Jackie (2016 film)

Directed by Pablo Larrain and written by Noah Oppenheim, Jackie is the story about Jacqueline Kennedy-Onassis who deals with the death of her husband John F. Kennedy and the plans for his funeral while looking back at her time when she was the First Lady of the United States. The film is an unconventional bio-pic of sorts as it follows Onassis’ time as the First Lady and dealing with the shocking death of her husband as Natalie Portman plays Jacqueline Kennedy. Also starring Peter Sarsgaard, Greta Gerwig, Billy Crudup, John Carroll Lynch, Richard E. Grant, Beth Grant, and John Hurt. Jackie is an evocative and rapturous film from Pablo Larrain.

The film revolves around Jacqueline Kennedy’s days following the assassination of President John Fitzgerald Kennedy on November 22, 1963 as she plans for the funeral and such while talking to a journalist (Billy Crudup) less than a month later after the funeral. Told in a non-linear narrative, Noah Oppenheim’s script follows Jackie as she talks about her time in the White House with brief glimpses of life as the First Lady as well as the events of the assassination and its aftermath. The interview with the un-named journalist, which is based partially on Theodore H. White’s article for Life magazine, has Kennedy talking about her work as First Lady that included restoring rooms at the White House that was filmed for a TV program. Yet, the bulk of the narrative has Jackie talking about the funeral procession and planning for her husband as she looks to historical events of the past for inspiration while dealing with the loss she’s carrying.

Pablo Larrain’s direction is stylish for the way it captures a period in time as it has a looseness in its approach to compositions and how it captures history. With many of the interiors shot in a studio in Paris, France with the funeral procession shot on location in Washington D.C., Larrain would aim for something simpler as he doesn’t go for a lot of wide shots with the exception of the funeral scenes. Much of his compositions aim for close-ups and medium shots while the film is shot largely on a 1:66:1 aspect ratio with the exception of Jackie’s TV special where she gives a tour of the White House which is shot in the 1:33:1 aspect ratio and in grainy black-and-white. Larrain’s approach to those scenes have him recreate the idea of what 1960s TV looked like with shots of Jackie being filmed by a crew as there is a tracking shot following her every move until it cuts to her in black-and-white. It’s among some of the stylistic choices in the film while there is also the scenes of the day of the assassination where Larrain shoots a medium shot of Jackie getting ready for the motorcade while there is a lot happening in the background.

Larrain’s direction also captures the events of the assassination and the bloody aftermath that is inter-cut with Jackie talking to the journalist about what she remembers and telling him what not to print. Even as Larrain would film scenes of Jackie’s meeting with a priest (John Hurt) where she deals with mortality and wonders why her husband had to die as it is among one of the finest sequences on film. There are also these intimate moments involving Jackie’s relationship with her brother-in-law Bobby (Peter Sarsgaard) and her personal secretary Nancy Tuckerman (Great Gerwig) that helps humanize Jackie who is coping with her grief as well as wanting to honor her husband in a way that leaders with big ideas would be honored. The film would culminate the funeral procession as it is a moment where all of the grief and trauma that Jackie faced. She maintains the sense of dignity that is needed in the role of First Lady. Overall, Larrain creates an intoxicating and riveting film about Jacqueline Kennedy’s time following the assassination of her husband.

Cinematographer Stephane Fontaine does incredible work with the film’s cinematography with its usage of naturalistic colors and lighting to play into many of the exteriors in the day along with some low-key lighting for some of the interiors as well as scenes set at night. Editor Sebastian Sepulveda does brilliant work with the editing with its usage of jump-cuts and other stylized cuts to play into the film’s non-linear narrative and Jackie’s own reflection of the events. Production designer Jean Rabasse, with set decorator Veronique Melery plus art directors Halina Gebarowicz, Mathieu Junot, and Emmanuel Prevot, does amazing work with recreation of the interiors of the White House including some of the famous bedrooms and the exterior sets of where Kennedy was to be buried. Costume designer Madeline Fontaine does amazing work with the costumes from the famed pink coat and hat Jackie wore on the day of the assassination to some of the gowns and such she would wear at various events of the past.

Makeup designers Sarai Fiszel and Odile Fourquin, with key hairstylists Janice Kinigopoulos and Catherine Leblanc, do fantastic work with the look of the hairstyles that the women had including Jackie’s hairstyle. Visual effects supervisors Thomas Duval, Sebastian Rame, and Tomas Roca do terrific work with some of the visual effects as it is mainly set-dressing with some recreation of the funeral procession and the way Jackie’s TV special is presented in its grainy footage. Sound designer David Miranda does superb work with the sound in the way some of the quieter moments at the White House are presented to scenes at Arlington and Jackie’s meeting with the priest where it has a natural atmosphere in the sound. The film’s music by Mica Levi is phenomenal for its orchestral score with its eerie usage of string arrangements and low-key textures to play into the drama while music supervisor Bridget Samuels provides a soundtrack that consists of a few classical pieces and a cut from the musical Camelot which Jackie plays on a record player.

The casting by Lindsay Graham, Jessica Kelly, Mathilde Snodgrass, and Mary Vernieu is remarkable as it feature some notable small roles and appearances from Sunnie Pelant as Caroline Kennedy, Brody and Aiden Weinberg as John F. Kennedy Jr., Julie Judd as Bobby’s wife Ethel, and Caspar Phillipson as President John F. Kennedy. John Carroll Lynch is terrific as Lyndon Johnson who would become the new President of the United States of America as he tries to give Jackie advice about the funeral while Beth Grant is wonderful as Claudia “Lady Bird” Johnson who also wants to help as she also prepares for her new role as First Lady. Max Casella is superb as Jack Valienti who was Johnson’s assistant at the time where he also tries to organize the funeral service while Richard E. Grant is fantastic as William Walton who is Jackie’s collaborator in the White House restoration project as he helps her in the historical research for what she wanted for her husband’s funeral procession.

