Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2

Based on the comic series by Dan Abnett and Andy Lanning, Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 revolves around the gang of misfits who travel all over outer space as they deal with new foes as well as get help from old allies and enemies while trying to find out the truth over the parentage of Peter Quill/Starlord. Written for the screen and directed by James Gunn, the film is an exploration of heroes trying to keep their family together as well as deal with those who want to tear them apart. Starring Chris Pratt, Zoe Saldana, Dave Bautista, Karen Gillan, Michael Rooker, Elizabeth Debicki, Pom Klementieff, Sean Gunn, Chris Sullivan, Sylvester Stallone, and Kurt Russell along with the voices of Bradley Cooper and Vin Diesel. Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 is a sprawling yet touching film from James Gunn.

The film follows the band of misfits known as the Guardians of the Galaxy where they take on missions as one of them has gotten the group in trouble where they’re later saved by a mysterious figure known as Ego (Kurt Russell) who is revealed to be the father of Peter Quill/Starlord (Chris Pratt). The film isn’t just about Quill learning about his father but also the Guardians dealing with this news as they try to figure what he’s about and why he’s been looking for Quill for so long. Even as they wonder why the Ravager Yondu Udonata (Michael Rooker) had kept and raised Quill for so many years as Yondu is forced to deal with the exile of being part of the main Ravagers group where he is later usurped in a mutiny after refusing to do a job in capturing the Guardians. James Gunn’s screenplay definitely carries a major theme that is prevalent through the film which is about family as the Guardians are a dysfunctional group who at times couldn’t tolerate each other but all work to try and save the universe no matter how much they get on each other’s nerves.

It’s not just Quill dealing with his feelings for the alien Gamora (Zoe Saldana) but also learning more about who he is after meeting Ego who would take him, Gamora, and the alien Drax the Destroyer (Dave Bautista) to his home planet. The character of the genetically-engineered raccoon Rocket (voice of Bradley Cooper) has a hard time dealing with being part of a family as he would get the Guardians in trouble with a Sovereign race whom they were supposed to work for in exchange of freeing Gamora’s estranged adopted sister Nebula (Karen Gillan). Nebula would later help Yondu’s mutinous Ravagers in capturing Rocket and the tree-like humanoid in Baby Groot (voice of Vin Diesel) in the hopes of dealing with Gamora as the script reveal more of Nebula’s own issues with Gamora as it goes back to how their adopted father Thanos raised them.

The script also reveal a lot about Ego and what he was doing on Earth when he met Quill’s mother (Laura Haddock) as he is someone that is very powerful being with powers that can do so much as he wants to pass it on to Quill. Yet, Gamora is uneasy about Ego as well as Drax who learn more about Ego’s powers through Ego’s pet empath Mantis (Pom Klementieff) whose job is to make sure Ego would sleep as she’s having a hard time doing that where she would befriend Drax. Yet, the Guardians would still have to cope with the Sovereign race led by its leader Ayesha (Elizabeth Debicki) who is very upset over the batteries that Rocket stole forcing another showdown to save the universe.

Gunn’s direction is definitely grand in terms of where much of the film is set as it is largely set in various planets and parts of the galaxy. With some of it shot around Cartersville, Georgia for a few sequences including its opening sequence involving Ego and Quill’s mother. Gunn definitely knows how to establish the characters and the story as well as create different worlds in the galaxy to play into something that is very large and what is at stake. The opening battle scene where the Guardians are trying to protect powerful batteries features a long tracking shot where all of the Guardians but Groot are fighting as Groot is dancing to some music which showcases the mixture of humor and adventure that is prevalent throughout the film. The wide shots do help play into the grandness of the galaxy and some of locations in the different planets but it also play into the world that is Ego’s planet which does have something that is very enchanting.

Gunn makes sure the film’s humor is approached very naturally while finding the time to create moments that would lead to action sequences or anything that is about the characters as he would shoot these moments with medium shots and close-ups. Notably the sequence in which Rocket and Yondu are jailed by Yondu’s men as it’s a very intimate moment revealing two individuals who are troublemakers but do have something to offer in doing what is right for the universe. That intimacy would also play into the growing friendship between Drax and Mantis as well as the complicated relationship between Gamora and Nebula where both women have to deal with what their father did to them. All of which would force many to deal with not just evil forces but also learn the importance of family no matter how dysfunctional they are. Overall, Gunn creates a thrilling and witty comedy about a gang of misfits trying to save the galaxy and deal with each other.

Cinematographer Henry Braham does excellent work with the film’s cinematography from the naturalistic look of the scenes set on Earth to many of the lighting schemes and hues for some of the different planets as well as a mixture of colors in the lighting. Editors Fred Raskin and Craig Wood do nice work with the editing as it is quite stylish with its usage of montages as well as jump-cuts for some of the action without deviating too much into fast-paced cutting. Production designer Scott Chambliss, with supervising art director Ramsey Avery as well as set decorators Lauri Gaffin and Jay Hart, does amazing work with the look of the different spaceships as well as the different worlds the characters go to from the golden look of the Sovereign race to the exotic beauty of Ego’s planet. Costume designer Judianna Makovsky does terrific work with the costumes from the look of the Ayesha as well as the clothes that Ego wears. Makeup artists Bill Myer and Jay Wejebe, along with hair stylist Jules Holdren, does brilliant work with the look of the characters such as some of the Ravagers as well as the look of the Sovereign race.

