For anyone who has read my blog for the past few years know that I am a massive fan of Jena Malone who is my favorite actress as I would often call her the Best in the World. Back in 2011 in honor of her 27th birthday, I made a list of her finest performances from that point on at the time. Since then, she’s getting more attention for her work in The Hunger Games series while is appearing in Paul Thomas Anderson’s new film Inherent Vice . Plus, there’s rumors that she could be appear in the upcoming Batman vs. Superman film in a role that is undisclosed. Instead of making another list of her best performances, I decided to make a different list about why she is so fucking awesome. So in celebration of her 30th Birthday, here are 10 reasons why she’s the Best in the World:
1. One of the few child actresses who has gained legitimacy as an adult.
Transitioning from being an actor as a child into becoming an adult actor hasn’t been easy as some managed to rise to the occasion while others are forced to live off their past glory. Fortunately, Jena has been someone that has succeed but not through conventional means. Succeeding early on through films like Bastard Out of Carolina , Ellen Foster , and Stepmom in the late 90s, Jena took her time to transition herself as she would do such offbeat indies like Donnie Darko and The Dangerous Lives of Altar Boys as variations of troubled teenage girls. By doing some indies and a few studio in the 2000s, she gained credibility which then lead to playing age-appropriate roles in films like The Hunger Games: Catching Fire and an Internet short series known as WiGs where she played a mother with a gambling problem.
2. The ability to not be typecast and play all sorts of different characters.
Most actors tend to be stuck in playing characters that had made them successful to the point that succumb to parody. Though Jena is still young, she has managed to cultivate a wide range of performances that has won over audiences and given her a devoted following. While she had played variations of troubled young girls in her career, she has managed to do different things with those roles. Recent performances in films like The Hunger Games: Catching Fire, The Messenger, and the TV miniseries on Hatfields & McCoys showcase that range. Especially in Hatfields & McCoys which shows she can have a very dark edge that will definitely make people uncomfortable.
3. She’s a natural born ass-kicker.
While Sucker Punch was a film that wasn’t well-received nor made any waves in the box office, Jena was one of the film’s bright spots as she managed to have some scene-stealing moments as she would play with guns and knives while kicking some serious ass. Yet, it is her role as Joanna Mason in The Hunger Games: Catching Fire is where she shows her ferocity by carrying an axe and killing people with no qualms. Her performance as Mason wasn’t just her stealing the show but she is someone that even someone like Katniss Everdeen couldn’t even deal with.
4. She’s sexy and she fucking knows it…
She doesn’t have a model’s body nor does she convey the idea of sexiness from a conventional standpoint. However, the attitude that she displays and her willingness to quite playful and showcase aspects of her body is very damn sexy. The fact that she seems comfortable with her body and feels confident in wearing skimpy underwear while not being afraid to do nude scenes just makes her much cooler. After all, if you’ve got it. Flaunt it!
5. An absolute scene-stealer.
There’s aspects about playing supporting roles that allows actors to do things and often standout. Jena is among those that is very good at where she would have these small moments in film and leave an unforgettable impression. One notable scene that is a favorite of mine in Pride & Prejudice is a dinner scene where Jena’s Lydia character just married Mr. Wickham as she reveals to Keira Knightley’s Elizabeth Bennett that Mr. Darcy was the one who discovered them and paid Wickham’s commission. Elizabeth wants to know more as Lydia makes a line that shuts Elizabeth up and takes a sip of her wine. That’s a moment I can watch forever and never get tired of it. She was like… “my wine bitch!”
6. Fashion… Turn to the left! Fashion… Turn to the Right! Fashion…
Jena definitely has a very unique yet offbeat taste in the clothes she wears. On the red carpet, she can look very glamorous as she proves to have some amazing taste. Off the set, she definitely has a style of her own that is casual yet cool. Some of these clothes she wears definitely plays to her sense of individuality while having something that everyone can enjoy and wear.
7. Her music is actually pretty damn good
There’s a sense of vanity whenever a film star tries to make it into music to the point that they make fools of themselves. Some manage to do it for fun and not care about people’s opinions. Jena is fortunately part of the latter as her recent project in the Shoe with collaborator Lem Jay Ignacio is very interesting. While it isn’t for everyone, the album It’s Okay I think is an excellent record with some amazing songs.
8. She’s a really amazing and imaginative photographer.
She can act and she can sing. She’s also got a great eye as a photographer as she makes some nifty collages and photos that are very interesting. Some of which has her using some photoshop and other techniques to create something that is abstract. Much of it is in display of her Instagram account yet she also has a Tumblr page that she uses as her work as a photography I think is just superb.
9. One of the more interesting people on social media.
I don’t have a Twitter nor a Facebook account but she is definitely the one person I follow where she would often have interesting things to say. Her posts are often funny as well as touching whether it’s about aspects of her personal life or stories that she creates. Plus, she proves to be a very cool person who does respond from time to time. Here is her Twitter page .
10. Her aspirations to become a filmmaker.
While she lists herself on her Facebook page as an actress, musician, and a photographer, she also lists herself as a director. While she’s only made a few short films so far. They definitely show promise as it’s more about visuals and doing something that is more in tune with what she wants to do personally. Though it’s been some years since she last directed a short, it is clear that she has an eye for celluloid.
Well, that is all for reasons why Jena is the Best in the World. Wait, she’s turning 30.… there’s 20 more reasons into why she is the Best in the World…
11. That ass!
12. Armbar!
13. She’s the Rock to Scarlett Johansson’s Stone Cold Steve Austin.
14. Her favorite film is Mouchette .
15. Armbar!
16. She can tap dance.
17. She went naked in The Hunger Games: Catching Fire .
18. She’s funny on the talk shows.
19. Armbar!
20. She can play Jenga and turn it into… Jena!
21. She knows karate!
22. Her super-ability to make anyone laugh and cry!
23. Armbar!
24. She can change her hair into many colors and look cool.
25. She has yet to work with Scarlett Johansson in a lesbian-buddy film.
26. Oh you didn’t know! Yo’ ass better call somebody!!!!
27. Have a nice day!
28. She’s in a Paul Thomas Anderson film… let’s hope she gets to be a regular.
29. Don’t piss her off or she’ll cut your fucking head off!
& 30. Armbar!!!!
Well, that is all. So as one final note. Here is a birthday song courtesy of the Ramones.
