Details

Written by Matthew Toomey

Created: 20 October 2012

Directed by:	Ben Affleck
Written by:	Chris Terrio
Starring:	Ben Affleck, Bryan Cranston, John Goodman, Alan Arkin, Victor Garber, Kyle Chandler
Released:	October 25, 2012
Grade:	A-

Director Ben Affleck isn’t afraid to point a few fingers during the opening of Argo.  He quickly covers the history of the United States’ involvement in Iran that began in the 1950s when the CIA helped overthrow the democratically elected Prime Minister.  The U.S. had acted due to the fact that Iran had nationalised their country’s vast oil reserves.

Over the next 25 years, the U.S. Government formed a close bond with Iran’s Shah to help increase their influence and to protect their commercial interests in the region.  Huge amounts of financial aid were provided to Iran and the U.S. meddled further with the introduction of Westernization policies.

The increasing anti-American movement within Iran reached a tipping point in 1979 and its people revolted.  The Shah was ousted from power and the Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khomeini took control.  It forced the Shah, who was suffering from cancer, to flee to the United States to avoid execution.

Following this brief history lesson, the film picks up the story on 4 November 1979.  A revolutionary group of Iranians stormed the U.S. embassy in Tehran and took more than 50 American diplomats hostage.  Six managed to escape however.  They snuck out through a back exit and took refuge in the home of the Canadian Ambassador.

With the stage set, Argo broadens its scope.  We cross to the United States and start following the mission to rescue these six Americans.  Top CIA agent Tony Mendez (Affleck) has a creative plan but it’s proving to be a “tough sell” to his superiors.

Mendez wants to fly into Tehran under the guise that he’s a Canadian film producer looking for a location for his new Arabian science-fiction movie.  He’ll then visit the Canadian Ambassador’s house, provide the trapped diplomats with fake passports and have them all fly out together as part of a film crew.

Realising it’s “the best bad idea” they have, the proposal gets the green light from the CIA.  Mendez knows that every detail has to be considered before setting foot in Iran.  He starts by flying off to Hollywood and working with a good friend (Goodman) to create the illusion that this fake movie is real.  You won’t believe the lengths they go to!

Argo is largely based on actual events.  The full story wasn’t made public until declassified by Bill Clinton back in 1997.  You can read all about it on the web but I’d suggest you squash your curiosity until you see the film.  It will make the tale far more intriguing and suspenseful.

Many have already made reference that 40-year-old Ben Affleck is following the footsteps of the late Sydney Pollack.  Affleck started life as an actor but he’s now spending more time in the director’s chair making quality, award-worthy dramas.  Argo marks his third directorial effort following Gone Baby Gone and The Town.

Affleck has made the film look as authentic as possible and the work of the costume designers and set decoration crew must be recognised.  You’ll also see from the footage in the closing credits that the actors look remarkably similar to the real-life people that were involved in mission.  Affleck could have added a Clooney, DiCaprio or Damon to enhance the movie’s marketability but it’s clear that he wasn’t after “big names”.  He wants the story to be the focus.

While I cannot find fault with the film’s strong visual presence, I do have concerns about the screenplay and in particular, the ending.  I was reminded of the clichéd scene in action-thrillers where a hero cuts the wire on a bomb with just one second left remaining on the timer.  There are too many such moments in Argo’s later stages.  I’m appreciative of the need to Hollywood-ise the story to build tension but Argo goes too far.  Those hungry for the truth will be able to find more through a simple internet search.

The performances are superb with the two standouts being Bryan Cranston (Breaking Bad) as a supervisor within the CIA and Alan Arkin (Little Miss Sunshine) as the film’s fictitious producer.  One of the film’s best scenes features Cranston going on a passionate crusade to secure plane tickets for the mission.  Arkin, with the help of John Goodman, adds a useful dose of comedy.  There’s one line in particular (a reference to his fake movie’s title) that will be remembered for many years to come.

The use of dramatic licence in the finale is too obvious but aside, Argo is a solid dramatic thriller that is informative, entertaining and gripping.

 

 

Details

Written by Matthew Toomey

Created: 09 October 2012

Directed by:	John Hillcoat
Written by:	Nick Cave
Starring:	Tom Hardy, Shia LaBeouf, Guy Pearce, Gary Oldman, Jason Clarke, Jessica Chastain, Mia Wasikowska
Released:	October 11, 2012
Grade:	B+

Thanks to the work of the talented production crew, Lawless transports us back to early days of the Great Depression – a time where alcohol was banned across the entirety of The United States.  The prohibition became part of the Constitution for more than a decade and supporters argued that it improved the moral fabric of society.

