Based on the characters from DC Comics, Justice League is the story of a group of superheroes who form a team to stop a major threat from unleashing havoc on Earth as well as secure a trio of boxes to stop this threat. Directed by Zack Snyder with additional direction by Joss Whedon and screenplay by Whedon and Chris Terrio from a story by Terrio and Snyder, the film is superhero movie that feature many revered superheroes who come together and save the world as they also deal with themselves. Starring Ben Affleck, Gal Gadot, Henry Cavill, Ezra Miller, Jason Momoa, Ray Fisher, Amy Adams, Diane Lane, Amber Heard, Jeremy Irons, Connie Nielsen, J.K. Simmons, and Ciaran Hinds as the voice of Steppenwolf. Justice League is a thrilling though underwhelming film from Zack Snyder.
The film is a simple story in which a group of superheroes team up to face a super threat as it all takes place on Earth following the death of Superman/Clark Kent (Henry Cavill) during a major battle. For Batman/Bruce Wayne (Ben Affleck), he is consumed with guilt for not doing enough to help Superman as he encounters a major threat forcing him to call upon Wonder Woman/Diana Prince (Gal Gadot) to help him recruit other figures with special abilities. The film’s screenplay by Chris Terrio with additional work from Joss Whedon does play into the stakes yet it doesn’t do enough to introduce the other characters that would be part of this team and information about these mysterious boxes that the Justice League has to get to stop this antagonist in Steppenwolf. The first act is about Wayne and Prince recruiting the other supers into the Justice League with the Flash/Barry Allen (Ezra Miller) immediately saying yes while Cyborg/Victor Stone (Ray Fisher) and Aquaman/Arthur Curry (Jason Momoa) initially decline until Steppenwolf get involved with their personal lives.
The boxes that are known as the Mother Boxes are all sources of power that Steppenwolf wants to use to destroy the world but he had been thwarted many centuries ago by an alliance of men, Atlanteans, Olympian Gods, the Green Lantern Corps, and Amazonians who agreed to hide the boxes from Steppenwolf. The character of Steppenwolf is a villain that is underwritten due to the fact that he’s not compelling and is never really fleshed out. The script also doesn’t do much Stone as there is little to know about his origin as a kid who survived a car accident only for his father Silas (Joe Morton) to have one of the three boxes to use to create a new cyborg body that Stone would use to retrieve all sorts of information. While Allen and Curry do get a bit of back story, they’re also hampered by the script’s shortcomings due to the fact that they never get a proper introduction though there’s brief mention of why Allen can run so fast and emit electricity.
Zack Snyder’s direction is definitely lavish with some dream-like compositions to play into a world coping with loss as well as a growing sense of hopelessness and danger. Shot mainly at the Warner Brothers Studios in Leavesden in Britain with additional locations around London, Los Angeles, Chicago, parts of Scotland, and Iceland. Snyder does establish a world on the brink of chaos and despair as he does create some unique wide shots for some scenes including Wayne’s meeting with Curry in an attempt to get him on board. There are also some close-ups and medium shots in the film to play into the characters interacting with one another as Snyder does know where to put a few moments of humor in the film as well as giving audiences a break for the action. It’s among some of the things that Snyder and his replacement in Joss Whedon would succeed in doing but it’s not enough to make the film more engaging than it needed to be.
Among these issues is that there is this feeling that there’s a longer film in there somewhere as Whedon had to make some compromises to make it less messy but it undercuts some of the moments with the characters as Stone isn’t given a lot to do in how he became Cyborg while the sequence about the origin of Steppenwolf and the three boxes seem to feel like there was a longer version presented. Then there’s many of the visual set pieces as it relates to the action where Snyder and Whedon try to create so much action and visual textures yet the emphasis on visual effects do overwhelm the action including the film’s climax where the Justice League faces off against Steppenwolf and his army. It also has these clunky moments where they try to do so much but ends up being overkill in moments where it wants to be funny and exciting with moments that are serious. Overall, Snyder and Whedon crafts a worthwhile but lackluster film about a group of superheroes coming together to save the world.
Cinematographer Fabian Wagner does some fine work with the cinematography in terms of setting the mood for some scenes at night with its lighting although the reliance on de-saturated colors is overkill as it doesn’t do enough to make the film visually vibrant in favor of grittiness that doesn’t entirely work. Editors David Brenner, Richard Pearson, and Martin Walsh do some good work in the editing in creating some fast-cuts for some of the action though there’s moments where there is too much fast-cutting where it doesn’t do enough to establish what is going on in these action sequences. Production designer Patrick Tatpoulos, with set decorator Dominic Capron and senior art director Matthew Gray, does excellent work with the look of the Batcave where Wayne does much of his work and serves as a temporary base for the Justice League as well as the look of the place where Steppenwolf wants to use the Mother Boxes. Costume designer Michael Wilkinson does amazing work with the costumes in the look of the characters as well as the casual clothes they would wear when they’re not working as superheroes.
Makeup designer Victoria Down does nice work with the look of the characters from the look of Cyborg as well as the tattoos on Curry. Special effects supervisor Mark Holt and visual effects supervisor John “D.J.” Des Jardin do some terrific work on the visual effects for the design of the monsters though its usage as set-dressing isn’t inspired while the look of Steppenwolf is underwhelming as well as the awkward look of Clark Kent when he smiles. Sound designer Chuck Michael does superb work with the sound in the way the aliens sound as well as some of the weapons and the layer of sounds in the film’s climax. The film’s music by Danny Elfman is wonderful for its orchestral bombast that help play into the action and suspense along with a few low-key pieces for the non-action scenes while music supervisor Karen Elliott does do some OK work on the soundtrack as it includes music from the White Stripes as well as covers of songs by Sigrid doing Leonard Cohen’s Everybody Knows and Gary Clark with Junkie XL doing the Beatles’ Come Together.
The casting by Kristy Carlson, Lora Kennedy, and Kate Ringsell is great as it feature some notable small roles and appearances from Billy Crudup as Allen’s father Henry, Joe Morton as Stone’s father Silas, Amber Heard as the Atlantean Mera who knows Curry’s mother, Connie Nielsen as Prince’s mother Queen Hippolyta who would send her daughter a signal about Steppenwolf, Michael McElhatton as a terrorist Diana defeats early in the film, Diane Lane as Kent’s adoptive mother Martha Kent, and J.K. Simmons as Gotham police commissioner James Gordon who briefs members of the Justice League about the kidnappings at Gotham. Amy Adams is fantastic as Lois Lane as the reporter for the Daily Planet and Clark Kent’s love interest who copes with not just loss but also the sense of hopelessness despite the efforts of the Justice League. Ciaran Hinds is OK as Steppenwolf as he provides the voice of this menacing figure though it’s a character that is severely underwritten and not really given much to do but go after the Mother Boxes and kill good people.
Henry Cavill is good as Clark Kent/Superman as he’s first seen in an Instagram video as the superhero where he would later be part of a plan to be revived as Cavill has his moments despite some bad visual effects on his face. Jeremy Irons is excellent as Alfred Pennyworth as Wayne’s longtime butler/assistant who is the film’s conscience of sorts as someone who helps the Justice League with information as well as be aware of what is at stake. Ray Fisher is alright as Victor Stone/Cyborg as a former athlete who survived an accident that would have him sport a machine-like body as he deals with his abilities and being alive as Fisher has his moments though he’s not given a lot to do. Jason Momoa is superb as Arthur Curry/Aquaman as a half-Atlantean/half-human man that has the ability to control water and such as he is reluctant to join the Justice League until Atlantis was attacked prompting him to join as he does provide some funny moments.
Ezra Miller is brilliant as Barry Allen/the Flash as a young superhero who can run very fast and emit electricity as he is an admitted loner that has a hard time trying to get friends as he is also a fanboy of sorts in working with Batman and Wonder Woman as he is fun to watch. Gal Gadot is amazing as Diana Prince/Wonder Woman as the Amazonian princess who learns about Steppenwolf’s return as she decides to help Wayne out in forming the Justice League while dealing with her own reluctance to help out humanity. Finally, there’s Ben Affleck in an incredible performance as Bruce Wayne/Batman as the vigilante who decides to form a team as a way to make amends for his anger towards Superman while being aware of this threat as knows he’s been in too many battles but is hoping to save the world.