Visual effects supervisors Ray McMaster, Doug Spilatro, and Christopher Townsend do fantastic work with the visual effects from the design of some of the planets and some of the creatures as well as the look of Ego’s home planet. Sound designers David Acord and Addison Teague do superb work with the sound in creating some sound effects as well as create mixes to combine different sounds for the action scenes and intense sci-fi scenes. The film’s music by Tyler Bates is wonderful for its mixture of orchestral music with some electronic flourishes for the action and humor while music supervisor Dave Jordan creates a kick-ass soundtrack that mixes rock, soul, pop, and country that feature contributions from acts such as Electric Light Orchestra, Sweet, George Harrison, Glen Campbell, Parliament, Cheap Trick, Cat Stevens, Fleetwood Mac, Sam Cooke, Looking Glass, Jay and the Americans, Silver, Aliotta Haynes Jeremiah, and a disco song by Tyler Bates and James Gunn with David Hasselhoff.

The casting by Sarah Finn is incredible as it feature some notable small roles and appearances from Laura Haddock as Quill’s mother in the flashbacks, Evan Jones as a Ravager who betrays Yondu, Aaron Schwartz as the model for the young Ego, Hannah Gottesman as the Sovereign chambermaid, and the obligatory cameo from Stan Lee as an astronaut telling stories to the Watchers. Other notable small roles include Chris Sullivan as the Ravager known as Taserface who would betray Yondu as he’s very funny as is Sean Gunn in a dual-role as the on-set version of Rocket and Yondu’s loyal second-in-command Kraglin who would play an integral part of the story in helping the Guardians. Sylvester Stallone is terrific in a small but important role as Stakar Ogord as the Ravagers leader who has issues with Yondu over the things that Yondu has done as he has excommunicated him feeling that Yondu isn’t worthy to be a true Ravager. Elizabeth Debicki is wonderful as the Sovereign leader Ayesha as a golden-like woman who is quite arrogant as she becomes upset over what Rocket does as she tries to hunt the Guardians with her army.

Pom Klementieff is fantastic as Mantis as an empath who works for Ego as she can sort out people’s feelings where she is a foil of sorts for Drax due to her lack of social interaction as there’s an air of innocence to her performance. The voice performances of Bradley Cooper and Vin Diesel are excellent with the former being the genetically-engineered raccoon Rocket who can create weapons but is afraid to be part of a family while Diesel’s voice role as Groot is very funny as the tiny tree-like humanoid who can only say the words “I am Groot” as he provides the film’s funniest moments. Karen Gillan is brilliant as Nebula as Gamora’s estranged adopted sister who has a grudge towards Gamora where she does whatever she can to kill her while realizing what is at stake with the galaxy as they both share a hatred for their adopted father Thanos. Michael Rooker is amazing as Yondu Udonata as a Ravager who copes with being exiled from the Ravagers as well as his own relationship with Quill as he learns about Quill meeting his father whom he doesn’t like.

Kurt Russell is marvelous as Ego as a powerful, God-like being who is Quill’s father as a man with cosmic powers to create anything including his own planet as there’s a complexity to Russell’s performance that is engaging but also unsettling at times. Dave Bautista is great as Drax the Destroyer as a big alien who says some very strange things yet proves to be very entertaining as he is always very funny while kicking some ass. Zoe Saldana is phenomenal as Gamora as an alien who is kind of the conscience of the group as someone who does have feelings for Quill as she is suspicious about Ego while also forcing to see the things she has done to Nebula. Finally, there’s Chris Pratt in a remarkable performance as Peter Quill/Starlord as a half-human/half-Celestial who learns about the identity of his father as he deals with issues of abandonment and family while trying to do what is right for the galaxy as he becomes torn into being with the Guardians or with his father.

Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 is a marvelous film from James Gunn. Featuring a great ensemble cast, an engaging theme on family and loyalty, gorgeous visuals, and a fun music soundtrack. The film definitely offers a lot in terms of its entertainment value with high-octane action and lots of humor as well as provide themes that audiences can relate to. In the end, Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 is a sensational film from James Gunn.


James Gunn Films: (Slither) - (Super (2010 film)) - The Suicide Squad (2021 film) - Superman (2025 film) - (The Auteurs #76: James Gunn)

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

© thevoid99 2017

Picnic at Hanging Rock

Based on the novel by Joan Lindsay, Picnic at Hanging Rock is the story of schoolgirls and their teacher having a picnic at the geological formation known as Hanging Rock in the Victoria state of Australia where several of them don’t return. Directed by Peter Weir and screenplay by Cliff Green, the film is about an event on Valentine’s Day 1900 where a community is rocked by this event. Starring Anne-Louise Lambert, Helen Morse, Rachel Roberts, Vivean Gray, Jacki Weaver, and Dominic Guard. Picnic at Hanging Rock is an evocative and haunting film by Peter Weir.

