The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring

 

***The Following is a Review of the 208-minute Extended Version of the Film***

Based on the novel series by J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring is the first in a trilogy of stories of different creatures who go on a journey to destroy the one ring created by the dark figure in Sauron by going to Mordor and destroying it. Directed by Peter Jackson and screenplay by Jackson, Fran Walsh, and Philippa Boyens, the first story explore how the ring is rediscovered where nine individuals travel through Middle Earth on a quest to destroy Sauron’s ring. Starring Elijah Wood, Viggo Mortensen, Ian McKellan, Sean Astin, Orlando Bloom, John Rhys-Davies, Dominic Monaghan, Billy Boyd, Sean Bean, Hugo Weaving, Cate Blanchett, Liv Tyler, Ian Holm, Andy Serkis, and Christopher Lee as Saruman. The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring is a grand and majestic film by Peter Jackson.

Set in a fictional ancient world known as Middle Earth, the film revolves around a young hobbit who inherits a ring from his uncle where a wizard realizes it is the ring created by the dark demon known as Sauron. There, the wizard, a hobbit along with three other hobbits, a dwarf, an elf, and two men go on a journey to Sauron’s homeland of Mordor to bring the ring to its land and destroy it. It is a story that is part of an immense epic that follows different creatures who venture on a quest to vanquish evil finally just as Sauron is set to return and destroy everything that is good. The first story is about a hobbit who is given this ring as he would accidentally wear the ring as he realizes its power and why so many want it. Yet, there are those who would become part of the fellowship who have their own reasons for not wanting to carry this ring as well as his own reasons for why he has abandoned his role in becoming king for one of the last free countries of Middle Earth.

The film’s screenplay by Peter Jackson, Fran Walsh, and Philippa Boyens opens with a prologue about life in Middle Earth where rings of power were given to the races of men, elves, and dwarves only to realize that the dark lord Sauron (Sala Baker) has created one ring to rule over everyone in Middle Earth. It would lead into a war where men and elves formed an alliance to fight Sauron and his forces where a prince in Isildur (Harry Sinclair) severs Sauron’s hand but chooses to keep Sauron’s ring until it would be lost following an ambush years after the battle. Then it would be in the hands of a creature known as Gollum (Andy Serkis) who would keep it for centuries until it abandoned him where it would be in the hands of a hobbit in Bilbo Baggins (Ian Holm). The prologue sets up the stakes as well as what Bilbo’s nephew Frodo (Elijah Wood) must destroy by going to Mordor and its volcano in Mount Doom where the ring was created. The first act is set 60 years after the events in which Bilbo found the ring as there is a birthday celebration for him where the wizard Gandalf the Grey (Ian McKellan) visits him. The celebration would be notable for Bilbo disappearing where Gandalf discovered that Bilbo has a ring that Bilbo found many years ago where Bilbo reluctantly gives the ring to Frodo. Gandalf would then discover that the ring is the one ring created by Sauron after Frodo reads the inscriptions after it was on fire.

Part of the first act has Frodo being accompanied by his best friend Samwise Gamgee (Sean Astin) and later joined by hobbits Merry (Dominic Monaghan) and Pippin (Billy Boyd) as they to evade Sauron’s rangers in the Nazgul. After meeting a ranger named Strider (Viggo Mortensen) who takes them to Rivendell where the fellowship is formed that would include Gandalf, the elf Legolas (Orlando Bloom), the dwarf Gimli (John Rhys-Davies), and Boromir (Sean Bean) of Gondor to go to Mordor and destroy the ring. The fellowship would be challenged by many forces including a new army of orcs in the Uruk-hai created by the wizard Saruman who had turned on Gandalf and aligned himself with Sauron. Even as Frodo becomes tempted by the power of the ring as is Boromir who wants the ring for his home of Gondor that is threatened by Mordor. Yet, the fellowship would go through obstacles with Strider revealed to be Aragorn who is a descendant of Isildur and the rightful heir to Gondor’s throne.

Jackson’s direction is grand as it is shot on location in New Zealand along with some scenes shot in studios in New Zealand. Jackson goes for a varying degree of styles in the direction through some wide and medium shots for a scope of the locations. Notably in scenes involving the mountains, rivers, and valleys as they function as characters into the film where it plays into the richness of Middle Earth with the Shire as this peaceful and isolated world of hobbits that very few outsiders visit. It is a direct contrast to other parts of Middle Earth such as the world of the elves in the forest where the elf-queen Galadriel (Cate Blanchett) lives in a Mordor where orcs and other dark creatures settle in as they get ready for war. The usage of aerial shots of the locations along with some intimate moments where Gandalf interacts with hobbits are unique as the usage of trick photography and visual effects do add a sense of wonderment into the film. Jackson also puts in some humor as it relates to the adventure that balances the suspense and drama throughout the film.

Jackson’s approach to some of the intimate moments such as a sequence where the fellowship of the ring are in the Mines of Moria as Frodo copes with being the one to carry the ring as the dialogue plays into Tolkien’s words about the choices everyone must make. Even choices that are the most difficult to endure as it would lead to some intense fight and action scenes. The usage of wide and crane shots are immense in its scale that includes the fellowship running from a demonic monster in Balrog. The third act in which the fellowship go to the elvish land of Lothlorien as they deal with their own struggles and encounters with the orcs. In the extended version of the film, in its 208-minute running time that expands 30 additional minutes from the theatrical release, where characters are fleshed out more such as Boromir who struggles with wanting to fulfill the wishes of his father as well as the need for something better where he sees Aragorn as the leader Gondor needs. Overall, Jackson crafts an astonishing and riveting film about a group of different creatures going on a quest to destroy a ring of evil to its land of darkness.

Cinematographer Andrew Lesnie does incredible work with the film’s cinematography with its unique color grading and look for some of the exterior scenes at the Shire and Lothlorien as well as some of the usage of light for the scenes in the mines and caves as well as the usage of blue light for scenes set at night. Editor John Gilbert does excellent work with the editing in the usage of slow-motion cuts as well as fast-cuts for some of the action along with moments in the drama and suspense where shots are allowed to last more than a minute. Production designer Grant Major, with set decorator/supervising art director Dan Hennah and set decorator/conceptual designer Alan Lee, does amazing work with the look of the sets, with additional help from co-conceptual designer John Howe, in how the homes at the Shire are presented as well as the world of the elves and Mordor including Saurman’s tower at Isengard. Costume designers Ngila Dickson and Richard Taylor do brilliant work with the costumes in the clothes the elves wear as well as the armor that Aragorn, Boromir, and Gimli wear, and the look of the armor that the orcs wear.

Hair and makeup designers Peter Swords King and Peter Owen do fantastic work with the look of the characters, with additional help from John Howe and Alan Lee, as well as the design and look of the orcs including the Uruk-hai. Visual effects supervisor Jim Rygiel does great work with the visual effects in the mixture of practical effects in the look of the orcs as well as the look of the demonic figure Balrog and the motion-capture look of Gollum. Sound designers David Farmer, Michael Semanick, and Ethan Van der Ryn, along with sound editor Michael Hopkins, do superb work in the sound as the way swords and flying arrows sound as well as the way monsters sound as it is a highlight of the film. The film’s music by Howard Shore is phenomenal for its orchestral score that is filled with unique themes through woodwinds as well as bombastic orchestral themes for some of the action and suspense as it is an absolute highlight of the film.