(For those that didn’t get the armbar joke, watch this clip and fast-forward to 6:12)
© thevoid99 2014
Written and directed by Hayao Miyazaki, Spirited Away is the story of a young girl who moves to a new neighborhood as she encounters a magical world where she encounters dark magic and hopes to find ways to free herself and her parents back to the real world. A mixture of fantasy with elements of drama and humor, the film is told in an anime style that is filled with dazzling images that play into the world of fantasy and reality. Featuring the voices of Rumi Hiiragi, Miyu Irino, Mari Natsuki, Takeshi Naito, Yasuko Sawaguchi, and Bunta Sugawara. Spirited Away is a spellbinding and evocative film from Hayao Miyazaki.
The film revolves around a young girl who enters a fantasy world filled with spirits as she is suddenly trapped in that world, along with her parents who turn into pigs, where she tries to find ways to get out and save her parents. It’s a film that plays into this young girl not only dealing with new changes in her life but also being forced to grow up as she enters this new world that is full of mysticism and wonder. For this young girl in Chihiro (Rumi Hiiragi), she has to do things by working in a bathhouse where its guests are strange creatures as it’s run by an old woman named Yubaba (Mari Natuki) in order to find a way to free herself and her parents. In this world where there’s frogs and creatures that talk along with all sorts of strange things where humans are sort of frowned upon. Chihiro would endure the struggles she takes while helping the woman’s apprentice Haku (Miyu Irino) who is trapped in his duties as he also tries to help Chihiro.
Hayao Miyazaki’s screenplay is filled with ideas of a fantasy world where it begins with Chihiro feeling sad over the fact that she’s moving to a new town as her parents are suddenly lost on their way to their new home. By stumbling into a mysterious tunnel and a place that they think is an old amusement park, things suddenly go wrong where Chihiro’s fears definitely come true as she realizes she can’t escape and is trapped. While Haku would help her and try to keep her away from Yubaba, she has trouble adjusting to her new situation as she is also given a new name where Haku has to remind her to not forget her old name. While there’s a few individuals that do provide Chihiro with some comfort, there’s also these strange creatures she encounters as it’s part of this world of fantasy with elements of reality due to the severity of the situation she‘s facing.
Miyazaki’s direction is definitely magical which sort of understates exactly what he’s trying to do. In fact, it’s beyond that since is full of dazzling images and landscapes that is created where it has this mixture of reality and fantasy all rolled into one. Much of it involve these wide shots of the locations along with compositions and angles into the world that is set which includes this extravagant bathhouse that Chihiro has to work at. With the help of animation director Masashi Ando, Miyazaki creates images and creatures that play into the world of fantasy as there’s elements that can be funny. Plus, there’s these moments that are thrilling as well as exotic in its imagery and the texture of the animation. Especially in some amazing sequences in the bathhouses that is extravagant as well as full of adventure. All of which plays into a young girl dealing with her situation and finding a way to return home. Overall, Miyazaki creates a truly sensational yet touching film about a girl who enters a mysterious world.
Cinematographer Atsushi Okui does excellent work with the lighting schemes for some of the interior sequences in the film to play into its rich look. Editor Takeshi Seyama does brilliant work in creating some unique rhythms including a few montages that play to some recurring dreams that Chihiro would endure during her journey. Production designer Norobu Yoshida and art director Yoji Takeshige do fantastic work with the look of the places that Chihiro goes to including the town and the design of the bathhouse. The sound work of Kaz Hayashi does superb work with the sound to play into the sound effects in the film along with some mixing to convey the sense of adventure that is prevalent in the film. The film’s music by Joe Hisaishi is amazing for its quaint yet majestic piano score with some lush string arrangements and traditional Japanese percussion music as it’s a highlight of the film.
The film’s voice cast is incredible as it features notable voice performances from Takashi Naito and Yasuko Sawaguchi as Chihiro’s parents, Ryunosuke Kamiki as Yubaba’s baby son Boh, Yumi Tamai as the worker Lin who helps Chihiro, Akio Nakamura as the mysterious spirit No-Face, and Takehiko Kamijo in a funny role as the bathhouse assistant manager. Bunta Sugawara is excellent as the spider-like man Kamaji who runs the boiler room as he helps out Chihiro. Mari Natsuki is superb in dual voice work as the greedy witch Yubaba who runs the bathhouse as she hopes to own Chihiro as she is also the voice of the more generous witch in Zenbiba.
Miyu Irino is fantastic as Haku as a young apprentice who helps Chihiro in coping with her situation as he tries to figure out how to help her while being trapped as Yubaba’s apprentice. Finally, there’s Rumi Hiiragi in a brilliant voice performance as Chihiro as this young girl who enters a fantasy world as she tries to get out as she later gets the courage to do whatever it takes to free herself and her parents.
Spirited Away is an absolutely magnificent film Hayao Miyazaki. Not only is it one of the finest films from Studio Ghibli and in the world of animated films. It’s also a film that manages to be so much more as it has something for everyone where it’s adventurous, romantic, and funny as it’s supported by some of the finest work in animation. In the end, Spirited Away is an outstanding film Hayao Miyazaki.
Hayao Miyazaki Films: (The Castle of Cagliostro) - (Nausicaa of the Valley of the Wind) - (Castle in the Sky) - My Neighbor Totoro - Kiki’s Delivery Service - (Porco Rosso) - Princess Mononoke - (Howl’s Moving Castle) - (Ponyo) - The Wind Rises - (The Boy and the Heron)
© thevoid99 2014
Written and directed by Jeff Nichols, Mud is the story of two boys who meet a strange man living on a boat stuck on a tree as he is hiding from bounty hunters while hoping to return to his former flame. The film is an adventure in which two teenage boys meet up with this man as it’s set entirely in Arkansas where they try to help this man who is carrying some secrets of his own. Starring Matthew McConaughey, Reese Witherspoon, Tye Sheridan, Jacob Lofland, Michael Shannon, Joe Don Baker, Ray McKinnon, Sarah Paulson, and Sam Shepard. Mud is a riveting yet towering film from Jeff Nichols.