The film revolves around a simple picnic near the geological formation of Hanging Rock where a trio of schoolgirls from an all-girl’s college and a teacher of theirs suddenly disappear as a town and the school try to figure out what happened. It’s a film with a simple story about a disappearance on a day where nothing could go wrong yet many wonder what happened as one of the missing is eventually found as she has no idea what happened. Cliff Green’s screenplay starts off with the day of the event as it plays as if it was a normal day where a group of girls go to have a picnic with one of them being forced stay at the school due to her behavior. During this picnic, three of the girls in Miranda (Anne-Louis Lambert), Irma (Karen Robson), and Marion (Jane Vallis) would explore Hanging Rock with another classmate in Edith (Christine Schuler) who would return from the exploration screaming in horror as one of the school’s teachers in Miss Greta McCraw (Vivean Gray) would also disappear.

During this picnic, two young men in the young Englishman Michael Fitzhubert (Dominic Guard) and his valet Albert (John Jarratt) would notice the four girls crossing the creek before the disappearance as Michael becomes obsessed in Miranda whom he’s enchanted by as he would go on a search of his own where Albert would later make a chilling discovery. The script doesn’t just play into people baffled by this disappearance where a police sergeant and a constable try to figure out what happened where the local town is asking lots of question. The script also show how the disappearances of three girls and a teacher would change the environment of this all-girl’s college as students would leave as well as other things prompting a sense of change where its headmistress Mrs. Appleyard (Rachel Roberts) is dealing with the incident and the effect it’s had on the school.

Peter Weir’s direction is just ravishing in every sense of the word from the way he shoots everything on location at Hanging Rock as well as the Martindale Hall which plays the school and locations in Mintaro and parts of Adelaide. Weir’s usage of the wide shots would play into the beauty of these locations as well as create compositions that have this look and feel of a painting for a scene where the schoolgirls and their adult chaperones would be as Weir would have the actors in one part of the location and someone else in another part. It all plays into this quaint world of turn-of-the-century Australia where everyone is still trying to maintain certain etiquettes of the ways of the world yet these young girls are entranced by things that are new where three of them would go to Hanging Rock out of curiosity where they have no idea what they’re doing or getting themselves into. There is a dream-like quality to these scenes where Weir’s usage of superimposed dissolves would help play into these strange things these young ladies encounter as well as what Michael would dream about which leads him to try and find the girls during the second act.

Weir would use some close-ups and medium shots for some of the intimate moments as it relates to the environment of the school from Sara becoming more troublesome as she copes with losing her friend Miranda to Mrs. Appleyard losing students at the school. The direction has Weir showcase a growing sense of decline of 19th Century values and etiquette for something that is new as there’s a scene in the third act of people picnicking and doing other activities at Hanging Rock while still continuing to do the search. Even in scenes where the police sergeant is forced to close the door at his home because has no answers where it does have this sense of changing times where there are no answers for why three people disappeared. Overall, Weir creates a rapturous yet eerie film about a school picnic that turns to tragedy following the disappearance of three schoolgirls and a teacher.

Cinematographer Russell Boyd does incredible work with the film’s very ravishing and gorgeous cinematography with its usage of natural lighting to play into the film’s dreamy tone for many of the daytime exteriors as well as some natural light for the scenes at night. Editor Max Lemon does brilliant work with the editing with its usage of jump-cuts, montages, and dissolves as it help play into the drama as well as some of the mystery that looms throughout the film. Art director David Copping does excellent work with the interior designs of the school as well as the home of the sergeant as well as the home of Michael’s uncle.

Costume designer Judith Dorsman does fantastic work with the look of the dresses of the girls and women as well as the clothes of the men including Michael’s suit. Sound recordist Don Connolly does superb work with the sound in capturing many of the natural elements as well as the chaos into people’s reaction over what happened. The film’s music by Bruce Smeaton with pan flute music by Gheorghe Zamfir is amazing for its mesmerizing score with Smeaton’s music largely consisting of eerie piano and orchestral strings with Zamfir’s music creating some dream-like themes for the girls.

The film’s wonderful cast feature some notable small roles from Peter Collingwood and Olga Dickie in their respective roles as Michael’s uncle and aunt, Tony Llewellyn-Jones as gardener, Frank Gunnell as the head gardener, John Fegan as a doctor, Garry McDonald as the police constable, Wyn Roberts as the local police sergeant, Christine Schuler as the student Edith who would join the girls in exploring Hanging Rock only to be scared, and Jacki Weaver in a terrific performance as a young maid named Minnie who is concerned for the well-being of the students as well as Mrs. Appleyard. Kirsty Child and Vivean Gray are superb in their respective roles as the teachers in the prim and loyal Miss Lumley and the mathematics teacher Miss McCraw as the latter would suddenly disappear. Karen Robson and Jane Vallis are fantastic in their respective roles as Irma and Marion as two of the schoolgirls who would explore Hanging Rock and suddenly disappear. John Jarratt is terrific as the valet Albert as a local who is at first dismissive about what happened to the girls until he makes a chilling discovery as he also copes with his own troubles with his family.

