The Front Runner

 

Based on the book All the Truth Is Out: The Week Politics Went Tabloid by Matt Bai, The Front Runner is about the real-life rise and fall of American presidential candidate Gary Hart from his rise as a Senator running for the presidency to his fall when reports of an extramarital affair emerged. Directed by Jason Reitman and screenplay by Reitman, Bai, and Jay Carson, the film is a look into a man’s rise-and-fall as someone who seemed like he was full of promise only for a trip on a boat at a party where everything goes wrong as Hugh Jackman plays the role of Gary Hart. Also starring Vera Farmiga, Kaitlyn Dever, Alfred Molina, and J.K. Simmons. The Front Runner is a compelling though undercooked film by Jason Reitman.

The 1988 U.S. Presidential election that lead to the victory of then-vice president George H.W. Bush over the Democratic nominee Michael Dukakis yet the person who was the front runner in the primaries was Gary Hart as the film chronicles three weeks in the life of Hart in early 1987 during his campaign and how it all fell apart over news of an extramarital affair. The film’s screenplay opens with Hart’s loss at the 1984 primaries to Walter Mondale as the senator from Colorado would try again in 1988 on a campaign of ideas as he would intrigue a lot of voters who see him as a fresh face. Yet, one lousy decision to attend a party at a yacht would undo everything for Hart as it relates to questions of immorality. The film’s screenplay is straightforward yet it never goes further in its exploration of immorality as it relates to the people not doing enough to get Hart to open up as well as the world of journalism as they realize what must be done to sell newspaper. Though some of the characters such as the famed Washington Post editor-in-chief Ben Bradlee (Alfred Molina) reveal what has to be done yet he is aware that this is a part of an evolution in journalism whether he likes it or not.

Jason Reitman’s direction is largely straightforward in his compositions though the film opens with a long tracking shot on coverage of the 1984 Democratic primaries and Walter Mondale’s victory as people working for Hart are trying to figure out what to do next. Shot largely on location in the state of Georgia with some of it shot in Atlanta and Savannah with additional locations in Colorado, Miami, and New York City, Reitman creates a film set in a time where everyone was eager for change and Hart as this idealist might be their man. Reitman does create some unique wide and medium shots to get a look of what Hart is trying to do in order to reach voters but also to get a scope at the large ensemble that includes his campaign team lead by campaign manager Bill Dixon (J.K. Simmons). The scene at the boat where Hart would meet Donna Rice (Sara Paxton) is more about the party as Reitman doesn’t show Rice’s face until later in the film’s second half as there aren’t a lot of close-ups on her as she is presented as a woman who put herself in a bad situation unaware that things are going to get worse.

Since this is a film about scandal and how it destroys a man’s ambitions, Reitman and his co-writers don’t exactly go all the way into not just exploring the immorality of Hart’s actions but also into some of the seedier details into his affair with Rice. The lack of intrigue as it focuses on journalists printing the story as well as the moral implications that lead the way to tabloid news of sorts does bring the film down a bit as well as provide some scenes where the pacing suffers. Even in the third act with people in Hart’s campaign wanting him to confess his actions though Hart claims that his private life is no one’s business. The film’s climax does have suspense into what journalists ask him as one of them in AJ Parker (Mamoudou Athie) asks him about his morals as he had asked him weeks earlier during an interview that didn’t put Hart in a good light. Overall, Reitman crafts a fascinating but messy film about the rise and fall of American politician Gary Hart during his presidential campaign.

Cinematographer Eric Steelberg does brilliant work with the film’s cinematography in maintaining a low-key mood for some of the interior scenes as well as emphasize on autumn-like colors for some of the daytime exterior scenes. Editor Stefan Grube does excellent work with the editing in creating some straightforward cuts to play into the drama and some of the dramatic suspense. Production designer Steve Saklad, with set decorator Melinda Sanders and art director Cameron Beasley, does brilliant work with the look of Hart’s campaign headquarters and his homes as well as the look of the offices for the various newspaper buildings. Costume designer Danny Glicker does fantastic work with the clothes the characters wear including some of the casual 80s look that Rice wears as well as Hart’s family.

Hair stylist Lawrence Davis and makeup artist Wendy Bell do nice work with the look of the characters from the look of Hart as well as some of the 80s hairstyles women had at the time. Special effects supervisor David Fletcher and visual effects supervisor Chris LeDoux do terrific work with some of the film’s visual effects as it relates to journalists being on TV as they’re talking to real-life figures as much of it is set-dressing. Sound editor Perry Robertson do superb work with some of the sound in the way a room full of people sound like as well as the raucous sounds of journalists trying to get answers from Hart. The film’s music by Rob Simonsen is wonderful as it does feature bits of low-key orchestral music to play into the drama with some percussive-based music to play into the political aspects of the film while music supervisor Tricia Halloran feature a soundtrack of the music of the times that is played on location as it includes music by Boston, Henry Mancini, the Dave Brubeck Quartet, Expose`, the Whispers, and Gene Clark plus a couple of classical piano pieces performed by Vera Farmiga.

The casting by John Papsidera is marvelous as it feature some notable small roles from Mike Judge as a reporter for The Miami Herald, Spencer Garrett and Ari Graynor in their respective roles as veteran Washington Post reporters Bob Woodward and Ann Devroy who both give Parker advice on ethics, Chris Coy as Hart’s press secretary Kevin Sweeney, Oliver Cooper as Hart’s deputy political director Joe Trippi who spends time with Hart’s wife and daughter during the scandal, Alex Karpovsky as Hart’s advance man Mike Stratton, Josh Brener as Hart’s political advisor Doug Wilson, Tommy Dewey as Hart’s deputy campaign manager John Emerson, Mark O’Brien as Hart’s body man Billy Shore, Kevin Pollak as The Miami Herald editor-in-chief Bob Martindale, and Alfred Molina in a small role as the famed Washington Post editor-in-chief Ben Bradlee who is aware of what this scandal would do but also knows that he has a job to do whether he likes it or not.

