Flags of Our Fathers

Based on the book by James Bradley and Ron Powers, Flags of Our Fathers is the story of the three surviving servicemen who raised the flag during the battle of Iwo Jima as they deal with the aftermath of war as well as being called heroes. Directed by Clint Eastwood and screenplay by Paul Haggis and William Broyles Jr., the film is part of a double-feature that both concern the battle of Iwo Jima as this film focuses on the American side as three men deal with the war and its aftermath. Starring Ryan Phillippe, Jesse Bradford, Adam Beach, Paul Walker, Jamie Bell, Barry Pepper, John Benjamin Hickey, Joseph Cross, John Slattery, Neal McDonough, Melanie Lynskey, Thomas McCarthy, and Robert Patrick. Flags of Our Fathers is a harrowing yet gripping war-drama from Clint Eastwood.

The film is about the iconic image of six men raising the American flag on the Japanese island of Iwo Jima as it’s told from the perspective of a former Navy serviceman who thinks about the battle and its aftermath where he and his surviving Marine fighters went on tour to help sell war bonds. It’s a film that moves back-and-forth from the battle of Iwo Jima to what John “Doc” Bradley (Ryan Phillippe) would encounter during his tour of the U.S. selling war bonds with surviving Marines in Rene Gagnon (Jesse Bradford) and Ira Hayes (Adam Beach). Throughout the course of the film, Bradley recalls memories of the battle of Iwo Jima where he lost a lot of friends while trying to save those as the Navy doctor. At the same time, he thinks about the tour he is in with Gagnon and Hayes as the latter descends into grief and alcoholism while controversy arises over who were the other three that raised the flag.

The film’s screenplay doesn’t aim for a conventional narrative as it’s partially-nonlinear in order for the older Bradley (George Grizzard) to reflect as his son James (Thomas McCarthy) would look into the stories about his father and why his dad had never told him about the war. Yet, the young Bradley would be the most reserved person who goes on tour as he just maintains a low profile while Gagnon and Hayes would both diverge into different paths as the former hopes the tour would give him opportunities after the war. Still, Bradley and Hayes are haunted by the battle in Iwo Jima as they reflect on their encounter and how their friends were killed. The film’s second act has a parallel storyline in which the survivors go on tour while James Bradley goes on his own journey to find out what happened in Iwo Jima as well as stories about the men who raised that flag on Mount Suribachi.

The script doesn’t just explore the world of war bonds as well as men’s struggle with the aftermath of war. It also plays into the mystery of that iconic image where one soldier’s name is mistaken as it creates some confusion until Hayes and Bradley would clear it up as it would make things more uncomfortable. Upon the script’s third act where Hayes’ descent becomes more evident as well as the growing discomfort among himself and Bradley in being called heroes. There is also the fates that plays into the three survivors as well as what James Bradley would discover as well as why his father had been very silent for so many years.

Clint Eastwood’s direction is quite versatile considering what he wanted to do where it is a war film in respect but it’s also a drama where he does maintain a balance with the different tones and multiple stories in the narrative. There is a sense of brutality that emerges in the battle scenes where Eastwood uses hand-held cameras and steadicams to capture its intensity and terror. While Eastwood isn’t trying to say anything new that’s been seen or heard before, he does however maintain that idea about war and its after-effects where many who fought in battle refuse to call themselves heroes. For the scenes where Bradley, Gagnon, and Hayes go on the road to sell war bonds, there is an intimacy in the direction but also an understated melancholia that is prevalent.

There is an elegance to the way Eastwood creates some of the moments of the tour as it’s quite lavish but also unsettling considering what the three survivors have to endure as they’re being pushed into the public spotlight. Eastwood wouldn’t go for close-ups as he would favor medium shots and wide shots to capture the period of the times as well as putting his actors into a frame to see how they react to certain situations. Particularly as Eastwood would convey that intimacy for James Bradley’s story as it would piece everything together as well as showcase the sacrifice Bradley’s father made for his country and for the people who would never have to fight a war. Overall, Eastwood crafts a very poignant yet powerful film about war and their reaction to being called heroes.

Cinematographer Tom Stern does excellent work with the film’s stylish cinematography with his tinted, blue-green look for some of moments in the tour while maintaining a gritty look for its battle scenes as it’s shot on hand-held cameras while taking great stock into the dark look of the land. Editor Joel Cox does brilliant work with the editing to his seamless approach to transitions and piece together the different narratives while going for unique rhythms towards the battle scenes in the film. Production designer Henry Bumstead, along with art directors Adrian Gorton and Jack G. Taylor Jr., does amazing work with the look of some of the buildings and such for the tour as well as the tents and camps in Iwo Jima.

Costume designer Deborah Hooper does nice work with the costumes with a lot of the mid-1940s uniforms and clothes many of the characters wear. Visual effects supervisor Michael Owens does terrific work with the visual effects such as some parts of the battle scenes along with some set dressing to create some of the buildings and such in the 1940s. Sound editor Bud Asman, along with sound designers Charles Maynes and Steve Ticknor, does superb work with the sound from the way it plays into the terror of war as well as the intimate atmosphere that goes on during the war bonds tour. Clint Eastwood’s music score is wonderful for its somber pieces to play into the drama while going for more bombast and ominous orchestral arrangements to play into the terror of war while the music soundtrack includes songs from the 1940s.

