Frankenweenie

 

Minor spoiler!

 

Frankenweenie is Tim Burtons second feature this year, following Dark Shadows.
With Dark Shadows the some of it's parts were greater than the whole. Ironically Frankenweenie is made up of many great (body) parts and set-pieces - yet the whole has not been forgotten (and is evidently more satisfying)!

 

Frankenweenie sees Burton return to a (live-action) short he made at the start of his career.
It tells the story of a young boy named Victor, a resident of New Holland who lives with his parents and dog, Sparky.

After an unfortunate incident, Victor decides to put his interest in science to the best use possible - and bring his dog back to the world of the living!

The New Holland Science Fair is just 'round the corner and the competition is high!
It's not long before Victors secret experiment is running 'round town again. Once news of Sparkys revival hits the school, Victors classmates see the success as a sure-fire winner for the science prize. A handful of the more dastardly kids go about replicating Victors experiment - with breathtaking results!

 

Anyone who has seen The Nightmare Before Christmas or Corpse Bride, will be familiar with Burtons specific style of animation. Burtons characters have a distinct aesthetic which rarely changes from film to film. His characters are weird-looking and somewhat vulgar, yet they retain a certain warmth and are always sympathetic.

The voice cast must be given credit for imbuing such hideous characters with said humanity.
Catherine O'Hara and Martin Short head the voice cast, playing Mrs and Mr Frankenstein respectively. They also lend their talents to a handful of other characters from the cast - a task perfectly suited to these two comedians.
The stand-out for me is Martin Landau as Mr Rzykruski - Victors science teacher. It could be argued that Mr Rzykruski is one of the more scary-looking characters from the film - and as an adult teaching kids, that would stand to reason.
Mr Rzykruski is incredibly passionate about science however and his love for teaching and telling children the truth is infectious. As an older man, Mr Rzykruski has wisdom in abundance and is more than willing to pass on what he's learnt to pupils such as Victor. Many morals are learnt through this character alone and Landaus Vincent Price-like delivery is charming!

 

Frankenweenie is shot in black and white rather than colour (undoubtedly echoing the era of film and television Burton grew up on).

Ed Wood is my favourite Tim Burton movie and I welcome the return to black and white. As with Ed Wood it honours film-making from the 1940's/50's, with particular references to that period of time.
It would be interesting to know whether the black and white element of Frankenweenie affected it's box office in any way. I'm guessing the 3D version (unseen) may have gone some way to compensate for anyone insisting on technicolour?!

My main criticism of Dark Shadows was that it was another adaptation for Burton. Frankenweenie may be an adaptation of his own work, but it's a welcome return to original material for a man with such creative vision.

4/5
 



 

Poster image courtesy: http://www.empireonline.com/

Seven Psychopaths

Minor spoiler alert!

Seven Psychopaths is the new film by In Bruge writer/director, Martin McDonagh.
Much has been said of how Psychopaths echoes early Tarantino and the films that followed (Two Days in the Valley and Things to do in Denver When You're Dead, to name a few). These films and more played against audience expectation, mixing thriller with comedy to pitch-black effect.

In Bruge felt different upon release. Ten years had passed since the popularity of these films had peaked. Directors such as Tarantino and Guy Ritchie had moved on from gangsters and overly familiar locales, leaving a new spin on the genre to emerge. The Gothic environment of Bruge and the peculiarity of the city perfectly complimented the off-beat story.
McDonaghs brother John Michael, followed suit with a tale from Ireland entitled, The Guard (arguably better than In Bruge). Key to the success of both films were the locations they were set in. The peculiar customs and inaudible dialects of the inhabitants were essential ingredients for comedy to ensue.

With Seven Psychopaths McDonagh has chosen to set his story in Los Angeles - which feels comparatively over-familiar. Despite some snappy dialogue and memorable performances by the eclectic cast, Psychopaths feels dated - as if a relic from the early nineties. To compound this, many of the stronger moments appeared in the trailer (a frustrating trend that doesn't appear to be disappearing any time soon - quick answer of course is to avoid trailers at all costs)!

