Captain Marvel

Based on the Carol Danvers comic series by Roy Thomas and Gene Colan and the Captain Marvel comic series by Gene Colan and Stan Lee from Marvel Comics, Captain Marvel is the story of an alien warrior who has arrived on Earth to find some alien beings where she finds herself dealing with images that possibly relate to her past. Directed by Anna Boden and Ryan Fleck and screenplay by Boden, Fleck, Geneva Robertson-Dworet, and Jac Schaeffer from a screen story by Nicole Perlman, Joe Shrapnel, and Anna Waterhouse, the film is an origin story of sorts of how Carol Danvers became Captain Marvel as she tries to figure her identity and role in this intergalactic conflict as she is portrayed by Brie Larson. Also starring Ben Mendelsohn, Djimon Hounsou, Lee Pace, Gemma Chan, Lashana Lynch, McKenna Grace, Akira Akbar, Clark Gregg, Annette Bening, Jude Law, and Samuel L. Jackson as Nick Fury. Captain Marvel is an adventurous and exhilarating film from Anna Boden and Ryan Fleck.

It’s 1995 as a conflict between an elite group of alien warriors known as the Kree and an alien faction of shapeshifters known as Skrulls is heating up as a young Kree warrior named Vers is fighting the Skrulls where she lands somewhere in Los Angeles just as the Skrulls have also landed on Earth disguising themselves as humans. It’s a film that has this young woman who is dealing with images that could be lost memories as she finds herself on Los Angeles after a battle with Skrulls on their ship as it lead to all sorts of question. The film’s screenplay by Anna Boden, Ryan Fleck, Geneva Robertson-Dworet, and Jac Schaeffer, with additional contributions by Bek Smith, does play into many of the tropes and schematics expected in a superhero film that is a part origin story as well as a part fish-out-of-water scenario. Even as it has twists and turns as it relates to this conflict between two alien races as this young warrior in Vers is haunted by what could be memories of a previous life as she would later learn to be a former Air Force pilot named Carol Danvers.

The first act does have this strange narrative as it relates to Vers living in Kree’s home planet of Hala as she is mentored and train by Yon-Rogg (Jude Law) who tells her to keep her emotions in check as she is still dealing with her powers and is becoming unsure due to the images in her head. Once she lands on Earth at a Blockbuster video store, she would meet S.H.I.E.L.D. agent Nick Fury who had been through a lot and thought he had seen it all until he sees what Vers is about as well as getting his first encounters with Skrulls as the second act is about the two teaming up together to discover a project called Pegasus created by Dr. Wendy Lawson (Annette Bening) who looks similar to the projection of Kree’s ruler known as Supreme Intelligence. It is also where Vers learns about her true identity as well as the events into what happened to her as well as more revelations about this conflict between the Kree and Skrulls.

The direction of Boden and Fleck does play into what is expected in a superhero film that is partially set in space but it is grounded with some dramatic elements that play into Vers’ journey as well as discovering her true identity. Shot on various locations in Los Angeles, parts of Southern California and Louisiana, the film does play into a world that is quite vast that Vers is a part of from the planets she’s in such as Hala and a border planet that play into this war between the Krees and Skrulls though not much established into the root of their conflict at first. The direction does become straightforward once Vers arrives on Earth and has to find the Skrulls as well as Boden and Fleck use some wide shots to establish the locations as well as the vast world of the universe and its surroundings. Even in scenes where Vers is meeting the Supreme Intelligence as an image that one would believe to be the Supreme Intelligence to be as it’s in this surreal world that bends the idea of reality and fantasy.

Much of Boden and Fleck’s direction emphasizes more on simple shots through close-ups and medium shots that include scenes of Vers and Fury trying to find some clues as they’re later joined by a mysterious cat named Goose as they also try to fight off against the Skrulls while Vers is making contact with Yon-Rogg through some 1990s tech that is barely working. The stuff involving 1990s technology is definitely played for laughs in how slow they were back then as the humor also play into Fury’s first interaction with the Skrulls and him getting to understand a world that is bigger than just Earth. Still, Boden and Fleck do become concerned with Vers coming to terms with her identity as she would meet Danvers’ friend in a former pilot in Maria Rambeau (Lashana Lynch) who would tell Vers what happened as it would relate to something much bigger relating to the Kree/Skrulls conflict. It would force Vers to not only accept what happened to her but also realize what needs to be done to save the universe. Overall, Boden and Fleck craft a compelling yet exciting film about an alien warrior who learns about her true identity in an intergalactic conflict.

