The Night Before (2015 film)

Directed by Jonathan Levine and screenplay by Levine, Evan Goldberg, Kyle Hunter, and Ariel Shaffir from a story by Levine, The Night Before is the story of three childhood friends who gather for a traditional Christmas Eve get-together as it might be the last one as two of the men are about to take on bigger steps into their lives. The film is a comedy about three guys who are about to embark on an annual event as they believe it’s the last one where a lot of hijinks and hilarity ensue. Starring Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Seth Rogen, Anthony Mackie, Lizzy Caplan, Jillian Bell, Mindy Kaling, Michael Shannon, and narration by Tracy Morgan. The Night Before is a witty and adventurous film from Jonathan Levine.

The film follow three lifelong friends who embark on an annual gathering as it is possible as it might be their last year together as one of them is a famous football player while one of them is becoming a father leaving the third man unsure of what he will do next. Then, a chance to be invited to an exclusive party makes this possible last get-together even bigger as the three men try to find the party but also deal with various issues in their lives. The film’s screenplay follows the live of these three men who begin this tradition in 2001 when the parents of Ethan Miller (Joseph Gordon-Levitt) were killed as his best friends in Isaac Greenberg (Seth Rogen) and Chris Roberts (Anthony Mackie) were around to be there for him as they would get drunk and high for a lot of years. 14 years later, things have changed with Isaac about to become a father and Chris is now a famous football player. Ethan unfortunately has failed in his attempt to be a successful musician while he works at a hotel with nowhere to go as Isaac and Chris are unsure what will happen to him next year as they have so much to do in their own lives.

This party known as the Nutcracker Ball is an exclusive party where only those with an invitation are invited as they have to call a number at a certain time for the secret location. Ethan, Isaac, and Chris would each embark their own paths to the party as well as have their own meetings with a mysterious drug dealer known as Mr. Green (Michael Shannon) who would give them a toke of his supply as it would lead to all sorts of hijinks. For Isaac, he would endure a bad drug trip due to the drugs his wife Betsy (Jillian Hall) had bought while Chris would have an encounter with a fan (Ilana Glazer) that goes horribly wrong. For Ethan, his encounter with his former girlfriend Diana (Lizzy Caplan) forces him to think about the decisions he’s made as well as the uncertainty of his own future since Isaac and Chris are about to embark on starting their own individual lives.

Jonathan Levine’s direction is very stylish as it is set during the Christmas holidays in New York City where the film is set and shot on location as it play into this sense of adventure that goes on throughout the film. While Levine would include some wide shots of the locations including a few landmarks such as the Christmas tree at the Rockefeller Center. Levine focuses more on intimate shots such as close-ups and medium shots to play into the drama and some of the humor as it also has elements of surrealism as it relates to Isaac’s own drug trip. There are also these moments where Levine takes a break from the comedy and drama as it play into the story as well as the adventures the individual characters would go to. The film’s climax at the Nutcracker Ball is definitely wild but also play into the kind of people Ethan, Isaac, and Chris want to hang out with only to realize how much they all needed each other. Overall, Levine creates a fun and lively film about three guys gathering for one last get-together to an exclusive party before they embark into the world of adulthood.

Cinematographer Brandon Trost does excellent work with the film’s cinematography as much of it takes place at night from the look of the bar where the guys do karaoke to the extravagant lighting for the Nutcracker Ball sequence. Editor Zene Baker does nice work with the editing as it is stylish with a few montages and other rhythmic cuts to play into the humor and some of the stranger moments in the film. Production designer Annie Spitz and set decorator Chryss Hionis do amazing work with the look of some of the places the characters go to including the Nutcracker Ball with its lights and other things expected for an extravagant party. Costume designer Melissa Toth does terrific work with the costumes from the Christmas sweaters the guys wear to some of the lavish costumes at the Nutcracker Ball.

Visual effects supervisor Jeff Campbell does fantastic work with some of the things that Isaac sees during his drug-induced trip as well as a few things to play into the comedy. Sound editor Michael Babcock does superb work with the sound as it play into the atmosphere of some of the places the characters go to including the Nutcracker Ball. The film’s music by Marco Beltrami and Miles Hankin is wonderful for its mixture of holiday-inspired music with some hip-hop, rock, and electronic music to provide a different mood for various scenes in the film while music supervisor Gabe Hilfer provides a fun mix of holiday-based music with some non-holiday music from Run-DMC, Miley Cyrus, Kanye West, and Britney Spears.

The casting by Henry Russell Bergstein, Kathy Driscoll, Allison Estrin, and Francine Maisler is great as it feature some notable small roles from Miley Cyrus as herself, Aaron Hill as Chris’ teammate Tommy Owens, Helene Yorke as Betsy’s friend Cindy, Randall Park as Ethan’s boss, Jason Mantzoukas and Jason Jones as a couple of Santa Claus who get drunk and give Ethan some shit, Nathan Fielder as Chris’ driver, and Lorraine Toussaint as Chris’ mother who is wondering about what Chris is doing as she knows something isn’t right. Jillian Bell is fantastic as Isaac’s wife Betsy who is aware of her husband’s need to party but also worries about what he’s really feeling about becoming a father. Mindy Kaling is superb as Diana’s friend Sarah whom Isaac converses with as she is hoping to meet a guy named James where Isaac accidentally gets her phone. Ilana Glazer is excellent as Rebecca as a mysterious woman who is a fan of Chris as she is this mysterious individual who spouts a lot of film and holiday references as someone that wants to teach Chris a lesson. Lizzy Caplan is brilliant as Diana as Ethan’s ex-girlfriend who hasn’t seen him in months as she deals with Ethan’s shortcomings and the reasons they broke up.

Michael Shannon is incredible as Mr. Green as a mysterious drug dealer who gives the film’s protagonists a toke of his special weed as it is this very low-key yet charismatic performance from Shannon who is just a joy to watch. Anthony Mackie is amazing as Chris Roberts as a famous football player who is becoming extremely famous and about to have the season of his career where he is carrying a secret as well as dealing with the expectations that he has as a famous player. Seth Rogen is remarkable as Isaac Greenberg as a man who is about to become a father as he tries to deny his feelings by going on a drug-induced trip where he sees some strange things as it play into his own anxieties. Finally, there’s Joseph Gordon-Levitt in a marvelous performance as Ethan Miller as a failed musician with no idea of what he’s going to do next as he hopes this chance to be at the Nutcracker Ball would give him some answers as he is also forced to face his own faults as a man who is afraid to take a big step into adulthood.

The Night Before is a remarkable film from Jonathan Levine. Featuring a great cast, some hilarious moments, and some compelling themes on adulthood, it’s a film that manages to provide a nice balance of stoner humor in a Christmas setting as it play into the idea of family and friendship. In the end, The Night Before is a marvelous film from Jonathan Levine.

Jonathan Levine Films: (All the Boys Love Mandy Lane) – (The Wackness) – 50/50 - Warm Bodies - (Snatched) – Long Shot (2019)

© thevoid99 2017

The Walk (2015)

Based on the novel To Reach the Clouds by Philippe Petit, The Walk is the story of Philippe Petit’s high-wire walk between on top of the World Trade Center buildings in August of 1974. Directed by Robert Zemeckis and screenplay by Zemeckis and Christopher Browne, the film is a dramatic take on the real-life story of Petit’s legendary walk as he is played by Joseph Gordon-Levitt. Also starring Charlotte Le Bon, James Badge Dale, Steve Valentine, Ben Schwartz, and Ben Kingsley. The Walk is a thrilling and mesmerizing film from Robert Zemeckis.

On August 6, 1974, French high-wire walker Philippe Petit did a walk on a wire between the two roofs on top of the twin towers of the World Trade Center as it was a feat that seemed to be impossible. The film is about what Petit did and what it took to pull off something like this as it is told by Petit just after he had done the impossible where reflects on what made him become a high-wire walker as well as wanting to do things that had never been done. With the guidance of his mentor Papa Rudy (Ben Kingsley) and the support of friends including girlfriend Annie (Charlotte Le Bon), Petit plans to do the high-wire act as it would take time and effort as he also awaits for the buildings to be nearly finished. The film’s script is quite straightforward in some respects as it is told in a reflective manner by Petit with some voice-over narration. Notably as it play into Petit’s fascination with walking on a wire as well as the slow-build into creating the ultimate high-wire walk while the script isn’t afraid to show flaws in Petit’s character as he is quite crazy in what he wants to do as well as being very eccentric.

Robert Zemeckis’ direction is definitely astonishing in terms of the visuals he creates as it is about that sense of the impossible. Even as he re-creates early 1970s New York City where the World Trade Center towers once stood as much of the film is shot in Montreal as parts of Paris and New York City with much of it shot on soundstages. Zemeckis’ usage of wide and medium shots play into the scope and scale of what Petit has to do as well as try to create a sense of realism in the high-wire walks. Zemeckis isn’t afraid to go into stylistic shots whether it’s a low-angle shot or from above as it adds to the sense of danger of what Petit will do.