In one of his final film performances, John Hurt is excellent as the priest who meets Jackie to discuss faith as well as giving his views of what happened where it is this very restrained yet calm performance as it is one of Hurt’s finest performances. Billy Crudup is brilliant as the journalist who interviews Jackie at her home in Massachusetts as he tries to understand some of the answers Jackie is giving him as well as what he should tell the press. Greta Gerwig is amazing as Nancy Tuckerman as Jackie’s personal secretary who is Jackie’s director during the TV special for the White House restoration while also being a close confidant in being someone to talk to as it’s an understated yet touching performance from Gerwig. Peter Sarsgaard is marvelous as Bobby Kennedy as the then-Attorney General and Jackie’s brother-in-law who is trying to help Jackie with the funeral arrangements as well as doing his job and shielding her from any news that could upset her.

Finally, there’s Natalie Portman in what is definitely a performance for the ages as Jacqueline Kennedy. It’s a performance that is this fine mixture of radiance, restraint, anguish, and grace where Portman definitely disappears into the character where she captures many of the nuances and attributes of Jackie without deviating into an impersonation. Instead, Portman provides that air of dignity in Jackie in the way she copes with grief and the trauma of seeing her husband killed in front of her as well as the way she tries to maintain this role of regality that is needed in being a First Lady where it is definitely Portman in a career-defining performance.

Jackie is a tremendous film from Pablo Larrain that features an outstanding leading performance from Natalie Portman in the titular role. Along with its great supporting cast, inventive script by Noah Oppenheim, gorgeous visuals, top-notch technical work, and Mica Levi’s ravishing score. It’s a film that doesn’t play by the rules of a bio-pic by focusing on a specific time in the life of one of the great First Ladies in American history as she is aware of role in American history and how she tries to maintain that sense of dignity for herself and her husband. In the end, Jackie is a magnificent film from Pablo Larrain.

Pablo Larrain Films: (Fuga) – (Tony Manero) – (Post Mortem) – No (2012 film) - (The Club (2015 film)) – (Neruda)

© thevoid99 2017

Little Miss Sunshine

Originally Written and Posted at Epinions.com on 9/4/06 w/ Additional Edits & Revisions.

Directed by Jonathan Dayton & Valerie Faris and written by Michael Arndt, Little Miss Sunshine is the story of a family who go on a road trip to take their young daughter to a beauty pageant as it includes a drug-addicted grandfather, a suicidal gay uncle, and a son who hasn't spoken in months. The film is a unique road film of sorts that explores a family and their dysfunctions as they all deal with setbacks while getting a young girl to a beauty pageant in California. Starring Greg Kinnear, Toni Collette, Steve Carell, Paul Dano, Abigail Breslin, and Alan Arkin. Little Miss Sunshine is a phenomenal film from Jonathan Dayton & Valerie Faris.

The film is a simple story about a family from Albuquerque, New Mexico who go on a road trip to California that a young girl named Olive (Abigail Breslin) can compete in the Little Miss Sunshine beauty pageant. Yet, not everyone is on board as Olive's father Richard (Greg Kinnear) is trying to score for a book deal for an idea he has as a motivational speaker. Adding to the chaos is Richard's stepson Dwayne (Paul Dano) who hasn't spoken in nine months in a vow of silence as he's obsessed with the work of Nietzsche while Richard's brother-in-law Frank (Steve Carell) is recovering from a suicide attempt due to a break-up with his boyfriend who left him for his rival. It would take Richard's wife Sheryl (Toni Collette) and Richard's father Edwin (Alan Arkin) to rally the family to go on this trip where a lot of major setbacks involving the family ensue. Much of it would play into the idea of failure that is prevalent around them where upon their arrival to California for Olive's pageant, some of the family fear that Olive will endure the same kind of humiliation and devastation they had been through.

Michael Ardnt's script takes it time to explore many of the dysfunction of the family as Edwin is a heroin addict who got kicked out of his retirement home as he would be the one teaching Olive how to dance for the upcoming pageant. Ardnt's approach to the script does have a lot of tropes and conventions that is expected in a road film but adds a lot of layers into the idea that a family might face failure and the whole trip would've been for nothing. Even as characters like Frank and Dwayne are individuals who are on the brink of depression as the latter is hoping to become a pilot by going into this act of silence. Adding to the tension is Richard as he has this theory about being a winner yet his thoughts would rub the family the wrong way as it would play into Olive's insecurities until her grandfather has this great monologue about what being a loser really means and says that Olive is none of those things because at least she's trying. Much of Richard's ideas would be ironic as he would put his own family finances and such into great danger as the third act is about Olive at the pageant. It's a moment in the film where it tests the sense of hopelessness of the family and what they might face as Olive is clearly the underdog against a bunch of young, sexualized girls in the pageant.

Directors Jonathan Dayton and Valerie Faris help create that spontaneity of the road film by adding a lot of situations like a family pushing the van while running after it to get in or the repeated honks of it. They also give each character something to do while dealing with their own situations as when they together, it works. When it comes to the comedy, it's very natural and often deadpan from the likes of Carrell and Dano who play the more miserable personalities dealing with their own situations. Then when the third act comes for the world of young little beauty pageants. It shows a world that can be very discomforting, even with the recent event concerning the Jon Benet murder 10 years ago. Still, Dayton & Faris don't exactly make fun of it nor take it totally serious as they show what it is and how people react to it. Overall, they created a wonderfully funny, heartfelt film that brings in a lot of caring moments and huge laughs.

Helping out Dayton/Faris in their visual presentation is cinematographer Tim Suhrstedt whose color schemes of yellow highlight the American Southwest of its vast deserts while the interiors have some nice, grainy shades of blue as the film is wonderfully shot to convey the vastness of the road. Production designer Kalina Ivanov along with art director Alan E. Muraoka and set decorator Melissa M. Lavender do great job in capturing the realism of the dysfunctional family home while doing a great job on the design of the pageant in all of its cheesy glory. Costume designer Nancy Steiner does great work in presenting the bland clothing of the adults with the exception of Alan Arkin's character while giving Paul Dano some cool t-shirts to wear while the real standout in the clothing goes to Abigail Breslin from the headbands, the boots, and everything including her costume.

Editor Pamela Martin does some great work in the editing playing to the rhythm of a road film with some jump cuts and perspective cutting to convey what the characters feeling while giving time for a specific scene. Sound editor Stephen P. Robinson and mixer Steven Morrow also do great work in conveying the humor of the film, particularly the honking of the van-bus which makes everything funny. Composer Mychael Danna along with the group Devotchka create a whimsical, offbeat score that also includes music by Sulfjan Steven and some beauty pageant music that is cheesy with the exception of an 80s funk classic.