The casting by Phyllis Huffman is incredible for the ensemble that is created as it features some notable small roles from Judith Ivey as Harlon Block’s mother, Ann Dowd as Mike Strank’s mother, Beth Grant as Gagnon’s mother, Melanie Lynskey as Gagnon’s fiancee Pauline, Neal McDonough as Captain Severance, Robert Patrick as Col. Chandler Johnson who leads the battle, Ned Eisenberg as the photographer Joseph Rosenthal who would take the iconic picture, George Grizzard as the old Doc Bradley, John Slattery as the slimy and greedy war bonds publicist Bud Gerber, Chris Bauer as a war bonds commandant, and John Benjamin Hickey as the Marines publicist Sgt. Keyes who understands the grief and torment that Hayes is going through. Other noteworthy small roles include Benjamin Walker as the humorous Harlon Block, Joseph Cross as the naïve Franklin Sousley, and Paul Walker as the tough and outgoing Hank Hansen as the other three who raised the flag. Barry Pepper is terrific as Sgt. Mike Strank whom Ira idolized as he was considered to be the older brother of the platoon.

Jamie Bell is excellent as Iggy Ignatowski who was Doc Bradley’s fellow medical officer who deals with the chaos of war. Thomas McCarthy is superb as Doc’s son James who would piece the stories that his father had been avoiding to tell him as he goes on his own journey to find out about his dad. Jesse Bradford is brilliant as Rene Gagnon as this young Marine who sees the war bonds tour as a chance to get some big money as Bradford has the look and humility to play a man caught up in the world of celebrity. Adam Beach is fantastic as Ira Hayes as a Native American Marine who is ravaged and grief-stricken by war as he descends into alcoholism to cope with his newfound attention. Finally, there’s Ryan Phillippe as Doc Bradley as this Navy medic who saw the war and all of its horrors while trying to maintain a sense of composure as he deals with the war bonds tour as it’s a very astonishing performance as Phillippe brings a great restraint to his role.

Flags of Our Fathers is a remarkable film from Clint Eastwood. Armed with a great cast, a powerful story, and amazing technical work. It’s definitely a war film that plays into the idea of heroism as well as the horrors of war in its aftermath. It’s also a film that pays tribute to the men who fought in World War II in Iwo Jima as it is a fitting companion piece to Eastwood’s other Iwo Jima film in Letters from Iwo Jima. In the end, Flags of Our Fathers is a phenomenal film from Clint Eastwood.

Clint Eastwood Films: (Play Misty for Me) - High Plains Drifter - (Breezy) - (The Eiger Sanction) - (The Outlaw Josey Wales) - (The Gauntlet) - (Bronco Billy) - (Firefox) - (Honkytonk Man) - Sudden Impact - Pale Rider - (Heartbreak Ridge) - (Bird) - (White Hunter Black Heart) - (The Rookie) - Unforgiven - (A Perfect World) - (The Bridges of Madison County) - (Absolute Power) - (Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil) - (True Crime) - (Space Cowboys) - (Blood Work) - (Mystic River) - Million Dollar Baby - Letters from Iwo Jima - Changeling - (Gran Torino) - (Invictus) - (Hereafter) - (J. Edgar) - (Jersey Boys) - American Sniper - (Sully) - (The 15:17 to Paris) - (The Mule)

© thevoid99 2014

Hello I Must Be Going

Directed by Todd Luiso and written by Susan Koskoff, Hello I Must Be Going is about a woman who moves back home with her parents following her divorce where she finds herself falling for a younger man. The film is an exploration of a woman trying to start over as she deals with divorce and failure. Starring Melanie Lynskey, Blythe Danner, John Rubenstein, Christopher Abbott, and Dan Futterman. Hello I Must Be Going is an extraordinary film from Todd Luiso.

The film is the simple story of a woman in her mid-30s who moves back home with her parents as she’s dealing with a divorce as she has no idea what to do as she’s in a state of depression. During a dinner party with her parents, her brother, her sister-in-law and a client of her father who brought his 19 year-old son, the woman engages into an affair with the young man where they’re both dealing with issues in their lives as the woman also feels being slighted by her mother who is hoping to go on a trip and retire. The film is essentially a character study of this woman named Amy (Melanie Lynskey) who spends her time at home moping as she is reluctant to get back into the world as she is trying to figure out why did she get divorced.

Susan Koskoff’s screenplay takes it time to explore Amy’s life as this new-divorcee who is angry over the fact that her ex-husband David (Dan Futterman) cheated on her and ended their marriage. She’s back at home not sure what to do and she annoys her mother Ruth (Blythe Danner) who is overlooking the renovation of the house while her father Stan (John Rubenstein) is doing one final job before he can retire. Upon meeting Jeremy (Christopher Abbott) at a dinner party where they have a secret affair, the two vent on their frustrations in life as Jeremy wants to stop acting while his parents think he’s gay. Amy’s affair with Jeremy would later cause some very strange moments where they’re nearly found out but it would also make Amy face her own faults but also try to figure out what went wrong in her marriage as she feels like her mother is blaming her for ruining her own life.

Todd Luiso’s direction is very understated in its simplicity where he uses a lot of close-ups and some medium shots to explore a woman dealing with the state of her life. Much of it includes some hand-held shots and some intimate moments such as a few scenes where Amy and Jeremy would have sex in the car and then talk about their frustrations in life. Shot largely in Westport, Connecticut, the film has a look and feel that seems like it could be anywhere yet it does maintain something that is low-key while Luiso also finds way to have some of the film’s humorous moments be played out naturally such as a scene of Amy coming out of the pool naked singing the Canadian anthem only to be caught by Jeremy’s mother. It’s among these moments that play into Amy’s growth and understanding as a woman as well as trying to find herself. Overall, Luiso crafts a very solid yet mesmerizing film about a woman trying to figure out the next stage in her life.

Cinematographer Julie Kirkwood does excellent work with the film‘s cinematography from the low-key use of lights for the scenes at night as well as the use of colors for some of the daytime scenes. Editor Tom McArdle does terrific work with the editing as it‘s very understated while using a few rhythmic cuts to play out some of the humor. Production designer Russell Barnes and set decorator Daniel R. Kersting do amazing work with the look of the home that Amy’s parents live as well as the house that Jeremy lives in with his parents.