Of course, if you think that no booze was consumed during that period, you’d be naive.  The black market was flooded with illegal alcohol.  It was how the likes of Al Capone and Bugs Moran made millions of dollars and became such powerful gangsters.

As the opening credits promise, Lawless is based on a true story.  It has been adapted from the novel “The Wettest County In The World” by Matt Bondurant.  That’s a not a reference to the 1931 rainfall figures in Franklin County, Virginia.  Rather, this was a township that had become the centre point for a massive illegal alcohol operation.

Three brothers were responsible – Forrest, Howard and Jack.  Howard (Clarke) is a sold right-hand man but the crux of this film centres on the other two guys.  Forrest (Hardy) is the level-headed “brains” of the operations.  He keeps a low profile and you’ll be lucky to get more than a few words out of him during a conversation.  On the flip side, Jack (LaBeouf) is excitable and outgoing.  He likes walking around town in his expensive suits and is keenly pursuing the daughter (Wasikowska) of a local preacher.

You might wonder how these guys were able to get away with it for so long.  Well, that’s because everyone was in on it.  The local authorities, who didn’t mind a drink or two, could easily be bribed with a few dollars and some jars of freshly distilled moonshine.  No one even blinked an eyelid.  The arrival of Special Deputy Charley Rakes (Pearce) would change that.  He had been sent from Chicago to put a stop to the illegal alcohol that was now flooding his city.  Who would be the victor?

Lawless has a huge Australian connection in that it’s been directed by John Hillcoat and written by singer-songwriter Nick Cave.  This marks their second collaboration following The Proposition in 2005.  There are a few Aussies amongst the cast too including Jason Clarke, Guy Pearce, Mia Wasikowska and Noah Taylor.

It’s clear that the film favours the actions of the three brothers.  The supremely overconfident persona of Guy Pearce reminded me of a James Bond villain.  We’re obviously not meant to like him… despite the fact he’s the guy upholding the law.  This becomes more and more evident as the film progresses.  Was he really like this?  I’d have preferred a little more “grey” added to his character.

That said, this is a curious piece of American history and the film does a solid job highlighting the delicate balance that held everything in place.  These three brothers were making a fortune but it wasn’t always easy.  Jack’s growing confidence and cocky nature needed to be kept in check.  The most intriguing characters in the film are the law enforcement officers stuck in the middle.  They’ve been entrusted with the responsibility of upholding laws that they don’t believe in.  Which side do they take?

A few subplots could have been explored more fully (such as the one involving Gary Oldman as a Chicago mobster) but for the most part, the strong narrative will keep you interested.  The graphic depiction of the violence also gives Lawless a heavy dose of realism.  There’s one scene in particular that will be stuck in my head for a while.  Those who are little squeamish should take note of the MA rating and the warning of “strong bloody violence”.  I’m told that the book, written by the grandson of one of the Bondurant brothers, is actually far more explicit!

Without the big Hollywood blockbusters, it’s a relatively quiet time in Australian cinemas at the moment.  I know cinema owners aren’t too happy but hey, it gives films like Lawless a chance at a decent-sized release.  Do see it.

 

 

Details

Written by Matthew Toomey

Created: 16 October 2012

Directed by:	Oliver Stone
Written by:	Shane Salerno, Don Winslow, Oliver Stone
Starring:	Blake Lively, Taylor Kitsch, Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Benecio Del Toro, John Travolta, Salma Hayek, Demian Bichir
Released:	October 18, 2012
Grade:	B-

My thoughts on Savages can be summed up by splitting the film into three parts.  The opening half-hour is slow and frustrating.  It takes too long to introduce this story and its characters.  As the film’s narrator, Blake Lively keeps yammering on about these characters and her perspective on love and life.  It’s not required.  Her talent would be better put to use narrating a Terrence Malick film.

It’s largely centred on two guys, Ben (Taylor-Johnson) and Chon (Kitsch) who have established a successful marijuana growing operation in California.  They smuggled the seeds from Afghanistan and their strong customer base is a testament to their amazing product.  They’re the best the business with Ben providing the brains and Chon providing the brawn.

There’s a girl in the middle and she’s simply known as O (Lively).  In most films, you’d expect her character to cause a divide between the two guys.  That’s not the case here.  They’re happy to share and she’s the “girlfriend” to them both.  After smoking a particularly strong joint, there’s one moment where they all end up in the same bed together.

The film steps up when we’re introduced to a Mexican drug cartel that is looking for a piece of their enterprise.  It’s a “joint” venture, so to speak.  Ben and Chon would provide details on their products and their suppliers.  The cartel would then use this to satisfy their increasing market share both within the United States and back in Mexico.