The casting by Victoria Burrows, Amy Hubbard, John Hubbard, Liz Mullane, and Ann Robinson is marvelous as it feature some notable small roles from Sarah McLeod as a hobbit barmaid in Rosie Cotton whom Sam has a crush on, Bret McKenzie as an elf escort in Figwit, Marton Csokas as an elvish elder in Celebron, Craig Parker as an elvish military leader in Haldir, Sala Baker as the dark lord Sauron, Alan Howard as the voice of the ring and Sauron, Bret McIntyre as the head Nazgul leader in the Witch King of Angmar, Harry Sinclair as Isildur, Lawrence Makoare as the Uruk-hai leader Lurtz, and Andy Serkis in a brief appearance as the creature Gollum and the voice of the Witch King of Angmar. Ian Holm is terrific as Frodo’s uncle Bilbo Baggins who had possession of the ring as he dealt with wanting a chance to leave the Shire for an adventure and complete his book while expressing regret about what Frodo must endure in destroying the ring. Liv Tyler is fantastic as Elrond’s daughter Arwen, who is Aragorn’s lover, as she would help Frodo go to Rivendell following his encounter with the Nazgul as she also gives Aragorn a gift for the journey he will take.

Hugo Weaving and Cate Blanchett are excellent in their respective roles as the elvish leaders Elrond and Galadriel as the former is an elf leader who saw what Isildur did in keeping the ring while he laments over Aragorn and Arwen’s relationship. Blanchett’s performance as Galadriel is graceful as a woman who admits to be tempted by the ring during her conversation with Frodo as she is aware of its powers and would give Frodo a gift for the journey. Christopher Lee is brilliant as the wizard Saruman who has turned evil and aligned himself with Sauron where he would create a new race of orcs that are more powerful than the orcs at Mordor. Dominic Monaghan and Billy Boyd are amazing in their respective roles as Merry and Pippin as two mischievous hobbits who join Frodo and Sam in the quest as they deal with the danger of the quest while learning how to fight with swords. John Rhys-Davies and Orlando Bloom are incredible in their respective roles as the dwarf Gimli and the elf Legolas as two mismatched members of the fellowship with Rhys-Davies providing a lot of wit as a dwarf who is strong and cunning while Bloom brings a level of finesse and expert marksmanship as an elf who is the straight man of the two.

Sean Bean is marvelous as Boromir as the son of Gondor’s steward who joins the fellowship where he is tempted by the ring where he struggles to do what is right while becoming protective of Merry and Pippin whom he would befriend as well as Aragorn whom he hopes would take on the role as King of Gondor. Sean Astin is remarkable as Samwise Gamgee, who is Frodo’s best friend and the film’s conscience, where Gandalf asks him not to leave Frodo where he helps Frodo on the journey while providing some witty comments during the film. Ian McKellan is great as the wizard Gandalf the Grey who learns about the ring Bilbo had been carrying for years as he also joins the fellowship as a magical figure who can deal with Saruman from afar. Viggo Mortensen is phenomenal as Strider/Aragorn as a ranger, who is also Isildur’s heir, who helps the hobbits in dealing with the Nazgul as he would join the fellowship where he also deals with the temptation of the ring that plays into his own reluctance to be King of Gondor. Finally, there’s Elijah Wood in a sensational performance as Frodo Baggins as a hobbit who is given the ring where he would accidentally wear the ring as he struggles with its powers and the task he must play.

The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring is a spectacular film by Peter Jackson. Featuring a great ensemble cast, rich visuals, a gripping story of temptation and the need to bring good into the world, Howard Shore’s majestic music score, and top-notch technical work. It is a film that is not just this exhilarating fantasy-adventure film but also a film that explores different people going on a quest to vanquish evil and bring good to the world. In the end, The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring is a tremendous film by Peter Jackson.

Peter Jackson Films: (Bad Taste) – (Meet the Feebles) – (Braindead) – (Heavenly Creatures) – (Forgotten Silver) – (The Frighteners) – The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers – The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King – (King Kong (2005 film)) – (The Lovely Bones) – (The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey) – (The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug) – (The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies) – (They Shall Grow Old Together) – The Beatles: Get Back

© thevoid99 2026

Ad Astra

Directed by James Gray and written by Gray and Ethan Gross, Ad Astra is the story of an astronaut who travels to space to find his long-lost father who is believed to be found but conducting dangerous experiments that would threaten the universe. The film is a space adventure drama that follows a man whose devotion to his work forces him to deal with his father’s absence as he embarks on a journey to find his father and figure what he’s doing. Starring Brad Pitt, Tommy Lee Jones, Ruth Negga, Liv Tyler, and Donald Sutherland. Ad Astra is an astonishing yet riveting film from James Gray.

A series of power surges is threatening the universe as an astronaut is tasked to travel to space all the way to Neptune where the surge is coming from as it is believed that the astronaut’s father is conducting strange experiments on a space station near Neptune. That is the film’s premise as it more plays into this father-son relationship where the son is dealing with trying to live under the shadow of his father’s legacy despite being his own man yet bears some issues as it relates to his father abandoning him and his mother many years ago. The film’s screenplay by James Gray and Ethan Gross is told mainly through astronaut in Major Roy McBride (Brad Pitt) who is a man devoted to his work yet it would cost him his marriage to Eve (Liv Tyler). During a routine repair job at a large space antenna, a power surge emerges and does damage to the antenna with McBride being able to survive as he’s asked by military personnel to go to Neptune where it is believed his father Dr. H. Clifford McBride (Tommy Lee Jones) is alive having been presumed lost during a mission known as the Lima project.

The Lima project that was led by Dr. McBride was meant to see if there’s any form of intelligence life outside of the solar system but something happened and Dr. McBride and his crew hadn’t been heard since until these power surges have emerged prompting Roy to take the mission. Much of the first act involves Roy learning about his father while taking on numerous psychological evaluations to see if he’s capable of carrying on this classified mission where he’s joined by his father’s old friend in Colonel Pruitt (Donald Sutherland) to the moon where they would get a ride to Mars yet they would encounter some trouble involving space pirates with Roy going on the trip via another crew as things become more troubling due to the surge. Arriving on Mars where he meets facility director Helen Lantos (Ruth Negga) who reveals that she met Dr. McBride as a child as her parents were part of his crew and they never returned as well. Yet, Roy becomes more troubled by more psychological evaluations by people on Mars prompting him to sneak on board a rocket to confront his father by himself.

Gray’s direction is definitely ambitious not just in scope and scale but also in its themes of existence and of the universe itself. Set in the near future and shot on location in Santa Clarita, California and on studio soundstages, Gray maintains some intimacy for scenes on Earth that include flashbacks of McBride’s life with Eve but also the disconnect they have as it relates to McBride’s devotion to his work. Through the usage of close-ups and medium shots, Gray does play into the emotional disconnect that McBride carries yet the mission he has to embark on forces him to become emotional where it would take a psychological toll on him eventually once he goes into space. The scenes set in outer space are quite vast with the usage of wide shots that captures the scale of McBride’s journey towards Mars and then Neptune. Notably as the world that Gray creates from the colony on the moon that looks a bit like a mall in its interiors while the underground facility on Mars is far more mysterious including the scene of McBride trying to sneak onto the rocket to Neptune.

Gray’s direction also has this air of mystery during its second act as it relates to the psychological interviews that McBride is doing as well as his attempts to contact his father. It’s a moment in the film that showcases McBride’s own revelations into his mission and what some are not telling him as there are only a few he can really trust. The film’s third act has Gray delve more into elements of surrealism but also isolation into the journey as McBride is forced to deal with himself as the film does bear a lot of visual and thematic elements that relate to other films yet Gray goes for something more emotional. The meeting between McBride and his father is emotional as it does play into their own disconnect with other people but also the fallacies of their own exploration although Dr. McBride does manage to find things that would be important to the universe. In the end, Gray crafts an intoxicating yet haunting film about an astronaut traveling through space to find his long-lost father.

