Enough Said

Written and directed by Nicole Holofcener, Enough Said is the story of a divorced, single-mother masseuse who meets a divorced man unaware that he was once married to her new poet friend. The film is an exploration into the life of two middle-aged single parents who deal with the departure of their children as well as trying to form a relationship. Starring Julia Louis-Dreyfus, James Gandolfini, Catherine Keener, Ben Falcone, and Toni Collette. Enough Said is a charming and witty film from Nicole Holofcener.

The film is about a middle-aged, divorced single-mother who meets a divorced man at a party where she also meets a new client for her masseuse business. After a date with this man that manages to go well, the two deal with the fact that they both have daughters who are going to college where they bond while the woman learns that her client is the man’s ex-wife as she tries to comprehend her new situation as she deals with her new friendship and romance as well as her daughter’s departure. In some ways, the situation that Eva (Julia Louis-Dreyfus) puts herself in is a coincidence as she spends her time massaging and befriending Marianne (Catherine Keener) who constantly badmouths her ex-husband Albert (James Gandofini) about why their marriage didn’t work. Yet, Eva tries to see what is exactly wrong with Albert as she becomes aware of the flaws he has but finds herself falling for him because he is also someone who is funny and full of heart.

Nicole Holofcener’s screenplay does explore the idea of a woman dealing with not just the changes of her life but also trying to deal with the impending loneliness she’s facing when her daughter Ellen (Tracey Faraway) is leaving. Though Eva would temporarily fill that void through Ellen’s friend Chloe (Tavi Gevinson) who has issues with her mother (Amy Landecker). Eva turns to her friends Sarah (Toni Collette) and Will (Ben Falcone) for help as she starts going into this relationship with Albert. While Albert is admittedly a bit insecure and can deal with his flaws, Eva has a hard time dealing with Marianne’s harsh words towards Albert where Marianne has no clue that Eva is dating Albert nor Albert knows that Marianne is Eva’s client. It’s all part of an interesting plot schematic where the truth does get unveiled where Holofcener knows how to balance both humor and drama to make it play into Eva’s own conundrum in her life.

Holofcener’s direction is quite straightforward in the way she balances comedy and drama as she prefers to keep things low-key. Yet, she largely focuses on Eva’s story as a woman who is in this transition of her life as she works as a masseuse where she does have some annoying clients that appear again and again. Much of the framing is simple and to the point while Holofcener find ways to make the comedy be low-key and direct including gags that involves Sarah’s testy relationship with her maid Cathy (Anjeleh Johnson-Reyes) who is often accused of putting strange things in drawers. Even as the third act where the truth about what Eva means to both Albert and Marianne comes into play where it pays off while it also showcases the sense of emotion that Eva goes through over the mess that is happening in her life. Overall, Holofcener creates a delightful and exhilarating film about a woman dealing with the changes in her life.

Cinematographer Xavier Perez Grobet does excellent work with the film‘s very colorful cinematography to play to the lovely look of the Southern Californian daytime locations along with the scenes set at night. Editors Robert Frazen and Nick Moore do nice work with the editing to play up with the film‘s humor through rhythmic cuts as well as to create methodical cuts to play out a bit of suspense that occurs late in the film. Production designer Keith P. Cunningham, with set decorator Douglas A. Mowat and art director Luke Freeborn, does fantastic work with the homes of the characters as well as the places they go to.

Costume designer Leah Katznelson does amazing work with the costumes from the more casual clothes that Albert wears to the more stylish clothes that Marianne and the younger women wear. Sound editor Lora Hirschberg does terrific work with the sound to play up some cool moments such as Eva and Albert‘s first date where they have to hear music in a loud volume. The film’s music by Marcelo Zarvos is wonderful as it‘s mostly folk-based to play to the film‘s low-key humor and drama while music supervisor Liza Richardson brings in music of the similar kind with the exception of a loud dance track at Albert and Eva‘s first date.

The casting by Jeanne McCarthy is brilliant for the ensemble that is created as it includes notable appearances from Toby Huss as Eva’s ex-husband Peter, Kathleen Rose Perkins as Peter’s wife Fran, Amy Landecker as Chloe’s mother Debbie, Eve Hewson as Albert and Marianne’s college-bound daughter Tess who really thinks Eva is good for her dad, Anjeleh Johnson-Reyes as Sarah and Will’s maid Cathy, and as the trio of clients that Eva has, there’s Lennie Loftin, Jessica St. Clair, and Christopher Nicolas Smith as they’re all funny in their unique ways. Tavi Gevinson is terrific as Ellen’s friend Chloe who constantly crashes at Eva’s place in need of someone to talk to while Tracey Faraway is wonderful as Ellen who deals with going to college as well as trying to see how it would be by herself. Ben Falcone is excellent as Will who deals with Sarah’s obsession with her maid while Toni Collette is very funny as Sarah as Eva’s best friend who tries to help her with the many situations as well as her obsession with interior decorating.

Catherine Keener is amazing as Marianne as this revered poet who is going through a lonely period in her life as she and Eva becomes friends where Keener adds a lot of humor to her rants about Albert. Finally, there’s the performances of Julia Louis-Dreyfus and James Gandofini in their respective roles as Eva and Albert where both of them are remarkable in the way they react to each other as well as the comic time they have together. Louis-Dreyfus maintains that sense of naturalism in her comedy by doing so little in the way she reacts to things while proving herself to be very solid in the dramatic front. Yet, it’s Gandofini in one of his final performances that is the revelation where has this amazing sensitivity to his character that accepts his flaws while being someone who is quite lonely where he and Louis-Dreyfus add some weight into the situations they’re in as Gandofini is in top form with great help from Louis-Dreyfus.

Enough Said is a marvelous film from Nicole Holofcener thanks in part to the powerhouse performances of Julia Louis-Dreyfus and James Gandolfini. The film is definitely one of Holofcener’s most engaging films as well as one of her funniest in the way she explores the anxieties of adults dealing with loneliness and changes. Especially as she is able to capture James Gandolfini in one of his great performances as it’s obvious how much he will be missed. In the end, Enough Said is an extraordinary film from Nicole Holofcener.

Nicole Holofcener Films: Walking & Talking - Lovely & Amazing - Friends with Money - Please Give - The Auteurs #22: Nicole Holofcener

© thevoid99 2013

Where the Wild Things Are

Originally Written and Posted at Epinions.com on 10/18/09 w/ Additional Edits.

Based on the children's picture book by Maurice Sendak, Where the Wild Things Are is the story of a young boy who is sent to his room where he lets his imagination roam with the wild creatures he encounters. Directed by Spike Jonze and screenplay by Jonze and Dave Eggers, the film is look into the world of imagination from the eyes of a young child as it takes Sendak's book to a much broader world. Starring Max Records, Catherine Keener and Mark Ruffalo along with a voice cast that includes Chris Cooper, Michael Berry Jr., Forest Whitaker, Lauren Ambrose, Catherine O'Hara, Paul Dano, and James Gandolfini. Where the Wild Things Are is a sprawling yet and enthralling film from Spike Jonze.

Max (Max Records) is a young boy who is trying to deal with his parents separation while his older sister Claire (Pepita Emmerichs) is more interested being with her friends. Max is also trying to deal with his own wild imagination where he wears a costume while roaming around everywhere. One night as his mom (Catherine Keener) has invited her boyfriend (Mark Ruffalo) for dinner, Max's wild behavior causes mayhem as he runs away from home and finds a sailboat. The boat takes him across the sea to an island where wild creatures live as one of them named Carol (voice of James Gandolfini) is smashing homes. Around him are Ira (voice of Forest Whitaker), his wife Judith (voice of Catherine O'Hara), a bird-like creature named Douglas (voice of Chris Cooper), a silent bull (voice of Michael Berry Jr.), and a goat named Alexander (voice of Paul Dano).

Max goes wild around them as he tells them to be still as Carol sees him as their new king. Another wild creature named KW (voice of Lauren Ambrose) arrives to see Max become king as he declares to let things go wild. Everyone has a good time while Carol shows Max his little world that he made prompting Max to want to make a fortress and home for everyone to live in. Things go world though things start to go wrong when KW wants to invite a couple of owls to the family upsetting Carol. When Max decides to settle things with a dirt fight, everything seems to go well until the fight manages to affect a few of the participants. When the events after the fight transpire, things become problematic as Carol becomes angrier while truths about Max's true nature is revealed prompting him to make a huge decision.

