Air (2023 film)

 

Directed and co-starring Ben Affleck and written by Alex Convery, Air is the story about the origin of the Air Jordan shoe line by Nike and how an employee from Nike makes a discovery about the then-unknown Michael Jordan and to build a shoe line around him. The film is about the creation of a shoe line that wouldn’t just save Nike from shutting down but create something that would play a key role in the world of popular culture. Also starring Matt Damon, Jason Bateman, Marlon Wayans, Chris Messina, Chris Tucker, and Viola Davis as Deloris Jordan. Air is a riveting and exhilarating film from Ben Affleck.

Set in 1984, the film follows talent scout Sonny Vaccaro (Matt Damon) who works for Nike’s basketball division as it is on the verge of shutting down due to low sales where he decides to bet on an idea in the hope of saving the division by building a shoe line for a future NBA prospect in Michael Jordan. It is a film that is about the creation of the Air Jordan shoe line and its origins as well as the impact it would have on Nike at a time when they were falling behind other competitive rivals in Converse and Adidas as Nike’s CEO Phil Knight (Ben Affleck) was forced to lay off people ever since the company has gone public. The film’s screenplay by Alex Convery, with un-credited contributions from Ben Affleck and Matt Damon, is largely straightforward in its narrative as it follows Vaccaro who is tasked by Knight and marketing VP Rob Strasser (Jason Bateman) to come up with a new spokesperson for Nike’s basketball shoes with a limited $250,000 budget. Yet, the choices he is given aren’t impressive with the exception of Charles Barkley while trying to nab Michael Jordan is impossible as he has already expressed interests from both Converse and Adidas who are preparing to make their offers.

While re-watching the 1982 NCAA championship where Jordan scored the winning shot, Vaccaro makes a discovery about that winning shot while also watching a commercial that Arthur Ashe did for Head tennis rackets as he came up with an idea that he knows is a major risk since he knows Jordan has no interest in Nike. After a dinner with George Raveling who coached Jordan for the 1984 Olympics, Vaccaro makes the decision to visit the Jordans at their home in Wilmington, North Carolina against the advice of Knight, Strasser, and Jordan’s agent David Falk who doesn’t like Vaccaro. Yet, Vaccaro’s meeting with Deloris Jordan about what he wants to do for her son has her intrigued as well as influence her about her upcoming meetings with Converse and Adidas. Vaccaro’s determination would win over Strasser as well as another VP in Howard White (Chris Tucker) and shoe designer Peter Moore (Matthew Maher) as they realize what they have to do to stand out against their competitors despite a rule by the NBA about shoes. Even as Nike knows they have a lot against them as well as trying to convince Jordan to sign with Nike where they would make a move that would prove to be groundbreaking.

Affleck’s direction is definitely stylish as it is shot in areas around Los Angeles but also places in Oregon including its headquarters at Beaverton, Oregon to create a world set during a fruitful period in time as basketball was about to reach newfound popularity in the NBA due to the rivalry between the Los Angeles Lakers and the Boston Celtics. While there are some wide shots to establish some of the locations including the look of the basketball division floor at the Nike headquarters. Affleck maintains an intimacy into the direction with its usage of close-ups and medium shots as well as some unique tracking shots with the usage of the Steadicam to get a look at the entire basketball division floor as it would show people at work as it feels more like a place where everyone is enjoying themselves despite the fact that they might lose their jobs. Affleck also plays up to a certain look and feel of the times that is the 1980s as it does evoke some nostalgia but it also plays into a world that is changing with American basketball becoming big business as Nike struggles to keep up with their competitors.

A key aspect in Affleck’s direction that is very notable relates to Michael Jordan (Damian Young) as his face is never shown throughout the film while he rarely speaks as Affleck focuses more on the people at Nike as well as Jordan’s parents as they play a major role in his ascent. The conversation between Vaccaro and Deloris Jordan at the latter’s backyard is a key conversation where Vaccaro reveals certain small details about her upcoming meetings with the people at Converse and Adidas as the meetings would reveal what Deloris sees in those small details but also in questions she needed to ask. The meeting between the Jordans and Nike is a key moment that begins the film’s third act as it relates to what Nike wants for Jordan where Vaccaro talks to Michael about his future and what he will face as it raises a lot into the decisions they would make. A decision that Deloris Jordan would make that isn’t just game-changing but also would give Vaccaro a wider view on the future of sports. Overall, Affleck crafts a riveting and evocative film about a Nike talent scout who takes a big risk in nabbing a future icon to be the face of a new shoe line made exclusively for him.

Cinematographer Robert Richardson does brilliant work with the film’s cinematography with its low-key yet colorful look to play into the look of the 1980s with its emphasis on low-level lighting as well as maintaining some grainy colors for some of the daytime exteriors as it is a highlight of the film. Editor William Goldenberg does excellent work with the editing as it has some stylish montage-style cutting but also some straightforward cutting to play into the drama and some of the comedic moments in the film. Production designer Francois Audouy, along with supervising art director A. Todd Holland plus set decorators David Smith and Henry Somarriba, does amazing work with the look of the Nike building interiors including Knight’s office as well as the exterior of the Jordan family home. Costume designer Charlese Antoinette Jones does fantastic work as it plays into the style of the 80s clothing including some of the Nike tracksuits that Knight wears as cheesy as it looks.

Hair stylist Jessica Allen and makeup artist Kerrin Jackson does nice work with the look of the characters with Knight being the most notable with his hairdo as well as the look of Deloris Jordan. Special effects supervisor Mark R. Byers and visual effects supervisor Hansjeet Duggal do terrific work with the visual effects as it plays into some of the TV footage as well as some set-dressing for some of the exterior shots. Sound editor Susan Dawes, plus sound designers Ai-Ling Lee and Tobias Poppe, does superb work with the sound as it play into the atmosphere of the offices and phone calls as well as the sounds of cars and such to play into the atmosphere of the 1980s.

Music supervisor Andrea von Forester does incredible work with the film’s soundtrack in cultivating a slew of music from late 1970s/early 1980s that include music from Dire Straits, Bruce Springsteen, Run-DMC, Violent Femmes, Mike + the Mechanics, Dan Hartman, the Alan Parsons Project, the Clash, Cyndi Lauper, Harold Faltemeyer, His Name is Alive, Tangerine Dream with additional score music by Paul Haslinger from the group, Squeeze, Rufus with Chaka Khan, Night Ranger, ZZ Top, REO Speedwagon, Big Country, George Clinton, Grandmaster Flash with Melle Mel and the Furious 5, the Dazz Band, Miami Nights 1984, Chris Boardman, Zapp, Pino Donaggio, Thomas Newman, Alexandre Desplat, Andy Partridge and Harold Budd, Mark Isham, and Be Chi. It is a soundtrack that is filled with a lot of the music from that time and it is such a fun soundtrack to listen to.

The casting by Lindsay Graham and Mary Vernieu does wonderful work with the film’s ensemble cast as it feature some notable small roles from Jessica Green as Knight’s secretary Katrina Sainz, Asante Deshon as a 711 clerk that Vaccaro chats with often about basketball, Jay Mohr as the American Adidas executive John Fisher, Gustav Skarsgard and Barbara Sukowa as the Adidas sibling executives in Kathe and Horst Dassler, Julius Tennon as James R. Jordan Sr. and Damian Young as Michael Jordan. Matthew Maher is terrific as shoe designer Peter Moore as an eccentric man who is going through a mid-life crisis as he also figures out the kind of shoe that would be marketable but also be something beautiful. Marlon Wayans is fantastic as George Raveling as Jordan’s coach during the Olympics who converses with Vaccaro about Jordan but also reveals to have owned something historical as he gives Vaccaro some words of wisdom in approaching the Jordans.