Justice League is a terrific though underwhelming film from Zack Snyder and Joss Whedon. Despite its great cast, some nice action set pieces, and bits of humor, it’s a film that falls short in what it needed to be as this epic superhero cross-over film with high stakes. Especially as it rely too much on visual effects and spectacles that don’t really do much for the story that needed to flesh out the characters more. In the end, Justice League is a good but lackluster film from Zack Snyder and Joss Whedon.
Zack Snyder Films: (Dawn of the Dead (2004 film)) – 300 - Watchmen - (Legends of the Guardians: The Owls of Ga’Hoole) – Sucker Punch
Joss Whedon Films: Serenity - The Avengers (2012 film) - Much Ado About Nothing (2012 film) - The Avengers: Age of Ultron
DC Extended Universe: Man of Steel - Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice - Suicide Squad - Wonder Woman - Aquaman – Shazam! – Birds of Prey - (Wonder Woman 1984) - (The Batman) - (The Suicide Squad)
© thevoid99 2018
Directed by Phil Morrison and written by Angus MacLachlan, Junebug is the story of an art dealer who travels to North Carolina with her husband to meet his eccentric family that includes his brother’s young and pregnant wife. The film is a family comedy-drama that explores not just a family that off the wall but a woman trying to understand where her husband comes from. Starring Embeth Davidtz, Alessandro Nivola, Celia Weston, Scott Wilson, Benjamin McKenzie, and Amy Adams. Junebug is a witty and delightful film from Phil Morrison.
After meeting a man at her art gallery and then marrying him, the film is about a woman who travels to North Carolina with her husband to meet a reclusive painter as her husband’s family live nearby where she wants to meet them. Along the way, she would get to know this family of eccentrics that includes her brother-in-law’s sweet yet naïve wife who is pregnant. Angus MacLachlan’s screenplay doesn’t just follow the life and work of Madeleine (Embeth Davidtz) who runs an art gallery in Chicago that explores outsider art. It’s the fact that she is now part of a family with very strong Southern values as they’re a bit wary of her though she means well. Madeleine’s husband George (Alessandro Nivola) is reluctant about not just introducing her to his family. It’s also because he hadn’t been back home for years as it has caused resentment from his younger brother Johnny (Benjamin McKenzie) who is going through issues as he’s living at home with his parents and young wife Ashley (Amy Adams).
While George’s father Eugene (Scott Wilson) is welcoming towards Madeleine, his wife Peg (Celia Weston) isn’t receptive towards Madeleine as is Johnny who is uneasy about Madeleine’s presence towards Ashley who loves her. Yet, Madeleine would notice that there is tension in the family as she tries to balance her time with the family as well as deal with a competing art gallery from New York who also want the artwork of the local artist David Wark (Frank Hoyt Taylor). The time spent with the family would also become more problematic despite Ashley who is the embodiment of innocence as Madeleine is fascinated by her as she wants to be there for the young woman. Yet, the looming tension within the family would come to ahead once Ashley goes into labor as it becomes clear where everyone is at.
Phil Morrison’s direction is quite simple as it is shot largely on location in North Carolina through a trio of small towns including Winston-Salem as it doesn’t go for anything that is visually-striking. While there are a few wide shots, Morrison aims for something more intimate from the scenes inside the car to some of the local gatherings the characters go to. There are some camera movements in the film yet it is more about the simple aspects of George and his family as well as Madeleine being an outsider into this world. Morrison’s compositions are more concerned with the family unit as well as the tension that is looming with Madeleine being this observer. Still, she does get into moments that are uncomfortable such as a scene where she’s trying to help Johnny prepare for his GED exam as well as being there for Ashley. The film’s third act isn’t just about Madeleine kind of being left out as she would attend to her own business but also the resentment involving Johnny and George. Notably as it reveals why the latter hasn’t been coming back home lately with Ashley somewhere in the middle of this family tension. Overall, Morrison creates a heartfelt yet lively film about a woman meeting her new husband’s oddball family.
Cinematographer Peter Donahue does excellent work with the film‘s cinematography as it is mostly straightforward with its usage of lights for the scenes set at night. Editor Joe Klotz does nice work with the editing as it‘s mostly straightforward with a few jump-cuts and fade-outs for transitional scenes from the latter. Production designer David Doernberg and set decorator Sara Parks do fantastic work with the look of the family home in all of its quaint objects as well as the art gallery that Madeleine works at.
Costume designer Danielle Kays does terrific work with the costumes as it is mostly casual with some of the more city-like clothing of Madeleine and the colorful clothes that Ashley wears. Sound editor Eric Offin does superb work with the sound as it is mostly low-key and sparse to play into the surroundings and locations in the film. The film’s music by the indie-rock band Yo La Tengo is wonderful for its low-key indie-rock music with sparse guitar melodies and textures as the soundtrack mostly feature some classical music, traditional gospel, and a soul song written by Stevie Wonder.
The casting by Mark Bennett is great as it feature some notable small roles from Alicia Van Couvering as Madeleine’s gallery assistant, Joanne Pankow as Wark’s sister/attorney, and Frank Hoyt Taylor as the eccentric yet reclusive artist David Wark that Madeleine meets and want to present his art to the world. Scott Wilson is superb as George’s father Eugene as a man who is very receptive to Madeleine as she is interested in his work creating birdhouses and stuff out of wood. Celia Weston is fantastic as Peg as a woman who adores her son George though is wary about Madeleine as she sees her as kind of a snob and not good enough for George. Benjamin McKenzie is excellent as Johnny as George’s younger brother who doesn’t really like Madeleine very much yet harbors some issues towards his older brother which also has him feel strained towards Ashley.
Alessandro Nivola is brilliant as George as a man who falls for and marries Madeleine as he is reluctant to see his family where he copes with not just old issues but also trying to make Madeleine feel like part of his family. Embeth Davidtz is amazing as Madeleine as a British art gallery owner who is fascinated by outsider art as well as get to know George’s family where she finds a bond with both George’s father and Ashley. Finally, there’s Amy Adams in an incredible breakthrough performance as Ashley as this talkative and lively pregnant woman who is hoping a baby would help her marriage to Johnny as she is so full of innocence and wonderment that makes the character a pure joy to watch.
Junebug is a remarkable film from Phil Morrison. Featuring some beautiful images, a compelling story, superb music, and a great cast led by Amy Adams in a career-defining performance. It is a true gem of a film that explores unique family dynamics as well as a woman trying to see where her husband comes from. In the end, Junebug is a marvelous film from Phil Morrison.
© thevoid99 2016
Based on the novel Tony and Susan by Austin Wright, Nocturnal Animals is a multi-layered story involving a woman who reads a novel written by her ex-husband as it involves his own life as she also reflects on the life she had with him. Written for the screen and directed by Tom Ford, the film is a neo-noir film where a woman in an unhappy marriage copes with her own past as well as the life she’s in right now. Starring Amy Adams, Jake Gyllenhaal, Michael Shannon, Isla Fisher, Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Andrea Riseborough, Michael Sheen, Armie Hammer, Karl Glusman, Jena Malone, and Laura Linney. Nocturnal Animals is an evocative yet gripping film from Tom Ford.
The film is the story of a woman who is given a manuscript of a novel written by her ex-husband which is about a man and his family who would have a deadly encounter with criminals in West Texas. Through the book, the woman reflects on her brief marriage to her first husband as well as coping with the decisions she’s made in her life including being in an unhappy marriage. Even as she wonders if there are some paralleling images and metaphors in the book she’s reading in relation to her own life. Tom Ford’s screenplay has this unique narrative where it isn’t about a woman reflecting on her life but also dealing with the one she’s in now. It is also about this story of a man who is driving to West Texas going for a holiday with his wife and daughter where an ugly encounter with some locals while on the road.
