Set mainly in Austin, Texas in its respective music and arts scene, the film revolves around two songwriters/musicians, a music mogul, and a waitress as they all take part in whirlwind of a love affair that would each play into their ambitions and desires. It’s a film that doesn’t have much plot nor does it feature a traditional narrative due to the fact that its writer/director Terrence Malick didn’t write a script and created everything through notes and what he can capture on film. Yet, the film plays more into the themes of these four people who all meet as they fall in love but deal with temptation, doubt, and the search for meaning. Especially as Faye (Rooney Mara) is trying to make it into the music industry as she falls for the slightly-successful BV (Ryan Gosling) as she gets him to meet music mogul/lover Cook (Michael Fassbender). Yet, Faye continues her tumultuous affair with Cook who would marry the waitress Rhonda (Natalie Portman) but things go into strange turns due to Cook wanting to engage more into his decadent lifestyle with Faye and BV both trying to find something.
Malick’s direction definitely plays into the loose nature of the film’s unconventional narrative as it has this sense of freewheeling approach in the way he films everything around him. Shot largely on location near and in Austin, Texas with some shots in Mexico for a scene where BV, Faye, and Cook take a trip to Mexico. The usage of wide and medium shots not only allow Malick to get a look into the surroundings that these characters encounter but also in its connection with the world itself. Even as Malick would have characters also encounter elements of nature as it play into their search for love and identity while also encountering the chaos in the Austin music scene. The camera would often be in the middle of the action whether it’s in a mosh pit or people dancing in a rave. Malick’s close-ups add to the film’s unconventional tone as he always play into these characters and all of the highs and lows they endure as the four principle characters of Faye, BV, Cook, and Rhonda also express their feelings through voice-over narration.
Though the film centers on this music and arts scene in Austin, there are also these spiritual elements in the film though a lot of is subtle as it relates to journeys of these four characters. Notably as Faye is filled with doubt over her relationship with BV who has some issues with Cook over business reasons. Even as she learned that BV has been in a past relationship with Swedish singer Lykke Li and another former flame in Amanda (Cate Blanchett) whom he would briefly reconnect despite the fact that Faye would also continue her tumultuous affair with Cook to the point that he would have her and Rhonda in a brief three-way affair. Cook is this metaphoric figure of temptation and decadence who would often lure Faye into his world to the point that Rhonda feels neglected, lost, and yearning for answers leading her to go to the world of faith. The usage of music plays into this idea of people bringing together yet it is also used for decadence in Cook who continuously tries to find some sort of meaning through drugs and partying.
The film’s third act is about the journeys that these four characters endure where Malick showcases this air of loss through the trappings of temptation and decadence with some trying to find a bigger meaning in their lives with others forced to accept reality as well as cope with some of their poor decisions. Still, there are people who do give them some guidance as a way to cope with loss but also on love as Malick brings that sense of reality and gracefulness to show that as hard as the world can hit someone. It is all about getting hit and taking it to move forward as it play into the story that these four characters endure. While there’s a lot that is happening and can meander at times due to the film’s lack of a conventional narrative, Malick is able to maintain something that is more of a thematic study set against this culture of music and art with the four people at the center of it. Overall, Malick crafts an intoxicating and compelling about four people going through their own desires, doubts, and identity issues in Austin, Texas.
Cinematographer Emmanuel Lubezki does incredible work with the film’s cinematography as its usage of natural lighting, available light, different film stocks, and digital photography adds to the look of the film with its vibrant colors as it is a major highlight of the film. Editors Rehman Nizar Ali, Hank Corwin, and Keith Fraase do amazing work with the editing with its stylish approach to jump-cuts and rhythmic cuts as it play into the film’s dream-like and gliding tone. Production designer Jack Fisk, with set decorator David Hack and art director Ruth De Jong, does brilliant work with the look of the homes of the characters including the hotel that Cook often parties at or the look of the stages at the South by Southwest music festival.
Costume designer Jacqueline West does excellent work with the costumes with its mixture of casual and stylish clothing including some of the designer clothes that some of the richer characters wear as well as the look of the music performers in the film. Sound designers Joel Dougherty and Will Patterson do superb work with the sound as it play into the atmosphere of the locations as well as how music sounds live and on stage as well as the way the voiceover narrations are mixed. Music supervisor Lauren Mikus does fantastic work with the film’s music soundtrack with its mixture of classical, rock, indie, electronic music, and other kinds ranging from classical cuts from Zbigniew Preisner, Gustav Mahler, Camile Saint-Saens, Maurice Ravel, Nicholas Britell, Avro Part, and Claude Debussy along with music from Iggy Pop, Public Image Ltd., the Black Lips, Florence + the Machines, Lykke Li, Patti Smith, the Red Hot Chili Peppers, Bob Dylan, Elmore James, Del Shannon, Neon Indian, and many others.