Cinematographer Ben Davis does excellent work with the film’s cinematography with the straightforward and sunny look of the daytime exteriors in California to the more naturalistic look of the scenes in Louisiana as well as some stylish lighting for some of the spaceship interiors. Editors Elliot Graham and Debbie Berman do terrific work with the editing as it has some stylistic usage of slow-motion shots and some quick-cuts to play into the action and some of the suspense and humor. Production designer Andy Nicholson, with set decorator Lauri Gaffin and supervising art director Andrew Max Cahn, does amazing work with the set design from the look of the spaceship interiors as well as the look of the archives section at a secret government facility and Rambeau’s home. Costume designer Sanja Milkovic Hays does fantastic work with the costumes from the look of the Kree uniforms as well as the more casual look of the people on Earth that play into the look of the 1990s.

Key special effects makeup artist Sabrina Wilson do brilliant work with the look of the Kree aliens as well as the look of the Skrulls as well as some minimal work in the younger versions of Nick Fury and his rookie partner Agent Phil Coulson (Clark Gregg). Special effects supervisor Daniel Sudick and visual effects supervisor Christopher Townsend do incredible work with the visual effects from the look of Fury and Coulson in their younger versions in the 1990s as well as the design of some of the planets including Hala and some of the powers that Vers is able to use. Sound designers David Acord and Kyrsten Mate, with sound editor Gwendolyn Yates Whittle, do superb work with the sound as it play into the sounds of some of the spaceships, jet engines, alien weapons, and other noises that play up the world that was the 1990s.

The film’s music by Pinar Toprak is wonderful for its soaring orchestral score that play into the sense of adventure and drama that occurs throughout the film while music supervisor Dave Jordan creates a killer music soundtrack that features a lot of the music of the 1990s from R.E.M., Nirvana, TLC, Salt-N-Pepa w/ En Vogue, Garbage, Hole, Elastica, No Doubt, Des’ree, and a couple of 80s songs from Heart and Lita Ford.

The casting by Sarah Finn is great as it feature some notable small roles from London Fuller and McKenna Grace in their respective roles as the 6-year old and 13-year old versions of Danvers, Algenis Perez Soto and Rune Temte as a couple of members of Yon-Rogg’s team in their respective roles as Att-Lass and Bron-Char, Azari Akbar as the five-year old Monica Rambeau, Vik Sahay and Chuku Modu as a couple of Skrulls, and Stan Lee in a cameo as himself reading a script for a film role as he is also given a fitting tribute in the film’s pre-opening logo sequence. The performances of Reggie, Archie, Rizzo, and Gonzo in their performance as the cat Goose is a total joy to watch as it’s a cat that just knows where to steal a scene as well as be powerful in its own way. Akira Akbar is terrific as Maria Rambeau’s daughter Monica who would help Vers find herself again as well as be the one to provide her with a look that would be her own.Clark Gregg is superb as a younger version of Agent Phil Coulson as a rookie S.H.I.E.L.D. agent trying to get his ropes in the job while doing things that would make him a key ally for Fury.

Gemma Chan is wonderful as a Kree sniper in Minn-Erva who has a dislike towards Vers whom she sees as a threat to her position with Yon-Rogg. Djimon Hounsou and Lee Pace are fantastic in their respective roles as Korath and Ronan the Accuser in their early versions as two Kree figures who art part of the conflict with Korath being Yon-Rogg’s second in command and Ronan as a high-ranking official hoping to destroy the Skrulls. Annette Bening is excellent in her dual role as the artificial intelligence leader of the Kree known as Supreme Intelligence as she is who Vers sees during their meetings while Bening also plays a scientist in Dr. Wendy Lawson who was conducting a major experiment known as Pegasus that is key to what happened to Danvers. Lashana Lynch is brilliant as Maria Rambeau as Danvers’ long-time friend and wing-woman who hadn’t seen Danvers in a long time as she tries to help her regain her identity but also get back in the game of flying. Ben Mendelsohn is amazing as the Skrull leader Talos who disguises himself as then-S.H.I.E.L.D. leader Keller where he plays a straight-laced official trying to defuse the situation with the Skrulls while he displays more humor and reason as Talos as someone who is complex but also has valid reasons for his issues with the Kree.

