Written and directed by James C. Strouse, The Winning Season is the story of a down-on-his-luck ex-high school basketball star who is asked by an old friend to coach a girl’s basketball team as he help them in and out of the court. It’s a film that follows a man who is in need to redeem himself as well as help some girls going through growing pains. Starring Sam Rockwell, Emma Roberts, Rooney Mara, Shareeka Epps, Emily Rios, Meaghan Witri, Melanie Hinkle, Margo Martindale, and Rob Corddry. The Winning Season is a delightful and charming film from James C. Strouse.
Set in a small town in Indiana, the film is a simple story of an alcoholic busboy who is asked by an old high school friend who is now principal in coaching the girl’s varsity basketball team. For Bill (Sam Rockwell), the chance to do something other than drown in sorrows in alcohol as well as cope with being estranged from his own daughter is something he needs. Yet, James C. Strouse’s script doesn’t exactly play by convention as Bill is someone that is reluctant to do the job as the team of girls he has aren’t that good with one of them sporting an injured foot. Still, they want to play as Bill is aware that they have the heart but need a lot of work as it gives him the chance to do something good. Even as he’s become estranged from his own daughter who wants nothing to do with him as she also plays basketball for another school. While Strouse does play into a formula of sorts of turning a team of misfits into a winning team. He plays with it a bit as he focus on the girls themselves as they go through growing pains that is expected as a teenager as Bill helps them out with additional help from his new assistant coach in Donna (Margo Martindale).
Strouse’s direction is quite simple as it play into this life of a deadbeat loser who is given a chance to make something of himself again. Though it’s largely shot in upstate New York during the winter, the film does play into a look that is quite drab and low-key as it relates to the world that Bill is in as someone who feels sorry for himself constantly and is unable to do things right for his daughter. While Strouse uses some wide shots to establish some of the locations as well as in some of the basketball game scenes. Strouse’s usage of the medium shots and close-up would give the film an intimacy as it relates to the characters and their own situations. Especially as there is an equal amount of tension to the girls as they are enduring some of the awkwardness of being a teenager as well as other personal things. Yet, Strouse does keep things light so that the drama doesn’t overwhelm things as much of the humor feels natural as it would play in the third act where Bill does whatever he can to help his team from afar as it would also be a major moment in his journey for redemption. Overall, Strouse creates an engaging and heartfelt film about a former high school basketball star coaching a girl’s varsity team and make them be winners.
Cinematographer Frank G. DeMarco does excellent work with the film‘s low-key cinematography as it emphasizes more on a drab look with low-key lighting to play into Bill‘s state of mind only to become more colorful later on once he starts to care about what he does and do right for himself. Editor Joe Klotz does nice work with the editing as it is mostly straightforward to play into the humor and some of the drama. Production designer Stephen Beatrice, with set decorator Cristina Casanas and art director Matthew Munn, does fantastic work with the look of Bill‘s apartment home as well as the high school gym where he and the girls do practices.
Costume designer Victoria Farrell does terrific work with the costumes from the design of the school uniforms as well as the design of the school mascots. Sound designers Rusty Dunn and Lewis Goldstein do superb work with the sound as it play into the way music is presented in some scenes as well as the raucous atmosphere of the basketball games. The film’s music by Edward Shearmur does wonderful work with the music as its mixture of jazz and rock help play into some of the film‘s humor and melancholia while music supervisor Tracy McKnight creates a fun soundtrack that is a mix of music from acts like Ben Lee, Patti LaBelle, Hamilton, Joe Frank, & Reynolds, and other acts in the world of hip-hop and pop.
The casting by Kerry Barden and Paul Schnee is brilliant as it feature some notable small roles from Kevin Breznahan as an adult boyfriend of Wendy, Jessica Hecht as Bill’s ex-wife Stacey, Connor Paolo as a varsity basketball player named Damon whom Abbie is fond of, Vanessa Gordillo as a new member of the basketball team in Flor, and Shana Dowdeswell as Bill’s daughter Molly whom he’s been estranged by as she despises him for being a loser. Rob Corddry is terrific as the school principal Terry who is an old friend of Bill that offers him the job as he has a daughter in the team. Margo Martindale is fantastic as Donna as a team bus driver who reluctantly helps Bill as an assistant coach despite her lack of knowledge in basketball as she would prove to be an asset in helping the girls with their growing pains. Melanie Hinkle is superb as Mindy as the team’s injured player who helps film many of the games as well as provide some ideas of what the team could do. Meaghan Witri is wonderful as Tamra as Terry’s daughter who is coping with her own sexual identity as she turns to Donna for advice.