Dominic Guard is excellent as Michael Fitzhubert as a young Englishman who is visiting relatives in Australia where he is entranced by one of the schoolgirls who had disappeared as he becomes obsessed in finding her. Margaret Nelson is brilliant as the troubled student Sara Waybourne as a young woman who is a close friend of Miranda as she has trouble fitting and meet the expectations of Mrs. Appleyard. Helen Morse is amazing as Mademoiselle de Poitiers as a young French teacher who is the most concerned as she tries to help the students anyway they can in coping with the disappearance as well as be aware that things won’t be the same. Rachel Roberts is remarkable as Mrs. Appleyard as a headmistress keen on maintaining some control and a stature of the school as she copes with the disappearance of three of her students and her best teacher as well as the emergence of change happening. Finally, there’s Anne-Louis Lambert in a radiant performance as Miranda as a student whose beauty entrances Michael as she is the most concerned about what she sees at Hanging Rock that would lead to her disappearance.

Picnic at Hanging Rock is a magnificent film from Peter Weir. Featuring a great ensemble cast, gorgeous visuals, a mesmerizing story, and a hypnotic score, the film is truly one of the finest stories about disappearances and its effects on a school and a community. In the end, Picnic at Hanging Rock is an outstanding film from Peter Weir.

Peter Weir Films: (3 to Go-Michael) – (Homesdale) – (Whatever Happened to Green Valley?) - (The Car That Ate Paris) – (The Last Wave) – The Plumber (1979 TV film) - Gallipoli – The Year of Living Dangerously – (Witness) – (Mosquito Coast) – Dead Poets Society - (Green Card) – (Fearless) – (The Truman Show) – Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World - The Way Back

© thevoid99 2017

Thursday Movie Picks: Clones/Doppelgangers

For the first week of May of 2017 as part of the Thursday Movie Picks series hosted by Wanderer of Wandering Through the Shelves. We venture into the world of clones/doppelgangers where it is about identity and who people are and such. Even if that person wants to be this person or to be cloned as that one. Here are three films that I pick on this subject:

1. Persona

Ingmar Bergman’s film about a nurse taking of a traumatized actress who has become mute might not fit in with the subject but it does play into the world of identity as well wanting to be someone. Starring Bibi Andersson and Liv Ullman, the film is definitely one of the most challenging as Andersson’s nurse character would embody the personalities of Ullman’s actress character that she is caring for and vice versa as if they become one person. It’s a very challenging film but certainly a must-see for anyone who wants to explore the works of Ingmar Bergman.

2. 3 Women

In one of two films that was directly inspired by Persona, Robert Altman’s 1977 film is about two women with very different personalities who live together in Los Angeles working at a health spa. With Sissy Spacek as this newcomer who would become Shelley Duvall’s roommate/co-worker,

Spacek’s shy character would take on the many aspects of Duvall’s character by living a little dangerously with Duvall taking on some of Spacek’s personalities. It’s one of Altman’s finest films as it doesn’t just go deep into this idea of doppelgangers but also identity.

3. Mulholland Dr.

The second film that was obviously inspired by Persona is a much stranger film where if one paid attention to the narrative. They wouldn’t think it is about doppelgangers but the film’s narrative would change completely in its third act as it is about identity. Laura Elena Harring’s character is this amnesiac movie star who has no idea who she is as she calls herself Rita where she would later take on a blond wig to look like her new friend Betty who is played by Naomi Watts. The third act is a complete mind-fuck where it changes everything that was previously seen as it definitely play into the world of doppelgangers and who these women want to be. In many ways, Betty is a doppelganger of another woman while Rita is the doppelganger of the actress. This is all part of a strange world that David Lynch has created as it is remains his best film to date.

© thevoid99 2017

Boudu Saved from Drowning

Based on the play Rene Fauchois, Boudu sauve` des eaux (Boudu Saved from Drowning) is the story of a Parisian tramp who is saved by a rich and kind bookseller only to create chaos into the man’s life. Written for the screen and directed by Jean Renoir, the film is a man’s life being changed when he tries to be generous and help another man where it would force him to see some of the fallacies of his kindness. Starring Michel Simon, Charles Granval, Marcelle Hainia, Severine Lerczinska, Jean Gehret, Max Dalban, Jacques Becker, and Jean Daste. Boudu sauve` des eaux is a witty and engaging film from Jean Renoir.