Adaptations are tricky, particularly with children's story as it's about trying to be faithful to the book but also present it with a unique vision. What Spike Jonze and co-screenwriter Dave Eggers did is a mixture of both by being faithful to the book but also present in a way that is more lively. In adding dramatic elements to the story such as a boy dealing with his parents divorce, sense of feeling neglected, and acting out by running to an imaginary world. Jonze definitely brought a different take of sorts on Maurice Sendak's beloved novel which was just a simple story of a boy running into his imagination to roam with wild creatures.

The simplicity of the story is there though like the book, doesn't exactly follow a conventional plot structure in what is expected for a children's story. The first act follows Max being a wild kid, getting into trouble, and then running away to meet with the wild creatures. The second act is him becoming king and letting things run wild while the third is the fallout over a huge dirt fight. Yet, the creatures are all based on Max's own life with Alexander representing Max's sense of neglect since the goat-like creature is trying to get attention. Carol represents the angry side of Max as the others play people who Max had encounter with KW as a maternal figure of sorts with Ira as the friendly creature and Judith as the cynical one. Others like Douglas play as a conscience of sorts while Bull is the silent observer who participates in the rumpus.

Jonze and Eggers not only add personalities to the creatures but also explore the complex emotions of what Max is going through as an eight/nine-year-old boy dealing with all sorts of things. In the process, he starts out as this boy feeling neglected and angry where he has to act out into someone who realizes that life isn't so simple and it must be hard for his own mother to be attentive to him. The complexity of the film might seem a little broad for young audiences but Jonze and Eggers are aware that they can an idea of what is happening.

Jonze's direction for the film is truly stunning from the opening scene of Max running wild in his house as he hopes to make an igloo to the scenes of the island shot in Australia. The approach for this wild, free-wielding look of the film truly captures the spirit of the book in shooting the film at the forest, mountains, beaches, and deserts. Jonze also creates something that is huge as it is all about the imagination of the child from the huge wooden ball-nest that the wild things live in to the little place that Carol has created. With a lot of hand-held work in the rumpus and dirt-fight scenes to tracking shots in scenes of action. Jonze also utilized numerous special effects styles from CGI, suitmation, animatronics, puppetry, and all sorts of ideas to flesh out the story to make it as realistic as he can.

While there's actors wearing suits inside the creatures, the movements of their eyes and faces are just as spectacular where there's life to the characters while the voices add an emotive quality to them. What Jonze did overall in presenting the film with lots of wide angle, beautiful shots, and ideas that are truly from the imagination of a child is exhilarating. In bringing the book to life while making it into its own story is just amazing as Jonze creates what is possibly his best work yet along with a film that is probably become a hallmark of great film that kids could watch.

Jonze's longtime cinematographer Lance Acord does amazing work with the photography from the dark-colored look of the nighttime scenes when Max runs away from home to the colorful, bright look of the snow in that same location at the daytime. The scenes in the wood show Acord bringing lots of color and looks to capture the emotion of the film from the sunny, bright colored look of the sun and sky in the deserts along with grey, colorless look of the woods during the rumpus scenes. Even the scenes deeper in the woods with shades of darker colors play up to the dark emotions that goes on in the third act as Acord's work is truly amazing overall.

Editors Eric Zumbrunnen and James Haygood do fantastic work with the editing in providing a nice sense of rhythm for the film's action while not making things move too fast. Leisurely-paced, the film knows when to slow things down for the dramatic elements without being too slow as the editing is overall solid. Production designer K.K. Barrett along with set decorator Simon McCutcheon and supervising art director Jeffrey Thorp do brilliant work with the overall design of the places at the island from the large circular nest that the wild things live in to the tunnels, deserts, and the model place that Carol had created. Barrett's work in the design work along with sculptures and such is truly some of the best art direction ever created for a film with a lot of imagination.

Costume designer Casey Storm does an excellent job with the creation of Max's wild thing costume that looks exactly like the costume from the book along with more casual clothing for the actors to wear in the non-island scenes. Yet, the look of the creatures from the hair and makeup is fantastic in its realism. The credit really should go to the special effects team that include special effects supervisor Peter Stubbs, visual effects supervisors Daniel Jeanette, Marc Kolbe, and Chris Watts along with a team of animators. The design for the creatures are phenomenal as they all look like creatures from the book coming to life. Sound designer Ren Klyce does a phenomenal job with the sound work in the chaos of the rumpus and creatures along with the sounds of the location that is happening.

The film's score by Carter Burwell and Yeah Yeah Yeahs vocalist Karen O is a playful, intimate, yet sparse score that recalls the acoustic work of the YYYs' Show Your Bones album back in 2006. Along with contributions from Deerhunter's Bradford Cox, former YYYs touring member Imaad Wasif, The Dead Weather's Jack Lawrence and Dean Fertita, and YYY members Nick Zinner and Brian Chase. The music plays up to the spirit of Max's raucous energy along with its sense of melancholia. Notably songs like Hideaway and a cover of Daniel Johnston's Worried Shoes. Overall, it's a fantastic score and soundtrack that reflects on the spirit of the story and film while its trailer is wonderfully accompanied by a re-recorded version of Wake Up by Arcade Fire.

The casting by Justine Baddeley and Kim Davis is superb with notable appearances from Max Pfeifer, Madeleine Graves, Joshua Jay, and Ryan Corr as friends of Claire who engage in a snowball fight with Max along with Steve Mouzakis as Max's teacher. Other small roles from Pepita Emmerichs as Max's older sister Claire to a cameo appearance of sorts from Mark Ruffalo as Max's mother's boyfriend are nice to see while Catherine Keener is excellent in a brief role as Max's mother. The voice casting is truly phenomenal with Michael Berry Jr. providing the grunts of the mostly silent Bull while Chris Cooper is sort of unrecognizable as the voice of the bird-creature Douglas. Catherine O'Hara is funny as the cynical voice of Judith while Forest Whitaker is excellent as the calm voice of Ira. Paul Dano is great as the voice of Alexander, the goat wanting some attention as he also carries some pain around him.

Lauren Ambrose is wonderful as the voice of KW, the maternal figure of the wild things who is troubled by Carol's anger while being kinder and more loving towards Max. James Gandolfini is perfect as the voice of Carol from his light-hearted humor to his more angry side to show Carol's troubled personality as Gandolfini's voice brings a surprising depth to the character that no one expected from the guy who played Tony Soprano. Finally, there's Max Records in an amazing performance as Max. Records provides all of the wild and complex emotions of a young boy as he is really the heart and soul of the film as he shows surprising depth to a boy that feels neglected and sad. When he's wild, he's full of energy as he really captures the spirit of the character in the book as it's truly a mesmerizing performance from the young actor.

Where the Wild Things Are is an amazing, imaginative, and heartfelt film from Spike Jonze and company. Fans of Jonze's work will see this as not just his most ambitious but also heartfelt film as he truly captures the spirit and innocent of a child while being truly faithful to Maurice Sendak's beloved book. Fans of the book will be amazed to see the story come to life while seeing how much is kept with not much being missed. Overall, this is a film that can be described as an art film of sorts for children while adults will be amazed by its production values, wondrous cinematography, and visual effects along with its complex, melancholic story. In the end, Where the Wild Things Are is one of 2009's best films from the wonderful mind of director Spike Jonze and its creator Maurice Sendak.

Spike Jonze Films: Being John Malkovich - Adaptation - Tell Them Anything You Want: A Portrait of Maurice Sendak - Her - My Mutant Brain

Related: The Auteurs #54: Spike Jonze - The 25 Essential Videos of Spike Jonze

© thevoid99 2013

Zero Dark Thirty

Directed by Kathryn Bigelow and written by Mark Boal, Zero Dark Thirty is the story about a CIA officer who goes on a long search for Osama Bin Laden as it takes many years until he is finally captured. The film is an exploration into one of the great manhunts in American history and what it took to finally bring down the man who orchestrated the 9/11 attacks. Starring Jessica Chastain, Jason Clarke, Joel Edgerton, Edgar Ramirez, Jennifer Ehle, Mark Strong, Kyle Chandler, and James Gandolfini. Zero Dark Thirty is a haunting yet gripping film from Kathryn Bigelow.

