First Man

Based on the biography First Man: The Life of Neil A. Armstrong by James R. Hansen, First Man is about the life of astronaut Neil Armstrong from his early days as a pilot to being the first man to walk on the moon as he deals with challenges in his professional and personal life. Directed by Damien Chazelle and screenplay by Josh Singer, the film is an unconventional bio-pic of the famed astronaut who deals with the dangers of his job as well as the events in his personal life as he is played by Ryan Gosling. Also starring Claire Foy, Corey Stoll, Jason Clarke, Ciaran Hinds, Patrick Fugit, Christopher Abbott, Lukas Haas, and Kyle Chandler. First Man is an enthralling and evocative film from Damien Chazelle.

July 20, 1969 was a momentous moment in the history of civilization when Neil Armstrong was the first man to walk on the moon as it was the culmination of a decade long journey during the space race between the U.S. and Soviet Union to reach the impossible. For all of the fame that Armstrong would receive for this accomplishment lies a man who endured professional and personal challenges including moments of tragedy as he would withdraw from fame and even in his own family to focus on what he must do as an astronaut. Josh Singer’s screenplay focuses on Armstrong’s life as a test pilot in 1961 to the moment he returns home from the moon which would also include his first marriage to Janet Shearon (Claire Foy) as well as life with their children including the death of his daughter Karen at age 2 as she had been diagnosed with a malignant tumor and died of complications related to pneumonia.

The script would have Armstrong not just deal with the job in hand as he and other astronauts try to figure out what to do and also what not to do. Even as Armstrong would deal with a couple of tragedies while he would also have a near-death experience during the Gemini 8 mission with David Scott (Christopher Abbott) where the capsule docking with the Agena Target Vehicle as part of a docking experiment had the capsule separated and rolled around orbit. Yet, more problems including the Apollo 1 testing session that lead to the death of Virgil “Gus” Grissom (Shea Whigham), Ed White (Jason Clarke), and Roger Chaffee (Cory Michael Smith) forces Armstrong to make sure nothing else goes wrong as he would eventually be selected to command the Apollo 11 mission with Buzz Aldrin (Corey Stoll) and Michael Collins (Lukas Haas).

Damien Chazelle’s direction is definitely intense not just for the idea of what it’s like being in a jet plane or in a space capsule but also the sense of fear of what to do in case something bad happens. Shot largely in locations near Atlanta including studios in Atlanta along with additional locations in Los Angeles, the film does play into a moment in time where so much is happening while there is an air of innocence into the Armstrong home life. Even as they would have other astronauts as neighbors and their kids playing with each other as Chazelle aimed for a natural look into these scenes as it would also play into the sense of loss that the Armstrong family would endure as well as the chaos that would happen during the course of Armstrong’s time as an astronaut including tragedy that affected this small community of people. Chazelle would use some wide shots for these scenes as well as a maintain a looseness into the camera by shooting with a hand-held camera for close-ups and medium shots to get an intimacy as well as some of the dramatic tension that occurs between the Armstrongs.

For the scenes inside the capsules, there is this claustrophobic element where Chazelle doesn’t just give the audience an idea of what it is like inside a space capsule, a test-jet plane, and other test modules as well as the lunar module. The usage of shaky camera during a rocket launch or seeing what Armstrong and his crew are seeing from their perspective adds to the sense of fear that these men have to face. Even in the sound where it has this element of something could go wrong add to the atmosphere of what is happening. The sequence set on the moon and its landing with stock footage of people watching the event happening is definitely a majestic moment with its usage of wide shots as a look into what Armstrong might be thinking about on the moon though his face isn’t shown on the helmet as it play into everything he’s endured to reach this monumental feat. Overall, Chazelle crafts a mesmerizing yet astonishing film about the life of Neil Armstrong and his struggles with his job and life at home.

Cinematographer Linus Sandgren does brilliant work with the film’s cinematography with the usage of natural lighting for many of the scenes in the neighborhood including the scenes at night along with some stark yet vibrant lighting for the scenes at the mission control centers in NASA and the low-key lighting for the scenes inside the space capsules and lunar module. Editor Tom Cross does excellent work with the editing as it has some unique rhythmic cuts to play into the drama along with some stylish jump-cut montages for a few recurring flashback scenes from Armstrong’s perspective. Production designer Nathan Crowley, with supervising art director Erik Osusky plus set decorators Randi Hockett and Kathy Lucas, does amazing work with the look of the machines and such for the astronaut training as well as the interior/exterior of the space capsules and how small they as well as the mission control rooms and the homes of the astronauts. Costume designer Mary Zophres does terrific work with the costumes from the clothes that everyone wears on a casual day as well as the astronaut clothes that are worn for the missions.

Special effects supervisor J.D. Schwalm and visual effects supervisor Paul Lambert do incredible work with the special effects with the look of the exteriors of outer space and the moon as well as the usage of practical effects to give the scenes in space an air of realism as it is a highlight of the film. Sound designer/sound editor Ai-Ling Lee and co-sound editor Mildred Iatrou do tremendous work with the film’s sound in creating that sense of atmosphere of what goes on in space where the metal sound like it’s bending or about to break as well as the lack of sound when someone is in outer space or on the moon as it’s a highlight of the film. The film’s music by Justin Hurwitz is superb for its usage of low-key strings, ambient pieces, and usage of the theremin to help maintain an atmosphere that is calm but also disconcerting at times in some of the drama and suspenseful moments in the film. The film’s music soundtrack features an array of music from the 1960s including a few classical and show tune pieces as well as some country and folk music from Gene Autrey, Peter, Paul, & Mary, the Kingston Trio, Samuel Hoffman with Les Baxter, Johnny Ace, the Chantels, and a poetic piece by Gil Scott-Heron who is seen briefly on the film as he is played by Leon Bridges.