Emily Rios is excellent as Kathy as a new student who is a good shooter but faces some prejudice as some opposing players would call her some racial slurs. Shareeka Epps is amazing as Lisa as a player who isn’t fond of Kathy at first until she stands up for her as well as become a less selfish player. Rooney Mara is remarkable as Wendy as Mindy’s sister who has an affair with an older man despite the fact that she’s underage as she copes with wanting to be more grown up as she is still young. Emma Roberts is marvelous as Abbie as the teenage girl who would coax Bill to do something as she also deals with first love where it’s a very realistic and charming performance from Roberts. Finally, there’s Sam Rockwell in an incredible performance as Bill as once-great high school basketball star who has become a deadbeat alcoholic as he copes with his failures until he is given the chance to coach a girl’s team as he finally finds meaning in his life again.
The Winning Season is an excellent film from James C. Strouse. Featuring a great cast led by Sam Rockwell as well as a witty yet heartfelt script and playing with the conventions of sports films. It’s a film that offers something with some substance while not being afraid to follow the formula as well as present characters that are quite real. In the end, The Winning Season is an amazing film from James C. Strouse.
© thevoid99 2016
Written, directed, and starring Lake Bell, In a World… is the story of a vocal coach who struggles to make it in the world of the voiceover game as she contends wither very famous father and other men in an industry often dominated by men. The film is an exploration into an industry where men often runs things as a woman is trying to make it on her own terms as she copes with having to compete with her father. Also starring Demetri Martin, Fred Melamed, Rob Corddry, Michaela Watkins, Ken Marino, Tig Notaro, and Nick Offerman. In a World… is a rich and engaging film from Lake Bell.
The film explores the world of the voiceover industry as it revolves around a revered veteran, a popular voiceover actor, and the veteran’s vocal coach daughter all vying for this job to do voiceover work for a trailer for an upcoming film franchise following the death of a great voiceover artist. Yet, it’s really more about this woman who has her father’s gift for doing great voices as she struggles to make it on her own as she works as a freelance voice coach as well as do small gigs. Even as she is kicked out of her dad’s home as she lives with her sister where she copes with having to be in her father’s shadow. When opportunity knocks as she had gained two voiceover gigs that was supposed to be for someone else. It then lead to all sorts of things as she finds out she would have to compete with her father and the man whose gigs she accidentally took.
Lake Bell’s screenplay definitely explores the struggle for women to make it in an industry where men are often the driving force as it sort of plays as an allegory of the way the film industry is where it would favor men instead of women. Even as her character Carol Solomon is someone who is very good at creating voices and helping other actors with their voices. Unfortunately, it hasn’t done enough to get her own career in gear despite the help of some people including sound engineer Louis (Demetri Martin) who has a crush on her. Her father Sam Sotto (Fred Melamed) is even less supportive as he is more concerned in grooming the already popular voiceover actor Gustav Warner (Ken Marino) to be the man who will say the words “in a world…” that the late Don LaFontaine has been famous for.
While there’s a subplot involving Carol’s sister Dani (Michaela Watkins) who is struggling with her marriage to Moe (Rob Corddry), it does play into Carol using her voice to help them. Even as it reveals the sisters’ shared frustration towards their father who is often dismissive about Carol’s work as doesn’t think women have a place in the voiceover industry. Carol’s encounter with Gustav at his party would only complicate things due to Sam being more supportive towards Gustav as he is unaware of the fact that Carol was the one that took Gustav’s gigs due to Gustav being sick. It would definitely lead to this competition where Carol knows she has to compete with her dad and Gustav for this gig but she doesn’t have their egos as she knows that she will at least she put some effort if she loses the gig.