Finally, there's the film's great cast that includes some funny small performances from Geoff Meed as a biker, Dean Norris as a state trooper, Robert J. Connor as the pageant host, Mary Lynn Rajskub as a pageant official, Julio Oscar Mechoso as a mechanic, and the incomparable Beth Grant in a very funny performance as a pageant official. Other notable minor roles from Bryan Cranston as Richard's agent, Stan Grossman and Justin Shilton as Frank's ex-boyfriend Josh are excellent in their brief appearances to convey the problems for the respective characters of Richard and Frank.

Of the main cast, no one conveys the showiness of comedy better than Alan Arkin as the grandfather. Arkin brings all of the troubling and discomforting innuendos of a drug-addict grandfather who says all the wrong things that disturbs the family while being very supportive of Olive as he teaches her to dance as Arkin brings all the right humor. Paul Dano gives probably his best performance to date as the moody Dwayne where in the film's first half, Dano brings a lot of humor with the things he writes in a notepad while not saying anything. When Dano breaks down, he channels a lot of angst while he has great chemistry with Steve Carell.

Steve Carell proves his comedic genius by going into minimalism as he plays a moody, quiet suicidal professor who brings a lot of funny moments by doing so little and not saying much. Carell, like Bill Murray who was considered for the role, proves that showiness doesn't have to be the only way to be funny as Carell brings a lot of depth to a character who is going through a lot of troubles and frustration as its one of his best performances. Greg Kinnear also proves his brilliance as an actor in comedy and drama as a man filled with irony as someone who talks about winning but is really a total loser. Kinnear brings a lot of struggle and depth to a man who tries his best for his family but ends up saying the wrong things and tries to find ways to do right as Kinnear proves himself to be a very versatile actor.

If Dano and Carell brings misery, Arkin brings misogyny, and Kinnear brings a straightforwardness, Toni Collette is the glue that brings everyone together. The Australian actress who knows how to pull off an American accent is great as the maternal figure of the family who tries to get everyone back on their feet while dealing with frustration of their dysfunctions. Collette also shines in being the normal one of the family as she stands out with her comedic talents and drama as she brings out another great performance. If Collette is the glue that keeps the cast together, it's the young Abigail Breslin who is the heart of the movie. Breslin steals the show as the optimistic Olive whose chance to compete for a beauty pageant comes true. Breslin brings a lot of depth to a young girl wanting to have her family on her side despite their dysfunctions while dealing with her own physical features as it's the family that supports her. Breslin is the real breakthrough as she proves her worth in every scene, especially her dance in the competition as she knocks everyone dead.

Little Miss Sunshine is a phenomenal film from Jonathan Dayton & Valerie Faris as it features a great cast, an amazing script, and strong themes about family. It's a film that is very accessible to families while not being afraid to say crass language and such that is controversial. Yet, it plays true to what families go through and not matter the obstacles they face. They always come together to beat the odds. In the end, Little Miss Sunshine is a tremendous film from Jonathan Dayton & Valerie Faris.

Jonathan Dayton & Valerie Faris Films: Ruby Sparks - Battle of the Sexes (2017 film)

© thevoid99 2014

Crazy Heart

Originally Written and Posted at Epinions.com on 2/21/10 w/ Additional Edits & Revisions.

Based on Thomas Cobb’s novel, Crazy Heart tells the story of an aging country music singer whose life is unfulfilling as he is playing small bars and clubs while succumbing to alcoholism. A meeting with a young journalist/single mother changes his life while he is asked by his old protégée to come out of obscurity while dealing with demons. Written for the screen and directed by Scott Cooper, Crazy Heart is a tale of redemption and hope as Jeff Bridges plays the role of Bad Blake in what many consider to be one of his finest performances. Also starring Maggie Gyllenhaal, Beth Grant, and Jack Nation along with special appearances from co-producer Robert Duvall and Colin Farrell. Crazy Heart is an excellent yet entertaining musical-drama from Scott Cooper and company.

The film is a simple story about a 57-year old country/western singer named Bad Blake who was once popular as he has become a boozed, washed-up singer playing tiny clubs in the American Southwest who drives city to city at a truck. Upon meeting a journalist named Jean Craddock (Maggie Gyllenhaal) and getting the chance to open and write new songs for his former protégé Tommy Sweet (Colin Farrell). Blake’s life seems to be in an upswing but his alcoholism would cause trouble as he begins a relationship with Jean and her four-year old son Buddy (Jack Nation) while recuperating from a car accident as he has a hard time trying to beat the bottle with help from friend Wayne (Robert Duvall) in the hopes he can find redemption.

While the story is a bit familiar in comparison to another film about an aging figure trying to find redemption and a comeback in the form of Darren Aronofsky’s 2008 film The Wrestler. The story of an aging country singer trying to make a comeback and deal with his alcoholism is an appealing story despite being a bit clichéd. Still, screenwriter and director Scott Cooper does make the story engaging while providing strong supporting characters to be revolved around a figure like Bad Blake. A man who is charming and fun to be with but is also hard-headed and full of pride about what he wants to do.

In meeting Jean and her son Buddy, he finds a reason to maybe quit drinking and be the kind of person he never got to be for his own son. The character of Tommy Sweet is a man who idolizes Blake while wanting to return a favor so Blake can get his career back on track. Cooper’s direction is very good in terms of getting actors to dramatize a scene or capture what is going on in the country music scene. Even as he also take shots towards the modern world of country music which has become very polished and more pop in recent years though the characters of Tommy and Blake are anything but the commercialized world of country. The former of which is successful but maintains an authentic sound. Despite a few flaws in the story and directing that isn’t very flashy or stylized, Scott Cooper does create a solid film.

Cinematographer Barry Markowitz does some phenomenal work with the film’s colorful yet gritty cinematography to convey the roughness of Southwestern U.S. with some beautiful scenery of the sky in the daytime and evening scenes. The nighttime interiors for some of the club performances is wonderful for its intimate setting as Markowitz’s work is very good. Editor John Axelrod does a fine job with the film’s editing which is mostly straightforward with its cuts with some nice transitions and jump-cuts to get the film going. Production designer Waldemar Kalinowski along with set decorator Clara Curry and art director Ben Zeller do a real good job in capturing the grimy look of the halls and clubs that Blake performs in to convey the feel of the American Southwest.

