success. While many of the actors from LOTR returned, the new additions were equally effective in bringing this classic tale to life. Freeman really complimented Ian Holmes' performance, while bringing something fresh to the character.
Furthermore, it was a delight to here the beautifully composed soundtrack by Howard Shore once more. His gaelic theme reflects Jackson's artistic vision just as it did a decade ago.
All in all, this was certainly worth the wait. Fans everywhere flocked to the midnight showing, and I have no doubt were as pleased by the film as I was.
Dir. Peter Jackson
This is a film over 70 years in the making, ever since J.R.R. Tolkien's beloved novel captured the hearts of readers across the globe. Marking the return of LOTR writer/director Peter Jackson, this first installment in the prequel trilogy is a brilliantly composed high fantasy film, bringing viewers back to the emotions and wonder experienced 12 years ago.
Set 60 years before The Lord of the Rings, we open in the land of the Shire, where the overtly conservative hobbit Bilbo Baggins (Martin Freeman) dwells, wishing nothing more than to remain there and do nothing out of the ordinary. Yet the character's life turns upside down upon a visit from the old wizard Gandalf (Ian McKellen), who appoints the unlikely hero for the most daring quest of his life. Joining a band of dwarves under the leadership of the great warrior Thorin Oakenshield (Richard Armitage), this small company sets out to reclaim their homeland Erebor from the mighty dragon Smaug.
With trolls, goblins, orcs, and the shadowy Necromancer (Benedict Cumberbatch) standing in their way, these adventurers must cast all fear aside as they set out on this journey.
Although I had seen some interviews and read a few articles discussing Jackson's plans for expanding the story into a full trilogy, using Tolkien's appendixes as well as LOTR material which they hadn't yet worked with, I was nevertheless hesitant about how they would accomplish this. However, after having seen this film I am very pleased at how Jackson and his co-writers have structured the plot. In this installment, heavy emphasis is put on the White Council: Gandalf, Galadriel (Cate Blanchett), Elrond (Hugo Weaving), and Saruman (Christopher Lee). This subplot is used very effectively, as it foreshadows the return of Sauron and the ultimate fight for Middle-Earth.
As with the first trilogy, this is a visual spectacle. From the elaborate images of the various settings to the magnificent make-up work done on each character, Jackson's innate ability in this area of storytelling is impossible to deny. While the CGI was a bit overused at points, there are few filmmakers who know how to effectively use it.
I was particularly intrigued by the amount of detail dedicated to each dwarf. Unlike LOTR, the various creatures of Middle-Earth are not represented in this company. In order for viewers to be able to distinguish between the dozen dwarves on screen, the producers had to make each costume and make-up component original. This was done beautifully, and there is great depth devoted to the composition of each character and setting.
Needless to say, the tremendous cast added to the film's success. While many of the actors from LOTR returned, the new additions were equally effective in bringing this classic tale to life. Freeman really complimented Ian Holmes' performance, while bringing something fresh to the character.
Furthermore, it was a delight to here the beautifully composed soundtrack by Howard Shore once more. His gaelic theme reflects Jackson's artistic vision just as it did a decade ago.
All in all, this was certainly worth the wait. Fans everywhere flocked to the midnight showing, and I have no doubt were as pleased by the film as I was.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)