Bell’s direction is very simple as she aims for something that feels very intimate as well as provide some insight into a woman trying to break into a male-dominated industry. Especially as it has something that is a low-budget film but doesn’t have the look nor the feel of a low-budget film where Bell definitely creates some unique compositions such as close-ups and medium shots. Notably in the former as it plays to the power of the voice such as this climatic montage of Sam, Carol, and Gustav recording their voices for this trailer. The direction also has some effective use in its approach to humor that is very light-hearted as Bell prefers to create something that feels natural while not being afraid of displaying some quirks. Overall, Bell creates a very fascinating and entertaining film about a woman trying to get her break in the art of voice-overs.
Cinematographer Seamus Tierney does excellent work with the film‘s cinematography as it is vibrant and colorful for some of the film‘s daytime scenes while using some unique lights and shades for some of its nighttime interior scenes. Editor Tom McArdle does brilliant work with the editing as it‘s mostly straightforward while its climatic montage is very inventive to showcase how Sam, Carol, and Gustav each prepare themselves for this gig. Production designer Megan Fenton, with set decorator Elizabeth Garner and art director Ashley Fenton, does nice work with the look of the homes that Sam and Gustav live in as well as the small apartment that Dani and Moe live at.
Costume designer Lindy McMichael does terrific work with the costumes as it‘s mostly casual with the exception of the party dress that Carol wears to Gustav‘s party. Sound editor Fredrick Helm does fantastic work with the sound editing to provide the usage of voice-over and how they‘re created as well as in the climatic montage where Carol, Sam, and Gustav are recording their narrations. The film’s music by Ryan Miller is wonderful as it‘s mostly a keyboard-driven score that is low-key to play into its humor while music supervisor Chris Douridas creates a very fun soundtrack that features a diverse array of music from Mulatu Astatke, Warren G and Nate Dogg, Ice Cube, Squeeze, Salt-N-Pepa, Rick James, the Commodores, Slick Rick, Eddie Money, the Police, Gerry Rafferty, and Tears for Fears.
The casting by John Papsidera is amazing as the film features cameos from Jeff Garlin, Eva Longoria, and a couple of noted voice-over actors in Joe Cipriano and Mark Elliott. Other notable small roles include Talulah Riley as a British neighbor of Moe who helps Carol out in finding a dress, Stephanie Allynne as the sound studio receptionist Nancy whom Louis goes on a bad date with, Corsica Wilson as a woman with a sexy baby voice that Carol meets, Jason O’Mara as an attractive Irishman that Dani meets in her work as a hotel concierge, Tig Notaro as the sound engineer Cher, and Geena Davis in a wonderful appearance as a film executive who would present the trailer that Carol, Sam, and Gustav have been competing for. Nick Offerman is excellent as the sound studio manager Heners who is trying to make sure things are going well as he reveals to despise Gustav for personality reasons. Alexandra Holden is terrific as Sam’s much-younger girlfriend Jamie who tries to smooth things between Sam and his daughters as well as be his supporter. Rob Corddry is fantastic as Carol’s brother-in-law Moe as a small-time chef who is trying to get some time with his wife as he copes with her frequent absences as he would help Carol out with her things.
Ken Marino is superb as the voiceover actor Gustav Warner as he is a guy with a sense of charm but also a bit of smugness which Marino manages to flesh out so well. Demetri Martin is brilliant as Louis as Carol’s sound engineer who has a thing for her as he copes with being single and Carol’s encounter with Gustav. Michaela Watkins is great as Carol’s sister Dani who copes with her work as well as an encounter with an attractive Irishman whom she met at work. Fred Melamed is incredible as Dani and Carol’s father Sam Sotto as this famous voiceover actor who has everything but is often distracted by his own ego and what he wants to do which often leads to a troubled relationship with his daughters. Finally, there’s Lake Bell in a remarkable performance as Carol as this vocal coach who is trying to get her break as she copes with competing with her father as well as the sexism she is facing in the industry as it’s a performance full of charm and naturalistic humor.
In a World… is an extraordinary film from Lake Bell that features a fantastic ensemble cast and a compelling premise that is very engaging. It’s a film that manages to be quite witty as well as have something to say about women trying to make it in an industry that is often dominated by men. In the end, In a World… is a marvelous film from Lake Bell.