The film is a simple story of two teenage boys who meet a mysterious man in an island on the Arkansas River as he is living on a boat on top of a tree that the boys want. It’s a film that explores this complex relationship between this man who is on the run from authorities and bounty hunters while he befriends these two boys as he asks for their help in getting the boat down from the tree and fix it. Even as it is a film about men and young men where this man named Mud (Matthew McConaughey) is hoping to reunite with his old flame whom he went to jail for. While Ellis (Tye Sheridan) and his friend Neckbone (Jacob Lofland) help bring some supplies, Ellis encounters things in his own life that he’s unprepared for while understanding the fallacies of love.
Jeff Nichols’ screenplay is mostly about Ellis as he copes with not just his parents separating but also the idea of leaving the river home he’s spent much of his life. It’s really a coming-of-age tale for both Ellis and Neckbone as the two are becoming interested in women as Ellis would gain the attention of a high school girl in May Pearl (Bonnie Sturdivant) whom he has a crush on. Yet, their encounter with Mud would give them a chance to do something in the hopes that they could get the boat for themselves as the two also learn about Mud’s intentions as he waiting for his old flame in Juniper (Reese Witherspoon). Juniper is this woman who has a past with Mud as she learns through Ellis and Neckbone about Mud as she is also being watched by a bounty hunter whose brother was killed by Mud.
It adds to the drama as well as the severity of the situations where things do intensify on an emotional level in the third act as the warnings that Ellis is getting from neighbor in Tom Blankenship (Sam Shepard) starts to seep in. Even as revelations about what Mud did that got him in trouble start to emerge which plays into not just the fallacies of love but also how foolish men are when it comes to women. The script also goes into the idea of loyalty and doing what is right where even though Ellis and Neckbone would do things that are wrong so they can help Mud. They do start to question what they’re doing as well as why Mud hasn’t contacted Juniper himself though they know he’s a wanted man.
Nichols’ direction is very entrancing not just for the way he creates this film as this mixture of thriller with a coming of age drama. He also manages to make something that definitely feels like a very Southern film not just in its many locations in small towns in Arkansas but also in places near its river and the Mississippi River. While many of the compositions from close-ups to wide shots are very simple with some underwater shots and some unique camera angles. There is a sense of naturalism that Nichols is going for as he shoots a lot of places on locations where there is a beauty to the river and some of skylines while there’s also something that feels very grimy such as some of the aspects of nature.
The direction also has Nichols use suspense in some very effective ways as it pertains to the horde of bounty hunters that are going after Mud as well as the warnings that Blankenship has for Ellis about getting too close to Mud. There’s also some humor in the way it plays into the idea of love while much of it is dramatic as Nichols makes no bones that this is a film about men though he doesn’t portray women as selfish beings but rather those who are just complicated. It’s that idea that would spark much of the film’s more intense third act where it isn’t just about Mud facing his demons but also the consequences that Ellis would have that would shape him from boyhood to manhood. Overall, Nichols creates a very somber yet exhilarating film about two boys who help a man trying to get back to an old flame.
Cinematographer Adam Stone does brilliant work with the film‘s gorgeous cinematography from the look of the skylines to some of the nighttime exterior settings in the island as well as some interior scenes where the lighting plays into the dark mood of the film. Editor Julie Monroe does excellent work with the editing as it‘s very straightforward in terms of its rhythmic cuts as well as playing into the film‘s suspense. Production designer Richard A. Wright, with set decorator Fontaine Beauchamp Hebb and art director Elliott Glick, does fantastic work with the set pieces from the river house that Ellis and his family lived in to the design of the boat that he and Neckbone would find that Mud would live in.
Costume designer Kari Perkins does nice work with the costumes as it‘s mostly casual from the white shirt that Mud wears to the clothes that Juniper wears. Sound designer Will Files does amazing work with the film‘s sound to convey for many of the film‘s locations in the rivers as well as some scenes in some of the social gatherings including a bar where Juniper goes to. The film’s music by David Wingo is superb for its mixture of folk music with eerie orchestral-like pieces to play into the world that is the American South that includes some country textures in the music while music supervisor Steve Lindsey maintains that world of the South with a lot of music ranging from country to rock as well as an inspired use of the Beach Boys‘ Help Me Rhonda .
The casting by Francine Maisler is phenomenal as it features some notable small roles from Kirsty Barrington as Neckbone’s uncle’s girlfriend, Bonnie Sturdivant as Ellis’ high-school crush May Pearl, Joe Don Baker as a notorious crime kingpin who wants Mud dead, Paul Sparks as the kingpin’s son who wants vengeance for his brother’s death, and Michael Shannon in a superb performance as Neckbone’s uncle Galen who provides some of the film’s funnier moments. Sarah Paulson and Ray McKinnon are excellent as Ellis’ parents with Paulson playing the mother who tries to talk to Ellis about why she’s leaving her father while McKinnon plays the father who feels like he let his son down. Sam Shepard is brilliant as Ted Blankenship as a former assassin who was a father-figure for Mud as a boy as he realizes why Mud has come back. Jacob Lofland is amazing as Neckbone as a teen who helps Ellis do things for Mud as he would prove to be a formidable ally as he also says some funny things.
Reese Witherspoon is fantastic as Juniper as Mud’s former girlfriend as she learns about Mud returning as she is this very complex person who loves Mud but is also a very flawed woman who plays into the idea of love’s fallacy. Tye Sheridan is incredible as Ellis as this 14-year old boy who befriends Mud as he deals with helping Mud as well as growing up and experience first-love. Finally, there’s Matthew McConaughey in a tremendous performance as the titular character as this man who is on the run as he is eager to return to his old flame as he also proves to be someone that knows a lot about love while being unaware of the same mistakes he’s making.
Mud is a spectacular film from Jeff Nichols that features a mesmerizing leading performance from Matthew McConaughey as the titular character. Along with a great supporting cast that includes Tye Sheridan, Reese Witherspoon, Jacob Lofland, and Sam Shepard. It’s a film that manages to be a lot of things such as a coming-of-age story and a suspense thriller while having so many things to say. In the end, Mud is an outstanding film from Jeff Nichols.
Jeff Nichols Films: Shotgun Stories - Take Shelter - Midnight Special - Loving (2016 film) - The Auteurs #58: Jeff Nichols
© thevoid99 2014
Based on the play by Kim Kwang-rim, Memories of Murder is the story of two detectives who are trying to uncover the mystery of a series of real-life murders that occurred from 1986 to 1991 in South Korea. Directed by Bong Joon-ho and screenplay by Joon-ho and Shim Sung-bo, the film is a mystery that revolves around the real-life killings that gripped a nation as two men try to understand why these people are killed and who did. Starring Song Kang-ho, Kim Sang-kyung, Kim Roi-ha, Park Hae-il, and Byun Hee-bong. Memories of Murder is a gripping yet evocative film from Bong Joon-ho.