Jude Law is marvelous as Yon-Rogg as a Kree military leader who leads a band of mercenaries as he is also Vers’ mentor where he tries to get her to control her emotions while is also hiding some secrets about her. Samuel L. Jackson is remarkable as a younger version of Nick Fury who was then a S.H.I.E.L.D. agent that believes he’s seen it all and isn’t the cynic that audiences would know him for in other films as someone that is upbeat as well as having a soft spot for cats. Finally, there’s Brie Larson in an incredible performance as Carol Danvers/Vers/Captain Marvel as a Kree warrior who is troubled by images that could be past memories of a pilot named Carol Danvers as she struggles with her identity and her role in a conflict as it’s a performance full of charm, determination, and drive as it’s one of Larson’s finest performances to date.

Captain Marvel is a marvelous film from Anna Boden and Ryan Fleck that features a sensational performance from Brie Larson in the titular role. Along with its ensemble cast, sprawling visual effects, quirky humor, themes of war, and a killer music soundtrack. It’s a film that delivers in what is expected in a superhero film as well as provide some ideas of an intergalactic world set during the 1990s despite a few issues with the script. In the end, Captain Marvel is a remarkable film from Anna Boden and Ryan Fleck.

Anna Boden and Ryan Fleck Films: Half Nelson - Sugar (2008 film) - It’s Kind of a Funny Story – Mississippi Grind – The Auteurs #71: Anna Boden and Ryan Fleck

Marvel Cinematic Universe: Infinity Saga: Phase One: Iron Man - The Incredible Hulk - Iron Man 2 - Thor - Captain America: The First Avenger - The Avengers

Phase Two: Iron Man 3 - Thor: The Dark World - Captain America: The Winter Soldier - Guardians of the Galaxy - The Avengers: Age of Ultron - Ant-Man

Phase Three: Captain America: Civil War - Doctor Strange - Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 - Spider-Man: Homecoming - Thor: Ragnarok - Black Panther - Avengers: Infinity War - Ant-Man and the Wasp - Avengers: Endgame - Spider-Man: Far from Home

Multiverse Saga: Phase Four: Black Widow (2021 film) - Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings – Eternals – Spider-Man: No Way Home – Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness – Thor: Love and Thunder – Werewolf by Night - Black Panther: Wakanda Forever - The Guardians of the Galaxy Holiday Special

Phase Five: Ant-Man & the Wasp: Quantumania - Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 – The Marvels – (Deadpool & Wolverine) - (Captain America: Brave New World) - (Thunderbolts*)

Phase 6: The Fantastic Four: First Steps - (Avengers: Doomsday) - (Avengers: Secret Wars)

Related: MCU is Cinema: Pt. 1 - Pt. 2 - Pt. 3 – Pt. 4 – (Part 5) – (Part 6) – (Part 7) - The MCU: 10 Reasons Why It Rules the World

© thevoid99 2019

Guardians of the Galaxy

Based on the Marvel Comics by Dan Abnett and Andy Lanning, Guardians of the Galaxy is the story of a space warrior from Earth who teams up with a group of misfit aliens to stop an evil lord from destroying the galaxy. Directed by James Gunn and screenplay by Gunn and Nicole Perlman, the film is the story of a formation of a group of individuals who shouldn’t work together but manage to do whatever it takes to save the universe. Starring Chris Pratt, Zoe Saldana, Dave Bautista, Lee Pace, Karen Gillan, Michael Rooker, Benicio del Toro, John C. Reilly, Glenn Close, Djimon Hounsou, and the voices of Bradley Cooper and Vin Diesel. Guardians of the Galaxy is an adventurous and fun film from James Gunn.

Set in a galaxy just billions of miles away from Earth and its solar system, the film revolve around a group of misfits who are forced to come together to battle an evil lord who is eager to retrieve a mysterious object in the hopes he can rule the galaxy. While it is a plot that is very simple, it is more about these very odd individuals who are the last group of people that should be working with each other. One of which is a thief from Earth named Peter Quill (Chris Pratt) who had been abducted by alien bandits on the day his mother had died when he was a kid as he would steal this artifact for money. Yet, he would be pursued by an alien warrior named Gamora (Zoe Saldana), who is affiliated with the dark lord Ronan (Lee Pace), who also wants the artifact to betray Ronan. Adding into the mix is a genetically-engineered raccoon named Rocket (Bradley Cooper), a tree-like humanoid named Groot (Vin Diesel), and another alien warrior named Drax the Destroyer (Dave Bautista) who has a grudge towards Ronan for killing his wife and daughter.