Costume designer Doug Hall does some great work in the costumes, notably the ragged look of Blake along with a more prestigious look when he’s on stage despite his haggard persona. Sound editors Andrew DeCristofaro and Paula Fairfield along with sound designer Clara Murray do a fantastic job in capturing the intimate sounds of a club and the way things sounded like at the amphitheater and arenas Blake and Tommy Sweet play at.

The film’s music which is mostly written by T-Bone Burnett and Stephen Bruton is truly the film’s technical highlight. Sticking to traditional country with a bouncy rhythm and a simpler sound with no polished production. The music is truly mesmerizing as it also features the song The Weary Kind written by Burnett and Ryan Bingham who makes an appearance in the film singing a track. Along with the song Reflecting Light by Sam Phillips, a lot of the music is sung by Jeff Bridges while Colin Farrell also sings a couple as they both possess great singing voices that is very straightforward.

The casting by Mary Vernieu is wonderful with some notable small roles from noted character actress Beth Grant as an old groupie, Tom Bower as liquor store owner who gives Blake free booze, Ryan Bingham as a guitarist at the Pueblo club, Rick Dial as Jean’s uncle who plays with Blake in Santa Fe, Paul Herman as Blake’s manager, and Jack Nation as Jean’s four-year old son Buddy. Robert Duvall is superb in a small role as Blake’s old friend Wayne who helps Blake get his act together as Duvall is just a joy to watch. Colin Farrell delivers a surprising performance as Tommy Sweet, a popular country singer who idolizes Blake while wanting to give him a chance to become big again as Farrell’s performance is great as he also delivers a solid vocal performance.

Maggie Gyllenhaal is excellent as Jean Craddock, a journalist/single mother who is charmed by Blake but also is aware that she’s setting herself up for some trouble. Gyllenhaal’s performance is definitely a marvel to watch in how she tries to compose herself into some very emotional scenes without any kind of high drama. While it’s not up there with more noteworthy performances like Secretary, Happy Endings, and Stranger Than Fiction, it’s a performance that solidifies her as one of the best working actresses today.

Finally, there’s Jeff Bridges in what is definitely one of his greatest roles of his career. Using his friendly persona and a physicality that is definitely ragged but stunning to watch. Bridges definitely lives up to the character sported a dirty beard, looking a bit overweight, and playing to his vulnerability. Yet, he’s also someone with charm as he has great chemistry with Gyllenhaal along with some great scenes with Colin Farrell and Robert Duvall. Bridges is the heart and soul of the film as he definitely shows his charisma and depth as a performer when he is singing or just playing a guitar quietly. It’s definitely a role that shows that he is truly one of American cinema’s great actors.

Crazy Heart is a stellar film from Scott Cooper featuring a phenomenal performance from Jeff Bridges. Along with solid supporting work from Maggie Gyllenhaal, Colin Farrell, and Robert Duvall plus an amazing soundtrack. It’s a film that isn’t entirely original but one that is appealing. Fans of Jeff Bridges will definitely see the actor play a role that truly shows his talents as it is truly deserving of the accolades it’s getting. In the end, Crazy Heart is an enjoyable yet sobering film that is like a good country song with all of its crazy emotions that is carried by the brilliance of Jeff Bridges.

(Out of the Furnace)

© thevoid99 2013

No Country for Old Men

Originally Written and Posted at Epinions.com on 11/22/07 w/ Additional Edits.

Based on the novel by Cormac McCarthy, No Country for Old Men is the story of a man who finds dead bodies in a shootout and a suitcase with two million dollars in cash. Suddenly, an investigation over the dead bodies is made by a sheriff while a killer is looking for his lost money. Written for the screen, produced, and directed by Joel & Ethan Coen, the film is a return to the crime films of their past work to study a war as it baffles an aging sheriff caught up in changing times. With an all-star cast that includes Josh Brolin, Javier Bardem, Kelly MacDonald, Woody Harrelson, Barry Corbin, Beth Grant, Tess Harper, Coen Brothers regular Stephen Root, and Tommy Lee Jones. No Country for Old Men is a haunting, visceral, and chilling film from the Coen Brothers.

It's 1980 in a desert in Texas as a man named Llewellyn Moss (Josh Brolin) is deer hunting as he hears gunshots from the other side of the desert. He walks into a slew of dead bodies with a man wounded asking for water. He then finds another dead man under a tree with a shiny pistol and a suitcase filled with two million dollars in cash. He returns home to his trailer park residence where his wife Carla Jean (Kelly MacDonald) was waiting for him. She wonders about the money he's just found as Llewellyn hopes he uses it for little things. Later that night, he wakes up returning to the scene of the crime hoping to help the wounded man only to be chased by a gang of Mexican drug dealers and a dog as he returns home telling Carla Jean to leave town and live with her mother (Beth Grant).

Meanwhile, a sociopathic killer named Anton Chigurh (Javier Bardem) is trying to find the lost money as he later kills his employers and others to find his money. After killing several people for their cars, he goes on the hunt for Llewellyn Moss as an investigation over the drug deal with dead bodies lying around is underway by a sheriff named Ed Tom Bell (Tommy Lee Jones). With his young deputy Wendell (Garret Dillahunt) assisting, they ponder on who did the deed while finding Llewellyn's truck. With Anton's bloody manhunt continues, Llewellyn is still evading him while wondering who is hunting him down. With the money now lost, it's up to a bounty hunter named Carson Wells to find the money for a businessman (Stephen Root) to recover from the botched drug deal.

After another near-encounter with Chigurh that becomes bloody, Llewellyn flees to Mexico where he is met by Wells who tells him about Chigurh. With Wells as Moss' only hope, he returns to the U.S. to be with Carla Jean who has been questioned by sheriff Bell about what happened. On the day he arrives, she calls Bell for help where suddenly, things become tragic as Bell is forced to ponder the changing times as he talks to his uncle Ellis (Barry Corbin) about the way the world works.