Steve Zissis and Bill Burr are superb in their respective roles as The Miami Herald reporters Tom Fielder and Pete Murphy as the two men who would investigate Hart’s personal life and discover the identity of Donna Rice. Sara Paxton is fantastic as Donna Rice as the woman who sleeps with Hart as she copes with being part of a major scandal while Molly Ephraim is excellent as Hart’s campaign scheduler Irene Kelly who tries to help Rice. Kaitlyn Dever is brilliant as Hart’s daughter Andrea who watches from afar and begins to wonder if everything her father does would ruin the family. Mamoudou Athie is amazing as A.J. Parker as a journalist for The Washington Post who goes on the road with Hart as he asks questions only to upset Hart prompting to find out about Hart’s private life as he asks him some big questions at the film’s climax. J.K. Simmons is incredible as Hart’s campaign manager Bill Dixon as a man who is trying to run the campaign but is aware of how damaging the scandal is where Simmons displays some humor early in the film but then becomes serious when things do get serious.

Vera Farmiga is wonderful as Hart’s wife Lee though it’s a role that doesn’t get enough coverage despite Farmiga’s performance as she allows herself to maintain some dignity as she watches her life fall apart from afar though it is hampered by how underwritten her character is. Finally, there’s Hugh Jackman in a remarkable performance as Gary Hart as this idealistic senator who is the front runner for the upcoming 1988 U.S. Presidential election until news about his extramarital affair comes into question where Jackman brings a unique presence to a man who is vehemently private and refuses to answer any questions only to alienate those closest to him as Jackman does bring in that intensity of a man who is trying to protect himself only to fall apart because of his own actions.

The Front Runner is a good but underwhelming film from Jason Reitman. Despite its ensemble cast led by Hugh Jackman and some solid technical work, the film is a compelling real-life drama about the rise-and-fall of Gary Hart yet it unfortunately chooses to play it safe leading to a film that is undercooked and not having enough intrigue. Even as the real-life scandal itself is filled with stories that unfortunately does pave the way for tabloid news to become big business as Reitman’s attempt to comment on morality gets bogged down by the drama. In the end, The Front Runner is a stellar but deeply flawed film from Jason Reitman.

Jason Reitman Films: Thank You for Smoking - Juno - Up in the Air - Young Adult - Labor Day -(Men, Women, & Children) – Tully (2018 film) - Ghostbusters: Afterlife - The Auteurs #30: Jason Reitman

© thevoid99 2021

Down to the Bone

Directed by Debra Granik and written by Granik and Richard Lieske, Down to the Bone is the story of a woman trying to deal with her addiction to drugs as well as living in a small town with children. The film is an exploration into the world of drug addiction from the perspective of a woman as she struggles to stay clean in her working class environment. Starring Vera Farmiga, Hugh Dillon, and Clint Jordon. Down to the Bone is a gripping yet entrancing film from Debra Granik.

Irene (Vera Farmiga) is a supermarket cashier who is currently dealing with an addiction to cocaine. While she has a husband named Steve (Clint Jordon) who also works and two boys in Ben (Jasper Daniels) and Jason (Taylor Foxhill). Irene finds herself struggling to be a good mother to her sons as she decides to go to rehab. After bumping into a nurse named Bob (Hugh Dillon) whom she met at a Halloween party weeks earlier, she befriends Bob as she struggles to deal with the atmosphere at rehab. After a few weeks of treatment, Irene returns home as she deals with her sobriety as she loses her job prompting to start a cleaning business with recovering addict Lucy (Caridad De La Luz).

After attending some meetings with Bob, the two eventually have an affair where Irene makes a discovery about Bob’s sobriety. What would happen would lead to Irene making questionable decisions as her marriage to Steve starts to fall apart. Following a troubling moment that would force Irene to take her sobriety seriously, Irene decides to create a new life of her own. Yet, Bob would also be around as Irene ponders whether or not to help herself in the struggle to stay clean.

The film is essentially an exploration into a woman’s cocaine addiction as she struggles to deal with her sobriety for her children while having an affair with a nurse who is also a recovering addict. Notably as she also delves into the world of rehabs, anonymous meetings, and all sorts of stuff while there’s people around her like her husband who mean well but will do drugs in front of her. In her attempt to stay sober, she would deal with all sorts of things as there’s a possibility that she could slip up and use again. It would take some drastic actions and moments that would force her to realize what she must do to be sober.

The screenplay is presented in a very loose manner as it’s more of a character study than a plot-driven film as a lot of it is told from the perspective of Irene. Still, there is a structure to how Debra Granik and co-writer Richard Lieske plot everything as the first act takes place largely in rehab while the second act is about Irene’s struggle to stay clean outside of rehab. Then comes the third act where it is followed by this event as the stakes is raised higher about what she has to do to stay sober. It would lead to some very emotional and tense moments for Irene as well as a sense of understanding of what she has to do.

Granik’s direction is told with a great sense of realism as it’s shot in a style that is similar to not just cinema verite but also the elements of Dogme 95. Shot mostly with hand-held cameras and in some real locations in upstate New York during the winter. It’s a film that is very intimate in the way it presents a woman’s struggle to be sober as Granik creates shots that doesn’t feature a lot of close-ups nor any wide shots. She allows the frame to capture Irene in her numerous environments as she tries to work or do whatever that is needed to be done to stay clean. Overall, Granik creates a very evocative yet mesmerizing film about a woman’s attempt to maintain her sobriety.

Cinematographer Michael McDonough does excellent work with the film‘s digital video photography to play out the sense of realism in the location for many of the film‘s exteriors while there‘s an array of wonderful lighting schemes for some of the film‘s interior and nighttime exterior scenes. Editor Malcolm Jamieson does superb work with the editing to create some stylish jump-cuts to create a mood in how Irene reacts to her sobriety as well as other stylish cuts to maintain an elliptical feel. Production designer Mark White and set decorator Lisa Scoppa do terrific work with the look of Irene and Steve‘s home as well as the realistic look of the anonymous meetings.

Costume designer Nancy Brous does nice work with the costumes to play up the sense of realism in the characters and their environment. Sound editor Lewis Goldstein does amazing work with the sound to play up the intimacy of the rehab and anonymous meetings as well as the more raucous atmosphere of some of the locations. Music supervisor Linda Kennedy creates an exotic soundtrack that features elements of melodic post-rock mixed in with melancholic piano music to play up the dramatic tone of the film.