The recurring shot of Petit talking top of the light at the Statue of Liberty is among one of the stylish moments of the film as it has the World Trade Center towers in the background while Petit is seen in the foreground in a wide-medium shot. The scenes preceding the climatic walk does have a feel of a heist film with its air of suspense and some humor as it would lead to that enthralling climax that is the walk. Overall, Zemeckis creates an evocative and exhilarating film about a man performing a high-wire walk on top of the World Trade Center towers.

Cinematographer Dariusz Wolski does excellent work with the film‘s cinematography from the usage of black-and-white and de-colored photography for some of the early scenes set in Paris to the lighting for the scenes in setting up the walk as well as the colorful look of the climatic walk. Editor Jeremiah O’Driscoll does nice work with the stylish editing in its usage of jump-cuts as well as some montage-cutting style into the evolution of Petit‘s work as a performer. Production designer Naomi Shohan, with art director Felix Lariviere-Charron and set decorators Geoffrey Gosselin and Ann Smart, does amazing work with the look of the Parisian home that Petit stays as well as the look of the rooftops of the two towers. Costume designer Suttriat Anne Larlarb does fantastic work with the costumes as it plays into the look of the early 70s for many of the characters in the film as well as the simple clothes that Petit wears in his high-wire walk.

Visual effects supervisor Kevin Baillie, Jim Gibbs, Viktor Muller, and Sebastien Moreau do brilliant work with the visual effects from the re-creation of the 1970s New York City and Paris as well as the film‘s climax in the walk. Sound editor Bjorn Ole Schroeder and sound designer Randy Thom do superb work with the sound as it play with the sounds of the elevator and things in the towers as well as some of the calm moments in the film that includes the climatic walk. The film’s music by Alan Silvestri is wonderful for its orchestral-based score with its lush-string arrangements that range from being playful to dramatic as it also includes bits of folk guitar as well as funk where the soundtrack would feature a lot of music from the 70s.

The casting by Scot Boland and Victoria Burrows is marvelous as it include some notable small roles from Ben Schwartz and Benedict Samuel as a couple of Americans who volunteer for the stunt unaware of what they’re getting themselves into as well as a terrific performance from Steve Valentine as a businessman named Barry Greenhouse who joins in knowing who Petit is. Cesar Domboy is superb as the acrophobic Jeff who helps Petit in setting up the wire in the North Tower while Clement Sibony is excellent as Jean-Louis as the man who would take photos of all of Petit’s walks as well as be the accomplice in all of the set-ups for the high-wire walks. James Badge Dale is brilliant as Jean-Pierre as an American who can speak perfect French as he helps Petit and the gang in getting things done as he can bullshit his way through any situation.

Ben Kingsley is amazing as Papa Rudy as Petit’s mentor who would teach him what to do in preparing something as astronomical as his stunt as well as be taken aback by what Petit is trying to do without some form of safety. Charlotte Le Bon is remarkable as Annie as a street musician who meets and falls for Petit as she joins him in the trip as well as do whatever she can to help him and be his moral compass. Finally, there’s Joseph Gordon-Levitt in a phenomenal performance as Philippe Petit as this kind of crazy but determined performer who can do juggling and all sorts of things while his main gift is to walk on a high wire as he wants to do one of the craziest stunts where Gordon-Levitt provides some charm and energy as it’s one of his finest performances.

The Walk is a sensational film from Robert Zemeckis that features an incredible performance from Joseph Gordon-Levitt as Philippe Petit. Featuring an excellent supporting cast and dazzling visuals, it’s a film that plays into what could be possible with some imagination and determination. While the 2008 James Marsh documentary Man on Wire is the more definitive story of Petit, this is still a fitting companion to Marsh’s film. In the end, The Walk is a remarkable film from Robert Zemeckis.

Related: Man on Wire

Robert Zemeckis Films: (I Wanna Hold Your Hand) - (Used Cars) - (Romancing the Stone) - Back to the Future - (Who Framed Roger Rabbit?) - (Back to the Future Part II) - (Back to the Future Part III) - (Death Becomes Her) - (Forrest Gump) - (Contact) - (What Lies Beneath) - (Cast Away) - (The Polar Express) - (Beowulf (2007 film)) - (A Christmas Carol (2009 film)) - Flight (2012 film) - (Doc Brown Saves the World) - (Allied (2016 film))

© thevoid99 2016

The Wind Rises

Written and directed by Hayao Miyazaki from his manga, Kaze Tachinu (The Wind Rises) is a fictionalized bio-pic about the life of Jiro Horikoshi as he was the man that designed the Mitsubishi A5M and its successor A6M Zero that played a key part in World War II. The film is a more dream-like portrait about Horikoshi’s life with some dramatic embellishments while not deviating too much from the real-life story. For the American-dubbed version of the film that is supervised by Gary Rydstrom, the voice cast includes Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Emily Blunt, John Krasinski, William H. Macy, Elijah Wood, Stanley Tucci, Mae Whitman, Mandy Patinkin, Jennifer Grey, and Werner Herzog. Kaze Tachinu is a mesmerizing film from Studio Ghibli and Hayao Miyazaki.

The film is fictionalized bio-pic about the life of Jiro Horikoshi that is presented in a dream-like fashion where it goes from Horikoshi as a young boy to becoming the man who would design the Mitsubishi A5M and its successor the A6M Zero that would become the key planes used in World War II. With a mixture of reality and a dream-like world, the film plays into Horikoshi’s desire to create the ultimate airplane that can endure wind resistance and not be intimidated by the advanced technology of other countries. Even as Horikishi (Joseph Gordon-Levitt) seeks the advice of the famed Italian plane designer Giovanni Battista Caproni (Stanley Tucci) in his dreams. Through Hayao Miyazaki’s screenplay, the film does have a conventional narrative in terms of structure that plays to Horikoshi’s life but he infuses with bits of surrealism and dreamy textures to make it much more interesting.

Notably as the film plays into key events that would mark Horikoshi’s development from his encounter at the 1923 Great Kanto Earthquake as well as his trip to Germany to see how the Germans created their airplanes. These moments would drive Horikoshi to see if he can create a war plane for Japan that would define them as they endure the Great Depression and such. While there would be some failures along the way, Hirokoshi would eventually find more inspiration when he re-meets Naoko (Emily Blunt) whom he had met years ago during a train ride with her sister where they encountered the Great Kanto Earthquake of 1923. His relationship with Naoko would prove to be a major catalyst to Horikoshi’s development as a man and as an engineer where he would try to balance both roles and later deal with his what he’s achieved.

Miyazaki’s direction is definitely dazzling in the way he creates Japan in the early half of the 20th Century as it’s a world that is trying to catch up with the modern world. Especially as he infuses bits of surrealism into the dream sequences that Horikoshi would have as it features some vast scenes of planes flying around and all sorts of things. Notably in the designs of the planes and how imaginative they look as it plays to what Horikoshi would want to create. The look of Japan from its different backgrounds of mountains, forests, and cities are presented with such great detail as there’s aspects in the background that are just as mesmerizing to look at. Even in the design of the characters which have all of the quintessential elements that is expected in Miyazaki’s work as an animator.

With the aid of cinematographer Atsushi Okui to help in the lighting where much of the animation is in 2-D hand drawn animated style with some computer-based animation for some of the backgrounds. Miyazaki creates something that is truly rich in scope but also infuse it with such artistry in the way the planes are flown as well as the way nature is presented as if it has the feel of a live-action film. Even in some of the compositions and camera work where it has a sense of action but also some drama and humor that just adds to the beauty of the film. Overall, Miyazki creates a truly evocative and sensational film about a dreamer who would create one of the greatest designs for a plane despite the fact that it’s being used as an instrument of war

Editor Takeshi Seyama does amazing work with the film‘s editing in its approach to rhythm for some of its action scenes as well as the dream sequences as it features lots of jump-cuts and disjointed rhythmic cuts to play into that sense of surrealism. Sound designer Koji Kasamatsu and sound editor Gwendolyn Yates Whittle (for its English version) do fantastic work with the sound in creating some of the sound effects used in the film with Whittle providing some low sound textures for some of the English dialogue as background textures. The film’s music by Joe Hisaishi is brilliant for its mixture of lush orchestral pieces with some playful and offbeat music driven by accordions and string instruments.

For the film’s English-language version, the cast includes some contributions from Elijah Wood as a co-worker of Horikoshi, Jennifer Grey as Mrs. Kurokawa, Darren Criss as another worker in Katayama, Mandy Patinkin as one of Horikoshi’s top bosses, Mae Whitman as Horikoshi’s sister Kayo, Zach Callison as the young Horikoshi, William H. Macy as Naoko’s father, Edie Merman as Horikoshi’s mother, and Werner Herzog in a superb voice performance as a German tourist Horikoshi meets in a retreat in the famed Magic Mountains in Japan. Martin Short is very funny as the comical boss Mr. Kurokawa who provides some humor as well as some guidance for Horikoshi while Stanley Tucci is brilliant as the famed Italian plane designer Giovanni Battista Caproni as Tucci sports an Italian accent as he displays warmth and humor into the role of the man who would guide Horikoshi.