The casting by Francine Maisler and Lauren Grey is wonderful as it feature cameos from the Red Hot Chili Peppers, John Lydon, Florence Welch, Iggy Pop, Tegan & Sara, Die Antwoord, and the Black Lips as themselves as well as Swedish artist Lykke Li as a fictional version of herself as a former flame of BV and American punk rock legend Patti Smith as a woman who is helping Faye with a lot of advice about art and life. Other notable small roles include Linda Edmond as BV’s mother, Tom Sturridge and Austin Amelio as BV’s younger brothers, Val Kilmer as one of Cook’s clients in a performer named Duane, Dana Falconberry as Faye’s sister, Brady Coleman as Faye’s father, Neely Bingham as BV’s ailing father, and Holly Hunter in a fantastic performance as Rhonda’s mother Miranda who is eager to have a life without trouble but becomes concerned for her daughter’s well-being. Berenice Marlohe is excellent as the French artist Zoey whom Faye meets and has a brief affair with as a woman who would give Faye some attention. Cate Blanchett is brilliant in her small role as Amanda who is a former flame of BV as she rekindles her relationship with him but realizes there’s some cracks in the relationship.
Natalie Portman is incredible as Rhonda as a waitress/former kindergarten teacher who falls for Cook as she is tempted by what he offers but finds herself lost in his decadent lifestyle as she seeks to find something with more meaning. Michael Fassbender is amazing as Cook as a music mogul who is a man that offers a lot and wants to be part of the fun but gets upset whenever he doesn’t get what he wants as he is this charming figure of corruption and temptation. Ryan Gosling is remarkable as BV as a successful musician trying to figure out what to do next as he falls for Faye while dealing with some business and personal issues with Cook as it is a somber performance from Gosling as someone who has seen a lot and is searching for answers. Finally, there's Rooney Mara in a phenomenal performance as Faye as a musician trying to get her break despite her attachment with Cook and her growing feelings for BV as it has this air of radiance and anguish as it is one of Mara’s finest performances to date.
Song to Song is a sensational film from Terrence Malick. Featuring a great ensemble cast, rapturous visuals, a rich music soundtrack, and themes of identity, doubt, and temptation against the backdrop of a vibrant music and arts scene in Austin, Texas. It is a film that explore four people trying to find their way in the world in the music scene as well as endure many ideas despite the film’s unconventional narrative and lack of a strong plot which won’t appeal to a lot of people. In the end, Song to Song is a phenomenal film from Terrence Malick.
Terrence Malick Films: Badlands - Days of Heaven - The Thin Red Line - The New World - The Tree of Life - To the Wonder - Knight of Cups - Voyage of Time: The IMAX Experience - (Voyage of Time: Life's Journey) – A Hidden Life – (The Way of the Wind)
© thevoid99 2020
Written and directed by Victor Levin, 5 to 7 is the story of a young writer who meets a married woman as he would have an affair with her unaware that it’s part of an arrangement she has with her husband. The film is an exploration of love as well as young man finding out that the woman he’s with is having an open marriage with her husband. Starring Anton Yelchin, Berenice Marlohe, Olivia Thirlby, Lambert Wilson, Frank Langella, and Glenn Close. 5 to 7 is a majestic and fascinating film from Victor Levin.
Set entirely in New York City, the film revolves around a young writer whose encounter with a married French woman lead to an arranged affair between five to seven PM. It’s a film with a simple concept as it is largely told by this young man in his 20s who is trying to find himself as a writer but also find ideas to become a great one. Upon meeting this beautiful Frenchwoman in her 30s, he would have this affair but would have to meet between five and seven PM as he would learn that she is married to another man who is also in an open relationship with another woman. Victor Levin’s screenplay is largely told from the perspective of its protagonist Brian Bloom (Anton Yelchin) who is quite young as he hasn’t experienced enough with his life to create anything of worth in his desire to be a writer. When he meets Arielle Pierpont (Berenice Marlohe), he would gain some experience in this affair yet he becomes enamored by Arielle and her life. Though the script does follow scenarios that is typical of romantic-comedies, there are more complexities as it play into this arrangement as well as what it could for Brian’s future.