Chris Messina is excellent as Jordan’s agent David Falk who came up with the name Air Jordan as someone who is quite volatile towards Vaccaro while trying to do everything in the best interest of the Jordans. Chris Tucker is brilliant as Howard White as a Nike executive who is reluctant to get Jordan due to the fact that Jordan doesn’t like Nike’s products as well as understanding the culture though he is won over by Vaccaro’s determination. Jason Bateman is amazing as marketing VP Rob Strasser as a man who is often baffled and frustrated by Vaccaro yet is won over as he realizes there’s a chance that this move to get Jordan could save his job and hopefully more time with his daughter. Ben Affleck is incredible as Nike CEO Phil Knight as a man that is trying to keep his company away from a board of directors while is also trying to run Nike in the hope that he doesn’t shut down their basketball division as Affleck brings a lot of humor to his character but also some grounded aspects that makes him someone who does care about Nike and its employees.

Viola Davis is phenomenal as Deloris Jordan as Michael Jordan’s mother who is surprised by Vaccaro’s visit as she is aware about her son being a hot prospect as she also understands what Converse and Adidas are offering yet she realizes that Nike is offering something more that she wants to ensure her son’s financial future. Finally, there’s Matt Damon in a tremendous leading performance as Sonny Vaccaro as this talent scout who is trying to find a new spokesman for Nike’s basketball shoes as he makes a discovery in Michael Jordan where he is aware of the risk he is taking but is also someone that is direct in his pursuit where Damon brings the everyman quality to his character from his physical appearance as well as the sense of humility he brings as it’s one of his finest performances to date.

Air is a spectacular film from Ben Affleck that features a great ensemble cast led by Affleck, Matt Damon, Viola Davis, Jason Bateman, Chris Tucker, Chris Messina, and Marlon Wayans. Along with its stylish yet nostalgic look, its study of a man taking a risk to capture an once-in-a-lifetime megastar, and a killer music soundtrack. It’s a film that isn’t just this fascinating sports film of sorts but also a film that shows the origin of one of the greatest shoe lines ever created. In the end, Air is a tremendous film from Ben Affleck.

Ben Affleck Films: (Gone Baby Gone) – The Town (2010 film) - Argo - (Live By Night)

© thevoid99 2023

Palo Alto (2013 film)

 

Based on a collection of short stories by James Franco, Palo Alto is a film consisting of three different stories set in Palo Alto, California as it relates to teenagers dealing with boredom, lust, and self-destructive behavior. Written for the screen and directed by Gia Coppola, the film is an exploration of teenage life in a small Californian town as it revolves around a group of high schoolers dealing with their own surroundings and the world around them. Starring Emma Roberts, Jack Kilmer, Nat Wolff, Zoe Levin, Chris Messina, Keegan Allen, Margaret Qualley, Val Kilmer, and James Franco. Palo Alto is an evocative and compelling film from Gia Coppola.

The film revolves around a group of teenagers living in Palo Alto, California as they all deal with growing pains, lust, boredom, and other issues as they all embark on some journey that play to their growth. It’s a film that follow four different teens as they all share a narrative of sorts where Gia Coppola creates as it play into these teens who are just lost in the world around them as April (Emma Roberts) is a high school student that is also part of the school’s soccer team as she has a crush on their coach Mr. B. (James Franco) whom she also babysits her son. April has feelings for one of her classmates in the aspiring artist/stoner Teddy (Jack Kilmer) who often hangs out with the more destructive stoner Fred (Nat Wolff) as they get into some trouble with Teddy being forced to serve community service after crashing into another car in order to avoid juvenile detention. Fred meanwhile goes after a teammate of April in Emily (Zoe Levin) whom he would have sex with yet has also things that he would want to do as he would also cause trouble. Though Coppola’s script is loose in its narrative and can be messy at times, she is able to find ways to play into the evolution of these characters as they deal with their growing pains.

Coppola’s direction is definitely stylish in terms of its presentation while utilizing real locations in and around Southern California including the town of Palo Alto as it is a character in the film. Coppola would use wide shots for some of the locations including scenes where the characters are in a location to play into their own sense of isolation and boredom while she also uses medium shots for some of the party scenes in the film. There are also intimate moments in Coppola’s direction in some of the medium shots as well as close-ups as it add to the drama. Notably as it play into April’s own interaction with Mr. B. whom she would have an affair with despite the fact that he’s an adult and she’s a high school student.

There are also moments that do play into the many fallacies of Teddy and Fred’s friendship as the latter tends to be involved in destructive manners as well as voiceover in what he would to Emily with other boys. Coppola also play into Emily’s own search for love but also her own sexual exploration although her character isn’t as developed as she has no idea about what she’s doing other than become a prop for Fred. The climax does play into a party but also characters growing up over some of the things they encounter as well as thinking about the next stage in their lives. Yet, it also forces a few to ponder if there is even a future for them as it all play into the ideas of growing up. Overall, Coppola crafts a dreamy yet haunting film about teenagers dealing with growing pains in Palo Alto, California.

Cinematographer Autumn Cheyenne Durald does brilliant work with the film’s cinematography with its usage of low-key and natural lighting for many of the daytime exteriors as well as the usage of lighting to low-level lighting for many of the interior/exterior scenes at night. Editor Leo Scott does excellent work with the editing as it has style in its usage of jump-cuts and dissolves to play into some of the dizzying adventures the characters go through but also some straightforward cuts for the drama. Production designer Sara Beckum Jamieson, with set decorator Natalie Ziering and art director Dori Hana Scherer, does fantastic work with the look of the homes of where Fred and Emily lived while the rooms of Teddy and April are actual locations. Costume designer Courtney Hoffman does nice work with the costumes from the stylish look of Emily to the stoner clothing that Fred and Teddy wear.

Hair/makeup artist Molly Paddon does terrific work with some of the makeup April and Emily would wear along with their friends. Visual effects supervisor Viktor Muller does fine work with some of the film’s minimal visual effects as it relates to some of the car crashes in the film. Sound designer Richard Beggs does incredible work with the sound in the way music sounds at a party as well as some of the sparse sounds in natural locations. The film’s music by Devonte Hynes and Robert Schwartzman is wonderful for its mixture of indie, pop, hip-hop, and other kinds of music that include contributions from Jason Schwartzman’s side project Coconut Records, Mac DeMarco, Jack Kilmer, Nat & Alex Wolff, Blood Orange, Francesco Pennino, William Storkson, and Tonstartssbandht.

The casting by Laray Mayfield is superb as it feature some notable small roles and appearances from Talia Shire as April’s guidance counselor, Janet Jones Gretzky as Teddy’s mother, Emma Gretzky as Teddy’s sister, Colleen Camp as a woman who was part of a car accident Teddy got involved in, Francis Ford Coppola as the voice of a judge, Ana Thea Bogdanovich as a friend of the woman whom Teddy crashed into, Brennan and Atlanta de Cadenet Taylor as a couple of kids at a party, Andrew Lutheran as a boy April makes out with at a party, Jacqueline De La Fontaine as April’s mother, Don Novello as an art teacher, Sandra Seacat as an elderly woman who takes a liking towards Teddy’s art work during his community service, Margaret Qualley as a teammate of April in Raquel whom April notices Mr. B. puts his attention towards to, Chris Messina as Fred’s father who is a stoner and tries to flirt with Teddy, Keegan Allen as a weed dealer who insults Fred, and Val Kilmer as April’s stepfather Stewart who likes to smoke weed but also help her out with her term paper. Olivia Crocicchia and Claudia Levy are terrific in their respective roles as April’s classmates Chrissy and Shauna who often host parties while also making rumors about everyone.

