Based on the book Boston Strong by Casey Sherman and Dave Wedge, Patriots Day is the story about the 2013 bombing during the Boston Marathon and the subsequent manhunt to find the bombers. Directed by Peter Berg and screenplay by Berg, Matt Cook, and Josh Zetumer from a story by Berg, Cook, Eric Johnson, and Paul Tamasy, the film is a dramatic re-telling of the marathon bombing that killed three people and wounded several others as it would be followed by a manhunt on those that planned the bombing. Starring Mark Wahlberg, Kevin Bacon, J.K. Simmons, John Goodman, and Michelle Monaghan. Patriots Day is a riveting and intense film from Peter Berg.
On April 15, 2013, the annual Boston Marathon was held as it is a big event that brings people from around the world as well as the people from the city to run a marathon with locals cheering for those at the marathon. Yet, it was a dark day in the city when two bombs were exploded that killed three people and injuring hundreds more with some losing limbs and such. The film is about the 100-plus hours that occurred before the marathon and the manhunt for the two men that committed the acts of terror in the city with multiple storylines happening as it relates to those involved in these events. The film’s screenplay by Peter Berg, Matt Cook, and Josh Zetumer largely follows Sgt. Tommy Saunders (Mark Wahlberg) who is tasked with welcoming the racers at the finishing line to finish up his own suspension from the Boston Police Department.
Yet, he would be among those that would witness the bombing and go on the search to find the terrorists. The film does begin the day before the marathon as it relates to not just Sgt. Saunders trying to regain his trust with his superiors but also the lives of ordinary people who would be part of not just the marathon but also the manhunt including the two terrorists in Dzhokhar Tsarnaev (Alex Wolff) and his older brother Tamerlan (Themo Melikidze). The narrative would shift into the events of the day with a few subplots involving those who would have scary encounters with the Tsarnaev brothers though the script does a clunky job in introducing and establishing these small characters early in the film. Still, the script does play into the investigation led by Richard DesLauriers (Kevin Bacon) of the FBI in collaboration with Boston Police Commissioner Ed Davis (John Goodman) as it uses surveillance footage and such to find the identity of the terrorists as well as take part in the eventual manhunt that would occur in the nearby town of Watertown.
Berg’s direction is engaging for the way he captures a period in time told in the span of nearly five days as it begins with Sgt. Saunders on assignment where he would hurt one of his knees while getting a visit from Commissioner Davis during the assignment. Shot on various locations in and around Boston, Massachusetts with the main locations in the small towns of Quincy and the warehouse interior at Peabody. Berg does maintain a sense of momentum into what is happening such as the scene of the Tsarnaev brothers planting their homemade bombs and how a few characters would be at that location that includes a baby who was close to the bomb site but fortunately wasn’t killed. Berg’s usage of close-ups and medium shots doesn’t just play into the action but also in moments of the investigation and the manhunt that occurs in the film’s third act. There are usage of wide shots of the locations including a shot of the city just after it is being shut down so that the police and FBI try to find the Tsarnaev brothers.
For a film that is driven by suspense and action, Berg would also shoot scenes that are character driven such as a moment of Sgt. Saunders talking with a superior during the manhunt as he talks about what he encountered at the bombing and loss but also the realization of what needs to be done. Berg would also use these smaller moments that would include bits of humor as it relates to Watertown’s Sgt. Jeffrey Pugliese (J.K. Simmons) at a shoot-out against the Tsarnaev brothers as it relates to the cigar he always smoke. It does help play into what is at stake as well as the fact that FBI and local officers work together to make things right as it all plays into the climatic showdown between them and Dzhokhar Tsarnaev who would hide at an unusual place which is often expected from cowards like him. Overall, Berg creates a mesmerizing and gripping thriller about the 2013 Boston Marathon bombing and the manhunt for the two terrorists who committed the attacks.