Cinematographer Hoyte van Hoytema does incredible work with the film’s cinematographer as it is a massive highlight of the film with its usage of low-key filters for some of the interiors and colorful lighting including some scenes on Mars and in some of the spaceships as well as emphasizing on a natural look for some of the exteriors and interiors on Earth as the photography also include additional work from Caleb Deschanel. Editors John Axelrad and Lee Haugen do brilliant work with the editing as it help play into some of the dramatic suspense while being straightforward in some parts while creating some stylish montages in scenes that play into the flashbacks and what McBride is dealing with in his journey. Production designer Kevin Thompson, with set decorator Karen O’Hara and supervising art director Christa Munro, does amazing work with the look of some of the spaceship interiors as well as some of the exteriors of the places and facilities on the moon and on Mars. Costume designer Albert Wolsky does terrific work with the costumes from the military uniforms some of the characters wear on Earth to the spacesuits that astronauts wear.

Hair/makeup designer Nana Fischer does nice work with the look of Dr. McBride when he’s unveiled for the film’s climax along with the beard that McBride grows during his journey. Visual effects supervisor Allen Maris does fantastic work with the visual effects as it play into elements of realism but also in the way some of the scenes in space are presented along with some chilling scenes inside a space station involving baboons. Sound designers Douglas Murray and Gary Rydstrom do superb work with the sound as it play into the sounds of spaceships heard from the insides as well as the sounds of rockets and other gadgets including the low-key sound of the power surges. The film’s music by Max Richter is phenomenal for its ambient-based score that has elements of orchestral bombast and serene synthesizers while music supervisors George Drakoulias and Randall Poster provide additional music from Lorne Balfe and Steffen Thum that add to the serene yet mysterious tone of the film.

The casting by Douglas Aibel is wonderful as it feature some notable small roles from Sean Blakemore as McBride’s head escort at the moon, Donnie Kershawarz as a ship leader for McBride’s trip to Mars, Loren Dean as the Mars’ ship second-in-command, Kimberly Elise and Bobby Nish as a couple of astronauts for the Mars ship, LisaGay Hamilton and John Finn as a couple of military officials briefing McBride about the situation, Natasha Lyonne as a customs officer on Mars, and John Ortiz as General Rivas who briefs McBride about his father and the Lima project. Liv Tyler is terrific in her small role as McBride’s ex-wife Eve as someone who feels pushed away from her husband while she would get contact from him about his mission as she deals with his emotional troubles. Donald Sutherland is superb as Colonel Pruitt as an old friend of Dr. McBride who accompanies McBride to the moon as he admits to having issues with his father while wanting to help McBride reach his destination.

Ruth Negga is excellent as Helen Lantos as facility director at a base on Mars who reveals some things to McBride about his father as well as what happened to her parents as she would help McBride to board the ship to Neptune knowing that there are many who are trying to stop him from being involved. Tommy Lee Jones is incredible as Dr. H. Clifford McBride as a revered astronaut who led the Lima project that was meant to be something big only for things to go wrong where Jones brings a mysterious quality to his character as someone who is believed to have gone insane. Finally, there’s Brad Pitt in a sensational performance as Major Roy McBride as an astronaut who is tasked to find his long-lost father as he deals with the severity of the mission as it’s a performance where Pitt is restrained for much of the film as he doesn’t do anything to emote until later on as he plays into the flaws of his character as it is one of Pitt’s finest performances.

Ad Astra is a tremendous film from James Gray that feature great performances from Brad Pitt and Tommy Lee Jones. Along with its ensemble cast, stunning visuals, immense production design, evocative music score, and themes of exploration and isolation. It’s a film that play into a man’s journey to find his long-lost father while coping with his own faults and the sins of his father that he would have to carry. In the end, Ad Astra is a spectacular film from James Gray.

James Gray Films: Little Odessa - The Yards - We Own the Night - Two Lovers - The Immigrant (2013 film) - The Lost City of Z - The Auteurs #67: James Gray

© thevoid99 2019

The Incredible Hulk (2008 film)

Based on the comic series by Jack Kirby and Stan Lee, The Incredible Hulk is the story of a man who turns into a green and destructive monster whenever he gets angry as he is pursued by the army while trying to find a cure for his condition. Directed by Louis Leterrier and screenplay by Zak Penn with contributions by Edward Norton, the film is a reboot of sorts of the 2003 film where it focuses on Bruce Banner’s quest to cure himself and evade the army unaware that a power-hungry soldier wants to use a similar formula to beat the Hulk. Starring Edward Norton, Tim Roth, Liv Tyler, Tim Blake Nelson, Ty Burrell, and William Hurt. The Incredible Hulk is a lively yet messy film from Louis Leterrier.

The film follows a man who was part of a gamma radiation experiment where he became a green monster that destroys everything whenever he’s angry as he finds himself being pursued by the U.S. army. During this pursuit, Bruce Banner/the Hulk (Edward Norton) is trying to find a cure as he is trying to meet a fellow scientist who claims to have a cure yet a soldier who is in pursuit of Banner wants what Banner has to destroy him. It’s a film with a simple premise which explores a man just wanting to maintain some control as he also copes with disconnecting himself with the life he previously had which includes a relationship with Betty Ross (Liv Tyler) whose father in General Thaddeus “Thunderbolt” Ross (William Hurt) is pursuing Banner. During this pursuit, General Ross gets the service of a revered British soldier named Emil Blonsky (Tim Roth) who wants to capture Banner as he also wants what Banner is carrying as a way to stop him.

The film’s screenplay doesn’t just try to explore Banner’s attempt to find a cure but also trying to figure out why he was able to stay alive despite the fact that the radiation was going to kill him. Yet, there is a lot going on as one of the reasons General Ross is pursuing him is so that he can find out what made Banner survive and turn this experiment into a weapon as General Ross isn’t exactly an antagonist. Especially as it relates to his estranged relationship with his daughter as well as come to the realization of how bad this kind of power can be after giving Blonsky a serum that can allow him to enhance his own abilities. While the script succeeds in establishing the plot and its characters, it does suffer from being too predictable while characters such as Betty Ross aren’t given much to do in terms of advancing the story as all she really is someone that can bring Banner back whenever he’s the Hulk.

Louis Leterrier’s direction is definitely big in terms of its setting and what is expected in blockbuster action films as it feature some extravagant action sequences as well as moments of suspense. Yet, Letterier knows when give the action a break to focus on the story as it relates to Banner trying to hide and evade the authorities despite some of the lackluster material involving him and Betty. Shot largely in Toronto with additional locations in New York City and Rio de Janeiro, the film does play into a large world where the first act has Banner in Latin America while the second act in Toronto and areas in Canada as Virginia and the third act in New York City. Leterrier does create some unique compositions with the close-ups and medium shots in focusing on the characters as well as wide shots to capture the action and the scenes involving the Hulk. The film’s climax is, not surprisingly, overblown as it pits the Hulk against a monster called Abomination where it is quite clunky at times but does deliver in what it aims to be which is two monsters going mano-a-mano. Overall, Leterrier creates a fine yet flawed film about a man who becomes a monster whenever he gets angry.