Returning to some of the crime elements in films like Blood Simple and Fargo, the Coen Brothers lean towards the novel by Cormac McCarthy about this simple story of a man who finds money only to be hunted by a killer with a sheriff trying to piece everything together. While little was reportedly changed from the original book to the Coens' adapted script including the dialogue, the story is definitely relevant to many of the Coen Brothers themes of symbolism and morality. Another theme that the film explore is sin, particularly greed as it's the catalyst for the film's plot. The money is the symbol of all greed with Chigurh, Moss, and Wells all wanting the money yet for different reasons. Wells wants it for the businessman while Moss is more of a simple man, and then there's Chigurh.

Anton Chigurh is a villain that is rarely seen in films. He’s violent, anti-social, remorseless, humorless, and certainly scary. While there is no clear motive on why he wants his money, he is a man that is willing to have it by any means necessary. No matter who he kills. He is certainly someone that has a presence where it's clear that once he's in a scene in the story, trouble is about to happen. Then there's Llewellyn Moss who is basically a simple man that has a bit of intelligence while knowing he's about to do something really stupid. Moss is a character audiences care about despite the fact he's a simple man.

Then there's the character of Ed Tom Bell, who begins the film with a voice-over narration about the way the world is changing for elders who couldn't keep up with the changing times. Bell is a man who seems content about his job and life yet has a few regrets. When he is faced with this investigation, it gives him a chance to do something good and maybe have a bit of redemption. Yet, his conflict isn't just this crime but action and cruelty of this crime that he is baffled by. It's the script by the Coens and their faithfulness to McCarthy's work that is amazing for its structure with the first act being about the found money and Chigurh's manhunt for Llewllyn, the second act is about that continued manhunt and Bell's confusion over the modern world. The third act is more about Bell and how he relates to things as well as loss. His loss isn't just about what happens but the world around him as he turns to his Uncle Ellis as he too is having trouble understanding the world.

The direction of the Coen Brothers is potent as ever with its use of locations shot in Texas and New Mexico. From its eye-weilding imagery to stylized scenery, Joel and Ethan Coen definitely create situations that wouldn't be shown in a Hollywood film. Notably the violence which acts as a sense of force and an element of surprise. Their take on the film's violence is visceral indeed from the opening sequences of Chigurh killing a deputy and then another man. For some scenes, the Coens know when not to show an act of killing even though the audience knows what was going to happen. The sense of tension and momentum throughout the film is superb with everything not being too fast or too slow. The pacing they use works on every level to convey the suspense. More importantly, the Coens' approach to storytelling with their compositions of scenes and presentation is insatiable.

One thing that a lot of audiences might be baffled about the film is its ending which is abrupt. What the Coens is emphasizing is the film's theme and most of all, it's title. It's about everything that has just happened and how one of its protagonist is dealing with everything. While that character may be rambling about something, it's only to reflect what the character is going through. It might seem confusing at first but once it's being replayed in the mind, it becomes understandable. That's what the Coens are trying to do while giving the audience something to think about in their own interpretations. The result overall is the Coen Brothers making a film that is haunting and as hypnotic as some of their previous work.

Longtime cinematographer Roger Deakins brings out some of his best camera work to date with eerie, dream-like photography style for many of the film's exterior sequences. Notably Llewellyn's chase in the desert as well as the nighttime scenes in Texas and Mexico. The interior sequences are done with amazing, low-light shades and darkness to give the film that haunting look. The cinematography of Deakins isn't just something that many cinematographers will love but also worthy of awards. The film's editing by the Coens under their Roderick Jaynes alias is also potent for their energetic, well-paced editing style to convey the suspense and tone of the film as Jaynes' work is amazing.

Production designer Jess Gonchor with art director John P. Goldsmith is excellent for its old-school, Texan look whether it's the cowboy shops, the trailer park home of the Moss', or the down-home look of Bell's home that is simple yet clean. The overall look in the production is amazing for its authenticity to convey what is America. Longtime costume designer Mary Zophres does some great work in the film's clothes with the use of cowboy hats for the characters of Bell, Moss, and Wells along with the dresses of Carla Jean Moss that are very simple. Longtime sound editor Skip Lievsay with sound designer Craig Berkey create a unique tone to the entire film for the fact that there's no film score played throughout the entire film. Instead, Lievsay and Berkey create sounds for the film's suspense and violence as their work is just amazing on every level. While longtime music composer Carter Burwell's work is minimal, he does create an eerie, ominous score with dense arrangements for the film's final credits.

The films casting by Ellen Chenoweth is amazing for notable small performances from Eduardo Antonio Garcia as the wounded man from the shootout, Zach Hopkins as the deputy killed early in the film, and Kit Gwin as Bell's secretary Molly. Other notable small performances from characters Barry Corbin and Beth Grant are superb with Corbin as the laconic Uncle Ellis and Grant in a funny role as Carla Jean's mother. Tess Harper is excellent in the role of Bell's wife who only appears in a few scenes but is a woman who is trying to understand her husband's alienation with the modern world. Coen Brothers regular Stephen Root is great in his brief performance as a businessman who hires Wells to track down the money while Garret Dillahunt is brilliant as Bell's young partner who scours around every crime scene asking Bell questions. Woody Harrelson's small role as Carson Wells is great for its laid-back humor and experience of a bounty hunter who knows Chigurh all too well and how he plays the game.

Scottish actress Kelly MacDonald is amazing as Carla Jean Moss, an innocent woman who is unaware of what her husband is trying to do despite her love for him. MacDonald does a great Texan accent while her performance is amazing for how she seeks help from Bell while having an amazing scene near the end about her own fate that shows her subtlety and restraint to everything that's happened to her. Josh Brolin is equally as great in the role of Llewellyn Moss, a simple man who doesn't know what he put himself through. Brolin's performance is very rugged and laconic as a Texan who knows he isn't the smartest man in the world while proving that he could go toe-to-toe with a psychopath like Chigurh. Brolin, who is having a breakout year with appearances in Robert Rodriguez's Grindhouse segment in Planet Terror, Ridley Scott's American Gangster, and Paul Haggis' n the Valley of Elah with Tommy Lee Jones as he is now destined for stardom.