Seven Psychopaths is a movie about movies. The film follows screenwriter Marty (Colin Farrell) on his quest to finally complete a long gestating screenplay. The larger than life characters he meets along the way inform his new opus. Before long art is imitating life and life is imitating art.

At one point in the film Marty hits upon an idea for his characters to discuss and reflect upon proceedings in the desert. This is met with boredom and disdain by his companions.
The film follows suit - and we get a good long moment of reflection by the principle characters (in the desert). Unlike the similarly playful Adaptation (Spike Jonze), Psychopaths feels laboured as it switches tone. The afore-mentioned segment does indeed feel boring, but perhaps not as is it should?

The performances certainly save what's lacking in the execution of this tale. Each actor is given their moment to shine - with Christopher Walken and Sam Rockwell the stand-outs!

As entertaining as Psychopaths is, it doesn't quite deliver on the tease of the first act.
The brothers McDonagh represent a relatively new voice in cinema and Seven Psychopaths has certainly not gone unheard. Here's hoping the conversation's more stimulating next time!

3/5


Poster image courtesy: http://www.imdb.com

Sebastian Hawks: Creature Hunter!

Sebastian Hawks is a new comic-book project from writer, Tristan Jones and artist, Christian DeBari. Together with partners Greg Mclean (Diezel Punk) and Wolfgang Bylsma (Gestalt), the hope is to deliver this opus to the reader directly, via the crowd-funding platform of Pozible.

The afore-mentioned team have some spectacular incentives for anyone willing to support their project - not least is the finished book delivered straight to your door! 

This is an international campaign, so comic-fans from across the globe are encouraged to get involved (with guaranteed free shipping worldwide)! 

As with other crowd-funding sites, ones card/account will not be charged, unless the target is met and the book gets the go-ahead. 

The deadline for pledges is looming (11th January 2013), so head on over to Pozible and check out the pitch: http://www.pozible.com/index.php/archive/index/11289/description/0/0

The creative team alone should convince anyone to get involved. If you're not immediately sold by the few images on this page, then prepare to be swayed!

The above preview page comes courtesy of Tristan Jones' Deviant Art page. Undoubtedly there'll be more previews from this talented team, so keep a look out at:
http://tristjones.deviantart.com/art/Sebastian-Hawks-prologue-page-1-340478893

Excision

Excision is the debut feature from writer/director Richard Bates Jr. Adapted from his short film of the same name, Excision tells the story of Pauline - a troubled teenager with delusions of grandeur.

Pauline is the black sheep of her family and the outcast at school. During the day she smart-mouths her way through school and her home life, before her surgical aspirations are brought vividly to life as she sleeps!

AnnaLynne McCord is a revelation as Pauline! I was unfamiliar with McCord prior to Excision and new little of the transformation she made in preparation for the role. 

She may look typically nonchalant as the adolescent Pauline, but beneath her grimy exterior lies a degree of intellect and a biting sense of humour. Her main weapon against the masses is her dry wit - the only serviceable weapon to most misunderstood teenagers! 

McCord is surrounded by an eclectic supporting cast. Traci Lords excels as Paulines over-bearing mother, Phyllis. As mother and daughter, Lords and McCord spend much of the movie on screen together - often hissing at one another in disgust! Genre favourites Malcolm McDowell and Ray Wise appear as teacher and headmaster, respectively. Even John Waters shows up to give Pauline counselling, as the local priest!

For a horror movie, Excision is very funny! Much of the humour comes from any and all altercations this particular no-name town and it's people have to offer. 

As funny as the humour is, one can often find themselves quickly silenced by the horror on display! 

Excision is a triumph in this regard. Pauline is hard to like in some respects, but you can't help but root for her - particularly when she gets the upper hand. It's easy to forget how disturbed Pauline is however - and one finds themselves replacing warmth with worry for the character.