Cinematographer Peter Menzies Jr. does nice work with the cinematography as it is a bit desaturated in its look and approach to colors as it relates to the locations and some of the big set pieces in the film. Editors John Wright, Rick Shaine, and Vincent Taballion do nice work with the editing where it does have some stylish montages as well as some fast-cutting for some of the film’s action scenes. Production designer Kirk M. Petruccelli, with supervising art director Daniel T. Dorrance as well as set decorators Monica Delfino, Carolyn “Cal” Loucks, and Monica Rochlin, does fantastic work with the home in Brazil that Banner lives in as well as the college campuses where Betty and the mysterious Mr. Blue works at. Costume designers Denise Cronenbergh and Renee Fontana does terrific work with the costumes as it is mostly casual with the exception of the uniforms and clothes the Army personnel wears.

Visual effects supervisors Ian Hunter, Betsy Paterson, Colin Strause, Greg Strause, and Chris Wells does excellent work with the visual effects in not just the design of the Hulk but also the monster that would be Abomination though some of it does look spotty at times. Sound editors Greg Hedgepath and Eric Lindemann, with sound designer Michael Babcock, do superb work with the sound as it add to some of the intensity of the action as well as in the film’s climatic battle between Hulk and Abomination. The film’s music by Craig Armstrong is wonderful as it’s mostly orchestral with air of bombast for the action scenes and serene moments for the drama.

The casting by Robin D. Cook and Laray Mayfield is brilliant as it feature some notable small roles from Lou Ferrigno as a campus security guard, Martin Starr as a student at a lab, Jim Wilson and Jack Magee as a couple of students who capture footage of the Hulk’s battle with the Army, Michael K. Williams as a bystander during the Hulk-Abomination battle, Rickson Gracie as Banner’s martial arts teacher in Brazil, Peter Mensah as a fellow general who gives General Ross information on Blonsky, Paul Soles as a pizzeria owner who is a longtime friend of Banner, Christina Cabot as General Ross’ assistant Major Kathleen Sparr, Debora Nascimento as Banner’s Brazilian girlfriend Martina, and Ty Burrell as Betty’s boyfriend Leonard Samson who is also a psychiatrist as he learns why Betty never talks about her father. Tim Blake Nelson is superb as Samuel Sterns as a college professor/researcher who has been trying to analyze everything Banner’s given him where he makes a discovery into what could help Banner. William Hurt is excellent as General Thaddeus “Thunderbolt” Ross as an Army general who is eager to capture Banner and figure out what made him survive the gamma radiation as he hopes to have it weaponized only to see what can really go wrong.

Liv Tyler is alright as Betty Ross as she’s not given much to do but be there for Banner as well as scream or get herself into some bad situation as it’s a very badly-written role for Tyler. Tim Roth is fantastic as Emil Blonsky as a Russian-born British marine who is asked to help capture Banner as he wants to know what makes Banner the Hulk as he is eager to do whatever it takes to beat the Hulk anyway he can as it’s a very slimy yet fun performance from Roth. Finally, there’s Edward Norton in a marvelous performance as Bruce Banner/the Hulk as a scientist who is on the run following an experiment gone wrong as Norton brings a nice weight to his role as someone eager to rid of the persona he would unleash while also bringing some light-hearted humor to the role.

The Incredible Hulk is a good though flawed film from Louis Leterrier. Despite some excellent performances from Edward Norton, Tim Roth, and William Hurt as well as enough moments that are entertaining. It is a film that plays too much by the rules in terms of what it sets out to be with very little to make it more compelling. In the end, The Incredible Hulk is a worthwhile film from Louis Leterrier.

Louis Leterrier Films: (The Transporter) – (Unleashed) – (The Transporter 2) – (Clash of the Titans (2010 film)) – (Now You See Me) – (Grimsby)

Related: Hulk

Marvel Cinematic Universe: Infinity Saga: Phase One: Iron Man - Iron Man 2 - Thor (2011 film) - Captain America: The First Avenger - The Avengers (2012 film)

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 & 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 2017

That Thing You Do!

Written, directed, and co-starring Tom Hanks, That Thing You Do! is the story about the brief rise and fall of a band from Erie, Pennsylvania who become one-hit wonders during their meteoric rise to stardom. The film is an exploration into the world of 1960s pop-rock music as a jazz drummer comes in to play for a local band as he changes their fortune into this one song that would become a major hit for the band. Starring Tom Everett Scott, Johnathon Schaech, Steve Zahn, Ethan Embry, Liv Tyler, Charlize Theron, and Chris Ellis. That Thing You Do! is a charming and entertaining film from Tom Hanks.

The film is a simple story of a band from Erie, Pennsylvania during the early 1960s where they ask a local jazz drummer to fill in as he would do something to their song that would help them win a contest and later achieve fame and success all in a brief span of time. While it’s a film with a common story about one-hit wonders, there is something very engaging in the way Tom Hanks tells the story as it plays to not only aspects of his own youth in an age where British bands like the Beatles, the Rolling Stones, and the Dave Clark Five inspired kids to pick up instruments and play rock n’ roll. It is largely told from the perspective of four young guys who had struck a chord with their audience and talent agents who believe that these guys have something. Yet, their success is short-lived due to mistrust towards record labels as well as other things as its drummer in Guy Patterson (Tom Everett Scott) is seen by many as the smart one who is responsible for the band’s success.

Hanks’ screenplay definitely plays to this traditional schematics of a rise-and-fall scenario yet it’s more about how Guy Patterson turned this little band in Erie called the One-Ders (often mistaken for the O-Needers) and gave them attention by turning a ballad called That Thing You Do! into an upbeat pop-rock song in order to win a local contest. Though Guy was just a replacement drummer, his desire to win is what changes things as the fortunes of guitarist/vocalist/leader Jimmy Mattingly (Johnathon Schaech), guitarist/vocalist Lenny Haise (Steve Zahn), and the unnamed bass player (Ethan Embry) go well as Jimmy’s girlfriend Faye (Liv Tyler) joins them for the ride. Even as they would get the song recorded with the help of Guy’s uncle Pastor Bob (Chris Isaak) that gets the attention of a local manager in Phil Horace (Chris Ellis) who would then give the record to Playtone talent agent Mr. White (Tom Hanks) who would manage and rename the band as the Wonders into stardom. Mr. White would take the band on the road with other acts from the label as the Wonders become stars just as the song races up the charts.

While there are elements of cynicism about the way the record industry works, there is still this air of innocence as it relates to the band’s rise as everyone including Faye are excited. Upon the news that the song went top ten and the band had to leave the touring circuit for a chance to appear on national television, things change where Jimmy begins to question things about the band’s future. While Jimmy is seen as the talent of the group, Faye as the muse, Lenny as the buffoon, and the bass player as the innocent player. Guy is always seen as the smart person in the band as he is the first to ask questions about contracts and such as well as what the band should do. While Guy is having lots of fun, he still has a desire to play jazz which is his first love as he would meet his idol in Del Paxton (Bill Cobbs) who would tell him the dangers of being in a popular band and all of the trappings of stardom late in the film. All of which culminates with the band’s performance at a national TV show for all of America to see but it would also be a moment that would shape the band into their downfall.

Hanks’ direction is very simple as it does have this feel of a film that is set in the 1960s in a small town in Pennsylvania. Much of it involve Hanks just keeping things to the point such as his introduction to Guy Patterson as this young man who works in his father’s appliance store while spends much of his off hours playing along to his favorite jazz records. It is in sharp contrast to the more raucous world of rock n’ roll which Guy likes but prefers jazz as Guy always looks more like a guy who is into jazz while everyone else is more in tune with what is happening in the 1960s. Hanks’ approach to humor definitely feels natural as well as having this air of spontaneity such as the scene where the original drummer Chad (Giovanni Ribisi) breaks his arm which would lead to Jimmy and Lenny asking Guy to fill in. Hanks’ compositions don’t aim for elements of styles though there are some homage to the pop films of the 1960s including the surfer film where Jonathan Demme makes a cameo as that film’s director.