The film is essentially the story about one of the greatest manhunts in American history concerning Osama Bin Laden as it the story spans eight years into the search for the man who orchestrated the attacks on 9/11. Leading the pack is a CIA officer named Maya (Jessica Chastain) as she arrives to Pakistan in 2003 where she witness interrogation tortures and all sorts of things while being part of a team trying to find out where Bin Laden is. Through some trials and tribulations where she sees people come and go. Maya becomes intent on finding Bin Laden after a prisoner she interrogates reveals information about a courier. It is through this courier known as Abu Ahmed where Maya believes that he is the link to finding Bin Laden where it would take some guess work and determination to finally find and kill Bin Laden.

Mark Boal’s screenplay doesn’t play to a lot of conventions in terms of what is expected in a thriller with some action as a lot of the story takes place inside embassies, interrogation rooms, and military bases. While the story does take place largely from 2003 to the night Bin Laden was finally killed in May of 2011, the narrative does jump from one year to another to establish the long work it took for Maya and many to find Bin Laden. Even as the narrative plays to key moments in history such as the London bombing in 2005, the Islamabad Marriot Hotel bombing in 2008 that Maya and her friend Jessica (Jennifer Ehle) survived, and the 2009 Camp Chapman attack.

These events as well as the departure of friends and colleagues would eventually drive the very timid and naïve Maya into a determined woman who is willing to do whatever it takes to find Bin Laden and have him killed. While she does become a target where she survives a shooting in Pakistan, she doesn’t give up easily as she becomes obsessed with finding the courier. While her determination does have those questioning whether they’ll find something or just feel like they’re wasting their time. After the first two acts approached the narrative slowly where it does like they’re not going anywhere due to false information and such. It’s the film’s third act that becomes the payoff as it’s momentum is heightened as it leads to the film’s climatic moment where a group of Navy SEALs raid Bin Laden’s compound.

Kathryn Bigelow’s direction is truly mesmerizing in the way she explores a world where it is about what is happening behind the scenes where a group of American officials are trying to find out where Bin Laden is. Notably as she maintains an air of intimacy in many of the scenes that take place in the board room while it’s also tense at times due to the fact that information is unveiled or something bad is happening. While part of the film does take place in embassies and buildings where Bigelow always have a camera moving around whenever characters are walking. She always stop to create some fantastic images that includes a scene where the American embassy in Pakistan is surrounded by protestors as officials watch from the inside.

With a few second unit shots around parts of the Middle East including Kuwait, many of the film’s exteriors were shot in India including its deserts in order to not gain issues from shooting on actual locations. Yet, it does manage to present a world that doesn’t seem to enjoy the idea of Americans prying into their world. There’s some intense action scenes involving a few bombings where Bigelow knows how to stage something that is intense while the torture scenes reveal how graphic things are without going over the top. One part of the film that is really interesting is the way Bigelow opens the film where it’s just a blank screen where audio recordings of the 9/11 attacks are happening to establish why people were intent on this manhunt for Bin Laden.

For the film’s climatic raid that would unveil the death of Bin Laden, the action is definitely gripping from the use of night vision footage and hand-held cameras without being overly shaky. There’s definitely an element of suspense and terror over the fact that anything could go wrong as the soldiers themselves act very cautiously. Notably as they don’t want to kill innocent people while a few outside of the compound are aware that neighbors are looking at them. It is truly a moment in film that is just entrancing due to what will happen and its result. Overall, Bigelow creates a provocative yet captivating film about the greatest manhunt in American history.

Cinematographer Greig Fraser does brilliant work with the film‘s photography from the sunny look of some of the film‘s exteriors and interior settings to the more stylish array of lights for scenes at night including a key moment at Area 51. Editors William Goldenberg and Dylan Tichenor do incredible work with the editing by employing lots of methodical cuts for some of the film‘s suspense along with a few montages to display moments of news and such in some of the more chilling moments. Production designer Jeremy Hindle, along with supervising art director Rod McLean and set decorators Lisa Chugg and Onkar Khot, does amazing work with the design of the embassies and its offices to the look of the military camps.

Costume designer George L. Little does nice work with the costumes as a lot of it is casual though the officials wear suits as well as veils for the women. Visual effects supervisors Chris Harvey and Mike Uguccioni do terrific work with some of the film‘s minimal visual effects that includes the film‘s climatic raid involving the helicopters riding over the mountains. Sound designer Paul N.J. Ottosson does excellent work with the sound from the film‘s opening moments through the layers of mixing of phone taps and other intimate moments as well as the action scenes. The film’s music by Alexandre Desplat is superb for its low-key yet ominous orchestral score to play up the suspense and drama that occurs throughout the film while incorporating Middle Eastern music to help establish the world the characters are living in.

The casting by Mark Bennett, Richard Hicks, and Gail Stevens is fantastic for the ensemble that is created specifically for this film. In small but memorable roles, there’s Joel Edgerton, Chris Pratt, Frank Grillo, and Taylor Kinney as the Navy SEALs who hunt down Bin Laden, Reda Kateb as a man interrogated and tortured early in the film, Fares Fares as an Arabian CIA specialist who helps track down the courier, Edgar Ramirez as a CIA specialist operator who goes on the look out for the courier in Pakistan, Harold Perrineau as a CIA official Maya works with, and James Gandolfini in a small but amazing performance as then-CIA director Leon Panetta. Kyle Chandler is excellent as Islamabad CIA chief Joseph Bradley while Mark Strong is great as CIA official George who is furious over the lack of progress.

Jennifer Ehle is amazing as Maya’s colleague Jessica who helps Maya with finding out the mysteries while being her friend as they go out together. Jason Clarke is superb as the CIA officer Dan who specializes in tortures while helping Maya out in her search as he would do unconventional things to get information. Finally, there’s Jessica Chastain in an outstanding performance as CIA officer Maya. Chastain’s performance is truly eerie to watch as a woman who starts out as this CIA officer who is new to her job as she later becomes determined and obsessed with capturing Bin Laden where she is willing to display her confidence in the belief that he is there somewhere as it’s definitely one of the year’s best performances.

Zero Dark Thirty is a magnificent yet chilling film from Kathryn Bigelow that features an incredible performance from Jessica Chastain. Armed with Mark Boal’s eerie script and a strong supporting cast that includes Jason Clarke, Jennifer Ehle, Joel Edgerton, Mark Strong, Kyle Chandler, and James Gandolfini. The film is definitely an intriguing dramatization into what it took to find Osama Bin Laden. While it’s not an easy film to watch at times due to its unconventional structure and slow build-up. It is still a film that is compelling for the way it reveals how one person was willing to find one of the most wanted men around the world. In the end, Zero Dark Thirty is a tremendous film from Kathryn Bigelow.

Kathryn Bigelow Films: The Loveless - Near Dark - Blue Steel - Point Break - Strange Days - The Weight of Water - K-19: The Widowmaker - The Hurt Locker - The Auteurs #29: Kathryn Bigelow

© thevoid99 2013

Killing Them Softly

Based on the novel Cogan’s Trade by George V. Higgins, Killing Them Softly is the story of an enforcer who is hired to track down a few criminals who had stolen money from a mob protected card game. With the help of a few people, the enforcer has to find these criminals just as the criminal economy is going into collapse. Written for the screen and directed by Andrew Dominik, the film is an exploration into the underworld and its connection with the financial collapse of 2008 during a transition of power from George W. Bush to Barack Obama. Starring Brad Pitt, Scoot McNairy, Ben Mendelsohn, Richard Jenkins, James Gandolfini, Ray Liotta, and Sam Shepard. Killing Them Softly is a dark yet harrowing crime film from Andrew Dominik.

