Rough Night

Directed by Lucia Aniello and written by Aniello and Paul W. Downs, Rough Night is the story of a bachelorette party gone horrible wrong when a male stripper is accidentally killed leading to all sorts of mayhem for the five women trying to figure out what to do. The film is a comedy where five female friends celebrate the upcoming nuptials of one of their own where it all goes wrong during a crazy night in Miami. Starring Scarlett Johansson, Jillian Bell, Kate McKinnon, Zoe Kravitz, Ilana Glazer, Paul W. Downs, Ryan Cooper, Colton Haynes, Ty Burrell, and Demi Moore. Rough Night is a witty though flawed film from Lucia Aniello.

The film follows a bachelorette weekend in Miami where the celebration goes wrong due to the accidental killing of a male stripper as the five women in the party try to figure out what to do to the body and hilarity ensues during the course of the night. It’s a film with a simple premise that play into five ladies wanting to hang out and party in Miami where they panic over an accident and make things worse along the way. The film’s screenplay by Lucia Aniello and Paul W. Downs does explore the relationship between the women as the bride-to-be in Jess (Scarlett Johansson) is reluctant about having a bachelorette weekend as she is dealing with a campaign for senator as she has a hard time connecting with voters. Her best friend Alice (Jillian Bell) is organizing the bachelorette party as it would include their college friends in Frankie (Ilana Glazer) and Blair (Zoe Kravitz) plus a friend of Jess in Pippa (Kate McKinnon) whom Jess met during a semester in Australia.

While the script tries to juggle so much backstory of the characters as well as a subplot of Jess’ fiancé Peter (Paul W. Downs) driving to Miami high on pills after hearing Jess panic over what happened. It’s a moment that does feel forced despite a few funny moments as much of the story focuses on the women trying to figure out what to do the body of this stripper (Ryan Cooper) as well as the relationship between these women as Frankie and Blair used to be a couple while there’s some tension from Alice towards Pippa as the former is trying to get Jess’ attention as it play into her clinginess. Even as Pippa is just this outsider new to the group who would try to come up with ideas while dealing with jet lag.

Aniello’s direction is largely straightforward in terms of the compositions as it doesn’t really go for anything stylistic in the visuals rather than emphasize on the humor. Shot largely in Saddle Rock and Mount Vernon in the state of New York with some additional locations in Miami, Florida. Aniello would open the film with Jess, Alice, Frankie, and Blair at a frat party where they like to hang out with each other just to establish their friendship and then move the film 10 years later where Alice is a teacher, Frankie is an activist with two strikes on her, and Blair is a real-estates agent dealing with a divorce and a custody battle. Aniello’s approach to the humor is to build things up as well as play up into the conversations and antics of the characters which would lead to something big. Even as it involves Pippa who would put herself in dangerous situations for comical reasons where it works while there’s some parts as it relates to Peter as he’s trying to reach Jess by driving to Miami does lag a bit despite a few funny moments. Yet, the film’s climax which relates to not just the stripper’s identity but also some of the drama that goes on with the women who come to terms that their lives aren’t so great and that they’re growing up. All the reason for them to be together no matter how bad things are. Overall, Aniello crafts an entertaining though messy film about a bachelorette party gone wrong.

Cinematographer Sean Porter does excellent work with the film’s cinematography as it is colorful with much of the action taking place at night to play into the Miami nightlight and scenes at the beach. Editor Craig Alpert does nice work with the editing with its stylish approaches to montages and some rhythmic cut to play into the humor. Art director Ryan Heck and set decorator Carol Silverman do fantastic work with the look of the house Jess is loaned for the weekend as well as the home she lives in with Peter. Costume designer Leah Katznelson does terrific work with the costumes as it is largely casual with the stylized clothes the women wear during the bachelorette festivities.

Visual effects supervisor Karl Coyner does some fine work with the visual effects as it’s mainly set-dressing for a few scenes including Peter’s drive to Miami. Sound editor Kami Asgar does superb work with the sound in the way music sounds on location as well as the sound of the waves in the ocean. The film’s music by Dominic Lewis is wonderful for its low-key score that is playful with its usage of electronics and orchestral music for the suspense and drama with much of the film’s soundtrack featuring a mix of pop, hip-hop, EDM, and rock from acts like Wolfmother, Marilyn Manson, Dr. Dre and Snoop Dogg, Skrillex, Cliff Martinez, Gloria Estefan and the Miami Sound Machine, J-Kwon, Khia, Neon Jungle, Divinyls, and Kate McKinnon singing a hilarious song during the credits.