The film’s screenplay by James Gunn and Nicole Perlman not only delve into who these characters are but also their motivations as Drax and Gamora both have issues with Ronan while Rocket is just looking for a big payday as he is hiding his own sense of pain as it relates to who he is. There is an element of loss that looms over the film as it relates to the walkman that Quill often carries that features a mixtape that his mother had made for him before her passing along with an unopened present. Groot is just an innocent character only says the words “I am Groot” yet proves to be a vital asset to other four in their conflict with Ronan. The film also establishes this galaxy the people live in as there’s human beings living with aliens in other planets while a peace treaty has been made which Ronan threatens to destroy. The artifact may serve as a MacGuffin but it does hold some key importance into the motivation of the characters into saving the galaxy from being destroyed by Ronan.

Gunn’s direction is quite lavish not just into the world that is created but also in how diverse the galaxy is. Even as it isn’t afraid to be silly and comical such as an opening sequence of Quill walking into a mysterious planet while listening and dancing to a song from his walkman. It sets the tone for exactly what Gunn wants to do which does deviate from the conventions of most comic-book based superhero films. Especially as Gunn balances a lot of humor with some adventure and character-driven moments to play into the development of this band of misfits coming together. Presented with some unique wide and medium shots, Gunn does establish the sense of a group having to work together as he includes some moments that are funny. Most notably a conversation scene involving Rocket, Quill, and Gamora about a plan to escape a prison is shot in the foreground while Groot is in the background doing something with Drax watching him. It’s among these moments in the film where the humor and adventure not only manage to mix well but also play into the personality of these characters.

The action is quite intense where Gunn knows how to set up many sequences that include some dogfights involving little spaceships and moments of suspense as it plays into the discovery of this artifact that involves a mysterious man known as the Collector (Benicio del Toro). It would add into the stakes of what these characters should do as they’re facing Ronan and his army where its climax is quite vast. Notably as it manages to mix in elements of humor, suspense, action, drama, and adventure all into one. It is clear that Gunn is trying to give his audiences what they want but also have them wanting more and have a good time with it. Overall, Gunn creates a thrilling and exciting film about a group of misfits trying to save the galaxy from an evil lord.

Cinematographer Ben Davis does excellent work with the film‘s cinematography with its sunny and vibrant look of the Xandar planet where things are peaceful to lighting schemes for some of the scenes such as the prison and the darker planets where the villains rule. Editors Fred Raskin, Craig Wood, and Hughes Winborne do amazing work with the editing in creating unique rhythms for the humor and actions scenes while not delving into conventional fast-cutting styles. Production designer Charles Wood, with supervising art director Ray Chan, set decorator Richard Roberts, and 3D set decorator Chris “Flimsy” Howes, does brilliant work with the design of Quill‘s spaceship as well as the home of the Collector and Ronan‘s home ship to play into the personality of these characters.

Costume designer Alexandra Byrne does terrific work with the clothes from the look of Ronan and the Collector as well as the clothes of the main characters to play into their personalities. Makeup designer David White and hair designer Elizabeth Yianni-Georgiou do fantastic work with the look and design of the characters including the aliens in their skin color as well as the look of Gamora, Drax the Destroyer, and several others. Visual effects supervisors Stephane Ceretti, Nicolas Aithadi, Jonathan Fawkner, and Paul Corbould do incredible work with the visual effects from the design of Groot and Rocket as well as some of the spaceships and the look of the galaxy itself with its different planets.

Sound designer David Acord, along with sound editors Christopher Boyes and Matthew Wood, does superb work with the sound from the sound effects that are created as well as the sense of atmosphere that occurs in some of the action scenes. The film’s music by Tyler Bates is wonderful for its bombastic orchestral score with some chilling themes to play into the drama while music supervisor Dave Jordan creates an absolutely fun soundtrack that features a lot of music from the 60s and 70s with acts like Blue Swede, Marvin Gaye and Tammi Terrell, the Raspberries, Norman Greenbaum, David Bowie, the Runaways, Rupert Holmes, Redbone, Elvin Bishop, 10cc, The Jackson 5, and Five Stairsteps that is part of the mixtape Quill’s mother made for him.

