OLD BOY (2013) has some new tricks

Spike Lee’s desire to re-interpret the critically acclaimed 2003 South Korean film, Old Boy for domestic audiences was a bold move because of the amount of criticism he would receive from audiences familiar with the original. I was eager to see how he would negotiate certain scenes and particular parts of the story that have made Old Boy a memorable, but uncomfortable film to watch. Technically, everything is in the movie, but done in a way that is more like a jazz musician riffing on a familiar melody than a replay of an old song. Some things worked really well, while others things did not. This version had more of back story, which made it easier for American audiences to understand, but it was too much because those moments of discomfort did not have the same impact. However, I enjoyed this movie and the choice to cast Josh Brolin and Elizabeth Olsen as the principal characters was a strong choice.

WORD COUNT: 158

Chuck’s Grade: B

Adam’s Grade: N/A

Oblivion is a mixed bag

Oblivion is a mixed bag that is going to receive a mixed review from FastForwardFilmReviews.com. On the one hand, Adam found the film to be unoriginal and disappointing on many levels. His major criticism is the story and its predictable twists, as well as the under utilized characters, Malcolm Beach (Morgan Freeman) and Julia Rusakova (Olga Kurylenko). Anytime a film has to rely on flashbacks it is in trouble and Oblivion finds itself pressing rewind in many places. On the other hand, Chuck did not mind the story and doesn’t think it clones other films. Joseph Kosinski’s riffing on common sci-fi subjects is not a big deal. Oblivion is noticeably slow-moving and Chuck agrees with Adam about the supporting cast. However, he did not see the twist coming, which has him liking the film much more than Adam, although Chuck was disappointed with the final product. Both agree the visual effects are amazing and Claudio Miranda’s cinematography is gorgeous.

WORD COUNT: 160

Adam’s Grade: C+

Chuck’s Grade: B

Insidious: Chapter 2 is lost in the after life

James Wan may have now established himself as the King of modern horror with SAW, Insidious and The Conjuring under his belt. He knows how to keep his audiences on edge and screaming for more. The sequel to the 2011 surprise horror hit brings back the cast and pick up right where they left off at. The Lambert family (Patrick Wilson and Rose Byrne) seek to uncover the secret that has them attached to the supernatural.

The film does give some better scares than the first one, but also makes some predictable choices that would bore the avid horror fan. Writers Wan and Leigh Whannell bring some welcomed creativity to the story but at the same time overreaches and leaves too many unanswered questions. John Leonetti deserves some recognition for his brilliant camerawork as he frames the film’s haunting atmosphere. Insidious: Chapter 2  will frighten audiences, but the story does not live on in the “after life” of Chapter 1.

WORD COUNT: 157

Adam’s Grade: C+

Chuck’s Grade: N/A

The Prestige is an underrated film

Christopher Nolan has been known to trick and challenge his audiences to think, but he explores new ground in the underrated film, The Prestige. Two magicians Robert Angier (Hugh Jackman) and Alfred Borden (Christian Bale) have turned a friendly competition into a bitter rivalry that consumes each of them with obsession and jealousy. Both actors give convincing performances. Their preparation for the roles of magicians are obvious and not lost on the audience.

Magicians are not supposed to reveal their secrets and Nolan continues to amaze audiences with his ability to direct or should I say misdirect the obvious from the mind and eye. Wally Pfister’s camera work and use of dark-lighting sets the tone for Nolan and his brother Jonathan to adapt a story that is full of mystery from start to finish. Every great magic trick consists of three acts. The Prestige has all three parts and has audiences leaving the theater asking, “How did he do that?”

WORD COUNT: 160

Adam’s Grade: A

Chuck’s Grade: B

Sinister just isn’t evil enough

Last week, my buddy told me that he felt that Sinister was scarier and better than The Conjuring. Intrigued I decided to watch it at night with all of the lights off to get the full effect.

Ellison Oswalt (Ethan Hawke) and his family move into a house where a horrific crime happened. He hopes it will help him write a new book that will turn his career around. He finds some 8mm home movies and uses it as his source material, but he ends up finding some frightening facts about the films.

Sinister had potential. I was hooked from the beginning and thought for a moment that my friend may be right, but then I found myself losing interest during the second and third acts to the point I was rolling my eyes at the absurd ending. I appreciate Hawke’s effort, but the twists do not work and Sinister just isn’t evil enough.