The casting by Ellen Parks is brilliant for the ensemble that is created as it includes some memorable performances from Taylor Foxhall and Jasper Daniels as Steve and Irene’s young boys as well as Caridad De La Luz as Irene’s rehab friend Lucy. Clint Jordon is excellent as Irene’s husband Steve who sort of enables Irene but also tries to wonder why she’s become distant. Hugh Dillon gives a superb performance as the nurse Bob who befriends Irene as he struggles to maintain his own sobriety. Finally, there’s Vera Farmiga in a phenomenal performance as Irene where Farmiga displays a sense of restraint as a woman struggling with her addiction and eventual sobriety as it’s a truly captivating and unflinching performance from Farmiga.

Down to the Bone is an incredible film from Debra Granik that features an amazing performance from Vera Farmiga. While it’s not an easy film to watch in terms of its realism, it’s also an engaging one for the way it explores the world of addiction and sobriety. Notably from the perspective of a woman with a family as she wants to do what is right. In the end, Down to the Bone is a fantastic film from Debra Granik.

Debra Granik Films: Winter's Bone - (Stray Dog (2014 film)) - Leave No Trace

© thevoid99 2012

Higher Ground

Based on Carolyn Briggs’ memoir This Dark World: A Story of Faith Found and Lost, Higher Ground is the story of a woman whose life goes through various changes when she becomes religious at 18 only to question her beliefs as a married adult. Directed and starring Vera Farmiga with a screenplay by Carolyn Briggs and Tim Metcalfe, the film explores the world of faith and doubt in the eyes of a woman in the course of her life. Also starring John Hawkes, Taissa Farmiga, Donna Murphy, Dagmara Dominczyk, Joshua Leonard, and Bill Irwin. Higher Ground is a compelling drama from Vera Farmiga.

Following a period where her mother Kathleen (Donna Murphy) had a miscarriage that would ruin the marriage between her mother and father CW (John Hawkes), a young girl named Corinne (McKenzie Turner) is dealing with a troubled aftermath as she attends church with her young sister Wendy (Taylor Schwenke). At the church, Pastor Bud (Bill Irwin) has a sermon where Corinne accepts Jesus into her heart where she watches her parents’ marriage disintegrate. Years later as an 18-year old (Taissa Farmiga), Corinne meets a young rock singer named Ethan (Boyd Holbrook) where they have a relationship that would lead to Corinne getting married and having a baby. The marriage nearly crumbles following an accident when Ethan’s band goes on the road where he and Corinne decide to give their life towards God.

Time has passed as Corinne (Vera Farmiga) is now an adult with two kids another on the way while she and Ethan (Joshua Leonard) are part of a community of followers that includes Corinne’s friend Annika (Dagmara Dominczyk). A visit from Wendy (Nina Arianda) starts off well until Wendy’s lifestyle starts to get to Ethan while Corinne becomes fascinated by Wendy’s views on God and faith. Though Corinne loves the community, she starts to feel slighted by its restrictions over what to wear and such where it starts to overwhelm her after getting her third child. When Annika starts to feel ill leaving Corinne worried, the result would have an impact on Corinne’s views as it would lead to her marriage to finally unravel. Notably as she starts to have doubts about the way God works leading to Corinne to wonder if she had taken the right path to righteousness.

The film is about a life of a woman spanning through four different decades of her life where she encounters the world of Jesus Christ and faith only to find herself questioning about God’s will. It’s a compelling story that is about faith and doubt in the eyes of a woman who starts off going through tragedy only to find solace in God but later becomes doubtful following the restrictions of her community and various incidents that would impact her doubts. Carolyn Briggs and Tim Metcalfe’s screenplay does an excellent job in exploring Corinne’s life in the world of God and such. When it comes to the film’s third act, it gets a bit drawn out because the story starts to drag a bit as Corinne starts to break away from her old life to try and find something new. There’s nothing bad about it but it just takes a lot of out of what the first 2 acts had done in terms of dramatic execution.

Vera Farmiga’s direction is quite engaging and stylish for the way she opened the film with a baptism and then cuts to the narrative to follow this woman’s life. Shot on location in upstate New York, the film has gorgeous images of the fields and cliffs to play out the world that Corrine and her community live in. Farmiga also knows how to set up dramatic moments with her framing and having the actors be placed to create dramatic tension. A lot of it is very interesting despite the flaws in the third act where it loses a bit of steam. While the film is a dramatic take on a woman’s life, Farmiga isn’t afraid to put in some humor including a strange fantasy scene to play out what Corinne might be feeling. Overall, Farmiga does a solid job in creating an insightful film about a woman’s exploration towards faith.

Cinematographer Michael McDonough does excellent work with the film‘s photography from the lush look of the interiors for the scenes in the 60s and 70s to a more naturalistic look for the scenes in the 80s and 90s with some gorgeous exterior shots of the locations. Editor Colleen Sharp does nice work with the editing to create something that is straightforward without a lot of style while maintaining a leisured pace for the film. Production designer Sharon Lomofsky, with art directors Shawn Carroll and Lisa Meyers and set decorator Diana Bregman, does fantastic work with the set pieces such as the homes that Corinne lives in to the churches that she attends.

Costume designer Amela Baksic does wonderful work with the clothes that Corrine wears to explore her evolution and personality through the dresses she wears in the 70s and 80s to a more casual look in the 90s. Sound editor Robert Hein does terrific work with the sound from the intimacy of the churches to the way music is performed in a lot of those scenes. The film’s score by Alec Puro is superb for its folk-driven sound while its soundtrack that is assembled by music supervisor Levon Broussalian features a lot of folk-based religious music.

The casting by Kerry Barden and Paul Schnee is incredible for the ensemble that is created as it includes some notable small roles from Ebon-Moss Bachrach as community member Luke, Norbert Leo Butz as community leader Pastor Bill, Barbara Tuttle as Bill’s wife, Sean Mahon as the Irish mail carrier that Corinne befriends late in the film, Jack Gilpin as a therapist Corinne meets, Michael Chernus as Annika’s husband Ned, and Bill Irwin as the inspiring Pastor Bud. In the roles of Corrine and Ethan’s children, there’s Flynn Hawkey, Luella Roche, and Sarah Little as the eldest daughter Abigail, Sarah Banks and Zoe Allegra as Lily, and Matthew Biltonen as the young child Gabe.

