Baby Driver

Written and directed by Edgar Wright, Baby Driver is the story of a getaway driver who is being forced to work for a drug kingpin to do a job as things go wrong. The film is an ode to getaway driver film genre with elements of the musical as its protagonist has to listen to music during his job due to damages in his ear. Starring Ansel Elgort, Jamie Foxx, Lily James, Jon Hamm, Jon Bernthal, Eiza Gonzalez, and Kevin Spacey. Baby Driver is an exhilarating and majestic film from Edgar Wright.

The film revolves around a young man who is a getaway driver for robbers as he works under the service of a drug kingpin he owes a debt to as he’s close to finally paying off the debt until he’s given a dangerous job where things become intense. It’s a film with a simple story yet it plays into someone who likes to keep things simple as he listens to different kinds of music when he drives due to the fact that he’s got severe tinnitus in his ears due to a car accident when he was a kid that claimed the life of his parents. His job is to just be a getaway driver and get a small cut for his services and that is it while he lives with a deaf elderly he cares for as he also falls for a waitress at a local diner. Edgar Wright’s screenplay definitely owe a lot to crime and chase films but there’s elements of the musicals and fantasy in the film though it’s all set in this high-octane reality that the film’s titular character (Ansel Elgort) is living in.

Yet, Baby is someone that always carry around an iPod to listen to whatever music to display the mood or environment he’s in as his boss Doc (Kevin Spacey) would call him for an assignment as he would hire the people for the job and all Baby needs to do is drive and listen to the music. Though there would be people that Doc would hire constantly such as the couple Buddy and Darling (Jon Hamm and Eiza Gonzalez, respectively) who like what Baby does. Things change when Doc hires the very psychotic Bats (Jamie Foxx) for a job with two other men with Baby as the getaway driver as it becomes very violent. It’s a chilling moment just as Baby was experiencing something new in his life as he befriends the waitress Debora (Lily James) as they bond through music. Unfortunately, Baby’s attempt to leave his life as a getaway driver has him dealing with Doc about a job that is even more dangerous as it includes the service of Bats who has made Baby very uneasy.

Wright’s direction is definitely stylish not just for its approach to action but also treating it as if it is this unconventional musical with the music from Baby’s iPod as its soundtrack. Shot on location in Atlanta as it is a character in the film, Wright creates a film that uses the city as this modern-day backdrop that is quite grimy yet has an air of excitement in its nightlife and mixture of different cultures in hip-hop, country, and rock. While Wright would use wide shots for not just establishing the locations but also in scenes that play into the world that Baby is in as he has a routine in what he does in the aftermath of a robbery as it’s told in an intricate tracking shot with careful choreography and movement with the help of choreographer Ryan Heffington. Wright’s direction favors more intimate moments in some of the locations in and around Atlanta as well as a few sets and what goes on inside a car which Baby is often behind the steering wheel choosing the right song for the chase. Wright’s approach to the music isn’t to use the music as a crutch to help tell the story but rather as some form of accompaniment to express whatever mood that Baby is in and what he needs to concentrate in his job due to his tinnitus.

Wright would also create moments that don’t involve music as it play into the meetings led by Doc about what to do with the job but also these eerie moments that play into the growing tension between Baby and Bats as the former is uneasy about the latter. Wright would create some entrancing compositions that has him put the actors in a certain position for the frame as it help add to some of the drama as well as bits of humor. There are also moments where Wright would inject bits of fantasy in a key scene that play into the sense of hope that Baby wants with Debora but it’s always clashing with this high-octane reality that is quite violent with lots of gunplay and chaos. All of it to the tune of something which feels right for the scene as it also has this offbeat approach to the musical. Overall, Wright creates a sensational and lively film about a getaway driver who uses music as an escape from his life of crime.

Cinematographer Bill Pope does excellent work with the film’s cinematography to capture the look of Atlanta in the daytime exteriors with its sunny and colorful look with some gorgeous lighting for some of the interiors including the scenes set at night. Editors Jonathan Amos and Paul Machliss do incredible work with the editing with its usage of rhythms to help play into the music as well as using fast-cuts for some of the chases without deviating into the chaotic speed-editing of typical action films. Production designer Marcus Rowland, with art directors Nigel Churcher and Justin O’Neal Miller as well as set decorator Lance Totten, does fantastic work with the look of the apartment home that Baby shares with his deaf foster father Joseph as well the place where Doc does his meetings and the diner that Debora works at. Costume designer Courtney Hoffman does nice work with the clothes from the waitress dress that Debora wears to some of the stylish clothing of Darling and Bats.

Visual effects supervisor Shailendra Swarnkar does terrific work with some of the visual effects as it relates to some of the action and chase scenes where it definitely look real without having to do too much in order to make it feel real. Sound designer Julian Slater does amazing work with the sound as it is a highlight of the film in its approach to mixing and editing to hear Baby is hearing in total silence as well as the way sound is presented in certain moments of the film. The film’s music by Steven Price is wonderful for its mixture of low-key electronic music, hip-hop, and orchestral bombast to create a thriving score that help play into the suspense while music supervisor Kirsten Lane creates a phenomenal soundtrack that features an array of music from acts such as Queen, the Jon Spencer Blues Explosion, the Damned, the Beach Boys, Beck, T-Rex, Simon & Garfunkel, Barry White, Young MC, Bob & Earl, Jonathan Richman & the Modern Lovers, Googie Rene, Carla Thomas, Dave Brubeck, Alexis Korner, The Incredible Bongo Band, Martha and the Vandellas, Blur, Focus, Sky Ferreira, the Commodores, Kid Koala, Danger Mouse with Run the Jewels and Big Boi, Sam & Dave, and Golden Earring.