Cinematographer Tobias A. Schliesser does excellent work with the film’s cinematography with the usage of natural lighting for the daytime scenes along with the usage of available and low-key lights for many of the interior/exterior scenes set at night. Editors Colby Parker Jr. and Gabriel Fleming do amazing work with the editing as its usage of jump-cuts help play into the action and drama as well as some of the film’s suspenseful moments. Production designer Tom Duffield, along with set decorator Ronald R. Reiss and art director Steve Cooper, do fantastic work with the look of the home that the Tsarnaev brothers live in as well as the warehouse interior that is used as the crime scene for Commissioner Davis and DesLauriers would use. Costume designer Virginia Johnson does terrific work with the costumes as it is largely casual along with the look of the police uniforms and the clothes that Tsarnaev brothers wore that would make them identifiable.
Special makeup effects artist Julie LeShane does brilliant work with the scenes just after the bombing in the way some of the characters look in their injured and harmed state to play into the horror of what happened. Special effects supervisor Matt Kutcher and visual effects supervisors Sean Devereaux do wonderful work with the film’s visual from the bombing scene to some set-dressing in a few set pieces in the film. Sound designers Dror Mohar and Piero Mura do superb work with the sound in the way the explosions sound from afar as well as the sounds of gunfire in the manhunt scenes as well as other sparse moments in the locations and action as it is one of the film’s highlights. The film’s music by Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross is incredible for its eerie approach to dark ambient with its usage of synthesizers and electronic instruments along with some percussions in the background to help play into the suspense and drama as it is a highlight of the film.
The casting by Sheila Jaffe and Angela Peri is marvelous as it feature some notable small roles from Boston Red Sox legend David Ortiz as himself recreating his moment days after the bombing, Khandi Alexander as a no-nonsense interrogator asking Tamerlan’s wife questions, Melissa Benoist as Tamerlan’s wife Katherine Russell who gets interrogated, Christopher O’Shea and Rachel Brosnahan as the couple in their respective roles as Patrick Downes and Jessica Kensky who both were severely injured from one of the bombs, Jimmy O. Yang as Dun Meng who was carjacked by the Tsarnaev brothers and later escaped where he told Sgt. Saunders what happened to him, Vincent Curtola as Boston’s Mayor Thomas Menino, Michael Beach as Massachusetts Governor Deval Patrick, Jake Picking as MIT Officer Sean Collier who had an unfortunate encounter with the Tsarnaev brothers, Lana Candor as a MIT student Collier wanted to go out with, and James Colby as Boston Police Superintendent William Evans who aids in the manhunt as well as the investigation.
Alex Wolff and Themo Melikidze are superb in their respective roles as Dzhokhar and Tamerlan Tsarnaev as the two men who planted the bombs during the marathon with Wolff being reluctant at first only to get the thrill of killing and Melikidze as the more aggressive of the two. Michelle Monaghan is fantastic as Carol Saunders as Sgt. Saunders’ wife who is also a registered nurse as she was at the marathon but unharmed as she tries to help her husband get healed up physically and emotionally. J.K. Simmons is excellent as Sgt. Jeffrey Pugliese as an officer from Watertown who would be part of the shoot-out against the Tsarnaev brothers as he is a man of great skill that would help lead his fellow officers to battle as it’s a low-key yet badass performance from Simmons.
Kevin Bacon is brilliant as Special FBI Agent Richard DesLauriers as the man in charge of the investigation of the bombings as he turns to Commissioner Davis and Sgt. Saunders for help on the location of streets as well as making decisions of what information should go public. John Goodman is amazing as Boston Police Commissioner Ed Davis as the head of police who is trying to maintain morale as well as getting everyone including his officers to see what they can find as it’s a low-key but memorable performance from Goodman. Finally, there’s Mark Wahlberg in a remarkable performance as Sgt. Tommy Saunders as a suspended police officer trying to back on the force as he deals with being near one of the bomb sites as he tries to help those in need as well as take part in the manhunt to find the Tsarnaev brothers as it’s a reserved and intense performance from Wahlberg as someone who is trying do what is right as well as ensure that he can make his home safer again.
Patriots Day is a marvelous film from Peter Berg. Featuring a great cast, an engaging script, rapturous visuals, and a haunting score from Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross. It’s a film that play into a real-life event and showcase what some people are willing to do to bring justice back to a city that was rocked by terrorism. In the end, Patriots Day is a remarkable film from Peter Berg.