Costume designer Bobby Frederick Tilley does nice work with the costumes from the casual look of the main characters to some of the dresses that Amy wears for dinner dates and such. Sound mixer Christopher J. Leone does fantastic work with some of the film‘s sound to convey some of the atmosphere of the locations as well as some of the mix of sounds in the party scenes. The film’s music by Laura Veirs is wonderful as it is a largely folk-based score with arpeggio guitars along with some original songs by Veirs while music supervisor Holly Adams creates a similar soundtrack that includes contributions from other lesser-known artists with the exception of a song from Billy Squier.

The casting by Kerry Barden, Allison Estrin, and Paul Schnee is brilliant for the ensemble that is created as it features some appearances from Meera Simhan as an old high school classmate of Amy’s, Tori Feinstein as Amy’s niece Caley, Daniel Eric Gold and Sara Chase in their respective roles of Amy’s brother Noah and his wife Missy, Jimmi Simpson as a guy Amy went on a blind date with, Damian Young as Jeremy’s stepfather, and Julie White in a very funny performance as Jeremy’s mother who tries to figure him out as she’s also a therapist. Dan Futterman is terrific in a one-scene performance as Amy’s ex-husband David who meets with Amy where they just try to settle things as he wonders about the things he did.

Christopher Abbott is excellent as Jeremy as a young 19-year old actor who is frustrated with his choice of profession as well as the fact that he is trying to figure out what to do as he falls for Amy. John Rubenstein is superb as Amy’s father Stan as someone who is always caring and making sure she is okay while dealing with the fact that he is set to retire. Blythe Danner is amazing as Amy’s mother Ruth as a woman just obsessed with renovating her house and making sure she will enjoy her husband’s retirement while being a bit snippy towards Amy and her situation. Finally, there’s Melanie Lynskey in a remarkable performance as Amy as this woman in her mid-30s dealing with divorce where Lynskey brings this nice mix of understated drama and humor to the performance that makes Amy a very unique and relatable woman.

Hello I Must Be Going is a phenomenal film from Todd Luiso that features an incredible performance from Melanie Lynskey. Along with strong supporting work from Blythe Danner, John Rubenstein, and Christopher Abbott, the film is a very witty yet engaging portrait of a woman dealing with divorce and failure as she tries to get herself back up. In the end, Hello I Must Be Going is a delightful film from Todd Luiso.

© thevoid99 2013

The Perks of Being a Wallflower

Written and directed by Stephen Chbosky that is based on his own novel, The Perks of Being a Wallflower is the story of a troubled high school freshman who befriends two seniors who are outsiders as they help him deal with his growing pains. The film is a coming-of-age film set in high school where a young man tries to deal with death and all sorts of things as he finds new friends in the most unlikely people. Starring Logan Lerman, Emma Watson, Ezra Miller, Mae Whitman, Joan Cusack, Nina Dobrev, Dylan McDermott, Kate Walsh, Melanie Lynskey, and Paul Rudd. The Perks of Being a Wallflower is a majestic yet mesmerizing film from Stephen Chbosky.

The film explores a year in the life of a young high school freshman who arrives as this very introverted and fragile kid still reeling from the suicide of his best friend. Unable to fit in and feeling left out, he finds himself befriending two seniors who don’t play by the rules or fit in with anyone as they take him to be part of their group. Throughout the course of the film, Charlie Kelmeckis (Logan Lerman) writes letters to an imaginary friend about his year as a freshman where he also endures some repressed memories as well as trying to figure out the world of high school as he befriends Sam (Emma Watson) and Patrick (Ezra Miller) who are step-siblings that prefer the beat of their own drum. For Charlie, he finds a place where he can belong and not worry about fitting in though he realizes that Sam and Patrick are just as messed up as he is.

The film’s screenplay by Stephen Chbosky, that features some contributions from a draft written by the late John Hughes, takes it time to explore the year in the life of Charlie Kelmeckis as his first day as a high school freshman is a terrible one. He is treated with indifference by his older sister Candace (Nina Dobrev) at school while the only person who seems to take notice of Charlie in school is his English professor Mr. Anderson (Paul Rudd) who is impressed with Charlie’s knowledge of literature as he gives him copies of classic books for him to read. Upon meeting Sam and Patrick, Charlie realizes that he isn’t alone though there’s still a lot to learn about life as Patrick is gay who is secretly in a relationship with a popular football player named Brad (Johnny Simmons).

Sam meanwhile, is in a relationship with a college student named Craig (Reece Thompson) where Charlie falls for her though he finds himself in a relationship with her friend Mary Elizabeth (Mae Whitman). When things become complicated in its second half where Charlie finds himself not happy in his relationship with Mary Elizabeth. He also starts to deal with some memories about his late aunt Helen (Melanie Lynskey) whom he adored as he also has blackouts where he wouldn’t remember what he did. Even as he would do something that would bring all of his friends back together despite the fact that he’s a freshman and they’re seniors that are about to leave for college. That sense of reality does come ahead in the third act for Charlie but also something more that plays into his role as a young man coming of age as he tries to comprehend his role in the world and what has been troubling him all these years.

Chbosky’s direction is quite simple in its framing and such as he sets the film in early 1990s Pittsburgh where Sam and Patrick listen to college rock and retro music including the Smiths that Charlie loves. Pittsburgh is a character in the film where it plays to that sense of adventure where it’s a city that is very exciting but it’s also near places in the suburbs where it was OK for kids to come home and feel safe. Chbosky’s direction also creates a sense of realism of the way high school was like in the early 1990s where there are a group of cliques from the jocks, the popular kids, and such that all sit in their own table and all play into their ideas of cool with the exception of Sam, Patrick, and their small group of friends. Especially as Chbosky also plays that sense of awkwardness in Charlie as he is mocked by a classmate for having a Trapper Keeper while always looking uncool though Mr. Anderson thinks there’s more to Charlie.