The casting by Francine Maisler is great as it feature some notable small roles and appearances from Killer Mike and Outkast’s Big Boi as a couple of patrons at a posh restaurant, Jon Spencer of the Jon Spencer Blues Explosion as a prison guard, filmmaker Walter Hill as a courtroom interpreter, Lance Palmer as Baby’s father in the flashbacks, Viviana Chavez as a diner waitress, Hal Whiteside as the diner cook, Brogan Hall as Doc’s nephew, Allison King as a mail teller, Andrea Frye as a woman Baby reluctantly carjacks, Hudson Meek as the young baby in the flashbacks, and Sky Ferreira as Baby’s mother in the flashbacks whom he adored. Other notable small yet memorable performances include Paul Williams as a notorious arms dealer known as the Butcher, Red Hot Chili Peppers bassist Flea and Lanny Joon as a couple of robbers working with Bats, Jon Bernthal as a robber in the first heist in Griff who often questions Baby’s role in the robbery, and CJ Jones as Baby’s deaf foster-father Joseph whom Baby communicates with through sign language and music. Eiza Gonzalez is fantastic as Darling as a smooth-talking yet cool woman who can throw down as well as be quite scandalous as she is also Buddy’s wife.

Jon Hamm is excellent as Buddy as a man that loves to rob banks and get its rewards as he also loves his wife Darling where it shows what kind of man he is when he knows she’s been harmed. Kevin Spacey is brilliant as Doc as a drug kingpin who is Baby’s boss as a man who doesn’t bullshit as Spacey brings a dry-wit to his performance where he can be intimidating but also sympathetic. Lily James is amazing as Debora as this kind-hearted diner waitress who befriends Baby where they share an interest for music as well as wanting a life with no complications. Jamie Foxx is incredible as Bats as this very ruthless and psychotic criminal who has no qualms in killing people in order to get his money as he likes what Baby does but also despises Baby for his sense of morals. Finally, there’s Ansel Elgort in a remarkable performance as Baby as this getaway driver with severe tinnitus in his ears which he drowns out through music as he copes with being in the world of crime and his desire to get out to start a new life only to be put into a situation that is troubling as it’s a very restrained yet charismatic performance from Elgort.

Baby Driver is a spectacular film from Edgar Wright. Featuring a great cast, a phenomenal music soundtrack, a thrilling script, amazing locations, and top-notch work in the editing and sound. It’s a film that is very unconventional in its blend of action, suspense, humor, and music as it plays with all sorts of genre while being something that is totally of its own. In the end, Baby Driver is a tremendous film from Edgar Wright.

Edgar Wright Films: (A Fistful of Fingers) - Shaun of the Dead - Hot Fuzz - Scott Pilgrim vs. the World - The World's End - The Sparks Brothers - Last Night in Soho

© thevoid99 2017

Se7en

Directed by David Fincher and written by Andrew Kevin Walker, Se7en is the story of a soon-to-be-retired detective who teams up with a young detective to investigate a series of mysterious killings based on the seven deadly sins. The film is a suspense-thriller that explores the seven deadly sins as two men try to catch its killer. Starring Morgan Freeman, Brad Pitt, Gwyneth Paltrow, John C. McGinley, R. Lee Ermey, Richard Roundtree, and Kevin Spacey. Se7en is an eerie and haunting film from David Fincher.

The film follows two detectives taking part in a week-long case involving a series of mysterious murders based on the seven deadly sins as it becomes more deadly and complex. That is the simple premise of the film as it explores not just the idea of sin but what two different detectives are dealing with as one is about to retire while the other has just arrived from another city. Andrew Kevin Walker’s screenplay has this amazing structure as it is told in the span of a week where Detective Lieutenant William Somerset (Morgan Freeman) spends his last days devoted to this case with the help of his new yet short-tempered partner Detective David Mills (Brad Pitt) who has transferred himself from another city with his wife Tracy (Gwyneth Paltrow). In the course of the week, the two delve into mysterious murders as it gets more intricate with each sin that follows where it also becomes more gruesome.

One of the aspects of the script that is engaging is the partnership between Somerset and Mills as it starts off with two men in very different places as the former is uncertain in working with someone that is young and kind of cynical while the latter isn’t sure about working with some old man who probably hasn’t done a lot of action and knows too much. Still, their relationship does gradually develop as Somerset gets to know Mills and meet Tracy where she would bring a warm side to Somerset as she would tell him a secret that her husband doesn’t know yet. During the search of the killer, the two detectives try to figure out what is going on as it leads to that last day where both men are on the same page but there is still that surprise that would lead to the basis of the mystery and the man who committed them.

David Fincher’s direction is definitely dark as it makes no bones that this isn’t some conventional thriller as much of the film takes place during rainy days. While much of the film is shot in Los Angeles with the exception of its climax that is shot near Lancaster, California, the film is set into something that looks and feels like any other American city where it’s kind of seedy and chaotic as these murders only just make things worse. Fincher’s usage of hand-held cameras for some of the chases and action-based scenes are quite engaging yet it is his approach to how he build up the suspense and sense of danger that is entrancing from the usage of the wide and medium shots to capture the crime scenes to the extreme close-ups of every attention to detail of the bodies and such in the crime scenes.