What happens when a couple of young, idiotic criminals decide to rob a protected Mob card game for their boss and it attracts the attention of a mob enforcer? That’s the simple premise of the film as it is about this enforcer trying to find out who robbed this card game and who is responsible for letting all of this happen. Leading the story is this enforcer Jackie Cogan (Brad Pitt) who is hired by a mob mouthpiece named Driver (Richard Jenkins) to find the two men (Scoot McNairy and Ben Mendelsohn) who robbed this game as everyone else is already looking at Markie Trattman (Ray Liotta) who had robbed his own card game years ago. Trouble is already brewing as the enforcer hires a hitman named Mickey (James Gandolfini) to deal with the situation but he’s falling apart as the 2008 financial collapse starts to affect everyone.

Andrew Dominik’s screenplay is about a world where at a time when things are definitely falling apart as the world of the mob isn’t going so well due to the recession as everyone needs money. One of which is this mob boss who asks one of his men to rob a card game as he brings in his heroin-addicted friend to do the job and steal the money. The job goes well but it ends up creating a whole lot of trouble as Jackie Cogan is hired to handle the situation only to realize that the few people he’s hired to handle things are incapable. Notably this aging hitman who is dealing with a divorce, financial troubles, legal issues, and all sorts of things as it becomes clear that Cogan has to do things himself. Of course, situations arise as it becomes more complicated due to the recession.

Behind this story of a mob enforcer trying to get rid of trouble is this financial collapse where mobsters are having money trouble. They can’t pay to maintain their lifestyle. The jobs they’re hired to do has them taking money for very little and they’re dealing with the idea that there’s no money around. Throughout the film, there’s TV footage of George W. Bush trying to calm the people about the financial situation while there’s an election happening. For these mob guys, it starts to affect them as they live outside of the law as they’re struggling to keep things secretive while they’re being hit by this heist that is ruining them.

Dominik’s direction is very engaging in how he creates a film that isn’t just a dark, gritty crime film set in 2008 New Orleans. It’s also a film that is about a world that is outside of the typical American lifestyle that most people live in. Through a lot of eerie compositions in medium shots, slow dolly tracks, and other intimate camera movements. Dominik creates something that is more low-key but also filled with a lot of dark humor considering that one of the robbers is a complete dumbass too fucked-up on dope. There is also a sense of nostalgia in the way Mickey talks about when times were simpler and things were good as he is definitely falling apart on all levels and the economic troubles has now affected him.

It’s not just this dark backdrop of political and social commentary that makes the film so intriguing but also the way the mob conducts their life in a secretive way. Because a robbery like this has happened before and a man like Trattman is clearly the target. Panic is already happening as everyone is pointing the fingers at him even though he did nothing wrong. Still, it could’ve been prevented as it forces this enforcer to just handle things. There is never a moment in the film where it’s all sunshine and rainbows as the setting in 2008 New Orleans just adds to the bleak tone of the film. Then comes the ending where it revels not just in cynicism but also a grim reality that is faced in the aftermath of this financial collapse where times are about to change. Overall, Dominik creates a very fascinating yet unsettling crime film that explores a world coming undone by changing times.

Cinematographer Greig Fraser does excellent work with the film‘s very bleak look from the usage of grayish colors in the daytime scenes to more exotic yet low-key lighting schemes for the scenes at night. Editors Brian A. Kates and John Paul Horstmann do nice work with the editing to play out the suspense while a lot of it is more methodical though some parts of the film lag a bit. Production/costume designer Patricia Norris and set decorator Leslie Morales do wonderful work with the set pieces such as the card game room and ruined houses while Norris also provides the costumes where a lot of it just casual.

Visual effects supervisor Dottie Sparling does terrific work with the few visual effects such as some of the slow-motion killing scenes in the film. Sound designer Leslie Shatz and sound editors Robert Jackson and Thomas O’Neill Younkman do great work with the sound from the way the radio and televisions belt out the political speeches in the background to some of the more chilling scenes in some of the film‘s violent moments. Music supervisor Rachel Fox creates a superb soundtrack that features a wide array of music from Barrett Strong, Johnny Cash, the Velvet Underground, Petula Clark, and all sorts of genres from pop, hip-hop, and ambient music.

The casting by Francine Maisler is brilliant for the ensemble that is created as it features some noteworthy small roles from Sam Shepard as a veteran enforcer named Dillon, Slaine as a hoodlum named Kenny Gill, Max Casella as a hood named Barry Carpio, and Vincent Curatola as a crooked mob boss who organizes the heist. Ray Liotta is excellent as Markie Trattman who finds himself in big trouble over the heist as people begin to distrust him. James Gandolfini is great as the hitman Mickey who arrives to do a job only to drink a lot and dwell on the old times when things were great. Ben Mendelsohn is superb as the dim-witted heroin-addicted thug Russell who can be professional but also very stupid as he is considered a liability. Scoot McNairy is wonderful as the more professional but naïve Frankie who realizes the kind of trouble that is happening as he tries to deal with the implications he’s facing.

Richard Jenkins is amazing as Driver who is the conscience of sorts in the film as a mob mouthpiece who only talks to Cogan about the targets and what to do as well as being someone who knows that things are changing in the world. Finally, there’s Brad Pitt in a chilling performance as Jackie Cogan where Pitt displays a restraint to a man who likes to get things done only to realize that there’s problems as he has to do things himself where Pitt adds a dark tone to his role as well as cynicism that is more surprising for a character that isn’t likeable at times.

Killing Them Softly is an ominous yet intoxicating crime-drama from Andrew Dominik that features marvelous performances from Brad Pitt, Richard Jenkins, and James Gandolfini. While it is a very unconventional film that explores a world falling apart by changing times and an economic recession. It’s a film that does carry a lot of commentary about the way the underworld works as well as how they can be affected by the world outside. In the end, Killing Them Softly is a remarkable film from Andrew Dominik.

Andrew Dominik Films: Chopper - The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford - One More Time with Feeling - This Much I Know to Be True - Blonde (2022 film)

© thevoid99 2012

True Romance

Directed by Tony Scott and written by Quentin Tarantino, True Romance is the story of a couple who travel to California with a luggage of cocaine that they hope to sell for a good life. Yet, they find themselves in trouble with the mob who are after them as well as cops who learn what they’re going to do. The film is a love story mixed in with a bit of violence as it explores a couple trying to seek a good life for themselves. Starring Christian Slater, Patricia Arquette, Michael Rapaport, Dennis Hopper, Bronson Pinchot, Gary Oldman, Tom Sizemore, Saul Rubinek, Val Kilmer, Brad Pitt, James Gandolfini, Chris Penn, and Christopher Walken. True Romance is a glorious yet spectacular film from Tony Scott.

A call-girl named Alabama (Patricia Arquette) meets a comic book store clerk named Clarence Worley (Christian Slater) at Sonny Chiba triple-feature where they fall in love and get married after a one-day courtship. When Clarence learns that Alabama’s pimp is a crazed madman named Drexl (Gary Oldman), Clarence decides to confront Drexl leading to a fight where Clarence kills Drexl and gets a luggage that he thought belonged to Alabama. When the two realize that the luggage isn’t Alabama but an entire stash of cocaine, the two make a plan to sell it in Hollywood so they can use the money to live the good life. After Clarence decides to tell his security cop father Clifford (Dennis Hopper) to see if anyone is looking for any suspects about who killed Drexl. Clifford helps Clarence out as he learns what his son and new daughter-in-law plan to do as he bids them goodbye.

After arriving to California to meet their friend Dick Ritchie (Michael Rapaport), Clarence and Alabama meet Dick’s acting class friend Elliot Blitzer who is an associated of famed film producer Lee Donowitz (Saul Rubinek) that is interested in buying cocaine. Blitzer calls Donowitz where Clarence talks to Donowitz about making a deal as it’s going to happen. With everything seemingly in place, a gangster named Vincent Coccotti (Christopher Walken) learns about Clarence and Alabama’s whereabouts where he sends his henchman Virgil to track them down. After Virgil confronts Alabama about where the drugs are, the two get into a fight where Clarence realizes the trouble they’re facing.

Even worse is that Blitzer got arrested for speeding and possession where he makes a deal with two detectives in Nicholson (Tom Sizemore) and Dimes (Chris Penn) about the drug deal. Just as Clarence and Alabama are to set to make their deal with Donowitz, both the police and the mob come in leading to a bloody standoff.