John Krasinski is excellent as the voice of Horikoshi’s close colleague Kiro Honjo who aids Horikoshi in some of the designs as he would create his own planes that would also revolutionize planes in Japan. Emily Blunt is wonderful as Naoko as this woman who Horikoshi would meet early on as a young girl and later as a woman who would provide an inspiration and drive for Horikoshi after some of the failures he had to deal with. Finally, there’s Joseph Gordon-Levitt doing fantastic voice work as Jiro Horikoshi as this young man who dreams of designing an airplane that would define Japan in all of its glory though he is aware of what they’re being used for as he hopes they can provide some meaning into his life.

Kaze Tachinu is a remarkable film from Studio Ghibli and Hayao Miyazaki. It’s a film that is filled with rich images and a captivating story that manages to be wondrous as well as somber for what Jiro Horikoshi wanted to make. While it has some dark elements, it is balanced by the themes of being a dreamer which makes the story far more engaging. If this film is to become Miyazaki’s final contribution to cinema, he at least goes out with a winner. In the end, Kaze Tachinu is a phenomenal film from Hayao Miyazaki and Studio Ghibli.

Hayao Miyazaki Films: (The Castle of Cagliostro) - (Nausicaa of the Valley of the Wind) - (Castle in the Sky) - My Neighbor Totoro - Kiki’s Delivery Service - (Porco Rosso) - Princess Mononoke - Spirited Away - (Howl’s Moving Castle) - (Ponyo) - (The Boy and the Heron)

© thevoid99 2014

Don Jon

Written, directed, and starring Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Don Jon is the story of a modern-day Don Juan who falls in love with a beautiful woman until she discovers about his addiction to pornography. The film explores a young man dealing with his addiction as well as view on women. Also starring Scarlett Johansson, Tony Danza, Glenne Headly, Brie Larson, Rob Brown, and Julianne Moore. Don Jon is a witty yet fun film from Joseph Gordon-Levitt.

The film is really a look into the life of a young man named Jon “Don Jon” Martello Jr. (Joseph Gordon-Levitt) who is this very easy-going Italian-American living in New Jersey that lives a good life while being addicted to pornography. Upon meeting this beautiful woman Barbara (Scarlett Johansson), he thinks about having a real relationship with her while she gets him to try and improve himself by having him go to night classes where he meets an older woman named Esther (Julianne Moore). Barbara’s discovery about Jon’s addiction to porno has her repulsed where Esther also discovers about Jon’s addiction where she questions him about his views on women, sex, and love. Even where Jon wouldn’t just question about how he has sex with women but also what Barbara expect from him.

Joseph Gordon-Levitt’s script has this exploration about not just the way men view women from a sexual point of view but also what some women want in men. Notably as Barbara is this spoiled woman from New Jersey who loves bad romantic-comedies that she forces Jon to watch as she thinks these films represent the ideas of what love is. Even as Jon takes her to meet his family where it reinforces the idea of Jon finally settling down and having a family but he’s not sure if he wants that until his meetings with Esther has him realizing a lot about himself. The script doesn’t just succeed in fleshing out the many characters in the film but also play into the way women are presented to men as there’s a scene where Jon and his father (Tony Danza) watch a Carl Jr.’s commercial where a woman in a bikini is eating a fish sandwich as they’re entranced by the woman. It’s all told in a very funny manner as well as the way romantic-comedies are portrayed where it’s very obvious at how false they are where Gordon-Levitt pokes fun at the fallacy of the genre.

Gordon-Levitt’s direction is quite straightforward in terms of what he presents where he opens the film with this montage of women being used as sexual objects plus clips of porno to establish this idea of how men treat women. Even as he also maintains this idea of repetition in the way Jon lives his life where he likes to clean his apartment, drive his car, hang out with his boys, go to the gym to work out, go to church on Sundays, eat with his family, go to clubs to meet girls and later have sex with them, and end the day masturbating to porn. It all plays to the life that Jon has where he even gets Barbara to go to the gym with him but the cracks start to come in where she questions about why he talks to himself when he’s working out.

The first half is mostly a light-hearted comedy while the rom-coms that he and Barbara watch has the same kind of visual blandness that is expected in these films as well as the situations that goes on. The second half is a bit more dramatic in terms of Jon’s time with Esther yet it would be crucial to Jon’s growth as a man. Notably as Gordon-Levitt creates some unique compositions to play out the drama that would showcase Jon’s acceptance about what love is as well as what to expect from the people closest to him. Overall, Gordon-Levitt creates a very fascinating yet humorous film about a man’s addiction to pornography.

Cinematographer Thomas Kloss does excellent work with the film‘s cinematography from the nighttime locations of the places in New Jersey to the look of the clubs that Jon and his friends go to. Editor Lauren Zuckerman does amazing work with the editing in not just some of the inventive montages of Jon‘s daily routines but also in the way it plays to his own attempt to gain control for himself. Production designer Meghan C. Rogers, with set decorator Cindy Coburn and art director Elizabeth Cummings, does nice work with the set pieces from the look of Jon‘s apartment to the home where his family lives.

Costume designer Leah Katznelson does terrific work with the costumes from the clothes that Barbara wears to the stylish clothes that Jon would wear. Visual effects supervisor Karen E. Goulekas does some fine work with the film‘s minimal visual effects that involves one of the bad rom-coms that Barbara forces Jon to watch. Sound editor David Chrastka does superb work with the sound from the atmosphere of the clubs to the intimacy in the night classes that Jon and Esther go to. The film’s music by Nathan Johnson is wonderful for its array of folk-based and orchestral music to play up some of the humor while music supervisor John Houlihan brings a soundtrack that mostly consists of hip-hop and dance music including Marky Mark and the Funky Bunch.

The casting by Venus Kanani and Mary Vernieu is brilliant as it features some very funny cameo appearances from Anne Hathaway, Channing Tatum, Cuba Gooding Jr., and Meghan Good as the stars of the bad romantic comedies that Jon is forced to watch as well as Paul Ben-Victor as the voice of Jon’s local priest. Rob Brown and Jeremy Luke are terrific as Jon’s friends with the former as the more reserved Bobby and the latter as the dim-witted Danny. Brie Larson is wonderfully funny as Jon’s sister Monica who spends most of the film looking at her phone and texting where she only speaks in a key moment late in the film. Glenne Headly is amazing as Jon’s mother Angela who hopes for her son to meet a nice girl while Tony Danza is hilarious as Jon’s father who is kind of a sexist schmoe who likes to watch football games.

Julianne Moore is great as Esther as this older woman that Jon meets in night classes who questions him about his fascination with sex and pornography while she’s hiding some things of her own where Moore brings a very relaxed yet witty performance as a woman who would guide Jon to find something more. Scarlett Johansson is fantastic as Barbara as this very sexy yet vapid woman who spends half her time chewing gum and teasing Jon to get her way while proving herself to be just as shallow as he is. Finally, there’s Joseph Gordon-Levitt as the titular character where he brings in this very suave yet smug Italian-American persona that is full of himself. Gordon-Levitt not only makes the character funny but also endearing as someone who appreciates the finer things in life but also someone with a problem as he is forced to come to terms with who he is where Gordon-Levitt has some great scenes with Johansson and Moore to present the depth of his character making it one of his best performances.

Don Jon is a marvelous film from Joseph Gordon-Levitt that features some excellent supporting performances from Scarlett Johansson and Julianne Moore. The film isn’t just a funny look into the world of porno addiction but also the way men and women view their idea of the opposite sex and what they want from that view. In the end, Don Jon is an extraordinarily entertaining film from Joseph Gordon-Levitt.

© thevoid99 2013

Looper

Written and directed by Rian Johnson, Looper is the story of a time-traveling assassin who kills people in the past as he learns that his next target is an older version of himself. The film is a sci-fi thriller that explores the world of time travel and identity as it revolves around a young man dealing with his job and its implications where he makes a drastic discovery about who he is and who is he working for. Starring Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Bruce Willis, Emily Blunt, Paul Dano, Piper Perabo, Noah Segan, Pierce Gagnon, Garret Dillahunt, Tracie Thoms, and Jeff Daniels. Looper is an incredible yet complex film from Rian Johnson.

Joe (Joseph Gordon-Levitt) is a paid assassin called a looper whose job is to kill men who have been sent from the future under the orders of the mob. It’s a job that has kept Joe rich as he works for Abe (Jeff Daniels) who makes sure things are good as Joe is paid in silver and later gold once he kills a future version of himself. When one of his friends in Seth (Paul Dano) has left his future self (Frank Brennan) go, he becomes scared until Joe reluctantly hides him as Kid Blue (Noah Segan) arrives searching for Seth as Abe makes Joe an offer he couldn’t refuse. High on drugs and reeling from his work as a looper, Joe forges ahead to his next assignment where he suddenly faces his old self (Bruce Willis) who escapes and goes on the run. With Joe searching for his old self, he later meets his old self who has arrived from the future to kill their mysterious boss known as the Rainmaker.