The casting by Francine Maisler is marvelous as it feature some notable small roles and appearances from Kris Swanberg as Elliot See’s wife Marilyn, Lucy Stafford as Karen Armstrong, Luke Winters and Gavin Warren in their respective roles as the older and younger version of Rick Armstrong, Conor Blodgett as Mark Armstrong, Ethan Embry as astronaut Pete Conrad, Pablo Schreiber as astronaut Jim Lovell , J.D. Evermore as NASA flight director Christopher C. Kraft Jr., Cory Michael Smith as astronaut Roger Chaffee, and Brian d’Arcy James as test pilot Joseph A. Walker who gets Armstrong on board to NASA. Shea Whigham is terrific as Virgil “Gus” Grissom as one of the original Mercury 7 astronauts who help the new astronauts prepare for what to expect for Gemini and later Apollo. Patrick Fugit is superb as Elliot See as an astronaut in training who befriends Armstrong as he was set to command his own mission only to die tragically during a training mission.

Olivia Hamilton is fantastic as Ed White’s wife Patricia who befriends Janet as they share their stories of fear for their husbands but also what they had to endure at home. Christopher Abbott is excellent as Dave Scott as Armstrong’s co-pilot on Gemini 8 who experiences that near-death experience as he also tries to understand what went wrong. Kyle Chandler is brilliant as NASA chief officer/former astronaut Deke Slayton who makes sure things go smoothly while Ciaran Hinds is amazing as Robert R. Gilruth who is a flight director for NASA who helps oversee the making of the Apollo missions. Jason Clarke is incredible as Ed White as an astronaut who would become the first American to do the spacewalk while trying to understand Armstrong’s distant persona as it relates to loss. Lukas Haas is remarkable as Michael Collins as the capsule module pilot who helps Armstrong and Aldrin reach the moon and ensure their safety.

Corey Stoll is sensational as Buzz Aldrin as the film’s comic relief of sorts as he often says off-color things while being someone who does take his work serious as he would accompany Armstrong on their momentous mission to the moon. Claire Foy is phenomenal as Janet Shearon as Armstrong’s then-wife who deals with loss as well as the sense of fear of what could happen to her husband as she is also someone who doesn’t take shit from anyone as it is a riveting performance from Foy. Finally, there’s Ryan Gosling in a magnificent performance as Neil Armstrong as a test pilot/engineer who is tasked with what has to be done as he deals with the many dangers of his job but is also restrained and distant due to the fact that he’s still reeling from the loss of his daughter and later deal with the loss of colleagues as it’s a performance that is filled with restraint but also with a sense of determination and drive giving Gosling a career-defining performance.

First Man is a tremendous film from Damien Chazelle that features great performances from Ryan Gosling and Claire Foy. Along with its supporting cast, gorgeous visuals, eerie sound design, a soothing yet haunting music score, and a gripping story about what astronauts had to endure and the chaos that goes on behind the scenes. It’s a film that doesn’t play towards the conventions of the bio-pic while also being this study of a man trying not to fail in preparation for his mission to go to the moon while dealing with grief. In the end, First Man is an outstanding film from Damien Chazelle.

Damien Chazelle Films: (Guy and Madeleine on a Park Bench) – Whiplash - La La Land

© thevoid99 2018

Gone Girl

Directed by David Fincher and written by Gillian Flynn that is based on her novel, Gone Girl is the story of a man who becomes part of a media circus as he is a suspect in the disappearance of his wife. The film is an exploration into the world of marriage as well as revelations about that world where a man is being questioned about her whereabouts. Starring Ben Affleck, Rosamund Pike, Carrie Coon, Kim Dickens, Tyler Perry, Patrick Fugit, Emily Ratajkowski, Missi Pyle, Scoot McNairy, and Neil Patrick Harris. Gone Girl is a chilling and evocative film from David Fincher.

It’s the day of the fifth anniversary of a couple when a husband learns his wife has suddenly disappeared as he is later questioned into her whereabouts. That is sort of what the film is about as it’s really more of a study of marriage as it’s being viewed under a microscope by the media, a small community in Missouri, and the authorities. It’s a story that is told from many different perspectives as the life of Nick Dunne (Ben Affleck) starts to unravel due to not just his behavior in having to do with his wife’s disappearance but also about himself. Especially as it relates to the events in how Nick met Amy Elliot (Rosamund Pike) where they fell in love and got married until their marriage unraveled due to financial issues as well as the move from New York City to a small town in Missouri so that Nick could take care of his ailing mother. Once things about Nick’s life begins to emerge in the wake of the search for Amy, a media circus would come in to pick apart every piece of his life.