The film is essentially a love story between an Elvis-obsessed film buff who also loves comic books and a call girl who also shares his passion for kung fu movies where they get a suitcase of cocaine and hope to sell it big to start a life of their own. Yet, it would eventually lead to all sorts of trouble when the stolen suitcase of cocaine really belonged to the mafia as they go on the search for this couple while a couple of crooked detectives would eventually get involved in this shady deal. It’s a film that blends all sorts of genres where it’s a crime film, a love story, and has a bit of humor where it features an element of fantasy. A lot of it is told from the perspective of this call girl who has big dreams for something good to come into her life.

Quentin Tarantino’s screenplay, with contributions from Roger Avary, is definitely filled with a lot of his trademarks in terms of pop culture references, witty dialogue, and graphic depiction of violence. Yet, he is focused solely on these two very unique people in Clarence and Alabama as they’re just this young couple who are in love with each other and want something that can be theirs. Clarence is a guy who loves Elvis Presley, movies, comic books, and burgers while Alabama is just a girl who wants to have fun and eat a pie after seeing a movie. Neither of them really know about how to deal drugs or know anything about the criminal underworld as all they want is some money and get out of the way. Still, complications would arise due to the fact that the man Clarence kills is really an associate of the mafia led by this sadistic man who is really a quiet yet no holds barred kind of man.

One aspect of the script that is noticeable is its schematic of sorts as the story is definitely similar to Terrence Malick’s 1973 debut film Badlands which is about two lovers going on a road trip during a killing spree that was largely inspired by the Starkweather-Fugate killings of the late 1950s. Though Clarence and Alabama aren’t killers, they do kill a few people who are essentially bad people. One notable scene is Alabama’s fight with Virgil as Virgil has this great monologue about what happens when one kills someone for the very first time. It’s part of the atmosphere that Tarantino writes with his dialogue that includes that very intense yet chilling meeting between Coccotti and Clifford Worley that is truly one of the greatest exchanges in film.

Tony Scott’s direction is purely thrilling in the way he creates the film’s intense moments of violence as well as some of its non-violent moments where he manages to keep the love story just as interesting. Scott does infuse a lot of footage from other films in the background to showcase this unique world where Clarence and Alabama will watch any kind of movie to establish who they are as he also finds a way to create unique shots of this relationship. Particularly in the scenes set in Detroit such as Clarence and Alabama’s visit to see Clarence’s dad where Scott isn’t afraid to put some light humor into the scene. Scott would also use these moments to let the story take a break from the dark moments of violence to ensure that it’s still a love story at heart.

In the film’s more intense moments, the violence is definitely stylized but also has an air of brutality. The famed Coccotti and Clifford Worley scene is presented with an intimacy and an air of suspense that is unsettling where both men try to push each other’s buttons in these very quiet exchanges. It’s among one of Scott’s greatest moments as a filmmaker as is the Alabama-Virgil fight where the violence is definitely visceral in the way it’s edited and presented. It’s no holds barred as there’s also an element of dark humor to keep things more intense where its climax is bloody in its emotional impact. The comes the climatic showdown where although its presentation is definitely more Tarantino, Scott does manage to keep his own approach by displaying the operatic cascade of violence. Overall, Tony Scott creates a dazzling yet stylish film that explores true love at its most craziest that is armed by Quentin Tarantino’s powerful screenplay.

Cinematographer Jeffrey L. Kimball does excellent work with the film‘s stylized photography from the grayish look of the Detroit locations to some colorful shots of its interiors as well as the more vibrant look of the Californian exteriors with its sunlight as well as the lighting schemes in the film‘s climatic standoff. Editors Michael Tronick and Christian Wagner do amazing work with the editing by utilizing stylish cuts for the film’s frenetic rollercoaster scenes along with some of it’s violent moments to slower, methodical cuts in the film’s romantic moments. Production designer Benjamin Fernandez, along with set decorator Thomas L. Roysden and art director James J. Murakami, does superb work with the set pieces from the honeymoon room that Clarence and Alabama stay at to the hotel suite that Donowitz lives in.

Costume designer Susan Becker does terrific work with the costumes from the outfits that Alabama wear to the more Elvis-inspired clothing that Clarence wears. Makeup artist Ellen Wong does nice work with the look of Drexl with his scar and eye. Sound editor Robert G. Henderson does wonderful work with the sound from the atmosphere of Clarence‘s meeting with Donowitz to the more intense moments in the film‘s violent scenes. The film’s music by Hans Zimmer is brilliant for its vibraphone driven score which is directly inspired by Carl Orff‘s Gaussenhauer theme which was the music used in Terrence Malick‘s Badlands. Music supervisor Maureen Crowe creates a fantastic soundtrack that features a wide range of music from acts like Aerosmith, Soundgarden, Charlie Sexton, Jon Waite, Billy Idol, the Skinny Boys, Shelby Lynne, the Big Bopper, the Shirelles, Robert Palmer, and Chris Isaak..

The casting by Risa Bramon Garcia and Billy Hopkins is phenomenal for the ensemble that is created as it features some notable small roles from Eric Allan Kramer as Donowitz’s bodyguard Boris, Paul Bates as Drexl’s associate Marty, Maria Pitillo as Elliot’s date, Ed Lauter as Nicholson and Dimes’ superior, Anna Levine as a woman Clarence talks to in the film’s opening scene, and Conchata Ferrell as a casting director Dick auditions for. Other memorable small roles includes Samuel L. Jackson as a criminal Drexl cheats in Big Don, Val Kilmer as Clarence’s imaginary mentor in the form of Elvis, and Brad Pitt in a hilarious performance as Dick’s stoner friend Floyd. Gary Oldman is great as the white Rastafarian pimp Drexl while James Gandolfini is superb as the vicious henchman Virgil.

Chris Penn and Tom Sizemore are amazing in their respective roles as determined detectives Dimes and Nicholson while Saul Rubinek is excellent as the charismatic film producer Lee Donowitz. Bronson Pinchot is very good as the reluctant Elliot Blitzer while Michael Rapaport is terrific as the reluctant but more willing friend Dick. Dennis Hopper and Christopher Walken are outstanding in their respective roles as Clifford Worley and Vincenzo Coccotti where their scene together is truly a master class in the art of acting.

Patricia Arquette is brilliant as Alabama as a woman who is truly a call girl with a good heart and is full of joy but also someone who isn’t afraid to throw down. Christian Slater is fantastic as Clarence Worley with his charismatic persona and being engaging in conversations while also isn’t afraid to do what’s right. Slater and Arquette are the heart and soul of the film as they radiate chemistry while providing every moment for the audience to care about them.

True Romance is an incredible film from Tony Scott and screenwriter Quentin Tarantino. Armed with amazing dialogue, brutal violence, a wonderful soundtrack, and a great cast led by Christian Slater and Patricia Arquette. The film is truly one of the most exciting and entertaining films of the 1990s. Not only is the film one of Tony Scott’s great films but also one of Quentin Tarantino’s great work where both men display their talents in this film. In the end, True Romance is an ass-kicking and thrilling film from Tony Scott and Quentin Tarantino.

Tony Scott Films: (One of the Missing) - (Loving Memory) - The Hunger - (Top Gun) - (Beverly Hills Cop II) - (Revenge) - (Days of Thunder) - (The Last Boy Scout) - (Crimson Tide) - (The Fan) - (Enemy of the State) - (Spy Game) - (Man on Fire) - (Domino) - (Déjà Vu) - (The Taking of Pelham 123 (2009 film)) - (Unstoppable)

© thevoid99 2012

In the Loop

Based on the British TV show The Thick of It, In the Loop is the story of a British government official who makes an offhand comment on TV as things go out of control as both American and British government officials try to sort things out as they’re on the verge of a war with the Middle East. Directed by Armando Iannucci and written by Iannucci, Jesse Armstrong, Simon Blackwell, and Tony Roche with additional material from Ian Martin. The film is a black-comedy satire that explores the backstage world of politics as people try to prevent or start a war. Starring Peter Capaldi, Tom Hollander, Gina McKee, Mimi Kennedy, Anna Chlumsky, Chris Addison, Steve Coogan, David Rasche, and James Gandolfini. In the Loop is a whimsical yet very witty political comedy from Armando Iannucci.

