Sweet and Lowdown

Written and directed by Woody Allen, Sweet and Lowdown is the story about a 1930s jazz guitarist who prides himself in being the second-best guitarist in the world as he falls for a mute woman as he hopes to rise to the top. While it’s a largely fictional film, the film moves back-and-forth from a dramatic narrative to a documentary where Allen and many jazz experts talk about this man. Starring Sean Penn, Samantha Morton, Uma Thurman, Anthony LaPaglia, Gretchen Mol, Brad Garrett, and John Waters. Sweet and Lowdown is a remarkable film from Woody Allen.

The film explores the life of a musician named Emmet Ray (Sean Penn) who was considered the greatest jazz guitarist in the early 20th Century, aside from Django Reinhardt whom Ray idolizes. Told by Woody Allen, filmmaker Douglas McGrath, and other experts in the world of jazz in a documentary format of sorts, they all talk about the legend of Ray and his exploits where he falls for a mute woman named Hattie (Samantha Morton) and deals with his role as an artist. For all of his gifts as a guitarist, he’s also very selfish as he gambles his money, cheats on women, and do all sorts of things. Throughout the entirety of the film, Allen and others talk about Ray’s story as it is told in a dramatic format where the character ventures into many moments in his life including a failed marriage and a relationship with this mute woman who loves him but he claims that he can’t fall in love with her because he’s an artist.

While Allen’s screenplay helps structure the story from documentary form to dramatic, it’s his direction that gives the film a sense of style in the way the story is told. Many of the interviews with Allen and the others are shot in a very straight, slight close-up while the rest of the film in the dramatic re-telling of Ray’s story is given a lot of style. Notably as Allen uses a lot of close-ups, wide shots, and some gorgeous compositions to play up that world of the 1930s including scenes set in New York and New Jersey. Even as Allen creates one notable sequences about a moment where Ray tries to confront his cheating wife Blanche (Uma Thurman) as it’s told in multiple versions depending on how real it might be. It would all play to some of the humor and drama that Allen wanted to create as the overall result is a truly enchanting and witty film about a great jazz guitarist and the selfishness that would play into his faults.

Cinematographer Zhao Fei does exquisite with the film‘s very colorful and vibrant cinematography from the look of the daytime exterior locations to the use of lights for some of the film‘s interiors in day and night. Editor Alisa Lepselter does nice work with the editing from the use of a few montages to some stylish dissolves to help play into some of the film‘s emotions. Production designer Santo Loquasto, with set decorator Jessica Lanier and art director Tom Warren, does amazing work with the set pieces from the look of the clubs and places Ray and the other characters go to as well as the crescent moon chair that Ray tried to arrive in for one disastrous show.

Costume designer Laura Bauer does brilliant work with the costumes from the suits that Ray wears to the different array of clothes that Hattie wears. Sound editor Robert Hein does terrific work with the sound from the atmosphere of the shows to the crazier moments in some of Ray‘s antics. Music arranger Dick Hyman creates an amazing soundtrack filled with many jazz pieces to play up the feel of the time while many of the guitar work is performed by Howard Alden.

The casting by Laura Rosenthal and Juliet Taylor is superb for the ensemble that is created as it features some notable appearances from filmmaker Douglas McGrath and jazz experts Ben Duncan and Nate Hentoff talking about the legend of Emmet Ray. Other noteworthy small performances include John Waters as a hotel owner, Brad Garrett as a mob leader, Gretchen Mol as a date of Ray late in the film, and Brian Markainson as Ray’s drummer Bill Shields. Anthony LaPaglia is excellent as mobster whom Blanche falls for and cheats on Ray while Uma Thurman is wonderful as Ray’s wife Blanche who is intrigued by his gift as she marries him while coming up with ideas for a novel.

Samantha Morton is phenomenal as Hattie where Morton doesn’t say a word throughout the film yet lets her facial expressions and body language do the acting as she brings a nice innocence to her character as well as how much she really means to Ray despite his selfishness. Finally, there’s Sean Penn in a magnificent performance as Emmet Ray as Penn brings a nice sense of wit and charm to his role as someone who proclaims himself to be an artist. Penn’s approach to comedy as well as drama allows Ray to be a very complex individual no matter how despicable he can be at times while Penn also shows he can mimic playing guitar very well in what is certainly is one of his great performances.