Gillian Flynn’s screenplay isn’t just this very intriguing study of marriage but also into a world where it plays into the ways a marriage can disintegrate as it’s told from not just Nick’s perspective but also through Amy from her own diary. While much of the mystery and speculation covers much of the film’s first act and parts of second act where it plays into any kind of suspicion of whether Nick had something to do with Amy’s disappearance. Especially as Nick is known to be frustrated with the marriage as it was later revealed that he was having an affair with a college student (Emily Ratajkowski) which only made him look worse in front of the media and the authorities led by Detective Rhonda Boney (Kim Dickens) and her partner Officer Jim Gilpin (Patrick Fugit). With only his twin sister Margo (Carrie Coon) on his side where they get the services of notorious defense attorney Tanner Bolt (Tyler Perry).

Much of the story’s approach to knowing what is going on showcases a world where many questions come into play about not just if Nick really did anything to Amy but also what might have drove Amy to antagonize Nick. While the script does manage to make the film be about Nick and Amy, the supporting characters in Boney, Margo, and Bolt are very compelling as Boney is just someone who is an authority figure that wants to give Nick a fair chance while Bolt is a complex individual who may be involved in Nick’s case for publicity but knows how to help him amidst the storm of controversy from the media. Then there’s Margo as she is the film’s conscience as she is someone who admittedly never liked Amy as she also scolds Nick for his affair yet is willing to defend him despite all of the shit they would go through. Adding to the genius of the film’s script is its dialogue where a lot of it has a sense of rhythm where it can play into many clues but also has some moments that are very funny which gives the film a sense of black comedy to something that is already dark.

David Fincher’s direction is truly intoxicating in the way he can create something set in a mundane small town in Missouri yet make it feel like it’s a world where there is a lot to be said. Not just in some of the compositions he creates but also in its mood where it starts off like any typical day where Nick takes out the garbage in suburbia and then drives to a bar to chat with his sister on the day of his fifth wedding anniversary. Then the film takes on a very dark mood while it gets inter-cut with these flashbacks of how Nick and Amy met where the latter is the daughter of a couple of authors who has created a series of children’s books based on Amy. Much of these flashbacks in New York City showcased a time where they were happy and quite playful but once the money starts to go away and they were forced to move to Missouri where Nick could be close to his family. Things do get dark as much of Fincher’s approach to drama does become intensified with his approach to intimate compositions and framing devices.

Once the film progresses into the second and third act, there is an element of satire in the way Fincher explores the world of the media as it showcases his offbeat approach to dark humor. Notably as such media figures like Ellen Abbott (Missi Pyle) is played for laughs as someone who has this belief that she is a crusader and is willing to smear Nick’s name without any real evidence. There’s also moments where Fincher manages to use the humor as it plays into how Nick had to present himself to the media. Still, there are elements where it is very dark as it relates to Amy’s disappearance as well as contents in her diary as it raises questions into her own past.

Especially with a former boyfriend named Desi Collings (Neil Patrick Harris) whom Amy had filed a restraining order against as he had been stalking her. It adds to the many ambiguities about the truth where it becomes more complicated as the film progresses towards its finale where it returns to that exploration into marriage. A marriage that raised many questions into why Nick and Amy even got married in the first place as the question about marriage starts to come into play. Overall, Fincher creates a very brooding yet intoxicating film about a man dealing with the disappearance of his wife.

Cinematographer Jeff Cronenweth does brilliant work with the film‘s cinematography with its unique approach to lighting as well as creating something that feels a bit discolored in its look for many of the film‘s locations as well as the way lights are presented in certain scenes as well as the TV footage. Editor Kirk Baxter does amazing work with the editing with its approach to jump-cuts and montages that plays off into the rhythms of suspense as well as some dramatic montages and some of the film‘s funnier moments. Production designer Donald Graham Burt, with supervising art director Sue Chan and set decorators Douglas A. Mowat and Gena Vasquez, does fantastic work with the look of the suburban home that Nick and Amy lives as well as the chaotic look of his father‘s home as well as the home of Margo.

Costume designer Trish Summerville does nice work with the costumes from the stylish underwear that Amy wears as well as the suits that Nick would wear in his interviews as much of it is casual in playing to the other characters. Sound designer Ren Klyce does excellent work with the sound to create some effective sound work to play into the air of suspense as well as scenes where dialogue is inaudible as well as in some of the bits of music on location that is played. The film’s music by Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross is incredible as it’s one of the film’s highlights as it’s approach to dark ambient music with dissonant guitars and electronics add to some of its melancholic tone along with some somber pieces driven by piano and ambient textures as it’s one of their best film scores.

The casting by Laray Mayfield is great as it features some notable small performances from Kathleen Rose Perkins as a search volunteer who takes a selfie with Nick, Boyd Holbrook and Lola Kirke as a young couple Amy meets in her days away from New York City, Cyd Strittmatter as Nick and Margo’s ailing mother, Leonard Kelly-Young as Nick and Margo’s elderly father, David Clennon and Lisa Banes as Amy’s parents who take the lead to find Amy as they would confront Nick about the marriage, Sela Ward as the TV host Sharon Scheiber who interviews Nick in his attempt to prove his innocence, Emily Ratajkowski as the young college student in whom Nick had an affair with, and Scoot McNairy as a former boyfriend of Amy’s whom Nick meets where they share some surprising revelations.