With old Joe continuing on the run and goes on the search for the person that would become the Rainmaker, young Joe finds a location on a map that the old Joe had which leads him to a farm where a woman named Sara (Emily Blunt) lives with her son Cid (Pierce Gagnon). Young Joe decides to protect Sara and Cid from the other loopers and Old Joe who is searching for someone who could become the Rainmaker. While at the farm, a hired gunner from Abe in Jesse (Garret Dillahunt) arrives to find young Joe as young Joe and Cid hide out until Jesse later comes back where young Joe makes a chilling discovery about what Cid is. Realizing the implications of what would happen, young Joe decides to do whatever it takes to save Cid and Sara from old Joe and the other loopers.

What happens when a young man faces an older version of himself who comes from the future to stop something from happening? That’s sort of the idea of the film that writer-director Rian Johnson makes as it is about an assassin who is paid to kill future targets for the mob that he would never see and know about. When he faces himself who arrives from the future to stop someone would become this major mob force, the young man has to realize the implications of what might happen as it would lead to all sorts of trouble.

Johnson’s screenplay is quite intricate in terms of its narrative as it starts out in a straightforward manner to establish young Joe’s life in the first act where he is definitely a very troubled yet skilled assassin who is also a junkie. When he faces his old self, things become complicated as Johnson creates an alternate narrative that unveils what would’ve happened if the young Joe had killed his old self where it would chronicle Joe’s life as a killer and then finding salvation in a woman (Xu Qing) who would become his wife. Yet, it would drive the old Joe to go back in time to save his wife but also to stop the person that would become the Rainmaker as the second act is about the two Joes and the young Joe’s meeting with Sara. The third act is more interesting where it reveals more complexities about what the old Joe wants to do as well as the danger that is going to happen.

Johnson’s script doesn’t just feature a lot of complexities in terms of the characters that are created as well as its development. Notably in the characterization of Joe who deals with the fact that he’s just trying to do his job and try to kill his old self only to realize that ther is a life outside of the world of being a looper. Johnson’s approach to stylish dialogue definitely adds a sense of nuance to the script where it’s set in the future and there’s a lot of things that are happening that sets the rich and poor apart.

Johnson’s direction is definitely ambitious in terms of the presentation he aims for in creating a film that is set in the future. Shot on location in New Orleans and parts of Louisiana as Kansas along with scenes in Shanghai, Johnson goes for a lot of wide shots but also some interesting medium shots to establish a future that isn’t too far off but also slower in its development. Since it adds to the sci-fi elements of the film, it also gives Johnson the chance to create a future that doesn’t play to typical aspects of other sci-fi films by grounding it with a bit of realism.

The film’s element of suspense and action definitely plays to the story where it includes a key scene where the old Joe goes after one of his targets where Johnson knows what not to shoot in order to tell the story and then unveil the impact that follows. Even in the film’s third act where things become unveiled into what the two Joes are facing as it raises a lot of questions into what has to be done. Through these amazing wide shots along with some intimate close-ups of the characters, Johnson’s direction is very fluid in its movements along with the way he presents action scenes to get the audience aware of what is going on. Overall, Johnson creates a truly dazzling and mesmerizing sci-fi thriller that manages to be engaging in its high-brow concept.

Cinematographer Steve Yedlin does brilliant work with the film‘s colorful photography from the stylish nighttime interiors at the club Joe and his friends hang out to the more naturalistic look of the field scenes outside of the city. Editor Bob Duscay does excellent work with the editing by creating a montage early in the film to showcase young Joe‘s troubled life as well as some rhythmic cuts to play out the film‘s action and suspense. Production designer Ed Verreaux and art director James A. Gelarden do great work with the set pieces from the nightclub that Joe hangs out at to the farm that Sara lives along with props that adds to the sci-fi element of the film like the hover-motorcycle.

Costume designer Sharen Davis does nice work with the costumes as it‘s mostly casual for both Sarah and old Joe while the younger Joe wears more expensive suits to establish his character. Makeup artist Kazuhiro Tsuji does some very good makeup work to have the two Joes look like each other with some prosthetic hair and such for the characters. Visual effects supervisor Karen E. Goulekas does some superb work with the visual effects from the exteriors of the futuristic Kansas City to the jaw-dropping sequences in the film‘s third act. Sound designer Jeremy Peirson does some fantastic work with the film‘s sound in the way some of the machines sound like along with the intimacy that is created in scenes at the farm.

The film’s music by Nathan Johnson is wonderful for its suspenseful driven score that is a mixture of electronic music and orchestral pieces as it features lots of bombastic themes as well as other dramatic moments. Music supervisor John Houlihan creates a terrific soundtrack that features all sorts of music ranging from acts like the Mashnotes, Kid Koala, Richard and Linda Thompson, Son Lux, and Warren Zevon.

The casting by Lindsay Graham and Mary Vernieu is phenomenal for the ensemble that is created as it features some notable small performances from Tracie Thoms as a waitress young Joe sees every day at a diner, Nick Gomez as a fellow looper, Frank Brennan as the old Seth, Xu Qing as the old Joe’s wife, Garret Dillahunt as the hired gunner Jesse, and Piper Perabo as the showgirl Suzie who young Joe spends time with early in the film. Paul Dano is pretty good as the looper Seth who suddenly faces himself as he becomes scared of the consequences. Noah Segan is wonderful as the Gat Man Kid Blue who is trying to get things done in order to please Abe. Jeff Daniels is great as the crime boss Abe who tries to ensure that things are taken care of while making young Joe a tempting offer that would later cause a lot of trouble.

Pierce Gagnon is amazing as the young kid Cid who befriends the young Joe while revealing some things that would have the young Joe be very suspicious about. Emily Blunt is amazing as Cid’s mother Sara who tries to protect her son while helping the young Joe in realizing about what is happening in relation to her young son. Bruce Willis is outstanding as the old Joe who returns to his past from the future to find the Rainmaker and deal with his younger self as Willis brings a great sense of grit and weariness to the character. Finally, there’s Joseph Gordon-Levitt in an incredible performance as the young Joe where he tries to deal with his own issues as a person while realizing about the troubles of time travel when he faces his older self as it’s a really captivating performance from Gordon-Levitt.

Looper is a spectacular and thrilling film from Rian Johnson that features marvelous performances from Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Bruce Willis, and Emily Blunt. The film is definitely a sci-fi thriller that bears a lot of interesting concepts about time travel as well as the dangers of it. Even as it involves themes that raises a lot of questions about its dangers where it becomes a compelling suspense film. In the end, Looper is a superb film from Rian Johnson.

Rian Johnson Films: Brick - The Brothers Bloom - The Last Jedi - Knives Out - Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery - (Knives Out 3)

© thevoid99 2012

Brick

Originally Written and Posted at Epinions.com on 9/24/06 w/ Additional Edits.

Written, edited, and directed by Rian Johnson, Brick is the story of a high school kid trying to discover the mystery of his ex-girlfriend's disappearance. In his feature-film debut, Johnson brings the high school movies to darker levels that is reminiscent of film noir. Giving the high school outsider the chance to be a protagonist, the film reveals many dark levels of high school and everything that troubles young teens. Starring Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Lukas Haas, Emilie de Ravin, Meagan Good, Noah Fleiss, Matt O'Leary, Nora Zehetner, and Richard Roundtree. Brick is truly one of the year's most harrowing and intriguing takes on the film-noir genre from the brilliant Rian Johnson.

On another day in high school, Brendan Frye (Joseph Gordon-Levitt) receives a mysterious, troubling phone call from his ex-girlfriend Emily (Emilie de Ravin). With his best friend Brain (Matt O'Leary), they wonder what happened to her two months ago that led to his break-up where he would try to gather notes. After finding a mysterious red card, he talks to the school's top actress in Kara (Meagan Good) about the card which is an invitation to a party by rich girl Laura (Nora Zehetner). Brendan attends the party in secrecy which is a bothersome to Laura's jock-boyfriend Brad (Brian J. White) where Laura notices him as they briefly talk before she goes outside to talk to a mysterious guy with a black car. The next day, Brendan confronts a Goth-like stoner named Dode (Noah Segan) on Emily's whereabouts. Later, he finds a haggard Emily who just wants a final conversation as she's become addicted to drugs and isn't telling Brendan about anything.

Brendan however, has stolen her notepad that features a mysterious note which features a time and a place to meet. That's when Brendan finds Emily, dead in a sewer tunnel. He hides her after finding someone looking on as he decides to investigate everything. He already suspects the involvement of Dode and Kara while finding a link to a local drug kingpin known as the Pin (Lukas Haas). Learning that Brad is a customer of the Pin, he ends up being quickly assaulted by a muscle-man named Tugger (Noah Fleiss). The assault has put him in the office of the school's vice principal Trueman (Richard Roundtree) who wants a full investigation on Emily's disappearance but Brendan, refuses to cooperate after a recent cooperation got one of his friends in trouble. With Brain as the only person he can trust, Brain decides to watch out for Dode and Kara while he had been contacted by Laura. Laura wants to help out as she knows the Pin while Brendan continues to get assaulted by Tugger only to keep going after him that leads him to the home of the Pin.