Sweet and Lowdown is an outstanding film from Woody Allen that features incredible performances from Sean Penn and Samantha Morton. The film is definitely one of Allen’s most touching and entertaining films as well as a unique piece into the world of jazz. It’s also a film that plays into the world of the artist and how they can fall into their own egos and let the good things in life pass them by. In the end, Sweet and Lowdown is a sensational film from Woody Allen.

Woody Allen Films: What's Up Tiger Lily? - Take the Money and Run - Bananas - Everything You Always Wanted to Know About Sex* (*But Were Afraid to Ask) - Sleeper - Love and Death - Annie Hall - Interiors - Manhattan - Stardust Memories - A Midsummer's Night Sex Comedy - Zelig - Broadway Danny Rose - The Purple Rose of Cairo - Hannah & Her Sisters - Radio Days - September - Another Woman - New York Stories: Oedipus Wrecks - Crimes & Misdemeanors - Alice - Shadows and Fog - Husbands and Wives - Manhattan Murder Mystery - Bullets Over Broadway - Don't Drink the Water - Mighty Aphrodite - Everyone Says I Love You - Deconstructing Harry - Celebrity - Small Time Crooks - The Curse of the Jade Scorpion - Hollywood Ending - Anything Else - Melinda & Melinda - Match Point - Scoop - Cassandra’s Dream - Vicky Cristina Barcelona - Whatever Works - You Will Meet a Tall Dark Stranger - Midnight in Paris - To Rome with Love - Blue Jasmine - Magic in the Moonlight - Irrational Man - (Cafe Society)

The Auteurs #24: Woody Allen Pt. 1 - Pt. 2 - Pt. 3 - Pt. 4

© thevoid99 2013

Tangled

Based on the Grimm Brothers fairy tale Rapunzel, Tangled is the story about a long-lost princess with long magical hair who yearns to leave her secluded tower with the help of a thief to reach a city for an upcoming festival. Directed by Nathan Greno and Byron Howard with a screenplay by Dan Fogelman, the animated film is a partially-experimental film where 2D hand-drawn animation and 3D computer animation work together to create a new take on the story of Rapunzel. With a voice cast that includes Mandy Moore, Zachary Levi, Donna Murphy, Ron Perlman, M.C. Gainey, Frank Welker, Brad Garrett, and Jeffrey Tambor. Tangled is a fun and adventurous animated film from Nathan Greno and Byron Howard.

After being kidnapped by an old woman named Gothel (Donna Murphy), Rapunzel (Mandy Moore) has been kept in seclusion by Gothel who needs her long hair to maintain her youth. All of her life, Rapunzel wonders about these lights she sees up in the sky as they always appear on her birthday as she’s about to turn 18. She asks Gothel if she can go out and see what’s over there as Gothel claims the outside world is a dark place as she goes out to gather things Rapunzel needs for her painting. Meanwhile, a young thief named Flynn Rider (Zachary Levi) has stolen a crown from a kingdom as he and the Stabbington brothers (Ron Perlman) flee the guards where Flynn finds himself hiding in Rapunzel’s home where he is knocked and interrogated by the young girl.

After Flynn reluctantly agrees to take Rapunzel to see the sky lanterns in exchange for the crown he stole, Rapunzel enters the outside world with her pet chameleon Pascal. When Gothel realizes that Rapunzel has left her tower, she tries to find her with the help of the Stabbington brothers as Flynn and Rapunzel go to a tavern where they meet rough thugs whom they befriend due to their aspirations for a life outside of crime. The thugs help Rapunzel evade the guards who are looking for Rider as they hide in caves where Flynn learns about the magical elements of Rapunzel’s hair. Flynn reveals his real name as he takes Rapunzel to the kingdom with help the guards’ lead horse Maximus.

With Rapunzel finally getting the chance to see the sky lanterns with Flynn, Flynn encounters the Stabbington brothers in hope to live up to his deal with them. Instead, the plan is altered where Gothel takes Rapunzel as she discovers her true identity while Flynn deals with guards in his hopes to save Rapunzel.