The film follows a tramp whose dog had suddenly ran off as he attempts suicide by drowning himself on a river only to be saved by an upper-middle class bookseller who takes him in. It’s a film that is an exploration into generosity and some of its fallacies where this kind man is trying to be a good person and help someone in need but he’s unaware that the man he saved is kind of an anarchist of sorts who isn’t interested in change. Jean Renoir’s screenplay follows the life of the bookseller Edouard Lestingois (Charles Granval) who is a good man but is having an affair with his housemaid Chloe Anne Marie (Severine Lerczinska) whom he’s fond of as his marriage to Emma (Marcella Hainia) has lost some steam. When he saves this tramp named Boudu (Michel Simon), he just wants to help but Boudu is baffled by this kindness as he’s not comfortable sleeping on a bed nor is used to eating with utensils and have manners. Plus, he become attracted to Chloe as well as Emma where it would create chaos at home.

Renoir’s direction is very straightforward with some aspects of style as it relates to elements of silent cinema such as the early scenes with Boudu and his dog. Shot in and around locations in Paris, the film play into this world of class difference as it’s something Boudu is kind of on the outs with the world of the middle and upper class. One notable scene is where he asks a policeman about finding his dog as that policeman would go find a dog whose owner is an upper class woman. When Boudu is taken in by Lestingois and be given fine suits and other things expected in the middle-upper class world. He is taken aback by it as it’s something he’s not familiar with where Renoir has him framed often in the background whenever Lestingois is talking about him to other people where Renoir’s usage of medium shots and close-ups play into its intimacy.

The direction also feature some wide shots for the scenes set in Paris where it does feel like a world that is dominated by people of the upper and middle class instead of the poor or the working-class as Renoir doesn’t shine a lot on that spectrum of the world. The direction has Renoir use some unique camera movements which includes a scene near the end as it relates to the new world that Boudu is in where everyone is having a good time but Boudu feels bored by it. Even as it he showcases scenes of Boudu being rambunctious and flirtatious towards Chloe and Emma to express his own free spirit as his presence would change some of the things around Lestingois and the people around him. Especially in the way they see the world and cope with the flaws of their own lifestyle as well as the idea of generosity which also prove to have its flaws. Overall, Renoir creates a compelling yet delightful film about a tramp who is saved by a rich bookseller and taken into a world of etiquette and prestige.

Cinematographers Marcel Lucien and Georges Asselin do brilliant work with the film’s black-and-white photography as it help play into the beauty of the daytime exteriors as well as the low-key scenes set at night. Editors Marguerite Houlle and Suzanne de Troye do excellent work with the editing as it is very straightforward with some rhythmic cuts to play into some of the film’s humor. The set design by Jean Castanier and Hugues Laurent is fantastic for the look of the book store that Lestingois lives and works at as well as some of the exteriors in the park that Boudu would often go to.

The sound work of Igor Kalinowski is terrific for its approach to natural sound as well in some of the moments that play inside Lestingois’ home. The film’s wonderful music soundtrack features opening and closing themes by Leo Daniderff that is mainly some light-hearted orchestral pieces with soundtrack contributions from Johann Strauss and original pieces by flautist J. Boulze who appears in the film as well as orpheon music by Edouard Dumoulin.

The film’s superb cast feature some notable small roles from Jacques Becker as a park bench poet, Jean Gehret and Max Dalban as a couple of Lestingois’ friends, and Jean Daste as a student trying to buy a book from Lestingois. Severine Lerczinska is brilliant as Chloe Anne Marie as a housemaid/clerk who is a mistress of Lestingois as she is fascinated and repulsed by Boudu as she reluctantly gives in to his charms. Marcelle Hainia is excellent as Emma Lestingois as a bored housewife who is the most reluctant to have Boudu in her home as she would be seduced by his charms. Charles Granval is amazing as Edouard Lestingois as this bookseller who is a man that does good as he tries to do what is right only to have his life be disrupted by this tramp and deal with the implications of bringing him to his home. Finally, there’s Michel Simon in a phenomenal performance as Priape Boudu as this tramp that is despondent over losing his dog as he copes for companionship where he’s later taken in by a bookseller as he struggles to look and feel clean as well as the expectations of upper-middle class society as he brings a lot of humor and liveliness to her performance.

Boudu sauve` des eaux is an incredible film from Jean Renoir that features a tremendous performance from Michel Simon. Along with a great supporting cast, a captivating premise, and some very funny moments. The film is definitely one of Renoir’s richest and most entertaining films in his illustrious career. In the end, Boudu sauve` des eaux is a sensational film from Jean Renoir.