The narrative would move back and forth with the protagonist Susan Morrow (Amy Adams) reading the manuscript by her ex-husband Edward Sheffield (Jake Gyllenhaal) as well as the story that Sheffield made about a man named Tony Hastings (Jake Gyllenhaal) who is aided by a local detective in Bobby Andes (Michael Shannon) in going after the criminal named Ray Marcus (Aaron Taylor-Johnson). It all play into two people being forced to confront themselves in this story as it draw into a lot of parallels into the choices they make but also the outcome of these decisions. Even as reality and fiction would blur through this manuscript as Susan would see things as well as wonder if it is all true or just fiction. Notably as Susan would also look back into her own life which includes things she didn’t want to face but eventually come true as well as the choices that Tony has to make where Andes give him some revelations about the dark realities of the world and what has to be done.
Ford’s direction definitely bears a lot of style from this grotesque opening sequence of naked obese women during the opening credits which is part of a lavish and decadent gallery that Susan is hosting. It plays into a world of reality and cynicism that Susan is a part of but she seems quite disconnected from that world. With the Susan narrative shot largely in Los Angeles and flashbacks in New York City while the Tony narrative is shot in Texas. Ford creates a film that has this nice balance between the two world yet would maintain paralleling images that showcase the similar struggles Tony and Susan would endure. Ford’s usage of wide and medium shots play into the locations the characters are in as the scenes involving Susan have this sense of detachment as Ford creates careful framing from the world she has become a part of while the flashbacks are much simpler as well as display some foreshadowing into what will happen to her. There is also something is quite offbeat to the world that Susan is in from the friends that she has as well as the people who work with her in the art gallery. It has this sense of artificiality and materialism that is quite overwhelming where Ford would do things that seem to mock reality but it would come to haunt Susan as she becomes engrossed by Edward’s manuscript.
The scenes about the journey Tony would take as well as gain some justice with Andes’ help are much more rooted in reality. Notably as it play into a world that is quite unforgiving and eerie as Ford uses a lot of wide shots to capture the West Texas locations. There are also some close-ups as it play into the anguish that Tony would endure as well as some revelations about Andes that to his own need to wanting to do things right. There are moments that are very shocking where Ford would maintain something that is unsettling as it would eventually come into Susan’s world as reality/fiction begin to blur. All of which returns to Susan and the events in her life as well as the pain that she caused for her ex-husband to write this manuscript for her. Overall, Ford creates a visceral and eerie film about a woman questioning her own life by a manuscript written by her ex-husband.
Cinematographer Seamus McGarvey does brilliant work with the film‘s cinematography from the way some of the nighttime scenes in Los Angeles and Texas are presented as well as the usage of artificial light for many of the scenes at the art gallery and such in Susan‘s world along with more grimy yet naturalistic look of the daytime exterior scenes in Texas. Editor Joan Sobel does excellent work with the editing with its usage of jump-cuts along with other stylish cuts including some dazzling slow-motion to play into the horror and suspense that Tony would endure. Production designer Shane Valentino, with set decorator Meg Everist and art director Christopher Brown, does amazing work with the look of the stylish yet cold home that Susan lives in as well as the off-the-wall art gallery and its offbeat artwork to the more dirty and grounded look of the scenes and locations set in Texas. Costume designer Arianne Phillips does fantastic work with the costumes from the stylish dresses that Susan wears as well as the people in Los Angeles she is with as well while the look of the characters in Texas is more casual and grimy.
The makeup work of Malanie J. Romero, with additional work from Nathaniel De’Lineadeus, is terrific not just for the look of a few characters that are in Susan‘s world but also in the bearded look of Tony as well as the look of the character Ray. Visual effects supervisor Martin Goodwin does nice work with some of the minimal visual effects that relate to some of the artificiality in Susan‘s world which includes the look of a character in one scene through some eerie makeup effects. Sound editor Lon Bender and sound designer Kris Fenske do superb work with the sound as it play into some of the moments of suspense that Tony would encounter as well as in some of the eerie moments for Susan in how she sees things along with some sparse moments in the film that are very chilling. The film’s music by Abel Korzeniowski is incredible for its somber orchestral score that feature some heavy string arrangements and themes that add to the drama and suspense.
The casting by Francine Maisler is great as it feature some notable small role and appearances from Zawe Ashton as Susan’s assistant, India Menuez as Susan’s daughter, Kristin Bauer van Straten as a grotesque-looking member of Susan’s art gallery in Samantha Van Helsing, Graham Beckel as an officer investigating what happened to Tony, Robert Arayamo as a young local harassing Tony and his family, and Jena Malone in a very offbeat yet funny performance as Sage Ross who is a fellow executive of Susan’s art gallery who wears these very odd clothes. Michael Sheen and Andrea Riseborough are fantastic in their respective brief appearances as the couple Carlos and Alessia Holt with Sheen wearing some flamboyant clothing and Riseborough sporting some outlandish hairdo as they represent that sense of materialism in Susan’s world. Karl Glusman is superb as Lou as a young local who was part in the dark he encounter he has with Tony and his family as he is quite creepy.
Ellie Bamber and Isla Fisher are wonderful in their respective roles as Tony’s daughter and wife in India and Laura as two women who become frightened by the rowdy locals they meet with Bamber being more abrasive towards them and Fisher being the more concerned of the two. Armie Hammer is terrific as Susan’s husband Hutton as a man that definitely has that look of being good-looking as well as be intentionally-bland as a man that is really neglectful of his wife and what she does. Laura Linney is brilliant as Susan’s mother Anne Sutton as this bourgeois woman of decadence and wealth that Susan tries to rebel as Linney’s one-scene appearance is just fun to watch as someone that doesn’t approve of Edward while having some valid truths about what Susan might have to deal with. Aaron Taylor-Johnson is excellent as Ray Marcus as a rowdy local that Tony and his family would encounter as he is just this wild firecracker of a man that is quite scary as well as be very confrontational.
Michael Shannon is amazing as the detective Bobby Andes as a man who had seen a lot of things as he believes what Tony had been through and suspects Ray while also revealing a lot that he has to deal with in his pursuit of true justice in a world that is becoming more complicated. Jake Gyllenhaal is remarkable in a dual performance as Edward Sheffield and Tony Hastings where Gyllenhaal portrays this kind and idealistic man in the former that wants to be a writer but becomes frustrated with Susan’s criticisms. In the latter, Gyllenhaal brings someone that looks anguished and frightened as well as be consumed with guilt as a man desperate to find some justice for what happened to his family. Finally, there’s Amy Adams in a phenomenal performance as Susan Morrow as an arts gallery owner that is dealing with an unhappy marriage and the decisions she’s made in her life as she becomes enamored with a manuscript her ex-husband wrote where she copes with her past and wonders why she can’t sleep nor be happy with the life she’s in.
Nocturnal Animals is a spectacular film from Tom Ford that features great performances from Amy Adams, Jake Gyllenhaal, Michael Shannon, Aaron Taylor-Johnson, and Laura Linney. Along with eerie visuals, an amazing supporting cast, chilling sound work, and majestic music. It is this haunting yet intoxicating neo-noir thriller that plays into a woman coping with her past through the actions of a manuscript about the dark aspects of humanity from her ex-husband. In the end, Nocturnal Animals is a tremendous film from Tom Ford.
A Single Man
© thevoid99 2016
Based on the characters from DC Comics, Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice is about two superheroes who both go into conflict with each other unaware that a mogul is stirring the pot from underneath to get them to kill each other. Directed by Zack Snyder and screenplay by David S. Goyer and Chris Terrio, the film is a sequel to 2013’s Man of Steel where Superman copes with being a polarizing figure in the world with Batman being uneasy with Superman’s action from that film as Superman/Clark Kent/Kal-El is once again played by Henry Cavill and Batman/Bruce Wayne is played by Ben Affleck. Also starring Amy Adams, Jesse Eisenberg, Laurence Fishburne, Diane Lane, Jeremy Irons, Holly Hunter, and Gal Gadot as Diana Prince/Wonder Woman. Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice is an enthralling but messy film from Zack Snyder.