The film is essentially a re-telling of the story of Rapunzel with a new twist as screenwriter Dan Fogelman creates a story where it’s about this young girl who is this long-lost princess that has been secluded for all her life in the care of a woman who needs her hair to maintain her youth and beauty. While there is a bit of exposition about Rapunzel’s hair told in a prologue by the character of Flynn Rider. It does reveal the kind of person Gothel is and why she’s been keeping Rapunzel as she isn’t a traditional villain. Rider and Rapunzel aren’t traditional good guys either as Flynn is an admitted thief while Rapunzel is a young woman who doesn’t know about the outside world but can fend for herself. Fogelman’s script succeeds in not just giving these characters more than what they’re supposed to be. He also succeeds in playing with the damsel-in-distress formula by adding humor and light-dramatic scenes that does help move the story forward.

The direction of Nathan Greno and Byron Howard is brilliant for the compositions and scenes that are created. Notably as it combines 2D hand-drawn animation with 3D computer animation as the film has a look that is all computer animated but the feeling of a 2D animated film. Notably in the way the characters move and interact with certain things as well as the set pieces created for the film. One notable sequence that really is a marvel to watch is the sky lanterns scene where all of these lanterns are displayed in a nighttime sky. It’s truly exquisite in its beauty and the way those scenes are drawn. With its mix of humor and adventure, Greno and Howard create a film that is truly entertaining as well as making something is a true visual feast.

Editor Tim Merkins does an incredible job with the film‘s editing as he brings a wonderful sense of style in creating montages to Rapunzel‘s reaction to be out of the world as well as a few jump-cuts to play with the film‘s unique rhythm. Production designer Douglas Rogers, along with art directors Dan Cooper and David Goetz, does great work in creating some of the set pieces for the film such as Rapunzel‘s tower and the tavern the thugs hang out at. Visual effects supervisor Steve Goldberg does a brilliant job with some of the visual effects created for some of the 3D parts of the film that includes the sky lanterns scene.

Sound designers Cameron Frankley, Jason W. Jennings, and Ai-Ling Lee do a fantastic job with the sound work from the sound of leaves and waterfalls in the woods to the atmosphere of the tavern and damn that Rapunzel and Flynn encounter. The film’s music by Alan Menken is brilliant for its mixture of flourishing orchestral music to more playful folk music for some of the scenes at the kingdom. The songs that Menken wrote with lyricist Glenn Slater are definitely top of the line such as Mother Knows Best, the ballad I See the Light, and the very upbeat I’ve Got a Dream as it’s some of the best work that Menken has done as it also includes a song by Grace Potter in the film’s final credits.

The voice casting by Jamie Sparer Roberts is wonderful for the ensemble that is created as it includes Frank Welker voicing the enjoyable animal creatures in the horse Maximus and the chameleon Pascal. Other notable small voice work include Richard Kiel, Jeffrey Tambor, and Brad Garrett as friendly thugs, M.C. Gainey as the guard captain, and Ron Perlman doing dual voice work as the rough and conniving Stabbington Brothers. Donna Murphy is superb as the sly yet cunning Gothel who is desperate to keep Rapunzel with her while dealing with Rapunzel’s yearning for freedom. Zachary Levi is terrific as the charming and brave Flynn Rider who reluctantly helps Rapunzel out while realizing what it takes to be a very good guy. Finally, there’s Mandy Moore in a fantastic performance as Rapunzel as she brings a lot of humor, wit, and determination to the character who is quite naïve but also willing to see the sky lanterns as she also has great chemistry with Levi and Murphy.

Tangled is an extraordinary film from Nathan Greno and Byron Howard. Featuring amazing animation and a remarkable ensemble voice cast, it’s a film that definitely lives up to a lot of the animated films Disney has made in the past. Notably as it allows hand-drawn animators and computer animators to create a hybrid of both styles that gives the film a very dazzling yet magical feel. In the end, Tangled is a rich and delightful animated film from Disney Animation Studios.

© thevoid99 2012

Ratatouille

Originally Written and Posted at Epinions.com on 7/9/07 w/ Additional Edits.

