Saturday, October 29, 2011
Friday, October 21, 2011
i love YOU phillip Morris!
I also LOVE Ewan Mcgregor and Jim Carrey... What a unique pair that come together to create this wonderfully original and colourful movie.
"I love you Phillip Morris" is a black comedy based on real events.
It is written and directed by John Requa and Glenn Ficarra,(they also wrote "Bad Santa" 10 years ago which I promptly walked out of)
The boys have got a little wiser and managed to deliver on all fronts. Great writing,banging soundtrack and spot on performances.
The movie centres around the life and times of Stephen Jay Russell. Stephen is currently serving two consecutive life sentences for several fraud and con artist convictions.
Prior to his incarceration,Russell covered ALOT of ground.As a young man he simultaneously discovered he was not only gay but that he was adopted. His attempt to live the "straight" life in suburbia with wife and child is short lived when his penchant for penis becomes all too consuming.
From here we begin to see Russell as a Robin Hood of sorts. Yes he does willingly rob from the rich but this is mostly to satisfy the needs of others. Interestingly enough, children who are adopted often feel an enormous sense of rejection. In this way,they often become people pleasers to attempt to gain that illusive sense of acceptance.
Its in jail,that Russell meets Morris ;the love of his life. The pair quickly hit it off. It soon becomes apparent this meeting of souls was written in the stars.
Russell goes onto do a lot of crazy shit in order to keep his man by his side. From pretending he is a lawyer to faking his own death from AIDS.
No mean feat!
This is a movie of stark contrasts.
The deliberate use of bright colours in grim places like jail ultimately gives the movie an uplifting feel.
The cheeky sex scenes set to 80's music make you giggle rather than squirm.
For me as always,its all about the performances. Both these actors avoided obvious gay stereotypes.
Jim Carey's ability to do drama and comedy equally well is unique in Hollywood. Carey gives it absolutely everything in this movie. His maturation as an actor shows depth and originality to each part he pursues. I love you and I forgive you for "The Mask"
I had only ever seen Ewan Mcgregor before in "Trainspotting." Sure,it was so good he could have retired right there and then;but Im glad he didn't. Mcgregor as "Morris" oozed his adoration for Russell like a helpless puppy dog. He was completely present in the role and there was not one hint of Scottish heroin addict anywhere.
Yummy Mexican actor Rodrigo Santoro was outstanding as Russells first gay lover. A small but powerfully important role for this up and comer.
"I love you Phillip Morris" takes you on many unexpected turns and you may get a little dizzy. Dont worry,trust it and remember in the immortal words of Oprah "The chance to love and be loved exists no matter where you are."
JAX
Tuesday, October 18, 2011
WATER FOR ELEPHANTS-A LOVE STORY...?
"Water for Elephants"
Plot: A veterinary student abandons his studies after his parents are killed and joins a traveling circus as their vet.
Got your attention?
Yes? This is a rather unique interpretation from the novel by the same name by Sara Gruen.
Director Francis Lawrence takes us on a visually stunning journey behind the scenes of a circus troupe with all of its highs and lows covered.
The three main players are Robert Pattinson (aka hunky Twilight bloke)as "Jacob" the Polish med student whose life takes a drastic turn.
Reese Witherspoon (needs no introduction)as the Circus' Star Attraction "Marlena Rosenbluth" and last but certainly not least Ring Master extroidinaire "August" played with precise precision by Christoph Waltz.
This movie deserves a lot of praise. It takes us right into the very heart that was America during the Great Depression and Prohibition era.
A time of total despair for most and outrageous opulance for others.
I went along with the plot even if it was slightly far fetched. I've never heard of a Polish speaking Elephant before. Have you?
I found the old man (Hal Holbrook)at the start reliving his youth to an overly sympathetic bystander predictable. So too was the seen it all before ending.
However,the CGI was magnificent and afforded us spectacular visions of train escapes,lively circus antics and poignant moments between man and beast.
Mr Pattinson was well cast as the sinfully attractive young man at a crossroads in his life. It was important that this part was played with an element of subtelty. This gave room for the real star of the show to shine.
Mr Christoph Walz was plucked from obscurity from German TV shows by Quentin Tarantino. Quentin magically cast the Austrian born actor in his movie "Inglorious Basterds".
Walz went onto win a shitload of awards for his daring role as "Col. Hans Landa"(including both the BAFTA and the OSCAR for Best Supporting Actor.)
In "Water for Elephants" we are treated to more of Walz stunning talent. The character of "August" is a layered and complex one. This ripe performer shows us the devastating effects of a Jekyl and Hyde personality.A truly intimidating and unpredictable force that delivers relentless terror to all those around him. Well done Walz!! What's next?
Caravan park pretty Reese Witherspoon graduates to a mature sexier version of herself
in this movie.
I've never really understood what all the fuss is about with Reese."Walk the Line" Phlease! However I believe she really did her homework this time.
"Marlena" is someone who never recovered from being abandoned at birth. August who "saves" her and showers her with fame and money is therefore forgiven a multitude of sins. Her whole life is at the mercy of one man. That sucks when that one man is nutty as a fruit cake!
Enter kind hearted,animal loving "Jacob"....
Inevitably,she has no choice to fall desparately in love with him.
This is one area where the film really falls down for me. This movie is actually marketed as a Love story. Believe me folks this is no "Gone with the Wind" or " Bridges over Madison County"
There are a number of ingredients for a good love story. For example the delicious build up of sexual tension or even a decent snog scene. Neither is apparant here.
Reece shows more affection for the bloody horses and elephants! When she finally declares "I love you" to "Jacob" its so painfully contrived.
Shame really. These two visually make a beautiful couple.
I suppose with Walz stealing every scene,nothing really compares anyway.