Based on the real-life murders that occurred in South Korea from 1986 to 1991 that gripped a nation into panic. The film revolves two very different detectives who work with each other to solve the case of these grisly murders that often occur on a rainy night where a young woman is wearing red as she is then seen dead and tied up. During the course of the investigation where false leads and incompetence lead to uncertainty, questions begin to arise about the motives as well as odd clues which then leads to a few breaks but also questionable tactics from these two very different detectives. It’s a film that isn’t just about an investigation but also two very different men who come from different backgrounds as they have to work together to do something right.
The film’s screenplay begins with this discovery in the middle of a very rural small town in South Korea as its local detective Park (Song Kang-ho) is trying to lead the investigation as his inability to really get anything going forces his leaders to bring in the more experienced Inspector Seo (Kim Sang-kyung) from Seoul to aid him and Park’s partner Cho (Kim Roi-ha). Though there’s tension between the more reasonable Seo and the more aggressive Park, the two do bond once it becomes clear that the crime is far more complex. It’s a script that is more about two men who come together in this investigation as both of them would use unconventional methods to try and get answers. Seo is a man who relies on documents, facts, and actual clues while Park is more about instinct as he and Cho are notorious for beating up suspects to get answers. Even as they target oddballs such as a mentally-challenged man (Park No-shik) which proves to be troubling as the media gets wind of these tactics.
Once the killings become more gruesome as it leads to various questions involving a major suspect (Park Hae-il) based on descriptions by a few witnesses. It plays into not just the film’s third act but also some major changes into the two detectives as they’re forced to deal with the impact of not just these killings but also in how some of their own methods can turn against them. Something that Seo would struggle with while Park would have a struggle of his own that becomes more existential as well as questions into what could’ve been.
Bong Joon-ho’s direction is truly mesmerizing for the way he opens the film in a very unconventional way. It starts off very innocently as it is shot in these plain fields in rural South Korea that looks like a very different and calm world until a group of kids run towards a police car where Park looks inside this drain where a body is inside. It sets the tone for what is to come as it also showcases Park as this very odd individual who is more driven by instinct rather than skills. Some of the direction involve some very dark yet comical moments involving Park and Cho who would often do things to get answers from suspects. Much of it plays into Park and Cho trying to be the badass cops that the media will love but their antics doesn’t produce results. Some of the compositions are straightforward yet have an ethereal quality in terms of the close-ups of the plain fields as well as some amazing wide shots with the use of crane cameras.
By setting it in this rural small town, Joon-ho creates something that is intimate not just in its police station but also in the small town while using some wide shots to create something that is also big. The moments of the killings are quite suspenseful where Joon-ho knows how to play with its rhythms and the impact of these scenes. Even as the film gets darker to the point that it becomes more about Park and Seo dealing with the consequences of these murders and their attempts to find answers. The film would then have this epilogue involving one of the men as it plays into many aspects about the real killings as well as the fact that some things don’t go away. Overall, Joon-ho creates a very captivating yet harrowing film about detectives trying to find a serial killer.
Cinematographer Kim Hyung-hu does brilliant work with the film‘s cinematography from the naturalistic yet beautiful look of the plain fields as well as some of the lighting for the scenes at night including the interrogation room and the pathway where some of the killings occur. Editor Kim Sun-min does amazing work with the editing as it plays to elements of styles from slow-motion cuts to offbeat rhythms for its element of suspense and its dark humor. Production designer Ryu Seong-hie does excellent work with the look of the police station as well as some of the homes of the characters.
Sound editor Lee Seung-yeop and sound mixer Lee Byung-Ha do fantastic work with the sound to play into the sense of terror as well as the drama which includes some chilling moments in the murder scenes. The film’s music by Taro Iwashiro is superb for its mixture of soaring yet brooding orchestral music and some eerie electronic pieces that plays into the drama and suspense as well as a Korean pop song that becomes a key aspect into the mystery.
The film’s cast features some notable small performances from Go Seo-Hee as female officer who finds a clue that proves crucial to the cast as she would also talk to a witness while Jeon Mi-seon is terrific as Park’s wife who would also give him suggestions to find something. Park No-shik is excellent as a mentally-challenged suspect who seems to know more than the detectives realize while Park Hae-il is fantastic as another suspect who fits some descriptions as he is a very ambiguous character. Song Jae-ho is superb as a chief sergeant who leads the case early one while Byun Hee-bong is amazing as the new chief who runs the investigation as he wonders why they couldn’t get any more results.
Kim Roi-ha is brilliant as the crazed cop Cho Yong-koo as a guy who is very aggressive as he is so eager to get answers as he is this wildcard that proves to be a little much for his partner at times. Kim Sang-kyung is incredible as Inspector Seo Tae-yoon as this educated-based detective from Seoul who aids in the investigation as his methods prove to be helpful early on despite tension with Park while coming to terms over the gruesomeness of the murders. Finally, there’s Song Kang-ho in a phenomenal performance as Detective Park Doo-man as this detective who leads by instinct as he tries to figure out what to do as he starts off as this incompetent and aggressive detective while proving to have methods that work as he later copes with the events around him as he deals with his own future as a cop.
Memories of Murder is a tremendously dark yet exhilarating film from Bong Joon-ho. Armed with a great cast as well as some spellbinding technical achievements, the film isn’t just one of Joon-ho’s finest films but also a key film in the Korean New Wave of the 2000s. Even as it manages to take the mystery-suspense genre and add ideas that feels new and exciting. In the end, Memories of Murder is an outstanding film from Bong Joon-ho.
Bong Joon-ho Films: Barking Dogs Never Bite - The Host - Tokyo!-Shaking Tokyo - Mother - Snowpiercer - Okja - Parasite - Mickey 17 - The Auteurs #44: Bong Joon-ho
© thevoid99 2014
Directed by Andrew Fleming and written by Fleming and Sheryl Longin, Dick is the story of two teenage girls who meet Richard Nixon as they become secret youth advisors only to reveal his secrets to Bob Woodward and Carl Bernstein as the mysterious Deep Throat. A fictional take on the Watergate scandal that led to Nixon’s resignation, the film is a comedic story about the ideas of who Deep Throat in the form of two sweet-natured but dim-witted girls. Starring Kirsten Dunst, Michelle Williams, Ana Gasteyer, Will Ferrell, Bruce McCullough, Jim Breuer, Saul Rubinek, Teri Garr, Dave Foley, Harry Shearer, and Dan Hedaya as Richard Nixon. Dick is a truly hilarious and entertaining film from Andrew Fleming.
