Two Lovers (2008 film)

Inspired by Fyodor Dostoyevsky’s short story White Nights, Two Lovers is the story of a man who returns home to New York City as he finds himself engaged to a woman when he falls for a neighbor. Directed by James Gray and screenplay by Gray and Richard Menello, the film is an unusual romantic triangle where a man finds himself falling for a beautiful woman but also wants to be a good man to his fiancé. Starring Joaquin Phoenix, Gwyneth Paltrow, Vinessa Shaw, Elias Koteas, Moni Moshonov, and Isabella Rossellini. Two Lovers is a rapturous and intoxicating film from James Gray.

The film revolves around a troubled man who finds himself in a love triangle with a beautiful neighbor he’s fallen for and a woman whose father wants to buy his parents’ laundromat business. It’s a film that plays into a man dealing with not just in love with two different women but also the fact that he’s still reeling from heartbreak as he is unsure of what to do. The film’s screenplay by James Gray and Richard Menello opens with Leonard Kraditor (Joaquin Phoenix) walking near a creek on his way home as he thinks about his former fiancée who broke up with him as he jumps off a bridge in a suicide attempt. He is saved but still has to return home unaware that his parents are having a meeting with the people who are going to buy their laundromat as they’re bringing in their daughter Sandra Cohen (Vinessa Shaw) who is fascinated by Leonard. During this time he’s dealing with his family’s business being bought, he meets a neighbor in Michelle Rausch (Gwyneth Paltrow) as they hang out and such as he’s unaware of how troubled she is.

Throughout the course of the script, Leonard is being pulled into two spectrums as he is often leaning towards Michelle because they both share emotional and mental troubles as Leonard is still coping with a break-up as it forced him to move back to his parents. Yet, his time with Michelle would often lead to a lot of questions than answers as she is having an affair with a married law partner in Ronald Blatt (Elias Koteas) that is becoming tumultuous. It’s a relationship that is problematic yet Leonard does find himself courting Sandra who is a more grounded person and very kind but also doesn’t want to make him uncomfortable as it relates to his previous break-up. Plus, her parents like him and his parents like her a lot where they attend family events and such as he feels more relaxed around her. Still, he is enamored with Michelle who wants his help as it relates to her relationship with Ronald with Leonard’s mother Ruth (Isabella Rossellini) watching from afar.

Gray’s direction is low-key as it doesn’t emphasize too much on style in favor of aiming for an intimate story of a man torn between two women. Shot mainly on the Brighton Beach area in Brooklyn in New York City with some of the films shot on New York City, the film does play into this environment that is largely working-class but also a world that is also vibrant. Gray would use some wide shots for some of the locations including some scenes on the apartment rooftop in a few conversation scenes between Leonard and Michelle that is presented on an entire take in one shot with a few more to follow in medium shots and close-ups. Yet, much of Grey’s approach of the film is to shoot it in many rooms and apartments as well as real locations around Brooklyn to play into this world these characters live in but also one that is prospering as far as Leonard’s father Reuben (Moni Moshonov) is concerned knowing that his family laundromat is going to be a part of something big with Leonard having something to fall back on since his aspirations as a photographer hasn’t gone anywhere.

Gray’s direction also play into the idea of longing since Leonard and Michelle live in the same build but across from each other’s window as it adds intrigue to their relationship whenever they talk on the phone as Ruth is supposedly hearing the conversation though she isn’t seen. Gray’s direction also play into this temptation where Leonard is attending a Bar Mitzvah for Sandra’s brother as he spends all of his time there but gets a call from Michelle whom he sees later as Gray would make the choice of having Michelle and Sandra never meet each other though the latter does know about the former due to conversations with Leonard. The film’s climax relates to Leonard’s decision about his future and his love life as it would play into the idea of safety in Sandra or to risk it all with Michelle. Overall, Gray crafts a tender yet intoxicating film about a man torn between two women he is in love with.

Cinematographer Joaquin Baca-Asay does brilliant work with the film’s cinematography as it emphasizes on mood for its usage of sepia-based lighting for many of its interiors and scenes set at night along with more blue-grey colors for a few daytime exteriors including a scene at a restaurant with Leonard and Sandra. Editor John Axelrad does excellent work with the editing as it is straightforward to play into the drama with a few rhythmic cuts to play into some of the film’s emotional moments. Production designer Happy Masse, with art directors Marc Benacerraf and Pete Zumba plus set decorator Carol Silverman, does fantastic work with the look of the apartment that Leonard’s family lives including his messy room as well as the apartment that Michelle lives in.

Costume designer Michael Clancy does nice work with the costumes as it is largely straightforward for its Christmas holiday setting with the exception of a few stylish clothes that Michelle wears as well as a New Year’s Eve dress that Ruth wears. Sound designer Douglas Murray does superb work with the sound as it play into the atmosphere of a few party scenes as well as the sparse and quiet sounds for some of the scenes at the apartment rooftop. Music supervisor Dana Sano does terrific work in assembling the film’s soundtrack as it include some classical pieces for the film’s score as well as a mixture of hip-hop, opera, and jazz music to play into the world that the characters are in.

The casting by Douglas Aibel is wonderful as it feature some notable small roles and appearances from Anne Joyce as Leonard’s former fiancée in a dream sequence and in picture, Iain J. Bopp as Sandra’s little brother David, Samantha Ivers and Jeannie Serrales as a couple of Michelle’s friends, Julie Budd as Sandra’s mother Carol, and Bob Ari as Sandra’s father Michael who would make an offer to Leonard about his future at his company. Elias Koteas is terrific as Ronald as Michelle’s married lover who is concerned about her well-being as he asks Leonard to keep an eye on her. Moni Moshonov is superb as Leonard’s father Reuben as a man that is trying to uphold his deal in this merger as well as ensure that his son would not have to worry about his future.

Isabella Rossellini is fantastic as Leonard’s mother Ruth who is concerned about her son’s well-being as she is also wondering what is going on as she seems to know about his affair with Michelle as it’s a very low-key yet mesmerizing performance. Vinessa Shaw is amazing as Sandra Cohen as a woman whose father is buying Leonard’s family business as they start off as friends and eventually lovers as she is a woman that is kind and understanding but also someone who is willing to help him. Gwyneth Paltrow is brilliant as Michelle Rausch as a woman who lives in the same apartment as Leonard as she is someone who is charming and fascinating but also troubled due to her love of drugs and alcohol to cope with her own emotional troubles. Finally, there’s Joaquin Phoenix in an incredible performance as Leonard Kraditor as a man still reeling from heartbreak as he finds himself falling for two women as he deals with the decision he’s in but also the prospect of his own future as it’s a restrained and charismatic performance Phoenix.

Two Lovers is a phenomenal film from James Gray that features great performances from Joaquin Phoenix, Gwyneth Paltrow, Vinessa Shaw, and Isabella Rossellini. Along with its supporting cast, gorgeous locations, riveting story, and beautiful visuals, it is a romantic film that doesn’t play by the rules as well explore the idea of security and heartbreak in a romance. In the end, Two Lovers is a sensational film from James Gray.

James Gray Films: Little Odessa - The Yards - We Own the Night - The Immigrant (2013 film) - The Lost City of Z – Ad Astra – The Auteurs #67: James Gray

© thevoid99 2018

Se7en

Directed by David Fincher and written by Andrew Kevin Walker, Se7en is the story of a soon-to-be-retired detective who teams up with a young detective to investigate a series of mysterious killings based on the seven deadly sins. The film is a suspense-thriller that explores the seven deadly sins as two men try to catch its killer. Starring Morgan Freeman, Brad Pitt, Gwyneth Paltrow, John C. McGinley, R. Lee Ermey, Richard Roundtree, and Kevin Spacey. Se7en is an eerie and haunting film from David Fincher.