Fincher would also use some intricate tracking shots with the hand-held cameras and steadicam to capture some of the action such as a sequence in a massage parlor where some of the most gruesome acts of murder have occurred. By the time the film reaches its third act as its killer is unveiled, something interesting happens as it relates to the killer and the theme of the seven deadly sins. The climax is interesting as it is all about control as well as what some will do as Fincher presents it with a lot of style from the usage of helicopter-based shots to what is happening in the ground. Even as it lead to moments that are very shocking with some moral implications as it says a lot about the dark aspects of humanity. Overall, Fincher creates a intoxicating yet unsettling film about two detectives taking on a murder case based on the seven deadly sins.

Cinematographer Darius Khondji does brilliant work with the film‘s cinematography with its usage of low-key lights and moods to play into the film‘s eerie tone for many of the interiors and exteriors along with the sunny but chilling climax as it include some additional work from Harris Savides who also shoots the film‘s opening title sequence. Editor Richard Francis-Bruce does excellent work with the editing with some jump-cuts for some of the high-octane action moments along with some unique rhythms to play into the suspense. Production designer Arthur Max, with set decorator Clay A. Griffith and art director Gary Wissner, does fantastic work with the look of the apartment homes that the detectives live in as well as the police precinct offices and the mysterious apartment of the killer. Costume designer Michael Kaplan does nice work with the costumes as it is mostly casual from the clothes the detectives wear as well as the mysterious look of the killer.

Makeup supervisor Jean Ann Black, along with special effects makeup artist Rob Bottin and supervising hair stylist/makeup artist Michael White, does amazing work with the look of the victims in the decayed state they‘re in as it play into the macabre tone of the film. Visual effects supervisor Greg Kimble does terrific work with some of the film‘s minimal visual effects as it involves bits of set dressing as well as in the film‘s opening title sequence. Sound designer Ren Klyce and sound editor Patrick Dodd do superb work with the film‘s sound as it has a lot of layers into the way some of the moments of action sound such as a chase scene as well as in the way police sirens and sparse moments are presented. The film’s music by Howard Shore is great as its orchestral-based score is filled with bombastic string arrangements to play into the suspense and drama as well as moments that are low-key through its somber pieces. The film’s music soundtrack is a mixture of music from Johann Sebastian Bach, Thelonious Monk, Haircut 100, Billie Holiday, Charlie Parker, Marvin Gaye, Gloria Lynne, the Statler Brothers, Gravity Kills, Nine Inch Nails, and David Bowie.

The casting by Kerry Barden, Billy Hopkins, and Suzanne Smith is wonderful as it feature some notable small roles from Michael Massee as a massage parlor manager, Leland Orser as a traumatized man at the massage parlor, Reg E. Cathey as the coroner, Mark Boone Junior as a greasy FBI agent friend of Somerset, Hawthorne James as a friend of Somerset who watches over the police library, Richard Schiff as John Doe’s attorney, Julie Araskog as the wife of one of the victims, and John C. McGinley in a terrific small role as a SWAT team leader. Richard Roundtree is superb as District Attorney Martin Talbot as a no-nonsense man who is trying to make sure the case doesn’t get out of control for the public. R. Lee Ermey is excellent as the police captain who is an old friend of Somerset as he tries to ensure things go well while making sure Somerset and Mills do their jobs. Gwyneth Paltrow is fantastic as Tracy as Mills’ wife who is trying to adjust to her new home as well as confide in Somerset of a secret and asking for his advice as she is the one person that humanizes both Mills and Somerset.

Kevin Spacey is incredible in his mysterious role as John Doe as a man who isn’t seen much in the film until the third act where he has this odd presence about him that is intriguing to watch as it is one of Spacey’s defining performances. Brad Pitt is amazing as Detective David Mills as this young detective who is new to town as he’s not keen on having Somerset as his partner as he is kind of cocky as well as be a prick yet Pitt makes him so engaging as well as have him be grounded once he realizes the seriousness of the case. Finally, there’s Morgan Freeman in a brilliant performance as Detective Lt. William Somerset as a man that has seen a lot as he’s about to retire until the complexity of the murder case as he tries to find many things while becoming frustrated with its brutality as he and Pitt have a great rapport as two men who are opposites yet find common ground in the way things have become.

Se7en is a phenomenal film from David Fincher that features sensational performances from Morgan Freeman, Brad Pitt, and Kevin Spacey. Along with a superb supporting cast, gorgeous yet eerie visuals, and a haunting music score and soundtrack. It’s a film that isn’t just a smart and intricate suspense-thriller but one that is filled with many layers that explore the dark aspects of humanity. In the end, Se7en is an astounding film from David Fincher.

David Fincher Films: Alien 3 - The Game - Fight Club - Panic Room - Zodiac - The Curious Case of Benjamin Button - The Social Network - The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo (2011 film) - Gone Girl

Related: 15 Essential Videos by David Fincher - The Auteurs #61: David Fincher

© thevoid99 2016

Working Girl

Directed by Mike Nichols and written by Kevin Wade, Working Girl is the story of a working-class secretary trying to make it in the world of Wall Street as she takes over for her new and injured boss in creating a merger between two companies. The film is an exploration of a simple woman from Staten Island who is trying to use her street smarts and determination to prove that she has what it takes to make things happen in the very tough world of Wall Street. Starring Melanie Griffith, Harrison Ford, Sigourney Weaver, Joan Cusack, Alec Baldwin, Oliver Platt, Nora Dunn, Olympia Dukakis, Kevin Spacey, and Philip Bosco. Working Girl is a heartfelt yet witty film from Mike Nichols.

Set in New York City, the film revolves around a secretary from Staten Island who takes the ferry by day to work as she hopes to rise through the top despite her lack of top school degrees and experience where she eventually works for a woman who is part of mergers and acquisition department in Wall Street. It’s a film that plays into a woman who may come from a working-class background as she manages to know more than those she work for as she would do whatever it takes to make it. Even as she would fill in for her boss who gets injured on a holiday where she would take matters into her own hands while falling for an executive involved with the merger. It plays into a woman trying to defy the odds on her own terms while trying to get some respect in a world that is quite cruel.