The casting by Sarah Finn and Reg Poerscout-Edgerton is phenomenal as it features small appearances from Gregg Henry as Quill’s grandfather, Sean Gunn as a first-mate of the bandit Yondu, Laura Haddock as Quill’s mother, Wyatt Oleff as the young Quill, Christopher Fairbank as an alien black markets dealer, Peter Serafinowicz as a Nova Corps officer who dislikes Quill, Melia Kreiling as an alien fling of Quill early in the film, Alexis Denisof as vizier for the dark lord known as Thanos, Ophelia Lovebond as a slave of the Collector, and Stan Lee in a cameo appearance as a ladies’ man. Other noteworthy small roles include Glenn Close as a Nova Corps leader who is trying to keep peace in the planet of Xandar, John C. Reilly as a Nova Corps officer who often arrests Quill, and Josh Brolin in a cameo appearance as the evil dark lord known as Thanos who is the adoptive father of Gamora and Nebula.

Benicio del Toro is fantastic as an eccentric man known as the Collector who likes to collect all sorts of things as is eager to have the object that Quill and the gang has. Djimon Hounsou is terrific as an ally of Ronan in Korath as a hunter who is eager to help Ronan in bringing terror. Karen Gillan is excellent as the cyborg hunter Nebula who despises Gamora as she is loyal to Ronan in the hope that she can destroy the world. Michael Rooker is superb as the bandit Yondu who is Quill’s adoptive father who has issues with Quill as he also hopes to retrieve the artifact for Thanos. Lee Pace is amazing as Ronan the Accuser as a dark lord hell-bent on destroy Xandar and the galaxy in the hope that he can rule all. Vin Diesel is brilliant as Groot as this tree-like humanoid who only says a few words but possesses an innocence that is so endearing as Diesel also brings that sensitivity into the physical performance which was done by motion-capture.

Bradley Cooper is hilarious as Rocket as this genetically-engineered raccoon with a feisty attitude and a warped sense of humor as he is more concerned with getting paid. Dave Bautista is marvelous as Drax the Destroyer as this big alien who seeks vengeance for the death of his wife and daughter as he copes with his grief and is eager to do whatever it takes to get Ronan. Zoe Saldana is sensational as Gamora as an alien assassin who is trying to retrieve the mysterious artifact in the hope that it stays away from Ronan while dealing with Quill’s persona and being affiliated with Ronan. Finally, there’s Chris Pratt in a remarkable performance as Peter Quill/Star Lord as this thief who is very off-the-wall and funny while proving to be a cunning warrior that can rally everyone and kick ass.

Guardians of the Galaxy is a spectacular film from James Gunn. Armed with a great cast, a fun soundtrack, thrilling visual effects, and an engaging story about a group of misfits teaming up to save the galaxy. It’s a film that manages to bring in a lot of joy and wit as well as characters to root for while going along for the ride. In the end, Guardians of the Galaxy is a tremendous film from James Gunn.

James Gunn Films: (Slither (2006 film)) - (Super (2010 film)) - The Suicide Squad (2021 film) - Superman (2025 film) - (The Auteurs #76: James Gunn)

Marvel Cinematic Universe: Infinity Saga: Phase One Films: Iron Man - The Incredible Hulk - Iron Man 2 - Thor - Captain America: The First Avenger - The Avengers (2012 film)

Marvel Phase Two Films: Iron Man 3 - Thor: The Dark World - Captain America: The Winter Soldier - The Avengers: Age of Ultron - Ant-Man

Marvel Phase Three Films: Captain America: Civil War - Doctor Strange - Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 - Spider-Man: Homecoming - Thor: Ragnarok - Black Panther - Avengers: Infinity War - Ant-Man & the Wasp - Captain Marvel - Avengers: Endgame - Captain Marvel - Spider-Man: Far from Home

Multiverse Saga: Phase Four: Black Widow (2021 film) - Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings – Eternals – Spider-Man: No Way Home – Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness – Thor: Love and Thunder – Werewolf by Night - Black Panther: Wakanda Forever - The Guardians of the Galaxy Holiday Special

Phase Five: Ant-Man & the Wasp: Quantumania - Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 – The Marvels – (Deadpool & Wolverine) - (Captain America: Brave New World) - (Thunderbolts*)

Phase 6: The Fantastic Four: First Steps - (Avengers: Doomsday) - (Avengers: Secret Wars)