The film revolves around a growing conflict between two superheroes who both want to do good but have different ideas of what to do with it as they would eventually have a showdown unaware that a mogul is trying to get them to fight each other for his own gain. It’s a film that plays into not just actions but also its consequences where it begins with the climatic showdown between Superman and Zod at Gotham from Man of Steel but it is seen from the perspective of Bruce Wayne who would watch thousands of innocent people killed including some of his employees at a building he owns with one of them losing his legs. Superman not only copes with being a polarizing figure trying to do good though innocent people would be killed in these attempts as members of the United States government want to question his intentions. Still, Clark Kent would question the intentions of Batman who had been doing vigilante work on his own brand of justice where even the people of Gotham are afraid of him.
The film’s screenplay by David S. Goyer and Chris Terrio definitely play not into this conflict between these two men but also questioning themselves where Wayne and several others aren’t sure if Superman is really trying to do good as there are those who are also willing to discredit Superman. The one person that is doing that and more as well as stirring the pot between Batman and Superman is this mogul in Lex Luthor (Jesse Eisenberg). While Wayne’s longtime butler Alfred Pennyworth (Jeremy Irons) believe that Superman isn’t the enemy and Kent’s adoptive mother Martha (Diane Lane) tries to assure her son to do good no matter all of the bad that is happening. Even Kent’s girlfriend/fellow journalist Lois Lane (Amy Adams) tries to assure Clark that he is doing good while she would do her own investigation into a bullet shell she found in Africa during an assignment that went wrong where Superman saved her but he would be accused of killing several people.
While the film’s script does establish the characters including their motivation as well as their own suspicions. The narrative however is a total mess due to the fact that there is so much that is going on as well as a lot of exposition of how Luthor views the world and this subplot that relates to these other individuals with superpowers that Wayne would learn. One of which would reveal to be Wonder Woman who would be integral to the film’s climax as she brings some weight into unveiling the truth of what is happening and who is the real enemy. Yet, the journey for Wonder Woman to be involved is a clunky one in the script as other aspects that relate to the suspicion Wayne and Kent have toward each other as well as the government’s suspicion on Superman aren’t fully realized.
Zack Snyder’s direction definitely has a lot of stylistic elements not just in the conventional aspects of bombastic action films but it does have moments where he does break away from the action. Shot on various locations in Detroit, Chicago, and parts of New Mexico as Africa, the film does play into a world that is uncertain about what is going to happen with Superman being seen as a savior for some but others see him as a false idol. Snyder does use a lot of wide shots to establish some of the locations as well as some medium shots to play into the vastness of the crowds along with some of the conversations. There are some close-ups where Snyder does play into some of the intrigue such as a meeting between Wayne and Diana Prince at a museum where the former is intrigued by the latter. It’s among one of the highlights of the film that shows Snyder just restraining himself a bit as well in his slow-motion action scenes.
The direction does have moment that feature moments that are surreal such as a few dream sequences of what Wayne is dealing with as it relates to the death of his parents and the idea of Superman as a threat. There are moments that drive the story such as Superman attending the U.S. Senate Committee in the hope that he can announce his intentions which would lead to a key plot point in the film. It’s just that Snyder tends to draw things out while also trying to find time to introduce other characters that is to be part of something bigger. It is part of the reason for the film’s uneven tone where there is this story about Superman going against Batman but also wanting to tell the story of these two men working together for something good. The film’s climax where the two team up with Wonder Woman to face a monster called Doomsday is quite thrilling but it is followed by a more drawn-out ending that goes a little overboard. Overall, Snyder does create an exhilarating yet flawed film about two superheroes being manipulated by a tyrannical mogul who wants them both dead by killing each other.
Cinematographer Larry Fong does excellent work with the film‘s stylish cinematography with its usage of de-saturated colors and some low-key grainy camera work for some of the nighttime interiors as well as the usage of blue and sepia for some of the daytime exteriors. Editor David Brenner does nice work with the editing as it does go into the typical fast-cutting style that is expected in action films though it does allow each scene to establish what is going on while it also has some stylish jump-cuts. Production designer Patrick Tatapoulos, with set decorator Carolyn “Cal” Loucks and supervising art director Troy Sizemore, does brilliant work with the look of the Luthor estate as well as the home and land of Bruce Wayne along with the secret room where he does his own investigation with Alfred. Costume designer Michael Wilkinson does fantastic work with the design of the costumes that Superman, Batman, and Wonder Woman wear as well as those gorgeous dresses that Prince wears in social gatherings.
Visual effects supervisor John “D.J.“ Des Jardin does amazing work with the visual effects as it play into some of the design of the cities and the powers of Superman as well as in the look of the monster that is Doomsday. Sound designers Chuck Michael and Jussi Tegelman, with sound editor Scott Hecker, do superb work with the sound with the layer of sound effects and the way Doomsday sound along with how some of the locations are presented with the sound. The film’s music by Tom Holkenberg aka Junkie XL and Hans Zimmer is wonderful for its mixture of bombastic orchestral score provided by Zimmer with some of Holkenberg‘s approach to rock and electronic power as it has some amazing themes including the one for Wonder Woman‘s arrival.
The casting by Jo Edna Boldin, Kristy Carlson, and Lora Kennedy is great as it feature some notable small role and appearances from news reporters Soledad O’Brien, Anderson Cooper, and Charlie Rose as themselves along with the famed astrophysicist Neil deGrasse Tyson as himself. Other small roles from Jeffrey Dean Morgan and Lauren Cohan as Bruce’s parents in the flashback scene of their murder, Michael Cassidy as the young Bruce, Mark Edward Taylor as an executive at Wayne Enterprises who would be killed in the film’s opening sequence, Christina Wren and Harry Lennix in their respective roles as Major Farris and Secretary Swanwick who are among the few that believe that Superman was set-up in Africa, Kevin Costner in a cameo appearance as Clark’s adoptive father Jonathan Kent, and Robin Atkin Downes as performance-capture model of the monster that is Doomsday.
Other noteworthy small roles include Scoot McNairy as a former Wayne Enterprises employee Wallace Keefe who has a legit grudge towards Superman, Tao Okamoto as Luthor’s assistant Mercy Graves, and Callan Mulvey as the Russian terrorist Anatoli Knyazev whom Wayne suspects to have some affiliation with Luthor as he would also be involved in setting up Superman for an incident in Africa. Holly Hunter is terrific as Senator June Finch as a woman that wants to question Superman to see if his intentions are good while becoming uneasy about Luthor and his obsession towards Superman. Diane Lane is fantastic as Martha Kent as Clark’s adoptive mother who tries to assure her son about his role in the world as she would also become a key factor in the climax into what Superman has to fight for.
Laurence Fishburne is superb as Daily Planet editor-in-chief Perry White who is frustrated with Kent’s frequent absences and the compromises he had to make to keep his paper afloat. Jeremy Irons is excellent as Alfred Pennyworth as Wayne’s longtime butler/guardian who is kind of the conscience of sorts while getting to say some funny lines as well as have Wayne see reason about what Superman is doing. Amy Adams is amazing as Lois Lane as Kent’s colleague/lover who is trying to see what really happened in Africa as well as try to help Kent see that he is someone trying to do good. Jesse Eisenberg is brilliant as Lex Luthor as a mogul who despises Superman and will do anything to destroy him where Eisenberg has this darkly-comic approach to the character that is quite offbeat but fun to watch.
In the role of Diana Prince/Wonder Woman, Gal Gadot is phenomenal as the Amazonian warrior who disguises herself as an antiques dealer who doesn’t appear much but her scenes do provide some importance while showing what she can do when she is Wonder Woman when she joins the fight against Doomsday as she steals the show. Henry Cavill is marvelous as Clark Kent/Kal-El/Superman as someone who is struggling with his role as a superhero while dealing with its consequences and expectations where he also finds himself in conflict with Batman over different ideas of doing good. Finally, there’s Ben Affleck in a remarkable performance as Bruce Wayne/Batman as a vigilante who brings fear to his enemies as he wonders if Superman is really on Earth to bring chaos as well as have suspicion towards Luthor where he makes a discovery about others who might join in the fight for good where Affleck really brings in the sense of ingenuity and awesomeness that is Batman.