The film follows two detectives taking part in a week-long case involving a series of mysterious murders based on the seven deadly sins as it becomes more deadly and complex. That is the simple premise of the film as it explores not just the idea of sin but what two different detectives are dealing with as one is about to retire while the other has just arrived from another city. Andrew Kevin Walker’s screenplay has this amazing structure as it is told in the span of a week where Detective Lieutenant William Somerset (Morgan Freeman) spends his last days devoted to this case with the help of his new yet short-tempered partner Detective David Mills (Brad Pitt) who has transferred himself from another city with his wife Tracy (Gwyneth Paltrow). In the course of the week, the two delve into mysterious murders as it gets more intricate with each sin that follows where it also becomes more gruesome.

One of the aspects of the script that is engaging is the partnership between Somerset and Mills as it starts off with two men in very different places as the former is uncertain in working with someone that is young and kind of cynical while the latter isn’t sure about working with some old man who probably hasn’t done a lot of action and knows too much. Still, their relationship does gradually develop as Somerset gets to know Mills and meet Tracy where she would bring a warm side to Somerset as she would tell him a secret that her husband doesn’t know yet. During the search of the killer, the two detectives try to figure out what is going on as it leads to that last day where both men are on the same page but there is still that surprise that would lead to the basis of the mystery and the man who committed them.

David Fincher’s direction is definitely dark as it makes no bones that this isn’t some conventional thriller as much of the film takes place during rainy days. While much of the film is shot in Los Angeles with the exception of its climax that is shot near Lancaster, California, the film is set into something that looks and feels like any other American city where it’s kind of seedy and chaotic as these murders only just make things worse. Fincher’s usage of hand-held cameras for some of the chases and action-based scenes are quite engaging yet it is his approach to how he build up the suspense and sense of danger that is entrancing from the usage of the wide and medium shots to capture the crime scenes to the extreme close-ups of every attention to detail of the bodies and such in the crime scenes.

Fincher would also use some intricate tracking shots with the hand-held cameras and steadicam to capture some of the action such as a sequence in a massage parlor where some of the most gruesome acts of murder have occurred. By the time the film reaches its third act as its killer is unveiled, something interesting happens as it relates to the killer and the theme of the seven deadly sins. The climax is interesting as it is all about control as well as what some will do as Fincher presents it with a lot of style from the usage of helicopter-based shots to what is happening in the ground. Even as it lead to moments that are very shocking with some moral implications as it says a lot about the dark aspects of humanity. Overall, Fincher creates a intoxicating yet unsettling film about two detectives taking on a murder case based on the seven deadly sins.

Cinematographer Darius Khondji does brilliant work with the film‘s cinematography with its usage of low-key lights and moods to play into the film‘s eerie tone for many of the interiors and exteriors along with the sunny but chilling climax as it include some additional work from Harris Savides who also shoots the film‘s opening title sequence. Editor Richard Francis-Bruce does excellent work with the editing with some jump-cuts for some of the high-octane action moments along with some unique rhythms to play into the suspense. Production designer Arthur Max, with set decorator Clay A. Griffith and art director Gary Wissner, does fantastic work with the look of the apartment homes that the detectives live in as well as the police precinct offices and the mysterious apartment of the killer. Costume designer Michael Kaplan does nice work with the costumes as it is mostly casual from the clothes the detectives wear as well as the mysterious look of the killer.

Makeup supervisor Jean Ann Black, along with special effects makeup artist Rob Bottin and supervising hair stylist/makeup artist Michael White, does amazing work with the look of the victims in the decayed state they‘re in as it play into the macabre tone of the film. Visual effects supervisor Greg Kimble does terrific work with some of the film‘s minimal visual effects as it involves bits of set dressing as well as in the film‘s opening title sequence. Sound designer Ren Klyce and sound editor Patrick Dodd do superb work with the film‘s sound as it has a lot of layers into the way some of the moments of action sound such as a chase scene as well as in the way police sirens and sparse moments are presented. The film’s music by Howard Shore is great as its orchestral-based score is filled with bombastic string arrangements to play into the suspense and drama as well as moments that are low-key through its somber pieces. The film’s music soundtrack is a mixture of music from Johann Sebastian Bach, Thelonious Monk, Haircut 100, Billie Holiday, Charlie Parker, Marvin Gaye, Gloria Lynne, the Statler Brothers, Gravity Kills, Nine Inch Nails, and David Bowie.

The casting by Kerry Barden, Billy Hopkins, and Suzanne Smith is wonderful as it feature some notable small roles from Michael Massee as a massage parlor manager, Leland Orser as a traumatized man at the massage parlor, Reg E. Cathey as the coroner, Mark Boone Junior as a greasy FBI agent friend of Somerset, Hawthorne James as a friend of Somerset who watches over the police library, Richard Schiff as John Doe’s attorney, Julie Araskog as the wife of one of the victims, and John C. McGinley in a terrific small role as a SWAT team leader. Richard Roundtree is superb as District Attorney Martin Talbot as a no-nonsense man who is trying to make sure the case doesn’t get out of control for the public. R. Lee Ermey is excellent as the police captain who is an old friend of Somerset as he tries to ensure things go well while making sure Somerset and Mills do their jobs. Gwyneth Paltrow is fantastic as Tracy as Mills’ wife who is trying to adjust to her new home as well as confide in Somerset of a secret and asking for his advice as she is the one person that humanizes both Mills and Somerset.

Kevin Spacey is incredible in his mysterious role as John Doe as a man who isn’t seen much in the film until the third act where he has this odd presence about him that is intriguing to watch as it is one of Spacey’s defining performances. Brad Pitt is amazing as Detective David Mills as this young detective who is new to town as he’s not keen on having Somerset as his partner as he is kind of cocky as well as be a prick yet Pitt makes him so engaging as well as have him be grounded once he realizes the seriousness of the case. Finally, there’s Morgan Freeman in a brilliant performance as Detective Lt. William Somerset as a man that has seen a lot as he’s about to retire until the complexity of the murder case as he tries to find many things while becoming frustrated with its brutality as he and Pitt have a great rapport as two men who are opposites yet find common ground in the way things have become.

Se7en is a phenomenal film from David Fincher that features sensational performances from Morgan Freeman, Brad Pitt, and Kevin Spacey. Along with a superb supporting cast, gorgeous yet eerie visuals, and a haunting music score and soundtrack. It’s a film that isn’t just a smart and intricate suspense-thriller but one that is filled with many layers that explore the dark aspects of humanity. In the end, Se7en is an astounding film from David Fincher.

David Fincher Films: Alien 3 - The Game - Fight Club - Panic Room - Zodiac - The Curious Case of Benjamin Button - The Social Network - The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo (2011 film) - Gone Girl

Related: 15 Essential Videos by David Fincher - The Auteurs #61: David Fincher

© thevoid99 2016

Iron Man 3

Based on the Marvel Comics by Stan Lee, Larry Lieber, Don Heck, and Jack Kirby and from the Extremis story arc by Warren Ellis, Iron Man 3 is the third installment of the Iron Man story in which Tony Stark faces with a new, mysterious enemy who is eager to wreak havoc into Stark’s life. Directed by Shane Black and screenplay by Black and Drew Pearce, the film picks up where The Avengers left off as Stark must deal with his role as Iron Man as he’s once again played by Robert Downey Jr. Also starring Gwyneth Paltrow, Don Cheadle, Guy Pearce, Rebecca Hall, James Badge Dale, Ty Simpkins, Jon Favreau, and Ben Kingsley as the Mandarin. Iron Man 3 is a thrilling and adventurous film from Shane Black.