Related: MCU is Cinema: Pt. 1 - Pt. 2 - Pt. 3 – Pt. 4 – (Part 5) – (Part 6) – (Part 7) - The MCU: 10 Reasons Why It Rules the World

© thevoid99 2015

A Single Man

Based on the novel by Christopher Isherwood, A Single Man is the story about a gay British professor who loses his lover in an accident as he decides to kill himself. Directed by Tom Ford and adapted by Ford and David Scearce, the film is an exploration of a man in mourning while pondering about his own existence in early 1960s Southern California. Starring Colin Firth, Matthew Goode, Nicholas Hoult, Ginnifer Goodwin, and Julianne Moore. A Single Man is a gorgeous yet compelling drama from Tom Ford.

Following the death of his lover Jim (Matthew Goode) several months earlier, British professor George Falconer (Colin Firth) has remain haunted by Jim’s death as he reflects on memories of his life with Jim and the day he got the call about Jim’s death. With only his longtime friend Charlotte (Julianne Moore) around nearby, George’s grief continues to surround him as he decides to kill himself later in the day. Working at a university in nearby Los Angeles, George spends the day teaching as he manages to catch the interest of his young student Kenny (Nicholas Hoult). Later in the day, George goes to the bank where he runs into his neighbor Mrs. Strunk (Ginnifer Goodwin) and her daughter Jennifer (Ryan Simpkin) while stopping at a liquor store to buy alcohol where he chats with a Spanish male hooker named Carlos (Jon Kortajarena).

Still despondent over Jim, George had also bought bullets for a pistol in his intent to kill himself. He then chooses to eat dinner with Charlotte as the two talk about their old life in Britain as Charlotte admits to feeling envious towards George and his relationship with Jim. Particularly as Charlotte couldn’t do enough to save her own marriage as George’s memories of Jim about how they first met has him going back to the bar where they met. He runs into Kenny at the bar where the two chat while George ponders about his possible final moments of his life.

What happens when someone loses the love of their life and is unable to find something else afterwards? For a man like George Falconer, he couldn’t deal with a life without his lover Jim as the film is an exploration of a man trying to come to terms with his lover’s death as he seeks to end his own life in the span of an entire day. Throughout the film, George is reflecting on memories of his life with Jim from how they met to the moment he got a call about Jim’s death while meeting various people he knows in his life or those he barely know that are very interesting to him.

The script that Tom Ford and David Scearce create is a character study of a man in what could be the last day of his life as the film both opens and ends with voice-over narration on George reflecting on what he might do. The script also allows to go very depth in not just George’s relationship with Jim but also Charlotte whom he’s known a lot longer since they’re both British who are very close friends and were lovers for a brief time. Charlotte is a woman who is just as lonely as she has been divorced and her own child has already left leaving with not really much to do at all as she hopes to have George around so neither of them wouldn’t be lonely. Still, it’s not enough for George as he finds himself catching the attention of a young student who just wants to offer some form of companionship as the two talk about age and experience which prompts George to think that there could be life after Jim.

Tom Ford’s direction is truly entrancing in the way he presents the film with lots of style to complement the mood of George Falconer. Ford, who is known as a fashion designer, definitely goes for a film that is like a fashion presentation but with a deeper context due to its narrative. Part of Ford’s unique presentation is the way the film looks with this heightened yet de-colored photography that exemplify Falconer’s detached mood. Yet, it would go into full color for emotional reasons to express his yearning to possibly reconnect or see something that he likes. Ford also has this engaging eye for the way objects are presented as if there is something very meticulous to the way an object like pencil sharpener might look or how an object is placed on a desk. It’s all part of who George Falconer is as Ford creates what is truly a mesmerizing and hypnotic film.

Cinematographer Eduard Grau does a brilliant job with the film‘s cinematography from a gorgeous black-and-white flashback scene to the way the film looks throughout the film from its de-saturated yet heightened feel to a much broader look where the coloring intensifies to complement George‘s mood. Editor Joan Sobel does a terrific job with the editing to play up the intensity of the drama while utilizing jump-cuts to play with some of the rhythm in George’s flashbacks as well as straight cuts to help move the transitions in a very leisured, methodical approach.