The casting by Rori Bergman and Jeanne McCarthy is brilliant as it feature some notable small roles from Peter Francis Jack as Blair’s attorney uncle, Karan Soni as Jess’ assistant in her campaign, the quartet of Bo Burnham, Eric Andre, Hasan Minhaj, and Patrick Carlyle as Peter’s friends for their own bachelor party, Dean Winters and Enrique Murciano as a couple of detectives, Devin Ratray as a truck driver Peter meets on his way to Miami, Colton Haynes as a police officers who appears in the film’s second act, and Ryan Cooper as the male stripper who is accidentally killed. Ty Burrell and Demi Moore are fantastic in their respective roles as the couple Pietro and Lea as the neighbors who want to engage into a sexual fantasy with Blair that would become overwhelming for her. Paul W. Downs is alright as Jess’ fiancé Peter as a man who becomes fearful that he’s not good enough for Jess forcing him to drive to Miami while wearing adult diapers, drinking Red Bull, taking outdated prescription medicines, and later doing meth as it’s a mixed-bag of a performance where it’s funny but also forceful at times.

Ilana Glazer is excellent as Frankie as an activist who is trying to deal with the situation as she is aware that she has two strikes on her while dealing with her own feelings for Blair. Zoe Kravitz is brilliant as Blair as a real estate agent dealing with a divorce and custody battle who finds herself being the object of desire for the neighbors as she also is dealing with her own feelings for Frankie. Jillian Bell is amazing as Alice as Jess’ best friend from college who is the most excited about the bachelorette party while doing things that are funny to express her character’s loneliness and lack of excitement in her life. Kate McKinnon is incredible as Pippa as Jess’ Australian friend who is the funniest character in the film for providing some physical comedy as well as some witty commentary on the situations. Finally, there’s Scarlett Johansson in a remarkable performance as Jessica “Jess” Thayer as the bride who is dealing with a senatorial campaign and getting married as she deals with the chaos of an accidental murder where she provides some funny moments as well as being the reliable straight woman.

Rough Night is a stellar though flawed film from Lucia Aniello. Despite its messy script and tonal issues in the film, the film does feature an excellent cast and some funny moments that do provide enough moments that is entertaining with characters that are engaging. In the end, Rough Night is a very good film from Lucia Aniello.

© thevoid99 2018

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

Down in the Valley

Originally Written and Posted at Epinions.com on 12/8/06 w/ Additional Edits & Revisions.

Written and directed by David Jacobsen, Down in the Valley is the story of a cowboy who meets a rebellious teenage girl as they begin a torrid relationship as he copes with the modern world. The film is an exploration into a man who finds himself in a world where he tries to play cowboy as he faces the darker realities of the modern world. Starring Edward Norton, Evan Rachel Wood, Rory Culkin, David Morse, and Bruce Dern. Down in the Valley is an enchanting yet uneven film from David Jacobsen.

Arriving onto the San Fernando Valley, a cowboy named Harlan (Edward Norton) enters into the strange, vast world filled with gas stations, shops, and cars. To Harlan, it's a mysterious world as he lives at a motel and takes a job at a gas station. Meanwhile, a rebellious, 17-year old girl named Tobe (Evan Rachel Wood) also feels lonely since she lives with her father Wade (David Morse) and her shy, 13-year old brother Lonnie (Rory Culkin). Since Tobe doesn't get along with her father, she often goes out with her friends including April (Kat Denning) where on the way to the beach, Tobe meets Harlan at the gas station. An attraction immediately happens as Harlan joins Tobe and her friends to the beach where they fall in love. After introducing Harlan to Lonnie, Wade becomes uncomfortable at Tobe's new relationship with Harlan.