Tommy Lee Jones is in masterful form as the wise Ed Tom Bell. Jones' performance is very grizzled and often with dead-pan humor that includes rambling stories about people he know. Yet, Jones performance isn't just hypnotic but also mesmerizing for the way he looks at the world and how he tries to do good. Tommy Lee Jones doesn't just earn another winning performance but one that most actor should look up to. Finally, there's Javier Bardem in what has to be his most chilling performance yet as Anton Chigurh. If there was a Hell-in-a-Cell match with Jason, Hannibal Lector, Freddy Krueger, and every other super-villain on film, Chigurh would win hands down. Bardem never goes over-the-top throughout his performance but his restraint is so eerie, it's definitely a performance that is unforgettable. While also sporting a Texan accent of sorts, Bardem definitely hides in character with a haircut that's almost comical until he starts killing. That's when he reveals he isn't funny and is all about business. Bardem rarely smiles in the film and if the Academy overlooks this performance, then the Oscars ain’t worth winning.

No Country for Old Men is a quintessential, harrowing, shocking film from Joel and Ethan Coen with a great cast that includes Javier Bardem, Tommy Lee Jones, Josh Brolin, and Kelly MacDonald. Fans of the Coen Brothers will no doubt rank this film up there with a lot of their many great films while those who loved the Cormac McCarthy novel will enjoy the film for its symbolism and themes. In the end, this is a film not for the faint of heart, especially for anyone who isn't into any kind of violence. Still, No Country for Old Men isn't just one of 2007's best films but it's a sign that the Coen Brothers are back in business.

Coen Brothers Films: Blood Simple - Raising Arizona - Miller's Crossing - Barton Fink - The Hudsucker Proxy - Fargo - The Big Lebowski - O Brother, Where Art Thou? - The Man Who Wasn’t There - Intolerable Cruelty - The Ladykillers (2004 film) - Paris Je T'aime-Tuileries - To Each His Own Cinema-World Cinema - Burn After Reading - A Serious Man - True Grit (2010 film) - Inside Llewlyn Davis - Hail, Caesar! - The Ballad of Buster Scruggs

The Auteurs #9: The Coen Brothers Pt. 1 - The Auteurs #9: The Coen Brothers Pt. 2

© thevoid99 2012

The Artist (2011 film)

Written and directed by Michel Hazanavicius, The Artist is the story of a silent film star who meets a young dancer where the two becomes top movie stars. When the era of the talkies start to emerge, his career spirals while the dancer becomes a star of her own in the new era. The film is a homage to the world of early 20th Century cinema as Hazanavicius brings back the world of silent films into the 21st. Starring Jean Dujardin, Berenice Bejo, John Goodman, Penelope Ann Miller, Missi Pyle, Ed Lauter, Beth Grant, and James Cromwell. The Artist is an entertaining yet splendid silent film from Michel Hazanavicius.

It’s 1927 in the silent film era as George Valentin (Jean Dujardin) is the biggest movie star in Hollywood. At the premiere of his new film, he is received with great praise from moviegoers as a young woman named Peppy Miller (Berenice Bejo) accidentally stepped into the red carpet where photographers got a picture of her and George. Peppy suddenly becomes this mysterious star who eventually gets to be in a film with George as a dancer. When George’s studio boss Al Zimmer (John Goodman) shows George that the future is in the world of sound and the talkies. George doesn’t believe that it will be the future as his pride that things won’t change. Instead, the arrival of the talkies do change things as Peppy becomes a star.

Faced with the decline of silent films and the stock market crash of 1929, George’s attempt to make a silent film bombs when it opens on the same day as Peppy’s new film. His wife Doris (Penelope Ann Miller) leaves him while his longtime driver Clifton (James Cromwell) is fired because George couldn’t pay him. Though Peppy enjoys life as a movie stardom, she still wonders about George whom she cared about as she regrets what she said in an interview about the death of silent films. Wanting to help him, she wants to help revive his career in a big way.

The film is about the rise and fall of a silent film star in the emergence of the talkie film era as he’s forced to watch a young extra whom he discovered become a major star of her own. Told in the silent film era style, it is a film that revels in the world of entertainment and flash of those times where it’s being threatened by this new emergence of sound in pictures. For this actor, he refuses to believe that things are changing only till he’s realized that he’s out and this young woman he discovered is in. For this young woman however, she becomes this major star though she doesn’t forget the fact that she started out in a silent film and idolized this man that gave her the break she wanted.

Michel Hazanavicius’ script is fantastic for creating this rise and fall tale in the eyes of two people where one falls and another rises. While there isn’t a lot of dialogue present except in inter-titles, it’s more about this man dealing with the idea of being obsolete as he’s forced to sell his possessions and believe that he’s washed up. Yet, he still has people including a dog named Uggie that remains loyal to him. Though times may have changed, there are those that still know who he is and care for him. While the structure and formula is familiar with the rise and fall scenario, it works to convey the world Hazanavicius wanted to explore in that world of early 20th Century cinema.

Hazanavicius’ direction is truly magical in the way he re-creates the world of the silent film era. Shooting the film in the 1:33:1 theatrical aspect ratio of its time, Hazanavicius brings back that world where it’s all about entertainment and drama told through a physical form of acting. While there are actors who talk though dialogue isn’t heard as it cuts to inter-title cards. There is a great scene where George Valentin faces that future of sound in a scene where the sound becomes big as he’s in shock over what could be the future.

The framing is quite engaging in the way he shoots more than one person in a frame while having sets made to convey that world of old Hollywood. There’s also moments where the director also creates scenes of frantic moments to play up that nightmare of changing times and despair in the eyes of Valentin. Notably in the third act as he struggles to face the idea of being obsolete and washed-up where there’s some soft lenses to heighten the melodrama. The overall work that Hazanavicius does is truly marvelous for bringing back an old era of films back to the 21st century.

Cinematographer Guillaume Schiffman does a fantastic job with the black-and-white cinematography that is truly rich in its look while utilizing soft touches for some of its emotional moments. The editing by Michel Hazanavicius and Anne-Sophie Bion is superb for its stylish cutting approach to emphasize the rhythm of the music and action that appears in the film while utilizing dissolves and montages for its stylistic flairs. Production designer Laurence Bennett, along with art director Gregory S. Hooper and set decorators Austin Buchinsky and Robert Gould, is brilliant for the set pieces creating including the studio exteriors and film sets made for the movies that are made.