The direction also has Chbosky showcase what these outsiders would do where Charlie does get his first experience with the use of drugs though it is played for laughs. Yet, it also helps move the story forward in the way Chbosky would set up these dramatic moments where Charlie has no idea what he’s doing where he would reveal things that Sam nor Patrick needed to know which plays into the repressed memories he’s having. All of which play into a dramatic third act that reveals not just the source of repression but also into why he had been so introverted early in the film and why it’s start to come back to him. The overall result is Chbosky creating a truly engaging and tender coming-of-age film about a young teenager’s first year as a high school freshman where he finds friendship in other outsiders.

Cinematographer Andrew Dunn does excellent work with the film‘s cinematography where it is mostly straightforward in its daytime interior and exterior scenes while using some lights for the scenes at night including some shots at the Fort Pitt Tunnel which is a crucial moment in the film. Editor Mary Jo Markey does terrific work with the editing as it‘s mostly straightforward while it does delve into some style for the flashbacks as well as the scenes of Charlie blacking out. Production designer Inbal Weinberg, with set decorator Merissa Lombardo and art director Gregory A. Weimerskirch, does amazing work with the set pieces from the look of Charlie‘s home as well as the home of the other characters as well as the hangouts as it maintains that sense of early 90s look.

Costume designer David C. Robinson does wonderful work with the costumes where some of it stylish to play into the personalities of Sam and Patrick as well as the costumes they wear for the Rocky Horror Picture Show screenings. Visual effects supervisors Christian Cardona and Rocco Passionino do nice work with some of the film‘s minimal visual effects such as Charlie‘s first marijuana-induced haze as well as a chilling scene in the film‘s third act. Sound editors Perry Robertson and Scott Sanders do superb work with the sound such as the school dances and the atmosphere at the school halls. The film’s music by Michael Brook is fantastic as it features some low-key guitar-based music to play into Charlie‘s emotions while music supervisor Alexandra Patsavas creates a fun soundtrack that features music like Dexy’s Midnight Runners, Cocteau Twins, Galaxie 500, the Smiths, New Order, Cracker, and other 80s/90s alternative rock as well as David Bowie’s Heroes which is a prominent piece of the film’s soundtrack.

The casting by Mary Vernieu and Venus Kanani is brilliant for the ensemble that is created as it features some notable small roles from Nicholas Braun as Candace’s boyfriend Ponytail Derek, Zane Holtz as Charlie and Candace’s older brother Chris, Tom Savini as the shop class teacher Mr. Callahan, Dylan McDermott and Kate Walsh as Charlie’s parents, and Joan Cusack in a small yet terrific performance as a doctor who tries to find the source of Charlie’s blackouts. Adam Hagenbuch and Erin Wilhelmi are excellent in their respective roles as the stoner Bob and the Goth girl Alice who are part of the small group of friends Sam and Patrick hang out with. Reece Thompson is pretty good in a small role as Sam’s college boyfriend Craig while Jonny Simmons is superb as the popular jock Brad who is secretly Patrick’s lover.

Mae Whitman is fantastic as the very outspoken Buddhist Mary Elizabeth who falls for Charlie as she overwhelms him with everything. Paul Rudd is amazing as Mr. Anderson as the one teacher Charlie likes as he realizes Charlie’s passion for books as he encourages him to become a writer. Melanie Lynskey is wonderful as Charlie’s late aunt Helen as this very troubled woman who only appears in flashbacks as she is someone that Charlie adored. Nina Dobrev is amazing as Charlie’s older sister Candace who ignores him at school while dealing with her own issues that includes something where she tries to make Charlie keep something secretive.

The film’s best performances are the trio of Ezra Miller, Emma Watson, and Logan Lerman as they give astounding performances in their roles. As the very flamboyant Patrick, Miller brings a lot of enthusiasm to his character as well as lot of charm that plays into the fact that he’s also a bit of a mess when he has trouble dealing with reality. In the role of Sam, Watson has this energy to her role as she has this alluring presence that makes her very interesting as well as someone who is also quite fragile. Lerman is phenomenal as Charlie as this troubled, introverted young boy just trying to figure himself out where Lerman brings a lot of weight to the role in not just his physicality and reactions but also in the way he conveys a boy growing up as it’s definitely a real breakthrough for the young actor.

The Perks of Being a Wallflower is an extraordinarily rich film from Stephen Chbosky that features remarkable performances from Logan Lerman, Emma Watson, and Ezra Miller. The film isn’t just a touching yet poignant coming-of-age tale that is engaging but also showcasing a world where there is a place for those that feel like they don’t belong anywhere. In the end, The Perks of Being a Wallflower is a sensational film from Stephen Chbosky.

© thevoid99 2013

Win Win

Written and directed Thomas McCarthy from a story co-written with Joe Tiboni, Win Win is the story about an attorney and high school wrestling coach who is appointed an elderly client suffering from dementia. When the client’s grandson shows up, the attorney reluctantly takes him in to live with his family while putting him on the wrestling team. The film explores a man’s willingness to try and do the right thing while dealing with the realities of the world. Starring Paul Giamatti, Amy Ryan, Alex Shaffer, Bobby Cannavale, Jeffrey Tambor, Melanie Lynskey, Margo Martindale, and Burt Young. Win Win is a witty yet heartfelt comedy-drama from Thomas McCarthy.

Mike Flaherty (Paul Giamatti) is an attorney struggling to maintain his law practice with friend Stephen Vigman (Jeffrey Tambor) as the two also coach the local high school wrestling team. While he’s also raising two girls with his wife Jackie (Amy Ryan), Mike is dealing with financial problems as he takes in aging client named Leo (Burt Young) who is suffering from the early stages of dementia. Unable to reach Leo’s daughter Cindy (Melanie Lynskey) and Leo is to be in the care of the state, Mike decides to take care of him as he needs the money that will be received every month. Meanwhile, Leo’s grandson Kyle (Alex Shaffer) arrives to live with his grandfather as Mike and Jackie take him in for a few days while Leo is staying at an old folk’s home.

