47 RONIN are turning over in their graves

The film’s director, Carl Erik Rinsch is probably kneeling before a room of executives at Universal and offering to perform seppuku for the dismal 47 Ronin starring Keanu Reeves. Everyone knew the film was in trouble long before its eventual Christmas release date, but I (Chuck) am a martial art film junkie and wanted to give the film a fair viewing. Unfortunately, the film lived up to its bad press by putting together a poorly assembled re-interpretation of the legendary story about Japan’s most famous samurai. There was no cohesion from scene to scene because the production is unable to balance the fantasy with the real story. Rinsch tries to honor both ideas, but it simply does not work. The special effects are distracting and predictable. Also, Universal Studios should be ashamed of themselves for thinking a  story about a group a men known for gaining honor through mass suicide would be a successful holiday blockbuster.

WORD COUNT: 154

Chuck’s Grade: D

Adam’s Grade: N/A

Rush is exhilarating from start to finish

Director Ron Howard is back in the driver seat with both hands on the steering will his adrenaline fueled film, Rush. Based on the true story of the Formula 1 racing rivalry between English playboy James Hunt (Chris Hemsworth) and Austrian professional Niki Lauda (Daniel Bruhl). The film reveals their contrasting personalities and styles, as well as their obsession for becoming world champions.

Howard teams up with writer Peter Morgan (Frost/Nixon) who is becoming a master at creating dynamic relationships between opposing character rivals. It truly is the driving force that gets everything going.

Howard put together the perfect vehicle this time. A thrilling score by Hans Zimmers and expert camerawork by Anthony Dod Mantle. Equally important is Hemsworth’s acting. He is maturing into something much more than eye candy and muscles. However, Bruhl’s steals the checker flag and finishes off with a signature performance. Rush is full of life, color, risk and it is exhilarating from start to finish.

WORD COUNT: 159

Adam’s Grade: A-

Chuck’s Grade: N/A

Zodiac is an elusive subject to capture

Director David Fincher makes an attempt to capture the most elusive and mysterious figure in law enforcement history. He is no stranger to serial killers, but his interpretation of Zodiac by Robert Graysmith (Jake Gyllenhaal) gives audiences a front row seat to Graysmith’s obsession with the infamous case that terrorized Northern California and frustrated investigators for decades.

Fincher’s visual style and attention to detail are impeccable. He takes his time with the characters and attempts to replicate these events as accurately as possible from Graysmith’s perspective, but it does lead to a slow pace and a long run time. The cast is formidable, however, Gyllenhaal’s performance isn’t nearly as strong  as Mark Ruffalo as Detective Dave Toschi and Robert Downey Jr. as Paul Avery.  It is difficult to satisfy audiences with such an ending, but Fincher remains true to the story and keeps “Hollywood” out of it as much as possible.

WORD COUNT: 151

Adam’s Grade: B+

Chuck’s Grade: B

The Grandmaster is a delicate and deliberate work of art

Wong Kar-Wai is one of China’s most celebrated and respected directors because his aesthetic eye is unmatched, much like his the title of his latest film, The Grandmaster starring Tony Leung as Ip Man, the martial art champion of Wing Chun that has become a household name among Netflix audiences familiar with the Donnie Yen films. This interpretation easily replaces the previous versions. It chronicles his life before and after the Second Sino-Japanese war as a well-respected kung fu master selected to represent the Southern styles against the undefeated Northern Grandmaster. The film is beautifully shot and every single detail is accentuated by Wong Kar-Wai’s ability to make the familiar look strange. Tony Leung’s performance is equal to his character’s name and Zhang Ziyi’s (Gong Er) keeps the film from becoming a one-dimensional martial art film. Her presence and her character’s objective, as well as her obstacles deepens the story. The Grandmaster is a delicate and deliberate work of art.

WORD COUNT: 160

Chuck’s Grade: A

Adam’s Grade: N/A

The Great Magician is a tired act

The best trick this film pulls off is getting critically acclaimed actor, Tony Leung Chui Wai (Chang Hsien) to agree to do this turn of this turn of the century farce about love, magic, and China’s strained relationship with imperial Japan. I kept hoping several of the main characters would simply disappear because the acting was so atrocious that it made it difficult to get through the film in one viewing. Actor Lau Ching-wan (Bully Lei) is supposed to be Leung’s rival for Zhou Xun’s (Yin) affection, but I did not see the appeal for such a buffoon of a character. The rest of the cast is equally unsatisfying and really unnecessary for most of the film. Director Derek Yee is a veteran artist of Hong Kong cinema and has written and directed some very good films recently (Protege, Shinjuku Incident, and Triple Tap) but he had nothing up his sleeve this time. The Great Magician is a tired act.