Boyd Holbrook is excellent as the young Ethan with his energetic performance while Kaitlyn Rae King is very good as the teenage Wendy with Taylor Schwenke who is also good as the younger Wendy. McKenzie Turner is wonderful as the young Corinne while Taissa Farmiga is amazing as the teenage Corinne who feels lost in her world as she falls for the young Ethan. Donna Murphy is brilliant as Corinne’s outgoing mother Kathleen while John Hawkes is terrific as Corinne’s troubled yet laconic father CW as the two have a great moment in a scene in the third act. Nina Arianda is superb as Corinne’s troubled sister Wendy who tries to figure out her sister’s world while admitting she is troubled. Dagmara Dominczyk is great as Corinne’s best friend Annika whose view on faith would shape Corinne’s view later on.

Joshua Leonard is fantastic as Corinne’s husband Ethan who tries to maintain his musical side while becoming confused by his wife’s behavior as he tries to hold on to his faith. Finally, there’s Vera Farmiga as Corinne where Farmiga’s performance is entrancing in the way she tries to deal with God and religion only to become confused by her world and its restrictions as it’s one of Farmiga’s essential performances.

Higher Ground is a stellar and fascinating film from Vera Farmiga as it features a terrific ensemble cast that includes Joshua Leonard, Dagmara Dominiczyk, Taissa Farmiga, Donna Murphy, and John Hawkes. For audiences that is interested in the world of religious communities and faith will definitely find the film intriguing despite the flaws it carries in its third act. In the end, Higher Ground is a film worth seeing from its star and director Vera Farmiga.

© thevoid99 2012

Up in the Air

Originally Written and Posted at Epinions.com on 12/25/09 w/ Additional Edits.

Based on the novel by Walter Kirn, Up in the Air tells the story of a corporate downsizer whose job is to fly around the world to fire people from their jobs while hoping to reach his goal of a large frequent flyer numbers. During his journey, the man accompanies a young woman doing the same but with new technology while he falls for a traveling woman who also shares his philosophies about traveling. Directed by Jason Reitman with an adapted screenplay by Reitman and Sheldon Turner. The film is an exploration of a man's empty life and the world he surrounds himself in during a tumultuous time where the recession is hitting hard in the world. Starring George Clooney, Vera Farmiga, Anna Kendrick, Danny McBride, Melanie Lynskey, Amy Morton, Sam Elliot, Zach Galifianakis, and appearances from J.K. Simmons and Jason Bateman. Up in the Air is a witty yet harrowing drama about isolation and the world that revolves around a single man.

Ryan Bingham (George Clooney) is a man whose job is to fly from city to city where he tells people that they're fired. The reaction to those who are fired is shocking yet Bingham isn't really concerned with people's feelings as he's just there to do a job. Bingham flies millions of miles throughout the year hoping to reach the goal of 10 million frequent flyer miles to be part of a rare, prestigious club. When he's not flying or working, he lives in an apartment that he is rarely at in Omaha. On his spare time, Bingham also gives seminars on how to live a life without attachments where during those travels, he meets with another traveler named Alex Goran (Vera Farmiga) where the two share an attraction towards each other.

When Bingham is called back to Omaha by his boss Craig Gregory (Jason Bateman), Bingham learns of a new strategy that could impact his job and lifestyle. A new young employee named Natalie Keener (Anna Kendrick) has just introduced the idea of firing people through the Internet and on video screen. Upon the realization that Natalie has little experience in interacting face-to-face with the people she's to fire, Gregory decides to have Natalie accompany Bingham so she can have experience. Bingham reluctantly takes her in while showing her the ropes on how to travel and how to do things properly. Natalie becomes unaware of the emotional implications of what to do when firing people as she angers a fired employee (J.K. Simmons) where Bingham would calm the man down.

With Bingham's own personal life having little attachment as he learned his younger sister Julie (Melanie Lynskey) is about to get married. He is asked by his sister Kara (Amy Morton) to take pictures with a cardboard picture of Julie and her fiancee Jim (Danny McBride) in various places. Bingham reluctantly does with help from Natalie and during a stop in Miami, he meets up with Alex again as she shares her own philosophies of life to Natalie as they crash a party. With Natalie still trying to get her footing on how to fire people as well as the way Bingham's life works. She and Bingham are suddenly called back to Omaha as Bingham makes some unexpected moves on his own in choosing to go to his sister's wedding. During this visit where Alex accompanies him, Bingham begins to question his own life along with his growing attraction to Alex.

The film is about a traveling man traveling all across the country doing his own thing without any kinds of attachment to anyone or anything. Yet, he would end up meeting people that would change all of these philosophies that he lives by while pondering about his own lifestyle. The film itself is an existential drama with dabbles of humor. Yet, it all centers around the character of Ryan Bingham. A man who loves his job, loves to fly, loves to live in nice hotels, and have all of the benefits. Yet, he would often be attached to a woman in Alex, who does the same as they're attracted to each other. When he takes Natalie on board as his new protegee, Bingham is suddenly faced with questions from Natalie about his lifestyle and his goals. Bingham avoids them only to realize that Natalie might have a point near the end of the film.

The screenplay that Jason Reitman and Sheldon Turner is wonderfully structured from the first act of Bingham's world and the introduction of Natalie where he bring her on his travels. The second being his increased attraction to Alex and guiding Natalie into this cruel world of firing people. All of this would lead to a dramatic third act that would impact not just Bingham's own development and feelings about the world. It would also impact about the people around him where there is a harsh revelation about Alex along with Natalie's own feelings about the world. Along the way in the journey, there's moments where all three characters would learn about themselves and have fun as the lesson in life is there's no life without interaction or attachments.

The script Reitman and Turner creates definitely raises questions about existentialism and the way the world works. Even as it is told at the right place and right time when America as of late 2009 is still going through a horrible recession where people are losing their jobs. The reactions of the people who are fired are told realistically of what they could be going through or what they went through. While to Bingham, it may not affect him very much but to someone as young as Natalie. It's a cruel reminder of the way the world is as her idea to fire people through the computer without human interaction would change her in such a way. Notably in a tragic moment in the third act that would impact not just Natalie but also Bingham in relation to what Natalie is feeling.