Production designer Dan Bishop, along with set decorator Amy Wells and art director Ian Phillips, does a spectacular job with the set pieces created such as George‘s home and the objects created to exemplify the world of early 1960s America. Costume designer Ariane Phillips does a superb job with the costumes from the suits that George wears to the very stylish dress that Charlotte wears during the dinner. Sound designer Leslie Shatz and sound editor Robert Jackson do an amazing job with the sound work to complement some of the distorted feelings that George is going through in what he’s hearing to the sparse intimacy in some of the locations that he is present in.

The film’s score by Abel Korzeniowski is great for its low-key yet somber piano to play up the melancholia that surrounds the film. Additional music by Shigeru Umebayashi features heavier orchestral pieces that soars throughout the film as it plays up the more melodramatic elements of the film. Music supervisor Julia Michels does an excellent job with selecting some of the music that is played in the film like Etta James, Bernard Herrmann, Jo Stafford, and Booker T. & the M.G.s to play up the world of the 1960s.

The casting by Joseph Middleton is outstanding for the ensemble that is created as it includes Elisabeth Harnois as a young woman with a dog that George meets, Lee Pace as a fellow professor, Keri Lynn Pratt as a young secretary George notices, Aline Weber as a friend of Kenny’s, Erin Daniels as a bank teller, Jon Kortajarena as the male Spanish prostitute Carlos that George chats with, and Jon Hamm in an un-credited voice cameo as a man on the phone who tells George the horrible news. Other notable small roles include Ginnifer Goodwin as George’s kindly neighbor Mrs. Strunk along with Ryan Simpkin as her daughter and Paul Butler as her toy-gun playing son.

Nicholas Hoult is excellent as the very handsome Kenny who wants to get to know George while wondering why he’s been reluctant to be around people lately. Matthew Goode is wonderful as Jim, a charming yet delightful man who would be George’s lover as Goode makes a fantastic impression in the flashback scenes. Julianne Moore is great as Charlotte, a lonely yet lavish woman as Moore brings a wonderful sense of charm and an over-the-top persona to a woman desperate to not be alone as it’s a radiant role for Moore. Finally, there’s Colin Firth in a magnificent yet haunting performance as George Falconer. Firth’s performance is entrancing for the way he deals with death and his determination to end it while going through all of the turmoil and anguish of what he’s dealing with. It is truly a performance for the ages from Colin Firth.

A Single Man is an extraordinary yet rapturous film from Tom Ford that features a heartbreaking performance from Colin Firth. The film is definitely a wonderful directorial debut for Ford that truly exemplifies his idea of style that is all over the place but very engaging in its presentation. Particularly as it presents itself like a period piece that exudes itself with exquisite beauty that is rarely seen in a lot of films in recent years. In the end, A Single Man is a stunning yet beautiful film from Tom Ford.

Nocturnal Animals

© thevoid99 2011

The Fall (2006 film)

Directed by Tarsem Singh and written by Singh, Dan Gilroy, and Nico Soultanakis, The Fall is the story of a young girl in the 1920s who meets an injured stuntman in a hospital as he tells her a story filled with adventure and fantasy. Based on a 1981 screenplay called Yo Ho Ho by Valeri Petrov, the film is a mix whimsical fantasy mixed in with real-life situations as it plays up Singh’s unique visual style. Starring Lee Pace, Catinca Untaru, Justine Waddell, and Leo Bill. The Fall is sprawling yet mesmerizing film from Tarsem Singh.

It’s 1920s Los Angeles as a young girl named Alexandria (Catinca Untaru) is currently recovering from a broken arm as she likes to play around the hospital. When trying to give Nurse Evelyn (Justine Waddell) a note, the note flies away and lands into the lap of an injured stuntman named Roy (Lee Pace). Roy meets Alexandria as he briefly tells the story of Alexander the Great in reference to her name. Alexandria would visit Roy again as he tells a much grander story about six different men all vowing vengeance against an evil tyrant named Odious (Daniel Caltagirone). The six different men would go on an adventure as they each carry special skills to defeat Odious’ men as they also capture his bride (Justine Waddell) as one of the men (Lee Pace) falls for the woman.

While Alexandria continues to be amazed by Roy’s story, he only continues to tell if Alexandria would get him pills as he learns about his health which only puts him in despair. When trying to retrieve more pills for Roy, Alexandria tries to help only for something bad to happen. Roy reveals why he needs the pill as he tries to finish the story for Alexandria as she helps him try to end it.