The film revolves around Tony Stark battling an unknown enemy known as the Mandarin who is wreaking havoc on the world as he’s targeting the U.S. President (William Sadler). Yet, things become more complicated as Stark is dealing with anxiety issues relating to the events in The Avengers as he starts to alienate people close to him. Meanwhile, Stark is also dealing with the presence of Adrian Killich (Guy Pearce), who has been known for creating a virus that can help regenerate body parts, as he wants to go after Pepper Potts (Gwyneth Paltrow) to get Starks to help fund his work. It’s all part of a world in which Stark becomes overwhelmed as he has no idea what to do while eventually realizing that he’ll need to do things to help those he care for.

The screenplay by Shane Black and Drew Pearce explores not just Stark’s anxieties as well as his obsession to perfect the Iron Man suits he wears but also to use it so he can protect Pepper. Yet, he’s also dealing with the sins of the past as it relates to Killich who made an offer to Stark back in New Year’s Eve 1999 only to reject the offer while on that same night, he had a one-night stand with a botanist named Maya Hansen (Rebecca Hall) who would be one of the people that would create the Extremis virus. These sins would come back to haunt him as Stark tried to target the Mandarin in which one of his bombs put his former bodyguard Happy Hogan (Jon Favreau) into a coma. All of these incidents and the presence of the mysterious Mandarin would cause a lot of issues for Stark as he finds refuge in a small Tennessee town where he befriends a boy named Harley (Ty Simpkins) who would help Stark get back on his feet.

The script allows the Tony Stark character to not just face his demons and flaws but also face more brushes with death as he finally comes to the conclusion that he’s not just invisible. It’s not just Stark that is given a great character arc as the script also pays attention to Pepper Potts who grows into a much stronger woman who can put on an Iron Man suit and be helpful. There’s also a bit of buddy-comedy elements when it comes to Stark and his friend Colonel James Rhodes aka the Iron Patriot (Don Cheadle) who would later help Stark out in battling the Mandarin. Upon Starks’ eventual confrontation with the Mandarin, it becomes much more complex than it actually seems as it relates more to Killich’s work with the Extremis virus.

Black’s direction is quite typical of what is expected in an action blockbuster but Black does things to make it so much more. Notably as he creates scenes that are fun and full of humor while keeping the action thrilling as well as have some meaning. Black does create some unique shots that are simple including the scenes involving Starks and Potts while opening the film with this very humorous New Year’s Eve party in Switzerland that would set the tone for the entire film as it’s narrated by Stark. Many of the compositions are simple while the humor has the right note of just being unexpected but also natural where there is that sense of improvisation. Overall, Black creates a very solid and enjoyable action-blockbuster that manages to do a lot more than what is expected in its genre.

Cinematographer John Toll does excellent work with the film‘s cinematography as it‘s mostly naturalistic in some of its exteriors while using some more stylish lights for the scenes at night. Editors Jeffrey Ford and Peter S. Elliot do terrific work with the editing to create some rhythmic cut for the action scenes as well as a few montages for the flashback scenes. Production designer Bill Brzeski, along with set decorator Danielle Berman and supervising art director Desma Murphy, does amazing work with some of the set pieces such as the Stark mansion and the places set in Tennessee and Miami. Costume designer Louise Frogley does nice work with the costumes as it’s mostly casual with the exception of the Iron Man suits.

Visual effects supervisors Mark Bakowski, Erik Nash, Saravanan Stalin, and Christopher Townshend do brilliant work with the visual effects from the scenes of Iron Man flying in the air to some of the intense action scenes. Sound designer Ann Scibelli and sound editor Mark P. Stoeckinger do wonderful work with the sound from the layer of sound effects is used to some of the intimate moments in the mixing such as a bar scene where Stark gets information about the Extremis virus. The film’s music by Brian Tyler is very good as it‘s filled with bombastic orchestral music to play out its actions while music supervisor Dave Jordan brings in a few late 90s pop songs for the 1999 opening sequence as well as some funk music.

The casting by Sarah Finn is amazing as it features a massive collection of actors as it includes appearances from Miguel Ferrer as the vice president, Ashley Hamilton as an Extremis soldier, Shaun Toub reprising his role as Yinsen from the first film in the 1999 party scene, Paul Bettany as the voice of J.A.R.V.I.S., and Stan Lee as a beauty pageant judge. Other notable small roles include James Badge Dale and Stephanie Szostak as a couple of vicious Extremis soldiers, Jon Favreau as Stark Industries security officer Happy Hogan, and Ty Simpkins as the boy Harley who helps out Stark in repairing the Iron Man Mk 42 suit. William Sadler is terrific as the American President as someone who is threatened by the Mandarin as he tries to maintain some sense of order. Rebecca Hall is wonderful as Extremis co-creator Maya Hansen as a botanist who had good intentions for the virus only to go into conflict of her own about working for Killian.

Ben Kingsley is great as the Mandarin as a mastermind terrorist who creates mysterious videos with great intimidation as Kingsley brings a lot of chew-scenery to his performance as the Mandarin. Guy Pearce is excellent as Aldrich Killian as a businessman who has a grudge towards Tony Stark as he uses the Extremis virus to become something that is very menacing. Don Cheadle is superb as Col. James Rhodes as a man who is concerned for Tony Stark while dealing with his new role as Iron Patriot as he would deal with the Extremis forces.

Gwyneth Paltrow is brilliant as Pepper Potts as she goes from someone who is dealing with Stark’s anxieties to being a woman that got tired of being pushed around as Potts finally gets to kick some major ass. Finally, there’s Robert Downey Jr. in a marvelous performance as Tony Stark/Iron Man as someone struggling with his role as well as with his own demons as Downey just adds more layers to the characters as someone who is flawed and vulnerable as well as finding a way to get back up.

Iron Man 3 is a remarkable film from Shane Black that features another winning performance from Robert Downey Jr. Thanks to a fantastic script and a brilliant supporting cast, the film is definitely a major improvement over its predecessor while being something more than just a typical blockbuster film. It’s also a film that has something for everyone while not wanting to take itself too seriously. In the end, Iron Man 3 is an excellent film from Shane Black.

Marvel Cinematic Universe: Infinity Saga: Phase One Films: Iron Man - The Incredible Hulk - Iron Man 2 - Thor - Captain America: The First Avenger - The Avengers (2012 film)

Marvel Phase Two Films: Thor: The Dark World - Captain America: The Winter Soldier - Guardians of the Galaxy - The Avengers: Age of Ultron - Ant Man

Marvel Phase Three Films: Captain America: Civil War - Doctor Strange - Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 - Spider-Man: Homecoming - Thor: Ragnarok - Black Panther - Avengers: Infinity War - Ant-Man & the Wasp - Captain Marvel - Avengers: Endgame - Captain Marvel - Spider-Man: Far from Home

Multiverse Saga: Phase Four: Black Widow (2021 film) - Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings – Eternals – Spider-Man: No Way Home – Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness – Thor: Love and Thunder – Werewolf by Night - Black Panther: Wakanda Forever - The Guardians of the Galaxy Holiday Special

Phase Five: Ant-Man & the Wasp: Quantumania - Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 – The Marvels – (Deadpool & Wolverine) - (Captain America: Brave New World) - (Thunderbolts*)

Phase 6: The Fantastic Four: First Steps - (Avengers: Doomsday) - (Avengers: Secret Wars)

Related: MCU is Cinema: Pt. 1 - Pt. 2 - Pt. 3 – Pt. 4 – (Part 5) – (Part 6) – (Part 7) - The MCU: 10 Reasons Why It Rules the World

Shane Black Films: (Kiss Kiss Bang Bang) - The Nice Guys - (The Predator (2018 film))

© thevoid99 2013

Hard Eight

Originally Written and Posted at Epinions.com on 1/7/09 w/ Additional Edits.