After a night in the town driven by Ecstacy, Harlan and Tobe's relationship becomes passionate which makes Wade uneasy. Even when Harlan and Tobe decide to go horseback riding where the horse's owner named Charlie (Bruce Dern) accuses Harlan of theft. After Wade deals with Charlie, he forbids Tobe to see Harlan again. Still, Tobe's love for Harlan remains strong as she has to go San Diego for the weekend to be with her friends. Harlan however, tries to live without Tobe for the weekend often pretending to be in some Western or writing a letter to a man named Joe. Hoping for Tobe to return on the day she was supposed to, he finds Lonnie where he takes Lonnie shooting since Wade owns some authentic guns. Upon returning home, Wade finds Lonnie with Harlan and threatens to shoot him if he doesn’t leave his family alone.

Learning what Wade had done, Tobe meets Harlan where she asks him to leave the family alone till Wade cools down. With his cowboy fantasy starting to blur with reality, Harlan gets in trouble as he gets kicked out of his hotel while trying to steal things hoping to win Tobe back. Still, Harlan finds himself alienated by the modern world as he remains stuck in the Old West. After meeting Tobe after some time away from her, he plans to make an escape with her but Tobe isn't sure what's going on. After an accident, Harlan's vision of the Old West begins to collide with reality as he tries to kidnap Lonnie and have a confrontation with Wade, who finds out some troubling news about Harlan from an investigator (Geoffrey Lewis).

Films about reality against fantasy does often require strange fantasy sequences but for what writer/director David Jacobson goes for is an internal conflict in a man who has a love for the West but finds himself alienated by the modern world. While the film is largely inspired by the work of the legendary Terrence Malick, notably Badlands, the film does have the same poetic imagery and dialogue in terms of what Harlan is in and in his relationship with Tobe. Despite the Malick-esque imagery and imagery, the film's script is very flawed. While some can figure out the tense relationship between Wade and Tobe, there's no back story into their tension. Plus, the first half of the film is a love story while the second half becomes a modern-day Western where they're both interesting but makes the film to be uneven. Despite a lot of wonderful imagery, scenes, and everything else, Jacobson doesn't seem to know what kind of film he's making though the performances do remain consistent with its Badlands-like tone.

Helping Jacobson in his unique vision is cinematographer Enrique Chediak whose wonderful photography of many of the film's exterior settings, notably the hills of the San Fernando Valley is breathtaking as well some night sequences that shows the nightlife of Los Angeles in all of its glory. Production designer Franco Giacomo Carbone and set decorator Robert Greenfield do fantastic work in providing the idea of the West in a fantasy sequence for Harlan while showing the colorful and modern look of Los Angeles. Costume designer Jacqueline West does great work in creating the cowboy look for Norton while giving Evan Rachel Wood some wonderful dresses.

Editors Edward Harrison and Lynzee Klingman does wonderful work in providing a rhythmic, stylized editing that gives the film a nice flow and feel. Sound designer Scott Sanders does some great work in the film's sound, including a scene where Harlan goes to a synagogue that reveals his alienation. The film's haunting score is filled with wonderful guitar work from Peter Salett that brings a sense of suspense and atmosphere to its varied sequences. The soundtrack is largely filled with dreamy mixes of music ranging from mariachi to old-school Western songs as well as cuts from Patsy Cline, Hank Williams, Calexio, and two great tracks from Mazzy Star where the vocals of Hope Sandoval provide some of the film's most haunting moments.

The film’s cast includes some wonderful small performances and cameos from Ira David Wood IV, Kat Dennings, Ty Burrell, Elizabeth Pena, and Geoffrey Lewis as an investigator. In a small role, Bruce Dern is great as a haggard ranch owner who is suspicious of Harlan’s motives and understanding of Wade’s control issues. David Morse is excellent as the strict, caring Wade who is trying to talk to his children while dealing with Harlan as Morse does some outstanding work in the scenes he's in. Rory Culkin is amazing as the shy, scared Lonnie who tries to seek some kind of adventure and confidence as he often relies on his sister and Harlan since his dad isn't around much. Evan Rachel Wood is fantastic as Tobe as this young woman who copes with growing pains as she falls for Harlan while having a hard time dealing with Harlan's eccentricities. Finally, there's Edward Norton in a brilliant performance as Harlan as this troubled man who seems like someone that is out of step with the times as he wants to play cowboy in a world that is very complicated as it is this very fascinating mix between fantasy and reality.

