Extremely Loud - Review

 EXTREMELY LOUD AND INCREDIBLY CLOSE

Deeply Sentimental and Utterly Inspiring

A simple story and a long journey characterize "Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close", but if you are expecting masterful storytelling and a well-organized plot with a natural flow, this may not be your cup of tea. This is a movie that prevails on emotions, on its inspirational and sentimental messages that connect with the audience, especially the ones who have lost something in the 911. It's easily the most touching movie of the year for people who love it. If you don't like it, well, the score on IMDB or RT explains it.

Nevertheless, Thomas Horn (Oskar) becomes the star of the movie the moment the film begins, and he learns and reflects through his adventure, till the very end of the movie when he realizes the truth and the message from his father. The performance is a completely Oscar-worthy one, and from what I'm seeing here I can easily put it on the level of George Clooney in "The Descendants", or even above. Even more credit should be given to him for this being his very first appearance on a screen. I'd rather the Academy recognizes this by nod on Thomas Horn for Best Actor, instead of a Best Picture and a Best Supporting Actor nod, but then I keep telling myself that this is the Academy that has a long history of hating children and teens in the industry, especially young male actors. Personally, I would be happier to see Thomas Horn replacing Demian Bichir. They both play characters that are striving so hard to look for something and protect something, but the performance we get from the former is a much more all-round one that keeps an entire movie developing. Horn is basically the center of the movie.

"Extremely Loud" is presented in fragments, and some may find it confusing and somewhat pretentious. I see it as a way to display the emotions and the development of Oskar better. So it seems the critics are wrong this time, and I'm glad the Academy has corrected such a mistake by nominating this as Best Picture. Though it won't win, it certainly has received the recognition it deserved. Like "The Help", this is one the most moving movies of the year, but "The Help" seems to appeal to the audience more with its more conventional and linear storytelling technique. But for me, they are equally touching and are movies that can easily make people cry. I would even say the message in this is much stronger and enforced than the one in "The Help", which makes use of an issue that has been done over and over again.

Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close is HIGHLY RECOMMENDED (Reminder: bring some tissues)

Take Shelter - A Work of Suspense

Depends on Whether You Like Ambiguousness - 6/10

"Take Shelter" is probably another one of those controversial films for its courageous take on ambiguousness. One moment you think you know where the plot's headed, the next second you find yourself still deep in the pool of ambiguousness and confusion.

It is true that the film is rather slow-paced and suspenseful but if you're enjoying every minute of it, it doesn't matter. This is the kind of film that involves or even demands a lot of imagination for your own version of interpretation of everything going on. There's no correct answer and no correct explanation. The reasons behind the events that take place in "Take Shelter" are what you want them to be, and the ending can mean different things from different viewpoints. What matters most is that the ending does mean a conclusion to things, though it can be one that differs in everyone's eyes.

Two elements are found most valuable. The first is the mystery, and the second are the amazing performances from Chastain and Shannon.

When it comes down to liking this or not, it certainly differs even more. For the ones that love it, they enjoy the ambiguousness in this suspenseful thriller. For the ones that hate it, it has to be the nature of it being slow-moving, which will directly translated into boredom.

I am not a big fan of works of ambiguousness but I find the suspense element very well-organized throughout and I just love the strong acting, but frankly speaking, I do find the film boring at times.

Politics on Screen - The Ides of March

Politics On-screen

9/10 - The Ides of March

 

 

And to talk about alternate thrillers, put this next to also Academy Award-nominated "Margin Call" for screenplay you easily spot the difference, both in the quality of performances and the power of the script. This thriller-drama revolves around Stephen (Ryan Gosling), a smart staffer for a campaign who learns the true face of politics the quick way.

The script is captivating and it draws the audience at the exact moment the film starts, but what satisfies more than the changes in Gosling from the beginning to the end? Ryan Gosling delivers his transition realistically through events that unfold in front of him, with solid and believable performances scene after scene that prove he is a highly capable actor. Gosling's mask-like portrait of the nameless hero in "Drive" is amazing and exciting, but his performance in "The Ides of March" undoubtedly expose to us more of his if not flawless, masterful and flexible acting abilities. And we shouldn't leave out Hoffman and Giamatti, who are both incredible and perfect for their roles, Paul Zara and Tom Duffy, respectively. Clooney is great, but credits should definitely be given to him for the whole package, for his directing and writing rather than his performance alone. Evan Rachel Wood plays a supporting role as Molly Stearns, who is much related to the entire campaign itself and many characters. She is also the key that motivates Gosling's actions.

"The Ides of March" is certainly one of the most powerful and believable political thrillers or dramas out there, so don't miss this for certain. 

"The Ides of March" is highly recommended.

Contagion "Review"

A Disappointment When You Were Over-expecting

"Contagion", for me, is a mediocre thriller drama about an epidemic
that spreads over the globe. It presents itself along with a lot of
scientific background to consolidate the sense that this epidemic is a
reality. I was expecting an exciting thriller, but this was no where
near the excitement in "28 Days/Weeks Later".

This isn't a documentary; it's supposed to be a movie. Sure, there are
multiple story lines and they seem to be handled fairly appropriately
and there are a few dramatic moments, but nothing is special enough to
make this movie good. It hasn't done well on the side of excitement,
and on the side of drama it is definitely sentimentally inadequate and
powerless.

And you can't help but think this is a waste of talents with such a
all-star cast, and all they are told to do is something that many
average or rookie actors can manage.

Then again, perhaps it was my expectations that went in overdrive and I
was hoping for something huge. I would say the movie isn't poor, but
it's not satisfying on many levels.

I give this a 6 out of 10.