The direction also plays into that world of 1960s pop concerts and talent contests where the latter showcases a variety of music performances from folk to mariachi music where it would be the One-Ders that would steal the show due to Guy’s fast drumming on Jimmy’s ballad. Hanks’ usage of crane shots definitely play to the scope of some of the performances as well as how audiences react to these shows. Even as Hanks uses an intimacy to play into the Wonders’ rise where they play clubs as it has an air of excitement which is a major contrast to the climatic TV performance they would play where the cameras are much broader in its look while the song itself becomes, expectedly, a bit tiresome which is typical of one-hit wonders. Yet, it does play into how brief a one-hit wonder band career can be but it would lead to moments for these individuals who would prosper with their brief encounter with fame. Overall, Hanks creates a very delightful and fun film about a band’s brief rise and fall as one-hit wonders.

Cinematographer Tak Fujimoto does excellent work with the film‘s colorful cinematography for much of the daytime exteriors including scenes in California along with the intimate and dark look of the clubs the Wonders would play early in the film as well as the broad lights of the variety show they would play. Editor Richard Chew does brilliant work with the editing in creating a few montages to play into the band‘s success along with some stylish cuts to convey some of the film‘s offbeat humor. Production designer Victor Kempster, with set decorator Merideth Boswell and art director Dan Webster, does fantastic work with the set pieces from the look of the appliance store Guy‘s family runs as well as the hotels and other places to play into the look of the 60s. Costume designer Colleen Atwood does wonderful work with the costumes to play into the looks of the characters from the colored suits they would wear as a band to the clothes that Faye wears.

Visual effects supervisor Steve Rundell does nice work with some of the minimal visual effects such as the audience the Wonders would play in the tour along with a few tricks to make the film look like it was set in the 60s. Sound editor Richard King does superb work with the film‘s sound as it plays into the sound of the audience singing along to the song as well as some scenes set in intimate places such as the basement where Guy plays his drums. The film’s music by Howard Shore is terrific for its mixture of 60s-based kitsch music with a few orchestral touches and some guitar-pop flourishes to play into the period of time in the film. Even as the film’s original music features songs written by Hanks, Shore, Adam Schlesinger of Fountains of Wayne, and several others to play into that period of 60s rock and pop music plus some jazz pieces.

The casting by Howard Feuer is incredible as it features cameo appearances from Peter Scolari as the variety show host Troy Chesterfield, Gedde Watanabe as a Playtone photographer, Tracy Reiner as the star of the beach film, Jonathan Demme as that film’s director, Barry Sobel as the goofball in the beach film, Clint Howard as a radio DJ, Bryan Cranston as Virgil “Gus” Grissom, Marc McClure as the TV show director, Colin Hanks as Faye’s escort to the TV show, Elizabeth Hanks as a bored girl at the dress shop, Rita Wilson as a jazz club waitress, Holmes Osborne as Guy’s father, and Giovanni Ribisi as the Wonders’ original drummer Chad who would break his arm.

Other notable small roles include Chris Ellis as the drummers’ original manager Phil Horace who would get the band to play top gigs around Pennsylvania, Alex Rocco as the Playtone Records boss Sol Siler, Robert Torti as the pop singer Freddy Fredrickson, Chaille Percival as the pop diva Diane Dane, Obba Babatunde as a hotel concierge who would treat Guy and Faye with great care, and Chris Isaak as Guy’s uncle Bob who would record their first record. Bill Cobbs is superb as jazz legend Del Paxton whom Guy idolizes as he would finally meet him at a Los Angeles jazz club as he would warn Guy about the fleeting moments of fame and being in a band. Charlize Theron is wonderful as Guy’s self-absorbed and vain girlfriend Tina who is often concerned with how she looks rather than what Guy does. Liv Tyler is fantastic as Jimmy’s girlfriend Faye who is the muse for the songs that Jimmy writes as she joins the band on tour where she definitely connects with Guy in terms of having fun.

Tom Hanks is amazing in a supporting role as Playtone music executive Mr. White who watches over the Wonders in their rise to fame while making sure they do things right as he takes a liking to Guy for his talent and brains. Ethan Embry is terrific as the unnamed Bass Player who is an aspiring Marine as he is the most innocent member of the group that has a thing for the soul-singing group the Chantrellines. Steve Zahn is funny as Lenny as the dim-witted member of the group that likes to have a good time and flirt with the ladies. Johnathon Schaech is excellent as Jimmy Mattingly as the group lead singer/songwriter who is the most serious member of the group as he hopes to create his own music until he realizes what he must do to make it. Finally, there’s Tom Everett Scott in a brilliant performance as Guy Patterson as a jazz-loving drummer who joins the Wonders as he reaches stardom and becomes famous for wearing sunglasses while being the smartest person in the group into doing what is best for the band.

That Thing You Do! is a phenomenal film from Tom Hanks as it features a great cast and a fun soundtrack. The film is definitely a very joyful and exciting film that not only captures a period in time where everyone was having fun listening to rock n’ roll but also in how young men formed bands in the hopes of making it. It’s also a film that manages to be re-watchable and still manage to be as potent since its original release. In the end, That Thing You Do! is a sensational film from Tom Hanks.

© thevoid99 2014

Dr. T and the Women

Directed by Robert Altman and written by Anne Rapp, Dr. T and the Women is the story about the life of a Texan gynecologist whose life begins to fall apart after his wife’s mental breakdown as he finds himself seeking companionship in the form of a golf instructor in the wake of his daughter’s upcoming wedding. The film is an exploration into the life of a man and the women he’s surrounded by as he tries to deal with the changes in his life. Starring Richard Gere, Helen Hunt, Farrah Fawcett, Laura Dern, Shelley Long, Kate Hudson, Tara Reid, Liv Tyler, and Andy Richter. Dr. T and the Women is a witty yet sensational comedy from Robert Altman.

The film is about the tumultuous life of a renowned Texan gynecologist who is beloved by the rich women of the state as things around him starts to fall apart. His wife has a mental breakdown that has her regressing to a childlike state while his sister-in-law has moved in to his house as they’re all getting ready for the wedding of his eldest daughter who is carrying a secret of her own. Meanwhile, a former golf pro has arrived into his golf club as he forges a relationship with her to escape from his chaotic life until some big news about his daughter and his wife come ahead as well as an overloaded schedule that finally culminates into his daughter’s wedding. For this man known as Dr. Sullivan Travis aka Dr. T (Richard Gere), it’s a world that he lives in surrounded by all of these women where he does find time to hang out with the guys. Yet, he remains devoted to the women in his life no matter how crazy they are.

Anne Rapp’s screenplay is quite loose in its premise though it does take time to explore the other characters such as the eldest daughter Dee Dee (Kate Hudson) and her younger sister Connie (Tara Reid) where the latter is a conspiracy theorist. Along with his loopy sister-in-law Peggy (Laura Dern) and his wife Kate (Farrah Fawcett), the film explores this unique family life that Dr. T has where he does love them no matter how screwed up they are. Yet, Kate’s mental breakdown and regression into a childlike state has the family, with the exception of Connie, going into all sorts of trouble where Peggy drinks and stumbles into situations while Dee Dee is being secretive underneath her posh exterior as it concerns her maid of honor Marilyn (Liv Tyler). For Dr. T, all of these revelations and troubles has him going to this former golf pro in Bree (Helen Hunt) who offers him an escape from his troubles while she becomes aware of the crazy world he live in.