Related: (null 5)
Peter Berg Films: (Very Bad Things) – (The Rundown) – (Friday Night Lights) – (The Kingdom (2007 film)) – (Hancock) – (Virtuality) – (Battleship) – (Lone Survivor) – (Deepwater Horizon) – (Mile 22)
© thevoid99 2018
For the 32nd week of 2018 as part of Wandering Through the Shelves' Thursday Movie Picks series hosted by Wanderer. This week’s subject is on the word siege in which characters are stuck in a place or a city as they can’t get out due to something happening beyond their control or are being forced to stay put by some bad guys. Here are my three picks:
1. This is the End
The Apocalypse has arrived in Hollywood with many celebrities being killed with a few survivors staying at James Franco’s home where there’s a lot of bad shit happening outside. That is pretty much the premise as the film feature exaggerated versions of Franco, Seth Rogen, Jay Baruchel, Jonah Hill, Craig Robinson, and Danny McBride as themselves where they deal with each other and get beaten up by Emma Watson in a brief cameo as she steals some of their belongings. Add some other stuff including a demon and celebrities being mean to each other and you get a solid and hilarious comedy.
2. Reservoir Dogs
Quentin Tarantino’s debut film is truly one of the best debut films ever made which is about a botched heist as much of the action takes place inside a warehouse where there’s a wounded robber nearing death and other survivors figuring out what to do. They’re hiding from the cops while one of the robbers knows the location of the diamonds they stole but there is also a wildcard in a robber who had caused a lot of trouble and had also kidnapped a cop believing that there’s a mole within the group. It’s a film that remains fresh and vital more than 25 years since its release.
3. Shaun of the Dead
From Edgar Wright comes one of the funniest films of the 21st Century so far as it revolves a zombie apocalypse where two friends try to survive with one of the guy’s mother, his ex-girlfriend, and other friends as they all hide out in a bar. Yet, there’s zombies trying to come in as they do whatever they can to survive as well as deal with the fact that there’s a jukebox that plays a song randomly for fuck’s sake. It is truly a fun film that mixes horror and comedy.
© thevoid99 2018
Based on the novel by Jose Giovanni, Le deuxieme soufflé is the story of an escaped criminal who chooses to embark on one final job while being pursued by a police inspector. Written for the screen and directed by Jean-Pierre Melville, the film is the study of a man trying to escape the world of crime only to be pulled back in as he is also aware that an inspector is looking for him. Starring Lino Ventura, Paul Meurisse, Raymond Pellegrin, Christine Fabrega, and Pierre Zimmer. Le deuxieme soufflé is a riveting and evocative film from Jean-Pierre Melville.
The film follows a revered criminal who escapes prison as he hides from the authorities where he is given a job offer to steal platinum bars for a crime boss and in return can retire. That is pretty much the film’s plot as a whole yet there is so much that happens as it play into the ideas of loyalty and intrigue where this criminal is also being pursued by this police inspector who knows what the man is up to. Jean-Pierre Melville’s screenplay opens with Gustave “Gu” Minda (Lino Ventura) making his escape with two other men as he is given some money and a place to hide but also wants to see his sister Manouche (Christine Fabrega) and her loyal bodyguard Alban (Michel Constantin) who would help out though they’re aware that several people are trying to find Gu including the famed police inspector in Blot (Paul Meurisse).
The film’s script does play into this cat-and-mouse game that Blot and Gu are playing with the former trying to figure out what Gu is doing with the latter accepting this job from the crime boss Paul Ricci (Raymond Pellegrin) with three other men to steal a shipment of platinum bars. Yet, Melville is aware that everything leads up to this heist in the middle of the film but it’s the aftermath that is more interesting. Notably into the idea of loyalty and honor which is something Gu holds dearly as he and the team of men in the heist already have plans to split the take five-ways but something goes wrong early in the third act when Gu is suddenly arrested by another police inspector in Fardiano (Paul Frankeur) who would trick Gu into unveiling information. For Blot, he sees Fardiano’s methods as inhumane leading to more trouble with Gu becoming a big target for all involved.