Zoe Levin is pretty good in her role as Emily despite the fact that she’s underwritten in terms of the fact that there’s not a lot of development to her other than that she gives Teddy a blow-job early in the film and is the object of lust for other guys. James Franco is fantastic as April’s soccer coach Mr. B. whom April has a crush on while he is also creepy for the fact that he also likes April as well. Nat Wolff is amazing as Fred as this unlikeable and destructive teen who likes to smoke weed but also engage in vandalism and other destructive elements to the point that he gets Teddy in trouble as well as use Emily for sexual reasons. Jack Kilmer is excellent as Teddy as a stoner who has a gift for art as he deals with the drawbacks of his friendship with Fred but also his own issues as he also has a crush towards April. Finally, there’s Emma Roberts in a brilliant performance as April as a teenage girl dealing with uncertainty with her life as she longs for her soccer coach as well as coping with growing pains as it is one of Roberts’ finest performances.

Palo Alto is a marvelous film from Gia Coppola that features great performances from Emma Roberts, Nat Wolff, and Jack Kilmer in his film debut. Along with its supporting cast, rapturous visuals, hypnotic music soundtrack, and its exploration of teenage life in a small town in Southern California. It is a film that is a mesmerizing coming-of-age film that doesn’t just explore teen angst and uncertainty but also people just trying to find themselves in a small town. In the end, Palo Alto is a remarkable film from Gia Coppola.

Mainstream

© thevoid99 2022

Birds of Prey (and the Fantabulous Emancipation of One Harley Quinn)

Based on the DC comic series by Jordan B. Gorfinkel and Chuck Dixon and the Harley Quinn character created by Paul Dini and Bruce Timm, Birds of Prey (and the Fantabulous Emancipation of One Harley Quinn) is the story of an anti-hero who teams up with other women to protect a young thief from a Gotham crime boss who wants to take over the crime world of Gotham and get rid of Joker’s former flame. Directed by Cathy Yan and screenplay by Christina Hodson, the film explores the character of Harley Quinn following her break-up with the Joker as well as trying to find herself and be part of a team with different women who all feel out of place with society as Margot Robbie reprises the role of Quinn. Also starring Mary Elizabeth Winstead, Rosie Perez, Jurnee Smollett-Bell, Chris Messina, Ella Jay Basco, Ali Wong, and Ewan McGregor as Roman Sionis/Black Mask. Birds of Prey (and the Fantabulous Emancipation of One Harley Quinn) is a dazzling and exhilarating film from Cathy Yan.

The film explores the journey of Harley Quinn following her break-up with the Joker as she tries to find herself only to realize that all of Gotham’s criminal underworld want her dead as she makes a deal with the mob figure Roman Sionis to retrieve a diamond in exchange for protection. Yet, the diamond is in the hands of a young pickpocket who had swallowed the diamond as it leads to chaos but also Quinn gaining a conscience to protect this young girl leading her to get the help of three other different women who get involved with this young girl. Christina Hodson’s screenplay is largely told from the perspective of Quinn who narrates the film and breaks the fourth wall at times but also play into the events that lead to her trying to find herself and embrace the idea of not needing the Joker. The first act establishes the events in Quinn’s life that lead to her break-up with the Joker as it doesn’t become known to the criminal underworld despite her sullen behavior until she destroys a major symbol of their relationship where everyone discovers the truth.

Among those that discovered a key evidence of this breakup is Gotham detective Renee Montoya (Rosie Perez) who has spent years building a case against Sionis as well as wanting to capture Quinn but is often passed over for a promotion as well as not getting credit for the work she gets. Sionis’ club singer/chauffeur Dinah Lance/Black Canary (Jurnee Smollett-Bell) turns informant when she learns that the young pickpocket Cassandra Cain (Ella Jay Basco) had stolen a diamond that Sionis wants as Montoya tries to protect Cain. The second act revolves around Quinn taking Cain as well as learn of the bounty on Cain for half a million dollars while it’s open season on Quinn who is trying to not get killed. It is also the moment where Quinn learns about Cain where she hopes to use her as a deal with Sionis but then becomes conflicted and gets to know Cain. Adding to this growing chaos is a mysterious assassin known as the Huntress (Mary Elizabeth Winstead) whose family was killed by various mobsters including Sionis’ right-hand man Victor Zsaz (Chris Messina) as she would find herself involved in protecting Cain as she, Montoya, and Lance would team up with Quinn to deal with Sionis who hopes to rule Gotham.

Cathy Yan’s direction is definitely stylish as it play into this crazed world of crime and mayhem as it relates to the chaos that Harley Quinn surrounds herself in. Shot on location in Los Angeles, Yan plays up into a world that is separated into camps where one is the criminal underworld and the other is the streets where not much is happening and people are struggling as Quinn is in the center of both as she was part of the underworld but is living in an apartment above a Chinese restaurant with her new pet hyena named Bruce. While there are some stylish compositions that includes a hand-drawn animated sequence that narrates Quinn’s life with the Joker, Yan does manage to create some straightforward compositions as well as emphasize on the characters where she does manage to allow audiences to get to know Montoya, Cain, Lance, and the Huntress though it does remain Quinn’s story.

With some second unit work from Stahelski in some of the action scenes, Yan does manage to keep things simple when it comes to characters interacting with one another such as a scene of Quinn and Cain watching cartoons and eating cereal or all five women just talking to each other. Yan also uses medium shots in some of those interactions and close-ups that either play to some moment of drama or for something funny. Yan doesn’t go for anything serious as the film’s climax that involves the formation of the Birds of Prey and going up against Sionis and his gang as it is balls-to-the-wall action with all sorts of outlandish moments. The mixture of humor, action, and suspense is key to the film’s success with Yan also creating something where women take charge and allowing its central character to realize that she doesn’t need a man to define her. Overall, Yan crafts a riveting yet thrilling film about an anti-hero who tries to protect a young pickpocket from a mob boss with the help of three other women.

Cinematographer Matthew Libatique does brilliant work with the film’s colorful cinematography with the usage of vibrant colors for some of the daytime scenes along with stylish lights and moods for some of the interiors and nighttime exterior scenes in the film. Editors Jay Cassidy and Evan Schiff do excellent work with the editing as it emphasizes a lot on style with elements of jump-cuts and stylish montages as well as allowing shots to establish exactly what is going on in the action and humor. Production designer K.K. Barrett, with supervising art director Kasra Farahani plus set decorators Jennifer Lukehart and Florencia Martin, does amazing work with the sets from the apartment that Quinn lives in as well as Sionis’ nightclub and the abandoned amusement park where the film’s climax takes place. Costume designer Erin Benach does fantastic work with the costumes from the colorful clothing that Quinn wears as well as the black leather of Huntress, the tight pants of Lance, and the casual look of Montoya as the clothes help flesh out the personality of the characters in the film.

Hair designers Adruitha Lee and Nikki Nelms, with makeup artist Miko Suzuki, do terrific work with the look of Quinn’s hair as well as Lance’s hairstyle and the look of Zsaz. Special effects supervisor Mark Hawker, along with visual effects supervisors Yael Majors and Greg Steele does wonderful work with the visual effects as it help play into the colorful visuals as well as bringing some grit and over-the-top style to some of the action scenes. Sound designer Paula Fairfield and sound editor Katy Wood do superb work with the sound as it play into the atmosphere of the locations as well as the way weapons sound and such as it is a highlight of the film. The film’s music by Daniel Pemberton is incredible for its mixture of orchestral music with rock and jazz as it help play into the humor and action while music supervisors Gabe Hilfer and Season Kent create a chaotic yet fun soundtrack of music that ranges from pop standards, classic rock, classic soul, and modern music from Heart, Barry White, Ohio Players, Halsey, Megan Thee Stallion with Normani, Lauren Jaurengi, Charlotte Lawrence, and many others.