Brendan meets the Pin who is aware that Brendan knows something as he makes a deal on the sale of the last brick full of drugs. The Pin still wants to know about the last one that put a fellow customer in a coma where Brendan feels there's a connection. Plagued by internal injuries and a growing sense of paranoia, Brendan has another confrontation with Dode, who reveals a troubling information about her. With Dode planning to reveal more to the Pin, it all becomes trouble as Brendan learns of Tugger's emotional dysfunction that troubles his association with the Pin. With Laura comforting him, Brendan learns more of what goes on. What Kara had tried to plan and the troubling relationship between the Pin and Tugger as he gets closer to Emily's death and the involvement of a brick-shaped drug.

The idea of a high school noir film might seem like a gimmick where people would get the idea of young high school kids trying to talk like Humphrey Bogart and have some meandering voice-over narration. Well, Rian Johnson uses his knowledge of noir novels and films along with the stark experience of high school to create an entirely original approach to noir. Using high school as the centerpiece of the mystery, Johnson chooses the high school loner/outsider as his protagonist instead of the nerd, jock, preppie, or any kind of typical cliques of high school. The film is really about a loner who tries to investigate his ex-girlfriend's death and how he immersed himself into a world full of cliques involving drugs. The result is a mystery that builds its momentum with great energy and excitement of young independent cinema with the psychological style and wit of old-school noir films.

Johnson's writing is filled with great, intense dialogue that mixes modern-day conversation with traditional, noir-like wordplay that becomes more of today's language. The talking is a bit fast yet works in the rhythm of traditional noir while a lot of the conversations and rapport between characters. Johnson's approach to mystery is far-more complex and layered than traditional mystery films where Brendan tries to find out everything and the more he searches, he begins to piece things right to the end. Yet, since Johnson sets the film in high school, he avoids the usual world of high school that's been known in John Hughes films.

That's where Johnson's directing is really at its most ominous since he uses high school as a sense of discomfort to Brendan's role in being a loner. Brendan is a smart kid yet couldn't put himself in the world of cliques since he doesn't really like anyone except for the Brain. Johnson even goes as far as to explore the world of stoners and rich cliques as more than just the one-dimensional stereotype while the only stereotype that is displayed in great form is the character of Brian. Johnson's directing captures the atmosphere of not just high school but the dark, bland world of suburbia where it has the sense of energy and eeriness of some of the films of Gregg Araki as well as Richard Kelly's Donnie Darko. With Johnson also serving as editor, his cutting brings a perspective and rhythm that is energetic to display the paranoia that Brendan suffers as well as wonderful jump-cuts that brings a disjointed tone to the film. Overall, Johnson's writing, directing, and editing is top-notch.

Helping Johnson in his visual presentation is cinematographer Steve Yedlin whose color schemes and lighting creates an ominous, intimate tone in some of the interiors including a wonderful lighting sequence in a scene involving the brick. The exteriors are a bit gray to convey the atmosphere that is high school along with some wonderful coloring to view the sunlight as some of the shots are a mix of blue-gray for some scenes. Production designer Jodie Tillen along with set decorator Shara Kasprack do great work in the interior designs for some of the homes, notably Laura's home that is decorated with candles. The best design in the film is the room of the Pin that is very spacious with colorful carpets and wall that only features a few chairs and a desk. Costume designer Michele Posch also does great work in the costumes whether is the Goth-like clothing of Dode and the Pin to the array of fashionable clothing worn by Laura and the stage costumes of Kara. Sound designer Jonathan Miller also does great work with the sound to convey the atmosphere, notably a scene on the beach where the clashing of waves and trains are wonderfully mixed.

Composer Nathan Johnson along with Larry Seymour creates a great, timbre-like score filled with disjointed ukelele melodies and a strange, saloon-like piano score that is nearly reminiscent of some of the music Ennio Morricone made in Sergio Leone's classic gangster film Once Upon a Time in America. Johnson's score is rich in not playing to traditional score work of noir-films in rather setting the fierce atmosphere that Brendan is in. The film's soundtrack features music from the play The Mikado where the song The Sun Whose Rays Are All Ablaze is performed wonderfully by Nora Zehetner along with traditional cuts like Frankie And Johnny, a metal track from The Hospital Bombers Experience, and the classic Sister Ray from the Velvet Underground.

Finally, there’s the film's wonderful ensemble cast that includes an energetic yet intentionally annoying performance from Brian J. White as the jock Brian who thinks he rules the school only to underestimate Brendan. The legendary Richard Roundtree is only in the film briefly as the school's vice principal who wants to know what goes on as Roundtree serves as the only adult in the film as he does some fine work. Lost's Emilie de Ravin is excellent in her role as Emily with her eerie presence and disintegrated look as she plays a would-be victim who doesn't know what she got herself into while carrying a dark secret. Noah Segan is excellent as the Goth stoner Dode with his thin, troubling look as a guy who hopes to blackmail Brendan with some information while being completely unaware what he's gotten himself into. Meagan Good is also good as the seductive Kara who uses her sex appeal in hoping to win over Brendan into getting some information as Good brings a lot of sexiness and charm to play the character.

Noah Fleiss gives a great performance as the muscle-man Tugger with his fierce attitude and physique where he is a big threat while is trying to find some questions about the brick. Fleiss also shows his sensitivity where he proves that Tugger is more than a muscle-man but someone who knows a thing or two about power. Matt O'Leary is amazing as fellow loner the Brain with his witty speech and knowledge on what he knows. O'Leary is really the great sidekick that Gordon-Levitt needed as he also serves as a moral conscience for the film and the one who grounds Brendan.

In a role that is many miles away from the innocent boy in Witness, Lukas Haas delivers what could be his best performance as the Goth-like kingpin known as the Pin. Haas brings a disconcerting presence that is very attentive as he is a smart man that is very powerful while trying to make a business in the basement of his mother's home. Nora Zehetner of Everwood gives a real breakthrough as the film's femme fatale Laura. With a seductive yet haunting presence, Zehetner really shines with her ode to noir while adding edge to a character who knows a lot yet could be trouble for Brendan. Zehetner has great chemistry with Gordon-Levitt as she proves herself to be sexy yet dangerous.

Following such challenging roles in Manic and Gregg Arak's classic 2004 film Mysterious Skin, Joseph Gordon-Levitt has continued to become a more powerful, complex actor since his days as a child star. Gordon-Levitt gives Brendan a sense of old-school noir-like caricature that is natural and stylistic while bringing a darker sensibility in being a loner. Gordon-Levitt also proves that he can carry a film while not acting like the typical movie star. He displays his angst and concern with such brutal honesty that it's probably his most realistic portrayal of any character that he brings. With this film, Joseph Gordon-Levitt has now taken a step into being one of the most provocative actors of his generation.

The Region 1 DVD from Focus Features presents the film in the anamorphic widescreen format ratio of 1:85:1 along English 5.1 Dolby Digital Sound including subtitles in Spanish, French, and English for the hearing impaired. The DVD includes three DVD trailers for Michel Gondry's Dave Chappelle's Block Party, the horror film Slither, and Spike Lee's The Inside Man. Three special features are included into the film. The first is a three-minute featurette entitled The Inside Track: Casting the Roles which includes auditions from Nora Zehetner and Noah Segan playing their roles in a 2003 audition with a casting director that showed why they got their roles.

The second featurette is a 22-minute gallery of extended and deleted scenes with an introduction to each scene from Rian Johnson. Eight scenes including an extended performance of Zehetner singing The Sun Whose Rays Are All Ablaze, three scenes with her and Gordon-Levitt, an extended phone conversation between Brendan and the Brain, an extended meeting with Brendan and Kara, and a strange yet cheesy dream sequence reveals Johnson's reasons for cutting these scenes. Several of them were due to timing which made the film ran over two hours and a few including the scenes with Brendan and Laura were plagued with sound problems. It's a great feature that includes photos with some nice insight from Johnson.

The final special feature is an audio commentary track from Rian Johnson who talks about his influences, notably writer Dashiell Hammett and the Coen Brothers film Miller's Crossing about the language of the film in its ode to noir. During the entire commentary, he talks in brief conversations in individual moments with actors Nora Zehetner and Noah Segan along with production designer Jodie Tillen, costume designer Michele Posch, and producer Ram Bergman. Each guest talk about their own experience as Zehetner recalls that she and Rian worked before since he worked as an editor in May by Lucky McKee which she was in. Segan talks about his clothing while towards the final credits, there's a funny surprise concerning producer Ram Bergman. Though the commentary style is a bit unconventional, it's insightful and entertaining.

Brick is an extraordinary film from Rian Johnson that features an incredible lead performance from Joseph Gordon-Levitt. The film is definitely one of the most unique films that transcends genres thanks to its noir-inspired dialogue, unique camera work, brooding music, stylized editing, and an amazing supporting cast that includes Nora Zehetner and Lukas Haas. In the end, Brick is an entrancing yet exhilarating film from Rian Johnson.

Rian Johnson Films: The Brothers Bloom - Looper - The Last Jedi - Knives Out - Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery - (Knives Out 3)

© thevoid99 2012

(500) Days of Summer

Originally Written and Posted at Epinions.com on 7/26/09 w/ Additional Edits.