Kevin Wade’s screenplay portrays the protagonist Tess McGill (Melanie Griffith) as this woman who goes to work as a secretary by day while going to night classes at night in the hopes of improving herself. Yet, she would endure some humiliating moments where she would get a job working for the financial executive Katherine Parker (Sigourney Weaver) who would take Tess under her wing but also take Tess’ own ideas as her own in order to impress other bosses. Tess would find out when Katherine is injured during a vacation as she would get help from her friend Cynthia (Joan Cusack) to pretend to be an executive using just her knowledge of finances but also street smarts by reading newspaper and knowing people. That sense of determination would impress Jack Trainer (Harrison Ford) who doesn’t know that Tess is just a secretary but realizes that her unconventional methods to get things are useful.

Trainer is a man who comes from a more upper class background but he knows the value of hard work while he is also someone that is willing to take chances and wants to prove himself. He and Tess are something that Katherine isn’t as, despite her own wealthy background, someone who is willing to cheat and take credit for other people’s work so she can become powerful. Though Tess wants to succeed and do what Katherine does, she isn’t willing to cheat her way to the top as she wanted to prove that a girl from Staten Island can make it no matter what obstacles she faces. Even if she has to deal with criticism from the people at home who think she’ll never make it because of where she comes from.

Mike Nichols’ direction is very engaging for the way he portrays the world of Wall Street as he makes New York City and Staten Island as characters in the film to showcase a world where opportunities can happen. Much of Nichols’ compositions are quite simple as he does create some effective wide shots of New York City including shots of the ferry as it plays an important part to the story. There’s also some unique close-ups that play into Tess’ struggle such a scene where she is pushing a tray of dumplings for an office party that Katherine is hosting. It showcases how powerful Katherine is and how she’s trying to use Tess for her own gain. Nichols also knows how to frame actors for scenes that are either comical or dramatic as he always shoot scenes inside a ferry to play into Tess’ struggle and her willingness to make it.

Some of the humorous moments are very natural as it relates to Trainer’s awkwardness into situations that only Tess knows how to navigate. Most notably a wedding where Trainer and Tess have to meet a potential client in Oren Trask (Philip Bosco) who would be impressed by the two. Nichols’ mastery at comedy adds to the energy of the film where it showcases some of Tess’ bad decisions such as her first meeting with Trainer as she had took a valium and mixing it with alcohol proves to be a very bad idea. Yet, Nichols still puts in some heart and characters that audiences can root for while giving them a chance to showcase that unforgiving world of Wall Street. Overall, Nichols create a captivating yet funny film about a woman from Staten Island working her ass off in Wall Street.

Cinematographer Michael Ballhaus does excellent work with the film‘s cinematography from the naturalistic look of the daytime exteriors to some low-key scenes set at night in the interiors along with some elaborate lighting for a few scenes in Katherine‘s apartment. Editor Sam O’Steen does nice work with the editing as it‘s quite straightforward while going for some offbeat rhythms for some of the film‘s funnier moments. Production designer Patrizia von Brandenstein, with set decorator George DeTitta Jr. and art director Doug Kraner, does fantastic work with the look of some of the offices as well as the big one that Trainer has as well as the apartments that he and Katherine lives in. Costume designer Ann Roth does terrific work with the costumes from the clothes the secretary wears to the posh stuff that Katherine wears that Tess would later borrow.

Hair stylists Angela D’Angelo and J. Roy Helland do amazing work with the design of the hair which was the thing in the late 1980s as women had big hair. Sound editor Stan Bochner does superb work with the sound from the way some of the offices sound during stock exchanges and such as well as a few moments at a few parties. The film’s music consists largely of score music by Rob Mounsey which is really just piano and orchestral variations of Carly Simon’s original song Let the River Run which is the film’s main theme as other music includes cuts by the Pointer Sisters, Sonny Rollins, and Chris De Burgh.

The casting by Juliet Taylor is brilliant as it features notable small appearances from David Duchovny as a party guest for Tess’ surprise party, Zach Grenier as an executive at Katherine’s office party, Robert Easton as a top corporate CEO in Armbrister, Amy Aquino as a secretary late in the film, Ricki Lake as a bridesmaid at the party Tess and Trainer crash at, Elizabeth Whitcraft as a woman Tess’ boyfriend Mick was sleeping with, Nora Dunn as a corporate publicist named Ginny, James Lally as one of Tess’ early bosses in Turkell, Oliver Platt as another of Tess’ early boss in David Lutz who treats her like meat, Olympia Dukakis as a personnel director who would find Tess a new job working for Katherine, and Kevin Spacey in an early film performance as a sleazy corporate executive who tries to seduce Tess. Philip Bosco is excellent as Oren Trask as this business magnate that Tess and Trainer want to make a deal with as Tess has a tip about what he wants to do. Alec Baldwin is superb as Mick as Tess’ boyfriend who is trying to support her but he gets into some trouble as he is unsure if he can be good enough for Tess.