The casting by Rich Delia is marvelous as it feature some notable small roles from Francois Chau as a rival mob figure of Sionis, Dana Lee as the owner of Quinn’s favorite Chinese restaurant in Doc, Steven Williams as Montoya’s former partner/superior Captain Erickson who often takes credit for her work, Bojana Novakovic as a club goer Sionis humiliates, Ella Mika as a young Helena Bertinelli, and Ali Wong as Montoya’s former girlfriend/district attorney Ellen Yee who is reluctant to help Montoya but often puts Montoya in trouble in favor of saving her own ass. Chris Messina is superb as Sionis’ right-hand man who is also a fierce killer as he is also a major target of the Huntress. Ella Jay Basco is fantastic as Cassandra Cain as a teenage pickpocket who steals a diamond that Sionis wants as she copes with having a price on her head while trying to understand Quinn whom she would see as a big sister. Ewan McGregor is excellent as Roman Sionis/Black Mask as a mob figure with a narcissistic personality who hopes to rule Gotham as he wants this rare diamond to have that power to buy off anything and anyone he wants to.

Rosie Perez is brilliant as Renee Montoya as a police detective who often feels spurned by others as she often speaks in 80s cop clichés while is someone who is cynical but believes there is hope as it relates to Cain while is reluctant to help out Quinn. Jurnee Smollett-Bell is amazing as Dinah Lance/Black Canary as a singer who sings at Sionis’ nightclub while also working as his chauffeur as she is a street-smart woman who knows Cain as they live in the same apartment building while also carries a weapon that she inherited from her late mother. Mary Elizabeth Winstead is incredible as Helena Bertinelli/the Huntress as a crossbow assassin who is the daughter of a revered Mafia figure who was killed along with her entire family as she goes on a quest for vengeance while reluctantly helping out Quinn as Winstead maintains a low-key demeanor to her role. Finally, there’s Margot Robbie in a phenomenal performance as Harley Quinn as the former psychiatrist turned insane criminal who is trying to find herself following her break-up with the Joker where Robbie brings that air of charisma and energy into the character but also someone who is conflicted in wanting to create trouble but also wanting to help this young pickpocket where Robbie brings that humanity to the character as well as someone who is willing to be a team player as Robbie has great rapport with her other female cast members.

Birds of Prey (and the Fantabulous Emancipation of One Harley Quinn) is a sensational film from Cathy Yan that features a great leading performance from Margot Robbie. Along with its ensemble cast that include top-notch performances from Mary Elizabeth Winstead, Rosie Perez, Jurnee Smollett-Bell, Ella Jay Basco, and Ewan McGregor as well as colorful and dazzling visuals, high-octane action, a witty sense of humor, and an energetic music soundtrack. It’s a film that refuses to take itself seriously while also being this off-the-wall and thrilling action-adventure comedy with some suspense and drama with a woman teaming up with a bunch of other ladies to take down some bad guys. In the end, Birds of Prey (and the Fantabulous Emancipation of One Harley Quinn) is a phenomenal film from Cathy Yan.

DC Extended Universe: Man of Steel - Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice - Suicide Squad - Wonder Woman - Justice League - Aquaman -Shazam! - Wonder Woman 1984 - Zack Snyder's Justice League - The Suicide Squad (2021 film) - (Black Adam) – (Shazam! Fury of the Gods) – (Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom) – (The Flash) – (Blue Beetle) – (Batgirl)

© thevoid99 2020

Argo

Based on the book The Master of Disguise by Tony Mendez and Joshuah Bearman’s article The Great Escape, Argo is the story of a CIA operative who leads a rescue of six American diplomats who are hiding at the home of a Canadian ambassador during the 1979 Iranian Revolution. Directed by Ben Affleck and screenplay by Chris Terrio, the film is about how a CIA operative, a Hollywood makeup artist, and a film producer create a fake movie in order to use it as a disguise to get Americans out of Iran during a tumultuous period. Starring Ben Affleck, Bryan Cranston, Alan Arkin, and John Goodman. Argo is a thrilling yet engaging film from Ben Affleck.

Set during the Iranian Revolution of 1979 where the people of Iran took over the American embassy and held many Americans hostage for 444 days. The film is about six American diplomats who were able to escape during the fall of the embassy where they hid at the home of the Canadian ambassador. It would take the actions of a CIA operative in Tony Mendez (Ben Affleck) who decides to create a fake movie with help of a famed makeup artist John Chambers (John Goodman) and film producer Lester Siegel (Alan Arkin). There, Mendez would create a ruse so that he would get the six Americans out of the country though they’re aware that they’re under surveillance from the Iranian government. It’s a film that plays into this true story that is known as Canadian Caper though there are things that screenwriter Chris Terrio does to play with some of the true events in order to make the story more dramatic.

Despite some of the dramatic liberties that was taken to tell the story, Terrio does manage to make the screenplay not just be some suspense film about getting six Americans out of Iran by having them pretend to be a Canadian film crew. There’s also some humor about how Mendez goes into Hollywood to try and find a story to sell to the Iranian government as if it would be a movie that the country would approve. They would find it in the form of a cheesy sci-fi adventure called Argo where the film’s title would have a certain punch line that is often said “Argo fuck yourself”. It’s among one of the highlights of the film that helps balance a lot of the suspense and intrigue that goes on where the narrative has a straightforward structure where it moves back-and-forth to Mendez’ time in Istanbul and Iran as well as what is happening in Washington D.C.

The script doesn’t just succeed in its narrative and approach to suspense but also in the characters themselves as Tony Mendez is this CIA operative who knows a lot more than some of his superiors about how to get people out as he is also someone with a wife and son whom he doesn’t see often but always talks to. When he presents his ideas to his superiors, they’re skeptical but realize there’s very little options as the people he’s trying to get out of the country are also wary of Mendez’s idea. Even as there’s people in the American embassy trying to find pictures of the missing six through hordes of shredded paper while there’s an Iranian maid named Sahar (Sheila Vand) who is suspicious about them as she works for the Canadian ambassador Ken Taylor (Victor Garber). Still, it all plays to the fact that these Americans have to pretend to be Canadians and play that part before the Iranian government find out about their true identities.

Ben Affleck’s direction is quite straightforward for much of the presentation though he opens the film with a comic-book like presentation about Iran’s troubled history with the U.S. that led to the 1979 Iranian Revolution with a mixture of old news footage and pictures of these times. Notably as he also mixes footage of the embassy takeover on that day with what is happening inside as it becomes chaotic as the film then shifts into Mendez coming into the picture when the CIA is running out of options as Affleck maintains something is quite engaging intense where the camera is constantly moving in its tracking and handheld shots to present the CIA in panic mode as they’re trying to figure things out. Affleck does lighten things up for the scenes in Hollywood where he isn’t afraid to add humor and silliness to the story while he creates a very strange montage where it showcases the uprising in Iran with actors reading the script to the fake sci-fi story.

While much of the film is shot in Los Angeles with portions shot in Washington DC and in Istanbul as some of the locations in Los Angeles and Istanbul play the role of Tehran, Iran. Affleck does create some shot-for-shot recreations of some of the events that took place during the Iranian Revolution of 1979 where some of those images are terrifying. Notably as Affleck maintains an air of chills and claustrophobia to a scene where he and the American diplomats step outside to pretend to be the film crew where they nearly get into trouble. It adds to the suspense as well as the scenes that goes on in the American embassy where there’s other hostages as well as moments such as the failed Operation Eagle Claw mission that would complicate things until Mendez makes the decision that would impact everything. Overall, Affleck creates a very gripping yet powerful film about the Canadian Caper story.

Cinematographer Rodrigo Prieto does amazing work with the film‘s cinematography where it has an air of grain to create something real but also to add some style in some of the locations such as the scenes in Iran to play up that sense of terror. Editor William Goldenberg does brilliant work with the film‘s editing with its use of montages as well as rhythmic cuts to play into the film‘s suspense and terror as well as some of its humorous moments. Production designer Sharon Seymour, with set decorator Jan Pascale and art director Peter Borck, do fantastic work with the set pieces from the look of the embassy and the Canadian ambassador‘s home as well as the look of 1979 Tehran in its air of unrest.

