Saturday, September 22, 2012
THE MASTER: Sails past everything this year!
Ladies and Gentleman it is my pleasure to announce that the film of the year in 2012 is without question "The Master." The films opening over head shot of choppy water from behind a vessel accompanied by Jonny Greenwood's music sets the tone of an amazing film. Director Paul Thomas Anderson has not missed a beat since "There Will Be Blood." The film is in many ways a companion piece to that film. Oil and religion is simply repaced by sailing and the occult. The scene where Phoenix and Hoffman first meet below deck is one of the best scenes I have seen in movies in years. The film is so superb that it is the type of movie that makes up for all the bad movies you may have seen in the last year. I am truly baffled at explaining at what makes the movie markedly superior. I will try. The main character played by Phoenix is difficult to explain. He is tormented, shell shocked, reckless, crazy, genius, erratic, but above all sensitive. The sensitivity is what makes Freddie Quell three dimensional. Lancaster Dodd played by Hoffman is a man who is completely sure of himself. The chemistry between the two is like father and son, long lost brother, veteran, mentor, and teacher. Amy Adams is the neck that turns Dodd. She is flawless at being a 1950's mother with unbelievable power and icy determination. In some ways she is the leader of "The Cause." She influences the writing of Dodd and is the backbone of the movement. She dismisses Quell early on and is one tough character. Phoenix, Hoffman, and Adams all are picture perfect in this cinematic gem. The cinematography in the 70mm print is unprecedented. The grid illustrated from all the close ups on characters faces and not focusing on the background is amazing. Close ups of heads of lettuce and reapers in Salinas are exquisite. Paul Thomas Anderson has raised the flagpole of cinematic greatness and achievement. While sadly others are turning to television, recycling old ideas, or having gargangtuan problems with distribution, or simply they just sailed into the sunset. Watch it go cinephiles! Watch it go!
Friday, August 17, 2012
Cosmopolis: Capitalism/Gordon Gekko/ Melting Computers
The Summit Cinema Circuit has had a great moviegoing summer this 2012. I will cover more films in the coming weeks.
Today the one and only auteur Dr. David Cronenberg pitches a major league cinematic no hitter. I have been waiting for "Cosmopolis " to be taken under Cronenberg's microscope since I read Don Dellilo's amazing novel years ago. First it was believed that Eric Packer would be played by Colin Farrell. I guess "Total Recall" was too much to pass up. Elise Shifrin was to be played by Marion Cotillard. When the news came to me that Eric Packer would be played by Robert Pattinson. I sunk and felt that the "Twilight" star had ruined a cinematic dream in the making. Sarah Gadon replacing Cotillard stung as well. I thought the film would in all likelihood end up like a smoked ham. It had all the ingredients of Shia LaBeouf ruining the Wall Street Sequel.
Well Ladies and Gentleman I shall have to eat a great deal of humble pie. Cronenberg broke the yolk wide open and Pattinson delved into the role of Eric Packer. A literary favorite character. Packer is a billionaire who operates his office out of a white long stretch limousine. Packer's limousine is not a typical vehicle. The limousine is corked from sound from the constant noise of New York City. Sound in the feature is noticeable when Packer is talking to his financial analyst at the outset of the film. I cannot think of another film that has made the interior perspective of a vehicle passing through lower Manhattan look like a spaceship odyssey. A viewer should not forget that Cronenberg helmed "Crash". The man knows automobiles and the limousine is no exception. The car operates as an office, bedroom, bar, theory lecture hall, doctor's office, all rolled into one. The security Packer possesses is presidential. Packer has so much wealth at his fingertips it is insane. He is throwing hundreds of millions of dollars at a country whose market is a financial pit. What is the motivation for the car ride? The man simply wants a haircut. Eric Packer is a Gordon Gekko cyborg with a melting computer on his face.
On to the acting Pattinson digs deep into the role. The man who is a tabloid sensation. Honestly I don't care about his romantic life. Ironically because he is on the same level of fame as Brad Pitt he breathes into the exclusive oxygen of Packer so well. When Pattison clears the restaurant for he and his wife you know the guy has had to do this in reality in order to feel at all relaxed. A celebrity of his stature is used to Packer in a limousine similar to a billionaire. An individual who is so used to having so many people come to him. A human who is cut off from reality and loses sense of how to converse with everyday people. When Pattinson gets a pie in the face the thrower states it all "I could have done the President, but I chose you."