Realizing that Kyle refuses to come home to his mother as she is currently in rehab, Mike and Jackie try to figure out what to do as Mike learns that Kyle is a talented wrestler. With help from his friend Terry (Bobby Cannavale) as an assistant coach, Mike puts Kyle in the team as Kyle becomes the team’s star while helping them become a better team. With Kyle being part of Mike and Jackie’s family while Leo remains in good care, Cindy suddenly shows up with her lawyer (Margo Martindale). Mike tries to settle things until things eventually unravel due to Cindy’s presence as Kyle starts to act out and become unsure who to trust.

The film is about a guy trying to do what is right and save his law practice while taking care an elderly man and his grandson with the help of his wife and a couple of friends. While it’s a premise that doesn’t seem exciting, it is told in a more realistic fashion as it’s about a guy trying to do what is right but he does a few things that is wrong while not being open to his wife about these problems. Yet, Mike Flaherty is a guy who means well and wants to make sure that this old man is in good care. The problem is that he can’t have him stay at his home and watch him all the time due to things he’s got to do while the man’s grandson arrives which further complicates things.

While Kyle is just a kid who has endured a troubled home life due to his mother’s substance abuse and other issues. He finds a home in Mike and Jackie where he is able to have a good home and actually do good in school until his mother arrives. While Cindy is looking for a payoff, she’s not a totally despicable person as she wants to get herself together despite her testy relationship with Kyle. Part of Thomas McCarthy’s gift as a writer is creating characters who are human and all have good intentions though they do the wrong things. McCarthy’s script does follow a certain formula in terms of its structure including a more dramatic third act. McCarthy does manage to stray away from certain dramatic and humorous touches to create a story that is touching but also funny.

McCarthy’s direction is straightforward in terms of its compositions and scene setting but it’s also very engaging in the way he portrays the drama and humor. Notably in the latter as it’s mostly played naturally without striving too hard to get a laugh. McCarthy’s approach to directing actors is to have them figure their characters out while giving them a chance to relax and play their parts. Shooting on location in a small town in New Jersey, the film does have an atmosphere where it does feel like a small town but also that’s full of life. Overall, McCarthy crafts a very solid and light-hearted film that does more than its premise suggests.

Cinematographer Oliver Bokelberg does a nice job with the film‘s colorful cinematography from the sunny yet winter-like look of the exteriors to more intimate shadings for the nighttime interior scenes. Editor Tom McArdle does a very good job with the editing in maintaining a leisured pace for the film including an amazing montage to emphasize Mike‘s sudden streak of good luck. Production designer John Paino, with set decorator Amanda Carroll and art director Scott Anderson, does terrific work in the look for Mike and Leo‘s respective homes along with the more posh home of Terry.

Costume designer Melissa Toth does a fantastic job with the costumes from the more casual clothing most of the characters wear to the wrestling uniforms Kyle and his teammates wear. Sound editor Paul Hsu does some fine work in the sound pieces from the intimate conversation moments to the raucous atmosphere of the wrestling matches. The film’s score by Lyle Workman is wonderful for its folk-rock based score of guitars and pianos along with a soundtrack that is a wide mix of hard rock and metal for the music in the wrestling training scenes to other music from acts like the National and Bon Jovi.

The casting by Kerry Barden and Paul Schnee is truly a highlight of the film for the ensemble that is created. Appearing in small roles include Nina Arianda as Mike’s secretary Shelly, Sharon Wilkins as the judge that appoints Mike the role of Leo’s guardian, David W. Thompson as the very funny wrestling teammate Stemler, Clare Foley as Mike and Jackie’s eldest adolescent daughter Abby, and in the dual role of their youngest daughter Stella are Penelope and Sophia Kindred. Other notable small roles include Margo Martindale as Cindy’s reasonable attorney, Burt Young as the ailing but funny Leo, Jeffrey Tambor as Mike’s witty law/wrestling associate Stephen, and Melanie Lynskey as Kyle’s troubled and conniving mother Cindy.

Bobby Cannavale is excellent in a very funny performance as Mike’s best friend Terry who helps Mike coach the team to evade his own personal issues. Alex Shaffer is brilliant as the troubled teenager Kyle who finds a home in Mike and Jackie while dealing with his own personal issues as he tries to get to know his grandfather. Amy Ryan is superb as Jackie where Ryan displays a great sense of wit as a woman who becomes the mother that Kyle needs as there’s a real sense of toughness in a woman who doesn’t take shit from anyone. Finally, there’s Paul Giamatti in a very remarkable performance as Mike Flaherty. Giamatti brings a great sense of humility and earnestness as a man wanting to do what is right while hoping to actually gain something that will make him think he’s a good guy as it’s Giamatti at his best.

Win Win is a stellar and enjoyable film from Thomas McCarthy. Featuring a marvelous ensemble cast led by Paul Giamatti and Amy Ryan, it’s a film that is well-acted along with a fascinating story about people trying to find some sort of happiness as well as win a few in life. While it’s the most accessible film that McCarthy has done in terms of humor and light drama. It’s also a film that allows the audience to find characters that they can relate to. In the end, Win Win is a rich and delightful film from Thomas McCarthy.

Thomas McCarthy Films: (The Station Agent) - The Visitor - (The Cobbler) - Spotlight

© thevoid99 2012

Up in the Air

Originally Written and Posted at Epinions.com on 12/25/09 w/ Additional Edits.