After an interview with International Development minister Simon Foster (Tom Hollander) for the BBC goes bad due to comments made by Foster. Malcolm Tucker (Peter Capaldi), the director of communications for the prime minister, goes on damage control over Foster’s comments as he confronts Foster and communications director Judy Molloy (Gina McKee) over what happened. With Foster’s comments getting into more trouble about a possible war happening, it only worsens when U.S. officials led by U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for Diplomacy officer Karen Clark (Mimi Kennedy) visits where Foster attends the meeting and becomes mocked.

Tucker sends Foster and his new assistant Toby (Chris Addison) to Washington D.C. to meet up with Clark and U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for Policy official Linton Barwick (David Rasche) for a meeting with war council that’s to include Lt. General Miller (James Gandolfini). Foster and Toby deal with Clark and her assistant Liza Weld (Anna Chlumsky) as Clark wants Liza to get some information from Toby whom they had known each other since college. After a meeting with the war council where Foster ends up looking more like a fool and information is leaked to the press. With Foster and Toby working for a local constituent building where they deal with a local (Steve Coogan), Toby gets himself into trouble while Foster’s shenanigans has his being mocked by the press.

With Tucker sending Foster and Toby back to the U.S. where they’re to travel to New York City for a United Nations meeting, Tucker and Molloy join them while Tucker sends Senior Press Officer Jamie MacDonald to find out who sent out the leak. The brash MacDonald confronts Diplomacy Director of Foreign Office official Michael Rodgers (James Smith) and Rodgers’ secretary Suzy (Olivia Poulet) about the leak while Foster makes a decision about his political career. In the U.N., more complications arose as Foster becomes aware of what he’s been doing while Tucker would make moves that would help save face for the British government.

The film is a satire on political strategy that involves the mistake of an official’s comment leading to problems between U.S. and British relations as they all try to smooth things out. In a game of manipulative politics, a communications director gets this official in the U.S. along with an assistant where they end up being played in a game of strategy where the U.S. try to be on top of things. The screenplay delves into this world where everyone in the game of politics try to outdo who while using people in the process for their own gain. Throughout the film, there’s characters who clearly find out they’re being used while some are willing to be involved.

The script is also very multi-layered for the fact that there’s a lot of characters with overlapping dialogue along with back-and-forth narratives that revolve around both British and U.S. political strategies as each faction figure out what to do. With a lot of the dialogue being fast, stylized, and often crass due to the more aggressive characters in the film. It adds to who these people are as they’re doing damage control where they become very confrontational and vulgar as they’re all trying to protect their territory. Caught in the middle of this damage control is this official who finds himself becoming a pawn as he would become more confused by the world of politics.

Armando Iannucci’s direction is truly engaging to watch in the way he goes for this very offbeat, cinema verite style that has a lot of intimate moments on the conversations where the camera is always there to see what is going on. Even if it involves someone in the background watching where Iannucci knows that a character in the background is either a target or is about to do something that will shake things up. While the film is essentially a satire, Iannucci doesn’t stray into silly gags or parodies but rather go for small moments of silliness while letting the actors just go all out in the characters they play no matter how despicable or idiotic they are. Overall, Iannucci creates a truly superb and very funny film about political damage control.

Cinematographer Jamie Cairney does an excellent job with the film‘s cinematography providing differing looks to the British and American locations with the British interior and exteriors being a bit more grimy while the American set pieces having more lights to complement their personalities. Editors Ant Boys and Billy Sneddon do nice work with the editing by capturing a lot of the intensity of the conversations that goes on with some rhythmic cutting as well as straightforward cuts to play up the more intimate moments of the film. Production designer Cristina Casali, along with set decorator Clare Keyte and art director Nick Dent, does fantastic work with the set pieces such as the offices of the British officials to the more spacious offices and conferences rooms of the American officials to contrast the two differing world of politics.

Costume designer Ros Little does a terrific job with the costumes in maintaining a look for all of the characters wearing suits and all sorts of business attire while Lt. General Miller maintains a uniform to emphasize his intimidating persona. Sound supervisor Tim Alban does a fine job with the sound to capture the intimacy of some of the private conversations to the more raucous world of the board meetings and such that occur in the film. The film’s score by Adem Illhan with the Elysian Quartet is pretty good as it’s very low-key with plaintive piano pieces to more thrilling orchestral arrangements to play up the humor and more tense dramatic moments of the film.

The casting by Sarah Crowe and Meredith Tucker is brilliant for the ensemble that is created for this film. In small but notable roles, Zach Woods as brown-nosing junior staffer, Paul Higgins as the very angry Scottish official Jamie MacDonald, Olivia Poulet as Toby’s girlfriend/civil servant Suzy, James Smith as a classical-music loving diplomacy director, Alex MacQueen as the British representative for the U.N., and Steve Coogan as angry local upset over a wall that’s to collapse on his mother’s garden. Anna Chlumsky is very good as the ambitious assistant Liza whose paper about war gets her a lot of attention while David Rasche is excellent as the smarmy U.S. official Linton Barwick. Gina McKee is wonderful as a communications director who helps try to smooth things out while Mimi Kennedy is terrific as a diplomacy official who tries to use Foster for her own gain.

Chris Addison is a delight to watch as the naïve assistant who goes way over his head in trying to help out Foster only to end up being a key player to further complicate matters. James Gandolfini is great as Lt. General Miller as a man unsure of his role while not wanting to go to war as he also tries to use Foster for his own political reasons. Tom Hollander is amazing as political official Simon Foster who unknowingly creates an incident where he becomes a pawn in a political game furthering his confusion about his role in politics. Finally, there’s Peter Capaldi in a magnificent performance as the ambitious yet terrifying Malcolm Tucker who bullies his way to do damage control while always being very intimidating to officials whether its British or American.

In the Loop is an extraordinary yet humorous film from Armando Iannucci. Featuring a fantastic ensemble cast led by Peter Capaldi, it’s a film that explores the world of foreign relations with biting satire and brash humor. While it’s not an easy film to follow through in terms of its subject matter and unconventional approach to comedy. It is the kind of film that is willing to explore the fallacy of politics and do it in a very witty manner. In the end, In the Loop is a masterfully-crafted comedy from Armando Iannucci.

Related: The Death of Stalin

© thevoid99 2012

The Man Who Wasn't There (2001 film)

Originally Written and Posted at Epinions.com on 9/13/03 w/ Additional Edits & Revisions.

Written, produced, and directed by Joel & Ethan Coen, The Man Who Wasn't There is about a quiet, rigid barber who suspects his wife of having an affair with her boss. When he gets into a scam-deal, he blackmails his wife's lover and it backfires as he accidentally kills him. The film harkens back to the Coen Brothers' love for film noir dating back to their 1984 debut film Blood Simple while setting it on post-war 1940s in Northern California. Starring Billy Bob Thornton, Frances McDormand, James Gandolfini, Jon Polito, Michael Badalucco, Richard Jenkins, Scarlett Johansson, and Tony Shalhoub. The Man Who Wasn't There is a gorgeous yet eerie film from the Coen Brothers.

Ed Crane (Billy Bob Thornton) is a quiet barber who works at a barbershop owned and managed by his talkative brother-in-law Frank (Michael Badalucco) as Ed is married to Frank's sister Doris (Frances McDormand) who works at a department store run by a big-shot named Big Dave (James Gandolfini). During a dinner with Doris, Big Dave, and Dave's wife/store heiress Ann Nirdlinger (Katherine Borowitz), Ed suspects that Doris is having an affair with Dave as he prefers to keep it to himself. When a traveling businessman from Sacramento named Creighton Tolliver (Jon Polito) arrives into town about a business proposal involving dry cleaning, Ed becomes interested and wants to be involved as a silent partner. To get the money, Ed decides to blackmail Dave at a store party only to deal with a tense Dave who is having other issues.

Despite pondering over what he's doing, Ed gets the money in secrecy as he gives it to Tolliver hoping things would go well. After returning home from a wedding reception for Doris' cousin as Doris got drunk, Ed gets a call from Dave who asks him to come to the store. Dave reveals what he found out as a fight led to bad consequences as Ed returns home thinking nothing happened until the next day when Doris was arrested for Dave's murder. With Ed and Frank searching for a lawyer, Ed turns to his neighbor Walter Abundas (Richard Jenkins) whose teenage daughter Birdy (Scarlett Johansson) has wowed Ed with her classical piano playing. After Walter suggests in getting hot-shot lawyer Freddy Riedenschneider (Tony Shalhoub) to defend Doris despite his hefty price tag. Ed's guilt starts to consume him as he confesses to Doris and Riedenschneider about what happened only for Riedenschneider to dismiss Ed's claim.