Related: (Down and Out in Beverly Hills)

Jean Renoir Films: (Backbiters) - (La Fille de l’eau) - (Charleston Parade) - (Une vie sans joie) - (Marquitta) - (The Sad Sack) - (The Tournament) - (The Little Match Girl) - (Le Bled) - (On purge bebe) - (Isn’t Life a Bitch?) - (Night at the Crossroads) - (Chotard & Company) - (Madame Bovary (1933 film)) - (Toni) - Partie de campagne - (Life Belongs to Us) - (The Lower Depths (1936 film)) - (The Crime of Monsieur Lange) - Grand Illusion - (La Marseillaise) - La bete humaine - Rules of the Game - (Swamp Water) - (This Land is Mine) - (Salute to France) - (The Southerner) - (The Diary of a Chambermaid (1945 film)) - (The Woman on the Beach) - The River (1951 film) - (The Golden Coach) - (French Cancan) - (Elena and Her Men) - (The Doctor’s Horrible Experiment) - (Picnic on the Grass) - (The Elusive Corporal) - (The Little Theater of Jean Renoir)

© thevoid99 2017

The Incredible Hulk (2008 film)

Based on the comic series by Jack Kirby and Stan Lee, The Incredible Hulk is the story of a man who turns into a green and destructive monster whenever he gets angry as he is pursued by the army while trying to find a cure for his condition. Directed by Louis Leterrier and screenplay by Zak Penn with contributions by Edward Norton, the film is a reboot of sorts of the 2003 film where it focuses on Bruce Banner’s quest to cure himself and evade the army unaware that a power-hungry soldier wants to use a similar formula to beat the Hulk. Starring Edward Norton, Tim Roth, Liv Tyler, Tim Blake Nelson, Ty Burrell, and William Hurt. The Incredible Hulk is a lively yet messy film from Louis Leterrier.

The film follows a man who was part of a gamma radiation experiment where he became a green monster that destroys everything whenever he’s angry as he finds himself being pursued by the U.S. army. During this pursuit, Bruce Banner/the Hulk (Edward Norton) is trying to find a cure as he is trying to meet a fellow scientist who claims to have a cure yet a soldier who is in pursuit of Banner wants what Banner has to destroy him. It’s a film with a simple premise which explores a man just wanting to maintain some control as he also copes with disconnecting himself with the life he previously had which includes a relationship with Betty Ross (Liv Tyler) whose father in General Thaddeus “Thunderbolt” Ross (William Hurt) is pursuing Banner. During this pursuit, General Ross gets the service of a revered British soldier named Emil Blonsky (Tim Roth) who wants to capture Banner as he also wants what Banner is carrying as a way to stop him.

The film’s screenplay doesn’t just try to explore Banner’s attempt to find a cure but also trying to figure out why he was able to stay alive despite the fact that the radiation was going to kill him. Yet, there is a lot going on as one of the reasons General Ross is pursuing him is so that he can find out what made Banner survive and turn this experiment into a weapon as General Ross isn’t exactly an antagonist. Especially as it relates to his estranged relationship with his daughter as well as come to the realization of how bad this kind of power can be after giving Blonsky a serum that can allow him to enhance his own abilities. While the script succeeds in establishing the plot and its characters, it does suffer from being too predictable while characters such as Betty Ross aren’t given much to do in terms of advancing the story as all she really is someone that can bring Banner back whenever he’s the Hulk.

Louis Leterrier’s direction is definitely big in terms of its setting and what is expected in blockbuster action films as it feature some extravagant action sequences as well as moments of suspense. Yet, Letterier knows when give the action a break to focus on the story as it relates to Banner trying to hide and evade the authorities despite some of the lackluster material involving him and Betty. Shot largely in Toronto with additional locations in New York City and Rio de Janeiro, the film does play into a large world where the first act has Banner in Latin America while the second act in Toronto and areas in Canada as Virginia and the third act in New York City. Leterrier does create some unique compositions with the close-ups and medium shots in focusing on the characters as well as wide shots to capture the action and the scenes involving the Hulk. The film’s climax is, not surprisingly, overblown as it pits the Hulk against a monster called Abomination where it is quite clunky at times but does deliver in what it aims to be which is two monsters going mano-a-mano. Overall, Leterrier creates a fine yet flawed film about a man who becomes a monster whenever he gets angry.

Cinematographer Peter Menzies Jr. does nice work with the cinematography as it is a bit desaturated in its look and approach to colors as it relates to the locations and some of the big set pieces in the film. Editors John Wright, Rick Shaine, and Vincent Taballion do nice work with the editing where it does have some stylish montages as well as some fast-cutting for some of the film’s action scenes. Production designer Kirk M. Petruccelli, with supervising art director Daniel T. Dorrance as well as set decorators Monica Delfino, Carolyn “Cal” Loucks, and Monica Rochlin, does fantastic work with the home in Brazil that Banner lives in as well as the college campuses where Betty and the mysterious Mr. Blue works at. Costume designers Denise Cronenbergh and Renee Fontana does terrific work with the costumes as it is mostly casual with the exception of the uniforms and clothes the Army personnel wears.

Visual effects supervisors Ian Hunter, Betsy Paterson, Colin Strause, Greg Strause, and Chris Wells does excellent work with the visual effects in not just the design of the Hulk but also the monster that would be Abomination though some of it does look spotty at times. Sound editors Greg Hedgepath and Eric Lindemann, with sound designer Michael Babcock, do superb work with the sound as it add to some of the intensity of the action as well as in the film’s climatic battle between Hulk and Abomination. The film’s music by Craig Armstrong is wonderful as it’s mostly orchestral with air of bombast for the action scenes and serene moments for the drama.