Missi Pyle is very funny as the sleazy TV host Ellen Abbott who tries to discredit Nick’s name and devolve herself into tabloid TV while Casey Wilson is wonderful as Nick and Amy’s dim-witted neighbor Noelle who claims to be Amy’s friend as she would provide a key aspect to the investigation. Patrick Fugit is excellent as Officer Jim Gilpin who assists Boney in the investigation as he gets to say some funny lines throughout the film as he’s suspicious of Nick. Kim Dickens is fantastic as Detective Rhonda Boney who leads the investigation as she would uncover some key clues about the case such as credit card bills and Amy’s diary while wondering about Amy and who she is. Neil Patrick Harris is superb as Amy’s former boyfriend Desi Collings whom Nick wanted to talk to as he’s a very strange figure that implies a sense of creepiness about the way he is around Amy which would explain the restraining order.

Tyler Perry is amazing as Tanner Bolt as this defense attorney who is a master in making his clients look good as Perry brings in a lot of charisma and charm as well in how to instruct Nick in doing interviews. Carrie Coon is brilliant as Nick’s twin sister Margo who is the film’s conscious as she tries to prove Nick’s innocence despite some of his flaws while she is also a target of the media where she is accused of having an incestuous relationship with her brother among other many lies. Ben Affleck is phenomenal as Nick Dunne as a writer turned community college professor who deals with the accusations of his wife’s appearance as well as realizing in how much of a fuck-up he is in his marriage as it’s a role where Affleck plays the cuckold as well as someone who can look good for the camera. Finally, there’s Rosamund Pike in an outstanding performance as Amy Elliott as this woman who had everything until financial difficulties has her becoming troubled in her marriage as it’s a role full of complexities and many layers that are just astonishing to watch as it’s a real break-out role for the actress.

Gone Girl is a tremendously dark yet powerful film from David Fincher that features amazing performances from Ben Affleck and Rosamund Pike. Along with a strong supporting cast that includes Tyler Perry, Carrie Coon, and Kim Dickens plus some great technical work and an incredible score from Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross. The film is definitely a suspense-drama that is full of intricate layers and compelling themes on marriage thanks in part to its writer Gillian Flynn. In the end, Gone Girl is a magnificent film from David Fincher.

David Fincher Films: Alien 3 - Se7en - The Game - Fight Club - Panic Room - Zodiac - The Curious Case of Benjamin Button - The Social Network - The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo (2011 film)

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

© thevoid99 2014

We Bought a Zoo

Based on the memoir by Benjamin Mee, We Bought a Zoo is the story about a widower and his two children starting over as the man buys a zoo in the hopes to revive it as well as do something that matters again. Directed by Cameron Crowe and screenplay by Crowe and Aline Brosh McKenna, the film is an exploration into how Mee did something impulsive while growing to care for his new world with his children. Starring Matt Damon, Scarlett Johansson, Thomas Haden Church, Elle Fanning, Patrick Fugit, Colin Ford, Maggie Elizabeth Jones, Angus Macfadyen, Carla Gallo, and John Michael Higgins. We Bought a Zoo is a superb yet engaging film from Cameron Crowe.

The film is essentially a dramatization into how Benjamin Mee (Matt Damon) impulsively buys a zoo as a way to start over after the death of his wife six months earlier and as a way to give his two kids a new life. There, he deals with the fact that the zoo needs to be renovated as it’s costing him a lot of money prompting those who work at the zoo to deal that he might leave and everything will be gone. For Mee who is an adventurer, he ponders whether to salvage what he’s lost or to save the zoo that he has bought and has grown to care for. It’s a film that explores a man who is dealing with grief and uncertainty where he does something impulsive in the hopes that it can help his children and also do something new with his life.

The screenplay by Cameron Crowe and Aline Brosh McKenna definitely explores this man’s impulsive decision as life after his wife’s death hasn’t been easy. He quits his job as an adventurous journalist before he’s about to be laid off while his 14-year old son Dylan (Colin Ford) just got expelled as he’s spending lot of his time drawing macabre images. For Benjamin, he has no idea what to do where he goes house-hunting with his 7-year old daughter Rosie (Maggie Elizabeth Jones) where they stumble upon a home with the zoo as it’s backyard. While Rosie is excited about living with a zoo, the moody Dylan isn’t as he becomes more withdrawn.

In buying this zoo, Mee has to deal with the fact that it’s been unused for 2 years as those who are at the zoo are the ones taking care for it as they’re paid by the state. Leading the staff is a young zookeeper named Kelly (Scarlett Johansson) who is baffled into why Mee would buy a zoo with no knowledge of how to run things or to take care of animals. Yet, Mee counts on Kelly and the staff to help him as well as the services of his older brother Duncan who is baffled into why Benjamin would do something like this. Still, there’s lots of trials and tribulations that occur that would push Benjamin to the breaking point as there’s those that doubt him and even Benjamin himself. Yet, it would take something for Benjamin to realize that he can’t give up though it would raise issues if he’s still doing the right thing.

The script does allow Mee to be flawed as even Mee himself knows he could screw things up. Yet, he is also dealing with the fact that his son has been moody where Dylan feels like he can’t do anything right as he is also trying to deal with the affections of Kelly’s cousin Lily (Elle Fanning). The script does allow Crowe and McKenna to explore the dynamics of family as well as the loss that Benjamin and Dylan are still dealing with. Notably as it relates to Benjamin’s concern for a Bengal tiger named Spar who is ailing where Kelly tells Benjamin that he has to do something or else things will get worse much to Benjamin’s frustrations.