Joan Cusack is fantastic as Cynthia as another woman from Staten Island who isn’t ambitious as Tess but aids her by pretending to be her secretary at one point and be the conscious of sorts for her. Sigourney Weaver is amazing as Katherine Parker as this very sly and cunning financial executive who likes to do whatever it takes to get to the top as well as steal ideas from others while making Tess feel she’s important yet treating her like shit. Harrison Ford is phenomenal as Jack Trainer as a corporate executive who is trying to get the deal made as Ford brings some charm and humor to his performance while being the guy who knows Tess has what it takes to get things done. Finally, there’s Melanie Griffith in a remarkable performance as Tess McGill as this young woman from Staten Island who has the drive and determination to be successful as Griffith displays a performance that is filled with humor and vulnerability as it’s Griffith presenting a character everyone can root for.

Working Girl is an incredible film from Mike Nichols that features an exhilarating performance from Melanie Griffith. Along with a great ensemble cast that includes Harrison Ford, Sigourney Weaver, Joan Cusack, Alec Baldwin, and Philip Bosco. The film isn’t just one of Nichols’ finest films but a film where it bring enough laughs and heart that allows audience to be engaged by. In the end, Working Girl is a spectacular film from Mike Nichols.

Mike Nichols Films: Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf? - (The Graduate) - (Catch-22) - Carnal Knowlege - (The Day of the Dolphin) - (The Fortune) - (Gilda Live) - (Silkwood) - (Heartburn) - (Biloxi Blues) - Postcards from the Edge - (Regarding Henry) - (Wolf (1994 film)) - The Birdcage - (Primary Colors) - (What Planet Are You From?) - (Wit) - (Angels in America) - Closer - (Charlie Wilson’s War)

© thevoid99 2015

Margin Call

Written and directed by J.C. Chandor, Margin Call is the story of a group of investment bank employees dealing with a financial collapse during the 2007-2008 financial crisis. The film explores the world of finances told by a group of people in the span of 36 hours as they all try to figure out how to get out of the crisis. Starring Kevin Spacey, Jeremy Irons, Penn Badgley, Simon Baker, Demi Moore, Zachary Quinto, Paul Bettany, Mary McDonnell, and Stanley Tucci. Margin Call is a captivating ensemble drama from J.C. Chandor.

After laying off several workers including firm manager Eric Dale (Stanley Tucci), Dale asks one of his risk analyst Peter Sullivan (Zachary Quinto) to look over a report he had been trying to finish with a warning. Sullivan works late to look into Dale’s report where he makes a startling discovery as he calls junior risk analyst Seth Bregman (Penn Badgley) and trading desk head Will Emerson (Paul Bettany) about what he sees. They call their floor head Sam Rogers (Kevin Spacey) about the report as they realize that due to excessive marketing, the firm assets in mortgage-backed securities have decreased more than 25% as the firm is in danger of losing a whole lot more. Rogers asks Bregman and Emerson to locate Dale who has disappeared as they were unable to find him as the four men are called to a meeting.

They meet Rogers’ superior Jared Cohen (Simon Baker) and chief risk management officer Sarah Robertson (Demi Moore) to confirm Sullivan’s reports as Robertson realizes that everything Sullivan and Dale found is true. This would get the attention of the company’s CEO John Tuld (Jeremy Irons) who wants to know what is going on. After Sullivan reveals to Tuld what he found, Tuld decides to do some damage control as he looks for someone to put the blame on while getting his people to find Dale. After Cohen suggests something that would help the firm, Rogers believes that it’s only going to cause more trouble as he later asks his traders to make great sales with those making a 93% reduction in assets will get seven-figure bonuses while telling them what is going on. After the market closes, Rogers sees something that makes him uneasy as he’s forced to make a decision about his future.

The film is about 36 hours in the day of a market collapse that a risk analyst discovers as his bosses and executives try to see how to cut the losses and look for someone to blame. Meanwhile, a floor manager tries to assure his traders about what is to happen as they’re forced to look at something that is very ugly while they try to find the manager who was working on this report. When there’s people that confirms that the report is true and that trouble is brewing, top people try to see how to salvage their money in order to save face. Yet, there are those that is aware that something like this could’ve been prevented and there’s some good people who will be not just losing their jobs but also their reputations.

Characters like Sarah Robertson and Jared Cohen are people who kind of run the whole thing as Robertson is someone who knows more than what is going on. Cohen just wants to believe that nothing will go wrong as is CEO John Tuld who is hoping that something will work out. There’s no villains in a story like this but people who are just trying to keep the market going and just make money yet there are those who fall as the third act is about who to get rid of and who to keep. This would make Rogers uneasy as he doesn’t want to lose anybody as it eventually becomes too much for him.

J.C. Chandor’s direction is quite straightforward in terms of its visual presentation and the way he frames his actors in a scene. Yet, he does manage to create compelling moments that does drive the drama. Even in the meetings that take place as there’s a lot of tension as Chandor has his camera focused on one or more characters to establish what is being discussed. The camera definitely has a sense of claustrophobia that is felt as things are becoming more uncomfortable as the film progresses. Overall, Chandor creates a very engaging and smart drama that explores the world of finances and market collapses.

Cinematographer Frank DeMarco does nice work with the photography to capture the lights of the computers and lights inside the offices at night as well as some of the nighttime exteriors of the city. Editor Pete Deaubreau does terrific work with the editing by creating fast-forwards on some of the film‘s city shots as well as montages for the film‘s fire-sale trading scenes in the third act. Production designer John Paino and set decorator Robert Covelman do brilliant work with the look of the offices and meeting rooms where the characters meet to have their discussions where it looks like a place of immense importance.

Costume designer Caroline Duncan does very good work with the costumes as a lot of it are suits that many of the male characters along with the suit that Sarah Robertson wears. Sound supervisor Damian Volpe does some fine work with the sound to capture the intimacy of the meetings as well as the raucous nature of the city. The film’s music by Nathan Larson is excellent for its chilling, ambient-driven score to play out the drama that unfolds throughout the film.