Based on the novel by Walter Kirn, Up in the Air tells the story of a corporate downsizer whose job is to fly around the world to fire people from their jobs while hoping to reach his goal of a large frequent flyer numbers. During his journey, the man accompanies a young woman doing the same but with new technology while he falls for a traveling woman who also shares his philosophies about traveling. Directed by Jason Reitman with an adapted screenplay by Reitman and Sheldon Turner. The film is an exploration of a man's empty life and the world he surrounds himself in during a tumultuous time where the recession is hitting hard in the world. Starring George Clooney, Vera Farmiga, Anna Kendrick, Danny McBride, Melanie Lynskey, Amy Morton, Sam Elliot, Zach Galifianakis, and appearances from J.K. Simmons and Jason Bateman. Up in the Air is a witty yet harrowing drama about isolation and the world that revolves around a single man.

Ryan Bingham (George Clooney) is a man whose job is to fly from city to city where he tells people that they're fired. The reaction to those who are fired is shocking yet Bingham isn't really concerned with people's feelings as he's just there to do a job. Bingham flies millions of miles throughout the year hoping to reach the goal of 10 million frequent flyer miles to be part of a rare, prestigious club. When he's not flying or working, he lives in an apartment that he is rarely at in Omaha. On his spare time, Bingham also gives seminars on how to live a life without attachments where during those travels, he meets with another traveler named Alex Goran (Vera Farmiga) where the two share an attraction towards each other.

When Bingham is called back to Omaha by his boss Craig Gregory (Jason Bateman), Bingham learns of a new strategy that could impact his job and lifestyle. A new young employee named Natalie Keener (Anna Kendrick) has just introduced the idea of firing people through the Internet and on video screen. Upon the realization that Natalie has little experience in interacting face-to-face with the people she's to fire, Gregory decides to have Natalie accompany Bingham so she can have experience. Bingham reluctantly takes her in while showing her the ropes on how to travel and how to do things properly. Natalie becomes unaware of the emotional implications of what to do when firing people as she angers a fired employee (J.K. Simmons) where Bingham would calm the man down.

With Bingham's own personal life having little attachment as he learned his younger sister Julie (Melanie Lynskey) is about to get married. He is asked by his sister Kara (Amy Morton) to take pictures with a cardboard picture of Julie and her fiancee Jim (Danny McBride) in various places. Bingham reluctantly does with help from Natalie and during a stop in Miami, he meets up with Alex again as she shares her own philosophies of life to Natalie as they crash a party. With Natalie still trying to get her footing on how to fire people as well as the way Bingham's life works. She and Bingham are suddenly called back to Omaha as Bingham makes some unexpected moves on his own in choosing to go to his sister's wedding. During this visit where Alex accompanies him, Bingham begins to question his own life along with his growing attraction to Alex.

The film is about a traveling man traveling all across the country doing his own thing without any kinds of attachment to anyone or anything. Yet, he would end up meeting people that would change all of these philosophies that he lives by while pondering about his own lifestyle. The film itself is an existential drama with dabbles of humor. Yet, it all centers around the character of Ryan Bingham. A man who loves his job, loves to fly, loves to live in nice hotels, and have all of the benefits. Yet, he would often be attached to a woman in Alex, who does the same as they're attracted to each other. When he takes Natalie on board as his new protegee, Bingham is suddenly faced with questions from Natalie about his lifestyle and his goals. Bingham avoids them only to realize that Natalie might have a point near the end of the film.

The screenplay that Jason Reitman and Sheldon Turner is wonderfully structured from the first act of Bingham's world and the introduction of Natalie where he bring her on his travels. The second being his increased attraction to Alex and guiding Natalie into this cruel world of firing people. All of this would lead to a dramatic third act that would impact not just Bingham's own development and feelings about the world. It would also impact about the people around him where there is a harsh revelation about Alex along with Natalie's own feelings about the world. Along the way in the journey, there's moments where all three characters would learn about themselves and have fun as the lesson in life is there's no life without interaction or attachments.

The script Reitman and Turner creates definitely raises questions about existentialism and the way the world works. Even as it is told at the right place and right time when America as of late 2009 is still going through a horrible recession where people are losing their jobs. The reactions of the people who are fired are told realistically of what they could be going through or what they went through. While to Bingham, it may not affect him very much but to someone as young as Natalie. It's a cruel reminder of the way the world is as her idea to fire people through the computer without human interaction would change her in such a way. Notably in a tragic moment in the third act that would impact not just Natalie but also Bingham in relation to what Natalie is feeling.

The screenplay definitely features some amazing writing in its dialogue and moments of humor. Yet, it's Reitman's direction of the film itself that is truly stunning. From the opening credit sequence of ariel shots of various cities and landscapes to his engaging compositions of everything he's shooting at the airport, hotels, and various cities. It's as if Reitman is taking the audience onto a journey from city to city where as troubled as it is. America is still a beautiful and interesting place from the ariel shots of the cities at night to the airports they're at. Yet, Reitman's direction is filled with close-ups and zooms to emphasize what is happening to the characters. Even as they're facing the emotional upheaval of what they're doing or going through. Even if it's a funny moment where something isn't meant to be funny but can come across as something that is quite hilarious.

The sarcastic humor that Reitman creates works in its sense of rhythm that keeps the film going. The dramatic staging that Reitman does is superb as he knows where to distance himself from he and the actors as they're performing. Yet, some of those dramatic moments and compositions do create moments that are stunning. Notably in the world of Ryan Bingham as he faces the idea of isolation and trying to find some meaning in his life. The result of these intimate moments, light comical moments, and intense, heavy sequences and compositions show that Jason Reitman is becoming a director that will engage the audiences with themes and ideas as he is really just getting started.

Cinematographer Eric Steelberg does brilliant work with the film's photography from darkly-lit but colorful interior nighttime scenes at the bar where Alex and Ryan meets to the bright colors in the interiors of the airports that Ryan frequents in. Even in some shots where things are a little grey in the exterior scenes as Steelberg's work is phenomenal. Editor Dana E. Glauberman is excellent in its rhythmic pacing, straight-cuts and transitions while moving the film quite leisurely for the most part. Even in scenes where it's funny or for dramatic effect.