Following a strange visit from Ann Nirdlinger who claims that UFOs has taken Dave, Ed tries to deal with all that's happened as he finds comfort in Birdy's piano playing. On the day of Doris' trial, something happens leaving Ed ruined as he discovers some startling secrets from a private detective (Jack MeGee). Wanting to find redemption, Ed decides to invest in Birdy's future as a pianist as he gets her to audition for a music expert named Carcanogues (Adam Alexi-Malle) where its aftermath brings Ed some surprising revelations over everything that he's been through.

What makes The Man Who Wasn't There such a different film from previous efforts was the restraint the film took. While there's bits of humor involving UFOs and a strange fantasy sequence near the end of the film. It adds to some of the offbeat quirks needed to provide the character of Ed Crane a sense of surrealism that he's dealing with in the aftermath of what he's done. The directing of the film is as evocative than any other films with imaginative, subtle images that really gives the film a 1940s look. Even with shots where everything is stilted and all of these symbols come into a room. The Coen Brothers' writing is as potent as ever with not just clever, witty dialogue but extremely moving moments while their narrative flows in a smooth, comforting way. The overall work is an entrancing yet meditative piece from the Coen Brothers.

Complementing the directing style in the cinematography department is longtime regular Roger Deakins. Deakins' masterfully, lush black-and-white photography gives the film a noir-like feel that hadn't been felt since the Coens' 1985 debut Blood Simple. With help from production designer Dennis Gassner and costume designer Mary Zophres, the film captures the look of late 1940s with the right detail and tone that helps Deakins' photography shine.

The editing of Roderick Jaynes (the alias of the Coen Bros.) is wonderfully paced in its slow but mesmerizing style that helps to convey the genre. With the piano sonnets of Beethoven played throughout the film, longtime Coen Brothers composer Carter Burwell brings a dark, eerie score with his lush orchestral arrangements to capture the noir, restrained tone of the movie.

Then there's the film rich cast with wonderful cameos from Christopher McDonald and The Hudsucker Proxy star Jennifer Jason Leigh, in an un-credited cameo that plays up to the film's quirks. Smaller performances from Adam Alexi-Malle as Carcanogues and Richard Jenkins as Walter Abundas are wonderfully performed while Katherine Borowitz give a haunting performance as Big Dave's wife Ann. Scarlett Johansson delivers an amazing yet entrancing performance as Birdy Abundas. Johansson brings a complexity to her role as the innocent, bright Birdy who has purity to Ed Crane but also has a haunting presence with her piano playing that has a dark element to the film. Coens regular Michael Badalucco brings a comical performance as Frank, who seems to know everything but is really a childlike character. Tony Shalhoub is the film's best supporting performance as the fast-talking Freddy Riedenschneider with his over-the-top persona and egomaniacal tone.

Coen regular Jon Polito also brings a comical presence to the film as Creighton Tolliver while James Gandolfini brings a wonderful performance as Big Dave with his big-man persona and complex emotions when he's threatened before going to his mean, Tony Soprano mode. Longtime Coens regular (and Joel's wife) Frances McDormand delivers another masterful performance as Ed's wife Doris. McDormand brings a role as the cheating wife who is in an unhappy lifestyle but when she realizes what Ed has done for, McDormand makes her character be filled with regret and sadness as she also combines comedic elements early on. Billy Bob Thornton is the film's greatest performance as the chain-smoking Ed Crane with his restrained, quiet performance of a man who is trying to find a way out of his dismal life. Thornton gives an understated tone while having wonderful scenes with all the actors, notably Gandolfini, McDormand, Johansson, and Shalhoub. This is by far one of Thornton's best performances.

***Updated, DVD Tidbits on 9/20/04***

The film’s regional 1 DVD comes in two formats with many preferring the wide screen format. With 5.1 Digital Surround Sound for English and French plus French and Spanish subtitles, the film has loads of features. With a theatrical trailer and two TV spots, the film also includes a lovely photo gallery and a filmography of several of the film's cast and crew.

The making of feature includes interviews with Thornton, McDormand, Gandolfini, Badalucco, and Shalhoub along with the Coen Brothers and cinematographer Roger Deakins, who all give insight on what the film is about along with a few outtakes. The five deleted scenes don't add a lot to the film except three styles of haircuts and Doris' idea of a salad along with an alternate first argument scene of the courtroom with Tony Shalhoub in top form.

The film also includes two great features for fans of the Coen Brothers. One is a near-hour interview with cinematographer Roger Deakins, who had worked with Coens since 1991's Barton Fink. Deakins gives insight on the art of cinematography along with his influences and how The Man Who Wasn't There came together. While it's long, the interview is a must-see for fans and aspiring filmmakers, notably cinematographers.

The other big feature is a feature-length audio commentary from the Coen Brothers and Billy Bob Thornton, which is by far one of the funniest commentaries heard on DVD. The trio talk a lot of things in the movies including references of a story Gandolfini are telling which is true based on the life of former Coen Brothers cinematographer Barry Sonnenfeld's father. Plus, Thornton makes fun of his Sling Blade persona where he goes "Ed Crane does..." "Ed Crane kills Big Dave and talks to wife again"; "Ed Crane has a boner". Thornton also gives praises to a lot of the crew and cast, notably Scarlett Johansson who he calls "a tough kid" and the Coens admit, they find her intimidating, especially in a scene where she was supposed to eat sunflower seeds and Joel says, she looked at him as if he did something idiotic where Thornton calls her one of the best actresses around.

While the Region 1 DVD has some great moments, there is something that the Coen Brothers fans must have which is the Region 2 DVD. The Region 2 DVD has a colored-version of the movie that looks like a somewhat-bad colorization of black-and-white films but the Coens gave it some lush coloring to make it look plausible.

***End of DVD Review***

The Man Who Wasn't There is a ravishing yet dark film from Joel & Ethan Coen led by a chilling performance from Billy Bob Thornton. Featuring amazing technical work and an outstanding ensemble cast that includes Frances McDormand, James Gandolfini, Scarlett Johansson, Richard Jenkins, Michael Badalucco, Jon Polito, and Tony Shalhoub. It's a film that isn't conventional due to its unique approach to film noir while it is a film that does manage to make more sense through repeated viewings. In the end, The Man Who Wasn't There is a mesmerizing film from the Coen Brothers.

Coen Brothers Films: Blood Simple - Raising Arizona - Miller's Crossing - Barton Fink - The Hudsucker Proxy - Fargo - The Big Lebowski - O Brother, Where Art Thou? - Intolerable Cruelty - The Ladykillers (2004 film) - Paris Je T'aime-Tuileries - To Each His Own Cinema-World Cinema - No Country for Old Men - Burn After Reading - A Serious Man - True Grit (2010 film) - Inside Llewyn 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

Romance & Cigarettes

Originally Written and Posted at Epinions.com 11/9/08.

John Turturro is known to many for his work with the Coen Brothers in such films as Miller's Crossing, Barton Fink, The Big Lebowski, and O Brother, Where Art Thou? where he is considered to be one of their acting regulars. While Turturro has also worked frequently with Martin Scorsese, Woody Allen, and Spike Lee, he remains a devoted collaborator to the Coen Brothers. In 2005, Turturro turned to the Coen Brothers as producers for his third directorial feature in a musical-romance film entitled Romance & Cigarettes.

Written and directed by John Turturro with Joel and Ethan Coen serving as producers, Romance & Cigarettes tells the story of a working class husband whose life spins out of his control when his infidelity puts him into a moral crisis. Therefore, he has to choose between his wife and his seductive mistress while his three daughters are going against him following his affair with his mistress. Part romantic-comedy and part-musical with pop songs being the soundtrack, Turturro creates a film that is definitely in its own world.