Robert Altman’s direction is fascinating for the way he explores the life of this gynecologist who lives in Dallas, Texas. Particularly in a posh setting where many of Dr. T’s clients are these rich women who adore him and some try to flirt with him. Still, there is that element of chaos in Altman’s direction in the way he presents the waiting room where there’s a lot of women chattering or talking to the reception for an appointment or scenes in the mall where Kate would have her breakdown. While a lot of the framing is straightforward as Altman shoots on location in Dallas and other nearby locations. The film’s climax near the end that involves something that Connie feared but it would be in a bigger context that relates to the chaos that Dr. T had been through. While the presentation of that scene is imperfect, it does make sense of what Altman was trying to say. Overall, Altman creates a delightful yet whirlwind film that explores the world of a doctor and the women in his life.

Cinematographer Jan Kiesser does excellent work with the film‘s very colorful cinematography to capture the beauty of Dallas in its exteriors as well as some of the scenes in the film‘s interior settings. Editor Geraldine Peroni does wonderful work with the editing to capture the chaos in the waiting room as well as some of the film‘s comical moments like Kate‘s breakdown in the mall. Production designer Stephen Altman, with set decorator Chris L. Spellman and art director John Bucklin, does nice work with the look of Dr. T‘s office and his waiting room as well as Bree‘s apartment and the home that Dr. T lives in.

Costume designer Dona Granata does terrific work with the costumes to display the world of posh Texas without any cowboy gear as well as the camouflage clothes that Dr. T and his male friends wear on their hunting trips. Visual effects supervisor Charles Gibson does some good work with the film‘s lone visual effects sequence although it doesn‘t look realistic. Sound editor Frederick Howard does some fine work with the sound to capture the chaos of the waiting room with its overlapping dialogue as well as the scenes involving the rain. The film’s music by Lyle Lovett is amazing as it is mostly a playful take on country with bits of jazz and blues to complement the world that is Texas.

The casting by Pam Dixon is phenomenal for the ensemble that is created as it features some notable small roles from Robert Hays, Matt Malloy, and Andy Richter as Dr. T’s hunting buddies, Lee Grant as Kate’s examiner Dr. Harper, and Janine Turner as a flirtatious patient who keeps insisting that there’s something wrong with her. Tara Reid is pretty good as the conspiracy-obsessed Connie who is suspicious about her sister’s possible secret while Kate Hudson is OK in a somewhat underwritten role as the older sister Dee Dee who aspires to be a Dallas Cowboys cheerleader while carrying a secret as she’s set to get married. Liv Tyler is terrific as Dee Dee’s friend Marilyn who also knows about Dee Dee’s secret as her meeting with Dr. T ends up being very awkward. Laura Dern is very funny as Dr. T’s sister-in-law Peggy who always stumble around certain things as she definitely has a drinking problem.

Shelley Long is wonderful as Dr. T’s loyal assistant Carolyn who helps him deal with the chaos while keeping a secret of her own towards that revolves around Dr. T. Farrah Fawcett is superb as the troubled Kate who regresses into a childlike state where Fawcett brings a lovely sense of humor to her role. Helen Hunt is excellent as Bree Davis who befriends Dr. T as she represents the one woman whose life isn’t filled with lots of complications as she sympathizes with Dr. T. Finally, there’s Richard Gere in a marvelous performance as Dr. T as he is this very kind man that finds his life falling apart as he is desperate to hold on to whatever he has left only to nearly fall prey to the chaos of his life.

Dr. T and the Women is a remarkable film from Robert Altman that features a superb leading performance from Richard Gere. The film is an interesting view into the life of a man who surrounds himself with the women in his life while dealing with all of the turmoil that occurs as things start to fall apart around him. It’s also a film that showcases the world of women and they seek the help from a man in order to help them find themselves. In the end, Dr. T and the Women is an extraordinary film from Robert Altman.

Robert Altman Films: (The Delinquents) - (The James Dean Story) - Countdown (1968 film) - (That Cold Day in the Park) - M.A.S.H. - Brewster McCloud - McCabe & Mrs. Miller - (Images) - The Long Goodbye - Thieves Like Us - California Split - Nashville - Buffalo Bill and the Indians, or Sitting Bull’s History Lesson - 3 Women - (A Wedding) - (Quintet) - (A Perfect Couple (HealtH) - Popeye - (Come Back to the Five and Dime, Jimmy Dean, Jimmy Dean) - (Streamers) - (Secret Honor) - (O.C. and Stiggs) - Fool for Love - (Beyond Therapy) - (Aria-Les Boreades) - (Tanner ‘88) - (Vincent & Theo) - The Player - Short Cuts - Pret-a-Porter - (Kansas City) - (The Gingerbread Man) - Cookie‘s Fortune - Gosford Park - The Company (2003 film) - (Tanner on Tanner) - A Prairie Home Companion

© thevoid99 2013

Cookie's Fortune

Directed by Robert Altman and written by Anne Rapp, Cookie’s Fortune is the story about a small town in Mississippi where relatives of a wealthy dowager try to cover up her suicide as murder. The film is an exploration into small town life as well as a group of people coming together to help out. Starring Glenn Close, Julianne Moore, Liv Tyler, Chris O’Donnell, Charles S. Dutton, and Patricia Neal. Cookie’s Fortune is a strange yet whimsical film from Robert Altman.

The film revolves around a group of people who deal with the death of a wealthy widow who kills herself in order to reunite with her late husband. When one of her nieces decides to cover up the woman’s death as a murder in hopes to attain the woman’s home, things get crazy as a caretaker is accused of murder only for the woman’s granddaughter coming to his aid to help him. Things eventually get complicated though some of the cops believe that the caretaker didn’t do anything as questions are raised into what really happened.

Screenwriter Anne Rapp creates a film that is about a collection of oddballs that live in this small Mississippi town where they all know each other. When this wealthy woman known as Cookie (Patricia Neal) dies and suspicion of murder arises, a lot of questions are raised as it would take an outsider to finally piece everything together. Though the plot schematics does have an air of predictability, there are moments that does make up for it due to the characters that are created for this film.

Robert Altman’s direction is quite straightforward in terms of the way he presents life in a small town in Mississippi by actually shooting on location in that town. Yet, he does maintain that improvisational style that he’s known for in the way he approaches the characters. Notably as it includes a lot of mystery into not just all of these entanglements involving the relatives of this old woman but also her caretaker Willis Richland (Charles S. Dutton) who many people knew as this very kind man who always helped Cookie out. Still, there’s people like Cookie’s niece Camille (Glenn Close) who is intent on getting her house believing that she earned it and such. Altman does make sure that it’s about the characters and the way they interact as he’s able to do things to make up for some of the screenplay’s shortcomings. Overall, Altman creates a very engaging yet offbeat comedy-mystery about a group of oddballs in a small Mississippi town.

Cinematographer Toyomichi Kurita does excellent work with the film‘s very colorful photography to capture the beauty of small town Southern life with its natural lighting schemes along with more stylish work for scenes at night. Editor Abraham Lim does nice work with the editing as it‘s mostly straightforward while utilizing a few rhythmic cuts for some of the film‘s comical moments. Production designer Stephen Altman, along with set decorator Susan Emshwiller and art director Richard L. Johnson, does wonderful work with the set pieces from the staging of Camille‘s play to the home of Cookie.