© thevoid99 2014
Based on the novel by Isaac Marion, Warm Bodies is the story of a zombie who falls in love with the daughter of a zombie-resistance leader as he starts to regain semblance of humanity. Written for the screen and directed by Jonathan Levine, the film is a genre-bending film that takes place during a zombie apocalypse where it’s a mixture of the zombie-thriller meets the romantic-comedy. Starring Nicholas Hoult, Teresa Palmer, Rob Corddry, Dave Franco, Analeigh Tipton, and John Malkovich. Warm Bodies is an extraordinary yet witty film from Jonathan Levine.
The film is set during a zombie apocalypse in which humans are fighting against zombies and skeleton-like creatures called boneys who are hungry for human flesh. Yet, it is a story about one particular zombie whose encounter with the daughter of zombie-resistance leader not only has him falling for her but also regain aspects of his humanity. It’s a strange premise for a film the bends various genres yet manages to work as it’s largely told from the perspective of this zombie named R (Nicholas Hoult) who often narrates the film as he deals with his life as a zombie as he also collects things including vinyl records and such. Notably as R reveals a lot of his own feelings and confusion about being a zombie as he is hungry for human flesh and brains where an encounter with a young resistance group has him eating the brains of someone where he sees memories and such that also features the young woman he captures in Julie (Teresa Palmer) whom he falls for.
Jonathan Levine’s screenplay does have a conventional structure that plays into R and Julie’s eventual romance though it takes its time to build that up where Julie is immediately frightened and confused by R and his kind actions. Especially for the fact that he killed and ate the brains of her boyfriend Perry (Dave Franco) where R sees Perry’s memories to know a lot about Julie as she’s the daughter of resistance leader Colonel Grigio (John Malkovich). With Julie staying at an airplane where R lives, she realizes that R is acting human as he starts to say words as it would rub off on the other zombies including his friend M (Rob Corddry). Yet, the zombies’ reintroduction with their humanity causes a conflict with the more-deadly boneys who not only feed on human flesh but anything that has a beating heart. Levine’s script uses R’s voice-over narration to express his feelings as well as his fascination to humanity where he also reveal the sense of loss that Julie had faced in her life as he becomes confused on whether to remain a zombie or to become human again.
Levine’s direction is pretty straightforward for the most part while he also adds some style into the film. Notably as he maintains some different looks to play into the different world of the zombies and human where the zombie world is a bit discolored whereas the human world and the dream sequences have more color. Levine’s use of close-ups, medium shots, and wide shots does manage to help create some unique images as well as play into the developing relationship between R and Julie. Levine does stick to convention as far as the action is concerned while not straying too far into fast-paced cutting for the action while infusing it with bits of humor in the story. Notably the early scenes of R and M grunting to each other as they’re having a zombie conversation as well as a scene where R goes into the human world and Julie’s home that includes a funny homage to a great romantic comedy. Overall, Levine creates a very stylish yet enjoyable genre-bending film about a zombie who falls for a human girl and regains his humanity.
Cinematographer Javier Aguirresarobe does amazing work with the film‘s very stylish cinematography by infusing a mostly discolored look for the scenes set in the airport and most of the locations in Montreal to the more colorful dream sequences that R experiences as well as the scenes involving the humans. Editor Nancy Richardson does excellent work with the editing as it‘s very stylized to play with some of action scenes involving the zombies, boneys, and humans as well as a few montages to play into R and Julie‘s developing romance. Production designer Martin Whist, along with set decorator Suzanne Cloutier and supervising art director Gilles Aird, does superb work with the set pieces from the decayed look of the airport as well as the look of the buildings where there‘s little technology and some places are abandoned. Costume designer George L. Little does nice work with the costumes from the red hoodie that R wears to the flannel shirt that Julie wears as it‘s mostly casual.