Written & directed by Paul Thomas Anderson, Sydney/Hard Eight tells the story of a gambler named Sydney who takes in a young man to show him how to survive while becoming his protégé. During this journey, the young man falls in love with a waitress/hooker while delving into trouble as he turns to Sydney for help. Playing the role of Sydney is noted character actor Philip Baker Hall in a rare leading role that would be the first of many collaborations he would have with P.T. Anderson. Another actor who would become another of Anderson's key collaborators is John C. Reilly who plays Sydney's protegee John. Also starring Gwyneth Paltrow, Samuel L. Jackson, and other future Anderson regulars Philip Seymour Hoffman, Melora Walters, and Robert Ridgley. Sydney/Hard Eight is a stylish debut film from Paul Thomas Anderson.

A young man named John (John C. Reilly) is sitting outside a diner when a much older man named Sydney walks him and offers John if he would like some coffee and cigarettes. Sydney gets John into a conversation about why John is sitting outside as John reveals he needs some money. Sydney takes John in as they go to Las Vegas where he shows John the skills he needs to be a successful gambler. John becomes impressed in what Sydney teaches him as two years later, he's already his protégé. By this time, Sydney and John are regulars at the Reno where John has made friends with one of the casino's security officers named Jimmy (Samuel L. Jackson). Jimmy remembers Sydney for some bets he made some years back as Sydney also gets the attention of a waitress/hooker named Clementine (Gwyneth Paltrow) whom he likes for her kindness.

Later that night after a few games, Sydney is about to return to his hotel where he also finds Clementine walking outside. Realizing her other profession, Sydney takes her in to the room he and John stays. Sydney's fatherly persona comforts Clementine as later that morning, she and John talked as they decided to hang out together. After a day of gambling along with some heckling from another gambler (Philip Seymour Hoffman), Sydney gets a distressing call from John. Arriving at a motel, Sydney finds John and Clementine dealing with an unconscious man (F. William Parker) as they've taken him hostage over money he owes to Clementine. Sydney refuses to take part of the plan until he handles everything forcing John and Clementine to leave Reno. After taking care of John and Clementine's problems, things get worse when Sydney is confronted by Jimmy who reveals a secret. For Sydney, he makes a move that would change things for the people in his life.

If there was a theme that's recurrent in P.T. Anderson's films, it's about the idea of family. In this film, it's about an old-time gambler who takes in a young man to show him the ropes to be a smart gambler for survival. He also takes in a young hooker/waitress who has no idea what she wants to do with her life as he gives her a bit of a break. It's something Anderson seems to explore on in later films where in Boogie Nights, a young guy is accepted into a family of porn stars and porno filmmakers while Magnolia was about the dysfunctions where both a son and daughter are estranged from their fathers. In Sydney, Anderson tells the story of a man willing to help two inept individuals dealing with their mess while giving them lessons. Yet, it's later revealed that he has a past that he's trying to leave behind.

Anderson creates a lot of stylish dialogue that's rhythmic in its delivery while the character of Sydney plays it cool and to-the-point. The direction of Anderson clearly shows a young filmmaker developing a style. While he creates unique compositions and tracking shots that would define his early work. It's clear that not every shot he creates or movements work entirely. Yet, it's him trying to find a style where he's getting somewhere but just doesn't have it perfectly. Another moment of Anderson's unique direction that is noticeable is him shooting inserts of cigarettes and coffee in reference to the 1993 short he directed. Still, Anderson creates scenes and moments where he can capture the intensity of the drama or a moment of humor. Overall, Anderson creates a film that doesn't get boring nor overwhelmed with its sense of style as he's starting to develop his own filmmaking voice.

Cinematographer Robert Elswit, a man who would become a regular collaborator of Anderson for all of his feature-length films, does excellent work with the film's photography with stylish, low-light looks in many of the film's interior scenes. Notably the casinos and bars where there's colors and an intimate look while the exteriors are mostly grey and a bit colorless as they're often shot in the mornings. While it's doesn't stand up with Elswit's other work with Anderson in later films, it's still worth noting that Elswit does some fine work in the film. Editor Barbara Tulliver does fine work with the film's editing with nice fade-outs for the film's structure, smooth transitional cuts, slow-mo movements, and other editing techniques. Tulliver's work is notable creating the sense of drama and momentum in telling Anderson's story.

Production designer Nancy Deren along with set decorator David A. Koneff and art director Michael Krantz do wonderful work with the look of the Reno/Vegas casinos and bars along with the hotel rooms. The look is intimate yet stylish while the home of Jimmy is very stylish with bad rugs and carpeting. Costume designer Mark Bridges does great work with the straight black suits that Sydney wears while the more stylish suits that Jimmy wears reveals the man's wild personality. The clothes that Clementine wears from the waitress tops to dirty skirts reveal the cheap look that she sports. Sound designer Richard King and editor Jeffrey R. Paine is very good for its location sounds of casinos and the streets of Reno and Vegas along with its raucous atmosphere.

The music of the film is created by two more key collaborators of Anderson in his early films in Michael Penn and Jon Brion. The soundtrack features many of Brion's melodic, atmospheric score pieces led by bells and vibraphones to give it a cheesy yet effective lounge feel to complement the world of casinos. The jazziness in other pieces by Michael Penn is also effective to bring a cool mood while some of the additional contributions including a song from Penn and vocalist Aimee Mann, another key collaborator of Anderson, that is played in the final credits. The film's soundtrack is very good though not up to par with Anderson's other film soundtracks in the films to come.

The casting by Christine Sheaks is brilliant for its assembly of actors, many of whom weren't very known at the time. Along with performances and appearances from F. William Parker as a hostage and Anderson's father Ernie as a man waiting in line. There's early appearances from Anderson regulars like Melora Walters as a girlfriend of Jimmy's, Robert Ridgley as a Keno bar manager, and a scene-stealing performance from Philip Seymour Hoffman as a craps shooter heckling Sydney. Samuel L. Jackson is great as Jimmy, a security manager who likes to be very brazen and cool while sporting some filthy dialogue. Jackson's performance is a bit more laid-back than his Jules character from Pulp Fiction but also quite as menacing when he threatens Sydney where Jackson got to be the badass.

Gwyneth Paltrow is wonderful as Clementine, a young hooker/waitress unsure of what to do with her life while finding some comfort from Sydney whom she likes as a customer at the bar. Paltrow brings a bit of sexiness as well as fragility to her character that truly showed that she was an actress that was definitely on the rise which she has proven since as it's a fine early role for Paltrow. John C. Reilly is really good as John, a down-on-his-luck young guy who becomes Sydney's protégé as Reilly really shines. Reilly, known recently for low-brow comedy roles, shows great depth as a guy who is looking for guidance on life as it's definitely an excellent performance from the actor who would become one of Anderson's regular actors.

Finally, there's Philip Baker Hall in an amazing leading performance as Sydney. Hall, mostly known as a character actor up to that point, delivers with such cool restraint and calm as a wise gambler who knows all the tricks to being a gambler. In his scenes with Reilly and Paltrow, he brings a fatherly presence as someone who can guide them into giving them the right path while cleaning up their messes like any father would. It's a brilliant performance from an actor, who would also become a regular of Anderson, who often gets overlooked and was finally given a big role to work with.