Costume supervisor Susan Kaufmann does terrific work with the costumes to capture the more casual look of the characters as well as the more stylish clothes of Camille along with the costumes for the Salome play. Sound editor Frederick Howard does wonderful work with the sound to capture the atmosphere of church rehearsals to the intimacy of the bar. The film’s music by David A. Stewart is a real delight at it’s mostly blues-based music to play out the world that is the American South.

The casting by Pam Dixon is incredible for the ensemble that is created as it features notable small roles from Niecey Nash as a deputy, Rufus Thomas as a bar owner, Lyle Lovett as a catfish salesman, Donald Moffat as the town’s local attorney, Matt Malloy as a forensics expert, and Courtney B. Vance as an out-of-town investigator who tries to piece everything that’s happened. Ned Beatty is very funny in a small yet wonderful role as deputy Lester Boyle who believes that Willis is innocent while Patricia Neal is superb as the aging widow Cookie who longs to reunite with her late husband Buck. Chris O’Donnell is very good as the young deputy Jason Brown who tries to help out everyone as well as deal with his feelings for Emma. Liv Tyler is amazing as Emma Duvall as she is the granddaughter of Cookie as she returns to her small town to try and start over while helping out Cookie’s old caretaker Willis.

Charles S. Dutton is great as the kind caretaker Willis who is a very close friend of Cookie as he deals with loss as well as being accused of killing her as he and many know that he didn’t do it as it’s a very low-key yet charming performance from the actor. Julianne Moore is excellent as the very shy and childlike Cora who is often under Camille’s control while also carries a sense of ambiguity as she might know a lot more than Camille believes. Finally, there’s Glenn Close in a superb performance as Camille who tries to change the fate over Cookie’s death in order to gain Cookie’s home as she thinks she’s doing it for the greater good.

Cookie’s Fortune is a stellar yet entertaining film from Robert Altman. Featuring an amazing ensemble cast and an intriguing look into small town life in the American South. The film offers something that is unique while carrying that spirit of looseness that Altman is known for. In the end, Cookie’s Fortune is a very good film from Robert Altman.

Robert Altman Films: (The Delinquents) - (The James Dean Story) - Countdown (1968 film) - (That Cold Day in the Park) - M.A.S.H. - Brewster McCloud - McCabe & Mrs. Miller - (Images) - The Long Goodbye - Thieves Like Us - California Split - Nashville - Buffalo Bill and the Indians, or Sitting Bull’s History Lesson - 3 Women - (A Wedding) - (Quintet) - (A Perfect Couple (HealtH) - Popeye - (Come Back to the Five and Dime, Jimmy Dean, Jimmy Dean) - (Streamers) - (Secret Honor) - (O.C. and Stiggs) - Fool for Love - (Beyond Therapy) - (Aria-Les Boreades) - (Tanner ‘88) - (Vincent & Theo) - The Player - Short Cuts - Pret-a-Porter - (Kansas City) - (The Gingerbread Man) - Dr. T & the Women - Gosford Park - The Company (2003 film) - (Tanner on Tanner) - A Prairie Home Companion

© thevoid99 2013

Stealing Beauty

Originally Written and Posted at Epinions.com on 5/15/06.

After a trilogy of ambitious yet spectacular epics starting with 1987's Oscar-award winning The Last Emperor, Italian director Bernardo Bertolucci scaled back on his ambitions. The follow-ups in 1990's The Sheltering Sky and 1993's Little Buddha were considerable disappointments. After doing these projects, Bertolucci chose to return to his roots in going to smaller films. In 1996, Bertolucci released a film that returned to his roots of small, intimate films about a young woman trying to discover the identity of her real father in Italy after the suicide of her mother entitled Stealing Beauty.

Directed by Bertolucci with a story he wrote that turned into a script by Susan Minot, Stealing Beauty tells the tale of a young woman who comes to Italy to visit family friends after the death of her mother. Hoping to find the true identity of her father and to lose her virginity to a boy she knows from pen pal letters, she is amazed by the beautiful countryside of Italy as well as the worldly views of a dying playwright. Starring Liv Tyler, Jeremy Irons, Sinead Cusack, Rachel Weisz, Joseph Fiennes, Donal McCann, Jean Marais, D.W. Moffett, Jason Flemyng, and longtime Bertolucci siren Stefania Sandrelli. Stealing Beauty, despite its flaws, is an enchanting coming-of-age tale from one of cinema's most beloved auteurs.

After the suicide death of her famed, poet mother, a young 19-year old American woman named Lucy (Liv Tyler) arrives via plane and on train onto the Tuscany countryside landscape in Italy. While meeting a mysterious man named Carlo Lisca (Carlo Cecchi) on the way, she arrive to the home of her mother's old friends. Living in the house on the hill on the countryside is an Irish sculptor Ian Grayson (Donal McCann), his British wife Diana (Sinead Cusack), an Italian gossip columnist Noemi (Stefania Sandrelli), and an old Frenchman named Monsieur Guillaume (Jean Marais). Also staying for the holiday is Diana's jewelry designer daughter Miranda (Rachel Weisz) and her entertainment lawyer boyfriend Richard (D.W. Moffett). For Diana and Ian, Lucy's visit is a welcome since they're still mourning the death of her mother whom they knew and was surprised by her suicide.

Lucy's intentions for her arrival are for two different reasons, to find out who her real father is after learning that the man she knew her life in America isn't her father while hoping to lose her virginity to a young man named Niccolo` Donati (Roberto Zibetti), whom she met four years before as the first boy she kissed as well as corresponded through a few letters. During a night where she is still in mourning over her mother's death, she meets a dying playwright named Alex (Jeremy Irons) who knew her mother while asking her questions on why she arrived in Tuscany. After Ian and Diana's daughter Daisy (Rebecca Valpy) arrives from a sleepover, the couple is also awaiting the arrival of Diana's son Christopher (Joseph Fiennes) ,who is on a trip to Turkey with Niccolo` and his brother Osvaldo (Ignazio Oliva). Knowing that Lucy will be bored among the adults, they hope to find people her age to talk to. While Lucy decides to be a subject for Ian's next sculpture, she meets Carlo Lisca along with his son Michele (Francesco Siciliano).

Thinking that Carlo might be her real father whom her mother had referred to as a mysterious man in an old poem. She tries to seek the truth with the help of Alex as she hears what the adults' intentions of what they hope to do with her to help her meet some boys. Hoping to leave, Christopher arrives with Niccolo` and Osvaldo as she decides to stay. With a party at their home with Niccolo` and Osvaldo's mother Chiarella (Anna-Maria Gherardi) as a guest, Lucy hopes to flirt with Niccolo but it becomes an embarrassing disaster. Entranced by its beauty of Tuscany, Lucy explores more while writing little poems along the way. Richard is also entranced by her beauty as an attempt to flirt with her only causes his problems with Miranda.

Hoping to get to know Niccolo` more, she goes to his house where she finds Niccolo` with a girlfriend and she becomes upset. Only Alex provides comfort to her as she becomes his guiding spirit in his last days. With an army lieutenant (Leonardo Treviglio) arriving with a broken car, they eat dinner as Lucy still feels upset over Niccolo` only for the next day when he tells her that he broke up with his girlfriend. Lucy's hopes for a relationship with Niccolo` is shattered when she learns that he is not the boy he appeared to be. With Alex providing comfort, she reads him her mother's last poem before her death about the identity of her real father. With Alex giving her insight on the ideas of who her real father is, she is happy to be with someone as intelligent and caring as Alex.