Despite its flaws due to a messy script and some drawn-out storylines including its ending, Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice is still a terrific film from Zack Snyder. Featuring a great cast, a fantastic score, dazzling visual effects, and an intriguing yet flawed premise, it is a superhero film that is exciting while setting the stage for something bigger to come. In the end, Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice is a stellar film from Zack Snyder.
Zack Snyder Films: (Dawn of the Dead (2004 film)) - 300 - Watchmen - (Legend of the Guardians: The Owls of Ga’Hoole) - Sucker Punch - Man of Steel
DC Extended Universe: Suicide Squad - Wonder Woman - Justice League - Aquaman - Shazam! - Birds of Prey - (Wonder Woman 1984) - (The Batman) - (The Suicide Squad)
Batman Films: (Batman (1966 film)) - Batman (1989 film) - Batman Returns - Batman Forever - Batman & Robin - Batman Begins - The Dark Knight - The Dark Knight Rises - The Lego Batman Movie
Superman Films: (Superman) - (Superman II) - (Superman III) - (Superman IV: The Quest for Peace) - (Superman Returns) - (Superman II: The Richard Donner’s Cut)
© thevoid99 2016
Based on the short story Story of Your Life by Ted Chiang, Arrival is the story of a linguist and others who try to communicate with aliens who had just arrived on planet Earth. Directed by Denis Villeneuve and screenplay by Eric Heisserer, the film is a sci-fi drama that explores the idea of the universe and how humans try to communicate with the unknown. Starring Amy Adams, Jeremy Renner, Forest Whitaker, Michael Stuhlbarg, and Tzi Ma. Arrival is a riveting yet astonishing film from Denis Villeneuve.
When news that twelve alien spaceships have landed on twelve different parts of the world, a linguist is hired by the military to communicate with the aliens asking why they’re here as she doesn’t just try to find ways to communicate with them but also cope with the loss of her daughter years ago. It’s a film with a simple story yet it also plays into the ideas that humans aren’t alone in the universe as there could be a way for peace and harmony as it is in the hands of not just the linguist but also a theoretical physicist. The two try to see what the aliens want as they’re aided by a colonel and a CIA official who are trying to communicate with the rest of the world leaders who are doing the same as panic is happening all over the world about the arrival. Especially as the Chinese government have prepared themselves for conflict in case something drastic is about to happen.
Eric Heisserer’s screenplay has a very unique narrative that is often filled with flashbacks as it relates to the loss that the film’s protagonist Dr. Louise Banks (Amy Adams) is carrying as it relates to her own daughter. She is also someone that has been detached due to loss where she is asked by Colonel Weber (Forest Whitaker) to decipher anything these aliens are saying where she is reluctant at first but is willing to give it a go. She teams up with Ian Donnelly who works in astrophysics and kind of serves as the film’s comic relief as he takes his work seriously. Yet, once Dr. Banks and Donnelly make some slow but steady progress in communicating with the aliens. Dr. Banks would uncover memories of her own life relating to her daughter as well as other things as she begins to decipher more of their language. When a discovery is made about what they want or what they’re offering, panic does ensue as Col. Weber wants to give Dr. Banks and Donnelly the chance to see what these aliens mean. Especially as so much is on the line as there are those who play into the worst aspects of humanity.
Denis Villeneuve’s direction is truly evocative for not just the images that he creates but also in trying to understand what humanity can do for the good of the world. Shot on location around Montreal as Montana, the film plays into something that is quite otherworldly but also grounded in reality as it relate to that sense of detachment and loss that looms over Dr. Banks. While Villeneuve does use some wide shots to capture the grandness of the spaceship, it is the usage of close-ups and medium shots where the direction is really potent. Notably in the flashbacks as it has this naturalistic quality into what Dr. Banks is experience and dreaming like as well as the way she interacts with Donnelly who is a man that is about fact as he would also give in towards his humanistic traits. There are bits of humor in the film which is often provided by Donnelly during a sequence where he would communicate with the aliens through Dr. Banks’ instructions. Yet, much of the film is told dramatically as there are also some perspective from the world outside as there are those who have no understanding of what is going on where there would be those that give in to fear and cause trouble.
The direction would also provide ideas of what aliens would use to communicate as there is a complexity to the language which is crucial to its pacing where it take its time rather than go for something easy. Even when the dramatic stakes are increased as it play into the paranoia of what the aliens might be saying as it might lead into chaos. There would also be these things that would become more abstract in the course of the story as it doesn’t just relate to the fabric of time but also the sense of loss that Dr. Banks is carrying. Its climax isn’t just about the possibility of a better future for the world but also how the good in humanity would be the key to that if they just allow themselves to understand the bigger picture and not give in to fear. Overall, Villeneuve creates an intoxicating and majestic film about humans trying to understand what aliens want on their arrival to Earth.
Cinematographer Bradford Young does amazing work with the film‘s cinematography from the naturalistic look of some of the exteriors in the flashbacks as well as the usage of lighting and low-key shades to play into some of the interiors and the scenes inside the spaceship. Editor Joe Walker does excellent work with the editing as it is mostly straightforward with some stylish jump-cuts to play into some of the flashbacks as well as doing some slow-movements to play into the bits of suspense. Production designer Patricia Vermette, with supervising art director Isabelle Guay and set decorators Paul Hotte and Andre Valade, does fantastic work with the look of the interior of the spaceship as well as the military base camp where Dr. Banks and officials work at. Costume designer Renee April does nice work with the costumes as it is mostly casual with the exception of the army uniforms and the suits that characters have to wear to enter the spaceship.
Visual effects supervisors Alexandre Lafortune and Louis Morin do brilliant work with the look of some of the exterior of the spaceship as well as the design of the aliens that do look otherworldly. Sound editor Sylvain Bellemare does superb work with the film‘s sound from the way some of the sounds inside the spaceship sound as well as the design of the voices of the aliens created by a team of sound designers as it is a highlight of the film. The film’s music by Johann Johansson is phenomenal as its mixture of low-key orchestral strings with some ambient electronic pieces that include some piano loops and other array of sounds as it really another highlight of the film as the score also feature elements of Max Richter’s On the Nature of Daylight.
The casting by Francine Maisler is great as it feature some notable small roles from the quartet of Carmela Nossa Guizzo, Jaydn Malone, Abigail Pniowsky, and Julia Scarlett Dan as the different ages of Dr. Banks’ daughter Hannah, Mark O’Brien as Captain Marks, and Tzi Ma as the Chinese military leader General Shang. Michael Stuhlbarg is excellent as CIA agent Halpern as a man that is trying to deal with the other countries to make sure things go well as oversee the experiment. Forest Whitaker is fantastic as Col. Weber as a military officer who turns to Dr. Banks for help as he is hoping for something that is peaceful as well as protect her and Donnelly knowing that they’re the key to the hope of the human race.
Jeremy Renner is amazing as Ian Donnelly as an astrophysicist who helps Louise in deciphering the alien language as well as see what they’re about as he brings some humor but also moments that shows how much he cares for Dr. Banks and wanting to be understanding of the aliens. Finally, there’s Amy Adams in an incredible performance as Dr. Louise Banks as a woman that is carrying a sense of grief around her as she is asked to understand the language of aliens where she would make a discovery of what they’re saying as well as deal with images in her head as it relate to her past as it’s really one of Adams’ most evocative performances to date.
Arrival is an outstanding film from Denis Villeneuve that features sensational performances from Amy Adams, Jeremy Renner, and Forest Whitaker. Featuring some amazing visuals, a complex and heartfelt script, and an intoxicating music score by Johann Johansson. The film is truly a sci-fi film that is very smart but also willing to ask big questions along with an idea of hope in a chaotic world. In the end, Arrival is a magnificent film from Denis Villeneuve.