Special effects makeup designer Dave Elsey does brilliant work with the makeup design in the way the zombies look. Visual effects supervisor Dan Schrecker does fantastic work with some of the visual effects for the shots inside the bodies of the zombies as they regain their humanity as well as the look of the boneys. Sound editor Martyn Zub does terrific work with the sound from the way gunfire sounds to the growl of the boneys and the locations the characters encounter. The film’s music by Marco Beltrami and Buck Sanders is wonderful for its mixture of folk, rock, and orchestral music to play up the action as well as the romance while music supervisor Alexandra Patsavas create a superb collection of music that includes pieces by John Waite, Jimmy Cliff, the National, Guns N’ Roses, Bob Dylan, Bruce Springsteen, Feist, Bon Iver, the Scorpions, Roy Orbison, and M83.
The casting by Joanna Colbert and Richard Mento is incredible as it features some noteworthy small performances from Cory Hardrict as a subordinate of Colonel Grigio and Dave Franco as Julie’s unfortunate boyfriend Perry who starts to act more like Julie’s father. Analeigh Tipton is wonderful as Julie’s friend Nora who survives the zombie raid while trying to figure out R’s growing transformation into becoming human as she brings some humor to the film. Rob Corddry is excellent as R’s friend M as a zombie who also regains his humanity as he helps lead a group of zombies to deal with the boneys as Corddry also brings in some humor to the film. John Malkovich is superb as Colonel Grigio who is hell-bent on killing zombies after losing his wife to the apocalypse while trying to protect his daughter as it’s Malkovich being a badass but also being funny.
Finally, there’s the performances of Nicholas Hoult and Teresa Palmer as both of them do amazing work in their respective roles as R and Julie. Palmer brings a quality that allows her character to be engaging as well as funny as this young woman who is fascinated by this zombie she meets while dealing with the fact that he is becoming human again. Hoult is great as this young zombie who laments over his being while suddenly becoming human again as he brings the hope that the human-zombie war might come to an end. Hoult and Palmer have some wonderful chemistry together in the way they interact as well as being their for each other as they’re the highlight of the film.
Warm Bodies is a sensational film from Jonathan Levine that features winning performances from Nicholas Hoult and Teresa Palmer. The film isn’t just a creative genre-bender that is funny, romantic, exciting, and full of some cool action scenes. It’s also a film that takes the zombie film and infuse it with some heart where even zombies have feelings to. In the end, Warm Bodies is a marvelous film from Jonathan Levine.
Jonathan Levine Films: (All the Boys Love Mandy Lane) - (The Wackness) - 50/50 - The Night Before (2015 film) - (Snatched) - Long Shot (2019 film)
© thevoid99 2013
Written, directed, and co-starring Nat Faxon and Jim Rash, The Way, Way Back is the story about a 14-year old kid who goes on a summer holiday where he hangs around and later works at a water park to deal with his summertime blues and his growing disdain towards his mother’s boyfriend. The film is an exploration into a young boy’s summer as he finds a place where he belongs while dealing with the chaos in his family life. Also starring Steve Carell, Sam Rockwell, Toni Collette, Allison Janney, Annasophia Robb, Zoe Levin, Maya Rudolph, Rob Corddry, Amanda Peet, and Liam James. The Way, Way Back is a fantastic film from Nat Faxon and Jim Rash.
The film explores a summer in the life of an introverted 14-year old boy named Duncan (Liam James) who finds a home in a nearby water park run by a carefree manager named Owen (Sam Rockwell). Especially as the boy is dealing with growing pains as his mom’s boyfriend Trent (Steve Carell) is very critical and says mean things to him. While his mother Pam (Toni Collette) and Trent spend their time with other adults, Duncan spends more time at the water park where he also works while bonding with another jaded teen in Susanna (Annasophia Robb). The film is a coming-of-age tale where this boy deals with his situation that includes his father moving to California and that his mother’s boyfriend is an absolute dickhead. In Owen, Duncan finds the father-figure he needs as well as being true to himself.
The film’s screenplay explores the complicated life of this 14-year-old boy who is a very introverted individual that is considered odd by Trent and his teenager daughter Steph (Zoe Levin) as he is also aghast by the craziness his mother has with other adults as he feels like his mother isn’t aware of how he’s really feeling. Especially as she’s often with Trent and some friends of his where some of Trent’s activities and behavior give Duncan more reasons to dislike him as Trent often states that they should bond and be in tune together. Owen is an extremely different person that Duncan can identify with as he’s sort of a man-child who runs a water park and likes to have fun. Owen also helps Duncan come out of his shell by giving him a job and advice on life as well as how to win the heart of Susanna who hates having to deal with her boozy mother Betty (Allison Janney).