Crowe’s direction has him trying to find a balance between something that is funny but also heartfelt and dramatic without going overboard. Though not everything is perfect, Crowe does allow the film to be told as it slowly tells Mee’s approach to become part of the world of the zoo where he learns how to talk to animals. The humor that Crowe provides is very light-hearted as it includes some very funny scenes involving the zoo’s carpenter Peter MacCready (Angus Macfadyen) who has a grudge towards strict zoo inspector Walter Ferris (John Michael Higgins). Crowe also keeps a lot of the compositions to be straightforward while employing some exotic imagery that is obviously a nod to the visual style of Terrence Malick.

Crowe also knows how to put his actors in a dramatic situation where he knows when it’s time for the heavy drama. The one aspect of the film that doesn’t work and that is unnecessary are scenes involving Mee seeing images of his late wife. It’s a dramatic crutch that really drags the film a bit as it includes an ending that is overdrawn. It’s Crowe feeling that he needs to establish more of Mee’s grief as a way to explain things when he doesn’t need to. Despite that flaw in the storyline, Crowe is able to keep things engaging as he does end up making a very enjoyable film that explores loss and the chance to start all over again.

Cinematographer Rodrigo Prieto does amazing work with the film‘s very colorful and lush photography for many of the film‘s daytime scenes while using some more low-key colors for the scenes at night and in the rain as well as the scenes inside the bar that the zoo staff hangs out at. Editor Mark Livolsi does terrific work with the editing to play out some of the humor and dramatic moments of the film. Production designer Clay A. Griffith, along with set decorator Wayne Shepherd and supervising art director Peter Borck, does great work with the sets from the look of the animal enclosures for the zoo as well as the look of Mee‘s home and the bar that the zoo staff hang out at.

Costume designer Deborah Lynn Scott does nice work with the costumes as it‘s mostly casual to play up the personalities of the characters. Sound editors Mildred Iatrou Morgan and Ai-Ling Lee do superb work with the sound to create the layer of sound work in some scenes including a key conversation between Mee and Kelly. The film’s music by Jon Thor Birgisson aka Jonsi is fantastic for it’s dreamy yet exotic score led by Birgisson’s vocals and serene musical accompaniment as it also includes a piece from his band Sigur Ros. The film’s soundtrack includes an array of music from Bob Dylan, Cat Stevens, Temple of the Dogs, Neil Young with Crazy Horse, Wilco, Echo and the Bunnymen, solo work from Pearl Jam members Eddie Vedder and Mike McCready, the Isley Brothers, Otis Rush, Bon Iver, and Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers that is just fun to listen to.

The casting by Gail Levin is brilliant for the ensemble that is created for the film as it features some memorable small roles from Kym Whitley as a Home Depot clerk that Benjamin and Rosie meets, Stephanie Szostak as Benjamin’s late wife Katherine, Peter Reigert as Benjamin’s old boss, J.B. Smoove as the real estate agent who sells Mee the house next to the zoo, and Carla Gallo as the zoo’s bookkeeper Rhonda. Patrick Fugit is very good as zoo’s craftsman Robin who helps Mee talk to animals as he has a pet monkey named Crystal. John Michael Higgins is terrific as the very snide inspector Walter Ferris who is a stickler for making sure things are in order as he annoys everyone. Angus Macfadyen is great as the very brash but helpful carpenter Peter MacCready who has a grudge towards Ferris as he is very loyal to the zoo.

Maggie Elizabeth Jones is a total delight as Rosie as she says some very funny things while being the one person in the film who has together as adores the zoo. Colin Ford is wonderful as the troubled Dylan who has a hard time dealing with his own issues as well as the presence of Lily as he has no idea how to talk to someone like her. Elle Fanning is amazing as Lily as a young farm girl who is intrigued by Dylan while doing whatever to help around the zoo and such. Thomas Haden Church is excellent as Mee’s brother Duncan who is baffled by what his younger brother is doing where he eventually helps out and realizes what can be done.

Scarlett Johansson is marvelous as Kelly as she is a zookeeper who knows what to do while admitting to having a very pathetic social life as she is just making sure things go well as it’s a very different role for Johansson. Notably as she doesn’t play a sexual being in favor of a real young woman as it’s definitely one of her great performances where she also has some superb chemistry with the film’s lead in Matt Damon. Damon’s performance is definitely fantastic for the way he plays up Benjamin Mee’s uncertainty as well as him impulsiveness where Damon gets to be funny but also dramatic as it’s a performance that really shows the kind of range and enthusiasm Damon has in a meaty role like this.

We Bought a Zoo is an excellent and heartwarming from Cameron Crowe. Featuring a wonderful ensemble cast led by Matt Damon and Scarlett Johansson, the film is definitely a film that the family could enjoy while not taking itself too seriously. While it does have its flaws, it is still a film that is compelling for the way it explores impulsive decisions and taking on something adventurous. In the end, We Bought a Zoo is a remarkable film from Cameron Crowe.