Denis Villeneuve Films: August 32nd on Earth - Maelstrom - Polytechnique - Incendies - Prisoners (2013 film) - Enemy (2013 film) - Sicario - Blade Runner 2049 - The Auteurs #68: Denis Villeneuve
© thevoid99 2016
Based on the book by Frank Abagnale and Stan Redding, Catch Me If You Can is the story about a young Abagnale who manages to concoct several successful cons before the age of 19 as he’s often in pursuit by a FBI agent. Directed by Steven Spielberg and screenplay by Jeff Nathanson, the film is a quirky comedy of sorts where a young man forges checks to create elaborate cons as he deals with being pursued by a FBI agent who refuses to give up as Leonardo diCaprio plays Frank Abagnale and Tom Hanks in the role of FBI agent Carl Hanratty. Also starring Nathalie Baye, Martin Sheen, Amy Adams, Jennifer Garner, James Brolin, and Christopher Walken. Catch Me If You Can is a witty yet adventurous film from Steven Spielberg.
The film revolves around the life of a young man who decides to forge checks in order to con banks out of their money as his actions get the attention of a FBI agent who would chase him for several years. It’s a film that plays into two men involved in this cat-and-mouse game where there is a bit of mutual respect between the two even though Frank Abagnale is a criminal and Carl Hanratty is a FBI agent. Though Hanratty’s motivations is to capture Abagnale and retrieve all of the money that was stolen, it is Abagnale’s motivation that is clearly far more interesting. Especially as he is doing these schemes on banks as an act of revenge when his father Frank Sr. (Christopher Walken) was turned down by banks for a loan due to various things involving the IRS. By pretending to be a Pan Am pilot, a doctor, and a lawyer, Abagnale does whatever it takes to survive but things eventually get out of control which forces Abagnale to get more desperate in order to evade the FBI.
Jeff Nathanson’s screenplay does have a unique narrative as it’s told in a reflective style where Abagnale is returning to the U.S. from France as he’s accompanied by Hanratty. While the film does have a traditional structure, it is more about Abagnale’s motivations as he once lived a good life with his parents until money issues and his French mother Paula (Nathalie Baye) having an affair with a friend of his father in Jack Barnes (James Brolin) which lead to the end of the life that Abagnale had. The divorce of his parents would lead Abagnale to run away and use his mastery to con people would provide him as a means of survival where he would live well and woo women. All of this gets the attention of authorities where Carl Hanratty would be the one chasing him throughout the years as it’s all set during the 1960s while the scenes of Abagnale and Hanratty coming home to the U.S. is set in the 1970s.
While the presentation of the story is comical as the chases does have Hanratty in a series of humiliating moments. It is still a drama at heart where there’s these conversations from a pay phone that Abagnale would have with Hanratty on Christmas Day where it is about these two men getting to know each other as an act of respect between two opponents. Even as Abagnale would have thoughts of giving up his criminal schemes where an encounter with a young pregnant nurse named Brenda (Amy Adams) would raise those thoughts. While it’s third act plays more into what Abagnale would endure as a captured criminal and what he would have to do to avoid spending more time in prison where the roles of Abagnale and Hanratty would sort of change in terms of who gets humiliated. Still, it is about a sense of one-upmanship as well as how Abagnale would use his skills into this new life and find some fulfillment in his life.
Steven Spielberg’s direction is very stylish as it plays up this vibrant world of the 1960s as well as creating something that feels upbeat and lively. Especially in the way he definitely mimics films of those time while creating something that feels intimate with the compositions he creates. Some that intimacy with its use of close-ups and medium shots play into the life that the young Abagnale had with his family including the scenes between Abagnale and his father which expresses Abagnale’s desire and loyalty to his father. It’s among these smaller moments that Spielberg creates that is quite magical while having airs of sentimentality since it showcases Abagnale’s willingness to make his father proud. The direction also has Spielberg use some unique compositions to play into the phone conversations between Abagnale and Hanratty where Spielberg uses a few wide shots to play into the loneliness that looms in Hanratty as he is never seen not working.
The scenes where Spielberg plays into the chase scenes have these intricate steadicam shots play into the frenzy of Hanratty’s desperation to capture Abagnale. Even as Spielberg infuses some style with some tracking shots as well as scenes that play into some of the chases along with an extravagant scene where Abagnale hires women to pretend to be stewardesses. There is a sense of extravagance in these moments but it plays to how elaborate Abagnale’s schemes are as things do slow down in the third act. Yet, Spielberg does manage infuse some style in his compositions as well as in creating the conflicts in Abagnale in what he has to do in the third act. Overall, Spielberg creates a very compelling yet whimsical film about a cat-and-mouse game between a FBI agent and a young con artist.
Cinematographer Janusz Kaminski does brilliant work with the film‘s photography with its array of stylish approach to interior lightings for the scenes set in the bars and restaurants as well as some of its nighttime exteriors in the U.S. and parts of France. Editor Michael Kahn does fantastic work with the editing with its rhythmic approach to humor that includes the chase scenes along with some straightforward cuts to play into the drama. Production designer Jeannine Oppewall, with art director Sarah Knowles and set decorators Claudette Didul and Leslie A. Pope, does amazing work with the set design from the look of the hotel rooms and places that Abagnale stayed in to the FBI office building where Hanratty is at in his job.
Costume designer Mary Zophres does excellent work with the design of the Pan Am pilot uniforms and stewardess costumes as well as some of the clothes Abagnale wears to play into the sunny world of the 1960s. Visual effects supervisors Nathan McGuinness and Patrice Mugnier do nice work with some of the minimal visual effects which plays more as set-dressing in some sequences in the film. Sound editors Charles L. Campbell and John A. Larsen do terrific work with the sound to play into some of the machines that Abagnale would use later in his cons as well as the planes and location scenes to play into the world that the characters are in. The film’s music by John Williams is incredible as it is this nice mix of jazz textures and lush orchestral music to play into the humor and drama as the soundtrack features music from Frank Sinatra, Judy Garland, Nat King Cole, Dusty Springfield, and the trio of Antonio Carlos Jobim, Stan Getz, and Joao Gilberto.
The casting by Debra Zane is phenomenal as it features some notable small roles from Elizabeth Banks and Ellen Pompeo as women that Abagnale would woo in his adventures, Brian Howe, Chris Ellis, and Frank John Hughes as a trio of FBI agents who work with Hanratty as they’re often seen as bumbling fools, the real Frank Abagnale as a French policeman who would arrest Abagnale in France, Jennifer Garner as a call girl Abagnale would woo during one of his schemes, and Nancy Lenehan as Brenda’s mother who definitely takes a liking to Frank as she is excited that Brenda found a good man. James Brolin is terrific as Jack Barnes as a man who was a friend of Abagnale’s father who would betray him by sleeping with Abagnale’s mother and later marry her. Martin Sheen is excellent as Brenda’s father Roger Strong who is a bit suspicious of Abagnale yet takes him under his wing when Abagnale thinks about becoming a lawyer.
Amy Adams is fantastic as Brenda Strong as this young nurse who falls for Frank as she comes to him thinking he’s a doctor about having an abortion as the two fall in love where Adams exudes a sense of innocence to her role. Nathalie Baye is superb as Abagnale’s French mother who met Abagnale’s father when she was 18 and would marry him as she is really an interesting character as a woman that wanted a different life as she has no clue into how bad she hurt her son. Christopher Walken is brilliant as Frank Abagnale Sr. as the man that the young Frank idolizes as Walken has this sense of charm and warmth into his role as a man who wants to do what is best for his family while he would learn exactly what his son has been doing.
Tom Hanks is amazing as Carl Hanratty as the FBI agent who would be chasing Abagnale for several years as he tries to figure out how he does his schemes and such where there’s a bit of admiration in the character as well as some humor as Hanks manages to create a character that is fun to watch despite some shaky moments in his New English accent. Finally, there’s Leonardo diCaprio in a remarkable performance as Frank Abagnale as this young man who would start his cons at the age of 16 in an act of rebellion against the banks that cheated his father as diCaprio brings a lot of charm and wit to his role as well an energy and anguish into someone that wants to make his father proud as it’s one of diCaprio’s finest performances.