Directed by Marc Webb and written by Scott Neustadter and Michael H. Weber, (500) Days of Summer tells the story of a hopeless romantic recalling his own experiences with a young woman who doesn't believe in true love. Over the span of 500 days through non-linear storytelling the young man recalls his hopes and dreams of romance based on his knowledge of pop culture and films only to be hit with a dose of harsh realities. A film that revels in the world of romance and a study of the romantic-comedy genre, it's a film that is also a deconstruction of what is expected in the genre itself. Starring Joseph Gordon-Levitt and Zooey Deschanel plus Matthew Gray Gubler, Chloe Moretz, Geoffrey Arend, and Clark Gregg. (500) Days of Summer is a charming, witty, yet stylish film from Marc Webb.

It's day 290 as Tom Hansen (Joseph Gordon-Levitt) has just ended a wonderful yet troubled relationship with Summer Finn (Zooey Deschanel). Tom's little sister Rachel (Chloe Moretz) and his two friends McKenzie (Geoffrey Arend) and Paul (Matthew Gray Gubler) are concerned over his emotional state. Rachel asks Tom what happens as he revealed that Summer just wanted to be friends and that was it. Tom recalls the day he met Summer as she had just moved from Michigan to Los Angeles where she worked as an assistant for his boss (Clark Gregg) at a greeting cards place where McKenzie also works. Tom works in creating lines and such for the company where he's considered a master. Then one day as he's listening to the Smiths, Summer hears the Smiths from his iPod headphones as there was a brief bond over the band.

Days later, Tom asks Summer to go to a bar with co-workers where everyone sang some drunken karaoke as attraction happens. A few days later, Summer kisses Tom as things start to develop where Tom, who believes that Summer is the one, is starting to feel good though Summer doesn't believe in true love. The relationship becomes blissful as Summer reveals her favorite Beatle is Ringo Starr while they have a love for classic European art house cinema and alternative/indie music. Tom then ponders when did it all fall apart. He goes back to events where Summer reveal things about herself while another event involving a drunken guy (Ian Reed Kesler) trying to flirt with Summer and making Tom angry that it led to a fight. Tom becomes unsure of how it fell apart where after the break-up, he tries to move on. A date with another girl (Rachel Boston) becomes a disaster with Tom pondering if he will ever get over Summer.

Then came an invite to a co-worker's wedding that Summer also attends as it seems sparks would happen again but Tom, believing in all of the things he learned through films, music, and other references to pop culture, would learn some harsh truth about all that had happened and why it fell apart in the first place.

There's a formula with romantic comedies that are often set-up into structures and ideas that at times, it creates stories that don't have much heart and often leaves the audience underwhelmed in its surprises. A film like this is about a total deconstruction of the genre where it does follow a simple formula of sorts but moves back and forth and side-to-side of how the relationship developed, how good things were, how did it fall apart, how it ended, and its aftermath all in the span of 500 days. Some of which is told through a narrator about what this story about as in the beginning, it reveals that this film is not a love story. Even before the film even begins, there's a warning about the film that is truly fiction, except to the person that the film is supposedly about.

The screenplay by Scott Neustadter and Michael H. Weber is truly fascinating in its exploration of the relationship. A lot of which follows Tom Hansen's own view of things where his character goes through this amazing development of this hopeless romantic believing in destiny, fate, and all of these things only to be hit by reality in such a dramatic way. When he loses Summer and tries to move on, he goes into a funk where it would affect his own work and such. The character of Tom is truly fascinating where the writers would have the audience love and root for him but once he is hit with these realities. He becomes somewhat pathetic but still interesting as he delves into his dreary personality with glimmers of hope that he might get Summer back.

Then there's Summer who is briefly observed into her own life as well as the affect she had on men in the past. The writers make her into this likeable, charming personality that wins over the audience despite her lack of belief in true love. Of course with relationships, it's always believed that one person causes the problem when the reality that it's two people that end a relationship. What happens to Summer will make the audience not like her at all in how she torments Tom after the break-up only until the story moves back to a key event that revolves around a classic film. Once that event is revealed, it's clear that love is about many things that sometimes, can be heartbreaking. What Neustadter and Weber create is a story that is complex with moments of humor and heartbreak that creates a story that is truly real to an audience that has experienced what love is.

Director Marc Webb does a spectacular job in creating a film that is unique and stylish. From the way it opened before the opening credits to the transitions of days with a drawn scene of buildings with colors changing to create a mood for the scene that's about to be shown or afterwards with numbers moving back and forth to the day of a key scene. Webb's direction is engaging into the relationship of Tom/Summer from its budding/loving days to its disintegration and aftermath all in the span of 500 days. Yet, there's scenes that revolve around fantasy in Tom's world. Whether it's a musical dance number to Hall & Oates' You Make My Dreams to more dramatic events in which Tom is watching a European style film that harkens to the French New Wave and the films of Ingmar Bergman. Webb's approach to the direction is very stylish as he ends the film with ambiguity over what is expected in the genre or how to make the story end for one of its characters. Overall, Webb creates a lively and sensational film that revels in its deconstruction of the romantic-comedy genre.

Cinematographer Eric Steelberg does an excellent job though the photography is mostly straightforward in its colorful shots of Los Angeles in its exteriors and interior scenes. Steelberg does create some interesting shots involving a sunny-day scene at a train as Steelberg's work is very good. Editor Alan Edward Ball does great work in the transitional movements of the film while using split screens and such to create dramatic purposes for the film involving Tom's state of mind as well as the opening credits sequence featuring a young Tom and a young Summer. Even in its visual effects editing in presenting a drawn, animated sequence to live action or vice-versa creates a wonderful style while bringing a nice, leisured pace for the film itself.

Production designer Laura Fox with set decorator Jennifer Lukehart and art director Charles Varga does some nice work in the look of the record store, Tom's apartment, and the apartment of Summer filled with origami objects and jewels that play to Summer's personality. The costume design by Hope Hanafin is phenomenal from the dresses and clothing that Zooey Deschanel wears to the suits and album t-shirts that Joseph Gordon-Levitt wears. Sound designer Piero Mura does fine work in the sound recording in capturing the sounds of video games in the places that Tom and his friends hang out at to the banging sounds near Tom's apartment to display his dreary mood.

The music score of Mychael Danna and Rob Simonsen is excellent in its plaintive, light-hearted score to play up to the charming yet melancholic mood of the film. Yet, it's soundtrack supervised by Andrea von Foerster that is truly amazing with music by Regina Spektor, the Smiths, Hall & Oates, Black Lips, Doves, Carla Bruni, Feist, the Temper Trap, Wolfmother, Mumm-Ra, Meaghan Smith, Simon & Garfunkel, and Deschanel's own She & Him project with M. Ward covering the Smiths' Please, Please, Please Let Me Get What I Want along with karaoke versions of songs by the Pixies, Poison, and the Clash. It's a soundtrack where in an age of contrived, uninspired soundtracks where the songs don't do any purpose to the film, there is something that is actually worth something to sing along to.

The casting by Edye Belasco is superb with appearances from Clark Gregg as Tom's mild-mannered yet sympathetic boss, Adam Emery & Olivia Howard Bragg as the respective 12-year old versions of Tom and Summer in flashback scenes, Ian Reed Kesler as a jerk at a bar, and Rachel Boston as a date of Tom's following his break-up with Summer. Notable supporting roles from Geoffrey Arend as McKenzie and Matthew Gray Gubler as Paul are excellent with Arend as the funny co-worker of Tom while Gubler has some funny moments while being the more straight friend to Tom. The best supporting role truly goes to Chloe Moretz as Tom's young, 13-year old sister Rachel who grounds Tom to reality about the way love works as she definitely stands toe-to-toe with Gordon-Levitt in every scene she's in.

Finally, there's the duo of Joseph Gordon-Levitt and Zooey Deschanel, both of whom had worked together in the 2001 film Manic with Don Cheadle. In the role of Summer, Deschanel exudes the quirky personality of the character as she is someone who doesn't believe in true love only to fall for the romantic Tom. Deschanel also shows Summer's flaws as she becomes unsure about everything which would leave to the break-up as Deschanel maintains a lively personality to her role as Summer. Joseph Gordon-Levitt as Tom is amazing as Gordon-Levitt brings a lot of charm and wit to the role as he starts out as this upbeat romantic to someone who is dreary and disillusioned. The performances of the two together is believable and fun to watch as they clearly have great chemistry from start to finish as they are really the heart and soul of the film.

(500) Days of Summer is a whimsical, charming, yet unconventional film from Marc Webb featuring the superb performances of Joseph Gordon-Levitt and Zooey Deschanel. While some audiences might be put off by its non-linear approach and unconventional style, it's a film that is refreshing in some respects in comparison to the more formulaic romantic comedies that are currently fleshed out in theaters and DVDs in the past few years. Even as it serves a deconstruction of the romantic comedy genre by playing to the audience's knowledge of pop culture and romance where it deals with real themes and situations that people can relate to. In the end, (500) Days of Summer is a winning yet enchanting film from Marc Webb that gives the audience something different than the typical rom-com formula.

(C) thevoid99 2012

The Lookout

Originally Written and Posted at Epinions.com on 3/31/07 w/ Additional Edits.