The film is a mixture of fantasy and reality as it is about a stuntman telling a young girl a story of adventure that spans through various locations around the world. Yet, the simple story of a man telling a story to a young Romanian girl, whose mother and daughter lives in the Californian orange groves, in hopes she can give him things to deal with his own personal issues. Throughout the film, characters that are seen in the 1920s period would be seen as characters in this fantasy story as it would add to the real-life feelings for both the girl and stuntman. The script has a nice way to balance the fantasy and 1920s sequence though by the third act, things get messy and a bit melodramatic despite a very good ending.

Tarsem Singh’s direction is truly a marvel to watch in the way he presents the film in its two different storylines. While the film starts off in a black-and-white sequence in the making of a stunt, the 1920s period has a lush yet more intimate look that is very lively in its approach to telling the story. For the fantasy story, Singh’s direction is truly hypnotic as he presents the film on a wide canvas that rivals the work of such filmmakers as Terrence Malick and Godfrey Reggio. There is a whimsical charm to that storyline while it’s all about the adventure that features large scene with wide depth of field shots and battle sequences. While Singh creates an amazing visual presentation that is gorgeous to look at. It does feel a bit flat due to its messy third act where things become a bit confusing and a bit sentimental. Singh does give the film a fitting payoff that gives both storylines a chance to have some sort of resolution while he creates a worthwhile yet visually-spellbinding film.

Cinematographer Colin Watkinson does an amazing job with the film‘s photography from the broad yet naturalistic look to many of the film‘s fantasy scenes to the more intimate yet lush look for the 1920s period and the opening black-and-white sequence. Editors Robert Duffy and Spot Welders do a very good job as they take a pretty straightforward approach to the pacing while seamlessly moving back and forth to the sequences while using stylized cuts for some of the film’s action sequences.

Production designer Ged Clarke, with set decorators Riccardo Pugliese and Cynthia Sleiter, does a brilliant job with the set pieces created for the fantasy scenes as well as creating a dream-like yet nostalgic look for the 1920s scenes. Costume designer Eiko Ishioka does a superb job with the stylish costumes for both the 1920s scenes and the fantasy sequences, the latter of which featured more lavish styles of clothing. Visual effects supervisors Alain Carsoux and Tom Sparks do some nice work with the visual effects that is used for some of the action sequences in the fantasy scenes.

Sound designers Vincent Guillon and Gerard Hardy do an excellent job with the sound work to exemplify the wondrous locations the characters are in in the fantasy sequences to the intimate yet raucous 1920s scenes that includes layers of voice-over narration. Krishna Levy’s score is wonderful for its low-key yet plaintive score filled with light-hearted string arrangements and harps along with the use of Beethoven’s 7th Symphony for some of the dramatic moments of the film.

The casting by Daniel Hubbard and Christa Schamberger is outstanding as it features a great ensemble cast that includes small appearances from Julian Breach as an elderly patient who befriends Alexandria as well as a mystic as well as Kim Uylenbroek as the doctor and Alexander the Great. Other notable characters who play dual roles include Leo Bill as an orderly and, in the fantasy sequence, Charles Darwin along with Jeetu Verma as a heartbroken warrior, Marcus Wesley as the ice delivery man/African warrior, Robin Smith as Roy’s friend/dynamite explosives guy, and Daniel Caltagirone as the villainous Odious and Roy’s actor rival Sinclair. Justine Waddell is very good in a trio of roles as Roy’s old girlfriend, the kindly nurse, and the woman that the bandit falls for.

Catinca Untaru is excellent as Alexandria, a lively child who is into fantasy while being the resourceful girl for the lonely yet depressed Roy. Lee Pace is great as Roy/the mysterious bandit as he brings a reserved though eerie performance as the melancholic Roy. For the masked bandit, Pace brings a whimsical though mysterious performance as a man seeking vengeance for the loss of his brother as well as to help the other bandits stop the man who had put them through hell.

The Fall is an ambitious yet charming film from Tarsem Singh that features a lot of great ideas and a pretty engaging story. While it’s definitely the kind of film that features a lot of broad ideas that isn’t seen much in a lot films. It is a movie that truly exemplify who Singh is in terms of a visual artist. While the screenplay does lack some strength in its third act, it does have something to keep the audience interest despite its shortcomings. In the end, The Fall is a spectacular film from Tarsem Singh.

Tarsem Singh Films: (The Cell) - (Immortals) - (Untitled Snow White Project)

© thevoid99 2011