Lucy - Luc Besson

Lucy is a film about transcendence:

Transcendence - verb
1. To rise above or go beyond; overpass; exceed, to transcend the limits of thought

2. To outdo or exceed in excellence, elevation, extent, degree etc; surpass, excel

3. Theology (of the Deity) to be above and independent of (the universe, time, etc).

All of the definitions listed apply to Luc Besson’s exploration of the human mind when released from its physiological restrictions. In essence, Lucy is a story of a young woman who is abducted and forced to be a drug mule for a ruthless Korean drug lord. Through a sequence of what could be described as clumsy plot devices, the package of a new generation neuro-enhancing party drug is ruptured and absorbed directly into Lucy’s body.

The result is both dramatic and fantastical, but raises poignant questions about the potential of the human mind and its ability to control the physical body that supports it and the greater world around it.

Lucy opens with a strange patchwork of documentary footage, narration and violent live action. However, the odd pieces quickly fit together to illustrate the evolutionary purpose of life and the academic minds that try to explain it. It also demonstrates Man’s brutality and selfish drive to achieve its goals through the violent disregard of human life, committed by both the villains and the heroine.

The concepts Besson touches on are not new. Those who have read HG Wells, Arthur C Clarke, Carl Sagan and Alfred Bester, will be treading familiar ground. However, if you haven’t seen the movies: ‘2001/2010 A Space Odyssey, Limitless or read the books: ‘The Time Machine’ or ‘The Stars My Destination’ or ‘Contact’, this movie might race from an action packed drama into freaky realms of the bizarre.

With excellent special effects and a broad ranging performance from Johansson, Lucy is definitely a big screen film. While it does not match the overall quality of the films it has drawn from, it examines such wonderful ideas its shortcomings can be forgiven.

Lucy is sad, frightening and yet also strangely optimistic. However, what our species must do before it can achieve the enlightenment forced upon Scarlett Johannson’s heroine is unquantifiable. As Lucy concludes, when she nears maximum cerebral capacity, Time is the only true unit measure in the universe.

I fear that our own time will run out before we come close to understanding it.

A quote came to mind as I left the cinema, from ‘2001, A Space Odyssey’: “My God, it’s full of stars!”
Review by El - 4 stars from me J

The Host - by El

After Stephanie Meyer's abominable vampiric juggernaut I had no expectations when the movie adaptation of her second major work 'The Host' was announced. However, the Sci-Fi premise was intriguing, and with accomplished actor Saoirse Ronan inhabiting the duel main role and with Gattaca genius Andrew Niccol in the director's set, I decided to risk it.

I was not disappointed.
The Host is a quiet and disquieting movie about our forced occupation by an advanced race, known individually as 'Souls'. As part of their interplanetary expansion they arrived on our little blue planet and have nearly completed their goal of of total "merger"with their unwilling human hosts. The Souls believe they bring peace, cooperation and a perfect health system to our barbaric population. However, a handful of humans refuse to be assimilated and have avoided capture, holed up in a convenient and clever hideout. The concept of an intelligent, ephemeral parasite is fascinating and raises many interesting points, some of which are explored during the the film. The strength of the concept, gorgeous art direction and strong lead cast compensate for some lack lustre dialogue and Meyer's unimaginative naming protocol. In weaker hands this movie might have gone the way of the Twilight saga, but the cinematography, styling, direction and performances were classy and strong.
The internal struggle between two strong wills within the body of host Melanie Stryder is deftly handled by the very talented Ronan, who engages the audience with her unique love quadrangle. Other standouts are William Hurt as Uncle Jeb, Jake Abel's Ian, a splendid performance by young Chandler Canterbury as Melanie's kid brother and Diane Kruger whose twisted Soul is driven to aggression unbecoming of her race.