Levin’s direction is quite simple as it is shot on location in New York City and its various locations where it play into Brian living in a city where it’s known for giving birth to many writers as the city itself is a character in the film. Many of the compositions are simple with its usage of close-ups and medium shots to play into the intimacy of the scenes as well as in some of the parties. There are a few wide shots in the film yet Levin is more about Brian being part of Arielle’s life as she has two kids while introducing her to his parents who are baffled by this arrangement. The direction is also very playful as it owe a lot to elements of the French New Wave for much of the film’s first half that would include a lot of tracking shots yet the style would become more controlled and less stylized for the third act. Notably as it would play into Brian’s own view of the world and his own idea of love where things become complicated but there are things he would have to accept in his development as a man. Overall, Levin creates an engaging yet charming film about a young man’s affair with a married woman.
Cinematographer Arnaud Potier does excellent work with the cinematography in the way many of the rooms are lit from inside as well as the naturalistic exterior shots in the daytime. Editor Matt Maddox does nice work with the editing as it is mostly straightforward with a few jump cuts and montages in some sequences. Production designer Jeannine Oppewall and set decorator Susan Perlman do fantastic work with the look of the hotel suite Brian and Arielle would often meet at as well as Brian‘s quaint apartment and the lavish one Arielle lives in with her husband.
Costume designer Heidi Bivens does wonderful work with the costumes from the suits that Brian wears to the stylish clothes that Arielle wears. Sound designers J.M. Davey and Zach Seivers do terrific work with the sound as it is mostly low-key to play into the locations as well as in some of the parties that the characters go to. The film’s music by Danny Bensi and Saunder Jurriaans do superb work with the music as it‘s mostly a mixture of classical and waltz-based music with bits of jazz while music supervisor Laura Katz create a soundtrack filled with jazz, classical, and some French pop music.
The casting by Billy Hopkins, Ashley Ingram, and Heidi Levitt is great as it features appearances from real-life figures Julian Bond, Daniel Bouloud, Alan Gilbert, and David Remnick as themselves along with Milo Mungier Jacob and Brune de Drueille Senecterre in their respective roles as Arielle’s children Marc and Elodie and Eric Stoltz in a one-scene performance as the renowned editor Galassi. Glenn Close and Frank Langella are fantastic as Brian’s parents respectively in Arlene and Sam Bloom with Close as the more quirkier of the two while Langella is the more uptight who isn’t that fond of the relationship. Lambert Wilson is excellent as Arielle’s husband Valery as a man who loves his wife but also has a mistress as he tries to create a situation where everyone is happy as he also sees promise in Brian’s writing talents.
Olivia Thirlby is amazing as Valery’s mistress Jane as an editor who is able to help Brian sort out the arrangements of these affairs but also get him the chance to get his work published as she would be a friend to him. Berenice Marlohe is brilliant as Arielle Pierpont as a woman who meets Brian as she embarks on an affair with him as she learns about some of the aspects of American culture while becoming unsure if she can have a real relationship with him. Finally, there’s Anton Yelchin in a remarkable performance as Brian Bloom as a young writer trying to find experience in life as he meets and falls for Arielle while pondering if he can have a future with her despite their arrangements in Arielle’s open marriage.
5 to 7 is a marvelous film from Victor Levin that features incredible performances from Anton Yelchin, Berenice Marlohe, and Olivia Thirlby. It’s a romantic comedy that is very low-key yet is filled with some charm as well as some compelling ideas on open marriages and experiences for the young. In the end, 5 to 7 is an excellent film from Victor Levin.
© thevoid99 2017
Based on the character by Ian Fleming, Skyfall is the story in which James Bond goes on a secret mission to find out who leaked out the identity of various undercover MI6 agents while his boss M is under scrutiny from the British government as they deal with an old nemesis of theirs. Directed by Sam Mendes and screenplay by John Logan, Neal Purvis, and Robert Wade with contributions by Peter Morgan, the film explores Bond dealing with his loyalty to M as he faces new challenges as well as dangerous villain. With Daniel Craig playing James Bond for the third time, the film also stars Javier Bardem, Naomie Harris, Berenice Marlohe, Ralph Fiennes, Helen McCrory, Ben Whishaw, Rory Kinnear, Albert Finney, and Judi Dench as M. Skyfall is a thrilling and visually-entrancing film from Sam Mendes.
When a hard drive that features a list of the identities of various undercover NATO agents, James Bond and an agent named Eve (Naomie Harris) tries to retrieve it from its thief Patrice (Ola Rapace). During the chase leading to a fight on a train, M orders Eve to take the shot only for Eve to accidentally shoot Bond as he is presumed dead. Following the incident in Istanbul, M meets with Intelligence and Security Committee chairman Gareth Mallory (Ralph Fiennes) who feels that M should retire. With the hard drive missing and M is under target from both the government and a mysterious enemy who had hacked into her office computer and blow up her office at the MI6 building. When news of the explosion happens, Bond returns from hiding to find out who is after M and why. Bond travels to Shanghai to track down Patrice where he finds Patrice assassinating a target only for Bond to stop him as he asks him who he works for.