Everyone perfoms excellent in the film around Packer. Especially Samatha Morton as his economic theorist,
and Julliette Binoche as Didi Fancher the art collector. Binoche seems to be one of the few characters who can truly joust with Packer. Torval the bodyguard is flawless portrayed by Kevin Durand. Paul Giamatti plays Benno Levin.
Benno Levin's apartment resembles the architecture of true Cronenberg atmosphere. "Existenz" "The Naked Lunch" and cars from "Crash" are all at home in it. The Art direction is truly amazing. Computers, wires, metal filing cabinets, desk lamps, set the tone of a fascinating world.
Congratulations Dr. Cronenberg for breaking Pattinson in two and doing for him what David Lynch did for Naomi Watts in "Mullhollland Drive". You made a defining talent driven performance that will alter Pattinson's professional carreer.
Today the one and only auteur Dr. David Cronenberg pitches a major league cinematic no hitter. I have been waiting for "Cosmopolis " to be taken under Cronenberg's microscope since I read Don Dellilo's amazing novel years ago. First it was believed that Eric Packer would be played by Colin Farrell. I guess "Total Recall" was too much to pass up. Elise Shifrin was to be played by Marion Cotillard. When the news came to me that Eric Packer would be played by Robert Pattinson. I sunk and felt that the "Twilight" star had ruined a cinematic dream in the making. Sarah Gadon replacing Cotillard stung as well. I thought the film would in all likelihood end up like a smoked ham. It had all the ingredients of Shia LaBeouf ruining the Wall Street Sequel.
Well Ladies and Gentleman I shall have to eat a great deal of humble pie. Cronenberg broke the yolk wide open and Pattinson delved into the role of Eric Packer. A literary favorite character. Packer is a billionaire who operates his office out of a white long stretch limousine. Packer's limousine is not a typical vehicle. The limousine is corked from sound from the constant noise of New York City. Sound in the feature is noticeable when Packer is talking to his financial analyst at the outset of the film. I cannot think of another film that has made the interior perspective of a vehicle passing through lower Manhattan look like a spaceship odyssey. A viewer should not forget that Cronenberg helmed "Crash". The man knows automobiles and the limousine is no exception. The car operates as an office, bedroom, bar, theory lecture hall, doctor's office, all rolled into one. The security Packer possesses is presidential. Packer has so much wealth at his fingertips it is insane. He is throwing hundreds of millions of dollars at a country whose market is a financial pit. What is the motivation for the car ride? The man simply wants a haircut. Eric Packer is a Gordon Gekko cyborg with a melting computer on his face.
On to the acting Pattinson digs deep into the role. The man who is a tabloid sensation. Honestly I don't care about his romantic life. Ironically because he is on the same level of fame as Brad Pitt he breathes into the exclusive oxygen of Packer so well. When Pattison clears the restaurant for he and his wife you know the guy has had to do this in reality in order to feel at all relaxed. A celebrity of his stature is used to Packer in a limousine similar to a billionaire. An individual who is so used to having so many people come to him. A human who is cut off from reality and loses sense of how to converse with everyday people. When Pattinson gets a pie in the face the thrower states it all "I could have done the President, but I chose you."
Everyone perfoms excellent in the film around Packer. Especially Samatha Morton as his economic theorist,
and Julliette Binoche as Didi Fancher the art collector. Binoche seems to be one of the few characters who can truly joust with Packer. Torval the bodyguard is flawless portrayed by Kevin Durand. Paul Giamatti plays Benno Levin.
Benno Levin's apartment resembles the architecture of true Cronenberg atmosphere. "Existenz" "The Naked Lunch" and cars from "Crash" are all at home in it. The Art direction is truly amazing. Computers, wires, metal filing cabinets, desk lamps, set the tone of a fascinating world.
Congratulations Dr. Cronenberg for breaking Pattinson in two and doing for him what David Lynch did for Naomi Watts in "Mullhollland Drive". You made a defining talent driven performance that will alter Pattinson's professional carreer.
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