The screenplay definitely features some amazing writing in its dialogue and moments of humor. Yet, it's Reitman's direction of the film itself that is truly stunning. From the opening credit sequence of ariel shots of various cities and landscapes to his engaging compositions of everything he's shooting at the airport, hotels, and various cities. It's as if Reitman is taking the audience onto a journey from city to city where as troubled as it is. America is still a beautiful and interesting place from the ariel shots of the cities at night to the airports they're at. Yet, Reitman's direction is filled with close-ups and zooms to emphasize what is happening to the characters. Even as they're facing the emotional upheaval of what they're doing or going through. Even if it's a funny moment where something isn't meant to be funny but can come across as something that is quite hilarious.

The sarcastic humor that Reitman creates works in its sense of rhythm that keeps the film going. The dramatic staging that Reitman does is superb as he knows where to distance himself from he and the actors as they're performing. Yet, some of those dramatic moments and compositions do create moments that are stunning. Notably in the world of Ryan Bingham as he faces the idea of isolation and trying to find some meaning in his life. The result of these intimate moments, light comical moments, and intense, heavy sequences and compositions show that Jason Reitman is becoming a director that will engage the audiences with themes and ideas as he is really just getting started.

Cinematographer Eric Steelberg does brilliant work with the film's photography from darkly-lit but colorful interior nighttime scenes at the bar where Alex and Ryan meets to the bright colors in the interiors of the airports that Ryan frequents in. Even in some shots where things are a little grey in the exterior scenes as Steelberg's work is phenomenal. Editor Dana E. Glauberman is excellent in its rhythmic pacing, straight-cuts and transitions while moving the film quite leisurely for the most part. Even in scenes where it's funny or for dramatic effect.

Production designer Steve Saklad with set decorator Linda Lee Sutton and art director Andrew Max Cahn do great work in the art direction of the film. From the look of the party that Ryan, Alex, and Natalie crash to the hotel rooms, and even Ryan's own apartment home which looks somewhat empty all have something to say in Ryan's life. The costume design of Danny Glicker is really good from the suits that Ryan wears along with the business-woman clothes that Alex and Natalie wears where Alex has a sexier look with Natalie a more uptight look to emphasize their characters. Sound editors Barney Cabral, Perry Robertson, and Scott Sanders do fine work in the film's sound from the way airplanes sound in and out, the intimate sounds of the conferences that Ryan speaks in, and the atmosphere of Natalie talking through people in the computer in their termination as it's done quite superbly.

The music score by Rolfe Kent is lightly playful and subtle to emphasize on Ryan's continuing journey in life and the people he encounters. Yet, the soundtrack compiled by Randall Poster and Rick Clark is wonderful with songs by Sharon King and the Dap-Kings, Graham Nash, Elliot Smith, Charles Atlas, and Crosby, Stills, & Nash in playing up to the journey of Ryan Bingham.

The casting by Mindy Marin is superb with some cameo appearances from Young MC at the party Ryan, Alex, and Natalie crash in along with J.K. Simmons and Zach Galifianakis as terminated employees. Simmons as a hardened, bitter man who plays it quite straight while Galifianakis does a great job in playing up for laughs in his own fantasies about being fired. Sam Elliot also makes a funny cameo appearance as an airline pilot who sits with Ryan. Danny McBride is very good in a very understated yet restrained role as Ryan's soon-to-be brother-in-law while Melanie Lynskey is wonderful as Ryan's younger sister. Amy Morton is fine in a small but memorable role as Ryan's older sister who is not happy about his lifestyle choice while Jason Bateman is great as Ryan's smarmy boss.

Anna Kendrick is superb in a real breakthrough role as Natalie Keener. Already known for a fantastic role in Rocket Science and more recently, in the Twilight film series, Kendrick delivers in being a great foil of sorts for George Clooney while going head-to-head about the way things are. Kendrick is also funny and dramatic as she not only steals a few scenes from Clooney but makes her character to be very memorable and realistic about how young people are trying to figure out the world. Vera Farmiga is excellent as Alex, a sexy woman who likes to travel and do all sorts of fun things with Ryan Bingham. Yet, there's also someone who has seen a lot in life in a character like Alex as she helps not only guide Natalie through the world of adulthood but also help Ryan find a world other than traveling that would later be part of a very dramatic set-up. Farmiga's performance is definitely phenomenal as she definitely can go toe-to-toe with someone as big as George Clooney.

George Clooney, himself, delivers in what is definitely his best dramatic role yet. While Clooney is a movie star who can deliver the goods in a performance. He's also an actor that will provide the right notes in a performance. Maybe not in the style of a method actor like Sean Penn or as grandiose as Daniel Day-Lewis. Yet, Clooney's performance as Ryan Bingham is very realistic in its development of a man in an existential journey where he not only tries to fight in saving a lifestyle that he only knows. He would end going into a realization that living life without attachments aren't really worth living. It's a remarkable performance from Clooney who not only can dominate a scene but is willing to share it with other actors, notably Farmiga and Kendrick. What Clooney creates is a role that is shows his range as an actor while giving it a personality that only Clooney can create.

Up in the Air is an amazing film from Jason Reitman and company with great performances from George Clooney, Vera Farmiga, and Anna Kendrick. Audiences who want to see witty films that is entertaining and smart will definitely enjoy this. Though at times, the tone is bleak, it's a film that really tells a story that is relevant and what is happening while telling stories about the way life works. For fans of Jason Reitman, this film will truly show a massive stepping stone into his career as it is clear that he will become a director to watch in the years to come. In the end, Up in the Air is a remarkable achievement from Jason Reitman while giving its star George Clooney one of his best roles yet.

Jason Reitman Films: Thank You for Smoking - Juno - Young Adult - Labor Day - (Men, Women, & Children) - Tully - The Front Runner - Ghostbusters: Afterlife - The Auteurs #30: Jason Reitman

© thevoid99 2011

Source Code

Directed by Duncan Jones and written by Ben Ripley, Source Code tells the story of an army helicopter pilot sent on a mission by the Air Force to travel back in time on a train before it exploded. In search for the bomb and who blew up the train, he has eight minutes to revisit everything that is happening while he falls for a passenger on that ill-fated train. It is with each trip back in time, he has to figure out what is going on while hoping to stop another train being blown up. Starring Jake Gyllenhaal, Michelle Monaghan, Vera Farmiga, and Jeffrey Wright. Source Code is a dazzling yet intense sci-fi mystery from Duncan Jones and company.