Costume designer Jacqueline West does excellent work with the costumes where it‘s mostly low-key and casual to play up the look of late 1970s while creating some silly costumes for the film‘s sci-fi convention scene. Visual effects supervisors Lubo Hristov and Don Lee do terrific work with some of the visual look in the way Tehran looked from afar as well as some minimal background moments. Sound editors Erik Aadahl and Ethan Van der Ryn do superb work with the sound such as the film‘s embassy riot scene as well as the sense of terror that occurs with its sound of helicopters and angry crowds to play into that air of unrest. The film’s music by Alexandre Desplat is phenomenal for its orchestral-driven score to play into the film‘s suspense and drama while infusing it with some Middle Eastern vocal music and such while the film‘s soundtrack by music supervisor Linda Cohen features a lot of the music of that period from acts like the Rolling Stones, Dire Straits, Van Halen, and Led Zeppelin.

The casting by Lora Kennedy is just great for the cast that is assembled as it features some small appearances from Taylor Schilling as Tony’s wife Christine, Page Leong as Ken Taylor’s wife, Adrienne Barbeau as Siegel’s ex-wife, Chris Messina as the CIA official Malinov, Zeljko Ivanek as one of Mendez’s superiors in Robert Pender, Sheila Vand as the Taylors’ maid Sahar, Richard Kind as a Hollywood producer, Kyle Chandler as White House Chief of Staff Hamilton Jordan, Bob Gunton as Secretary of State Cyrus Vance, and Philip Baker Hall as the CIA head Stansfield Turner. Bryan Cranston is superb as Tony’s main superior Jack O’Donnell who helps ensure the secrecy of the mission as well as be his contact at home. Victor Garber is excellent as Canadian ambassador Ken Taylor who keeps the six Americans at his house while figuring out how to be quietly involved without causing troubles with the Iranians.

In the roles of the six American hostages, there’s Tate Donovan as Robert Anders, Rory Cochrane as Lee Schatz, Scoot McNairy and Kerry Bishe as Joe and Cathy Stafford, and Christopher Denham and Clea DuVall as Mark and Cora Lijek as they all give fantastic performances as six Americans living in terror. Alan Arkin is brilliant as the very engaging producer Lester Siegel who always knows how to talk bullshit to people in order to get what he wants as helps out Mendez. John Goodman is marvelous as the legendary makeup artist John Chambers who helps Mendez get the project started as it’s a performance full of humor and bravado. Finally, there’s Ben Affleck in a remarkable performance as Tony Mendez as a CIA operative who is keen on making sure that he gets the Americans out of Iran while dealing with the chaos in the country as well as the fact that he is also putting his ass on the line as well.

Argo is an incredible film from Ben Affleck about the Canadian Caper rescue. Thanks to a great ensemble cast that includes Bryan Cranston, Alan Arkin, and John Goodman as well a captivating story about what happened. It is a film that is certainly a small piece of American history that is well-told while giving some credit to what the Canadians did despite some skimming over some details in the true accounts of what happened. In the end, Argo is an extraordinary film from Ben Affleck.

Ben Affleck Films: (Gone Baby Gone) - The Town - (Live By Night) - Air (2023 film)

© thevoid99 2013

28 Hotel Rooms

Written and directed by Matt Ross, 28 Hotel Rooms is the story about an affair between a novelist and a corporate accountant in the span of several years in hotel rooms. The film is a look into the world of relationships and extramarital affairs where people are eager to find escape from their lives at home and at work. Starring Chris Messina and Marin Ireland. 28 Hotel Rooms is an entrancing yet provocative film from Matt Ross.

The film is the simple story about two people who engage in an affair in the course of several years as they meet in different hotels all across America and have a secret long-distance relationship. In the course of their meetings in 28 different hotel rooms, the two endure highs and lows in the relationship they have with each other but also their lives outside of that relationship. Their names are never revealed in the course of the film while they sparingly talk about their lives at home and at work where they maintain the sense of secrecy in this relationship. In these hotel room, the two have sex, eat food, and talk about everything where it is fun at times but also very intense by its second half where a lot of changes occur and the other lives they have starts to seep into the secret life they have.

Matt Ross’ screenplay doesn’t play to a traditional structure though it does feature breaks to play into the hotel rooms they’re in. There is still a sense of looseness in the story and in the dialogue where it feels very real while playing to the intensity of this relationship. There aren’t any explanations into how they met as the script doesn’t need that where Ross is more interested in the relationship just as it’s happening in the course of several years and in these different hotel rooms. Still, there is the sense of progression in the story where this couple endure some personal highs and lows but are always together. Yet, they are tempted to make the relationship so much more but issues in their individual lives complicate things as it eventually becomes troubling whether this secret relationship can continue.

Ross’ direction is very to-the-point where he adopts a style similar to cinema verite with some hand-held cameras but also some still shots to capture a relationship being played in these hotels. While most of it does take place in hotel rooms with a few scenes in bars and hallways. There is still a sense of realism that is happening while Ross does create compositions that are quite mesmerizing in the way he puts the actors in the frame. Notably in the sex scenes and some of the drama that is played while Ross also create moments where there is a feeling that the relationship might fall apart where he knows what not to use and how to present it. Overall, Ross creates a very compelling yet ravishing film about a couple’s secret relationship.

Cinematographer Doug Emmett does excellent work with the film‘s photography to create moods in the hotel rooms as well as maintaining a sense of realism in the different rooms and parts of the hotels. Editor Joseph Krings does fantastic work with the editing to create some rhythmic cuts for some of the conversations while using stylish cuts to play out some of the non-dialogue scenes. Costume designers Julia Caston and Jamie Redwood do nice work with the clothes where they range from casual to more business-like to play off the mood of the characters. Sound editor Steve Ida does terrific work with the sound to capture the intimacy of the rooms as well as some of the more livelier moments in the hallways and bars. The film’s music soundtrack features original music by Fall On Your Swords and Kirk Ross is wonderful as it’s very low-key where it only appears in certain places where it’s a mixture of ambient music with some dreamy guitars to play out the mood of the relationship.

The performances of Chris Messina and Marin Ireland are fantastic as they both display an energy and realism to their performances. Messina as the novelist who is dealing with success and failure as he’s having issues with his own personal and professional life where Messina showcases a man who is more in tune with wanting the relationship to be out there. Ireland as the more reserved corporate accountant who is torn between the secret life she has and the other life as she admits that she loves her husband. The two together have electrifying chemistry whether it’s in the fun moments or in the more emotionally intense one as Messina and Ireland are the highlights of the film.

28 Hotel Rooms is a remarkable film from Matt Ross that features exhilarating performances from Chris Messina and Marin Ireland. The film is an intriguing look into the world of relationships and all of its complexities without giving in towards conventions. It’s also a film that doesn’t try to make it more as it is while not wanting to embellish or exaggerate anything that is typical of most films about romance. In the end, 28 Hotel Rooms is a marvelous film from Matt Ross.

Related: Captain Fantastic

© thevoid99 2013

Ruby Sparks

Directed by Jonathan Dayton and Valerie Faris and written and starring Zoe Kazan, Ruby Sparks is the story of a novelist struggling to write a novel as he creates his idea of the perfect woman only for her to actually come to life. The film is a look into the world of writers and their imagination and how their creation can sometimes go out of control. Also starring Paul Dano, Elliott Gould, Annette Bening, Antonio Banderas, Chris Messina, and Steve Coogan. Ruby Sparks is a witty and charming film from Jonathan Dayton and Valerie Faris.