The casting by Tiffany Little Canfield and Bernard Tesley is brilliant for the ensemble that is created as it features some small appearances from Mary McDonnell as Sam’s ex-wife Mary and Aasif Mandvi as an executive who works with Robertson and Cohen. Stanley Tucci is wonderful as manager Eric Dale who deals with being fired as well as making a warning to Sullivan about what was about to discover. Demi Moore is excellent as management officer Sarah Robertson who reveals to know more about what is happening as she realizes that everything Sullivan has confirmed is true. Simon Baker is terrific as division head Jared Cohen who tries to deal with Rogers’ feelings as well as the trouble that is happening as he makes a drastic suggestion. Jeremy Irons is great as the CEO John Tuld who is looking for a solution to deal with the matter as he turns to Sullivan and Rogers for what is being faced while being upfront about what he will do.

Penn Badgley is very good as the idealistic Seth Bregman who adores his job as he realizes the impact of the financial crisis will be as he later faces the possibility of something much harsher. Paul Bettany is superb as the more hardened Will Emerson who provides a lot of insight into the world while realizing that what he’s facing is far worse than he realizes. Zachary Quinto is amazing as Peter Sullivan who makes the discovery that would unveil the financial collapse as he comes to terms with the reality of what is happening as well as the fact that things will get worse. Finally, there’s Kevin Spacey in a marvelous performance as floor head Sam Rogers who tries to deal with the crisis while becoming morally troubled by what his superiors are doing as he is forced to do things that he didn’t want to do as it’s one of Spacey’s finest performances.

Margin Call is a unique yet compelling drama from J.C. Chandor that features an incredible ensemble cast that includes Kevin Spacey, Zachary Quinto, Jeremy Irons, Paul Bettany, Penn Badgley, Demi Moore, Simon Baker, and Stanley Tucci. While it’s a film that is about a world that not many people know about, it does create a very fascinating study on the world of the financial market and how things can fall apart where people would make drastic decisions that would be questionable. In the end, Margin Call is an extraordinary film from J.C. Chandor.

J.C. Chandor Films: All is Lost - A Most Violent Year - (Trile Frontier) - (Kraven the Hunter) - (The Auteurs #73: J.C. Chandor)

© thevoid99 2012

A Bug's Life

1995’s Toy Story ushered in a new era of cinema with the advent of computer-animated films as that film was the first feature-length computer-animated film ever made. The success of that film helped Pixar Animations studio as they were set to create various new projects that would help build the studio and their relationship with distributor in Walt Disney Studios. For their second feature film, the studios chose to create a film that mixes Aesop’s fable of The Ant and the Grasshopper and Akira Kurosawa’s legendary 1957 film The Seven Samurai into A Bug’s Life.

Directed by John Lasseter, with additional direction by Andrew Stanton, and scripted by Stanton, Donald McEnery, and Bob Shaw that was based on a story by Lasseter, Stanton, and Joe Ranft. A Bug’s Life tells the story of a worker ant who seeks help from other insects to fight off against grasshoppers whom they had been gathering food for. Unaware that the insects he hired are circus insects, he teams up with them to fight off the grasshoppers they had been slaving for. With an all-star voice cast that includes Dave Foley, Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Hayden Panettiere, Kevin Spacey, Denis Leary, David Hyde Pierce, Phyllis Diller, Madeline Kahn, Bonnie Hunt, Brad Garrett, Roddy McDowall, and John Ratzenberger. A Bug’s Life is a fun yet adventurous film John Lasseter and company.

With ants gathering food for grasshoppers before the harvest is to end, Flik (Dave Foley) is an inventive ant who tries to get things better only to cause trouble as his latest invention has him causing an accident. The accident has upset Hopper (Kevin Spacey) who demands that the ants work double-time before he and his group of grasshoppers return for harvest’s end. Wanting to find a way to keep things going and get rid of Flik, Flik suggests getting other insects to help rebel against Hopper and grasshoppers. Princess Atta (Julia Louis-Dreyfus) likes the idea thinking it will get rid of Flik as she lets him go. Upon his journey to the city, Flik encounters a group of fired circus performers he believes are warriors as he asks them for help.

The troupe takes the job thinking it’s a gig as they’re welcomed by the ants led by the queen (Phyllis Diller) as she along with many believe are the warriors that will help them. Yet, the troupe realizes through a celebration of what they’re asked to do as Flik learns that they’re really circus performers. When the queen’s youngest daughter Dot (Hayden Panettiere) is in danger from a bird, the troupe and Flik save her as they decide to stay. Realizing that Hopper is afraid of birds, Flik and the troupe create a bird with a group of ants to stop Hopper and his gang. With the plan working, everything seems to be in place until the arrival of the troupes’ former boss P.T. Flea (John Ratzenberger). With Hopper finally returning and the ants worried, it’s up to Flik and the troupe to remind the ants who are the stronger species.

The film is about an ant who rebels against a group of grasshoppers by hiring a group of circus performers to help him and the ants out. Yet, it’s a plot that is sort of similar to Akira Kurosawa’s 1957 epic The Seven Samurai that is about a group of villagers asking seven samurai warriors to fight against rebels. Still, John Lasseter and his team of writers do create a story where an ant is trying to make up for his mistakes while trying to win over the acceptance of a princess who is groomed to become the next queen.