The Lions Gate/ThinkFilm Region 1 DVD of Down in the Valley presents the film 5.1 Dolby Digital Surround & 2.0 Stereo sound in 16x9 widescreen presentation. The DVD also brings trailers to not just this film but The King w/ Gael Garcia Bernal and William Hurt, I Love Your Work by Adam Goldberg, and other films. Two big special features are on the DVD. The first is a 21-minute Q&A session with Edward Norton and director David Jacobson as they're interviewed by Rolling Stone film critic Peter Travers. In the interview, Jacobson talks about the collision of fantasy and reality and how the San Fernando Valley has a mystique concerning the West. Edward Norton talked about getting the script in 2003 and wanting to work with Jacobson as the two developed the project and both wanted Evan Rachel Wood for the role of Tobe after seeing her in thirteen in which the two widely praised her as well as the other actors as Norton was laid-back in the interview.

The second big special feature is a nine-minutes worth of four deleted scenes. The first is an extended opening sequence involving Tobe and Lonnie on a bridge in which Lonnie causes an accident. The second is a deleted scene where Harlan looks for a new hat and buys the white dress that Tobe would wear. The third is touching scene involving Lonnie and Wade about an incident in where Lonnie professes his innocence. The final scene is an extended sequence of a supposed fantasy scene where Harlan talks to a cowboy played by Ty Burrell.

Down in the Valley is a superb yet flawed film from David Jacobsen that features top-notched performances from Edward Norton, Evan Rachel Wood, Rory Culkin, and David Morse. While it is uneven in its exploration of fantasy and reality, it does manage to bring in some compelling ideas about the complications of the modern world. In the end, Down in the Valley is a stellar film from David Jacobsen.

© thevoid99 2015

The Skeleton Twins

Directed by Craig Johnson and written by Johnson and Mark Heyman, The Skeleton Twins is the story of two estranged twin siblings who come together following their respective suicide attempts as they deal with the pain of their childhood as well as what went wrong in their life. The film showcases a world where two siblings are at the end of their ropes in their life as they seek to help each other. Starring Bill Hader, Kristen Wiig, Luke Wilson, Boyd Holbrook, Ty Burrell, and Joanna Gleason. The Skeleton Twins is a witty yet somber film from Craig Johnson.

The film explores the lives of two estranged twin siblings as they haven’t seen or spoken to each other in a decade where they come together following their respective suicide attempts. For Milo (Bill Hader) and Maggie (Kristen Wiig), their lives as adults haven’t gone well as they planned where Milo moves back to his small New York town following his suicide attempt to live with Maggie and her husband Lance (Luke Wilson). While Milo and Maggie both deal with the failures of their adult lives, they also wondered where did everything go wrong as they also cope with their father’s passing many years ago. It’s a film that doesn’t just explore the world of siblings but also in how they try to re-forge the bond of their already fragile relationship.

The film’s screenplay doesn’t just explore the lives of their two siblings but also what drove them to not contact each other for a decade as part of that reason is their New Age mother (Joanna Gleason) whom Maggie really dislikes. Especially as Maggie is becoming insecure about the prospect of being a parent as she and Lance are trying to have kids while Maggie embarks into an affair with her scuba diving instructor Billy (Boyd Holbrook). Milo meanwhile, wants to rekindle a relationship with his old high school English teacher Rich (Ty Burrell) whom they had an affair when Milo was 15. The siblings deal with their own issues as they also deal with their own relationship where Milo would befriend Lance whom he realizes that he’s just a good guy as it plays into the question of what Maggie is going through.

Craig Johnson’s direction is quite simple where most of it is shot around parts of Brooklyn in New York City where it has a sense of intimacy that occurs where there’s very little wide shots. Johnson instead uses some medium shots and close-ups to tell the story as it plays into this relationship between estranged twin siblings. Johnson’s compositions in the way he captures conversations as well as some of the film’s humor plays into this relationship where Milo is often very outgoing while Maggie is a bit more introverted and mature. Even in a sequence where Milo tries to cheer Maggie up by lip-syncing to Starship’s Nothing’s Gonna Stop Us Now as it becomes of the film’s highlights. Still, Johnson knows that there has to be some dramatic outcome though the result does make the film a bit uneven. However, it does manage to have a payoff where it plays to the bond between the two no matter how troubled their lives are. Overall, Johnson creates a very engaging and enjoyable film about the troubled lives of twin siblings.