The film is a fictional take on the Watergate scandal that destroyed the political career of President Richard Nixon who would resign in disgrace in August of 1974 after some revelations over what happened at the Watergate Hotel two years earlier by people in his administration. All of it revolves around two teenage girls where one of them was living in the Watergate hotel as they were mailing a letter to win a contest to meet Bobby Sherman where they run into G. Gordon Liddy (Harry Shearer) and led to the arrest of several men connected to the Nixon administration. Upon meeting Nixon during a school field trip by befriending his dog Checkers, they become secret youth advisors where they would influence Nixon to connect with the American public until they learn who he really is where they would reveal their information to Bob Woodward (Will Ferrell) and Carl Bernstein (Bruce McCullough).
The film’s screenplay definitely focuses on the antics of Betsy Jobs (Kirsten Dunst) and Arlene Lorenzo (Michelle Williams) as they’re just a couple of American teenage girls who love everything that was around in the 1970s. Yet, their encounter with Nixon is one of many accidents that occur as they would be involved in some of Nixon’s great achievements during his second term while be responsible for things such as the 18 ½ minute gap that was missing from one of the tapes Nixon recorded. Many of the people that are involved with the Watergate story are portrayed for laughs such as Nixon’s attorney John Dean (Jim Breuer) as a very innocent man who feels guilty while G. Gordon Liddy is seen as a buffoon. Woodward and Bernstein are also portrayed for laughs with Bernstein as this smallish ladies man while Woodward is seen as the desperate straight man. Even some of the dialogue maintains the sense of humor such as a scene where Arlene asks Betsy about the meaning of Deep Throat which Betsy whispers into Arlene’s ear as it shows how innocent they are.
Andrew Fleming’s direction is quite straightforward in terms of the world that is the 1970s in Washington D.C. as it plays into the lives of these two young girls. Some of which involves antics that are quite funny as it plays to how dim-witted the girls are at times yet they mean well. Even as it includes a very hilarious subplot where Arlene falls for Nixon as she would be the cause that would have Nixon erase 18 ½ minutes from tapes he had recorded. There’s also some dramatic liberties that Fleming takes advantage in order to keep things funny such as the Nixon-Leonid Brezhnev peace accord. Much of the compositions are simple in order to create something that feels naturalistic as well as in scenes to re-create important moments in history. Especially in the idea that a couple of young girls would be the one that would be the one to take Nixon down. Overall, Fleming creates a very witty and fun film about two girls taking down Richard Nixon.
Cinematographer Alex Gruszynski does excellent work with the film‘s cinematography as it‘s very colorful to play into much of the sunny look of Washington D.C. as well as some of the interiors and lighting such as the Watergate break-in. Editor Mia Goldman does terrific work with the editing as it‘s straightforward with some stylish jump-cuts and montages to play into the film‘s humor. Production designer Barbara Dunphy, with set decorator Donald Elmblad and art director Lucinda Zak, does brilliant work with the look of the Oval Office and some parts of the White House as well as Arlene‘s room and her wall that featured Bobby Sherman at one point only to be replaced by Nixon. Costume designer Deborah Everton does fantastic work with the costumes from the youthful clothes that the girls wear that expresses their love of fashion.
Visual effects supervisors Michael Lennick and Ray McMillan do nice work with some of the few visual effects such as backdrops for some scenes set in the White House exteriors. Sound editor Steve D. Williams does superb work with the sound from the way some of the police sirens sound to some of the things that occur inside the White House including the sound of the tape recordings. The film’s music by John Debney is pretty as it‘s mostly low-key which is just orchestral music to play into the suspense and humor while music supervisor Ralph Sall creates an absolutely delightful soundtrack that features music from the Jackson 5, Yes, Grand Funk Railroad, Elton John, ABBA, LaBelle, George McCrae, Harry Nilsson, Bread, Love Unlimited Orchestra, Redbone, David Essex, Carly Simon, and a couple of covers by Michelle Williams and Sixpence None the Richer.
The casting by Pam Dixon is incredible as it features one hell of an ensemble that includes small roles from Ryan Reynolds as a boy Betsy flirts with at Bob Haldeman’s house, Devon Gummersall as Betsy’s stoner brother Larry, French Stewart as a TV interviewer at the beginning of the film, G.D. Spradlin in one of his final performances as Washington Post editor Ben Bradlee, Ana Gasteyer as the President’s secretary Rose Mary Woods, Ted McGinley as Arlene’s mother’s new boyfriend, Karl Pruner and Shannon Lawson as Betsy’s parents, Len Doncheff as Leonid Brezhnev, and Teri Garr as Arlene’s lonely mother. Harry Shearer is terrific as the very threatening but buffoonish G. Gordon Liddy while Dave Foley is excellent as the White House Chief of Staff Bob Haldeman who is depicted as a total asshole. Jim Breuer is fantastic as Nixon’s lawyer John Dean who would feel guilty for working with Nixon while Saul Rubinek is wonderful as Henry Kissinger who often feels left out by Nixon while having a great duet of Hello Dolly with Brezhnev.
Will Ferrell and Bruce McCullough are hilarious in their respective roles as Bob Woodward and Carl Bernstein with Ferrell as the straight man who is trying to maintain his serious reputation while McCullough brings a more comical approach to the role of Bernstein in his attempt to be very good-looking. Dan Hedaya is phenomenal as the titular character as he brings a lot of humor to the role of Nixon while being a mean man who kicks his dog and is very prejudice as Hedaya puts a lot of gravitas as Richard Nixon. Finally, there’s Kirsten Dunst and Michelle Williams in sensational performances in their respective roles as Betsy and Arlene. Dunst is the more ditzy of the two as she has this charm that makes her so delightful to watch while Williams is the more introverted as she falls for Nixon. The two together have great chemistry together in the way they play out each other as well as admit the fact that they are dumb girls.