Captain Colter Stevens (Jake Gyllenhaal) was an army helicopter pilot whose last memory was fighting in a mission in Afghanistan. Then, he’s woken up on a train where he’s sitting across a pretty young woman named Christina (Michelle Monaghan) who calls him Sean. Stevens claims he’s not Sean as he is wondering what he’s going on as he sees himself in another man’s body. Then all of a sudden, the train blows up as Stevens is suddenly inside a capsule. Unaware of what has happened to him, he sees a woman named Captain Goodwin (Vera Farmiga) on a TV screen talking to him.

Captain Goodwin and Dr. Rutledge (Jeffrey Wright) reveal that Stevens is part of a program to go back in time in an alternate reality for eight minutes. Stevens’ mission is to find the bomb and the bomber before another bomb is to detonate inside the city of Chicago. Stevens would revisit the alternate world as he finds the bomb but has a hard time finding the bomber as he also tries to save Christina only realizing that she’s already died. Reliving the same events that happened on the train and figuring out everyone that was on the train, Stevens learns a shocking discovery about himself but also what he finds on the bomb as well as who is the bomber.

The film is about a man on a mission to find a bomb and the bomber to stop another bomb to blow up the city of Chicago. Yet, it’s told in a layered, surreal film where realities are blurred and there’s a lot of repetition going on. While it seems like it’s a plot device that is hard to follow, it’s only because the character of Captain Stevens is just trying to find the bomber as everyone in the train he’s in are suspects. With each trip, he has a yearning to save Christina realizing that in the real world, he couldn’t save her. When the eight minutes end, he’s back inside a capsule run by a program called the source code.

While the film is character study of sorts for Stevens’ exploration about his mission as well as the realities and alternate realities around him. He’s being watched by two other people in Captain Goodwin and Dr. Rutledge. Rutledge is a character that has good intentions as he hopes the source code program can save lives from other horrible events. Yet, he is more concerned about what the program can do than the person inside as he’s willing to do anything to get it to work. Then there’s Captain Goodwin, who is the film’s conscience who struggles to do her duties while being only sympathetic voice for Stevens as he struggles to do his mission as well as the discoveries he has. Ben Ripley’s screenplay has some twists and turns along with an ending that is very ambiguous that will upset some people depending on their interpretation. Yet, Ripley creates what is definitely an intriguing story.

Helming this multi-layered, surrealistic sci-fi thriller is Duncan Jones whose direction is definitely hypnotic as it takes place in very few locations and sets. While the story is based partially on repetition, it allows Jones to re-do every moment as every trip that Stevens take is different though the same thing happens except with how Stevens reacts. The film does move back and forth from this surreal reality to the actual reality while there’s a lot going on. Jones’ direction is definitely engaging in the way he follows Stevens trying to find out the mystery while going inside the actual reality where Goodwin and Rutledge try to figure out what’s happening. While the film isn’t perfect and has a few flaws, Jones succeeds in creating a very mesmerizing yet stylish sci-fi thriller that allows the audience to be engaged by the mystery.

Cinematographer Don Burgess does an excellent job with the film‘s cinematography from the de-saturated look of the capsule interior to a more, straightforward look to the look of the air force base where Captain Goodwin and Dr. Rutledge are at. Even the train has a look that is a bit stylish but also straightforward for its presentation. Editor Paul Hirsch does a nice job with the editing by giving the film a pace that plays up to its suspense while slowing things down so that audiences can be engaged into what is happening. Even as it relies on swift transitions and fast-paced cuts to move from reality to surreal-reality.

Production designer Barry Chusid, along with set decorator Suzanne Cloutier and art director Pierre Perrault, does a very good job with the hollowed look of the capsule along with the broad look of the train. Costume designer Renee April also does a good job with the costumes from the casual clothing that the people wear on the train to the uniform that Captain Goodwin wears. Visual effects supervisor Louis Morin does a wonderful job with the visual effects for the transitions of Stevens‘ movement from reality to the alternate reality along with some slowed-down effects for the train explosions.

Sound designer Tom Bellfort and sound editor Branden Spencer do a spectacular job with the hollowed sound of the capsule to the tense atmosphere of the train along with the chaotic world of the base. The film’s music by Chris P. Bacon does a fantastic job with the suspenseful music that includes a great piece for the film’s opening credits. Even as the music plays to the drama with a swelling yet serene orchestral piece as Bacon’s work is the technical highlight of the film.

The cast is definitely wonderful with some memorable appearances from Russell Peters as a comedian on the train, Cas Avnar as a businessman with motion sickness, Frederick De Grandpre as the real Sean, and Michael Arden as a guy who left his wallet. Jeffrey Wright is excellent as Dr. Rutledge, a professor who is concerned with the success of the source code program. Though he’s a guy with good intentions, he’s a man who is more concerned with what it can do and what kind of impact it would have rather than be concerned for Captain Stevens as it’s a very devilish but fun role from Wright.

Michelle Monaghan is superb as Christina, an ill-fated passenger who often says the same dialogue. Yet, Monaghan makes it believable as she also breaks away from her part while being concerned for this guy named Sean. What could’ve been a throwaway role has Monaghan really sell into the chaos of what is gong on as well the idea of wanting to save someone as enjoyable as her. Vera Farmiga is amazing as Captain Goodwin, the conscience of the film as she is the only link into the real world that Stevens has. She is also a character who is conflicted with her duty and to help Stevens while realizing that there is a moral issue over Dr. Rutledge’s ideals.

Finally, there’s Jake Gyllenhaal in a phenomenal performance as Captain Colter Stevens. Gyllenhaal displays a real sense of dread and anxiety to a guy who has no idea what he’s doing at first only to struggle with his mission and what is happening to him. It’s a real engaging performance from Gyllenhaal as he definitely sells his character’s issues along with his own sense of longing and to try and do the right thing. This is definitely Gyllenhaal’s best performance since David Fincher’s 2007 film Zodiac.

Source Code is an excellent and exciting sci-fi thriller from Duncan Jones and screenwriter Ben Ripley. Featuring top-notch performances from Jake Gyllenhaal, Vera Farmiga, Michelle Monaghan, and Jeffrey Wright. It’s a smart film that doesn’t try and play tricks on an audience while sticking to an idea and keep people guessing. While it doesn’t have the stylish, dark tone of Jones’ previous film Moon, it does show that Jones is definitely becoming a filmmaker to watch. In the end, Source Code is a stellar triumph from Duncan Jones.