Then there’s the circus troupe who are a very eccentric, lively bunch. There’s the intellectual stick-bug Slim (David Hyde Pierce), a male-centric ladybug named Francis (Denis Leary), a fat yet hungry caterpillar named Heimlich (Joe Ranft), a black widow named Rosie (Bonnie Hunt), the moth Gypsy (Madeline Khan), Manny the cricket (Jonathan Harris), Dim the beetle (Brad Garrett), and twin ticks who barely speak English (Michael McShane). They’re just a bunch of insects needing a job while using their talents to fight off against Hopper and his gang while being accepted by the ant colony. Yet, they become more than that as the script allows them to develop and forge an alliance with the ants. The grasshoppers may be villains but that’s only because their leader Hopper is a ruthless insect who is aware of how weak his species are and tries to use his wit and power against the ants.

The direction of John Lasseter and Andrew Stanton is definitely very broad as they shoot everything with wide angles to let the audience be enraptured by the locations the characters are at. Since this is the first film from Pixar to use the widescreen format, it allows Lasseter and Stanton to go for bigger compositions and to create more ants to help fill in the frame. The action sequences allows the directors to move the camera move and create some exciting sequences. The overall work is definitely phenomenal as John Lasseter, with additional help from Andrew Stanton, creates a lively yet magical film.

Cinematographer Sharon Calahan does some fantastic work with the lighting for many of the exteriors of the ant hill as well as its surroundings while the inside look is truly gorgeous. Editor Lee Unkrich does a great job with the editing by creating wonderful rhythmic cuts for the film’s action moments along with more relaxed cuts for the dramatic and funny moments. Production designer William Cone, along with art directors Tia W. Kratter and Bob Pauley does a wonderful job with the look of the ant hill and city that Flik goes to along with the interiors of the ant colony itself. Sound designer Gary Rydstrom and sound editor Tim Holland do amazing work with the sound from the grasshoppers breaking through to the circus event where P.T. Flea create a fiery stunt.

The film’s score by Randy Newman is definitely a highlight of the film as its orchestral score is thrilling with loads of pieces to complement the emotions and adventurous moments of the film. Even as it features another Newman original song in The Time Of Your Life to play up the joy and humor of the film.

The voice cast that is assembled by Mary Hidalgo and Ruth Lambert as it features various voices such as Frank Welker as the scary grasshopper Thumper along with the bird plus Edie McClurg as the young ants’ teacher Mrs. Flora and Roddy McDowall as one of the ants’ key top figures in Mr. Soil. Other notable small roles include John Ratzenberger as the greedy P.T. Flea, Jack Angel as a bunch of flies, and Richard Kind as Hopper’s dim-witted brother Molt. For the roles of the circus troupe, there’s standout performances from Michael McShane as the foreign-talking ticks Tuck and Roll, Brad Garrett as the sensitive beetle Dim, Madeline Kahn as the exotic moth Gypsy, and Jonathan Harris as the dramatic Manny.

Joe Ranft is hilarious as the overweight Heimlich who sports a German accent and has an insatiable appetite while Denis Leary is really funny as a tough ladybug who eventually gives in to his feminine side when he spends time with the little ants. David Hyde Pierce is really good as Slim, a stick-bug with a wonderful intellect who wishes he wasn’t just a prop while Phyllis Diller is great as the queen who is trying to maintain her colony’s safety while prepping Atta for her big role. Kevin Spacey is superb as the villainous Hopper who is smarter than a lot of his grasshopper minions while trying to realize that he has to be smart unless the ants realize how powerful they are.

Hayden Panettiere is wonderful as the queen’s youngest daughter Dot who is determined to fly while seeing Flik as a role model as someone who doesn’t quit. Julia Louis-Dreyfus is excellent as Atta, a princess who is trying to become a leader as she learns the importance of trust. Finally, there’s Dave Foley in a brilliant voice performance as the everyman Flik who tries to make a difference while being the one to stand up against Hopper.

A Bug’s Life is an extraordinary film from John Lasseter and Pixar studios proving that they have ambition and do big ideas. While it may not be up there with more revered films like the Toy Story trilogy, or the films that other Pixar directors like Andrew Stanton, Brad Bird, and Pete Docter has done. It is one of the essential films of their large collection of films as it help set the stage for the ambition that the studio would do in later films. In the end, A Bug’s Life is a glorious yet entertaining film from Pixar studios.

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

© thevoid99 2011

Moon

Directed by Duncan Jones and screenplay Nathan Parker based on Jones‘ original story, Moon tells the story of an astronaut who had been living in isolation for three years during a mining expedition on the moon. With his expedition about to end, he starts to become ill while dealing with strange occurrences at the moon. Starring Sam Rockwell and the voice of Kevin Spacey. Moon is a haunting yet exhilarating sci-fi drama from Duncan Jones and company.

Sam Bell (Sam Rockwell) is a miner who works on the far side of the moon. Alone with only a computer named Gerty (the voice of Kevin Spacey) to often confer to, Sam’s job is essential to look over the harvesting of helium extracts that provides energy to the Earth. With his three-year contract expiring and he’s to return home, Sam hopes to reunite with his wife Tess (Dominique McElligott) and their three-year old daughter Eve (Rosie Shaw). Though contact via life feed is limited, Sam is ready to go home until he starts to see strange visions including images of a mysterious woman (Kaya Scodelario) appearing. During a mining routine, he sees a strange figure standing where his rover crashed into a harvesting machine.

Sam later wakes up in an infirmary having little memory of what just happened as he hears Gerty talking to a couple of supervisors via satellite feed where he wants to go outside. Gerty refuses as Sam makes a plan to go outside claiming there’s something wrong as he finds a crashed rover with someone in there. Realizing it’s a guy that looks like Sam, he asks Gerty who he is. Gerty reveals it’s Sam Bell as the guy he’s talking to is also Sam Bell. With the injured Sam Bell from the rover feeling ill, the other Sam Bell looks younger but also more cynical as he believes something is going on.