Cinematographer Reed Morano does excellent work with the cinematography from the look of the locations of the small New York town in the daytime during the fall season to some unique lighting schemes at night as well as some scenes in the pool. Editor Jennifer Lee does nice work with the editing as it‘s pretty straightforward for the most part as it does include a few montages of Milo and Maggie as children. Production designer Ola Maslik and set decorator Lauren DeTitta do wonderful work with the set pieces from the home that Maggie and Lance live in to the book store where Rich works at.

Costume designer Mikaela Wohl does fantastic work with the costumes from the casual clothes many of the characters wear to the Halloween costumes Milo and Maggie wear on that day. Sound designers Matt A. Schoenfeld and Ian Stynes do terrific work with the sound from the sparse sounds in the scenes in the pool to the raucous atmosphere in the bar scenes. The film’s music by Nathan Larson is amazing as it is a mix of electronic and indie that plays into the melancholia and humor of the film while music supervisor Meghan Currier creates a fun soundtrack that features a lot of new wave and 80s music from acts like Blondie, OMD, and Starship.

The casting by Avy Kaufman is great as it features some notable small roles from Truck Hudson as a security guard that arrests Milo, Kathleen Rose Perkins as an old schoolmate of Maggie that runs into Maggie at an ice cream shop, Eddie Schweighardt and Sydney Lucas in their respective roles as the young Milo and Maggie, and Joanna Gleason in a wonderful performance as Milo and Maggie’s estranged New Age mother Judy whose attempt to reconnect with her children ends up being a disaster. Boyd Holbrook is superb as the Australian scuba diving instructor Billy whom Maggie would sleep with while Ty Burrell is excellent as Milo’s former English teacher Rich who is reluctant to have an affair with Milo as he has a new life of his own.

Luke Wilson is brilliant as Lance as an all-around nice guy who tries to cheer up Milo by having him work with him while revealing that he just wants what everybody wants which is to be happy. Finally, there’s the duo of Bill Hader and Kristen Wiig in amazing performances in their respective roles as Milo and Maggie. Hader brings this unique mix of comedy and drama as a failed actor who tries to kill himself as he returns home to figure out what to do while also understanding that his own sister is just as fucked up as he is. Wiig brings a more restrained approach to her character as someone who is unhappy in her life as she tries to be the mature one while not knowing how to deal with the idea of being a mother as she becomes more insecure. Hader and Wiig have this natural chemistry in the way they act with one another as well as bringing in a lot of laughs.

The Skeleton Twins is a remarkable from Craig Johnson that features incredible performances from Bill Hader and Kristen Wiig. The film isn’t just a story that is sweet but also very melancholic in the way it explore twin sibling relationships but also in the idea of loss and uncertainty as these two people try to cope with it. In the end, The Skeleton Twins is sensational film from Craig Johnson.

© thevoid99 2014

Muppets Most Wanted/Party Central (short)

Directed by James Bobin and written by Bobin and Nicholas Stoller, Muppets Most Wanted is the story of the Muppets who take part in a European tour where a notorious criminal who looks like Kermit the Frog has Kermit taken to the Gulag in Siberia while pretending to be Kermit much to the suspicion of the other Muppets. The sequel to the 2011 film that brought the Muppets back to the public consciousness, the film is a suspense-comedy where it involves thefts, doubles, singing Russian criminals, and all sorts of crazy things. Starring Ricky Gervais, Ty Burrell, Tina Fey, and the Muppets. Muppets Most Wanted is a very entertaining film from James Bobin and the Muppets.

Party Central

Written and directed by Kelsey Mann, Party Central is a sequel short to 2013’s Monsters University in which Mike and Sulley help out their fraternity brothers in Oozma Kappa create the ultimate college party. It’s a short where Mike and Sulley do some very crazy things to help their friends create the ultimate college party where a lot of craziness ensues that includes moments where monsters walk through the homes of humans who become freaked out by what is happening. It’s a fun, fun, fun short film from Pixar who continues to deliver with the shorts.