With an all-star cast that includes James Gandolfini, Susan Sarandon, Kate Winslet, Mandy Moore, Steve Buscemi, Aida Turturro, Mary-Louise Parker, Christopher Walken, Bobby Cannavale, Barbara Sukowa, Eddie Izzard, Elaine Stritch, Cady Huffman, Adam LaFerve, Amy Sedaris, and Kumar Pallana. Romance & Cigarettes is a whimsical, romantic-comedy, musical film from John Turturro and company.

Nicky Murder (James Gandolfini) had just got caught cheating on his wife Kitty (Susan Sarandon) due to a love letter she found to his mistress Tula (Kate Winslet). His three daughters Rosebud (Aida Turturro), Constance (Mary-Louise Parker), and Baby (Mandy Moore) are all siding with their mother as they refuse to help him or give him any good food. With no support in his own home, he confides in his buddy Angelo (Steve Buscemi) about his affairs as he reveals his attraction toward the red-headed, Scottish woman known as Tula. Kitty meanwhile, turns to her friend Gracie (Barbara Sukowa) as her son Fryburg (Bobby Cannavale) is already dating Baby as Kitty's daughters are part of his band. After some guidance from Father Gene Vincent (Eddie Izzard), Kitty calls her cousin Bo (Christopher Walken) for help in trying to find Tula.

Nicky meanwhile, hears about improvements in his sex life with Tula as he goes to a doctor (David Thornton) for help. Yet, his affair with Tula starts to turn sour due to her crazy demands while Kitty is now dealing with the engagement between Fryburg and Baby. With Kitty getting closer to find about Tula with help from Bo, who is still reeling from his own heartbreak with his wife Ro (Cady Huffman). Baby turns to Nicky for advice where it's clear that despite his differences with Kitty, Nicky seems to agree in what Kitty is thinking about the engagement. A health crisis suddenly hits Nicky while Kitty finally finds Tula as Nicky's mother (Elaine Stritch) reveals harsh revelations. Things gets more revealing during a fight with neighbors (Adam LaFarve and Amy Sedaris) that also makes Kitty think about their troubled marriage.

The film can be described as a lot of things. Yet overall, the genre-bending film with romance, comedy, drama, and as a musical reveals something that audiences can relate to in this story of love gone wrong, infidelity, and other family crises. John Turturro creates a film where the musical elements is more about what a character would do if life was a musical. The approach is that the music does come naturally and without the idea where it feels staged or contrived. While the film doesn't have a real plot, the story about this man trying to figure out his role while coming to terms with his infidelity.

The direction is superb in its staging, musical sequences, and locations where a lot of it is shot on location in New Jersey. The first two acts are very strong in this exploration of infidelity and a woman scorned as she tries to figure out who Tula is. Yet, the third act is uneven in its tone as the exuberance of the first two acts goes away. Though there's music is played, it's more intimate yet it does disrupt the entire tone of the film. Despite the flaws the film has, Turturro does create an interesting film that really bends a lot of genres.

Cinematographer Tom Stern, known for his work with Clint Eastwood, does some excellent work with his camera in capturing the daytime look of New Jersey in its exteriors along with some of greyish work in some of the film's urban locations. The interior shots of the Murders' home is wonderfully intimate with low lights while an amazing, fiery sequence with Kate Winslet has Stern's camera capturing the action with great lighting and wide shots. Editor Ray Hubley does some excellent work with the film's cutting to capture the rhythm of some of the film's exuberance musical sequences that is wonderfully energetic. Though the third act does have pacing issues near the end, Hubley's work is still excellent in capturing the emotion of that act.

Production/costume designer Donna Zakowska along with set decorator Elaine O'Donnell and art director Mario Ventenilla do great work in the look of the glam-like look of the hotel suite for a memorable dance sequence along with the look of New Jersey in all of its dirty yet blue-collar look. Zakowska also creating great costumes for the Murder daughters while the costumes that Kate Winslet wears including a read leathery dress is hot to complement her character. Sound designer Tod A. Maitland and editor Eliza Paley do great work with the location sounds and mixing for some of the musical sequences and such. Choreographer Tricia Brouk does great work for many of the film's choreography in the dance sequences that are theatrical as well as natural while Margie Gillis does an amazing dance sequence for a scene with Christopher Walken and Cady Huffman to the tune of Tom Jones' Delilah.

The music supervised by Chris Robertson is filled with songs by Tom Jones, Engelbert Humperdinck, Bruce Springsteen, and others ranging from 1950s doo-wop music and 60s pop with the actors singing along to various songs as if people do that in real life. With three versions of Piece Of My Heart by Dusty Springfield, Janis Joplin, and Erma Franklin with Susan Sarandon singing along to one of them. The soundtrack includes Mandy Moore singing I Want Candy with other dance sequences to the music of Buena Vista Social Club for the fiery dance scene with Kate Winslet and another Winslet dance number to the tune of Vicky Carr's It Must Be Him. Other music by James Brown, Connie Francis, and Ute Lemper round out the soundtrack while James Gandolfini and Susan Sarandon do a quiet yet wonderful duet of The Girl I Marry.

The casting by Todd Thaler is excellent with John Turturro and real-life wife Katherine Borowitz serving their roles as dancers in one of the film's sequences. John's son Diego makes an appearance as a boy on a tricycle along with Diego's older brother Amedeo as a friend of Fryburg and John's mother Katherine as a choir singer. Yianni Digaletos plays a Greek lover of Bo's wife while Tonya Pinkins as a medic and P.J. Brown as a police officer each have a memorable moment as they also get a chance to sing. Tony Goldwyn makes an appearance as an old lover of Kitty. Kumar Pallana, known for his work with Wes Anderson, is great in a memorable appearance as a flower-card shop owner. Broadway star Cady Huffman is excellent as Bo's cheating wife while Adam LaFarve is good as a loudmouth neighbor. Amy Sedaris is funny as a loudmouth neighbor who likes to badmouth the Murder family. David Thornton is also good in his small role as a doctor Elaine Stritch is very good and funny as Nicky's mother who reveals some shocking stories.

British comedian Eddie Izzard is good as a preacher who brings guidance to Kitty in a wonderful musical sequence to Piece Of My Heart while Barbara Sukowa is funny as Fryburg's mother Gracie who pines for the first love of her life that she hopes return. Steve Buscemi is funny as Nicky's friend Angelo who brings some strange advice while giving his view on infidelity. Bobby Cannavale is great as Fryburg, a guy with a Teddy Bear hairdo who is filled with lots of charms and insults as he's a guy who isn't very smart but loveable. THE GREAT Christopher Walken is amazing as Bo, an oddball cousin who reveals the flaw of men while dealing with his own heartbreak as he helps out his cousin. Walken has scenes where it's clear, he's a natural to the musical sequences as he's having fun and just stealing some moments when he's dancing and singing along to Tom Jones' Delilah.

Aida Turturro, Mary-Louise Parker, and Mandy Moore are great as the three daughters who revolt against their father. Turturro gets to be the more talkative of the trio with Parker being the quiet yet more musical trio of the daughter. Moore gets more to do as her character deals with the idea of marriage while proving she can sing rock. Susan Sarandon is great as Kitty, the scorned woman trying to find the mistress while pondering on why she fell in love with Nicky. Kate Winslet is brilliant as Tula, the fiery Scottish woman that is very sexy and a presence that is dynamic. Sporting a Scottish brogue, Winslet's performance is truly sensational as she just commands every scene she's in along with her dance sequence making her completely bonafide. James Gandolfini is excellent as Nicky Murder, a man trying to ponder his role while seeing whether he should go to his mistress or try to get forgiveness from his wife. It's a performance from Gandolfini that isn't seen much yet proves that he's a solid actor outside of his work from The Sopranos.

While it's not a great film, Romance & Cigarettes is still a very good film that has a lot of redeeming qualities and musical numbers under the vision of John Turturro. Thanks to a great cast and amazing musical numbers, it's a film that is entertaining despite its flaws. This film had the unfortunate of going through distributions problems when in 2006, United Artists and MGM was bought by Sony which led to a legal mess forcing Turturro to distribute the film himself to a small audience. This is a film that should be seen for anyone that likes musicals or romantic comedies as in the end, Romance & Cigarettes is a film that's worth your time in its entertainment factor thanks to the vision of John Turturro.

(C) thevoid99 2011