Melville’s direction is definitely rapturous in the way he creates this world of the French criminal underworld as it is shot partially in Paris and Marseilles with many of the interiors shot in a studio set in Paris. Yet, it opens with this escape scene where Gu and two men look out for guards as they climb over the walls and later ride a train. Melville’s usage of wide shots play into the location including the film’s big heist scene at the mountain roads. The attention to detail that Melville puts in where the characters are at and where to be positioned for the heist show that idea of professionalism of what it takes for a heist to succeed. It’s among the big sequences that Melville has made in a film that is largely intimate in the way characters deal or interact with each other in the usage of close-ups and medium shots. Particularly in the cramped and small apartment that Gu lives in where he would have a dinner with Manouche and hide out there hoping to go to Italy. There are also these entrancing images at the nightclub that the Ricci brothers own that often feature these gorgeous dancers as it play into this world that the Ricci brothers are trying to run and maintain.
Much of the film’s first act has Melville maintain that intimacy and exploration into the criminal underworld as well as establishing Gu’s reputation within the underworld which is why Paul Ricci wants him for the job. When the film reaches its third act, it’s not just about the code of the criminal that gets broken but also the impact of that code being broken. Especially as Gu is someone who doesn’t like to inform on anyone and it is that reputation that is dear to him where he starts to fall apart once he’s being tricked. These moments in the third act where it is clear that something is off prompts one of Gu’s associates in Orloff (Pierre Zimmer) to figure out what to do to prove Gu’s innocence but is also tasked to do something else in case Gu is really guilty. All of which play into this idea of loyalty and honor in the world of crime with Blot trying to pursue Gu and bring him to justice. Overall, Melville crafts an intense yet ravishing film about an escaped criminal doing one final job only for things to go wrong in its aftermath.
Cinematographer Marcel Combes does brilliant work with the film’s black-and-white cinematography with the usage of low-key lights for many of the interior/exterior scenes set at night along with some vibrant natural lighting for some exterior scenes in the daytime. Editors Monique Bonnot and Michele Boehm do amazing work in the editing with its usage of jump-cuts, transition wipes, and fade-outs to help structure the story and play into the suspense. Production designer Jean-Jacques Fabre and set decorator Guy Maguin do excellent work with the look of Gu’s small apartment as well as the club that the Riccis run and the interiors of Manouche’s boathouse.
Costume designer Michel Tellin does fantastic work with the look of the suits the men wear as it does play into the style of film noir and gangster films as well as the lavish dresses that Manouche wears. Sound mixer Alex Pront does superb work with the sound as it play into the atmosphere of the locations with some heightened sounds in the mixing for some places along with the film’s big heist sequence. The film’s music by Bernard Gerard is incredible for its jazz-based score that play into the liveliness of the film as well as the underworld and in some intense moments in the film.
The film’s wonderful cast include some notable small roles from Pierre Grasset and Denis Manuel as a couple of criminals who took part in the heist as they later want to kill Gu for breaking the code, Michel Constantin as Manouche’s bodyguard Alban who is also a former marksman, Marcel Bozzuffi as Paul’s brother Jo who wants Gu dead, and Paul Frankeur in a terrific performance as the corrupt police inspector Fardiano who would use dirty tactics to capture Gu. Pierre Zimmer is superb as Gu’s friend Orloff as a man who acts as a middle-man for Gu and Paul Ricci as he is a no-nonsense man that makes sure things go well while he becomes suspicious of Jo’s intentions later in the film. Christine Fabrega is excellent as Gu’s sister Manouche as a woman who has money and is willing to help out her brother while trying to evade questions from Blot. Raymond Pellegrin is fantastic as Paul Ricci as a crime boss who wants Gu to do a heist for him as he is also willing to give Gu the chance to leave the life of crime until things go wrong in the aftermath.
Paul Meurisse is incredible as Inspector Blot as a no-nonsense police inspector who is eager to capture Gu while wanting to ensure that Gu is brought to justice without any harm as he’s a man that also plays by a code and honor as he knows that some in the police can’t be relied on. Finally, there’s Lino Ventura in a phenomenal performance as Gusatve “Gu” Minda as this criminal who lives by a code of honor among thieves where he does his job and keeps his mouth shut where he would escape and get a chance to do a final job. It’s a performance that has Ventura be cool and not show much emotion except in the third act when he’s being accused of being a rat which pisses him off big time as it is a must-see performance from Ventura.