While the concept of The Host is deep if you chose to follow the philosophical passageways, the movie itself is quite simple - but it works. We immediately understand the ideas and the consequences of such an invasion, and hopefully are reminded of the rise and demise of the colonial conquests in humanity's own bloody history. The symbiotic characters Melanie & Wanda are sympathetic and strong, so we invest in them both equally and follow their touching journey to a satisfying end.
However, what I took from The Host is colonisation from the view of the invader, which is unusual in science fiction. We usually learn to fear the colonists, especially those who "come in peace", with stories playing out on the side of the oppressed, who inevitably defeat the far more advanced aliens and send them packing. 'District 9' took the alien's view, but from a dehumanised, Apartheid perspective.Stephanie Meyer has proposed that while free-will is a right we should fight for, this spirit we like to claim as uniquely human, might not be exclusively so. 3.5 stars.

The Silver Linings Playbook - El

I believe this is the first film to have had Oscar nominations for Best Actor, Actress, Supporting Actor and Supporting Actress - and it is easy to see why.

Bradley Cooper, Jennifer Lawrence (winner-congratulations), Robert DeNiro and Jacki Weaver are all superb in this funny and confronting film about mental illness and what it takes to prevent life becoming chaos. As well as the superb cast, it is beautifully composed and directed. The setting is so natural we are unaware of the craft required to make it so real.

Despite the moments of shouting and exasperation, it is actually an understated film - which is unusual for an American feature film focussing on family. It is small and intimate, which allows us to quickly connect with this loving, but exhausted family. Jackie Weaver's performance as Patrick's mother Dolores struck a chord with me. The fragility in her eyes and mouth is balanced by her unflinching loyalty and steely determination to do the right thing for her challenging son; her strength is awe inspiring. DeNiro plays Pat's OCD father with passion but also humility and subtle humour as he tries earnestly to reconnect with his son. We warm to them both instantly and then feel their pain as their endless patience is tested by Pat's broken heart and fractured mind.

While the tone is kept light overall, we still get to see that loving and caring for a child with a mental illness, especially when that child is a tall and physically powerful man, is a heavy burden. The cost of which is written in lines on his exhausted mother's face.

Every character in this story is rich and plays an important part in both Pat's life. He is fortunate. However, this movie also demonstrates how medication and good therapy is critical to restoring balance and ensuring everyone's safety. Without showing us, we still understand why so many souls who suffer the ravages of their illness never recover and are left to the system to contain them and protect us from their madness. Those outside the system only have the streets…

The highlight for me was the snappy and raw dialogue, especially between Pat and Tiffany. They are both battling their own demons yet can see clearly the truth that lies beneath the surface in those around them. Their 'crazy' makes them unable or unprepared to do the carefully choreographed social dance of polite conversation, and thus they pull back the decorative curtain with which the rest of us hide the inadequacies of our own lives.

Their lack of filter is refreshing as well as amusing. Who wouldn't love to bypass smalltalk and cut straight to the chase?

The Silver Linings Playbook is a movie of love, connection, optimism and hope. The story itself is simple, sweet and rewarding. Yet its subject matter is anything but. For me, the theme is not of silver, but rather blurred lines. The line between doctor and patient, the line between love and obsession and that delicate line between sanity and madness.

4.5 stars - El

Life of Pi - El

This is a stunningly beautiful film.  Every frame is a masterpiece. From the first moment, we are transported into lush, green gardens filled with exotic animals in post colonial French India. 
I usually eschew 3D, and will view movies in this mode only as a last resort - as I have had many disappointments. However, director Ang Lee's 3D is utterly seamless. It is technically perfect. The viewer is immersed in the tropical eden of young Pi Patel's childhood home and never distracted from the story by self-conscious visual effects.
I cannot understate the beauty of this movie, but that alone doesn't set it apart. For me, the grace and respect with which every creature and person, even those in the background, is treated is the key to its success. From the majestic Bengal tiger to the humble fish the vegetarian Pi is forced to kill in order to survive, every being is equal and connected. 
Pi is an intelligent, passionate and questioning person and it is with his wonder and desire to understand the greater meaning of life that we join him and his family with their animal menagerie on their ill-fated voyage across the Pacific Ocean. 
Mechanical failure and the wrath of the gods tears Pi's world apart and leaves him to the mercy of the sea, his wits and his desperate companions. What happens next is both breathtaking and heart wrenching in equal measure. However, the humour took me by surprise! There are some really funny lines, which grounds this fantastical story in reality, just as you might think you're dreaming...
Breathtaking and terrible, Life of Pi is essentially a search for meaning and connection when everyone you know and think you understood is torn from you. 
What you choose to believe happens in the end of the story is a reflection of your own experience and perspective on life.