Cameron Crowe Films: (Say Anything) - (Singles) - (Jerry Maguire) - Almost Famous - (Vanilla Sky) - (Elizabethtown) - The Union - Pearl Jam 20 - Aloha

© thevoid99 2013

Almost Famous

Written and directed by Cameron Crowe, Almost Famous is the story of a teenage rock journalist who gets a chance to write a story for Rolling Stone magazine to cover an up-and-coming rock band on tour.  The film is based largely on Crowe’s experience as a rock journalist in the 1970s as it also explores the music scene of the time.  Starring Patrick Fugit, Billy Crudup, Frances McDormand, Kate Hudson, Jason Lee, Anna Paquin, Zooey Deschanel, Noah Taylor, Jimmy Fallon, Fairuza Balk, and Philip Seymour Hoffman as Lester Bangs.  Almost Famous is an enriching yet outstanding film from Cameron Crowe.

William Miller (Patrick Fugit) is a 16-year old aspiring rock journalist, who lives with his college professor mother Elaine (Frances McDormand), as his fascination with rock music has caught the attention of notorious music critic Lester Bangs.  Bangs gives William an assignment to do a concert review for Black Sabbath as William tries to get backstage where meets a few young ladies who refer to themselves as Band-Aids led by the exotic Penny Lane (Kate Hudson) and a band called Stillwater who let him go backstage.  Intrigued by the band including its guitarist Russell Hammond (Billy Crudup), William later joins Penny to meet them at Continental Hyatt House as her companion in order to see Russell.  After getting a call from Rolling Stone editor Ben Fong-Torres (Terry Chen), William gets a chance to go on the road to cover Stillwater.

Though his mother isn’t keen on the idea, she lets William go on the road as he joins Stillwater and the Band-Aids on tour.  William notices the band trying to make it despite some set-backs and tension between Russell and vocalist Jeff Bebe (Jason Lee) who is paranoid about having William around.  With William’s period on the road being much longer than he had anticipated, he gets a call from Fong-Torres about extending the piece into a cover story.  When Stillwater’s record label brings in Dennis Hope (Jimmy Fallon) to co-manage the band with Dick Roswell (Noah Taylor), Dick and Russell decide to sell the Band-Aids to the band Humble Pie that leaves Penny devastated.

After arriving to New York City, William tells the band about their chance to be on the cover of Rolling Stone as he becomes concerned about Penny who also comes to the city.  After some turbulent moments, William gets some advice from Bangs about what to write as he would reveal everything he had saw about the band he‘s adored for so long.

The film is a semi-autobiographical story of Cameron Crowe’s life as a teenage rock journalist where he covered the music scene of the 1970s during his time with Rolling Stone magazine.  There, he allows the character of William Miller to go through a lot of the things Crowe had experienced such as groupies, rock n’ roll excess, tension, and all of things that went on during a crazy era in rock n’ roll.  Meanwhile, the young William Miller would meet a few people that would intrigue such as an exotic groupie named Penny Lane and a brilliant guitarist whose talents starts to overshadow the rest of his band mates.

Crowe’s screenplay starts off with a prologue of how a young William (Michael Angarano) was introduced to the world of rock n’ roll by his older sister Anita (Zooey Deschanel) who despises her mother’s New Age ideas and flees to become a stewardess.  It then leads into this main narrative of William trying to become a rock journalist at the age of 16 though his mother hopes that he becomes a lawyer.  His love of rock would get him to meet the notorious Lester Bangs who would offer him advice about what not to do in the world of rock journalism such as be friends with the rock star.

During William’s journey, he would unfortunately become friends with Stillwater though the band is wary of him because he represents the enemy they don’t want to play for.  Yet, William is the one who could make them really famous as they’re a band on the rise only to deal with all sorts of tension that is sparked by a t-shirt at one point.  All of this is told from this young man’s perspective who is watching a band he loves just trying to get everything together as he’s intrigued by their guitarist who is aware of the role he’s playing as well as the fact that he’s beyond them musically.

Then there’s Penny Lane, this groupie who is in love with Russell Hammond but also someone who really loves the music.  With the group of girls she’s a part of, she’s in it to have a good time and enjoy the music.  Unfortunately, she knows that Russell is married and a decision that Russell would make in the film’s second half would have a great impact on her forcing William to come to her aid.  It would be a moment where William realizes what he has to do not just as a fan but also as a journalist as he’s set to write a piece that would legitimize him as a true rock journalist.

Crowe’s direction is quite straightforward in terms of compositions but the way he recreates the late 1960s and early 1970s is still magical for the air of nostalgia and authenticity that is presented.  Notably as the film features a lot of references to rock lore such as the Continental Hyatt which was famously known as the Riot House.  Crowe always know how to frame his actors and capture the excitement of what it’s like to be at a rock concert or be in the middle of a discussion as he’s shooting a lot of from William’s perspective.  Notably as Crowe creates shots to reveals William’s on-going struggle to get a story and interview Russell.

One of the key aspects of Crowe’s direction is the way he balances humor and drama where he adds a lot of subtlety to the former.  Notably as he plays to the misadventures that goes on when a band is on the road such as a comical moment when the bus decides to leave Jeff behind.  Since this is a film that is about music in some ways, Crowe also knows how to use music to elevate a scene such as the famous Tiny Dancer sequence where the band sing Elton John’s song following a very crazy moment that had Russell partying with people while tripping on drugs.  It’s one of Crowe’s great moments as the overall work he does with the film is outstanding as he creates what is a truly engrossing coming-of-age tale about a teen and his love for rock n’ roll.