The world of writing often contains struggles where one person has this big success yet has trouble comprehending why it was successful in the first place and how to create a follow-up worthy of that success. In this film, it is about a young writer whose first novel was considered a classic yet it’s been 10 years since he wrote a new novel as he’s struggle to write a second one. Dealing with writer’s block and a break-up, he suddenly has these dreams about his idea of the perfect woman where he writes about her. Then she appears out of nowhere as they would have a relationship while he realizes that he can do things to her through his typewriter only for things to eventually go out of control. Even as the writer is forced to face some harsh truths about himself and all of his flaws as his relationship with his creation starts to wind down.

Zoe Kazan’s screenplay is largely a comedy though it does have a lot of truths into what writers go through when they try to write. A lot of it involves writers just facing the blank page and having no idea what to do as Calvin Weir-Fields (Paul Dano) has a lot of pressure on him to deliver the second novel. Kazan’s script does reveal the pratfalls of the sophomore slump where Calvin spends his time talking to his shrink (Elliott Gould) and his brother Harry (Chris Messina) revealing all of his problems. Then comes these dreams that appear in Calvin’s head as he sees his idea of the perfect woman in this titular character that Kazan also plays. She is definitely someone who is quirky, offbeat, comical, melancholic, twee, and all of the things that Calvin wants. Once Harry learns what Calvin has created, he encourages him to do things as if Calvin is the creator.

After introducing Ruby to his mother (Annette Bening) and stepfather (Antonio Banderas) where Ruby seems to enjoy herself and starts to flesh out on her own. Calvin starts to take control as the second act winds down yet it eventually goes out of control where Ruby becomes more complicated as if she was human as she becomes needy, lazy, fluent in French, and all sorts of things as it’s done in a comical but also light-dramatic manner. Even as the third act is a bit dramatic as it unveils more of Calvin’s flaws as a person and as a writer where he has to face some truths about himself.

The direction of Jonathan Dayton and Valerie Faris is quite straightforward in terms of its framing and presentation yet they manage to keep things very lively throughout the film. Notably as it’s shot largely in Los Angeles and parts of California where it is this sunny world where a young writer is struggling to create his second novel. A lot of it involves simple shots that are carefully framed to establish this sense of difficulty a man faces as a writer while it includes some scenes where Calvin has to attend Q&A sessions about his first book to explore the world of the writer. Things loosen up once Ruby appears in the film as there’s elements of dream-like sequences as well as a scene where Calvin imagines Ruby’s life as he lies down on a couch during a therapy session. There are scenes that add a sense of improvisation and chaos to play out the comedy where it is very stylized as well as the drama that occurs in the third act. Overall, Dayton and Faris create a very fascinating and engaging comedy-drama about creation and how imagination can become reality.

Cinematographer Matthew Libatique does excellent work with the film‘s colorful cinematography as it plays to the beauty of the Californian locations as well as some of its nighttime scenes in Los Angeles. Editor Pamela Martin does nice work with the editing as it‘s quite stylized with the use of jump-cuts to capture some of the energy of the humor as well as a few fade-outs to help structure the story. Production designer Judy Becker, with set decorator Matthew Flood Ferguson and art director Alexander Wei, does amazing work with the look of Calvin‘s home as well as the bohemian home of his mother and stepfather.

Costume designer Nancy Steiner does wonderful work with the costumes in the stylish clothes that Ruby wears from her colorful socks to the dresses she wears. Sound editors Aaron Glascock and Byron Wilson do superb work with the sound from the intimacy of Calvin‘s home to some of the moments at the social gatherings Calvin and Ruby attend. The film’s music by Nick Urata is brilliant for its lush, orchestral score to play out some of the humor and romantic elements of the film. Music supervisor Dan Wilcox creates a fantastic soundtrack that consists a mix of classical music, French pop, and some indie music.

The casting by Justine Baddeley and Kim Davis-Wagner is just phenomenal for the ensemble that is created as it features some memorable small appearances from Aasif Mandvi as Calvin’s agent Cyrus, Toni Trucks as Harry’s wife Susie, Alia Shawkat as a fan of Calvin’s whom he met at the Q&A session, and Deborah Ann Woll as Calvin’s ex-girlfriend Lila who confronts him at a party. Elliott Gould is excellent as Calvin’s therapist Dr. Rosenthal who tries to understand Calvin while Steve Coogan is superb as a fellow novelist who tries to give Calvin some advice. Chris Messina is wonderful as Calvin’s older brother Harry who is baffled by Ruby’s appearance as he gives Calvin some advice on what to do with Ruby. Annette Bening and Antonio Banderas are great in their respective roles as Calvin’s bohemian mother Gertrude and his artistic stepfather Mort where they are a joy to watch as they bring more fun to the film.

Paul Dano is brilliant as Calvin Weir-Fields as a young man just troubled by the pressures he has as a writer as he’s seeking some form of inspiration as Dano has this great sense of comic timing and dramatic humility to make Calvin an engaging and flawed individual. Finally, there’s Zoe Kazan in a remarkable performance as the titular character as she displays all of the attributes of what an ideal dream girl is as well as distorting it to make her a more realistic person who is very flawed and complicated. It’s truly a real breakthrough for Kazan as she and Dano are the highlights of the film with their approach to comedy and drama.

Ruby Sparks is a marvelous film from Jonathan Dayton and Valerie Faris that features an amazing ensemble cast and a very captivating and humorous script from its star and screenwriter Zoe Kazan. It’s a film that doesn’t just explore the world of the writers but also subverts the idea of reality and fantasy to see how the creation can go overboard and overwhelm the creator. In the end, Ruby Sparks is a sensational film from Jonathan Dayton and Valerie Faris.

Jonathan Dayton & Valerie Faris Films: Little Miss Sunshine - Battle of the Sexes (2017 film)


© thevoid99 2013

Vicky Cristina Barcelona

Originally Written and Posted at Epinions.com on 8/17/08 w/ Additional Edits.

Written and directed by Woody Allen, Vicky Cristina Barcelona tells the story of two women named Vicky and Cristina as they take a vacation in Barcelona before Vicky is to be married. The two women meet an artist named Juan Antonio as Cristina embarks an affair with him while Vicky also falls for him. Yet, the affair becomes troubling when Juan Antonio's volatile ex-wife Maria Elena shows up as everything becomes complicated. The film is Allen paying tribute to Spain and all of its beauty. Starring Scarlett Johansson, Javier Bardem, Penelope Cruz, Rebecca Hall, Kevin Dunn, Chris Messina, and Patricia Clarkson. Vicky Cristina Barcelona is a witty, sexy, sensational comedy-drama from Woody Allen and company.

Vicky (Rebecca Hall) and Cristina (Scarlett Johansson) are on a summer vacation in Barcelona as Vicky is set to be married to a man named Doug (Chris Messina) while finishing her thesis on Catalonia culture. Cristina meanwhile, is interested in having a good time as the two girls live with friends of Vicky's parents in Judy (Patricia Clarkson) and her husband Mark (Kevin Dunn). The two young women explore the city of Barcelona where during an art gallery, they meet Juan Antonio (Javier Bardem) as they meet him again at a restaurant where he invites them to a small town called Oviedo for a good time. The free-spirited Cristina is excited though the more conservative Vicky is unsure as she reluctantly joins along to keep Cristina company.

The trio have a good time in Oviedo as during a night of drinking, Juan Antonio wants to sleep with them as Vicky refuses but Cristina wants to be seduced by the artist. Instead, Cristina gets sick as Vicky goes sightseeing with Juan Antonio as an attraction starts leading to the two making love. Vicky chose to keep the affair quiet on their return to Barcelona where Doug makes an announcement that he wants to marry Vicky in Barcelona. Doug arrives to Barcelona from New York as he and Vicky get married while Juan Antonio begins an affair with Cristina. Just as Juan Antonio's affair with Cristina blossoms, he gets news that his volatile ex-wife Maria Elena (Penelope Cruz) has attempted suicide as he brought her to his home so she can recover for a few months.