5 stars - El

Skyfall (Bond 23) - El

Skyfall is both a departure from recent themes and a return to the grandeur which line my memories of the Sean Connery Bond era.

Like many others, I was initially resistant to Daniel Craig's gritty and raw Bond. However, in Skyfall I believe he truly embodies the grace and brutality which is 007 of the 21st Century.

And like most Bond movies, Skyfall opens on a bloody scene of recent violence. However, for the first time we see reticence in James' face as he tends to his fallen comrade instead of racing off to apprehend the bad guy. Inevitably, he does give chase and a marvellous pursuit ensues, with some spectacular action and truly memorable moments! (I will never look at an excavator or VW Beetle in the same way again!).

The 23rd Bond movie opens up scars and shows us heart and hurt which cut beyond the physical. All of the critical characters are wounded, hunted or haunted in some way - and this makes compelling viewing as the story unfolds. Yes, the plot is thin and convoluted, but all Bond plots are. However, the emotional depth and witty dialogue keeps the audience engaged, even in the quieter times.

Skyfall weaves several themes together, but the most obvious and enjoyable theme is that of old verses the new. We see the venerable M, acerbic and tenacious as ever and meet the new Q and the brave new world he seeks to control at a digital distance. And then we meet Silva. His brilliance, his madness! What a nemesis! Javier Bardem is superb as Bond's foil: genius sociopath who is bored with his power and seeks a more personal reward. I really enjoyed the not so subtle homage to Hannibal Lecter as well. Both the Bond girls are gorgeous. Naomie Harris' Eve is sexy and spunky with the energy of youth and ambition. However, Sévérine is simply beyond beautiful. I submit that she is the most stunning Bond girl yet… Bérénice Marlohe's performance is wonderful, simultaneously imbuing her character with a haughty confidence and fragility. Unfortunately we do not see enough of the tragic siren Sévérine. 

The writing is sharp and really funny, the direction is magnificent and the CG is seamless. The quiet scene when Bond and M reach Scotland left me breathless at the beauty of the landscape and carefully constructed palette. It is a beautiful film. 

Yes, it is violent as per a standard Bond movie, however it has far less gratuitous violence than its predecessors. This is a movie which can be enjoyed by a younger audience, as long as they are accustomed to 'action violence'. Even the sex scenes…aren't. They are only suggestive, and not explored on screen. A little disappointing, however compensated for by the number of times we see Daniel Craig's fine torso. And his return to form heralds the arrival of new characters who will carry us into the next 50 years.

While the action is classic big-scale Bond, there is an obvious lack of gadgetry and complex systems for 007 to rely on. This underscores the battle between traditional spy-craft and the detached digital age. As a result there is a realism which this century needs. The ageing characters are tired, their knees hurt, they don't get up again so easily. I enjoyed the grit. It feels authentic on both a physical and emotional level. Which is why, for me, Skyfall is the Best Bond Ever.

4.5 stars.

The Perks of Being a Wallflower - El

This is a witty, incisive and dark coming-of-age story about the gifted but painfully awkward high-school freshman Charlie. My heart ached in his desperate loneliness and celebrated as he found friendship and unexpected joy for the first time in many years. Excellent, measured performances by all - especially the three leads. Emotionally tortured scenes are kept moving by clever direction and sharp dialogue, which in clumsier hands may have been melodramatic. 'The Perks of being a Wallflower' is set in the 80s, and features 'The Rocky Horror Picture Show' and the compilation cassette tapes (remember them?), which become emotional conduits between disparate characters. Books and music are given as gifts of love and understanding, which is a lovely artsy touch. But if you overlook the eclectic 80s songs, 'The Perks of Being a Wallflower' could be set in anywhere in the last four decades. It is a timeless story.

My only real criticism is that the trailer showed a much lighter, funnier movie than the feature really was. There was no hint of the early childhood trauma or the battle with mental illness that rages within Charlie's damaged mind. The preview showed nothing of the terrible darkness within. If it had I certainly would not have taken my 12 yr old daughter to see it in the cinema. She was too young to really appreciate the scope of the abuse, but too aware for it to go over her head. 