Cinematographer John Toll does brilliant work with the film‘s lush and colorful cinematography to capture the beauty of the various locations inside along with more layered coloring for the interiors as Toll‘s work is a technical highlight.  Editors Joe Husting and Saar Klein do fantastic work with the editing to play out the energy of the concert performances as well as other montages such as the band partying with the Band-Aids.  Art directors Clay A. Griffin, Clayton Hartley, and Virginia L. Randolph, along with set decorator Robert Greenfield, do excellent work in re-creating the look of William‘s home as well as other props to create the feel of the early 1970s.

Costume designer Betsy Heimman does wonderful work with the costumes such as the bellbottoms and clothes the men wear to more lavish clothing the Band-Aids wear.  Sound editor Michael D. Wilhoit does superb work with the sound to capture the atmosphere of the live concerts as well as the intimacy that goes in the bus and backstage meetings.  The film’s score by Nancy Wilson is terrific for its low-key, folk-driven sound to maintain a sense of ambience for some of the film‘s quieter moments. 

Music supervisor Danny Bramson creates an incredible soundtrack that features an array of different music from the late 60s and early 70s from acts like Led Zeppelin, Stevie Wonder, Black Sabbath, the Raspberries, Simon & Garfunkel, Yes, the Beach Boys, Elton John, Cat Stevens, David Bowie, and many others.  The original music for the band Stillwater is provided by Nancy Wilson and Peter Frampton, with contributions from Pearl Jam’s Mike McCready, as it is true rock n‘ roll at its finest.

The casting by Gail Levin is phenomenal for the ensemble that is created as it features some memorable small roles from Bijou Phillips as Band-Aid Estrella Star, Rainn Wilson as Rolling Stone co-editor David Felton, Liz Stauber as Russell’s wife Leslie, Jay Baruchel as an obsessed Zeppelin fan, Peter Frampton as Humble Pie’s road manager Reg, Terry Chen as Rolling Stone editor Ben Fong-Torres, Anna Paquin as Band-Aid Polexia Aprhodisia, Fairuza Balk as Band-Aid Sapphire, Mark Kozelek as Stillwater bassist Larry Fellows, and John Fedevich as Stillwater’s quiet drummer Ed Vallencourt.  Other notable supporting roles including Michael Angarano as the young William, Zooey Deschanel as William’s older sister Anita, Jimmy Fallon as the band’s more professional manager Dennis Hope, and Noah Taylor as the Stillwater’s more raucous manager Dick Roswell.

Jason Lee is excellent as Stillwater vocalist Jeff Bebe who tries to deal with the growing attention towards Russell as well as the presence of William.  Philip Seymour Hoffman is brilliant as legendary music critic Lester Bangs who guides William on what to do when going on tour and how to be a true rock journalist.  Kate Hudson is great as the exotic Penny Lane who is so full of life as Hudson brings a lot of energy and charisma to a very eccentric yet loveable character.  Billy Crudup is wonderful as the very talented Russell Hammond who tries to deal with the fact that he’s the most mature member of Stillwater as he finds someone like William whom he can talk to. 

Frances McDormand is superb as Williams’ mother Elaine who worries about her son possibly doing drugs while hoping that he becomes responsible.  Finally, there’s Patrick Fugit in a remarkable performance as William Miller as this young rock fan who goes on the ride of his life as he becomes friends with the rock stars and hang out with groupies as it’s a real breakthrough for Fugit.

Almost Famous is an outstanding film from Cameron Crowe.  Featuring a fantastic soundtrack and a top-notch ensemble cast, it’s definitely a film that is very lively and captures the essence of rock n’ roll.  Not only is it one of the best films about music and a place in time but also a very compelling coming-of-age film told from a young fan who loves music.  In the end, Almost Famous is an extraordinary film from Cameron Crowe.

Cameron Crowe Films:  (Say Anything…) - (Singles) - (Jerry Maguire) - (Vanilla Sky) - (Elizabethtown) - The Union - Pearl Jam 20 - We Bought a Zoo - Aloha

© thevoid99 2012

Saved!

Originally Written and Posted at Epinions.com on 6/27/04 w/ Additional Edits & Revisions.

Saved! is a teen comedy set in a modern-day American Christian high school about a young woman named Mary whose life has always been influenced by Jesus and Christianity. Then when she learns her boyfriend is gay and tries to save him by having sex with him, she ends up being pregnant and alienated by her peers including zealot Hilary Faye where Mary is forced to join the school’s outcasts. Directed by Brian Dannelly from a script he co-wrote with Michael Urban, Saved! is a part satire, part teen-comedy that isn’t attacking Christianity but rather study the narrow-minded attitude of some its people including preachers and followers. Starring Jena Malone, Mandy Moore, Macaulay Culkin, Patrick Fugit, Eva Amurri, Heather Matarazzo, Mary-Louise Parker, and Martin Donovan, Saved! is one of the year’s smartest comedies.

The young life of Mary (Jena Malone) has always been driven by her devotion to Jesus Christ and the Christian faith as she lives with her mother Lillian (Mary-Louise Parker). Mary's seemingly perfect life is suddenly shattered when her boyfriend Dean (Chad Faust) reveals to her that he might be gay. After seeing a vision of Jesus Christ, Mary believes that it's her mission to save Dean as she takes the advice of her friend Hilary Faye (Mandy Moore). Mary decides to lose her virginity to Dean as a sacrificial act but Dean is sent to a clinic over his homosexuality making Mary feel upset as she's set to return to American Eagle Christian School for her senior year.