Sydney/Hard Eight is a fascinating, smart, and stylish debut film from Paul Thomas Anderson. Fans of Anderson will no doubt see this film as a great place to where Anderson got to refine his craft as a filmmaker though Boogie Nights is a better introduction. With a great cast led by Philip Baker Hall along with amazing supporting work from John C. Reilly, Gwyneth Paltrow, and Samuel L. Jackson. It's a film that is entertaining, filled with great acting, stylish dialogue, and great scenery. In the end, Sydney/Hard Eight is an excellent, cool debut film from Paul Thomas Anderson.

P.T. Anderson Films: Boogie Nights - Magnolia - Punch-Drunk Love - There Will Be Blood - The Master - Inherent Vice - Junun - Phantom Thread - Licorice Pizza

Related: The Short Films & Videos of P.T. Anderson - The Auteurs #15: Paul Thomas Anderson

© thevoid99 2012

Iron Man

Originally Written and Posted at Epinions.com on 5/4/08 w/ Additional Edits & Revisions.

Based on the Marvels comic by Stan Lee, Larry Leiber, Don Heck, and Jack Kirby, Iron Man is the story of a wealthy weapons designer who decides to become a superhero after being captured by terrorists who use his weapons against the world. Directed by Jon Favreau and screenplay by Mark Fergus, Hawk Ostby, Arthur Marcum, and Matthew Hollaway, with additional contributions by John August, the film is an origins story of how Tony Stark became Iron Man as he is played by Robert Downey Jr. Also starring Gwyneth Paltrow, Terrence Howard, Shaun Toub, Faran Tahir, Jon Favreau, Leslie Bibb, and Jeff Bridges. Iron Man is an entertaining and ass-kicking blockbuster from Jon Favreau.

The son of a weapons manufacturer who would later take over for his late father at age 21, Tony Starks is a man that has it all as he is extremely wealthy but also a gifted inventor who is adored by the arms industry. With help from his father's partner Obadiah Stane (Jeff Bridges), Starks Industries is at the top of its game when Tony unveils his new Jericho missile project in Afghanistan to soldiers until they're attacked by terrorists where Stark barely survives with missile shrapnel near his heart. Taken by the Ten Rings terrorist group led by Raza (Faran Tahir), Stark is asked to create the Jericho missile for Raza with help from captured scientist Dr. Yinsen (Shaun Toub). Stark reluctantly does Raza's duty although he and Yinsen create an arc reactor around his art to keep the shrapnel away from his heart. After the completion of the arc, Stark has an idea of his own to break out by creating a power armor suit in secrecy. With Yensen's help, Stark is able to create his new creation as he is able to fight back and escape.

After being saved by his longtime friend Lt. Col. James "Rhodey" Rhodes (Terrence Howard), Stark announced to end the production of weapons to the shock of Stane as Stark goes into seclusion. With the aid of his computerized butler Jarvis (the voice of Paul Bettany) and his longtime assistant/friend Virginia "Pepper" Potts (Gwyneth Paltrow), Stark decides to make a new version of his power suit as well as a new arc reactor to activate the suit for a series of tests. When Potts is approached by Agent Coulson (Clark Gregg) of the Strategic Homeland Intervention, Enforcement, and Logistics Division (S.H.I.E.L.D.) about Stark's escape from Afghanistan at a party. Stark's appearance at the party has him encountering journalist Christine Everhart (Leslie Bibb) about some weapons in Afghanistan as he and Potts become suspicious about Stane's dealings at the company. After perfecting his power suit, he decides to confront Raza's group to save refugees as he gets the attention of the U.S. Air Force prompting Rhodes to cover things up after learning about Stark's new project. When Potts is asked by Tony about Stane's deals, the two learn about what Stane has been doing. Instead, Stane decides to take matters into his own hands by taking the old power suit Tony created in Afghanistan into a more powerful weapon forcing Starks to fight back with help from Potts and Rhodes.

While the film's plot may seem familiar in comparison to recent superhero origin films, the difference between Iron Man and other Marvel comic films like Spider-Man and Fantastic Four is that its screenwriters and director Jon Favreau took more time into the development of Stark and his Iron Man alter-ego. Unlike other comics book heroes with the exception of Batman, Iron Man was created not through scientific errors, a phenomenon, or being from another planet. Here, the superhero was made from scratch as Stark used his knowledge of math and science to create his power suit and the arc reactor to keep his heart going. In the first 10-15 minutes of the film, the writers and Favreau let the audience know who Tony Stark is and then once he's captured, he becomes a different person as his development from a man creating weapons to becoming a man wanting to help people is well written though he is still a bit of a man with swagger.

While the script works in that formula of origin story though audiences do know where it's going, it's Favreau and his direction that at least keeps it interesting. While a lot of the filmmaking isn't exactly new in comparison to other comic book superhero films, Favreau at least uses that formula to at least make things entertaining while adding bits of humor. What is unique is that while the film does have action that will appetite mainstream audiences, he brings balance for the development of the Iron Man character as Stark experiments with thrusters and other gadgets. In many ways, those scenes that have some humor and drama are more interesting than the scenes with intense special effects and action sequences.

Favreau also keeps the audience interested right to the end where he opens the idea of not just a sequel that involves Iron Man's fellow crime fighter War Machine but also the involvement of another franchise. The result is Favreau creating a film that just doesn't entertain but also brings some intelligence to the superhero genre that's accessible to mainstream audiences, comic book purists, and audiences with serious taste.

Cinematographer Matthew Libatique does some good work that conveys the look and style of other comic book films with some colorful lighting and intense camera work to capture the action and such. Editor Dan Lebental does an excellent job with the film's editing that doesn't go too fast while maintaining a nice sense of rhythm for the film's action sequences and effects shots. Production designer J. Michael Riva and art director David F. Klassen does a good job in creating the house of Stark as well as the places in Los Angeles and Afghanistan all shot in the Californian desert. Costume designers Rebecca Bentjen and Laura Jean Shannon do great work in the look of the clothes including a blue dress that Gwyneth Paltrow wears at a party.

Sound designer Christopher Boyes and editor Frank E. Euhler do amazing work in the sound work from the way missiles are blasted, the sound of thrusters, and everything. Yet, the film's real technical highlight in its special and visual effects that are truly superb that include wonderful CGI for the shots of Iron Man flying, the computer 3-D blue prints and screens that Stark works with, and the objects in his lab that help him including the objects needed during his tests that add a wonderful sense of humor. The film's score by Ramin Djawadi is excellent in its mix of orchestral and rock music with guitar work from Tom Morello of Rage Against the Machine that adds a sense of intensity and power. The soundtrack includes a mix of music from the likes of AC/DC, Ghostface Killah, and the Black Sabbath classic Iron Man.

The casting by Sarah Finn and Randi Hiller is excellent with cameo appearances from Ghostface Killah and Tom Morello in scenes at the desert, Favreau cohort Peter Billingsley (yes, the kid from A Christmas Story), Favreau himself as Stark's bodyguard and driver Hogan, and a great cameo from Marvel comic writer Stan Lee with a bunch of girls. Another noted cameo that comes in, after the final credits, comes from Samuel L. Jackson as Nick Fury. Other performances from Clark Gregg as Agent Coulson is excellent as is Tim Guinee as Air Force commander Major Allen, Bill Smitrovich as General Gabriel in the missile presentation scene, and Sayed Badreya as Raza's second-in-command. Leslie Bibb is good and sexy as reporter Christine Everhart who tries to get something out of Stark only to become one his conquests as she appears in the film to reveal troubling secrets about his company. Faran Tahir is excellent as the terrorist leader who wants to have the kind of power that other warlords have as he also has some intelligence.