Costume designer Mark Bridges does a wonderful job with the costumes from the suits that the men wear including George’s tuxedos to the more stylish and lavish clothing of Peppy in her rise to stardom. Sound mixers Gerard Lamps and Michael Krikorian, along with sound editor Nadine Muse, do excellent work in the few sound pieces created for the film which includes the famous nightmare that George would have. The music score by Ludovic Bource is phenomenal for the way it carries the film as it’s the major technical highlight of the film. Featuring bombastic yet playful pieces to more sweeping yet dramatic orchestral pieces for its despaired moments as Bource’s score is definitely magnificent.

The casting by Heidi Levitt is another major highlight of the film as features wonderful appearances from Malcolm McDowell as a butler, Ken Davitian as a pawn shop owner, Missi Pyle as George’s co-star in the film’s opening scenes, Joel Murray as a policeman, Ed Lauter as Peppy’s butler, and Beth Grant as Peppy’s maid. Other notable performances in supporting roles include Penelope Ann Miller as George’s neglected wife Doris, James Cromwell as George’s loyal butler/driver Clifton, John Goodman as boisterous studio boss Al Zimmer, and a fun performance from Uggie as Jack Russell Terrier dog called Jack.

Finally, there’s the performances of Berenice Bujo and Jean Dujardin in their respective roles of Peppy Miller and George Valentin. Bujo brings a wonderful energy and charisma to the character as well as a sense of warmth in the way she tries to help Valentin. Dujardin brings a real charm to Valentin as well as an energy as a man on top while displaying great sadness when his character has fallen. Both Bejo and Dujardin bring great physicality to the silent roles they display while proving to be amazing dancers in some of the dancing they do together as they are the acting highlights of the film.

The Artist is a majestic film from Michel Hazanavicius that features delightful performances from Jean Dujardin and Berenice Bujo. The film is full of entertainment and spectacle as well as a story that audiences can be engaged by. Particularly as it revives an old style like the silent movie back and make it feel fresh again. In the end, The Artist is a triumphant and dazzling film from Michel Hazanavicius.

Michel Hazanavicius Films: (La classe americaine) - (OSS 117: Cairo, Nest of Spies) - (OSS 117: Lost in Rio)

© thevoid99 2012

Donnie Darko

Written and directed by Richard Kelly, Donnie Darko is the story about a young teenager who evades a horrible accident as he strange things happening relating to the end of the world. Meanwhile, he sees a strange bunny rabbit who tells him what to do as his small suburban town starts to unravel. The film is a surreal tale that features element of time travel and teen angst as then-rising star Jake Gyllenhaal plays the title role. Also starring Jena Malone, Maggie Gyllenhaal, Drew Barrymore, Noah Wyle, James Duval, Holmes Osborne, Mary McDonnell, Daveigh Chase, Alex Greenwald, Beth Grant, Seth Rogen, Katherine Ross, and Patrick Swayze. Donnie Darko is a stylish yet entrancing debut film from Richard Kelly.

Donnie Darko is a young teenager who always sleepwalk where he finds himself in different locations as he lives in a nice suburban home with his parents (Holmes Osborne and Mary McDonnell), his college-bound sister Elizabeth (Maggie Gyllenhaal), and their younger sister Samantha (Daveigh Chase). While Donnie is often lewd towards his family, he has another sleepwalking moment where he sees a bunny named Frank who leads him out of the house where an airplane engine falls into his room. Though the family is OK as is Donnie who wakes up at a golf course, he becomes the talk of the school as he meets a new classmate in Gretchen Ross (Jena Malone). Still, Donnie is haunted by the message that was written on his arm that stated “28 days, 6 hours, 42 minutes, and 12 seconds”.

When school is cancelled due to a mysterious vandal incident, Donnie gets to know Gretchen as the school led by teacher Kitty Farmer (Beth Grant) who believes that the teachings of English teacher Karen Pomeroy (Drew Barrymore) is responsible for what’s happening. With Farmer turning to the teachings of Jim Cunningham (Patrick Swayze) for help, Donnie still sees strange sightings of Frank who gets him to do things. Donnie is still dealing with Frank’s presence as he starts to cause some trouble in school while being amazed by what is going on as he talks to his psychiatrist Dr. Thurman (Katherine Ross) about his fears. With things still becoming strange and Cunningham trying to impose his ideals to fellow students, Donnie starts to rail on him as he clings closer to Gretchen.

When an incident involving Cunningham has him in trouble and Kitty needing Donnie’s mother for help to chaperone the school dance troupe, that includes Samantha, to Star Search. Things get stranger following a Halloween party thrown by Elizabeth where Gretchen turns to Donnie for help as the mysterious images he sees has Donnie realize what is going on leading to a climatic moment revolving around the end of the world.

The film is about a young teenager in the late 1980s growing up in a suburban home where he sees strange visions relating to the end of the world. Throughout the film, Donnie Darko deals with bullies (Alex Greenwald and Seth Rogen), new love, authority, and the fear that the world is going to end as he only shares it with his new girlfriend Gretchen and his psychiatrist. During this journey, there is a lot that goes on in the film as Donnie’s family are dealing with the chaos that Donnie has created as a teacher tries to get books banned and impose the ideals of a self-help guru. Yet, Donnie is doing it because a strange bunny rabbit named Frank tells him what to do in hopes that Donnie can save himself.

The script that Richard Kelly creates is real genre-bender as it’s a teen-angst film, a sci-fi film, a drama, a time-travel film, and all sorts of things. Something like that could be messy and unfocused but Kelly manages to create a story that does have a cohesive center as it’s all about this young man dealing with the end of the world. While it’s largely an ensemble film, it has a lot of mysticism that revolves around time travel where Darko talks to his science teacher Dr. Monntioff which leads a revelation about the mysterious woman (Patience Cleveland) who always walks back and forth to her mailbox.

Kelly’s direction is very stylish though a lot of the scenes involving dialogue and character-driven pieces are very intimate. He knows how to frame a family dinner where there’s two people in the shot or shooting from afar to capture certain conversations. There’s also some great stylistic pieces such as this amazing, slow-motion tracking shot with very few cuts where it introduces to some characters and things that are going on. Kelly knows how to create proper introductions while injecting bits of humor in these scenes. For the more surreal moments, it’s all presented in a dreamy yet harrowing moment with a few visual effects and stylistic shots. The overall work that Kelly does is spectacular as he creates what is truly a mesmerizing debut film.