Cristina learns of Maria Elena's volatile behavior that's often melodramatic as Juan Antonio's ex-wife is skeptical about Cristina's intentions for Juan Antonio. While Juan Antonio admits to still be in love with Maria Elena, he also loves Cristina as the trio try to make a threesome where Maria Elena helps Cristina's artistic pursuits in photography. The affair begins to go well while Vicky's marriage life isn't what Vicky had expected to be. Even as she learns that Judy is unhappy in her own marriage to Mark. With the summer coming to an end, Cristina ponders her own role in the affair as well as her own identity while Vicky ponders her own feelings for Juan Antonio. Yet, the old tension between Maria Elena and Juan Antonio starts to rise again with the summer ending.

Changing locations from London to Barcelona, Woody Allen explores the world of sex and Spanish culture in this story of a bizarre yet passionate love affair revolving around two American women and a Spanish couple. What the film is really about is love and all of its anxieties. Vicky is a traditionalist who is not about risk until an affair with Juan Antonio makes her question about her feelings for Juan Antonio and her marriage to Doug. Cristina is a free-spirit who often goes from one phase to another as her threesome with Juan Antonio and Maria Elena makes her question whether she does have limits. Then there's Juan Antonio and Maria Elena, two passionate artists and lovers who are meant and not meant for each other as Juan Antonio is charming and lively while Maria Elena is more chaotic and skeptical.

While Allen creates great situations and characters for the story, he also uses a voice-over narration device by Christopher Evan Welch that does advance the plot but at times, it is very nagging and distracting. It's the one part of the film that works and doesn't work though a better approach for Allen is if he used the narration in Spanish. Allen's direction is very potent with great shots and locations for Barcelona in all of its glory. Notably the structures and artwork of Gaudi as Allen takes a tourist approach of sorts into exploring Barcelona.

A lot of Allen's camera work with close-ups, hand-held shots, and lots of unique compositions is wonderful as despite a few things that don't work. There's also shots and scenes where Allen once again pays tributes to one of his favorite directors. This time, it's Francois Truffaut and his classic 1961 film Jules & Jim in relation to the love-triangle of Cristina, Juan Antonio, and Maria Elena. The result of what Woody Allen does is prove that despite some of his recent misses, he’s still got some magic left in him.

Cinematographer Javier Aguirresarobe does an excellent job with the film's cinematography with colorful shots of the Spanish countryside with wonderful exterior shots of Barcelona. The interior shots are wonderfully lit to convey the Spanish look as Aguirresarobe's work is truly wonderful. Longtime editor Alisa Lepselter does excellent work in the editing that is very stylized with jump-cuts and freeze frames to convey Cristina's picture taking, notably of the Maria Elena character. Production designer Alain Bainee and art director Inigo Navarro do great work in the posh look of Judy's home while the more homely, artsy look of Juan Antonio's home is great with paintings and such.

Costume designer Sonia Grande does an excellent job in the costumes to help convey the city's colorful look with slender, contemporary clothing to match with the city's vibrancy. Sound editor Robert Hein does fine work in the sound in capturing the atmosphere of the town and one notable scene that’s very dramatic involving Maria Elena. The music is mostly driven by Spanish guitar ballads and a song about Barcelona for the opening and closing credits.

The casting by Patricia Kerrigan DiCerto and Juliet Taylor is superb for the most part with small yet memorable performances from the likes of Zak Orth and Carrie Preston as friends of Doug, Pablo Schreiber as a classmate of Vicky, and Josep Maria Domenech as Juan Antonio's father, who has some memorable one-liners. Chris Messina is good and funny as Vicky's dull yet snotty husband Doug while noted character actor Kevin Dunn is also good as Judy's husband Mark. Patricia Clarkson is excellent in her small yet memorable role as Judy, a woman dealing with the state of her marriage as she watch Vicky being unhappy in her marriage. Clarkson's performance is one that should be noted as the veteran actress once again stands out among her cast, not matter how small the role is.

Though the character of Cristina is an interesting one, Scarlett Johansson's performance doesn't exactly deliver. While Johansson's sexiness is key to the character, it's one audiences have seen before and the results is very bland. While blame can go to Allen for not really doing anything new with her, Johansson takes most of the fault for the fact that she plays the character one note where she is often being out-acted by her fellow actors. Johansson's co-star from The Prestige in Rebecca Hall is remarkable as Vicky. The British actress is playing the Woody Allen character as a neurotic traditionalist who finds herself falling in love with Juan Antonio as she ponders about the risks she takes. Yet, there's a sadness to Hall's performance as she plays a woman confused about her role and yearning for happiness.

Javier Bardem is great as the seductive charmer Juan Antonio as Bardem's subtle yet mesmerizing performance is one of his finest roles. A complete opposite to his chilling performance as Anton Chigurh in No Country for Old Men, Bardem plays a lively romantic who wants to give Vicky and Cristina a good time while dealing with his volatile ex-wife Maria Elena. The film's best and certainly the most unforgettable performance is Penelope Cruz as Maria Elena. Cruz's performance can be described as a firecracker where audiences don’t know what Cruz will do as she delves into melodrama while often having mean looks towards Johansson. Cruz's presence is also great where the camera obviously loves her while her scenes with Bardem are brilliant as the two have amazing chemistry. Though it's no surprise that they've worked together in a couple of films while are rumored to be dating at the moment.

While it doesn't match the heights of recent films like Melinda & Melinda and Match Point, Vicky Cristina Barcelona is still a witty, entertaining film from Woody Allen. With superb work from Javier Bardem, Penelope Cruz, Rebecca Hall, and Patricia Clarkson along with the beautiful location of Barcelona. While fans, old and new, might enjoy Allen's witty tale of love and all of its anxieties, the film does prove that Woody Allen still has some interesting stories left to tell. At the same time, it should be best that Woody Allen and Scarlett Johansson should part ways for good since it's doing neither for them. In the end, for a film with beautiful locations and stellar performances from some of the film's cast. Vicky Cristina Barcelona is a film worth seeking proving that Woody Allen still has it.

Woody Allen Films: What's Up, Tiger Lily? - Take the Money & Run - Bananas - Everything You Always Wanted to Know About Sex (But Were Afraid to Ask) - Sleeper - Love & Death - Annie Hall - Interiors - Manhattan - Stardust Memories - A Midsummer Night's Sex Comedy - Zelig - Broadway Danny Rose - The Purple Rose of Cairo - Hannah and Her Sisters - Radio Days - September - Another Woman - New York Stories-Oedipus Wrecks - Crimes & Misdemeanors - Alice - Shadows & Fog - Husbands & Wives - Manhattan Murder Mystery - Don't Drink the Water - Bullets Over Broadway - Mighty Aphrodite - Everyone Says I Love You - Deconstructing Harry - Celebrity - Sweet & Lowdown - Small Time Crooks - The Curse of the Jade Scorpion - Hollywood Ending - Anything Else - Melinda & Melinda - Match Point - Scoop - Cassandra's Dream - 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 2011

Greenberg

Since the release of 2005’s The Squid & the Whale following an eight-year hiatus from filmmaking. Noah Baumbach came back with a film that surprised audiences and critics over its portrait of divorce from the perspective of children. Two years later, Baumbach paid tribute to Eric Rohmer with Margot at the Wedding that starred Nicole Kidman, Jack Black, and Baumbach’s then-wife Jennifer Jason Leigh. After being in the American east coast for a large portion of his films, Baumbach moved west towards his next project about a man trying to get his life with Greenberg.