Le deuxieme soufflé is a tremendous film from Jean-Pierre Melville that include great performances from Lino Ventura and Paul Meurisse. Along with its supporting cast, gorgeous visuals, playful score, and themes of honor and ideals in the world of crime. It’s a film that play into men planning a heist only for things to go wrong in its aftermath as it showcases not just the fallacies of loyalty but also in the fact that there’s no one to trust in the world of crime. In the end, Le deuxieme soufflé is a spectacular film from Jean-Pierre Melville.
Jean-Pierre Melville: 24 Hours in the Life of a Clown – Le silence de la mer - Les enfants terribles - (Quand tu liras cette letter) - Bob le flambeur - (Two Men in Manhattan) – (Leon Morin, Priest) – (Le Doulos) – Magnet of Doom – Le Samourai - Army of Shadows – Le cercle rouge - (Un flic)
© thevoid99 2018
Written and directed by Jean-Luc Godard, Le Petit Soldat (The Little Soldier) is the story of a young man who is being asked by French intelligence to kill an official who is believed to be a double agent where he ends up falling for a young woman who is supposedly working for the opposition. Set during the Algerian War, the film is an exploration of a man trying to not get involved only to be caught in the middle of an uneasy conflict. Starring Michel Subor, Anna Karina, and Henri-Jacques Huet. Le Petit Soldat is a riveting and chilling film from Jean-Luc Godard.
The film revolves around a young man who is a spy living in Geneva, Switzerland as he is asked by French intelligence to kill a man who is suspected to be a double agent working for the National Liberation Front of Algeria (FLN). Along the way, he meets a young woman who is supposedly working for the FLN as he falls for her which would complicate his mission. Jean-Luc Godard’s screenplay uses a simple premise to play into a man being caught in the middle of this conflict as the French spy Bruno Forestier (Michel Subor) as he remains wanted in France for refusing to enlist in the French army during the Algerian War where much of the film is told from his perspective as he would narrate everything he endures. He works in Geneva as a journalist as his cover yet French intelligence officials want him to kill a man and not get enlisted but things get complicated when he meets Veronica Dreyer (Anna Karina) whom he falls for though he is unsure if she’s affiliated with the FLN.
Godard’s direction does have elements of style in his approach to long takes and intimate shots as well as shooting scenes on actual locations as it is shot on location in Geneva and other parts of Switzerland. While Godard would shoot some wide shots of Geneva and various locations, much of his approach is focused on the action involving Bruno and the French intelligence officials he’s working for in scenes inside a car or at a room. The scenes involving Veronica are playful but also have some commentary about the fallacies of alliance such as a scene late in the third act where Bruno has this monologue about why he refuses to take part in either side as it relates to Veronica’s own supposed affiliation with FLN. The usage of hand-held cameras for these intimate moments including scenes where Bruno is being tortured by the FLN showcase the brutality of this conflict that is happening in Switzerland between two factions. Especially in how one side would react to another leading to this chaotic element that Bruno wants out of and with Veronica with him so they can live a life without conflict. Overall, Godard crafts a gripping and compelling film about a spy caught in the middle of a conflict where he’s asked to assassinate the opposition.
Cinematographer Raoul Coutard does brilliant work with the film’s black-and-white cinematography with the way many of the exterior scenes at night look as well as the usage of low-key lights for the torture scenes. Editors Agnes Guillemot, Lila Herman, and Nadine Trintignant do excellent work with the editing with its stylish usage of jump-cuts to play into the action as well as creating cuts that help impact the suspense. The sound work of Jacques Maumont is superb for its natural approach to sound in the way gunfire or the atmosphere of a certain location is presented. The film’s music by Maurice Leroux is terrific as it is low key in its piano concerto presentation with some pieces by classical artists that is played on location.
The film’s wonderful ensemble cast include a few notable small roles from Godard as a man at the railway station, Laszlo Szabo as a friend of Bruno, Paul Beauvais as an intelligent officer working for the French, and Henri-Jacques Huet as the lead intelligence officer who orders Bruno to perform an assassination on this supposed double-agent. Michel Subor is fantastic as Bruno Forestier as a young spy that is tasked with an assassination assignment as he copes with what he has to do as well as the stakes prompting him to realize what it is all about as it’s an understated yet captivating performance. Finally, there’s Anna Karina in an amazing performance as Veronica Dreyer as it’s a lively and charming performance from Karina as a young woman whose loyalties and associations come into question as she also deals with the role she’s playing in this conflict as it is a joyful performance in her first of several collaborations with Godard.