Muppets Most Wanted

The film is a simple story which picks up where the last film is left off where the Muppets try to figure out what to do next. Under the advice of a tour manager, the Muppets go on an European tour where Kermit the Frog is ambushed and taken to the Gulag prison in Siberia as he is believed to be the notorious thief Constantine who switches places with him. Yet, Constantine’s real plan with his associate Dominic Badguy (Ricky Gervais) is to steal clues to obtain the Crown Jewels of England while a few of the Muppets become suspicious over Kermit’s odd behavior. It’s a film that has a premise that may not be entirely original but it does play into a world where taking one Muppet out of the equation in the group can spell disharmony as Miss Piggy finds herself unfulfilled in the new devotion that Kermit has for her unaware that it’s really Constantine.

James Bobin and Nicholas Stoller’s screenplay keeps the premise simple in the way the Muppets not only deal with success but also deal with the fact that many of their ideas don’t always work sometimes. In some respects, the film is sort of the anti-sequel as the film opens with a song about sequels and how they’re often not as good as the predecessor. Not only do Bobin and Stoller take a few shots at it but also infuse it with some suspense and comedy to play into Kermit’s situation at the Gulag where its warden Nadya (Tina Fey) has a major crush on Kermit. Meanwhile, an Interpol agent in Jean Pierre Napoleon (Ty Burrell) teams up with Sam Eagle to not only uncover the jewelry thefts but also deal with each other where a lot of hilarity ensues.

Bobin’s direction is very simple where he aims for something that is crazy at times but also slow things down so that audiences can be engaged into the story. While there’s a lot of excellent musical numbers, it is balanced by its approach to comedy and drama where much of the film is shot in Britain with a few location shots in Berlin, Madrid, and Los Angeles as Bobin goes for mostly medium shots and close-ups. Yet, he does manage to create a few wide shots for some of the film’s big musical numbers as well as present this elaborate climax that is definitely entertaining and gripping. Overall, Bobin creates a very delightful and fun film about the Muppets dealing with a doppelganger and other crazy things.

Cinematographer Don Burgess does nice work with the film‘s cinematography from the look of the scenes at the Gulag to the lavish lighting for some of the stage performances by the Muppets. Editor James Thomas does terrific work with the editing as it‘s pretty straightforward while has some effective use in the montages. Production designer Eve Stewart, with set decorator Anna Lynch-Robinson and supervising art director Grant Armstrong, does excellent work with the set pieces from the Muppets stage presentation to the look of the Gulag.

Costume designer Rahel Afiley does wonderful work with the costumes from the look of the prison uniforms to some of clothes the Muppets wear. Visual effects supervisor Sean Mathiesen does fantastic work with the visual effects in some of the musical numbers to some of the more action-based effects in the film. Sound editors Kami Asgar, Sean McCormack, and Jeffrey A. Pitts do superb work with the sound in creating layers of sound effects and textures in some of the stage performances and the scenes in the Gulag. The film’s music by Christoph Beck and Bret McKenzie is great for some of the original songs that is made as well as some of the musical choices they put in including a very inspired take on Working in the Coal Mine and an over-the-top duet between Miss Piggy and Celine Dion.

The casting by Randi Hiller and Tamara Notcutt is brilliant for the cameos they bring in as among the celebrities that appear in the film are Celine Dion, Salma Hayek, Tom Hiddleston, Chloe Grace Mortez, Christoph Waltz, Mackenzie Cook, Toby Jones, Tony Bennett, Lady Gaga, Zach Galifianakis, Sean “Diddy” Combs, Frank Langella, Hugh Bonneville, Stanley Tucci, Miranda Richardson, Saoirse Ronan, James McAvoy, Josh Groban, Usher, and Til Schweiger. In other cameos as prisoners of the Gulag, there’s Danny Trejo, Jermaine Clement, Ray Liotta, and Dylan “Hornswoggle” Postl as they bring a nice edge to their performances as tough criminals who want to sing. Ty Burrell is terrific as the very comical Jean Pierre Napoleon who teams with Sam Eagle to find what is going on.