Directed by Noah Baumbach with a script written by Baumbach based on a story he conceived with Jennifer Jason Leigh. Greenberg tells the story of a man who decides to housesit his brother’s home following a mental breakdown as he then meets his brother’s personal assistant. The film is an exploration of depression and starting over. Starring Ben Stiller, Greta Gerwig, Rhys Ifans, Merritt Weaver, Chris Messina, Brie Larson, Juno Temple, and Jennifer Jason Leigh. Greenberg is a poignant yet witty film from Noah Baumbach and company.

Florence (Greta Gerwig) is a personal assistant for a man named Phillip Greenberg (Chris Messina) who is about to go on a six-week vacation to Vietnam to open a hotel with his family. Coming to stay over at Phillip’s house for the duration is his brother Roger (Ben Stiller) who needs a place to stay following a stay at a mental hospital in New York City. Florence has problems of her own having just broken up from a relationship with no idea what to do with herself. Upon Roger’s arrival, the only instruction Roger needed to do at home is to take care of the family dog while Florence helps him out with things.

Roger meets up with his old friend Ivan (Rhys Ifans) as he also tries to reacquainted with other old friends including his ex-girlfriend Beth (Jennifer Jason Leigh) who is now married. Aware of the changes that his old friends have in their lives, Roger decides to hang out with Florence as they connect through their own melancholia. Even as she invites him to a show where she’s singing. While her friend Gina (Merritt Weaver) isn’t sure that Roger is right for her, she’s interested in him because she feels kind of sorry for him. Even though he can be very angry all the time over everything.

When the dog becomes sick and Florence helps him out, Roger is having a hard time trying to relate to Florence as well as his old friends. A drink with Beth doesn’t go anywhere while he ponders what could’ve been when he and Ivan had a band that was very close to having a record deal that was thwarted by Roger back then. During his time with Ivan as Florence meets Ivan, Ivan isn’t sure about the relationship which is already having its ups and downs. Notably when Florence gets sick and had to go to the hospital. For Roger, he gets an unexpected visit from his sister-in-law’s stepsister Sara (Brie Larson) and her friend Muriel (Juno Temple) where a party happens as it leads to some unexpected events for Roger and the life that he’s leading.

The film is about two lost souls connecting with one another as they spend six weeks together trying to sort out their lives. Yet, it’s also about two people each dealing with their own identities. For Florence, she’s just a 26-year old woman trying to figure out what to do with herself while dealing with a break-up and being used for sexual pleasure with other men. Still, she is someone that is at least able to help people out and try to make something of herself no matter how flawed and young she is.

Then there’s Roger Greenberg who is someone having a hard time relating to the world and has just gotten out of a mental hospital. Upon his stay in Los Angeles, he finds himself having trouble relating to old friends and what they’re doing. The only one that is willing to give him the time of day is Ivan. Ivan however, is a character that is willing to listen to Greenberg complain about the world and everything else. Then in one scene, Greenberg asks Ivan if anyone had said anything about him as Ivan, reluctantly, says the truth about what people say. Greenberg is a man that is complicated and high-strung about everything where even his brother doesn’t help matters as Greenberg is doing his best to do things.

Baumbach’s screenplay is definitely an amazing character study about a man in crisis along with his fascination towards a 26-year old woman. His direction is also fascinating in the way he observes behaviors and events that happens around these characters. Even where he can make a children’s birthday party seem awkward though everyone else except Greenberg is having fun. The direction for the film is also very intimate with conversation pieces in various locations in Los Angeles by allowing some close-ups and two-shots for those scenes. Baumbach also creates scenes with humor that is mostly low-key while not over-dramatizing anything. Including some scenes where there’s a lot going on as one character is trying to be the center of attention. While the film does lag in a few spots, it is definitely one of Baumbach’s finest films.

Cinematographer Harris Savides does an excellent job with the film’s colorful photography as he takes advantage of the sunny look of Los Angeles. Even in capturing the nighttime look of the city in its exterior and interior settings with a wonderful intimacy that is truly gorgeous to watch. Savides’ work is definitely one of the film’s major highlights. Editor Tim Streeto does a fantastic job with the film’s editing in terms of creating amazing montages for a party scene where Greenberg is having different conversations with other people. Also in bringing jump-cuts for scenes where Florence is driving her car as it’s wonderfully stylized for a very unconventional film.

Production designer Ford Wheeler, along with set decorator Elizabeth Keenan and art director Curt Beech, does a very good job with the posh look of the Greenberg home that Roger is living in along with the more middle-class yet casual world that Florence lives in. Costume designer Mark Bridges also does a good job with the costumes from the casual, bohemian dresses that Florence wears to the casual, jeans-sweater shirts that Roger wears with everyone else looking more adult except for the young people Roger encounters. Sound editor Paul Hsu along with mixer Felix Andrews does an amazing job with the film’s sound from the intimate setting at the homes and club that Florence sings to the parties that Greenberg attends.

Music by James Murphy of LCD Soundsystem is definitely another of the film’s highlights as it is a mixture of moody electronic music with elements of rock along with folk-driven pieces. Additional cuts from music supervisor George Drakoulias as he fills the rest of the film’s soundtrack with cuts by the Steve Miller Band, Paul McCartney, Albert Hammond, Galaxie 500, Lily Allen, Serge Gainsbourg, the Association, and Duran Duran. The soundtrack is definitely one of the most diverse and creative soundtracks of 2010.

The casting by Francine Maisler is superb with its array of memorable performances. Among them in the small roles include Mark Duplass as a former bandmate of Greenberg, Susan Traylor as Greenberg’s sister-in-law, Zach Chassler and Mina Badie as a couple who often swims in the Greenberg family pool, Chris Messina as Greenberg’s brother, and the dog Sam as the Greenberg family dog Mahler. Brie Larson and Juno Temple are very good as two young girls who party with Greenberg while Merritt Weaver is excellent as Florence’s friend Gina. Jennifer Jason Leigh is superb as Greenberg’s ex-girlfriend Beth who is polite to him though is not willing to go further with him about anything.

The film’s best supporting performance definitely belongs to Rhys Ifans as Ivan. Ifans plays the guy who listens to Greenberg while showing what is going on as he has a great scene that reveals what kind of a person Greenberg is and what kind of man Ivan is at this moment. It’s definitely a wonderful performance for Ifans who manages to let Ben Stiller outdo him only to get him late in the film. Greta Gerwig is radiant as Florence as a young woman who is just trying to find herself while being someone who knows she’s a bit immature and says a lot of things. Even as she is inexperienced in the way she handles things as Gerwig just brings a realism to her role as a lost soul just trying to find something.

Ben Stiller gives what is definitely his best performance in quite a long time during a period of some bad, mainstream-driven comedies where he makes a fool of himself. Stiller creates a character that is at times, un-likeable because he is so angry with the world and couldn’t relate to anything. Yet, there is also someone who is vulnerable and childlike in Stiller’s performance as the moments where’s not talking and just being quiet are very touching. Stiller’s scenes with Greta Gerwig are great to watch in the way interact along with the awkwardness as he allows himself to be funny in subtle moments. It’s definitely Stiller proving himself that outside of comedy, he is a capable and engaging dramatic actor.

While it may not live up to such films as Kicking & Screaming and The Squid & the Whale, Greenberg is a superb film from Noah Baumbach. Armed with fantastic performances from Ben Stiller, Greta Gerwig, and Rhys Ifans. It’s a film that is a wonderful exploration of self-identity and depression with elements of humor and realism. Even as fans of Noah Baumbach will see this as one of his finest films of his amazing career. In the end, Greenberg is a smart and engaging drama from Noah Baumbach and company.

Noah Baumbach Films: Kicking & Screaming - Highball - Mr. Jealousy - The Squid & the Whale - Margot at the Wedding - Frances Ha - While We're Young - Mistress America - The Meyerowitz Stories (New and Selected) - Marriage Story - (White Noise (2022 film)) - De Palma - The Auteurs #41: Noah Baumbach

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