Written and directed by Scott Frank, The Lookout is about a young man, damaged from an accident several years ago who is left mentally impaired as he's forced to right notes and things to get his life going. When he meets an old friend from high school, he suddenly takes part in a bank heist that would eventually go wrong. Frank, who has been known for writing screenplays in films like Get Shorty, Out of Sight, and Minority Report makes his directorial debut where he takes a different approach of the heist film. Starring Joseph Gordon-Levitt Jeff Daniels, Matthew Goode, Isla Fisher, Carla Gugino, Bruce McGill, and Alberta Watson. The Lookout is a smart, intelligent character study/heist film from Scott Frank.

The star hockey player in his high school and one of the top students, Chris Pratt (Joseph Gordon-Levitt) seemed to have it made. He had rich parents in Robert and Barbara Pratt (Bruce McGill and Alberta Watson) and was someone many idolized. Then one night after prom, he and some friends were on his car where playing around until a seriously horrifying accident happened leaving Chris damaged. Four years later, Chris is alive but mentally and emotionally impaired as he can barely remember the accident or put things in order. Even opening a simple can opener can be troubling. He talks to his counselor in Janet (Carla Gugino) about his day-to-day problems while he lives with a blind cook named Lewis (Jeff Daniels). In the day, he goes to school to improve his sequencing order while at night, he works as a janitor in a bank for his boss Mr. Tuttle (David Huband) and trying to work as a teller with help from Mrs. Lange (Alex Borstein).

Then one night after work, Chris goes to a bar where he meets a guy named Gary Spargo (Matthew Goode) who claims to have known him back in high school. Gary buys him a beer as the two begin to meet frequently as Gary introduces him to a former dancer named Luvlee (Isla Fisher). Chris is invited to a party where Luvlee told him she remembered him back in school at a championship game he played as she seduces him. Chris enjoys the company as he was invited to a post-Thanksgiving dinner where he learns of a plan involving a bank heist at his own bank. Chris at first doesn't want to get involved but Gary tells him it will be the only way to get away from his own mundane, repetitive life. Chris gives in eventually with a bit of help from Luvlee while Lewis notices a change in Chris' attitude and the company he's surrounded by. With Chris unwittingly takes pictures of the bank, he doesn't become aware of what is really going on.

With the heist going underway, tension begins to mount as Chris is wondering if he's doing the right thing. With Gary and his gang deciding to rob the bank at night with Chris being the lookout, he realizes he's in a lot more than he bargained for.

Heist films often has this sense of tension where things could go wrong during a heist and this film plays to the tradition of heist films of the past. The only difference about this movie is that it's really about this young, emotionally/mentally damaged young man who is sucked into a world of crime as an escape to his own mundane, repetitive life. Writer/director Scott Frank creates a momentum where the audience gets to know Chris Pratt and all of the things he's done in his day-to-day life. Even when he has to remember things, he has to write them all onto a notepad. It's really an engaging character study of this young man who becomes part of a heist as he gets into a moral dilemma.

The way the heist is set up reveals how Chris at first, gets into it by trading a jacket his mother bought him to the way he reacts to his own mundane life. Then once the heist comes around, there is this eerie tension that Frank sets up where it's known that something goes wrong. Whether it's a visit from the deputy watchman in Deputy Ted (Sergio Di Zio) comes in to check on Chris. To the moment they break into the vault and knowing that trouble is coming around.

Then there's the line "whoever has the money, has the power" which then becomes a game about power. Gary wants to use the money to lure Chris into all sorts of temptation until Chris' own conscience gets the best of him. While mainstream audiences might find the film's momentum in the first two acts to be jarring, it pays off in the third act. Particularly in the ending where it doesn't play to Hollywood conventions or has twists. Everything plays out straightforward. Even the characters who each have some back story while Gary is also flawed in a physical way since he carries an inhaler. Overall, the film's smart writing and very observant, stylish direction works as Scott Frank makes a hell of a debut.

Helping Frank in his visual presentation is cinematographer Alar Kivilio whose intimate camera work in the interior settings play to the film's tension, notably in the heist sequence. The exterior work shot on location in Canada as Kansas works to play up to the film's cold feel including the opening sequence that involves fireflies. Production designer David Brisbin and art director Dennis Davenport help bring the American look to create the bars and apartments that Chris lives and works in. Costume designer Abram Waterhouse also adds to the look of dark colors for most of the cast to convey this aura of darkness. Editor Jill Savitt really shines with her stylistic editing to convey the tension and suspense while giving the use of flashbacks to reveal the troubling emotions of Chris. Sound editor Kelly Cabral plays to the film's tension, particularly in the final moments to convey the cold weather and what is to come. Composer James Newton Howard brings a very melodic, moody score to play to the troubling mind of Chris Pratt as well as the suspense during the heist and its aftermath.

The film's cast is wonderfully assembled with small performances from Janaya Stephens and Marc Devigne as Chris' older, adult siblings, David Huband and Alex Borstein as Chris' bank supervisors, Sergio Di Zio as the comical Deputy Ted who often gives Chris donuts, and Laura Vandervoort as Chris' former high school girlfriend Kelly who brings an eerie presence to the film. Playing Gary's gang are Morgan Kelly as Marty and Aaron Berg as Cork who are both excellent while it's Greg Dunham as Bone that really brings an excellent presence with his black long hair and black sunglasses. Carla Gugino is excellent in her one-scene performance as Chris' caseworker while veteran actors Bruce McGill and Alberta Watson are fine as Chris' parents who struggle their attempt to reconnect with their son.

Known to audiences for her comedic work in Wedding Crashers, Isla Fisher is wonderful as the sexy seductress Luvlee with her charming, vibrant charm while Fisher shows a bit more of her serious side in a very intriguing scene with Jeff Daniels where she proves that she's more than just some pretty face. In a performance that is really against type, Matthew Goode is superbly terrifying as Gary Spargo. Known to audiences for his romantic work in movies like Chasing Liberty, Imagine Me & You, and Woody Allen's Match Point, the British actor plays against his good looks for a shaved haircut and a beard as this tough, manipulative robber who want to have money and power while using his wits to manipulate the fragile Chris. Goode is truly a revelation as he proves his range, even doing an excellent American accent. Veteran actor Jeff Daniels is also superb as the blind Lewis whose comical comments and wit brings a lot of needed humor to the dark film while being the only friend that Chris has while trying to keep him grounded in the world he's being sucked in. It's a fantastic performance from the veteran actor.

Finally, there's Joseph Gordon-Levitt in another winning performance as Chris Pratt. What is more shocking in this angst-ridden, emotionally troubled performance is the restraint that Gordon-Levitt brings. There's a way he stands and how he is quiet when doing his work or writing in his notepad. The way he observes things with silent. It's a very minimalist performance that could've gone wrong with some huge outburst. Yet, Gordon-Levitt remains still though at times, he curses and tries to deal with his emotions. When he's sucked in, he becomes a bit more selfish while remaining restrained and right to the end, he becomes a full-on acting powerhouse. This is not the same child actor we've known in Angels in the Outfield or the teen from 3rd Rock from the Sun. Joseph Gordon-Levitt proves he is for real and has what it takes to carry a film like this which he's also proven in films like Mysterious Skin and Brick.

The Lookout is a smart, engaging, entrancing crime drama from Scott Frank featuring a wonderfully leading performance from Joseph Gordon-Levitt. Fans of heist films will enjoy the tension and momentum it builds up while mainstream audiences should give the film's slow build-up a chance to be sucked in. With a fantastic supporting cast including Jeff Daniels, Matthew Goode, and Isla Fisher, it's a film that features great performances, witty dialogue, and great scenes that audiences can enjoy. Yet, the film really belongs to both Frank and Gordon-Levitt as a new director has now emerged while Gordon-Levitt continues to become a force in American Cinema. For anyone wanting a smart alternative to some of the big films this spring, check out The Lookout.

(C) thevoid99 2012

The Dark Knight Rises

Based on the DC Comics, The Dark Knight Rises is the story of a battered Bruce Wayne who dons his role as Batman after an eight-year hiatus to battle a cat burglar and a large man who has taken over the League of Shadows who hopes to wreak havoc on Gotham. Directed by Christopher Nolan and screenplay by Christopher and Jonathan Nolan with story by Jonathan Nolan and David S. Goyer. The film is the third and final part of Nolan’s Dark Knight trilogy as it follows Bruce Wayne in his quest to bring peace for Gotham as Christian Bale reprises the role. Also starring Michael Caine, Morgan Freeman, Gary Oldman, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Anne Hathaway, Marion Cotillard, Ben Mendelsohn, Matthew Modine, and Tom Hardy as Bane. The Dark Knight Rises is a magnificent end to the Dark Knight trilogy from Christopher Nolan.

Eight years after the events that involved Harvey Dent’s death, Gotham lives in a world of peace but based on a lie as Commissioner James Gordon (Gary Oldman) starts to feel uneasy about the lie. Back at Wayne Manor, Bruce Wayne is living a life as a recluse still lost over his grief and having Batman hide out. Yet, he learns that a cat burglar named Selina Kyle (Anne Hathaway) has broken into his safe as she had been trying to retrieve his fingerprints for a business rival in John Daggett (Ben Mendelsohn). Yet, Wayne learns about a far more sinister figure in a mercenary named Bane who plans to wreak havoc on Gotham. Realizing he needs to be Batman again, he has his left leg repaired while getting ready to face whoever as Bane has officially arrived at Gotham. Still, Wayne has to deal with his losses as he asks Miranda Tate (Marion Cotillard) to take over Wayne Enterprises with Lucius Fox’s help.