Dick is a remarkable film from Andrew Fleming that features amazing performances from Kirsten Dunst, Michelle Williams, and Dan Hedaya as Richard Nixon. It’s a film that manages to take a unique premise and make it very enjoyable while it is also oddly compelling for the fact that it does play with American history. Even to the point of subverting some facts and things that really happened and get away with it. In the end, Dick is an incredible film from Andrew Fleming.
© thevoid99 2014
Based on the novel by Franz Kafka, The Trial is the story of a bureaucrat who is accused of a crime he has no clue what he committed as he is targeted by those in society. Written for the screen, directed, and starring Orson Welles, the film is a look into the world of totalitarian society where a man tries to figure out what he did wrong as it leads to all sorts of questions about the way life works. Also starring Anthony Perkins, Jeanne Moreau, Romy Schneider, Elsa Martinelli, and Akim Tamiroff. The Trial is a strange yet visually-astonishing film from Orson Welles.
Set in a futuristic world in an unnamed country, the film revolves around a man trying to figure out why he is being targeted by authorities where he asks questions into what he is charged with. It plays into a world where a man goes into a journey to figure out why he has been arrested as it leads all sorts of strange left turns and places as he has no clue what is going on. Even as his encounter with a trio of women would get him into places he has no idea what is going on as his attempts to seek help become more confusing. Orson Welles’ screenplay definitely plays into the abstract writing style of Franz Kafka where it is more about a man trying to understand a world that he is in and how his life had been defined by playing a role in society where there aren’t any ideas of individualism. Even as characters are people who aren’t exactly as they seem as it plays into the world that Josef K. (Anthony Perkins) is surrounded with.
Welles’ direction definitely plays to not just a sense of style in its homage to film noir but also infuse this very entrancing style of framing and camera angles that is akin to the style of European cinema of the times. Much of the direction plays into the world of Kafka where Josef would go into this journey where he walk into one building and then find himself in a building he knows but wonders how he got there. The direction definitely has this abstract tone not just in some of the compositions where there’s some high camera angles and low ones but also in its use of wide shots. Much of it involves these intricate ideas of framing in the way buildings are presented to make it feel like a futuristic world while Welles’ approach to low angles with its close-ups play into the drama as well as the suspense.
The crowd scenes are also effective to play into this feel of totalitarianism and bureaucracy where Josef K. is someone trying to fit into that world but there’s aspects of him that makes him a very dangerous threat to society. Even as he is forced to play into allegories such as this story that opens the film that Welles narrates as it would have a lot of metaphors for what Josef K. has to go through. Overall, Welles creates a very thrilling and provocative film about a man who is a target for a crime he has no idea what he committed.
Cinematographer Edmond Richard does brilliant work with the film‘s black-and-white photography with its use of lights to play into some of the film‘s dark moods and textures as well as some of the exteriors that add a futuristic feel to its locations. Editors Yvonne Martin and Frederick Muller, with additional and un-credited work from Orson Welles, do amazing work with the editing with its approach to fast-cutting in some of the very intense suspense scenes along with other stylish cuts to play into the drama and suspense. Production designer Jacques Mandaroux does excellent work with the set pieces from the offices as well as the design of the courtrooms and how some of them are strangely connected to one another.
Costume designer Helene Thibault does nice work with the costumes as it‘s mostly casual with the exception of some of the stylish clothing the women wear. The sound work of Guy Villette is fantastic for the atmosphere it conveys in some of the scenes involving crowds as well as the office building that Josef K. works at. The film’s music by Jean Ledrut is superb for its mixture of eerie orchestral music that is mixed in with frenetic jazz music where the former plays into the drama while the latter adds energy to its suspense.
The film’s phenomenal cast include some notable small roles from Max Haufler as Josef’s uncle, Naydra Shore as Josef’s young cousin, Michael Lonsdale as a priest, Arnoldo Foa as a lead inspector who arrests Josef, Fernand Ledoux as a chief law clerk, Suzanne Flon as a mysterious woman dragging a luggage that Josef meets, Madeleine Robinson as the landlady that Josef is friendly with, William Chappell as a mysterious painter whom Josef meets late in the film, and Akim Tamiroff in a terrific performance as a client of a mysterious lawyer. Elsa Martinelli is wonderful as a courtroom guard’s wife who flirts with Josef as she gives him odd answers. Romy Schneider is fantastic as a mysterious lawyer’s mistress named Leni who seduces Josef as she would also bring in some questionable suggestions for Josef’s quest.
Jeanne Moreau is excellent in a small role as Josef’s neighbor Marika Burstner who is a nightclub dancer that is trying to cope with her job as she is aware that she is being evicted. Orson Welles is amazing as the mysterious lawyer known as the Advocate as he is this very strange individual who tries to get Josef to work with him only to make him confused and such. Finally, there’s Anthony Perkins in a pretty good performance as Josef K. where Perkins does bring a lot of energy though he’s sort of miscast as he tends to overact some of his emotions while he doesn’t bring enough gravitas to make his character that compelling.
The Trial is an excellent film from Orson Welles that explores the world of the unknown set in a futuristic society. While it does have some flaws that includes a somewhat weak performance from Anthony Perkins, it is still a very engaging film for the way it explores totalitarianism and bureaucracy as well as presenting it with such style. In the end, The Trial is a superbly rich film from Orson Welles.
Orson Welles Films: Citizen Kane - The Magnificent Ambersons - The Stranger (1946 film) - The Lady from Shanghai - Macbeth (1948 film) - Othello (1952 film) - Mr. Arkadin - Touch of Evil - Chimes at Midnight - The Immortal Story - F for Fake - Filming Othello – The Other Side of the Wind Orson Welles: The One-Man Band - The Eyes of Orson Welles - They’ll Love Me When I’m Dead - The Auteurs #69: Orson Welles: Part 1 - Part 2
© thevoid99 2014
Directed, shot, and edited by Steven Soderbergh and written by Lem Dobbs, Haywire is the story of a spy who is betrayed by her organization as she seeks revenge while uncovering a conspiracy that is going against her. The film is an action-thriller where a woman whose job was to help a company as she realizes that there’s more at stake as she is a pawn of a big scheme. Starring Gina Carano, Ewan McGregor, Michael Fassbender, Channing Tatum, Michael Angarano, Antonio Banderas, and Michael Douglas. Haywire is a stylish yet entertaining film from Steven Soderbergh.