Known for his work in animation for such films as The Iron Giant and 2004's Pixar-animated film The Incredibles. Brad Bird is considered to be one of the best film animators for Pixar and Disney. In 2007, Bird returns with his third directorial feature about a rat who dreams of becoming a chef entitled Ratatouille. Directed by Bird and Jan Pinkava based on Bird's script with additional story credits to Pinkava, Jim Capobianco, Emily Cook, and Kathy Greenberg. Ratatouille is about a rat in Paris who wants to be a chef. Helping a garbage boy to become a chef with the help of his late idol, they must contend with the changes of the restaurant as its head chef sells out to make Gusteau's name profitable with frozen foods. With a voice cast that includes Patton Oswalt, Lou Romano, Brad Garrett, Janeane Garofalo, Ian Holm, Will Arnett, James Remar, Brian Dennehy, Pixar regular John Ratzenberger, and the legendary Peter O'Toole. Ratatouille is a marvelous yet imaginative film from Brad Bird and Pixar Studios.

For all of his life as a rat from the French countryside, Remy (Patton Oswalt) longs to be a chef as he has a gift of smelling exotic foods and herbs. While he lives with a colony of rats including his older brother Emile (Peter Sohn) and their father Django (Brian Dennehy). Remy wants to cook as his hero is the legendary Chef Gusteau (Brad Garrett) who has been inspirational in the art of cooking. During an attempt to steal food, the house owner discovers rats as the colony flee while Remy gets lost during his run. Landing in Paris and with Gusteau's spirit revolving around him, Remy arrives at Gusteau's famed restaurant that is now run by his former sous-chef Skinner (Ian Holm).

Arriving at Gusteau's restaurant is a young man named Linguini (Lou Romano) who becomes the cleaning boy for the restaurant. During a mess-up, he tries to fix the soup forcing Remy to take control as he finally gets the soup to be good as he's discovered by Linguini. Realizing that this little rat was the one who fixed the soup and had cooking talent, Linguini takes him in while Skinner is wondering about Linguini as Gusteau's restaurant is getting excellent reviews again. Skinner has Linguini to be taught by one of the restaurant's chefs in Colette (Janeane Garafalo) who teaches him how to act like a chef as Remy pulls Linguini's hair to control his movements. With Remy taking control of Linguini, they help restore some of the lost acclaim of Gusteau's restaurant as it reaches the attention of the notorious food critic Anton Ego (Peter O'Toole).

After finding his old colony, Remy reluctantly leaves to help Linguini though he gets visits from Emile and other rats for food. Yet, Linguini becomes infatuated with Colette as his family secret comes out much to the delight of the press and Skinner's dismay. When Ego wants to return to Gusteau's to see if the restaurant's hype is true, Linguini feels intimidated. With Skinner discovering about Remy, it takes a few people and a colony of rats to help out Remy and Linguini to win over Ego.

The concept of a rat wanting to become a great chef in Paris restaurants is one that is definitely universal to all audiences. It's a concept that the film's original director Jan Pinkava had been trying to create for years until being replaced by Brad Bird who uses Pinkava's core story to create a film that is unique. Bird's script and direction is truly a marvel about a dreamer who wants to prove that his gift for smelling great food and cooking talents shouldn't be limited because he's a rat. While it's clear that being a rat, especially in a restaurant is a bad thing to chefs. Yet, it's the story about a chef that wants to cook that really shows the heart of the film.

Bird's knack for drama and comedy is wonderful, especially physical comedy concerning not just Linguini but also Skinner during a chase scene he has with Remy. It's humor that isn't dirty or too clean but one that is universal to all kinds of audiences. Through his direction, the film has a unique look through its animation that it has a nice balance of drama and comedy. The drama is told with subtlety in themes of family and loyalty. Yet, the film is really about dreamers as there is no character that is loveable as Remy.

The animation is unique, largely due to the original sculptures and concept of Jan Pinkava. Each character has a unique look to their personalities from the human characters including Anton Ego who looks very cold and such or Skinner, a small man with a devilish face. The animation and visual effects is very wonderful without having the audience recognize whose face is the voice. Something that some computer-animated films make the mistake of like in Shark Tale. The animation is also brilliant in the way it captures the look of Paris.