Moon

© thevoid99 2011

The Departed

Originally Written and Posted at Epinions.com on 10/7/06 w/ Minor Edits.

Throughout his long, four-decade career, Martin Scorsese is considered to be one of the great living directors with such classic films as Mean Streets, Taxi Driver, Raging Bull, and Goodfellas. While other films like Alice Doesn't Live Here Anymore, The King of Comedy, After Hours, The Color of Money, The Last Temptation of Christ, The Age of Innocence, Casino, Kundun, and more recently, 2004's The Aviator revealed Scorsese's range in telling stories. Despite his success as a director and producer, Scorsese remains an avid film buff while supporting young film directors in order to discover and nurture new talent while restoring old films from around the world. After doing the epic dramas of The Aviator and 2002's Gangs of New York that both starred Leonardo DiCaprio, Scorsese decides to return to the crime film genre that's made him famous in such film like Mean Streets, Goodfellas, and Casino by looking into the world of Asian cinema by remaking the acclaimed 2002 Hong Kong crime film Infernal Affairs.

Directed by Andrew Lau and Mak Siu Fai that starred Tony Leung and Andy Lau, Infernal Affairs was a crime story about a cop who goes undercover by being a gang member for a mob leader. Meanwhile, the mob leader sent a mole into the police world as the undercover cop and the mole try to expose each other. The film was widely acclaimed all over the world while it had comparisons to some of the work by Scorsese who noticed the film. The result would be Scorsese deciding to direct a remake entitled The Departed with screenwriter William Monahan. Taking the location to Boston, Scorsese goes for a full-on crime thriller where it remains true to the narrative of Infernal Affairs. With an all-star cast that includes Leonardo DiCaprio, Matt Damon, Mark Wahlberg, Alec Baldwin, Ray Winstone, Anthony Anderson, Vera Farmiga, Kevin Corrigan, Martin Sheen, and Jack Nicholson. The Departed is pure Scorsese in the crime-drama genre that he's mastered.

Ever since he was a kid, Sullivan (Matt Damon) has always looked up to reputed local mobster Frank Costello (Jack Nicholson). With Mr. French (Ray Winstone) on his side, Costello was a feared figure in the streets of Boston as Sullivan decides to dedicate his loyalty by joining the police force in order to tip off Costello about everything. Around the same time he was in the academy, a young cadet named Billy Costigan (Leonardo DiCaprio) is training to be a state trooper. When Costigan's background, that involved relatives connecting to Costello, is revealed to an undercover captain in Queenan (Martin Sheen) and a sergeant named Dignam (Mark Wahlberg), Costigan is asked to go undercover as he pretends to be a criminal who had been kicked out of the academy.

While Costigan makes his mark as a criminal that included assist from his coke-dealing cousin Sean (Kevin Corrigan), Sullivan makes his way up to the investigations team as he is supervised by Queenan and Ellerby (Alec Baldwin). Ellerby's target is Costello which he hopes to bust as Sullivan teams up with Delahunt (Mark Rolston) to catch criminals while leading his own team that included Brown (Anthony Anderson). Costigan meanwhile, makes an impression on Costello after beating up not just a local patron but another incident in a shop where he beat up two guys from a Providence syndicate. Costello takes up Costigan considering his background and connection where Costigan often involves himself in schemes with French. The only contact Costigan has is in Queenan and Dignam where Costigan is often in fear for his life and often wants to be out.

After befriending and gaining a new girlfriend in police psychologist Madolyn (Vera Farmiga), Sullivan is doing good as a cop yet he remains loyal to Costello. When word gets out that Costello plans to sell a bunch of microchips to a Chinese triad gang in connection with the government, both Sullivan and Costigan make word to their superiors. Suddenly, the deal is a success for Costello though Sullivan has just learned that a mole is in Costello's group while Ellerby learns that a mole is there working for Costello. With Costigan becoming paranoid, he turns to Madolyn for evaluation where the two struck a friendship where his weariness of his role has become troubling. Even after he's suspected to be the mole. Sullivan meanwhile, gets a message from Costello as there's a new mission for Sullivan and Costigan where they have to find each other to expose themselves.

With Sullivan learning that Queenan has an undercover agent, he hopes to find the mole only to learn that everything has become confusing. Costigan meanwhile, learns something about Costello that could shake up everything that Queenan and Dignam wants. With Costigan and Sullivan getting closer to each other to reveal their roles, everything becomes blurry about loyalty and who is working for who.

Crime films are nothing new to Martin Scorsese since films like Mean Streets, Goodfellas, and Casino reveal the world of crime in all of its glory and decadence. In this film, Scorsese isn’t trying to say anything new rather than making a study of loyalty and morals. Still, Scorsese does have something to say about this film and that is, don't trust anyone. Taking notes from the original film Infernal Affairs, he makes an engaging, psychological, dramatic crime film into something grander and more epic while being true to what the original film had. The result is truly Martin Scorsese at his best and giving the film not just characters that are very complex but also presenting the film in grand style right smack in the middle of Boston.

Helping Scorsese tell the story is screenwriter William Monahan, whose previous credit was the somewhat-underrated Kingdom of Heaven for Ridley Scott. A native of Boston, Monahan takes advantages of the locales and language of Boston into something that is very authentic. Particularly in the dialogue where everyone talks like they're from Boston and have a certain attitude that makes it authentic. Monahan's structure for the script is wonderful in its study and momentum on revealing the identity of the mole and vice versa. Yet, when the moles confront each other, something else goes on where it pays true to the original film Infernal Affairs. Even in the ending where the approach from Monahan's script and Scorsese's direction is a bit more grim yet playful. The result is a wonderfully crafted, intelligent, and fun script from Monahan.