The casting by Robin D. Cook and Laray Mayfield is brilliant as it feature some notable small roles from Lou Ferrigno as a campus security guard, Martin Starr as a student at a lab, Jim Wilson and Jack Magee as a couple of students who capture footage of the Hulk’s battle with the Army, Michael K. Williams as a bystander during the Hulk-Abomination battle, Rickson Gracie as Banner’s martial arts teacher in Brazil, Peter Mensah as a fellow general who gives General Ross information on Blonsky, Paul Soles as a pizzeria owner who is a longtime friend of Banner, Christina Cabot as General Ross’ assistant Major Kathleen Sparr, Debora Nascimento as Banner’s Brazilian girlfriend Martina, and Ty Burrell as Betty’s boyfriend Leonard Samson who is also a psychiatrist as he learns why Betty never talks about her father. Tim Blake Nelson is superb as Samuel Sterns as a college professor/researcher who has been trying to analyze everything Banner’s given him where he makes a discovery into what could help Banner. William Hurt is excellent as General Thaddeus “Thunderbolt” Ross as an Army general who is eager to capture Banner and figure out what made him survive the gamma radiation as he hopes to have it weaponized only to see what can really go wrong.

Liv Tyler is alright as Betty Ross as she’s not given much to do but be there for Banner as well as scream or get herself into some bad situation as it’s a very badly-written role for Tyler. Tim Roth is fantastic as Emil Blonsky as a Russian-born British marine who is asked to help capture Banner as he wants to know what makes Banner the Hulk as he is eager to do whatever it takes to beat the Hulk anyway he can as it’s a very slimy yet fun performance from Roth. Finally, there’s Edward Norton in a marvelous performance as Bruce Banner/the Hulk as a scientist who is on the run following an experiment gone wrong as Norton brings a nice weight to his role as someone eager to rid of the persona he would unleash while also bringing some light-hearted humor to the role.

The Incredible Hulk is a good though flawed film from Louis Leterrier. Despite some excellent performances from Edward Norton, Tim Roth, and William Hurt as well as enough moments that are entertaining. It is a film that plays too much by the rules in terms of what it sets out to be with very little to make it more compelling. In the end, The Incredible Hulk is a worthwhile film from Louis Leterrier.

Louis Leterrier Films: (The Transporter) – (Unleashed) – (The Transporter 2) – (Clash of the Titans (2010 film)) – (Now You See Me) – (Grimsby)

Related: Hulk

Marvel Cinematic Universe: Infinity Saga: Phase One: Iron Man - Iron Man 2 - Thor (2011 film) - Captain America: The First Avenger - The Avengers (2012 film)

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

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

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

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

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

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

© thevoid99 2017

2017 Cannes Film Festival Marathon Announcement

From May 17-28, the 70th Cannes Film Festival will commence as it is pretty much the event of the year for many film buffs. It’s the moment where some of the best filmmakers would unleash new films for the world to see as there will be some surprises and maybe some failures. Opening the festival will be Arnaud Desplechin’s new film Ismael’s Ghosts starring Matthieu Almaric, Marion Cotillard, Charlotte Gainsbourg, and Louis Garrel. Among the films that will be competing this year’s Palme d’Or include new films by such noted auteurs like Noah Baumbach, Bong Joon-Ho, Michael Haneke, Sofia Coppola, Todd Haynes, Yorgos Lanthimos, Francois Ozon, Fatih Akin, Michel Hazanavicius, and maybe Lynne Ramsay. Other new films from the festival playing either out of competition or in the sections for the Un Certain Regarde and the Director’s Forthnight include films by Matthieu Almaric, Takashi Miike, John Cameron Mitchell, Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu, Agnes Varda with the artist JR, Abel Ferrera, Sean Baker, Claire Denis, Amos Gitai, and Bruno Dumont.

Heading the jury for this year’s Palme d’Or will be filmmaker Pedro Almodovar as he will be joined by Will Smith, Jessica Chastain, Fan Bingbing, Paolo Sorrentino, Chan-wook Park, Maren Ade, Agnes Jaoui, and Gabriel Yared. This year’s marathon will once again not feature any re-watches of films I have seen before while the marathon will not feature any films that won the Palme d’Or as the ones I want to see aren’t available for the time being. This year’s marathon will feature nothing but first-timers as I’ve chosen fourteen films that will compete for the fictionalized version of the Palme d’Or plus one film from this year’s Blind Spot Series which will be played out of competition. The marathon will have a break on Thurdsay for the Thursday Movie Picks things as here are the 14 films that will be competing for the fictionalized version of the Palme d’Or:

Ballad of a Soldier (1960 Special Jury Prize Winner) 

Coming Home (Played Out of Competition 2014)

Fantastic Planet (1973 Special Jury Prize Winner)

Harakiri (1963 Special Jury Prize Winner)

Our Little Sister (2015 Palme d’Or nominee)

Sicario (2015 Palme d’Or nominee)

Tale of Tales (2015 Palme d’Or nominee)

The Crucified Lovers (1955 Palme d’Or nominee)

The Handmaiden (2016 Palme d’Or nominee/Vulcan Award winner)

The Holy Girl (2004 Palme d’Or nominee)

The Nice Guys (Played Out of Competition 2016)

The Passionate Friends (1949 Palme d’Or nominee)

The Quince Tree Sun (1992 Jury Prize winner/FIPRESCI prize winner)

Umberto D. (1952 Palme d’Or nominee)

That is what to expect for this year’s Cannes Film Festival marathon which will start on May 17 and end on the 28 with a post-script about the festival. Until then, this is thevoid99 saying au revoir.

