Going to the pictures this weekend? My takes on:
Captain Phillips
“They’re not here to fish,” Captain Richard Phillips (Tom Hanks)
Underhill, Vermont, the United States. March 28th 2009. Phillips is getting ready to leave his home. On the way to the airport with his wife, Andrea (Catherine Keener – the only time we see her. One wonders if a bigger part was written for Keener, but will now be a DVD extra?), they discuss the toughness of the business world. There is the acknowledgement of a merciless economic climate. Cut to Ell, Somalia. Muse (Barkhad Abdi) awakens. His village denizens are forced by armed gunmen to put together a team to hijack a ship. They complain about already having carried out one recently, which falls on deaf ears. The boss pulling the strings is unseen. Muse is regarded as one of the brains, and given command. [To read more, click here.]
Underhill, Vermont, the United States. March 28th 2009. Phillips is getting ready to leave his home. On the way to the airport with his wife, Andrea (Catherine Keener – the only time we see her. One wonders if a bigger part was written for Keener, but will now be a DVD extra?), they discuss the toughness of the business world. There is the acknowledgement of a merciless economic climate. Cut to Ell, Somalia. Muse (Barkhad Abdi) awakens. His village denizens are forced by armed gunmen to put together a team to hijack a ship. They complain about already having carried out one recently, which falls on deaf ears. The boss pulling the strings is unseen. Muse is regarded as one of the brains, and given command. [To read more, click here.]
Like Father, Like Son
“I hope it’s nothing messy,” Ryota Nonomiya (Masaharu Fukuyama)
Anyone who caught writer-director Hirokazu Koreeda’s previous project, I WISH – a magnificent film about childhood, must have been anticipating his next. Broadening his scope, LIKE FATHER, LIKE SON is a moving exploration of two disparate families finding themselves inextricably entwined. The situation is unusual to say the least, but is used to consider the nature versus nurture debate, and who we might be as parents. [To read more, click here.]
Anyone who caught writer-director Hirokazu Koreeda’s previous project, I WISH – a magnificent film about childhood, must have been anticipating his next. Broadening his scope, LIKE FATHER, LIKE SON is a moving exploration of two disparate families finding themselves inextricably entwined. The situation is unusual to say the least, but is used to consider the nature versus nurture debate, and who we might be as parents. [To read more, click here.]
Prince Avalanche
“Here’s to the fire in our hearts.”
We are told immediately: In 1987, 43,000 woodland acres burned down in the state of Texas. 1600 homes were destroyed and four lives were lost. The cause remains unknown. We then jump to the summer of 1988, and join Alvin (Paul Rudd) and Lance (Emile Hirsch) at a dawn tent-site. The start is meditative: A campfire, we follow in slow-mo behind the duo, and a metal stake is hammered into the ground. As much as I thoroughly enjoy director David Gordon Green’s stoner comedies (PINEAPPLE EXPRESS, YOUR HIGHNESS), I’ve been waiting for him to return to GEORGE WASHINGTON and ALL THE REAL GIRLS to see what he can bring to his earlier, almost Terrence Malick-ish, sensibility. The commencement of PRINCE AVALANCHE swells my heart, as I question, could the former new hope fuse his humorous and sensitive sides? And largely he does, to entertaining effect, thanks in great part to Hirsch and Rudd putting in some of their best work. [To read more, click here.]
We are told immediately: In 1987, 43,000 woodland acres burned down in the state of Texas. 1600 homes were destroyed and four lives were lost. The cause remains unknown. We then jump to the summer of 1988, and join Alvin (Paul Rudd) and Lance (Emile Hirsch) at a dawn tent-site. The start is meditative: A campfire, we follow in slow-mo behind the duo, and a metal stake is hammered into the ground. As much as I thoroughly enjoy director David Gordon Green’s stoner comedies (PINEAPPLE EXPRESS, YOUR HIGHNESS), I’ve been waiting for him to return to GEORGE WASHINGTON and ALL THE REAL GIRLS to see what he can bring to his earlier, almost Terrence Malick-ish, sensibility. The commencement of PRINCE AVALANCHE swells my heart, as I question, could the former new hope fuse his humorous and sensitive sides? And largely he does, to entertaining effect, thanks in great part to Hirsch and Rudd putting in some of their best work. [To read more, click here.]
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