Shaun Toub is wonderful in his small role as Dr. Yinsen, the scientist who helps Stark build his power suit while guiding him to change his ways as Toub's understated performance is worth noting. The voice of Paul Bettany is very funny in the way the he communicates with Downey as his computerized assistant. Terrence Howard is excellent in his role as James "Rhodey" Rhodes who is often indifferent to Stark's actions and such though is supportive in cleaning up his mess. Jeff Bridges is great in his roe as Obadiah Stane in how he chews the scene with such delight while looking like he's having fun playing the villain. Bridges' performance is fun to watch as he adds a lot of slime to his character who just wants to have full control of Stark Industries.

Gwyneth Paltrow is brilliant in her role as Pepper Potts in being the one woman who can put up with Stark's ego. Paltrow brings depth to the character in a woman who doesn't want to be a damsel-in-distress but rather an assistant who is willing to help Stark as the banter Paltrow and Downey have is filled with wonderful humor and rhythm. Paltrow's performance is truly superb as she's the kind of woman who can put up with anything, and probably could even take out Mary Jane Watson in a fight. Finally, there's Robert Downey Jr. in a role that he is truly born to play as Tony Stark and Iron Man. Downey's performance filled with a lot of swagger, catchy one-liners, and attitude is truly fun to watch from start to finish. Even when he's in an intense situation, Downey maintains his cool while proving that he can play badass as well. It's the kind of performance that is truly huge and Downey is big enough and most certainly, talented enough to play a character as fun and as cool as Iron Man.

Fans of comic book films can rejoice as Iron Man delivers in all of its promises thanks to director Jon Favreau and it star Robert Downey Jr. With additional thanks to a special and visual effects team plus the talents of Gwyneth Paltrow, Terrence Howard, and Jeff Bridges, this is a film that delivers both in substance and style. Fans of the comic can enjoy in its faithfulness to the story while getting some excitement in what's to come in its sequel. In the end, Iron Man is a film that is entertaining and enjoyable while adding some substance to an overcrowded sea of mindless, uninspiring films that's coming in this summer blockbuster season. So until then, in the words of Lt. Col. James "Rhodey" Rhodes aka War Machine, "next time baby".

Jon Favreau Films: (Made) - (Elf) - (Zathura) - (Cowboys & Aliens) - Chef - (The Jungle Book (2016 film) - (The Lion King (2019 film)

Marvel Cinematic Universe: Infinity Saga: Phase One Films: The Incredible Hulk - Iron Man 2 - Thor - Captain America: The First Avenger - The Avengers (2012 film)

Marvel Phase Two Films: Iron Man 3 - Thor: The Dark World - Captain America: The Winter Soldier - Guardians of the Galaxy - The Avengers: Age of Ultron - Ant Man

Marvel Phase Three Films: Captain America: Civil War Doctor Strange - Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 - Spider-Man: Homecoming - Thor: Ragnarok - Black Panther - Avengers: Infinity War - Ant-Man & the Wasp - Captain Marvel - Avengers: Endgame - Captain Marvel - Spider-Man: Far from Home

Multiverse Saga: Phase Four: Black Widow (2021 film) - Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings – Eternals – Spider-Man: No Way Home – Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness – Thor: Love and Thunder – Werewolf by Night - Black Panther: Wakanda Forever - The Guardians of the Galaxy Holiday Special

Phase Five: Ant-Man & the Wasp: Quantumania - Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 – The Marvels – (Deadpool & Wolverine) - (Captain America: Brave New World) - (Thunderbolts*)

Phase 6: The Fantastic Four: First Steps - (Avengers: Doomsday) - (Avengers: Secret Wars)

Related: MCU is Cinema: Pt. 1 - Pt. 2 - Pt. 3 – Pt. 4 – (Part 5) – (Part 6) – (Part 7) - The MCU: 10 Reasons Why It Rules the World

© thevoid99 2012

Great Expectations (1998 film)

Originally Written and Posted at Epinions.com on 5/13/04 w/ Additional Edits & Revisions.

Based on the novel by Charles Dickens, Great Expectations is the story of a young boy's encounter with an escaped convict as he would come of age when he becomes the playmate a rich, reclusive woman's daughter. He later becomes successful through a secret benefactor as he tries to woo the girl he knew as child. Directed by Alfonso Cuaron and screenplay by Mitch Glazer, with additional work by Cuaron and narration written by an un-credited David Mamet. The film is a modern take on Dickens' story that is told through perspective of a man as he tries to court this cold-hearted woman he had known since childhood. Starring Ethan Hawke, Gwyneth Paltrow, Hank Azaria, Chris Cooper, Anne Bancroft, and Robert de Niro. The modern version of Great Expectations is a visually-lush but very clumsy adaptation from Alfonso Cuaron.

A young 10-year old boy named Finn (Jeremy Kissner) is drawing fishes in his Florida home where he encounters an escaped convict named Lustig (Robert de Niro) who is on the run. Lustig wants Finn to give him some things or else he'll kill him as Finn returns home with food, pills, and alcohol later that night as Finn later hides Lustig from the cops behind a buoy. Though Lustig would later be captured, the event would have a great impact on Finn's life as he returns home to his sister Maggie (Kim Dickens) and her kind husband Joe (Chris Cooper). When Joe decides to go to the tarnished Paradiso Perduto mansion for work, Finn goes with him where he takes a look into the house where he meets a young girl named Estella (Raquel Beaudene) who is the niece of the mansion's reclusive owner Miss Dinsmoor (Anne Bancroft). Joe receives some money as Miss Dinsmoor calls Maggie wanting Finn to be his niece's playmate every Saturday. There, Finn is encouraged to do his drawings while taking dance lessons with Estella under Miss Dinsmoor's guidance.

Years later, Finn (Ethan Hawke) and Estella (Gwyneth Paltrow) continue their time as Miss Dinsmoor suggests that Finn should accompany Estella to a party. Finn is excited but Estella isn't as the two ditch the party for a night out where Finn deals with her sudden cold behavior. After Estella leaves Florida, Finn is hurt as he gives up painting and help out Joe in the fishing trade until a Manhattan art representative named Jerry Ragno (Josh Mostel) has discovered his art and offers him a place in New York City to live and work. Finn isn't sure until an art dealer named Erica Thrall (Nell Campbell) discovers Finn's work through an anonymous benefactor as he takes the offer. Moving to NYC, Finn meets Thrall as he re-discovers his passion for art where he encounters Estella at Central Park where he learns she's engaged to a wealthy man named Walter Pane (Hank Azaria). Estella shows up at his apartment one day to pose for his work as Finn remains unsure if she's playing with his head. Though Finn manages to impress Ragno and Thrall, Walter also visits where he admits to having a hard time figuring Estella out. Finn decides to pursue her as things become more complicated through her cold behavior.

With Finn finally set to have his first art gallery presentation, he starts to seduced by success and his new lifestyle as he waits for Estella to arrive. Instead, Joe makes a visit where he feels lost in this new world as Finn tries to understand Joe's alienation while he wonders where Estella is. At Estella's apartment, he receives a surprise visit from Miss Dinsmoor who reveals that Estella is left as she feels responsible for the way Estella has behaved due to her own past as she had been left in the altar by a man years ago. Lost in his feelings for Estella, Finn meets a mysterious man from his past as he makes a big discovery about why he's successful forcing him to come to terms with his love for Estella.