With Hilary and Hilary's cynical, wheelchair-bound brother Roland (Macaulay Culkin) returning as well, Mary notices that also returning is the Jewish bad girl Cassandra (Eva Amurri) and a new student in Patrick, who is the son of their principal Pastor Skip (Martin Donovan). During an assembly with Veronica (Elizabeth Thai) as Hilary and Mary are part of the elite Christian Jewels group, Cassandra causes trouble as Roland is impressed by Cassandra. Mary later learns that she's pregnant as she learns that Hilary is holding an intervention about Dean leading to an argument between the two as Mary is kicked out of the Christian Jewels as she's replaced by Tia (Heather Matarazzo). Feeling like an outcast, Mary becomes friends with Cassandra as she and Roland help Mary out as she starts to have feelings towards Patrick. Mary's time with Roland and Cassandra helps her deal with her issues while her mother starts to date Pastor Skip.

Cassandra decides to battle it out with Hilary over her hypocritical stance as Mary and Roland help Cassandra out with this new war. Hilary starts to fire back where Mary's secret is revealed as it leads to problems between Lillian and Pastor Skip. For Roland, the battle isn't over as he decides to help Mary and Cassandra go on a final battle at prom against Hilary with some unexpected help.

While the film has a nice balance of drama and comedy along with satire throughout the film, Brian Dannelly makes sure the film isn’t trying to be offensive but more of something everyone to enjoy. Throughout the film, the movie has some hilarious comedic sequences including a scene involving a TV-movie starring Valerie Bertinelli that leads to Mary wanting to have cancer instead of being pregnant. The comedic aspects are very silly in a fun way while the dramatic aspects is pretty restrained to encompass on the film’s entertaining presentation. The only major flaw with the film is the ending, mostly because its too nice and doesn’t leave much for anything realistic where you want to know what happens to many of the characters at the end.

While the film’s screenplay and directing works for the most part, the film’s look from cinematographer Bobby Bukowski is very colorful and exquisite in the outside scenes while looking very realistic in the interior school and mall scenes with a lot of credit due to production designer Tony Devenyi and art director Kristina Lyne. The film’s look is perfect for this comedy along with the look of the school uniforms where it plays well to its individual players from its costume designer Wendy Chuck. Even the film’s music is very light-hearted and catchy, even playing to some cheesiness in the Christian music with very funny lyrics from music composer Christophe Beck along with contributions of music from the Replacements in the prom scene and Mandy Moore doing a fine duet of the Beach Boys’ God Only Knows with the film’s producer and R.E.M. singer Michael Stipe.

The film has a very fine cast with some small but stellar performances from Heather Matarazzo as Faye’s suck-up friend Tia, who is funny while Elizabeth Thai is excellent as Faye’s partner-in-crime. Martin Donovan gives a fine performance as Pastor Skip who brings a very hilarious, cool approach to preaching with lines like “Who’s down with the G-O-D” while brings his masterful dramatic performances in his scenes as a father and with Mary-Louise Parker. Parker also shines as Mary’s mother in her moments of infatuation with Skip but does better in her scenes with Jena Malone as a mother who doesn’t know until the end where she really brings her mastery of drama. Chad Faust is also fine in his small role as Mary’s gay boyfriend Dean while Patrick Fugit unfortunately, doesn’t do much in his role as Mary’s love interest. Fugit does a nice job with his role but isn’t given much to as far as development is concerned and there is confusion sometimes when he’s with Hilary Faye and we don’t really know why other than the fact that he likes Mary.

Mandy Moore is a total riot throughout the entire film with her over-the-top performance with lines of “I am filled with Christ love” and her Jesus speeches in which they’re so funny. Throughout the film, Moore just comes off as this misguided girl who really begins to alienate everyone but by the film’s end, she tries to become some martyr in which, doesn’t really work and her character in the end, doesn’t get any resolve. Of the supporting cast, Eva Amurri delivers a breakthrough performance as the bad-girl Cassandra. Bringing a flat-out, edgy comedic performance, Amurri brings an energy and likeability to her character that just wants to be herself and not be tagged into any category. The daughter of actress Susan Sarandon, Amurri has now officially arrived. Macaulay Culkin is also spellbinding as the cynical yet charming Roland with his witty commentary on Hilary Faye’s mission to save people. Culkin brings a smile to everyone with his intellectual view on faith while just wanting to have fun while in scenes with Amurri, the two shines with great chemistry as Culkin is finally on his way out of child stardom hell.

The film’s best performance easily goes to Jena Malone in her sympathetic portrayal as the anguished and disillusioned Mary. Malone brings her character some flaws from a girl who is just misguided to someone who grows up and learns that you don’t really need to be restricted by all of these guidelines in how to live her life. Malone has proven herself to being one of the best young actresses of her generation where she proved she can do love scenes with Fugit.  Notably as she can light up in scenes with Culkin and Amurri as it's one of her best performances of her career.

While it’s not the funniest film of the year, Saved! is still a smart comedy from Brian Dannelly with great performances from Jena Malone, Macaulay Culkin, Eva Amurri, and Mandy Moore. The film isn’t very offensive but rather give light that God can be misunderstood at times through people who can take him very seriously. There’s nothing wrong with faith or anything, it’s just that people needs to find a balance. Saved! is smart in making a comedy that is entertaining and enlightening without trying to be too subversive or overtly preachy.

(C) thevoid99 2011