Production designer Steve Saklad with set decorator Linda Lee Sutton and art director Andrew Max Cahn do great work in the art direction of the film. From the look of the party that Ryan, Alex, and Natalie crash to the hotel rooms, and even Ryan's own apartment home which looks somewhat empty all have something to say in Ryan's life. The costume design of Danny Glicker is really good from the suits that Ryan wears along with the business-woman clothes that Alex and Natalie wears where Alex has a sexier look with Natalie a more uptight look to emphasize their characters. Sound editors Barney Cabral, Perry Robertson, and Scott Sanders do fine work in the film's sound from the way airplanes sound in and out, the intimate sounds of the conferences that Ryan speaks in, and the atmosphere of Natalie talking through people in the computer in their termination as it's done quite superbly.

The music score by Rolfe Kent is lightly playful and subtle to emphasize on Ryan's continuing journey in life and the people he encounters. Yet, the soundtrack compiled by Randall Poster and Rick Clark is wonderful with songs by Sharon King and the Dap-Kings, Graham Nash, Elliot Smith, Charles Atlas, and Crosby, Stills, & Nash in playing up to the journey of Ryan Bingham.

The casting by Mindy Marin is superb with some cameo appearances from Young MC at the party Ryan, Alex, and Natalie crash in along with J.K. Simmons and Zach Galifianakis as terminated employees. Simmons as a hardened, bitter man who plays it quite straight while Galifianakis does a great job in playing up for laughs in his own fantasies about being fired. Sam Elliot also makes a funny cameo appearance as an airline pilot who sits with Ryan. Danny McBride is very good in a very understated yet restrained role as Ryan's soon-to-be brother-in-law while Melanie Lynskey is wonderful as Ryan's younger sister. Amy Morton is fine in a small but memorable role as Ryan's older sister who is not happy about his lifestyle choice while Jason Bateman is great as Ryan's smarmy boss.

Anna Kendrick is superb in a real breakthrough role as Natalie Keener. Already known for a fantastic role in Rocket Science and more recently, in the Twilight film series, Kendrick delivers in being a great foil of sorts for George Clooney while going head-to-head about the way things are. Kendrick is also funny and dramatic as she not only steals a few scenes from Clooney but makes her character to be very memorable and realistic about how young people are trying to figure out the world. Vera Farmiga is excellent as Alex, a sexy woman who likes to travel and do all sorts of fun things with Ryan Bingham. Yet, there's also someone who has seen a lot in life in a character like Alex as she helps not only guide Natalie through the world of adulthood but also help Ryan find a world other than traveling that would later be part of a very dramatic set-up. Farmiga's performance is definitely phenomenal as she definitely can go toe-to-toe with someone as big as George Clooney.

George Clooney, himself, delivers in what is definitely his best dramatic role yet. While Clooney is a movie star who can deliver the goods in a performance. He's also an actor that will provide the right notes in a performance. Maybe not in the style of a method actor like Sean Penn or as grandiose as Daniel Day-Lewis. Yet, Clooney's performance as Ryan Bingham is very realistic in its development of a man in an existential journey where he not only tries to fight in saving a lifestyle that he only knows. He would end going into a realization that living life without attachments aren't really worth living. It's a remarkable performance from Clooney who not only can dominate a scene but is willing to share it with other actors, notably Farmiga and Kendrick. What Clooney creates is a role that is shows his range as an actor while giving it a personality that only Clooney can create.

Up in the Air is an amazing film from Jason Reitman and company with great performances from George Clooney, Vera Farmiga, and Anna Kendrick. Audiences who want to see witty films that is entertaining and smart will definitely enjoy this. Though at times, the tone is bleak, it's a film that really tells a story that is relevant and what is happening while telling stories about the way life works. For fans of Jason Reitman, this film will truly show a massive stepping stone into his career as it is clear that he will become a director to watch in the years to come. In the end, Up in the Air is a remarkable achievement from Jason Reitman while giving its star George Clooney one of his best roles yet.

Jason Reitman Films: Thank You for Smoking - Juno - Young Adult - Labor Day - (Men, Women, & Children) - Tully - The Front Runner - Ghostbusters: Afterlife - The Auteurs #30: Jason Reitman

© thevoid99 2011

The Informant!

Based on The Informant by Kurt Eichenwald, The Informant! is about a corporate whistle blower who uncovers price fixing at his lysine company in Decatur, Illinois. Directed by Steven Soderbergh with an adapted script by Scott Z. Burns, the film is a comedy crime film where the whistle blower also helps the FBI and tries to be part of the gang. Starring Matt Damon, Scott Bakula, Joel McHale, Melanie Lynskey, and Tom Papa. The Informant! is a witty, stylish character study from Steven Soderbergh.

It’s 1992 as Mark Whitacre (Matt Damon) is an executive working for Archer Daniels Midland (ADM) where he’s a rising star. Yet, when he notices some problems over price fixing on lysine where the FBI is becoming suspicious. Under the orders of his supervisors, Whitacre talks to FBI agent Brian Shepard everything only later to tell him the truth about what is happening. With his wife Ginger (Melanie Lynskey) urging to get in contact with FBI, Mark agrees to become their informant as Shepard and Robert Herndon (Joel McHale) follow the meetings Whitacre has lined up all over the world.

While Shepard and Herndon manages to get tapes and information about these price-fixing meetings, Whitacre believes that he’ll get something out of it though it becomes difficult to maintain his role as an executive and informant. When ADM and its supervisor Mick Andreas (Tom Papa) realizes that something is up as they’re being targeted. Something goes wrong when Whitacre starts to do things that threatens the integrity of the investigation. Notably as he has told a few people such as his secretary (Rusty Schwimmer) and a couple of co-workers about an upcoming raid. Things get worse after a meeting with attorneys for ADM, Whitacre reveals some things he might have done that could incriminate him.