The problem with most film adaptations of classic novels isn't just character omissions and missing storylines, but also the way it is presented, particularly on modern day adaptations. The film's biggest weakness is in Mitch Glazer's sup-par script, which really takes out a lot of the emotional depth and social aspect of Charles Dickens' novel in favor of something more appealing for an audience. Plus, the character development in some of the leads aren't as great and with the exception of the Lustig and Joe characters, they come across in a very unsympathetic way. The screenplay is probably the reason why Alfonso Cuaron has expressed some frustration towards the project. Instead of relying on its weak script, he had to rely on the film for its cinematic quality and lush, elegant cinematography of his longtime collaborator Emmanuel Lubezki.

Cuaron still does bring out some fine directing moments in the film's first thirty minutes involving the kids while having some fine dramatic scenes with Hawke, Paltrow, and the rest of the cast. Despite the script, Cuaron brings in a fine directing approach to the film as Lubezki shines with his approach to sunlight and the Floridian waters reflecting sun as well as his use of green colors and the sunny look of New York City as Lubezki is one of the best cinematographers in the past 10 years. Helping Cuaron and Lubezki on the film's gorgeous, dreamy visuals are production designer Tony Burrough and art director John Kasarda for its exotic, greenish look of Florida and the street, art world of New York City. Another brilliant element in its relation to art is the drawings and paintings by Francesco Clemente that are well drawn in a lovely style with its simple format of shapes and colors.

The film's music also plays well by its score from composer Patrick Doyle as it has a dramatic, dreamy tone with its string arrangements and orchestra. The film's soundtrack is as equally as strong with its diverse acts that include Tori Amos, Scott Weiland, Chris Cornell (in his first solo recording after leaving Soundgarden), Pulp, Mono, Iggy Pop, and the Grateful Dead. The only weak spot in the soundtrack is the various versions of Besame Mucho where by the third play, it becomes really annoying.

While the smaller roles from Kim Dickens, Josh Mostel, Erica Thrall, and a surprisingly restrained performance from Hank Azaria are fine to watch in their small performances. The roles of the younger Finn and Estella played by Jeremy James Kissner and Raquel Beaudene are well-played, especially in their individual moments as they carry a fresh-faced innocence and chemistry that plays well with Kissner as the more innocent Finn and Beaudene as the cold Estella. Of the supporting cast, no one delivers a finer performance better than Chris Cooper as the loveable Joe. Cooper brings a charismatic performance of a man who isn't very bright but knows how to do the right thing and he comes off in a very sympathetic and loveable way as throughout the whole film, we get to love the guy even if he's a yokel.

While Robert De Niro doesn't deliver a groundbreaking performance in comparison to his many film roles, he was excellent as the convict Lustig as he starts off very mean but in a very sympathetic way. De Niro comes off as a man, who knows what he's done to land him in jail was wrong as he found something to live for from this young boy and De Niro brings a rare, fatherly-like performance from him as he shines early and later on in the film. Anne Bancroft delivers a fine yet bizarre performance as Miss Dinsmoor as she seems to have fun dancing to Besame Mucho a lot as she comes off in a very likeable way but as the film progresses and we learn of her flaws, there isn't any real sympathy to her in the end in the same way the novel and previous film adaptations had.

In the leads, Ethan Hawke and Gwyneth Paltrow, unfortunately don't carry the same chemistry that their young principle actors carried early on in the film. There's no real spark in the relationship and whenever they get together, it feels somewhat contrived as really, you have neither to pull for. Hawke is excellent by himself or with De Niro and Cooper while unfortunately when it comes to the subject of Paltrow's Estella, he comes off as this pathetic lovesick puppy. Paltrow is sexy in some of her scenes but overall; her character is clearly the most confusing, as we're not sure if she is really in love with Finn or just playing with him. In that context, her character really comes off as unlikable and unsympathetic as Paltrow doesn't give her character a really center in this uneven performance.

Alfonso Cuaron's version of Great Expectations is a good although lackluster film due to a very weak script and the underwhelming performances of Ethan Hawke and Gwyneth Paltrow. Despite some wonderful supporting work from Anne Bancroft, Chris Cooper, and Robert de Niro along with Emmanuel Lubezki's entrancing cinematography. It's a film that is more style than substance that tries to give Charles Dickens' novel a modern feel to appeal to a younger audience. Instead, it barely scrapes the surface of what Dickens had intended with his story. In the end, Great Expecations is a worthwhile but unremarkable film from Alfonso Cuaron.

Related: Great Expectations (1946 film) - The Auteurs #11: Alfonso Cuaron

Alfonso Cuaron Films: Solo con Tu Pareja - A Little Princess (1995 film) - Y Tu Mama Tambien - Harry Potter & the Prisoner of Azkaban - Children of Men - Gravity - Roma (2018 film)

© thevoid99 2012

Contagion

Directed by Steven Soderbergh and written by Scott Z. Burns, Contagion is the story of a world threatened by a mysterious virus as panic ensues while doctors try to find the cure. The film is a harrowing thriller with multiple storylines as doctors race to create a cure while ordinary people are panicking as a blogger tries to create chaos through allegations of corruption. Starring Matt Damon, Jude Law, Gwyneth Paltrow, Marion Cotillard, Laurence Fishburne, Bryan Cranston, Jennifer Ehle, Sanaa Lathan, Elliot Gould, and Kate Winslet. Contagion is a chilling yet hypnotic thriller from Steven Soderbergh.

Beth Emhoff (Gwyneth Paltrow) returns to Minneapolis feeling ill from a business trip at Hong Kong. Suddenly feeling ill and having a seizure, her husband Mitch (Matt Damon) takes her to the hospital where something bad happens as she and her son (Griffin Kane) are hit with a deadly virus. While Mitch is revealed to be immune with his daughter Jory (Anna Jacoby-Heron) arriving, more news about the disease that Beth received has reached the CDC in Atlanta. CDC head Dr. Ellis Cheever (Laurence Fishburne) asks his colleague in Dr. Erin Mears (Kate Winslet) to investigate what happened in Minneapolis as news about mysterious deaths in Asia and Europe have emerged. Dr. Leonora Orantes (Marion Cotillard) is asked by the World Health Organization in Switzerland to investigate what happens as she goes to Hong Kong for answers.

Back in Atlanta, Dr. Cheever and Dr. Ally Hextal (Jennifer Ehle) try to figure out what does the disease do as Hextal goes to Dr. Ian Sussman (Elliott Gould) for some help. Yet, Dr. Sussman is dealing with the presence of a blogger named Alan Krumweide (Jude Law) who is demanding some answers while believing that there is something going on. When Rear Admiral Lyle Haggerty (Bryan Cranston) asks Cheever to not expose anything more, Hextal reluctantly asks Sussman to stop with his research only for him to find a breakthrough. Realizing that the virus is more complicated and a vaccine would take a lot of time, panic is starting to ensue. Dr. Mears meanwhile, continues to investigate as things start to go wrong while telling Mitch and Jory to stay home thinking that the disease could be much worse.

In Hong Kong, Dr. Orantes makes some discoveries about how Beth contracted the disease as she wants to report it to her superiors only for her associate Sun Feng (Chin Han) to stop her because his village is in trouble and he wants to help them. During a TV interview with Dr. Sanjay Gupta, Dr. Cheever tries to maintain calm only to go head-to-head with Krumweide who accuses Cheever of trying to prolong the vaccine for profit. With the world in chaos and the race to create a vaccine becoming more intense, panic spreads worldwide as millions of people start to die from this mysterious disease.