Le Petit Soldat is an incredible film from Jean-Luc Godard that features brilliant performances from Michel Subor and Anna Karina. Along with its dazzling visuals and study of individuals caught up in a chaotic conflict, it’s a film that showcases some of the fallacies of war as well as two different people who want to live a life outside of conflict. In the end, Le Petit Soldat is a remarkable film from Jean-Luc Godard.
Jean-Luc Godard Films: All the Boys are Called Patrick - Charlotte et son Jules - A Bout de Souffle - A Woman is a Woman - Vivre Sa Vie - Les Carabiniers - Contempt - Bande a Part - A Married Woman - Alphaville - Pierrot Le Fou - Masculin Feminin - Made in U.S.A. - Two or Three Things I Know About Her - La Chinoise - Weekend – Sympathy for the Devil (One Plus One) - (Joy of Learning) - (British Sounds) - Tout va Bien - (Letter to Jane) - (One A.M.) - (Number Two) - (Here and Elsewhere) - (Every Man for Himself) - (Passion) - (First Name: Carmen) - Hail, Mary - (Soft and Hard) - (Detective) - (King Lear (1987 film)) - (Keep Your Right Up) - (Nouvelle Vague) - (Allemagne 90 neuf zero) - (JLG/JLG - Self-Portrait in December) - For Ever Mozart - (Historie(s) de Cinema) - (In Praise of Love) - (Notre musique) - (Film Socialisme) - (Adieu au Language) – (The Image Book)
© thevoid99 2018
Written and directed by Denis Villeneuve, Un 32 aout sur terre (August 32nd on Earth) is the story of a model who deals with an existential crisis following an accident as she turns to her best friend in conceiving a child. The film is a road drama of sorts where a woman and her best friend travel following a life-changing event in the hope they can find meaning in their lives. Starring Pascale Bussieres and Alexis Martin. Un 32 aout sur terre is an entrancing and offbeat film from Denis Villeneuve.
Set largely in the span of a few days in the life of a model and her best friend, the film revolves around this woman whose near encounter with death forces her to question her life as she decides to become a mother as she turns to her best friend. It is a film with a simple premise that doesn’t have much plot but it does involve a lot of motivation for two characters whose lives are going nowhere as they would embark on a journey to Salt Lake City from Quebec to find some meaning in their lives. Denis Villeneuve’s screenplay doesn’t have much of a plot as it is more about this woman in Simone Prevost (Pascale Bussieres) who had fallen asleep while driving her car as she had no idea what happened other than having a near-death experience. The experience would drive Simone to make a change as she calls her best friend Philippe (Alexis Martin) who is already in a relationship yet is in love with Simone. He agrees to help her but asks if they can conceive the child in a desert prompting them to go to Salt Lake City. It is there that a lot of questions are raised about their relationship and where will it go.
Villeneuve’s direction is definitely mesmerizing for the way he presents a young woman’s world coming into question as she tries to figure out what to do next with her life following a near-fatal car accident. Shot on location in areas near and in Montreal as well as scenes at the Salt Lake City airport and the Bonneville Salt Flats in Utah. Villeneuve creates a film that does take great usage of the locations as much of the film is shot on these locations with little need for sets as it include this futuristic room made by the Japanese at the Salt Lake City airport as it’s one of the film’s intimate moments that also has bits of comedy. Yet, Villeneuve would maintain an air of intrigue for the scenes at the Salt Flats with the usage of wide shots as well as some precise compositions in those wide shots.
Even as there are scenes in Montreal that has Villeneuve use and medium shots for some of the exteriors as well as some interiors where Villeneuve play into Simone’s relationship with Philippe as two people who are both at crucial periods in their lives though Philippe is the one with a more certain future. Particularly in the third act that is set in Montreal as it is more about Philippe than Simone as the former doesn’t just deal with his own feelings for the latter but also some of the baggage he has in his own personal life and the sacrifice he wants to make for Simone and whatever future she could have. Overall, Villeneuve creates an evocative and haunting film about a woman’s near-death experience and her desire to find meaning in her life with her best friend.