In a world of remakes and reboots, Excision is breathtakingly original. It successfully manipulates the audience in to believing they're watching a certain kind of film - Excision is something else entirely! Like any original tale, it stays with you long after the credits roll. You'll be hard-pressed to shake Pauline from your mind!

5/5

Poster image courtesy: http://www.imdb.com

Dredd

I had been looking forward to seeing Dredd for some time. Acclaimed screenwriter Alex Garland (The Beach/28 Days Later) had written the screenplay and the stills and trailers were showcasing an awesome-looking production, with an overall aesthetic closer to that of our own world.

I'm happy to report that Garland and director, Pete Travis have delivered a stunning film!
With the creator of Dredd (John Wagner) on board as creative consultant, Garland and his team have stayed true to the character and produced a visceral, yet respectful thrill-ride!
Undoubtedly inspired by District 9, the film was made in Johannesburg (doubling for Mega City 1). With the addition of giant-sized tower blocks in place, Jo-burg looks suitably sun-drenched and smog-filled - and completely over-populated. A perfect setting for chaos to ensue!

Much has been said of the plot and how it mirrors that of The Raid. This is an unfortunate coincidence. Despite their similarities, Dredd has much to offer - particularly to fans of the comic, who'll finally see their hero brought faithfully to life!
Karl Urban excels as Dredd (keeping the helmet on thankfully). He successfully channels Clint Eastwoods voice and gruff exterior for the character - and is physically imposing, despite the lack of gargantuan eagle atop his shoulder!
Olivia Thirlby is very good as Psi-Judge, Anderson. Introduced as a rookie, she is assigned to Dredd who puts her through her paces during one hell of a first day!

The plot sees Dredd and Anderson enter one of the aforementioned tower blocks in search of a drug dealer. Little do they know, gang leader Ma-Ma (Lena Headey) has been slowly taking over this particular tower block in an effort to gain a monopoly on new drug Slo-Mo.
Slo-Mo allows users to perceive time at one percent it's normal speed.

The sequences which emphasis the use of Slo-Mo are something to behold - particularly in 3D!
Dredd is one of the few 3D films I've enjoyed, since it's recent re-emergence. The film is quite violent and bloody and the 3D element goes some way to expand and even improve upon the action. Particularly with the slow-motion sequences, the use of 3D is a necessary addition.

Despite Dredds relatively low budget, it looks spectacular. It cements Dredd and Anderson as memorable characters within the sub-genre of comic-book adaptations - and hints at a larger world.
Bring on the sequel!

4/5

Poster image courtesy: http://www.mondoarchive.com/

This image is by artist, Jock - a famed comic-book artist and chief conceptual artist on Dredd!

Poster image courtesy: www.filmofilia.com

I believe this image was used to help promote the film by way of the comic-books. I'm curious to know who illustrated it - no further information was available at time of going to blog?!

Argo

Argo is the third film by writer/director Ben Affleck. 

Proving that his contribution to Good Will Hunting was no fluke, Affleck has gone on to make three very fine films within the space of six years - beginning with Gone Baby Gone (5/5) in 2007, followed by The Town (4/5) in 2010.

His new film tells the incredible true story of the extraction of six American diplomats from Iran, who took refuge at the Canadian Ambassadors home, after escaping a siege on their embassy by Iranian revolutionaries.

As a member of the CIA, Tony Mendez (Ben Affleck) is tasked with devising a plan to rescue the six escapees. 

His plan is to create a fake movie, fly to Iran and leave with the six Americans in tow - all under the guise of a production crew, scouting for locations.

Despite the efforts of the American captives (52 in all) to shred and burn any and all sensitive materiels, the Iranians set about piecing (literally) the secrets of the embassy back together - in order to discover the names and faces of the people they hold captive.

Mendez and his team race to formulate their plan before the six Americans are discovered to be missing. 