Ben and Chon decide it’s not a deal worth pursuing.  They’d rather not get involved in a partnership with these untrustworthy Mexicans.  They’d prefer to sell the business as a whole, take the money and go on a lengthy sabbatical in Indonesia.

That won’t be possible though.  The leader of the cartel, Elena (Hayek), organises for O to be kidnapped by her right-hand man, Lado (del Toro).  She’s going to be kept locked up in a filthy cage for a year… and that’s only if the two guys agree to the partnership.  Boxed into a corner, it forces Ben and Chon to take action.  With the help of a corrupt Drug Enforcement Agency official named Dennis (Travolta), they try to find a way to rescue O and seek revenge against Elena.

It’s this second part of the film (which thankfully is the longest) that is its strong point.  Savages develops into a fun, entertaining “who’s in control” tale that’s easy to go along with.  We’re not just seeing the story from the perspective of Ben and Chon.  We follow Elena, we follow Lado and we follow Dennis.  They’re all after the same thing – money – but they’ve all got different plans.  They’re also not quite sure who to trust.

The film falters with a dumb ending.  I won’t elaborate here but once you’ve seen the film, you’ll know exactly what I’m talking about.  I haven’t read Don Winslow’s novel, on which the film is based, so perhaps that’s to blame.  It left the audience laughing at my preview screening and it wastes all the good work that went into the lead up.

Salma Hayek is the strongest member of the cast with her portrayal as the drug cartel’s leader.  She’s a vicious, calculating individual who knows how to manipulate.  Benecio del Toro and John Travolta are also good value.  I wasn’t as enthused about the three youngsters though – Taylor Kitsch, Aaron Taylor-Johnson and Blake Lively are boring by comparison.

With the premise stretched out over more than two hours, Savages reels you in but then doesn’t finish the job.

You can read my interview with Oliver Stone by clicking here.

 

Details

Written by Matthew Toomey

Created: 07 October 2012

Directed by:	Brian Klugman, Lee Sternthal
Written by:	Brian Klugman, Lee Sternthal
Starring:	Bradley Cooper, Jeremy Irons, Dennis Quaid, Olivia Wilde, Zoe Saldana, Ben Barnes
Released:	October 11, 2012
Grade:	B-

The film opens with highly acclaimed author Clay Hammond (Quaid) standing on stage in front of a packed lecture theatre.  He starts to read from the pages of his new novel… and as he does so, we are transported into his world of fiction.

His central character is a struggling writer named Rory Jansen (Cooper).  For the past few years, Rory has been following his dream and trying to break into the literary world.  By day, he wanders the streets of New York City for inspiration and spends time with his girlfriend, Dora (Saldana).  By night, he sits in front of his laptop and hopes the words will flow.

Sadly, Rory cannot find the success he years for.  He has sent copies of his first book to numerous publishers who have all come back with letters of rejection.  They sense that he has talent but there’s no way that they’re going to take a risk on the “artistic” novel of a first-time writer.  The publishers need something that will be a guaranteed sell.

Time passes and Rory and Dora eventually marry.  While honeymooning in Paris, Dora buys Rory an old briefcase that she discovers in an antique store.  It’s not until they’re home in New York that Rory discovers a manuscript that has been hidden in one of the briefcase’s pockets.  He reads it… and is completely blown away.  It leaves him the realisation that he’ll never be a brilliant writer.  He could never write anything this good.

It’s at this point that Rory makes a decision that will change his life forever.  He decides to pass the story off as his own.  Word-for-word, he retypes every sentence on his computer and takes to a publisher for his their thoughts.  Lo and behold, the novel is put into print and becomes an award winning, best seller.

You might imagine that Rory is burned with guilt but that doesn’t appear to be the case.  He knows what he did was wrong but he believes that “the means justifies the end”.  Now that he is a well-know author, he can move forward with his literary career and publish his own works.  No one, including his wife, will ever need to know the truth.

Of course, there’s someone who knows – the original author of the manuscript.  He takes a while to come forward but an old man (Irons) approaches Rory in a park and reveals his identity.  He tells the tale about how he wrote the novel just after World War II and how his French wife had accidentally lost his briefcase on a train.

The Words is a curious film in that it’s a story within a story within a story.  It’s about a writer who has written a book about a writer who has stolen a book.  Writer-directors Brian Klugman and Lee Sternthal first came up with the idea for the movie more than a decade ago but it took a long time to get off the ground.  It took the casting of their good friend Bradley Cooper (Limitless, The Hangover) for financiers to take their script seriously.