What happens when a world is thrown into chaos by an epidemic where doctors try to figure out what happened and how this disease is spread while trying to create a cure at the same time? Meanwhile, there’s ordinary people in a state of panic as they couldn’t touch each other in the risk of infection while the media tries to uncover all that is happening with a rogue blogger trying to maintain that there’s a conspiracy going on. This is what director Steven Soderbergh and screenwriter Scott Z. Burns create in this film where it’s about a world in panic through a strange epidemic where lives are at risks and a cure is unavailable for the time being though this rogue blogger claim that there is a cure and the government is preventing it for profit.

Burns’ multi-layered script is definitely filled with intrigue and character study as there’s a lot of stories that revolves around in this film that is all about panic. There’s the story of a man who lost his family through disease as he tries to protect his teenage daughter while a doctor from the CDC tries to help only to come head-to-head with the disease. There’s also the CDC head who is trying to do what is right as his wife (Sanaa Lathan) is in Chicago while trying to keep the world calm as he has to deal with this crazy, conspiracy-driven blogger. The Alan Krumweide character is a man trying to make it as a blogger while wanting to prove that there is a cure but what he ends up doing is cause trouble and questions about his own motives.

Other narratives such as a French doctor’s trip to Hong Kong to find the source of how the disease spread worldwide and a doctor trying to create a cure add to the sense of chaos that surrounds the film. Yet, many of these characters all go through some kind of personal change or have personal motivations to do what they do. Mitch Emhoff just wants to protect his daughter while Dr. Cheever wants to help all that he can including a janitor (John Hawkes) whom he often confers with every day at work. Burns’ script definitely plays up to the sense of fear and paranoia that surrounds the character as well as the fact that they could all die from something as drastic as this mysterious disease. Despite a few flaws for this multi-based narrative where some stories don‘t get revisited until later in the film, Burns does succeed with creating an exciting and chilling story.

Steven Soderbergh’s direction is definitely intense in terms of what he presents as it starts off calm until a montage of Beth, a Japanese businessman, a Hong Kong waiter (Tien You Chui), and an Ukranian model (Daria Strokous) starts to feel ill and succumb to the disease. The first five-ten minutes indicate that this won’t be a conventional epidemic thriller as Soderbergh chooses to play with the rhythms by maintaining a sense of dread throughout the film. Since the film takes place in various locations such as Hong Kong, Geneva, Tokyo, London, San Francisco, Minneapolis, and Atlanta. Soderbergh makes it aware that the epidemic is worldwide with various characters from around the world trying to make sense or investigate what has happened.

Throughout the film, Soderbergh does try to inject some calmer moments to give the audience a break such as the story that includes Mitch and his daughter as her boyfriend (Brian J. O’Donnell) wants to see her. Notably in the third act as the race to find a cure winds down as Soderbergh slowly tries to make things feel normal while the world remains a mess through images of trash lying on the street and empty cities being shown. The presentation of the film where Soderbergh also acts as cinematographer, in his Peter Andrews alias, has him giving the cities different looks to emphasize the state of paranoia in the world. Using some blue though darker looks for the winter scenes and yellow-sepia for some of the scenes inside like the Hong Kong and CDC interior scenes so the locations can have a different look and feel. While the overall presentation is solid despite a few flaws in the story and its multi-layered narrative, Soderbergh does create a compelling yet eerie film about the world of epidemics.

Editor Stephen Mirrone does an excellent job with the film‘s editing by creating wonderful rhythms for some of the film‘s suspenseful moments along with rhythmic cuts and smooth transitions for the audience to be aware of what story they‘re following. Production designer Howard Cummings and set decorator Cindy Carr do some great work with the art direction including the creation of empty stores and messy cities to emphasize the film‘s eerie tone. Costume designer Louise Frogley does some nice work with the costumes with a lot of the people dressing very casual while the protective suits that Dr. Hextal wears looks real to what doctors wear when handling diseases.

Sound editor Larry Blake does a fantastic job with the sound design to capture the chaos of the crowd scenes as well as the voices of reporters heard on TV to maintain the sense of fear that is prevalent in the film. The film’s score by Cliff Martinez is superb for its hypnotic yet throbbing electronic score with elements of somber piano melodies. Martinez’s score plays to the sense of dread that is played out along with the uncertainty as it helps enhance the drama without doing too much.

The casting by Carmen Cuba is brilliant for the large ensemble that is created for this film that includes small appearances from Griffin Kane as Mitch’s young stepson, Brian J. O’Donnell as Jory’s boyfriend, Tien You Chui as an ill-fated Hong Kong waiter, Josie Ho as the waiter’s sister, Daria Strokous as an Ukranian model hit with the disease, Armin Rohde as Dr. Orantes’ superior, Larry Clarke as Dr. Mears’ Minneapolis’ associate, Demerti Martin as Dr. Hexel’s associate, Enrico Colantoni as a CDC official, Monique Gabriela Curnen as a journalist friend of Krumweide, Sanaa Lathan as Dr. Cheever’s wife, Dr. Sanjay Gupta as himself, and John Hawkes as a CDC janitor whom Dr. Cheever confers with.

Other notable small performances include Chin Han as a Hong Kong medical specialist who kidnaps Dr. Orantes for his own personal reasons while Bryan Cranston is very good as Lyle Haggerty, a government official who tries to help smooth things for Dr. Cheever with the press. Elliott Gould is great in a small role as Dr. Sussman who uncovers some data about the virus while Gwyneth Paltrow is pretty good in a small but memorable performance as Beth Emhoff, the woman who contracts the deadly disease early in the film. Jennifer Ehle is superb as Dr. Hexel who tries hard to find a cure while finding out how does the disease work while newcomer Anna Jacoby-Heron is radiant as Mitch’s daughter Jory who tries to deal with her father’s protectiveness and her own isolation. Marion Cotillard is stellar as Dr. Orantes, a WHO doctor who tries to find the source of the disease only to be caught up by someone’s own personal world while Kate Winslet is wonderful as Dr. Mears who tries to deal with everything in Minneapolis as well as its outbreak in the city.

Jude Law is amazing as Alan Krumweide, a blogger who tries to uncover the conspiracy of CDC irregularities for his own gain as Law commands a fierce performance as a man causing trouble. Laurence Fishburne is excellent as Dr. Cheever, a CDC head who tries to calm things down while going through his own personal issues as well as being overwhelmed by the events that is happening. Matt Damon is fantastic as Mitch Emhoff, a man who loses his family while trying to protect his daughter from people with the disease as he tries to deal with everything around him.

Contagion is a haunting yet mesmerizing film from Steven Soderbergh led by a magnificent ensemble cast that includes Matt Damon, Laurence Fishburne, Kate Winslet, Gwyneth Paltrow, Jude Law, Marion Cotillard, Bryan Cranston, and Jennifer Ehle. Fans of epidemic thrillers will definitely enjoy the film for its suspense and chaotic tone of the film. For fans of Soderbergh, it’s one of his more accessible but also edgy films where he allows himself to be unconventional but also play with the conventions of a thriller. In the end, Contagion is a masterful yet terrifying film from Steven Soderbergh and company.

Steven Soderbergh Films: sex, lies, & videotape - Kafka - King of the Hill - The Underneath - Gray’s Anatomy - Schizopolis - Out of Sight - The Limey - Erin Brockovich - Traffic - Ocean’s Eleven - Full Frontal - Solaris (2002 film) - Eros-Equilibrium - Ocean’s Twelve - Bubble - The Good German - Ocean’s Thirteen - Che - The Girlfriend Experience - The Informant! - And Everything is Going Fine - Haywire - Magic Mike - Side Effects - Behind the Candelabra - Logan Lucky - (Unsane) - (High Flying Bird)

The Auteurs #39: Steven Soderbergh Pt. 1 - Pt. 2

© thevoid99 2011