Turning to his attorney James Epstein (Tony Hale) when dealing with the FBI and government, Whitacre starts to unravel from the things he said alienating Shepard and Herndon. With the focus shifting towards Whitacre, Whitacre’s erratic behavior has truths unveiled about the information he provided along with Whitacre’s troubled state of mind.

In this true story about ADM price-fixing scandal that targeted the supervisors to the whistle blower in Mark Whitacre. The film is a study of a man who has everything going for him only to become a pawn of the FBI thinking he will get a big pay-day and take over the company. Instead, he does things during his job as an informant where he did what he had to do to survive and maintain a lifestyle. The outcome is that Mark Whitacre becomes is own worst enemy and an even bigger liability to the people he’s supposed to be helping.

Screenwriter Scott Z. Burns creates a film that spans for nearly 15 years from the early 1990s to the mid-2000s though the bulk of the story is set in the 1990s. While a lot of the dialogue relating to corporate price-fixing and other business-type of dialogue is hard to follow, it serves to play into the world that Whitacre is in as the film is told through his perspective. With a lot of the voice-narration told from Whitacre, the dialogue reveals a lot of what Whitaker is thinking while some of the dialogue is repeated including the story about being adopted by a rich man following his parents’ death at a young age. Once the story starts to progress and the characters around Whitacre wonder what is going on. The lies start to be revealed as Burns creates a smart yet intriguing script.

Soderbergh’s direction is very stylish as he creates a film that is reminiscent of films from the 1970s in terms of look and tone. Yet, he infuses a lot of humor in the way Whitacre looks throughout the 1990s to the way he tries to help out in playing the informant. Serving as cinematographer under the Peter Andrews alias, Soderbergh creates a bit of heightened look throughout the film in part of the lights that appear in the film. The look starts to get a bit more normal towards the end as if Whitacre goes from hero to degenerate. While the film’s whimsical tone and humor plays off well in the first two acts, it starts to fall a bit in the third act when things get serious. Soderbergh creates some amazing compositions and shots to make the film engaging as the overall result is a very solid character-driven comedy.

Editor Stephen Mirrione does an excellent job with the editing where he keeps things straightforward with the cutting while maintaining a tight yet leisured pace for the film. Production designer Doug J. Meerdink does a fabulous job with the look of the ADM buildings and the posh homes of the Whitacre family including the lounges and suites Whitacre does business at. Costume designer Shoshana Rubin does a good job with the costumes from the clothes the men to the dresses that Ginger wears throughout the film. Sound editor Larry Blake does a great job with the sound to capture the intimacy of the meetings to the way the tapes are recorded for these meetings

The film’s score by the legendary Marvin Hamlisch is the film’s real technical highlight. The playful music that ranges from zany to dramatic is among one of Hamlisch’s finest moments as he adds a lot of humor from old rag-time to country. With the soundtrack playing as if it came from a film from the 1970s, Hamlisch also contributes a song performed by Steve Tyrell to play up the whimsy of Whitacre’s situation as the music is a superb contribution to the film.

The casting by Carmen Cuba is phenomenal from the array of appearances that add humor from the likes of Frank Welker and Candy Clark as an aging couple interviewed by the FBI, Dick Smothers as a judge, Tom Smothers as Mick’s dad, Clancy Brown and Bob Zany as corporate attorneys, Thomas F. Wilson and Rick Overton as a couple of ADM supervisors, Eddie Jemison as a co-worker of Mark Whitacre, Ann Dowd and Allan Havey as FBI supervisors, Paul F. Tompkins and Patton Oswalt as FBI advisors, Rusty Schwimmer as Mark’s secretary, and Tony Hale as Mark’s attorney James Epstein who gets close to see Whitacre unravel.

Tom Papa is very good as the smarmy Mick Andreas who often curses and says very bad things in front of Mark. Scott Bakula and Joel McHale are excellent in their respective roles as Brian Shepard and Robert Herndon, the FBI men who help out Whitacre until they realize some of the things he’s done that alienates them. Melanie Lynskey is great as Ginger Whitacre, Mark’s wife who supports him and tries to help him out only to watch him closely as he unravel where Lynskey becomes very understated towards the third act of the film.

Matt Damon gives what is truly a terrific yet funny performance as Mark Whitacre. In this character, there is a naïveté to this man believing he is helping out the government for his own gain. There is also a sense of delusion in Whitacre as Damon makes him very complex as someone who keeps screwing things up yet couldn’t help himself. There is a lot of wit and sympathy to Damon’s performance as he makes Whitacre a man who is very complicated no matter how devious he can be.

The Informant! is a smart yet entertaining comedy from Steven Soderbergh that features a marvelous performance from Matt Damon. The film is one of Soderbergh’s more accessible film in a mix of mainstream flicks to art-house/experimental films. It is also a fascinating character study on a real man who thought he was doing the right thing only to do it the wrong way. In the end, The Informant! is an excellent film from Steven Soderbergh.

Steven Soderbergh Films: sex, lies, & videotape - Kafka - King of the Hill - The Underneath - Gray’s Anatomy - Schizopolis - Out of Sight - The Limey - Erin Brockovich - Traffic - Ocean’s Eleven - Full Frontal - Solaris (2002 film) - Eros-Equilibrium - Ocean’s Twelve - Bubble - The Good German - Ocean’s Thirteen - Che - The Girlfriend Experience - And Everything is Going Fine - Contagion - Haywire - Magic Mike - Side Effects - Behind the Candelabra - Logan Lucky - (Unsane) - (High Flying Bird)

The Auteurs #39: Steven Soderbergh Pt. 1 - Pt. 2

© thevoid99 2011