The film is an exploration of betrayal where a woman, who is hired by a private organization to retrieve hostages and kill targets, becomes part of a conspiracy where that organization tries to get rid of her. While it is a premise that is very simple, it is a film that is about a group of people who try to play a scheme where those of power become either corrupt or be caught off guard. Lem Dobbs’ screenplay doesn’t just explore what governments do to take care of situations but how certain individuals are willing to compromise them. In the middle of this is Mallory Kane (Gina Carano) who is just someone that does her job as she learns she is betrayed when an assignment she reluctantly takes part in is merely more of an attempt to eliminate her.
The first half of the story is about Kane being betrayed and what does she do as the narrative is largely told in flashback after a meeting a colleague has gone bad as she takes a hostage and tells him what is going on. The second half is about Kane exacting her revenge and why she gets betrayed as it involves all sorts of things about government involvements. Especially as it plays into ideas of capitalism and corruption in a world where the rules are changing and some in the old order are out of the loop. These things would motivate Kane into not just take action but also confront those who are running the show.
Steven Soderbergh’s direction is very stylish not just in his approach in creating a film that is thrilling and action-packed. It’s also a film where it’s quite engaging in the way the mystery unfolds and how it’s being told. Shot in various locations in two different continents, the film has something that feels big but also very intimate in some of the compositions that Soderbergh makes. Much of it involves close-ups and medium shots while some of the action scenes are presented in wide shots such as a chase scene in Dublin involving cops as there’s an intricacy to the way Soderbergh presents the sequence.
Serving as cinematographer in his Peter Andrews alias and editor in his Mary Ann Bernard alias, there are some unique images to the look of the film in terms of how the interiors are lit while Soderbergh uses a lot of blue filters for the scenes set in upstate New York. Soderbergh’s editing definitely has a lot of unique rhythms in the way the action and fights are presented yet he keeps it straightforward in order to maintain the air of suspense. Even as it would lead to confrontations and questions about the way the world works. Overall, Soderbergh creates a very intelligent yet riveting thriller about a woman going after those who betrayed her.
Production designer Howard Cummings, with set decorator Barbara Munch and art director James F. Oberlander, does excellent work with the look of the home where Kane‘s father lived in as well as the government offices and house that Kane goes to with a MI-6 agent. Costume designer Shoshana Rubin does nice work with the costumes as most of it is casual with the exception of the dress that Kane wears for a party. Visual effects supervisor John Kennedy does terrific work with the few visual effects shots in the film such as a scene in upstate New York where Kane tries to evade the police. Sound editor Larry Blake does fantastic work with the sound from the way punches and kicks are heard to the sound of sirens in some of the film‘s action scenes. The film’s music by David Holmes is brilliant for its mixture of funk and jazz to play into the energy of the film with some electronic pieces for the suspense and drama.
The casting by Carmen Cuba is amazing for the ensemble that is created as it features some notable small roles from Anthony Brandon Wong as a hostage Kane had to retrieve and Mathieu Kassovitz as a businessman that Kane and her MI-6 colleague Paul had to target. Michael Angarano is terrific as a young man named Scott that Kane takes hostage in the film’s first half as he learns about what she is doing. Michael Fassbender is excellent in a small role as a MI-6 agent named Paul who is part of the scheme to betray Kane. Antonio Banderas is brilliant as a Spanish contact named Rodrigo who is trying to watch over the international interest for the U.S. in terms of what is happening. Bill Paxton is fantastic as Kane’s father John who knows what his daughter does as he is aware of what is happening as he does whatever it takes to fool those who have betrayed her.
Channing Tatum is wonderful as a colleague in Aaron who only knows Kane for about a week after an assignment as he’s asked to deal with her where he would question about what is going on. Ewan McGregor is superb as Kane’s former boyfriend/contractor Kenneth who is trying to make some moves while getting Kane to accept a job that he needed. Michael Douglas is incredible as the government agent Coblenz who is this ambiguous figure as he is someone that is trying to watch over everything while being unaware of things that are happening. Finally, there’s Gina Carano in a remarkable performance as Mallory Kane as this woman who is trying to leave her job as she copes with being betrayed as it’s a performance that has Carano display some charm while kicking some ass at the same time.
Haywire is a phenomenal film from Steven Soderbergh that features a fantastic performance from Gina Carano. The film isn’t just a smart action-thriller but also a compelling film about the way governments and private firms deal with things in a world that is becoming very complicated. In the end, Haywire is a marvelous film from Steven Soderbergh.
Steven Soderbergh Films: sex, lies, & videotape - Kafka - King of the Hill - The Underneath - Gray’s Anatomy - Schizopolis - Out of Sight - The Limey - Erin Brockovich - Traffic - Ocean's 11 - Full Frontal - Solaris (2002 film) - Eros-Equilibrium - Ocean’s Twelve - Bubble - The Good German - Ocean’s Thirteen - Che - The Girlfriend Experience - The Informant! - And Everything is Going Fine - Contagion - Magic Mike - Side Effects - Behind the Candelabra - Logan Lucky - (Unsane) - (High Flying Bird)
The Auteurs #39: Steven Soderbergh: Pt. 1 - Pt. 2
© thevoid99 2014
Directed by Craig McCall, Cameraman: The Life and Work of Jack Cardiff is a documentary about the cinematographer who helped innovate the use of Technicolor as well as providing the cinema some of its greatest images. Especially as he was revered by the filmmakers he worked with as well as actors and actresses. The result is one of the most fascinating documentaries about one of cinema’s great photographers.
Famous for his beautiful work with Technicolor film stock for films like The Red Shoes , Black Narcissus , The African Queen , Barefoot Contessa , and Under Capricorn among many others. Jack Cardiff was a cinematographer who was considered one of the best as he would push the film stock to great heights as he went from being a cameraman to a top cinematographer. Shot partially in 2008 (a year before his death) as well as footage from his trip to the 1998 Cannes Film Festival where he was a guest of honor. Cardiff talks about many of the films he shot as well as the filmmakers, actors, actresses, and technicians he worked with in his illustrious career.