The direction of Nat Faxon and Jim Rash is quite straightforward as they don’t really aim for a sense of cinematic style by rather just focusing on the story and keeping things simple. The compositions are still engaging while they allow the comedy to be loose and natural along with some of the smaller moments where it plays to Duncan’s development. Faxon and Rash know where to put the actors in the background while having them be placed in moments that can advance the story. Even in the drama where it relates to Duncan’s testy relationship with Trent where Duncan discovers things that would have a dramatic impact in how it relates to Duncan’s desire to protect his mother. Still, Faxon and Rash bring a lot of fun into the film in many of the scenes at the water park as it’s shot in an actual water park in Massachusetts where it has a bit of realism in the story. Overall, Faxon and Rash create a very vital and lively film about a young boy’s summer of fun and coming into his own.
Cinematographer John Bailey does excellent work with the film‘s colorful cinematography from the look of the locations in Massachusetts and the water park to the scenes at night with its use of natural light. Editor Tatiana S. Riegel does wonderful work with the editing as it‘s quite straightforward while using some nice rhythmic cuts and montages to play out the sense of fun Duncan has at the water park. Production designer Mark Ricker, with set decorator Rena DeAngelo and art director Jeremy Woodward, does amazing work with the set pieces from the look of the home to some of the small props created for the water park.
Costume designers Michelle Maitland and Ann Roth do terrific work with the costumes as it‘s mostly casual with some style to play into some of the female characters in the film. Sound editor Perry Robertson does nice work with the sound to play up the energy of the parties and such along with the craziness at the water park. The film’s music by Rob Simonsen is fantastic for its mixture of folk and indie music to play up Duncan‘s journey while music supervisor Linda Cohen creates a soundtrack that mixes 80s music with some folk and indie as it’s a fun soundtrack to listen to.
The casting by Allison Jones is brilliant as it features some notable small roles from River Alexander as Susanna’s nerdy younger brother Peter and Zoe Levin as Trent’s bitchy teenage daughter Steph. Nat Faxon and Jim Rash are funny in their respective roles as water park employees Roddy and the nerdy Lewis while Maya Rudolph is wonderful as the more responsible water park co-manager Caitlyn. Allison Janney is hilarious as Susanna’s boozy mother Betty who always carries a drink and always wear clothes to show her sex appeal. Rob Corddry and Amanda Peet are terrific as the couple Kip and Joan whom Trent and Pam hang out with Corddry as the more wild Kip and Peet as the more vivacious Joan.
Annasophia Robb is wonderful as Susanna as a teenage girl jaded by the summer and what her mother is doing as she bonds with Duncan while finding out where he goes and what he does as she also finds a good time. Toni Collette is excellent as Duncan’s mother Pam as a mother wanting to have a good time while dealing with Duncan’s disappearances and moodiness as well as Trent’s often peculiar behavior. Steve Carell is fantastic as Trent as this guy who is a grade A asshole that always says very off-putting things and tries to assure his sense of being a man in his attempt to make Duncan more manly as he truly doesn’t get him. Sam Rockwell is phenomenal as Owen as a man who helps Duncan deal with his growing pains while giving him a place where he can feel at home. Finally, there’s Liam James in a marvelous performance as Duncan as he exudes all of the moodiness of a confused 14-year old kid who is looking for a place in the world as he eventually finds somewhere that he can belong to and have the summer of his life as James brings a lot of sensitivity and energy to his character.
The Way, Way Back is a superb coming-of-age film from Nat Faxon and Jim Rash. Armed with an great ensemble cast as well as an engaging story about a young teen trying to fit in and do something in the summer. It’s a film that is very heartwarming but also very funny while giving something that audiences can relate to. In the end, The Way, Way Back is a remarkable film from Nat Faxon and Jim Rash.
© thevoid99 2013