With the Donatis' planning an annual party at their house, Lucy joins everyone while Ian and Alex stay home. Lucy asks Ian about the sculpture as he admits, he never met the man who had been her father for many years while that same man also hated the painting he made of her mother. With everyone going to the party as Noemi talks to Michele about a book he'd given her while Lucy finally notices the shy Osvaldo. After dancing with Carlo and asking where he was on August 1975, he only remembered the last days of Vietnam since he used to be a war correspondent. Coming home with an Englishman named Gregory (Jason Flemyng), Diana hopes that it's the antidote to Lucy's social anxiety. The brief moment of happiness is dashed when Alex's illness takes its toll as she ponders on who her father is while wanting to retain her innocence and the understanding of her mother's death.

While Bertolucci does take a refreshing, intimate approach from his recent epic film work, Stealing Beauty does have it share of flaws. Notably in its plot where the emphasis is on Lucy's exploration of Tuscany and her attempt to lose her virginity rather than exploring the truth of her parents. Although Bertolucci does somewhat reveal the answer near the end of the film, he at least does with such subtlety where the moment is emotional. Susan Minot's script is flawed since the film does take on several perspectives from the other characters while the whole film revolves a lot around Lucy. It's not that many of the characters are very interesting, likeable personalities, it's kind of a distraction from everything that's supposed to be the protagonist.

Bertolucci falters a bit with the script too though he does manage to capture some great moments like the Donati party scene and many of the moments at the Grayson home. Even in the way Bertolucci handles Lucy's exploration and growing up since he understands youth a bit better than some directors. Especially in the way they're more cautious about sex and trying to find some identity in an era where young people aren't sure what to do with their lives. There with the idea of character study, Bertolucci does it very well as does engage on the perspectives of Diana, Ian, and Alex who are important adult characters in how they react to her maturity. In the end, Bertolucci crafted a film that has a lot of moments and stellar performances that does manage to overcome some of its flaws.

Helping Bertolucci in the visual department is cinematographer Darius Khondji whose colorful lighting of sunlight exteriors mixed with green, yellow, and orange is a wonderful complement to the enormous beauty of the Tuscany landscape. The interiors that Khondji shot are also exquisitely beautiful to convey not just the atmospheric coloring of the homes but also to convey its design. The location of Tuscany is wonderfully inspiring as its captured in breathtaking, exquisite detail by production designer Gianni Silversti, art director Domenico Sica, and set designer Cynthia Sleiter. The look of the film captures the posh lifestyle of the Italians living in Tuscany as well as the look of Ian's farm which features some amazing sculptures by Matthew Spender.

Costume designer Louise Stjernsward also does great work in designing the film's clothing, notably the dress Liv Tyler wears as Lucy and Lucy's mother. Editor Pierto Scalia does some fine editing in giving the film a nice, leisurely pace while doing some great perspective work on the cutting for its characters. Sound mixer Ivan Sharrock also does great work in capturing the atmosphere of the sound of Tuscany and its ugly side outside of the place. Film composer Richard Hartley does great work with the film's score to convey the vibrancy and romanticism that is Italy with flourishing arrangements and style.

The music of the film is a true highlight thanks in large part to its soundtrack where its one of the more superior film soundtracks that Bertolucci has put on film. With tracks ranging from pop, soul, jazz, traditional Italian music, classical, and alternative rock, it's a very eclectic soundtrack that doesn't lose touch with the film or become widely inconsistent. With cuts from Liz Phair, Hole, Axiom Funk doing a cover of Jimi Hendrix' If 6 Was 9, Cocteau Twins, Mazzy Star, Helium, Mark Tschanz, and Lori Carson, those cuts convey the sense of youth as well as cuts from Sam Phillips, Charlie Haden, Stevie Wonder, and Fine Young Cannibals singer Roland Gift singing a great closing track. With classical cuts from Mozart as well as a few Italian cuts by Paolo Passano, Luigi Ceccarelli, and Pino Daniele, the film also harkens to blues and jazz cuts from Billie Holliday, Nina Simone, John Lee Hooker, and Chet Baker as well as two trip-hop cuts from Hoover and Portishead. Overall, it's one of the most memorable and overlooked soundtracks of the 1990s.

Finally, there's the film's cast which includes some nice, small yet memorable performances from Joseph Fiennes, Jason Flemyng, Rebecca Valpy, Leonardo Treviglio, and Bertolucci veteran Anna-Maria Gherardi. The weakest performance is easily Roberto Zibetti as Niccolo`, mostly because he comes off too vain and was too good looking for the role where it's not enough for him to even bring any kind of personality to the role. Ignazio Oliva fares much better as the shy, quiet Osvaldo who is the exact opposite of Niccolo` where he shines with his smile and quiet presence. Francesco Siciliano is excellent as the intelligent, book-loving Michele while Jean Marais is great as the old but playful Monsieur Guillaume. Carlo Cecchi is excellent as the mysterious Carlo whose charm matches his otherwise guarded personality where he has a great dancing scene with Liv Tyler.

D.W. Moffett is wonderfully funny as the flirtatious, workaholic Richard who cares only nothing but to flirt and to annoy his girlfriend Miranda. In an early role, future-Oscar winner Rachel Weisz gives an excellent performance as the humorless, frustrated Miranda who thinks she has a great relationship only to learn more of his behavior. Longtime Bertolucci siren Stefania Sandrelli brings the same vibrancy and energy that made her very memorable in Bertolucci's 1970 classic The Conformist as a gossip columnist whose advice on men and love matches her funny personality and wise take on the world. Donal McCann gives a quiet yet wonderful performance as the artistic-driven Ian whose intentions for Lucy as a subject shows his patience and maturity as an artist who isn't self-indulgent or egotistical.

Sinead Cusack is wonderful as the mournful Diana who tries to be the only maternal figure Lucy has while dealing with the death of Lucy's mother and Alex's ailment as she has great scenes with her real-life husband Jeremy Irons. Jeremy Irons is the film's best supporting performance as a charming, eccentric playwright whose wise take on life and sweetness provides the fraternal support that Lucy needed in Tuscany. Irons brings a lot of life to the role as a dying man where he has wonderful chemistry with Tyler. Liv Tyler gives one of best performances in the role of Lucy as a young girl trying to figure her own identity through her mother while trying to understand the world around her. Tyler manages to overcome some of the script's flaws while bringing an observing, wandering performance that is entirely memorable while using her charm, innocence, and beauty to convey an entrancing yet exotic performance.

When the film was released in 1996 and was nominated for the Palme D'or at the 1996 Cannes Film Festival, the film received mixed reviews for its script and Bertolucci's direction yet critics did praise Liv Tyler's performance. Notably because, it wasn't much of a stretch to her own life when she discovered that her real father was Aerosmith singer Steven Tyler in the late 80s when she was a kid. Still, the film manage to resonate with its young audience who related to Tyler's performance while being amazed by its imagery. While the film isn't anywhere near Bertolucci's great work in The Conformist, Last Tango in Paris, and The Last Emperor, the film's themes of youth and sexual innocence does relate to more with his recent 2003 feature The Dreamers. In the end, while it's not anywhere near the great works that Bernardo Bertolucci made in his career, Stealing Beauty is still an entertaining, strong film thanks to a great cast led by Liv Tyler, Jeremy Irons, Sinead Cusack, and Donal McCann.

Bernardo Bertolucci Films: (La Commare Secca) - (Before the Revolution) - (Partners) - (The Spider's Stratagem) - The Conformist - Last Tango in Paris - 1900 - (La Luna) - (Tragedy of a Ridiculous Man) - (The Last Emperor) - The Sheltering Sky - Little Buddha - (Besieged) - The Dreamers - (Me & You)

© thevoid99 2011