Cinematographers Robert Anderson and Sharon Calahan along with production designer Harley Jessup create a wonderful look to Paris where it has a feel and look to the city that is imaginative. While it's more colorful to the some of the more live-action films that show Paris, it just has a look that will make anyone want to visit the place. Even the look of the food including the dishes look delicious. Editor Darren T. Holmes brings a wonderfully rhythmic feel to the film to create an energy and style that brings excitement to the film's humor and drama. It also has moments of intensity through moments of action that is not seen much in most animated films. Sound editor Michael Silvers also does fantastic work for the film's sound with the sounds of pots, fires, and everything that is expected in a kitchen.

Then there's the amazing film score of Michael Giacchino. Easily one of the best film scores this year, Giacchino's score definitely has variety. Whether it's the serene sounds of Paris through accordions to more comical scores that has jazz notes and rhythms. Even the original song he wrote for French pop singer Camille is memorable for the atmosphere that is Paris. Giacchino's score is filled with flourishes of orchestral arrangements to convey the drama while mixing it with jazz for the film's more intense action sequences.

The film's cast is wonderfully assembled with memorable characters along with cast of actors for the voices that are unique. Smaller roles ranging from Pixar regular John Ratzenberger as head waiter Mustafa, Will Arnett as sous-chef Horst, James Remar as appetizer chef Larousse, and Teddy Newton as Skinner's lawyer are all memorable with their witty humor. Notably Ratzenberger as the nervous Mustafa and Arnett as Horst who has extravagant claims about his behavior. Dual performances from Julius Callahan and Tony Fucile are great with Callahan playing fish chef Lalo and Skinner's businessman Francois. Fucile does double duty in playing pastry chef Pompidou and the health inspector called upon by Skinner. Another dual performance but for smaller parts come from director Brad Bird as a narrator of cheese and as Ego's assistant. Jake Steinfeld also has a wonderful small part as Git, a beefed up rat who is one of Emile's friends.

Brad Garrett is great as the voice of Gusteau with all of his witty charm and inspirational wisdom with an accent that fits the personality of Gusteau. Ian Holm is wonderful for the devilish Skinner who sells out the name of Gusteau to make money when his own plans are derailed. Holm just brings a lot of humor to the villainous character. Janeane Garafalo also goes French as the tough Colette who believes in perfection and everything that lives up to the Gusteau name. Garafalo is funny and sweet in her voice portrayal. Lou Romano is great in voicing the young, clumsy Linguini who knows he doesn't have talents while trying to find his niche in the restaurant he's working for. Peter Sohn is very funny as the rat Emile who pretty much likes to eat anything while causing trouble for Remy.

Brian Dennehy is excellent as Django, Remy's father who tries to understand his son's gift while revealing his own mistrust towards humans and stuff. Dennehy brings the right sense of fraternal comfort and realism to that character. The legendary Peter O'Toole shines in what has to be one of his best voice roles as Anton Ego. While his voice might be recognizable to cinephiles and adult audiences, O'Toole truly brings a coldness and humorless that is the character of Anton Ego as a man who loves food, but like isn't good enough for him. It's a fantastic performance from the legendary actor. Patton Oswalt is great in the voice of Remy bringing a great mix of humor, drama, and sensitivity to a character dreamers can relate to. Oswalt's voice-over narration also works in how he observes the situations and everything including how he interacts with the spirit of Gusteau.

While it's definitely superior to some of the Disney/Pixar releases like last year's Cars, Ratatouille is definitely not just one of the best Disney/Pixar films but also the year's best family film. Brad Bird and company truly made a film that kids will definitely enjoy as well as older audiences. It's funny, it's got a great look, it's got some nice drama, wonderful action, and everything that guarantees its entertainment value. In the end, Ratatouille is a superb yet gorgeous film from Brad Bird and Pixar.

Pixar Films: Toy Story - A Bug's Life - Toy Story 2 - (Monsters, Inc.) - (Finding Nemo) - The Incredibles - Cars - WALL-E - Up - Toy Story 3 - Cars 2 - Brave - Monsters University - Inside Out - The Good Dinosaur - (Finding Dory) - (Cars 3) - Coco - Incredibles 2 - Toy Story 4 - (Onward) - Soul (2020 film) - (Luca (2021 film)) - Turning Red - (Lightyear) - (Elemental (2023 film)) - Inside Out 2 - (Elio) – (Toy Story 5)

© thevoid9 2011