With Gordon recovering from a gunshot after discovering Bane’s hideout, he asks a young police officer in John Blake (Joseph Gordon-Levitt) to watch over things as Peter Foley (Matthew Modine) takes when Bane finally storms Gotham’s financial stock market to wreak havoc. Yet, it would mark the first of his many confrontations with Batman who makes his return as Batman also confronts Kyle over her theft as she reveals what she’s been doing. She would eventually lead Batman to confront Bane where the confrontation proves to be disastrous for Wayne as he’s sent to a mysterious land that he cannot escape leaving Bane to destroy Gotham all by himself.

After learning some stories about the League of Shadows and having to see Gotham be on its own under Bane’s terror with help from a fusion device Wayne had hoped to use for clean energy. The fusion device becomes a bomb that will detonate leaving the people of Gotham in fear as its criminals are free leaving to do whatever they want. Having to see Bane’s destruction, Wayne realizes what he must do to destroy Bane and the League of Shadows from destroying Gotham as he’ll need the help of some people.

The film is about Bruce Wayne/Batman getting back in the swing of things when Gotham is being threatened by a terrorist who hopes to finish the job that Ra’s Al Ghul (Liam Neeson and Josh Pence as the younger Ra’s Al Ghul) was able to finish in Batman Begins. Yet, Batman also has to deal with a cat burglar who has been trying to steal things from him in order for a businessman to bankrupt Bruce Wayne as she eventually realizes that she is getting little in return as she eventually teams up with Wayne. It’s all about Bane’s plan to fulfill Ra’s Al Ghul’s desire to destroy Gotham at the pinnacle of its chaos and then rebuild it as a new society. Still, he has to face Batman and a few others who actually believe in good triumphing over evil.

While the screenplay does have trouble following along with what Bane is planning along with subplots revolving around John Daggett’s plans to bankrupt Bruce Wayne for the League of Shadows. It does succeed in fleshing out the characters and motivation as it centers around Wayne’s desire to finally return as Batman following an eight-year hiatus but finds himself facing foes that are more powerful than him. Particularly as his motivations get him into conflict with his longtime butler Alfred (Michael Caine) who believes that Wayne is headed for death where he eventually reveals a secret that he kept for eight years.

Then there’s Bane who is this villain that represents a physical force where literally in his confrontations with Batman but also conceptually in how he terrorizes Gotham. Yet, he’s also a very intelligent man who wants to punish Wayne for the lies he created eight years before and for wounding the League of Shadows several years before that. He may not be the anarchist of the Joker nor the more organized planning of Ra’s Al Ghul but Bane is still an interesting villain. While other new character like John Blake and Miranda Tate are also interesting with some back story about them. Another character who simply steals the show from everyone is Selina Kyle. Though she isn’t called Catwoman throughout the film, she is a character that is quite complex as she’s just a thief who likes to steal for herself while aiding others in hopes to clear her name. Yet, she has to deal with all sorts of things as she eventually becomes conflicted about stealing from Wayne once Bane starts to wreak havoc.

Christopher Nolan’s direction is definitely vast in the way he presents the film in its opening scene with this elaborate scene of a plane being captured by a bigger plane that is inter-cut with a scene of Bruce Wayne watching above Wayne Manor to see Commissioner Gordon praise Harvey Dent. It’s a big way to open a film that is ambitious but also intimate in the way Nolan creates small scenes involving Wayne’s own turmoil with his loss that includes a heartbreaking moment where Alfred makes a confession that becomes an emotional turning point for Wayne in his upcoming confrontation with Bane. Yet, there are few scenes where Batman appears as it’s mostly to do with Wayne’s struggle to find reasons to be Batman again while dealing with all of these new dark forces.

Through the vast compositions and big action scenes, Nolan’s direction is truly ambitious as it includes the climatic battle between Batman and Bane where there are revelations into how Batman must save Gotham from nuclear Armageddon. It’s all about creating suspense and moments where Nolan is waiting for the payoff as well as things where Wayne has to face some realities. While there’s a few things in the film that don’t work such as a fantasy sequence where Wayne sees Ra’s Al Ghul in a dream. Still, Nolan does enough for what is expected in a blockbuster superhero film genre with his rapturous shots and thrilling action sequences that does more than entertain. Overall, Nolan creates a truly solid film that ends his Dark Knight trilogy on a high note.

Cinematographer Wally Pfister does amazing work with the photography such as the vast opening sequence and other action sequence that carries a wide depth of field while creating amazing lighting schemes for some of the film‘s interior scenes. Editor Lee Smith does excellent work with the editing to play up the intensity of the action films as well as slowing things down to build up the suspense. Production designers Nathan Crowley and Kevin Kavanaugh, with set decorator Paki Smith and art directors James Hambridge and Naaman Marshall, do spectacular work with the set pieces such as the new Batcave as well as Wayne Manor and the prison that Wayne is put in during the film‘s second half.

Costume designer Lindy Hemming does superb work with the costumes from the look of the Batsuit and Bane‘s costume to the gorgeous leather look of Selina Kyle‘s cat-suit. Visual effects supervisor Paul J. Franklin does terrific work with the minimal visual effects created such as the wide shots of the bridges blowing up as well as other shots involving the Batwing. Sound designer Richard King does brilliant work with the sound from the way the chants sound at the prison scene to the layering of sounds to exemplify the chaos that occurs in the film‘s second half. The film’s score by Hans Zimmer is wonderful for its percussive-driven score to play out the intensity of the action along with more low-key yet heavy orchestral themes to play up the drama.

The casting by John Papsidera and Toby Whale is incredible for the ensemble that is created for the film. With notable appearances from Liam Neeson and Josh Pence as Ra’s Ah Ghul with the latter in flashback scenes, other standouts include Juno Temple as Selina’s assistant Holly Robinson, Brett Cullen as a Congressman Selina woos, Thomas Lennon as a doctor, John Nolan as a Wayne Enterprises board member, Nestor Carbonell as Mayor Garcia, Alon Abutbul as the scientist Dr. Pavel that Bane kidnaps early in the film, Matthew Modine as deputy commissioner Foley, Chris Ellis as a priest John Blake confides in, Ben Mendelsohn as the slimy John Daggett, Burn Gorman’s as Daggett’s assistant Stryver, and Cillian Murphy reprising his role as Dr. Jonathan Crane/Scarecrow in a mock trial scene.

Morgan Freeman is excellent as the always resourceful Lucius Fox while Michael Caine is brilliant as the very witty but concerned Alfred where the latter definitely pulls a lot of the emotional weight involving his relationship with Bruce Wayne. Marion Cotillard is excellent as philanthropist Miranda Tate who tries to get Bruce back in the world and be involved with a clean-energy machine that ends up being trouble. Gary Oldman is great as Commissioner Gordon who deals with the guilt he created from a lie as he becomes overwhelmed with facing Bane by himself only to find a new ally in John Blake. Joseph Gordon-Levitt is superb as John Blake, a hot-headed young cop turned detective who confronts Wayne about what really happened to Harvey Dent as well as try to figure out what Bane is doing. Tom Hardy is marvelous as Bane by exemplifying his physique as a huge force while proving to be a man of great intelligence and power as it’s definitely Hardy at his best.

Anne Hathaway is phenomenal as Selina Kyle where she definitely steals the show from everyone from the one-liners she gives to the way she is able to outwit Wayne in every way and form. It’s Hathaway bringing a lot of humor and physicality to a woman who can’t be trifled with as she gives out one of her greatest performances of her career. Finally there’s Christian Bale as Bruce Wayne/Batman where Bale gives another great performance by displaying the anguish and confusion of a man unsure if he’s willing to be Batman again while having to deal with all of these forces. It’s Bale creating a lot of realism to the character of Wayne while being more cunning as Batman where he is more unafraid to do whatever he needs to do to save Gotham.

The Dark Knight Rises is an exhilarating and thrilling film from Christopher Nolan. Thanks to a large ensemble cast that features top-of-the-line performances from Christian Bale, Anne Hathaway, Tom Hardy, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Marion Cotillard, Gary Oldman, Michael Caine, and Morgan Freeman. It’s a film that definitely lives up to the hype though it doesn’t top its predecessors in terms of excitement and storytelling. It’s also a blockbuster that manages to excite but also engage for the way it reveals on what Batman must do to save the world. In the end, The Dark Knight Rises is an incredible film from Christopher Nolan.

Christopher Nolan Films: Following - Memento - Insomnia (2002 film) - Batman Begins - Prestige - The Dark Knight - Inception - Interstellar - Dunkirk - Tenet - Oppenheimer - The Auteurs #13: Christopher Nolan

Batman Films: (Batman (1966 film)) - Batman (1989 film) - Batman Returns - Batman Forever - Batman & Robin - Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice - The Lego Batman Movie - The Batman (2022 film)

© thevoid99 2012