Catch Me If You Can is a sensational and fun film from Steven Spielberg. Armed with a great cast led by Leonardo diCaprio and Tom Hanks as well as very exciting premise that is told with such style. The film is definitely one of Spielberg’s most entertaining films as well as one of his funniest. In the end, Catch Me If You Can is a marvelous film from Steven Spielberg.
Steven Spielberg Films: (Duel (1971 film)) - (The Sugarland Express) - (Jaws) - (Close Encounters of the Third Kind) - (1941) - (Raiders of the Lost Ark) - (E.T. the Extraterrestrial) - (Twilight Zone: the Movie-Kick the Can) - (Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom) - (The Color Purple) - (Empire of the Sun) - (Always) - (Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade) - (Hook) - (Jurassic Park) - Schindler’s List - (The Lost World: Jurassic Park) - (Amistad) - Saving Private Ryan - (A.I. Artificial Intelligence) - (Minority Report) - (The Terminal) - (War of the Worlds (2005 film)) - (Munich) - (Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull) - (The Adventures of Tintin: The Secret of the Unicorn) - (War Horse) - (Lincoln) - (Bridge of Spies) - (The BFG)
© thevoid99 2014
Based on the comic Superman by Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster, Man of Steel is an origin story in which Kal-El struggles with his identity as a man from another planet while also being known as Clark Kent where he later becomes Superman and fight the enemies from his former planet of Krypton. Directed by Zack Snyder and screenplay by David S. Goyer with a story by Goyer and Christopher Nolan. The film is a reinterpretation of the Superman origin story where it reveals Clark Kent/Kal-El’s struggle with his upbringing and where he really came from before he finally embraces his role. Starring Henry Cavill, Amy Adams, Michael Shannon, Laurence Fishburne, Antje Traue, Ayelet Zurer, Kevin Costner, Diane Lane, and Russell Crowe as Jor-El. Man of Steel is a thrilling yet flawed film from Zack Snyder.
The film is about the young man who would become Superman (Henry Cavill) as he struggles with who he is and what he needed to be as he would eventually find the answers from his late father Jor-El. Yet, Kal-El/Clark Kent also struggles with keeping his powers and identity secret as his late adoptive father Jonathan (Kevin Costner) knows of that struggle as he tries to show him that not everyone can be saved. While a journalist in Lois Lane (Amy Adams) tries to uncover the secrets of Superman through her early encounters, an exiled general and his people from the planet Krypton in Zod (Michael Shannon) tries to find him in the hopes he can create a new Krypton in Earth and exterminate the human race. This would prompt Superman to save Earth and the human race and to see that Zod wouldn’t make the same mistakes his father and the Kryptonians had made many years ago that led to the planet’s destruction.
David S. Goyer’s screenplay does pay true to many of the origins of Superman and where he came from along with the destruction of Krypton. Yet, there’s aspects of the film’s screenplay that isn’t successful as there’s a lot of exposition into an object known as the codex that Jor-El would put into his son as he was the first natural newborn in many centuries for the planet since Jor-El and his wife Lara (Ayelet Zurer) wanted their son to have the choice in being an individual unlike the other people of the planet. Upon meeting the shadow of his late father, Kal-El wouldn’t just learn about what happened to Krypton and who he is as it would play into the struggle that he would have. Some parts of the script has Clark reflect on his childhood with his father and mother Martha (Diane Lane) as he would live a nomadic lifestyle to find himself as an adult before he realizes the role he has to play.
While the Kents, Jor-El, Zod, and Lane are characters that are quite complex, some of the minor characters that is part of Superman’s world get shafted by the wayside once the film’s second half becomes more about Superman dealing with Zod and his army. Especially in how Zod and his army were able to leave the Phantom Zone due to explosion of Krypton as it leads to more exposition which does get tiresome. Yet, the Zod character is a complex antagonist for the fact that he had been born and raised to save the planet and its people but he becomes lost in his desire to create a new planet as he is making the same mistakes that led to Krypton’s demise.
Zack Snyder’s direction is quite interesting in the way he portrays Superman and his struggle with his identity where the scenes set in Smallville when Kent is a child definitely has this Malickian look to the film is quite entrancing. Yet, there’s also a griminess to some of the action scenes where the scenes set in Krypton as it’s collapsing are very big and unsettling. Snyder does know how to slow things down and establish some key aspects to the story yet the two different tones he wanted to present in the film is uneven at times. Especially as the scenes set in Smallville and other worldly locations are beautiful but the scenes filled with the chaotic reminders of Krypton is quite ugly. Even as Snyder would create some scenes of Lois Lane often getting into trouble only to be saved by Superman as it kind of becomes a running gag.
There are some great compositions and set pieces that occur that includes its climax but at times, it gets overwhelming as all of the destruction Superman and the Kryptonians have created. Even as it involves lot of visual effects where some of it isn’t that great as some of the direction gets into overdrive in terms of the action and destruction of buildings. Another aspect of the film that is very annoying is the presence of lens flares that isn’t really necessary and doesn’t say anything for the film on a visual level. Despite the flaws that the film carries, Snyder does manage to create an exciting and engaging film about the Man of Steel.
Cinematographer Amir Mokri does excellent work with the film‘s cinematography from the evocative look of the scenes set in Smallville with its use of darkened colors along with some of its shadows and lighting for some of the film‘s interior scenes and material set in Krypton. Editor David Brenner does nice work with the editing in some of the montages that is created as well as some of the action scenes though some of it moves a bit too fast at times. Production designer Alex McDowell, with set decorator Anne Kuljian and supervising art director Helen Jarvis, does fantastic work with the look of Krypton and its ships along with the look of Metropolis and Smallville as it‘s the two world that Clark Kent lives in. Costume designers James Acheson and Michael Wilkinson do terrific work with the costumes from the look of Superman‘s suit to the suits and armor of the Kryptonians.
Hair/makeup supervisor Victoria Down does wonderful work with some of the makeup work for Martha Kent as in her aging look. Visual effects supervisors John “D.J.” Des Jardin and Ged Wright do some superb work with the visual effects in the look of Krypton and some of its machines though at times they look wobbly such as the weapons from its ships. Sound designer Eric A. Norris and co-sound editor Scott Hecker do brilliant work with the sound work from the sound of lasers as well as some of the natural moments presented on location. The film’s music by Hans Zimmer is pretty good for its bombastic orchestral themes and soaring string pieces to play into the drama and sense of adventure that occurs in the film.
The casting by Kristy Carlson, Lora Kennedy, and Claire Simon is amazing for the ensemble that is created as it features some notable small roles from Richard Schiff as the scientist Dr. Emil Hamilton, Michael Kelly as Lane’s colleague from the Daily Planet, Christopher Meloni as Col. Hardy, Harry Lennix as Lt. General Swanwick, and Antje Traue as Zod’s sub-commander Faora. Ayelet Zurer is pretty good as Kal-El’s mother Lara while Laurence Fishburne is terrific though somewhat wasted as Lane’s boss Perry White as he doesn’t get more to do other than boss Lane around and save a few employees from the destruction of Metropolis. Cooper Timberline and Dylan Sprayberry are solid in their respective roles as the 11 and 13-year old Clark who struggles with his identity and powers. Diane Lane is wonderful as Clark’s mother Martha who brings a great sense of warmth and wisdom to Clark while Kevin Costner is superb as Jonathan Kent as he would help the young Clark deal with his identity and gifts.
Russell Crowe is excellent as Kal’s father Jor-El as a man who is aware of the destruction that Krypton has created for itself as he would later guide his son into discovering his identity. Michael Shannon is great as General Zod as this mad general who is eager to save Krypton at any cost while wanting to rebuild the planet on Earth and hope to bring a new civilization to this new version of Krypton. Amy Adams is brilliant as Lois Lane as a reporter for the Daily Planet who tries to uncover the mystery of Superman as she falls for him as Adams has a lot of energy and charisma to her role despite getting herself into lots of trouble. Finally, there’s Henry Cavill in a phenomenal performance as the titular character as a man struggling with who he is and how he would later accept that role as Cavill has the look and determination to play Superman as well as the humility of Clark Kent.