By employing the help of movie producer Lester Siegel (Alan Arkin) and special effects expert John Chambers (John Goodman), Mendez successfully dupes Hollywood in to thinking science fiction extravaganza, Argo is headed for the screen - all he needs now is to convince the people of Iran!

Affleck gets more competent with each film he makes, both in front of and behind the camera. 

With Argo, Affleck has recreated the 80's to stunning effect. There are changes in film stock throughout - almost to simulate news coverage. Whether this is pre-existing footage I don't know, but it's edited together seamlessly. The retro Warner Bros. logo is a nice touch and the authenticity throughout is highlighted by some fascinating photos and sound-bites, as the end credits roll. 

He is supported by a terrific cast, from the aforementioned Arkin and Goodman (both hilarious) to Bryan Cranston, as Medez's trusted boss at the CIA. The American diplomats are all excellent too - fearful of their task at hand and doubtful, as to the success of Mendez's plan.

Having only recently been declassified (in 1997), the Argo mission proves once again that truth is stranger than fiction. Liberties have been taken here and there, in an effort to ratchet up the tension (almost to breaking point)! However as true-life thrillers go, one would be hard-pressed to imagine something more bizarre or more exciting!

Argo is a great film, cementing Afflecks status as a director to watch. It's a fantastic story which educates as well as thrills. There's also many a laugh to be had - which comes as welcome relief when Mendez and his team are surrounded by people who would just as soon see them strung up!

4/5

Poster image courtesy: http://www.empireonline.com.au

To Rome with Love

Since 1969 Woody Allen has made close to a movie a year. I've seen almost all of his films and can say with some certainty that I've enjoyed each one! A great many are classics and the rest I would happily recommend - especially to any film fan or lover of the written word.
Seeing a new Woody Allen film is not unlike seeing a new Bond. There is a familiarity to each one - from the typeface used for each credit sequence (Windsor Elongated/Light Condensed) to the similarly scored soundtracks (Jazz or Classical inspired). Like any good series of films, you know there'll be similarities, but you keep watching for the surprises!
Midnight in Paris (5/5) was a favourite of mine last year - and Allens new film continues with a European flavour, evident in much of his recent output.

To Rome with Love tells a multitude of stories, as foreigners and residents alike live out there day-to-day in the Italian capital.
We have two Italian newly-weds from the country, in town to meet the grooms parents. A love-sick American student, who's invited her own parents over to meet the man she's going to marry. Another American traveller revisits his old stamping ground. While a native every-man is suddenly and without reason, blessed with celebrity!
Woody Allen has told many a different tale throughout his career and rather than have the stories in this film cross-pollinate, they act instead as snapshots in to the lives of these alluring characters. Each adventure is different, yet the potential is there for each protagonist to experience the same fate.

Of the four stories, the only one that didn't really work for me was that of the American traveller (Alec Baldwin) returning to his old stamping ground. One assumes he's living vicariously through his younger self (Jesse Eisenberg), but this isn't clear. The three remaining stories are more engaging - providing many an amusing scenario. There is certainly no shortage of laughs in this film!
To Rome with Love has a great cast, with Allen himself on fine form and Roberto Benigni the stand out! Having worked with Allen before, Judy Davis and Penelope Cruz make things look effortless. Davis is great as Allens long suffering wife, while Cruz smoulders as a hooker with a heart!

The stories here are quite charming, but they do seem somewhat fleeting. The only real connection to each tale is that of the human condition - a main staple of Allens movies. This is a film for anyone who's ever thought about what all those thousands of people do each day - the ones you see on your way to and from work, or even abroad or on the TV. Despite one's curiosity there's a disconnect, because you don't know them intimately.
When it comes to film, it's hard to invest in a large ensemble - even harder when said cast is split between four stories. I think I would've preferred it if there was some connection between the stories in, To Rome with Love. Even if the exchanges were small, it would have created a larger world.

In the end this is a story about a city and the people that inhabit it - be they native or foreign, they're all just visiting!

3/5


Poster image courtesy: http://www.heyuguys.co.uk