Thanks to a gambling chip from Patrice’s briefcase, Bond goes to a casino in Macau with Eve where Bond meets a woman named Severine (Berenice Marlohe) who warns him about what is going on. After Bond seduces Severine on her boat, they’re taken to a mysterious island where Bond meets a man named Raoul Silva (Javier Bardem) who was a former MI6 agent that is responsible for the hackings and leaks of undercover NATO agents. After Bond gets Silva captured and taken back to London, Q (Ben Whishaw) tries to decode Silva’s computer only to realize that it’s a trap. With M facing an inquiry from the government, Bond goes after Silva who is planning to kill M forcing Bond to hide M at an old place with the help of a man named Kincade (Albert Finney). With Bond aware that Silva is going to come after M, Bond prepares for what would be a standoff between himself and Silva.
Throughout the 50 years of James Bond franchise, there’s always been the question about Bond’s place in the world as times have often changed. In this film, Bond faces a new enemy that is far more menacing than anything he and the MI6 had to face. It’s an enemy that lurks in the shadow and when it attacks, problems emerge forcing the British government to question whether to count on Bond to stop this menace. What makes it more interesting is that this enemy is going after M who has a very deep connection with this very mysterious villain as he wants her dead. Bond has to do whatever it takes to save M but also realize that not everything about his superior had been good as he starts to question about her past. Notably as they both are dealing with the fact that they’re considered irrelevant by some as many claims the old ways are out. What Bond would try to prove that sometimes, the old ways work.
The screenplay that is created by Neal Purvis, Robert Wade, and John Logan definitely shows a lot of complexities into the roles of the characters that are involved in the story. Particularly as Bond is presented as a man that is very flawed and a real liability as he’s still dealing with a painful physical wound. There’s also questions into whether Bond is able to get the job done as he’s not just a physical wreck but a mental one due to the fact that he is willing to harm himself. Bond’s flaws gives a lot of advantages to the film’s antagonist in Raoul Silva who is definitely a villain that is psychotic, intelligent, and very determined to reek chaos for the MI6 and destroy M anyway he can. There’s also a very demented side to Silva as he also has a lot of history with M about his work with the MI6 and why he turned against the MI6. For Bond, it does have him asking questions but also makes him realize that he still has a duty to do as a 00 agent.
Sam Mendes’ direction is definitely a marvel to watch from the opening sequence in Istanbul that includes a great chase scene involving motorcycles and trains to some amazing second unit shots of locations in Shanghai, Macau, London, and Scotland. Mendes is definitely aware that he’s making a Bond film but also infuses it with very direct and entrancing compositions that really establishes what is going on and what Bond is trying to do. Mendes also manages to take his time to build up the suspense where he wisely reveals Silva in the film’s second act. That approach to maintain an air of mystery in the first act has Mendes utilizing lots of intimate compositions and moments to help set up the plot and introduce a few key characters.
The action definitely comes back around the second act that includes this amazing fight scene between Bond and Patrice with this beautiful backdrop that shows a true sense of style that Mendes wants to bring. Even in the shot of Bond’s arrival to the Macau casino that is followed by amazing steadicam shots of Bond and Eve walking around the casino in separate directions. Things definitely intensify in the third act when it involves a brilliant chase scene through the London subways. Even in the climatic showdown in Scotland where Mendes definitely takes advantage to utilize the location for a wide canvas. While the film features a lot of amazing visuals and suspense, Mendes is aware that a James Bond film shouldn’t be taken too seriously as he also infuses some small moments of humor along with nods to Bond films from the past. Overall, Mendes crafts a truly engaging and exciting film that bears a lot of hallmarks of past Bond films as well as elements that keeps it fresh.
Cinematographer Roger Deakins does incredible work with the film‘s photography to display an air of style from the lush coloring of the nighttime settings in Shanghai and Macau to more evocative shots of the locations in Scotland with its mist as Deakins‘ work is really a major technical highlight. Editor Stuart Baird does excellent work with the editing to maintain a sense of intrigue in its suspenseful moments with some methodical cuts along with more rhythmic cutting to capture the action without delving into swift, chaotic editing style. Production designer Dennis Gassner, along with set decorator Anna Pinnock and supervising art director Chris Lowe, does superb work with the set pieces from the look of the MI6 offices underground to the lavish look of the Macau casino as it establishes a world that only James Bond can go to.