WORD COUNT: 160

Chuck’s Grade: F

Adam’s Grade: N/A

The Conjuring will scare you immensely

The Conjuring is based on the true story of paranormal investigators Ed and Lorraine Warren who your parents would know from their work on the infamous Amityville house. It has been some time since I have seen a horror film that delivers the kinds of chills that The Conjuring does. I was scared, even though I am old enough to know better.

I love director James Wan’s filmmaking style. His camera movements are executed with precision and contribute to overall performance and production. The film does a fine job at developing the characters simultaneously. When Carolyn (Lili Taylor) and Roger (Ron Livingston) move into a farmhouse with their five daughters, their family is terrorized by a spirit and must ask for help from Ed (Patrick Wilson) and Lorraine (Vera Farmiga). The Conjuring uses some old-school horror film tactics to make audiences shriek, which I think is a good thing and a nice change of pace.

WORD COUNT: 155

Adam’s Grade: B

Chuck’s Grade: N/A (too scared)

Lincoln passes the bill

Director Steven Spielberg takes on the enormous task of dramatizing President Abraham Lincoln’s quest to pass the Thirteenth Amendment through the House of Representatives. He employs Tony Kushner to develop a screenplay about the most pivotal moment in the United States’s history. Like most political films, the negotiation process can be tedious, but Kushner and Spielberg find a way to keep the story moving, although at times some of the scenes feel deliberate and staged. The cast is an assortment of Hollywood’s most respected actors playing some of America’s most polarizing figures. Daniel Day-Lewis is brilliant as the Commander in Chief and his performance, as well as his stature dwarfs everyone else in the film. Tommy Lee Jones as Republican Congressman Thaddeus Stevens makes his mark in the film and casts his vote with authority. In summation, I would like to use a quote from the character Schuyler-Colfax in regards to Lincoln, “This isn’t usual, Mr. Pendleton. This is history.”

WORD COUNT: 160

Chuck’s Grade: B+

Adam’s Grade: B+

A Single Man does not disappoint

Fashion designer Tom Ford’s adaptation of Christopher Isherwood’s novel is a beautiful and breathtaking film that reveals the effects of grief.

Set in one day, George (Colin Firth), grieves over the loss of his longtime partner Jim (Matthew Goode). Unable to live another day without him, he plans to end this life. He reminisces about his life with Jim, and spends the day with various people including his friend Charlotte (Julianne Moore) and a student in his class Kenny (Nicholas Hoult). Depression and grief are two powerful emotions that can erase the feeling of hope for many people and Firth captures this condition with his magnificent performance.

Ford’s color palette is one of the noticeable triumphs from the director, not to mention his script and music selection. His storytelling is superb and he allows the actors to explore this difficult territory in way that few directors can without his cast going to far one way. A Single Man does not disappoint.

WORD COUNT: 160

Adam’s Grade: A

Chuck’s Grade: B+

Painted Skin 2: The Resurrection comes to life when it counts

Usually, sequels are not very good compared to the original, but Painted Skin 2: The Resurrection holds up well against its predecessor. This installment has the original cast minus action star Donnie Yen. I like this story better because it does not flip-flop back and forth between fantasy and horror. Xiaowei is a fox demon trapped in a beautiful body that must live on a human heart to survive, but if she finds someone who will freely offer her a heart, then she can become a human being.The Resurrection is a fantasy film with a romance about forbidden love. The deception in this film is subtle and the love triangle relationship between actresses, Zhao Wei and Zhou Xun, and actor Chen Kun carries audiences through to the end. There are some consistency problems when it comes to the visual aesthetics and the film is much too long for the story being told, but it does comes to life when it counts.

WORD COUNT: 160

Chuck’s Grade: B

Adam’s Grade: N/A

Chinatown

Chinatown was director Roman Polanski’s last film made in the U.S. before returning/fleeing to Europe. This film is a neo-noir classic written by Robert Towne and is one of the best movies ever made.  Towne’s clever writing captures the voice of a Los Angeles detective story filled with betrayal, greed, and murder. Polanski direction guides Jack Nicholson (Jake Gittes) and Faye Dunaway (Mrs. Mulwray) through a masterful drama filled with suspense and surprise. The two leading actors have an intoxicating chemistry together that creates a sense of danger every time they share the screen, but one of the most memorable scenes (besides the ending) is when Polanski makes an appearance as the unforgettable Man with a Knife. The combination of stylish direction, adept performances, powerful writing, and a mesmerizing soundtrack places Chinatown at the top of my list of great all-time films.

WORD COUNT: 140

Adam’s Grade: A

Chuck’s Grade: A+