Tina Fey is amazing as she does a very comical Russian accent as the Gulag warden Nadya who tries to be tough but has a secret crush on Kermit. Ricky Gervais is excellent as Constantine’s henchman Dominic Badguy (pronounced Bad-gee) who serves as a foil for Constantine. Finally, there’s the Muppets as the people who perform such great characters as Kermit the Frog, Miss Piggy, Gonzo the Great, Fozzie Bear, Walter, Scooter, Animal, and the rest of the gang are just fun to watch. Especially as Matt Vogel does superb work in voicing Constantine who does his worst to ruin Kermit’s persona.

Muppets Most Wanted is an excellent film from James Bobin. Not only is it a worthy successor to its 2011 predecessor but also proof that the Muppets are still vital. Even as they manage to engage audiences from all ages to kids and adults as they all want to do is entertain and give the audiences a good time. In the end, Muppets Most Wanted is a superbly fun film from James Bobin.

The Muppets Films: (The Muppet Movie) - (The Great Muppet Caper) - (Muppets Take Manhattan) - (Sesame Streets Presents Follow That Bird) - (The Muppets Christmas Carol) - (Muppet Treasure Island) - (Muppets from Space) - (The Adventure of Elmo in Grouchland) - The Muppets

© thevoid99 2014

Friends with Money

Written and directed by Nicole Holfocener, Friends with Money is the story of a woman who is struggling to maintain her finances by taking a job as a maid while her more financially stable friends as they all deal with personal issues in their life. The film explores the friendship of four women as they all try to help each other but also explore their resentments towards one another Starring Jennifer Aniston, Catherine Keener, Joan Cusack, Frances McDormand, Scott Caan, Jason Isaacs, Simon McBurney, Greg Germann, and Ty Burrell. Friends with Money is a brash yet very intriguing film from Nicole Holofcener.

After quitting her job as a teacher, Olivia (Jennifer Aniston) works cleaning other people’s houses for a living as her friends each live fantastic lives with husbands and kids. While Franny (Joan Cusack) wants to help out as does Christine (Catherine Keener) and Jane (Frances McDormand), Olivia politely declines as she often spends her time going to mall to take free cream samples and calling a former boyfriend (Timm Sharp) whom she’s still hung up on. Franny is a stay-at-home housewife who has money from a trust fund as she really wants to help Olivia out though her account husband Matt (Greg Germann) isn’t sure on the idea. Franny does help out Olivia with her personal life by setting her up with her young personal trainer Mike (Scott Caan) as the two begin a relationship.

Christine’s marriage to husband David (Jason Isaacs) is starting to fall apart as the two try to write a project together while getting a new upstairs floor built much to the chagrin of their neighbor. Jane starts to act out due to the small things happening to her such as being cut in front of a line or having someone take her parking space. Even as her husband Aaron (Simon McBurney) is trying to help her out as Christine suspects that he’s gay while he befriends another guy named Aaron (Ty Burrell). With Olivia struggling to have money problems as Franny still wants to help out. An upcoming charity dinner doesn’t excite everyone as Jane becomes erratic while Christine becomes overwhelmed by the house renovation. Even as Olivia feels like things aren’t going her way as she doesn’t enjoy her time with Mike.

The film is about four women trying to help each other with their personal lives as one of them is struggling with trying to maintain her finances without needing to borrow money from her friends. Throughout the film, this woman is dealing with the fact that her life isn’t going well as she is taking all sorts of jobs while her personal life has her resenting her friends because they’re married and have children. Yet, they’re life isn’t as well-adjusted as she thought they would do as one of them wants to help out but her husband just wants to spend money for his own reasons. Another is dealing with the renovation of a house as well as bickering with her husband over everything while another friend is having a breakdown due to all of the ills of the world around her.

Nicole Holofcener’s script deals with the lives of these women and their relationships with men as the Olivia character is the one trying to find love. While she is hung up on this man she had an affair with some years ago, she dates this very immature personal trainer who has just seen an old flame as their relationship becomes about sex though it ends up being unpleasant. Olivia is definitely the most interesting character of the film due to her situation as well as not being a charity case while she has this great line about all of these charity dinners that happens which really has a lot of truth.

While men like Matt, Mike, and David don’t really get much to do as opposed to sexually-ambiguous Aaron who sort of acts like a fifth woman. It does allow the rest of Olivia’s friends to explore their own faults as well as struggle with the posh world they live in. Of those friends, Jane is the most interesting as she is a clothing designer who has made a lot of money but is on the verge of a breakdown as she doesn’t wash her hair while starts to vent out at people who do the wrong things. Holofcener’s script is quite witty in exploring these characters and their flaws though there are a few issues with some of the characterization as some aren’t as developed or as interesting as some of the key parts in the film.