It’s a film that asks questions of the audience.  Now that Rory’s secret has been revealed, what should he do?  Should Rory pay the old man to keep quiet?  Should he confide in his wife and seek her advice?  Should he come out publicly and admit his fraud?  You’ll have to see The Words to find out which paths are chosen.

Jeremy Irons delivers the film’s strongest performance as the old man who chooses his own “words” very carefully.  You’re never quite sure about his character’s intentions.  Cooper is also solid and it’s nice to see him outside of the comedic genre.

I’m not as complimentary about the screenplay however.  The overarching layer involving Dennis Quaid (as the story’s author) and Olivia Wilde (a wannabe author who is trying to seduce him) isn’t given much chance to breathe.  It’s a forced, unnecessary subplot that also distracts us from the more interesting storyline involving Cooper and Irons.

I like the idea but The Words is a little too preachy, too melodramatic for my liking.

 

Details

Written by Matthew Toomey

Created: 13 October 2012

Directed by:	Colin Trevorrow
Written by:	Derek Connolly
Starring:	Aubrey Plaza, Jake Johnson, Karan Soni, Mark Duplass
Released:	October 18, 2012
Grade:	B+

A curious entry has appeared in the classifieds of a local newspaper – “Wanted: Someone to go back in time with me.  This is not a joke.  PO Box 91, Ocean View, WA, 99393.  You’ll get paid after we get back.  Must bring your own weapons.  Safety not guaranteed.  I have only done this once before.”

A similar advertisement appeared in Backwoods Home Magazine in 1997.  It was written by John Silveira to help the magazine’s editor fill up space in the classifieds section.  It was intended to be a simple joke that no one would take seriously.

That wasn’t the case.  Thousands of responses were received in the post office box – most from people who believed it was true.  The advertisement went viral on the internet in the mid 2000s and was even read by Jay Leno on his late night talk show.

Inspiration can come in the strangest of forms.  The Pirates Of The Caribbean series was inspired by a Walt Disney theme park ride.  The four films went on to gross a combined $3.7 billion at the international box-office.  The increasingly popular Resident Evil franchise was the result of a video game created for the PlayStation back in 1996.  Five films have been made in that series and it’s showing no signs of slowing down.

We’ve now created something even more bizarre.  That simple, throw-away advertisement buried amongst the pages of Backwoods Home Magazine has now inspired a motion picture.  Screenwriter Derek Connolly has used it as the backdrop to this fictional tale and funnily enough, it won him an award for best screenplay at the 2012 Sundance Film Festival.

It begins in the boardroom of a Seattle-based magazine.  A group of writers are tossing around ideas for future stories.  Jeff (Johnson) reads out the odd advertisement and suggests that it would make a great story.  Who wrote it?  How many responses have been received?  Does this person believe time travel is possible?

His editor gives him the green light and so he heads to the town of Ocean View, Washington with two interns – the disenchanted Darius (Plaza) and the useless Arnau (Soni).  Their first stop is the post office.  They park their car outside the PO boxes and they sit and wait for someone to collect the mail from box number 91.

There’s not quite enough to drag this story into a full 90 minutes and so a few not-so-interesting subplots are created.  The womanising Jeff is using the trip to Washington to catch up with his high-school girlfriend from two decades ago.  He’s also keen to help 22-year-old Arnau get past his “nerdy” qualities and finally lose his virginity.

Thankfully, these serve as only a minor distraction from the main show.  Forced to take on the lead role in the investigation, Darius discovers that the man responsible for the advertisement is a Kenneth Calloway.  He lives alone, works in a supermarket and seems to think that he’s always being followed.

Darius doesn’t reveal that she works for a magazine and is intending to write an exposé.  Rather, she pretends to be interested in Darius and his plans for time travel.  She makes up a story about why she wants to return to the year 2001 and she starts helping him steal supplies from a nearby facility.  Darius realises that Kenneth is crazy but how long can she maintain the charade?

It’s the performance of Aubrey Plaza (Scott Pilgrim Vs The World, Parks & Recreation) that deserves the most recognition.  She brings a bit of everything to Darius’s character – she’s smart and witty but also cynical and insecure.  The film’s best scenes see Plaza interacting with Mark Duplass (Your Sister’s Sister) and trying to get him to open up about his past.

A few elements to the story are a little silly but for the most part, this is an entertaining, off-beat comedy.  It will keep you smiling and keep you guessing.  It’s far from the safe, formulaic comedies that usually emanate from the big studios in Hollywood.  Safety Not Guaranteed was shot on a budget of just $750,000 and has quietly moved its way through film festivals and art house cinemas across the world.