The two Sams try to figure out what is going with Gerty reluctantly helping out and revealing some truths. With the younger Sam finding out about satellite feeds, the injured Sam finds a secret room. What the Sams discover isn’t just what’s in the room but also more secrets about what is going on as a rescue crew is coming to pick up one of them back to Earth as one of the Sams has an idea.

The film is a mystery set into a sci-fi atmosphere on the moon where a man discovers something about what is happening around him. Even as he sees a man who could be a younger version of him as they uncover the mystery of what is going on. What they find out is more to do with what the company Lunar Industries is trying to do with the computer named Gerty reluctantly helping out. That’s essentially the plot in a nutshell through Nathan Parker’s screenplay as it’s mostly a character study of how Sam Bell and his possible clone along with a computer named Gerty try to help him out.

The character of Sam Bell starts out as this normal guy who is excited to go home but is troubled by these weird visions he’s having. When he later meets his double, who is an angrier and cynical version of himself. He has a hard time trying to figure out who this guy is. Even worse is that is he wonders if this guy is actually the real person and he’s just the double. Yet, they would work together to find out what is happening. What they uncover isn’t just more startling but some answers that have them finding out who they are and what’s really going on.

The screenplay works in the mystery angle as well as the element of character study as director Duncan Jones plays up that element of suspense. Even as he sets into a sci-fi setting that is more reminiscent of the sci-fi films of the 1970s rather than what a mainstream audience now perceives about the genre. Setting it partially inside a space station on the moon, it plays as a set piece while many of the scenes outside of the station is a mixture of computer effects and handmade models to help create a futuristic look. Even as Jones is always capturing what is going on while making a robotic character like Gerty into a lively character who offers sympathy at times.

Jones’ direction is absolutely phenomenal in the way he slowly lets the mystery unfold that leads to a surprising third act that really changes the perspective of the film. Jones also uses tricks where he always have two-shots in which Sam Bell is talking to himself (the double is played by Robin Chalk). Jones’ framing of many of the scenes allows the audience to be invested in the journey of the two Sams trying to find out what is going on. The result is an outstanding debut for the young British filmmaker.

Cinematographer Gary Shaw does a phenomenal job with the film’s cinematography. While a lot of its shot inside the space station or in a rover with a few exterior shots. Shaw’s photography is very stylish to create a very sheer look while using different lights such as dark yellow and elements of dark lights to create moods for the film as the photography is a technical highlight of the film. Editor Nicolas Gaster does an excellent job with the editing in creating a methodical yet leisured pace to not only build up the suspense. Also in creating a mood where everything feels like time is slowing down while bringing some rhythmic cuts to some of the more action-driven scenes as Gaster’s editing is truly wonderful.

Production designer Tony Noble and art director Hideki Arichi do an amazing job with the set design for the film. Notably with the look of the space station along with the robot Gerty who has a screen where he display faces to conjure up his own emotions. Costume designer Jane Petrie does a very good job with the costumes from the creation of the space suit to the clothing that the Sams wear. Hair and makeup designer Karen Dawson does a great job with the look of Sam early in the film with his shaggy hair and beard along with the decayed look he would sport late in the film.

Visual effects supervisors Simon Kilroe, Gavin Rothery, and Simon Stanley-Clamp do a spectacular job with the visual effects for many of the film‘s exterior moon scenes. Notably in the look of the models that look very real to the flying space ships that come around throughout the film. Sound mixer Patrick Owen does some nice work with the sound in capturing the hollow, isolated world of the space station as it‘s also intimate and eerie in its presentation.

Music composer Clint Mansell does a wonderful job with the film’s soothing yet chilling score. Mansell brings a melancholia to his piano-laden score that plays to Sam’s own sense of isolation and longing. Even as Mansell also brings some broader pieces to play the suspenseful tone of the film as it’s another stellar score from Mansell. The rest of the film’s soundtrack includes pop songs from a cover of a Nik Kershaw song and a brief snippet of Katrina and the Waves 1980s hit Walking On Sunshine.

The casting by Manuel Puro and Jeremy Zimmerman do a great job with the casting as it’s mostly filled with a small ensemble in varied supporting roles. Among the small parts filled for the film include Benedict Wong and Matt Berry as corporate supervisors, Malcolm Stewart as a technician late in the film, Rosie Shaw as Sam’s daughter Eve, Kaya Scodelario as the mysterious woman who appears in Sam’s vision early in the film, and Dominique McElligott as Sam’s wife Tess who longs for his return.

In the voice of Gerty, Kevin Spacey does a superb job in bringing a humanistic quality to a machine as he reluctantly aids Sam in his quest to find secrets while providing sympathy to Sam’s own troubles. Sam Rockwell gives what is definitely his finest performance to date as Sam Bell. With help from Robin Chalk as his double, Rockwell brings layers to his role as a man who could be a double or an original as the two Sams try to uncover what is going on. Rockwell even allows himself to be funny and also angry for what his characters are going through. It’s a true tour-de-force performance from the always talented and exciting Sam Rockwell.

Moon is a dazzling yet intriguing sci-fi drama from Duncan Jones featuring a magnificent performance from Sam Rockwell. Fans of smart sci-fi films will no doubt enjoy this film for not just its technical presentation but also in its story and character study. Fans of Sam Rockwell will no doubt see this as one of his finest film performances of career while it is also an amazing debut film for Duncan Jones. In the end, Moon is a great film that makes audience realize what a sci-fi film should be and more.

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© thevoid99 2011