This is a compelling journey of self discovery, friendship, loyalty and both platonic & romantic love. However it also explores the fragility of youth and how physical, emotional and sexual abuse will damage a child's identity and affect their future. Definitely a movie for mature viewers.

However, in a sea of cheesy teen-movies it was wonderful to watch a well told story about teenagers without gratuitous sex, sentimentality or glorified stupid behaviour. I am keen to read the acclaimed novel on which it was based.

4/5 stars.

Breaking Dawn - Part II

Breaking Dawn Part II

So peoples - it has been a while since I have a) had the headspace to be able to formulate any kind of opinion and b) actually had the time to go and see a movie...so thank you Bill Condon and Stephanie Myer for getting me logged on and engaged again.

For those of you who know me, you will be very aware of my tragic taste in movies and books, of which the Twilight Saga is a part.  I am a traditionalist at heart and one of the things I have loved to date about the Twilight Saga has been the tendency to keep fairly close to the written word.  I mean, I don't even HAVE a teenager yet and I would not take the chance of world-wide rebellion of Tweenies by bastardising the Twilight Story....Let's not even think about the ramification of a Twihard Mums rebellion.....*shudder*.....

Did I love it?  Why, thank you for asking...as a matter of fact...yes I did.  I loved it so much , I dragged my dearest Manila family to see it on Thursday night (Bec - you were there in spirit) and then my poor devoted (snoring) husband (partner in crime) to see it on Friday night (Pip - if you read this - we are still on for our date next week!).

As always, let's get over my grievances quickly so we can get back to happy land. 

1) Melissa - you skipped over Bella's first days as a vampire.  Not cool, dude.  Not cool.  The detail of her amazing defensive ability needed more than a couple of scenes. 
2) Bill - I needed more on the visualisation of Bella's Shield - where was my rubber band???
3) Bella should have kicked a lot more of Jacob's arse than that.  I mean seriously - if someone imprinted on my new born child they would not be walking for...well...pretty much for the rest of their short and meaningless existence. (Future boyfriends of Monique, please take this as YOUR spoiler alert).
4) Kristen Stewart - you punch and kick like a girl.  Body double required.
5) Melissa - back to you - where is my detail around the other Vampire talents.  Bill - CGI - LOOK IT UP.
6. CGI babies freak me out

So why did I love?  Well, I am always a sucker for the ugly ducking turning into the beautiful swan(pardon the pun).I understand should Kristen Stewart ever be classified as an ugly ducking we are all screwed.  Forever.  I have been fairly brutal about Kristen in the past - and I must say in this movie she was less insipid than usual and almost enjoyable to watch.  Yah!  Back to happy land.  The movie in 1 hour and 55 minutes pretty much condensed what it needed to condense to provide a somewhat continuous finale.  The brilliance of the entire movie, however, hinges on the last 30-45 minutes....everything til then is set up and kind of feels that way.


SPOILER ALERT



The fight scene on the field of ice.  Superb.  This was pretty much the only part of the movie my husband watched.  The seamless inclusion of the vision sequence into the story line had me second guessing whether it had actually even happened in the book.  So much so, I had to go and check when I got home.  The fight scene was well crafted, bloodless (thank god after the Renesmee's birth scene...) and well choreographed.  It pretty much sang.  

The characters were strong, Aro's madness was a high point for me, Jasper's woodenness a low point, Emmett was visually awesome and always one of my favourites.  Garrett was a pleasant surprise and I liked the grittiness of Alistair.  But the surprise of the film was young Mackenzie Foy as Renesmee - I loved her seer-like gaze and her serenity. 

If I was not already sold at this point, the last scene would have maxed out my credit card.  In fact, I could may have watched the crappiest film of all time and if it had ended with this scene, I would have loved the whole damn movie (I'm kind of hoping this didn't happen).  The field scene has always been one of my favourites.  But the scene where Bella let's Edward see her mind for the first time just got me.  It was soft and romantic and exposing and honest and giving (it also gave me a really good summary of all my favourite scenes!).

I know it's not War & Peace and it's certainly not Gone With The Wind - but it works for me.

4/5 stars.