WORD COUNT: 154:

Adam’s Grade: C

Chuck’s Grade: N/A

Inception questions our understanding of reality

With Inception, Christopher Nolan has established himself as one of the best writer/directors in Hollywood. His multi-layered plot filled with jaw-dropping visuals, adept acting from an ensemble cast, and well-paced action is like no other blockbuster to date. Nolan challenges his audience to think, as opposed to simply enduring one explosion after another. This has led to a love it or leave it response to this film.

Leonardo DiCaprio takes on one of his most complex roles as Cobb, a professional thief hired to commit corporate espionage by infiltrating the minds of his targets and leaving an idea that would benefit Cobb’s employer. Inception is an original film that successfully makes the “familiar strange and the strange familiar” by blurring the borders of the conscious mind with the subconscious dream world to the point audiences are questioning their own reality as they leave the cinema. We love it and hope to see Cobb again in our theater of dreams.

WORD COUNT: 159

Adam’s Grade: A

Chuck’s Grade: A+

Black Swan is perfect

Director Darren Aronofsky exploration into the world of ballet has more going on than rival dancers vying for the lead role in Swan Lake. This psychological thriller introduces us to Nina (Natalie Portman), a ballerina given the opportunity to play the dual role of the Swan Queen. She is ideal for the White Swan, but struggles with the sensuality and emotion needed to become the Black Swan. She is confronted with the possibility of losing the role to Lily (Mila Kunis), an uninhibited ballerina that fits nicely in the darker role. Nina’s is willing to do anything to become the principal dancer, but her pursuit for perfection begins to take its toll.

Aronofsky’s ability to tell stories about single-minded characters’ is unmatched. Their desires and obsessions lead to moments of ecstasy, but their passions lead to their demise. Nina is no different and Portman’s portrayal in the Black Swan is perfect. She was deserving of her Best Actress Academy Award.

WORD COUNT: 160

Adam’s Grade: A-

Chuck’s Grade: A+

Dark City is out of this world

In 1998, I remember Roger Ebert exclaiming to Gene Siskel that Dark City was one of the best films he had ever seen ever. I was more shocked than Siskel when Roger gave such a definitive statement. My interest was aroused and I immediately sought out this neo-noir sci-fi film mentioned in the same breath as Metropolis. Since then, I have probably watched Dark City twenty times and still have not grown tired of this stylistic thriller, even though I know the film’s juicy secret it continues to entertain my imagination. Rarely, do films have this affect on me, but director Alex Proyas creates the right balance of style and substance that keeps the film interesting and something I would recommend to others. Rufus Sewell’s unfamiliar face helps Dark City keep its authenticity while Hurt, Sutherland, and Connelly provide credence. There are many memorable moments, but the Strangers and their purpose for being there is what pulls audiences into their world.

WORD COUNT: 160

Chuck’s Grade: A

Adam’s Grade: B

Stoker copes with difficult script

Park Chan-wook’s (Oldboy) demonstrates his visual power in every scene with hauntingly beautiful camera work and meticulous detail to fully capture the story he wants to tell. Stoker is his first English language film and some American audiences may find his style does not translate well, but there is no denying his expertise and craftsmanship.

Richard Stoker is killed in a car accident leaving his daughter, India (Mia Wasikowska) and wife, Evelyn (Nicole Kidman) in grief. At the funeral, India meets her Uncle Charlie (Matthew Goode) for the first time. She was unaware of his existence until now, but he moves in to help her mother cope with the tragedy. Slowly, India forms a friendship with him and realizes his true intentions.

The score is chilling and the performances are disturbingly good. Stoker will remind viewers of Hitchcock’s Shadow of a Doubt, but this story is muddled with flaws that keep it from becoming a cult classic.

WORD COUNT: 157

Adam’s Grade: B

Chuck’s Grade: N/A

Moon takes giant leaps in science fiction

The moon sits up in the sky like Earth’s forgotten friend. Lonely, but very important to our existence. Director Duncan Jones’s film captures this idea with a modest five million dollar budget and Nathan Walker’s amazing script. The film relies upon its character and story, instead of hiding behind an array of special effects. Actor Sam Rockwell (Sam Bell) stars in basically, a “one-man show” about a corporate H3 astronaut/miner finishing up his three year contract on the moon, but with two weeks to go he is in a serious accident. His only companion is his computer/assistant GERTY (voice by Kevin Spacey) and an unexpected visitor. Audiences are not sure what or who to believe, but Rockwell’s performance is outstanding. Moon is a mind-bender that paves the way for future science fiction films.

WORD COUNT: 133

Adam’s Grade: A-

Chuck’s Grade: A