Costume designer Jamy Temime does wonderful work with the costumes from the lavish dress that Severine wears at the casino as well as Eve‘s dress to the clothes that Silva wears while Tom Ford provides the suits that Bond wears. Makeup designer Naomi Donne and hair designer Zoe Tahir do terrific work with the look of Silva including a surprising feature that adds to Silva‘s dark persona. Special effects supervisor Chris Corbould and visual effects supervisor Steve Begg do amazing work with the visual effects to create something that is realistic in some parts along with some action-driven scenes without going overboard. Sound designers Christopher Assells and Peter Staubli, along with sound editors Karen M. Baker and Per Hallberg, do great work with the sound to capture the array of sounds in some of the raucous moments along with a chilling atmosphere in some intimate moments including Silva’s meeting with M.
The film’s music by Thomas Newman is brilliant for its mix of orchestral flourishes with rock and electronic music to maintain an air of suspense and momentum while finding ways to incorporate the famous Bond theme into the mix and knowing when to use it. The title song performed by Adele is definitely one of the best Bond theme songs in the catalog where Adele and co-writer Paul Epworth go back to old-school Bond themes with its orchestral flourishes and slow rhythms while Adele’s voice soars in what is truly a magical song. The soundtrack also features a cover of John Lee Hooker’s Boom Boom by the Animals and music from Charles Trenet, Jun Chen, and the Ensemble Huseyin Turkmenler.
The casting by Debbie McWilliams is outstanding for the ensemble that is created as it features some noteworthy small roles from Helen McCrory as a government official leading M’s inquiry and Albert Finney in a terrific performance as a gamekeeper named Kincade. Ola Rapace is very good in a small but memorable role as the mercenary Patrice who steals the hard drive for Silva while Berenice Marlohe is wonderful as the very sensual yet mysterious Severine. Rory Kinnear is superb as M’s longtime aide and MI6 chief of staff Bill Tanner while Ralph Fiennes is amazing as government official Gareth Mallory who tries to deal with what role M has left as well as Bond’s place in the MI6. Naomie Harris is excellent as the agent Eve who helps Bond out while ensuring that he does his job while Ben Whishaw is amazing as Q where he provides a low-key sense of humor as well as someone who helps Bond with more realistic gadgets.
Judi Dench is incredible as M where she deals with the mistakes from her past as well as the fact that she might be irrelevant as Dench puts a lot and more into this character as she definitely gives out her best performance in the role of M. Javier Bardem is phenomenal as Raoul Silva where Bardem displays a sense of wit to his role but also someone who is quite sick and cunning in his motivations where he even will do things that are very surprising as Bardem makes Silva one of the great Bond villains. Finally, there’s Daniel Craig in a remarkable performance as James Bond where Craig is able to display Bond’s humanity as a man wrecked by failure as he tries to pick himself up to do his duty. It is Craig showing new sides to Bond that is gritty but also smooth as he finally creates his own interpretation of Bond that is also a tribute to the Bonds of the past.
Skyfall is a magnificent James Bond film Sam Mendes that features marvelous performances from Daniel Craig, Javier Bardem, and Judi Dench. Armed with great technical work led by Roger Deakins, a sumptuous film soundtrack, and a wonderful supporting cast that includes Ralph Fiennes, Naomi Harris, and Ben Whishaw. It’s a film that proves that James Bond is still vital after being on the big screen for 50 years. It’s also a film provides all sorts of suspense, action, romance, and humor that bears all of the hallmarks of Bond while emphasizing that James Bond will always return. In the end, Skyfall is a triumphant film from Sam Mendes.
James Bond Files: The EON Films: Dr. No - From Russia With Love - Goldfinger - Thunderball - You Only Live Twice - On Her Majesty's Secret Service - Diamonds are Forever - Live and Let Die - The Man with the Golden Gun - The Spy Who Loved Me - Moonraker - For Your Eyes Only - Octopussy - A View to a Kill - The Living Daylights - Licence to Kill - GoldenEye - Tomorrow Never Dies - The World is Not Enough - Die Another Day - Casino Royale - Quantum of Solace - SPECTRE - No Time to Die
Non-EON Films: Casino Royale (Climax! TV Episode) - Casino Royale (1967 film) - Never Say Never Again
Bond Documentaries: Bond Girls are Forever - True Bond - Everything or Nothing: The Untold Story of 007
Sam Mendes Films: (American Beauty) - (Road to Perdition) - (Jarhead) - (Revolutionary Road) - (Away We Go)
- (1917)
© thevoid99 2012