While it does have its flaws in terms of presentation, Man of Steel is still a worthwhile and fun film from Zack Snyder. With a great leading performance from Henry Cavill along with strong supporting performances from Russell Crowe, Amy Adams, Kevin Costner, Diane Lane, and Michael Shannon. It’s a film that will satisfy fans of Superman though it pales to the brilliance of the 1978 film that introduced him to cinephiles. In the end, Man of Steel is a pretty good film from Zack Snyder.
Zack Snyder Films: (Dawn of the Dead (2004 film)) - 300 - Watchmen - (Legend of the Guardians: The Owls of Ga’Hoole) - Sucker Punch - Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice -
DC Extended Universe: Suicide Squad - Wonder Woman - Justice League - Aquaman - Shazam! - Birds of Prey - (Wonder Woman 1984) - (The Batman) - (The Suicide Squad)
Superman Films: (Superman) - (Superman II) - (Superman III) - (Superman IV: The Quest for Peace) - (Superman Returns) - (Superman II: The Richard Donner’s Cut)
© thevoid99 2014
Written and directed by Spike Jonze, Her is the story of a recently-divorced man who falls in love with a female voice produced by an intelligent computer operating system that gets him out of his funk. The film is an exploration into the world of loneliness and longing where a man deals with himself as he falls for this machine who has the personalities and feelings of a human being. Starring Joaquin Phoenix, Amy Adams, Rooney Mara, Olivia Wilde, Chris Pratt, and the voice of Scarlett Johansson as Samantha. Her is a ravishing and evocative film from Spike Jonze.
Set in a futuristic Los Angeles that isn’t totally removed from present time, the film is an exploration into an introverted man not just dealing with divorce but finding a connection with an operating system who calls herself Samantha. It’s a film that is a very unlikely romantic comedy where Theodore Twombly (Joaquin Phoenix) falls in love with this OS as she has all of the emotions of a human being even though she is only a machine who organizes his emails, proofreads the letters he writes for people in his job, and deal with other things that he couldn’t do. She’s also a great communicator which adds to the complexity of her character and her relationship with Theodore who starts to go out more and become even happier. Especially as Theodore is still struggling with his divorce from his wife Catherine (Rooney Mara) while the only friend he talks to is his neighbor/college friend Amy (Amy Adams).
Spike Jonze’s screenplay not only explores Theodore’s loneliness as he struggles to re-enter the world until Samantha comes into his life. It also showcases Samantha’s own desire to be human as she wants to touch Theodore as their love becomes immensely powerful. While Amy would discover this as she would embark on her own relationship with an OS after her marriage falls apart in the second act. Things do get complicated when the operating systems start to go beyond their capabilities as they begin to ask big questions about themselves which would play into the film’s third act. Even as it would affect Theodore who becomes so attached to Samantha as he tries to resolve what went wrong in his marriage as he would also big questions about himself.
Jonze’s direction is truly entrancing in the images he creates where he shoots the film in both Los Angeles and in Shanghai as if it’s set in a city of the future where many machines are voice-activated as people carry small devices with an earplug to listen to the voices of the operating systems. Still, it’s a world that isn’t too far removed from modern times as they’re still cars, planes, and such while people still talk to each other and do all sorts of things. The direction that Jonze presents is very unique in not just the world that Theodore lives in but also the sense of isolation that he’s in where he often looks at the city skyline from his apartment as if he is yearning to connect with someone or something.
The direction has Jonze not just use a lot of wide and medium shots but also close-ups such as the first shot of the film where Theodore is writing a letter on his computer. The use of tracking and some handheld camera shots play into not just some of Theodore’s world but also the enthusiasm he has with Samantha where she looks through a camera lens of what she is seeing in Theodore’s device. It would add to the weight of this relationship where it’s quite funny at times that includes a few scenes of Theodore interacting with a video game character along with some comments that Samantha says during the moments she has with some friends of Theodore. The overall result is truly a rapturous and extremely touching film about love between a man and a machine with human feelings.
Cinematographer Hoyte van Hoytema does some absolutely tremendous work with the film‘s lush and colorful cinematography from the look of the skylines in Los Angeles and Shanghai to the use of sunny colors for some of the exteriors as well as the use of lights as it‘s one of the film‘s highlights. Editors Jeff Buchanan and Eric Zumbrunnen do amazing work with the film‘s editing with its use of jump-cuts and other rhythmic cuts to play into the film‘s romantic evolution. Production designer K.K. Barrett, with set decorator Gene Serdena and art director Austin Gorg, does brilliant work with the set pieces from the background of trees in the elevator at the apartment building Theodore and Amy live in to the place that Theodore works at as it‘s filled with gorgeous colors and such.
Costume designer Casey Storm does excellent work with the costumes from the colored shirts that Theodore wears to reflect his personality as well as some of the clothes of the people that he meets. Visual effects supervisor Janelle Croshaw does superb work with the visual effects such as the video game Theodore plays to some of the minimal backdrops in the city that he lives in. Sound designer/music supervisor Ren Klyce does fantastic work with the film’s sound to play into the atmosphere of the locations and the sounds that come out in the computer while compiling the film’s wonderful music soundtrack which includes pieces by the Breeders, Will Collins, Nickodemus, Entrance, Little Willie John, Philip Guyler, and the Chantels. The rest of the music features some ambient and plaintive piano pieces by Owen Pallett as well as original music by Arcade Fire which plays to the film’s emotional tone as well as an original song by Yeah Yeah Yeahs vocalist Karen O that Theodore and Samantha sings.
The casting by Cassandra Kulukundis and Ellen Lewis is incredible as it features some voice work from Spike Jonze as the video game character Theodore deals with as well as the voices of Brian Cox, Bill Hader and Kristen Wiig as other small characters. Other notable small roles include May Lindstrom as a pregnant TV star Theodore fantasizes about, Portia Doubleday as a woman Samantha hires to pretend to be her, Laura Kai Chen as the girlfriend of Theodore’s receptionist Paul, and Matt Letscher as Amy’s husband Charles who only appears in the first act. Chris Pratt is terrific in a funny performance as Theodore’s receptionist Paul while Olivia Wilde is wonderful as a blind date that Theodore meets which adds to his fear of commitment.
Rooney Mara is excellent in the role of Theodore’s ex-wife Catherine as she mostly appears in flashbacks as this unique presence while she does have an amazing scene where she expresses her frustrations to Theodore over their marriage. Amy Adams is fantastic as Theodore’s friend Amy who is concerned about his loneliness as she later deals with a divorce where she embarks on a friendship with a OS that would help her in her work as a filmmaker and game designer.
The film’s best performances definitely go to Joaquin Phoenix and Scarlett Johansson in their respective roles as Theodore and Samantha. Phoenix showcases a sense of restraint as well as tenderness in his role as a man lost and in despair over his divorce as he falls for the voice of a machine which just adds to the complexity of his character as it’s Phoenix at his most charming and his most vulnerable. Though she doesn’t appear in the film, Johansson provides a lot of depth and weight to the voice of Samantha as it’s one that is pretty funny as well as very dramatic in her search for meaning and wanting to have a body. Phoenix and Johansson have this chemistry that is indescribable as they put a lot of heart and soul into these characters and this relationship as they really are a huge highlight of the film.
Her is a magnificent film from Spike Jonze that features outstanding performances from Joaquin Phoenix and the voice of Scarlett Johansson. The film is definitely a romantic-comedy that is unlike anything that is expected in the genre while infusing it with a sci-fi setting that makes it unique to express a man’s loneliness. Along with its amazing technical work and the supporting cast that includes Amy Adams, Olivia Wilde, Rooney Mara, and Chris Pratt. It’s a film that also manages to find a soul in the machine that is just as human as humanity itself. In the end, Her is a spectacular film from Spike Jonze.
Spike Jonze Films: Being John Malkovich - Adaptation - Where the Wild Things Are - Tell Them Anything You Want: A Portrait of Maurice Sendak - My Mutant Brain
Related: The Auteurs #54: Spike Jonze - The 25 Essential Videos of Spike Jonze
© thevoid99 2014