Not to worry. It was still a pleasurable way to kill two hours.
GO FOR IT!
JAX
Wednesday, September 28, 2011
I'M STILL HERE....SORT OF.
Nothing like a good documentary I say.
Casey Afflecks directorial debut "Im still here" is no exception.
I must admit that I had been deliberately avoiding this one on the shelf. I knew little of its content; merely that it was a parody on the life of Joaquin Phoenix (formally known as Leaf Phoenix)
I've long held a crush for this unique,dark creature. I feared this would be overturned by watching this obvious attempt at mock humor.
Lucky for me, I was curiously engaged for the entire feature.
The beginning of the film showed real life footage of a much younger Joaquin tentatively jumping off a cliff. This all under the watchful eye of his father. Its sigificance hazy but touching all the while.
I loved this original move to use real life footage within the framework of a mockumentary.
Then the fun really began.
Joaquin, the real life actor has never really dabbled in the comedy arena. This seems a shame.
From his first outcry of self obsessed,beaten up bloated actor;I knew I was in for a good time.
The plot for "Im not here" revolves around the announcement that Joaquin is retiring from the world of movies to concentrate on his career change into the world of Hip Hop music.
Joaquin typifies the "I cant get no satisfaction" performer to a tea.
It soon becomes obvious that this is not a true interpretation of the life of Joaquin Phoenix himself. Rather a conglomerate of actors and their oversized egos everywhere.
The film devised by Casey Affleck (Ben's brother) and Phoenix came about through their amazement that alot of people believed Reality TV shows were unscripted.
This insight into the Entertaiment industry is by no means exaggerated. All this air kissing,froth n bubble, defecating on Managers heads truly exists.
As we follow this highly volatile hedonist around we cant help but feel his pain. His inability to be truly "heard" on the Letterman show and his desire to break the mould of actor to musician being painfully denied again and again.
One of my favourite parts is Puff Daddy's foul derision to Phoenix's demo tape.
P Daddy calmly asking the actor "Why do you want to do this?" Phoenix looking perplexed. Classic.
The end of the film comes full circle with Phoenix revisiting his roots and sharing a beer with his father but no conversation.
The final scene is symbolic. Symbolic of what Im not sure. It doesn't matter.
What matters here is the underlying message. Despite its comic prowess,"I'm still here" holds a strong message about the myth that fame carries.
You have to be very very careful with fame.
Growing up around fame, I witnessed its turbulant nature. Its ability to take and give in the same instance.When your hot,your on top of the world when your too high and addicted to drugs there's no safety net..The real Joaquin witnessed the destruction fame had on his equally talented brother River (may he rest in peace)
I urge you all (especially parents and their teenage children who LOVE "Keeping up with the Kadarshians")to look at this real depiction of Celebrity. KIds,its a long painful road if you wanna Rock n' roll (even harder on the way down)
JAX
Casey Afflecks directorial debut "Im still here" is no exception.
I must admit that I had been deliberately avoiding this one on the shelf. I knew little of its content; merely that it was a parody on the life of Joaquin Phoenix (formally known as Leaf Phoenix)
I've long held a crush for this unique,dark creature. I feared this would be overturned by watching this obvious attempt at mock humor.
Lucky for me, I was curiously engaged for the entire feature.
The beginning of the film showed real life footage of a much younger Joaquin tentatively jumping off a cliff. This all under the watchful eye of his father. Its sigificance hazy but touching all the while.
I loved this original move to use real life footage within the framework of a mockumentary.
Then the fun really began.
Joaquin, the real life actor has never really dabbled in the comedy arena. This seems a shame.
From his first outcry of self obsessed,beaten up bloated actor;I knew I was in for a good time.
The plot for "Im not here" revolves around the announcement that Joaquin is retiring from the world of movies to concentrate on his career change into the world of Hip Hop music.
Joaquin typifies the "I cant get no satisfaction" performer to a tea.
It soon becomes obvious that this is not a true interpretation of the life of Joaquin Phoenix himself. Rather a conglomerate of actors and their oversized egos everywhere.
The film devised by Casey Affleck (Ben's brother) and Phoenix came about through their amazement that alot of people believed Reality TV shows were unscripted.
This insight into the Entertaiment industry is by no means exaggerated. All this air kissing,froth n bubble, defecating on Managers heads truly exists.
As we follow this highly volatile hedonist around we cant help but feel his pain. His inability to be truly "heard" on the Letterman show and his desire to break the mould of actor to musician being painfully denied again and again.
One of my favourite parts is Puff Daddy's foul derision to Phoenix's demo tape.
P Daddy calmly asking the actor "Why do you want to do this?" Phoenix looking perplexed. Classic.
The end of the film comes full circle with Phoenix revisiting his roots and sharing a beer with his father but no conversation.
The final scene is symbolic. Symbolic of what Im not sure. It doesn't matter.
What matters here is the underlying message. Despite its comic prowess,"I'm still here" holds a strong message about the myth that fame carries.
You have to be very very careful with fame.
Growing up around fame, I witnessed its turbulant nature. Its ability to take and give in the same instance.When your hot,your on top of the world when your too high and addicted to drugs there's no safety net..The real Joaquin witnessed the destruction fame had on his equally talented brother River (may he rest in peace)
I urge you all (especially parents and their teenage children who LOVE "Keeping up with the Kadarshians")to look at this real depiction of Celebrity. KIds,its a long painful road if you wanna Rock n' roll (even harder on the way down)
JAX
Tuesday, September 6, 2011
JACK NICHOLSON-CARNAL KNOWLEDGE-Domestic fight
I LOVE this honest bit of film making. The writing and performances makes it so real.
THIS is how couples communicate not the schmaltzy shit you see in "The Note Book"
JAX
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