Still, the film belongs to Scorsese who mixes amounts of humor and conflict into his film. Scorsese as a director really plays up to style whether he's creating several shots where the camera is surrounding the character for a long time or staying still to observe a scene. Scorsese really goes for a presentation where he plays a game with the audience on what's going on and how the characters really present themselves. Even a love triangle subplot involving Sullivan/Madolyn/Costigan doesn't feel contrived other than the fact that it connects them in a way that is more intriguing. Scorsese's psychological directing and the way he brings Sullivan and Costigan together is really amazing, notably a scene where cell phones are involved and there's a moment of silence that creates this great tension. Even Scorsese's approach to violence is graphic yet playful to the point that he knows he's making a mob movie and he doesn't get soft with it. Overall, Scorsese proves himself yet again in why he's one of the best.

Longtime cinematographer Michael Ballhaus helps Scorsese with his presentation in creating intimate, exterior settings with flashes of dark, color in the film's interior settings at night while a scene in the Chinese part of town is filled with flashy colors. Longtime editor Thelma Schoonmaker works her magic in the editing where taking the film's epic, 150-minute running time a nice, leisurely pace that doesn't feel too slow or too fast. Schoonmaker's cutting style filled with bits of freeze-frames, jump-cuts, and perspective cuts that plays to the film's rhythm and intensity to create the tension. Production designer Kristi Zea with art directors Teresa Carriker-Thayer and Nicholas Lundy do great work on the Boston locales by with posh look of the apartments and restaurants to the more working-class, grimy look of the streets with additional locations set in New York City.

Costume designer Sandy Powell also does great work in the costumes with the decoration of the Boston Police Department suits to the posh suits of Costello and the clothing of his girlfriend Gwen (Kristen Dalton). Sound editor Phillip Stockton also does great work in playing to the film's conflicting atmosphere of the Boston locales and the use of cell phones to create the tension of some scenes. Score composer Howard Shore creates a very plaintive score that doesn't have a lot of orchestral flourishes rather than play to subtle, Spanish guitar setting to create the troubling mood of Costigan. The soundtrack is very true to Scorsese's love of rock with a lot of stuff from the Rolling Stones plus a track from the Dropkick Murphys that is pure Boston and a cover-of-sorts of the Pink Floyd classic Comfortably Numb that's taken from the Roger Waters live album The Wall: Live in Berlin that is performed by Waters with Van Morrison and the Band where Scorsese only used the part that Van Morrison and the Band did to convey the emotions of Costigan in his relationship with Madolyn.

Finally, there's the cast and it's an amazing ensemble. Some notable small performances from Anthony Anderson, Mark Rolston, Kevin Corrigan, Kristen Dalton, along with Robert Wahlberg as an FBI agent, Robert "Toshi" Kar Yun Chan as a Triad boss, James Badge Dale and David O'Hara as a couple of Costello's men, and Conor Donovan as the young Colin are all memorable for their small yet minor performances. Vera Farmiga is excellent in her role as Madolyn as a woman unaware that she is caught in a dangerous triangle as she is charmed by the more likeable Sullivan and drawn to the more troubled Costigan. Farmiga is excellent in her role that could've been contrived if performed by another actress. Ray Winstone gives an intimidating yet cool performance as Mr. French whose knowledge of the crime world is intriguing as his loyalty to Costello as Winstone gives a great performance. Alec Baldwin is really a scene-stealer in the role of Ellerby as a tough-as-nails captain who is willing to do anything by law to capture Costello while saying some hilarious one-liners that gives the right note of authenticity since he is from New England.

Martin Sheen is really great as the sympathetic Queenan who tries to help Costigan with his role while being the only real friend aside from Madolyn to comfort him with the role as Sheen plays a great father figure. Mark Wahlberg gives one of his best performances as a man that can be described in one word, a hard-*ss. Wahlberg steals every scene he's in with a flurry of insults, back-talk, and name-calling that only Wahlberg could play a character as mean as Dignam who can help you but he won't be your friend. Jack Nicholson is perfect as Frank Costello because Frank Costello is cool, funny, and intimidating in all of the right notes. Nicholson may be playing himself but who cares? Nicholson looks like he's having fun while really playing a guy who seems to have it all only to get paranoid and weary as his character is troubled by the idea of a mole as Nicholson's response to the rat with a rat face is comic gold. 

Matt Damon gives a great performance as Colin Sullivan where as a cop, he's a likeable yet tough kind of guy who knows how to play the right notes. When Damon is immersed in his real role as a mole, he's more organized, cautious, and to-the-point when talking to Nicholson as the two have great chemistry. Damon proves himself to be a far more complex actor who can hide under a mask while retaining his good looks and charm. It's a great performance from Damon. Leonardo DiCaprio also proves himself to be a great actor, despite his detractors, as Billy Costigan. DiCaprio definitely gives in to his tough side in the way he beats up people while showing more of his vulnerability in his role while having great scenes with Nicholson in being a sidekick. DiCaprio definitely goes into character while also displaying a fine Boston accent to make him more authentic while his scenes with Matt Damon are great in how the two actors prove to be engaging in their performances.

After a couple of epic, ambitious, made-for-Oscar films, Martin Scorsese finally returns to familiar territory with The Departed. In his best film since Goodfellas, The Departed has all of the elements to become another enjoyable mob picture thanks to a great script by William Monahan, Michael Ballhaus' camera, Thelma Schoonmaker's editing, the soundtrack, and a superb cast led by DiCaprio, Damon, Wahlberg, Nicholson, Sheen, Baldwin, Farmiga, and Winstone. Fans of Infernal Affairs will appreciate Scorsese's faithfulness to the original film while being aware that Scorsese is a master in this genre. In the end, The Departed is another superb film from the great Martin Scorsese.

Martin Scorsese Films: (Who's Knocking at My Door?) - Boxcar Bertha - (Mean Streets) - Italianamerican - Alice Doesn't Live Here Anymore - Taxi Driver - New York, New York - American Boy: A Profile of Steven Prince - (The Last Waltz) - Raging Bull - The King of Comedy - After Hours - The Color of Money - The Last Temptation of Christ - New York Stories-Life Lessons - Goodfellas - Cape Fear (1991 film) - The Age of Innocence - (Casino) - (Kundun) - Bringing Out the Dead - Gangs of New York - (The Aviator) - No Direction Home - Shine a Light - Shutter Island - George Harrison: Living in the Material World - Hugo - The Wolf of Wall Street - (The Fifty Year Argument) - Silence (2016 film) - (The Irishman) - Killers of the Flower Moon - (An Afternoon with SCTV)

© thevoid99 2010