Holofcener’s direction is quite engrossing in the way she presents the film as she aims for a much looser hand-held style to the direction where the camera is a bit shaky but not overt. The compositions are quite straightforward as there is a bit of a cinema verite approach to the direction where Holofcener is always having the camera at the center or at the side of these conversations. Holofcener does create some funny moments that involves Jane’s outbursts or Olivia wanting to grab as many free samples of skin cream that she needs by going to different malls. Shot in Los Angeles and Santa Monica, Holofcener allows the location to be a character of sorts while not aiming for a postcard look to the film. The overall work that Holofcener creates is very engaging in the way she studies and observes the lives of these four women and their different lives.

Cinematographer Terry Stacey does an excellent job with the film‘s colorful cinematography that plays to the sunny world of southern California for its daytime exteriors while utilizing more low-key natural lighting for the nighttime interiors including the dinner scenes in the film. Editor Robert Frazen does a superb job with the editing in creating a loose style to its methodical pacing while using rhythmic jump cuts to capture the intensity of the conversations and action that occur in the film. Production designer Amy B. Ancona, with set decorator Maria Nay and art director Victoria Ruskin do a nice job with the set pieces created from the posh homes that Christine, Franny, and Jane live in to the more modest home that Olivia lives in as well as the other homes she cleans at.

Costume designer Michael Wilkinson does a wonderful job with the costumes from the more casual look that the women wear to the more modest look of Olivia and Mike to complement the different worlds the characters live in. Sound editor Cormac Funge does terrific work with the sound from the intimacy of the homes that Olivia cleans in to the busy atmosphere of some of the places the characters frequent at including the restaurants. The film’s score by Craig Richey is pretty good for its low-key folk-rock score filled with guitars and melodic keyboards as the music also includes some contributions by Rickie Lee Jones who also provides a similar score including the film’s opening song.

The casting by Jeanne McCarthy is brilliant for the ensemble that is created for the film. Notable small roles include Timm Sharp as Olivia’s former lover, Alejandra Flores as Christine’s maid, Ileen Getz as Christine’s neighbor, Ty Burrell as the other Aaron that Aaron befriends, and Bob Stephenson as a lonely man whose home Olivia cleans. Scott Caan is alright as the smarmy personal trainer Mike whom Olivia goes out with but barely helps her when she’s working. Jason Isaacs and Greg Germann are very good in their respective roles as Christine’s ambitious yet un-concerned husband David and Franny’s dismissive yet money-obsessed husband Matt. Simon McBurney is brilliant as Jane’s sexually-ambiguous husband Aaron who always try to help everyone out and be supportive while is probably unaware that he might be gay.

Joan Cusack is terrific as Franny who often wants to help out though she doesn’t want to be confrontational as she has a hard time trying to do good. Catherine Keener is excellent as Christine who is trying to write a screenplay while dealing with the renovation of her home and the constant bickering she has with her husband. Frances McDormand is great in a truly scary role as the erratic Jane who starts to act out over the frustrations of her life and everything around her as McDormand brings a lot of great humor to her character. Finally, there’s Jennifer Aniston in a remarkable performance as the lost and confused Olivia. It’s a performance where Aniston doesn’t play pretty while being a woman who is trying to get by while dealing with what she doesn’t have as she is trying to do things herself despite her friends’ desire to help her.

Friends with Money is a superb comedy-drama from Nicole Holfocener. Featuring a stellar ensemble cast that includes Jennifer Aniston, Frances McDormand, Catherine Keener, and Joan Cusack. It’s a film that revels into the lives of women as they deal with the idea of having everything or having very little as well as the struggle to find some sanity in their lives. It’s a film that is very witty as well as being provocative about the way the world works proving that not everything should be the way it is. In the end, Friends with Money is a funny yet sensational film from Nicole Holofcener.

Nicole Holofcener Films: Walking & Talking - Lovely & Amazing - Please Give - Enough Said - The Auteurs #22: Nicole Holofcener

© thevoid99 2012