Cinematographer Steven B. Poster does an excellent job with the film‘s low-key cinematography that has some great scenes involving some of the exterior settings and some nighttime interiors including the Sparkle Motion dance scene. Editors Sam Bauer and Eric Strand do a great job with the editing in creating a mostly straightforward approach for a lot of the film’s narrative while utilizing a lot of slow-motion cuts for some of the stylish moments of the film.

Production designer Alec Hammond and set decorator Jennie Harris is very good for the look of the Darko home and school including the big bulldog statue. Costume designer April Ferry also does a good job for the casual-style 80s clothes that a lot of the people wear including the school uniform that a lot of the young actors wear. Visual effects supervisor Marcus Keys does a brilliant job with the visual effects created such as the orb that Donnie sees to some of the fantasy stuff that he sees in his head. Sound editor Victoria Rose Sampson does a superb job with the sound to capture the chaos of the party scene as well as some of the big crowd moments and the more intimate moments in the film.

The film’s score by Michael Andrews is a plaintive yet somber piece driven by piano to play up some of the drama and eerie tone of the film. Music supervisors Manish Raval and Tom Wolfe create a gorgeous soundtrack that includes a lot of post-punk tracks from acts like Echo & the Bunnymen, Joy Division, and the Church along with cuts by Duran Duran and Tears for Fear that includes a haunting cover of their song Mad World by the film’s score composer Michael Andrews and vocalist Gary Jules.

The casting by Joseph Middleton and Michelle Morris is amazing as it includes appearances from a young Seth Rogen and Phantoms Planet vocalist Alex Greenwald as two bullies who dislike Donnie, a young Ashley Tisdale as a member of Sparkles Motion, David St. James as the school’s principal, James Duval in a brief appearance as Elizabeth’s boyfriend, Patience Cleveland as the mysterious Grandma Death, Noah Wyle as Donnie’s science teacher Dr. Monnitoff, Katherine Ross as Donnie’s concerned psychiatrist Dr. Thurman, Jolene Purdy as the very shy Asian student Cherita Chen, and Beth Grant in a very showy performance as the very conservative teacher Kitty Farmer.

Other notable small roles include Holmes Osborne and Mary McDonnell as Donnie’s parents, Daveigh Chase as Donnie’s youngest sister Samantha, Drew Barrymore as the sympathetic English teacher Karen Pomeroy, and Maggie Gyllenhaal as Donnie’s college-bound sister Elizabeth where she has a great scene where she and real-life brother Jake square off in a verbal war of words. Patrick Swayze is excellent in a very slimy role as Jim Cunningham, a self-help guru whose ideals are challenged by Donnie who would uncover a harrowing secret about him. Jena Malone is wonderful as Gretchen Ross, a new classmate of Donnie who becomes the love interest while dealing with her own issues as she is hiding from her abusive father.

Finally, there’s Jake Gyllenhaal in a brilliant performance as the titular character who has some outstanding scenes whether it’s ranting about the Smurfs or defying authority while being very worrisome about the end of the world. It’s definitely a true star-making performance for the young actor at the time as he really gets the chance to carry a film while be surrounded by an amazing ensemble. It’s definitely one of his best performances of his career.

*** DVD Content Written and Posted at Epinions.com on 8/27/03 w/ Additional Edits***

The Region 1 DVD to the theatrical cut of Donnie Darko not only enhances the film's growing cult stature but also brings more depth into the film's storylines. Aside from a clearer video transfer on the DVD in comparison to watching it on Cinemax or HBO where it's a bit fuzzy, the film looks much better in the DVD video transfer. Then there's the audio commentary in the DVD. There are two sets of audio commentary in the film. The first is from the cast that includes Jena Malone, Drew Barrymore, Mary McDonnell, Holmes Osborne, James Duval, Beth Grant, and producer Sean McKittrick that is a bit annoying at times but also funny as many in the cast are still hoping for a Sparkle Motions reunion.

The other set of commentary is from creator Richard Kelly and Jake Gyllenhaal where they discuss some of the things that were overlooked in the film. Gyllenhaal even reveal some things including the Halloween party scene where Maggie dressed up as the girlfriend of Clare Quilty as a reference to Stanley Kubrick's film adaptation of Lolita. Gyllenhaal does what is probably one of the worst impressions of Christopher Walken, whom he wished played Frank.

Aside from the usual cast & crew info, trailers, and subtitles, the DVD is filled with great stuff including the infamous Jim Cunningham, Cunning Visions infomercials. Those infomercials by the way are the most cheesiest and hilarious pieces of film ever presented and Swayze‘s performance is hilarious, even the little kid who claims to have wet the bed with his famous line, "I'm not afraid anymore". The DVD also has an art gallery of the drawings of Frank as the bunny rabbit. There's even a look at the Philosophy of Time Travel and a gallery of the film's website, which is by far one of the best film websites ever that includes the deaths of a few characters in the film. Another great feature is info on the film's soundtrack and a video for the song Mad World performed by Gary Jules.

The final tidbit in the DVD is twenty scenes that were either deleted or extended. Each scene includes optional commentary from Kelly about why these scenes were cut. The scenes include more moments with Jake Gyllenhaal talking with his psychiatrist and Karen Pomeroy, who he felt, was the best teacher in the school. Even extended scenes on the bus that reveals more cruelty towards Cherita Chen. There's even more scenes that were cut that you wished were kept. One was when Jake tells Daveigh Chase that he'll fart on her face in an extended hotel scene and another with Maggie as they're carving pumpkins. There are more scenes  of Frank in the film and more depth into the relationship between Donnie and Gretchen. There's another scene unlike the rest of the nineteen that was cut from the film that reveals Donnie's fate which brings reason into why Kelly cut that scene out.

***End of DVD Review Tidbits***

Donnie Darko is a haunting but enchanting film from Richard Kelly featuring a chilling performance from Jake Gyllenhaal. Featuring a great ensemble cast that includes Jena Malone, Maggie Gyllenhaal, Patrick Swayze, and many others, it’s a film that isn’t for everyone as far as conventional storytelling is concerned. Yet, that is what is so great about it because it takes chances in bending genres while creating something that a young audience can relate to. In the end, Donnie Darko is an outstanding yet surreal film from Richard Kelly

Richard Kelly Films: Southland Tales - (The Box)

© thevoid99 2011