Some of which involves his process into the art of photography where Cardiff revealed that he was inspired more by painters rather than what was happening film. When Technicolor arrived in Britain in the late 1930s, Cardiff was the first who would understand the process as he would serve as a cameraman for a few documentaries that led to him working with Michael Powell and Emeric Pressburger as a second unit cameraman in The Life and Death of Colonel Blimp . This would get him a job to work as a cinematographer in their great works such as A Matter of Life and Death , Black Narcissus , and The Red Shoes . Cardiff also talks about some his early experiences as a cameraman in the 1930s where he talked about Marlene Dietrich’s fondness for lighting which he was impressed by.
With interviews from actors like Kirk Douglas and Lauren Bacall as well as filmmakers Martin Scorsese and Richard Fleischer plus Scorsese’s editor Thelma Schoonmaker, many of them discuss Cardiff’s methods in the art of photography. Even as Bacall, who would often visit’s the sets where her husband Humphrey Bogart was starring in, talked about how good he shot the actors which made actresses like Sophia Loren, Marilyn Monroe, Katherine Hepburn, Ava Gardner, and Marilyn Monroe look great as they would do photos for him for fun. There’s also discussions about Cardiff’s brief period as a filmmaker where despite getting accolades for films like Sons and Lovers and My Geisha in the 1960s, he would eventually return to cinematography in the late 1970s.
With some unique editing from Dan Roberts and Chris Dickens along with some terrific sound design from Sandra Portman, the film definitely takes a unique look into Cardiff’s career as he also talks about some of the drawbacks he had upon his return when it came to photographic special effects as Scorsese, who is an admirer of Cardiff’s work, expresses the sense of loss in the transition between film and digital where Scorsese favors the former. With some wonderfully low-key yet whimsical music from Mark Sayer-Wade, the film has this appreciation for Cardiff‘s contributions which begins and ends with the honorary Oscar he would receive at the 2001 Academy Awards.
Cameraman: The Life and Work with Jack Cardiff is an extraordinary film from Craig McCall. The film isn’t just a mesmerizing piece on one of cinema’s great photographers but also a man who brought a lot of new things to cinematography when film was getting a sense of how to present color. In the end, Cameraman: The Life and Work of Jack Cardiff is a sensationally rich film from Craig McCall.
© thevoid99 2014
Written and directed by Lisa Krueger, Manny & Lo is the story of two sisters who run away from foster homes as they trek to find places to crash until the oldest learns she is pregnant as they kidnap a baby store clerk to help them. The film is a coming-of-age tale where two sisters deal with the need to find a maternal figure as well as coping with growing pains as they’re respectively played by Scarlett Johansson and Aleksa Palladino. Also starring Mary Kay Place, Glenn Fitzgerald, and Paul Guilfoyle. Manny & Lo is a charming and captivating film from Lisa Krueger.
The film revolves around two sisters who both run away from different fosters home as they go on a road trip where they crash into houses that haven’t been sold while shoplift or do whatever to survive. When the eldest Lo learns she is pregnant as she and her younger sister Manny hide out in the country, they kidnap a baby store clerk due to her knowledge about babies despite the fact that she has no children. While it’s a story that is quite simple, it does play into many aspects about what these two young girls want from this eccentric woman named Elaine (Mary Kay Place) by taking her to this house in the middle of the woods as she becomes a profound influence for the two young girls. Lisa Krueger’s screenplay is largely told from the perspective of Manny as she is this 11-year old girl who is very mature for her age as she copes with Lo’s immaturity and sense of danger. While it’s clear the two are in need of a maternal figure, there is a conflict about whether they should have Elaine around as she is quite odd and doesn’t seem to mind getting kidnapped.
Krueger’s direction maintains that air of simplicity in the story as she mostly goes for shots that are quite entrancing in its usage of medium shots and close-ups. Shot on location in rural areas in New Jersey as well as nearby small towns, it’s a film that has the sense of wandering that is often prevalent in road movies but it’s mixed in with this coming-of-age tone that allows the story to be more compelling. Even in the way Krueger would shoot a few wide shots shown from the perspective of the two where they observe a location or a group of people. Some of it is played for laughs while it’s mainly a light-hearted in terms of the relationship between Elaine and the two girls. It does get more dramatic in the third act when it becomes clear of how much the girls need Elaine. Overall, Krueger creates a very engaging and touching film about two runaway sisters looking for a home and a maternal figure.
Cinematographer Tom Krueger does excellent work with the film‘s cinematography from the colorful yet naturalistic look of the daytime exterior/interior locations with some unique lighting for some scenes set at night. Editor Colleen Sharp does nice work as the editing is very straightforward with some rhythmic cuts to play into the humor and drama. Production designer Sharon Lomofsky and set decorator Dina Goldman do terrific work with the look of the country home that Manny and Lo had found as it has that remoteness that they‘re looking for.
Costume designer Jennifer Parker does wonderful work with the costumes from the white nurse uniform that Elaine wears to the more casual look of Manny and Lo. Sound editor Richard King does superb work with the sound to play into the low-key sound of the locations as well as the way music is heard on location. The film’s music by John Lurie is fantastic as it is this mixture of folk-based music with elements of vibraphones and keyboards as it is very low key while the soundtrack features elements of punk and metal plus soul music from LaBelle.
The casting by Ellen Parks is brilliant as it features some notable small roles from Cameron Boyd as a young boy Manny befriends, Glenn Fitzgerald as Lo’s boyfriend Joey who tries to do nice things for her, and Paul Guilfoyle as the owner of the country house who appears in its third act. Mary Kay Place is amazing as Elaine as this baby store clerk who knows a lot about what babies want as she helps Lo with her pregnancy while getting to know Manny. Aleksa Palladino is excellent as Lo as this 16-year old woman who is dealing with being pregnant as she is always aggressive and trying to keep things in control as she realizes that she needs Elaine.
Finally, there’s Scarlett Johansson in an incredible performance as Manny as it’s Johansson in one of her earlier performances. It’s a performance where Johansson has this very evocative quality where she is this 11-year old girl who is always being observing while trying to figure out what to do as she is clearly more mature than Lo as it’s just a real breakthrough for someone who would become one of cinema’s finest actresses.
Manny & Lo is a remarkable film from Lisa Krueger that features superb performances from Aleksa Palladino and Mary Kay Place as well as a mesmerizing performance from a young Scarlett Johansson. The film is definitely a unique genre-bending film as it’s part road-film mixed in with a coming-of-age drama that also has elements of humor. In the end, Manny & Lo is a sensational film from Lisa Krueger.
© thevoid99 2014