© thevoid99 2017

Films That I Saw: April 2017

Well, this has certainly been an interesting time as anyone who is following the world of politics know how fucked up it is. Thankfully, Saturday Night Live was able to entertain me with Alec Baldwin as Il Duce and Bill O’Reilly and Melissa McCarthy spot-on as Sean Spicer. It’s among the things to keep me distracted as well as games I’ve managed to download through my new laptop. Sure, I haven’t been able to go out very much but I’ve been able to entertain myself with all sorts of things including films. Besides, these are very dark times as we’re in a world where so much shit is happening while we the masses are forced to hear about what the fucking Kartrashians are doing and stupid rich kids getting a hard dose of reality in what happens when you spend $12,000 on a music festival run by some has-been rapper.

In the month of April, I saw a total of 37 films in 23 first-timers and 14 re-watches. Definitely a solid month as I saw a lot more than I expected as the highlight of the month was my Blind Spot choice in Akira. Here are the top 10 First-Timers that I saw for April 2017:

1. Godzilla

2. The Beguiled

3. Hour of the Wolf

4. Army

5. Samurai Rebellion

6. And the Ship Sails On

7. Wings

8. La Ronde

9. The Big Boss

10. Le Plaisir

Monthly Mini-Reviews

Jordan Rides the Bus

The first of two films of the 30 for 30 series follows Michael Jordan’s brief sabbatical from basketball following the tragic death of his father in the summer of 1993 as it was a chance to fulfill his father’s dream of seeing his son play professional baseball. It’s a documentary that showcases Jordan’s search to find joy again in playing sports and not be consumed by the world of celebrity and all of its trappings as it would eventually get him back to playing basketball. It’s a fascinating piece that shows a man that was in need to rediscover himself and have fun playing sports.

The Day the Series Stopped

The second film from the 30 for 30 series follows what happened on October 17, 1989 on the third game of the World Series in San Francisco where the San Francisco Giants were playing against the Oakland As. Much of the film largely features footage of what happened on that horrible day where an earthquake shook up both San Francisco and Oakland as well as places in the Bay Area as it scared the hell out of everyone. There were people that died and some who are still shook up by what happened including players for both teams.

Easy Money

I’m a longtime fan of Rodney Dangerfield as he was one of my idols growing up. This is a film I’ve only seen in scattered bits but never in its entirety as I finally watched it during a late night. It’s a very funny film in which Dangerfield plays a guy who has a lot of bad habits where he is given a chance to make a change in his life when his late mother-in-law would give him a big inheritance if he cannot smoke, drink, gamble, and eat fatty foods for a year. The idea of Rodney not be able to do those things is very funny as the film also features an early film appearance from Jennifer Jason Leigh who copes with being married as it also some funny supporting roles from Joe Pesci and Tom Noonan as Rodney’s buddies.

The Legend of Tarzan

This was actually an alright film about Tarzan. Sure, the usage of computer visual effects were a little much and the plot was predictable but it was fun to watch. Notably for the performances of Alexander Skarsgard in the titular role as well as Margot Robbie as Jane, Samuel L. Jackson as an American sidekick of sorts for Tarzan, and Christoph Waltz as the antagonist. It’s entertaining and fun as well as feature characters that are actually engaging.

Mechanic: Resurrection

Jason Statham is awesome as he’s just a badass that is always fun to watch. Sadly, this isn’t one of his better films as it’s just kind of typical of what is expected in action films. Despite the performances of Tommy Lee Jones as an arms dealer, it’s just very sub-standard with Michelle Yeoh kind of wasted as a friend of Statham while Jessica Alba once again plays a damsel-in-distress who is just a cock-tease. Plus, who the fuck would have a swimming pool on the edge of a building? That is just fucking stupid.

Top 10 Re-Watches:

1. The Bling Ring

2. Big Star: Nothing Can Hurt Me

3. Slumdog Millionaire

4. Cherish

5. Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me

6. The English Patient

7. Grumpy Old Men

8. Australia

9. The Wraith

10. The Incredible Hulk

Well, that is all for April as next month will be the month where I will do my Cannes Film Festival marathon as the announcement of what films I will see for the marathon will be unveiled tomorrow. Aside from that as well as another Blind Spot and the Thursday Movie Picks, I hope to see some theatrical releases. Most notably Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 and maybe I will get a chance to finish up on Twin Peaks in anticipation for the third season. Until then, this is thevoid99 signing off…

© thevoid99 2017