Cinematographer Andre Turpin does brilliant work with the film’s cinematography as it is straightforward for some of the exteriors including scenes at night while maintaining something colorful and beautiful for many of the daytime exterior scenes in areas near Montreal as well as at the Salt Mines. Editor Sophie Leblond does amazing work with the editing with its stylish usage of jump-cuts, montages, and such to play into the drama as well as some of the more chilling moments in the film. Sound designer Martin Pinsonnault and sound editor Marcel Pothier do excellent work with the sound as it emphasizes on natural sounds and atmosphere to help play up the drama for the locations the characters are in. The film’s music soundtrack consists of music pieces by Nathalie Boileau, Robert Charlebois, Pierre Desrochers, and Jean Leloup that play into some of the drama or the humorous moments in the film.
The film’s wonderful ensemble cast include some notable small roles from Ivan Smith and Paule Baillargeon as a couple of doctors that Simone would meet in the film, Evelyne Rompre as Philippe’s girlfriend Juliette, Joanne Cote as Simone’s boss Monica, and Lee C. Fobert as a cab driver in Salt Lake City who drives them to the salt mines. Alexis Martin is fantastic as Philippe as a man that is about to embark a career as a doctor where he decides to help Simone with her plan while dealing with the fact that he’s in love with her. Finally, there’s Pascale Bussieres in an incredible performance as Simone Prevost as a model who had survived a car accident as she deals with the near-death experience forcing her to find meaning in her life as it’s a low-key yet effective performance from Bussieres.
Un 32 aout sur terre is a sensational film from Denis Villeneuve that features great performances from Pascale Bussieres and Alexis Martin. Along with its intoxicating visuals, simple premise, and minimalist approach to filmmaking, it is a truly a fascinating and rapturous feature-length debut film from Villeneuve who play into the existential crises of two friends who are in love with each other. In the end, Un 32 aout sur terre is an incredible film from Denis Villeneuve.
Denis Villeneuve Films: Maelstrom – Polytechnique – Incendies - Prisoners (2013 film) - Enemy - Sicario - Arrival (2016 film) - Blade Runner 2049 - Dune-Part One (2021 film) - Dune-Part Two - (Dune: Messiah) - The Auteurs #68: Denis Villeneuve
© thevoid99 2018
For the 31st week of 2018 as part of Wandering Through the Shelves' Thursday Movie Picks series hosted by Wanderer. We focus on the idea of people switching bodies whether it’s through some kind of strange surgery or something magical as it’s often fodder for comedy or something even more fucked up. Here are my three picks:
1. Freaky Friday
A film that is now about to unleash a third remake for the Disney Channel is about to arrive yet it is clear that the upcoming film as well as the very popular 2003 film and a 1995 TV film version don’t compare to the 1976 original. Starring Jodie Foster and Barbara Harris is this offbeat comedy where a teenage girl and her mother say the exact words “I wish I could switch places with her for just one day” suddenly causes problems. What happens is this strange yet exhilarating comedy that is full of charm as well as provide both Foster and Harris the chance to do so much as well as play into the fears of being an adult and teenager.
2. Vice Versa
What happens when a workaholic yuppie dad touches a magical skull with his son and they suddenly switch bodies? That is pretty much the premise of the film that stars Judge Reinhold and Fred Savage as it is part of a wave of body-switching comedies that was around in the 1980s yet this is the best of the bunch. Notably as Savage plays it straight when he acts like the adult while Reinhold gets to really loosen up as there are also some very funny moments about how much of a dick Reinhold’s character is when played by Savage. The scene where the secretary of Reinhold’s character gets a call from Savage and tells a co-worker, “the little shit sounds like his father”.
3. The Hot Chick
Among the slew of films from the late 90s and early 2000s that starred Rob Schneider that essentially becomes the idea of the derp-de-derp films that often puts an actor into some kind of stupid situation and does the same shit like he did in his other films which is essentially what Johnny Depp, Adam Sandler, and Tom Cruise have been doing lately with most of their films as of late. This one revolves around Schneider stealing a mysterious earring from Rachel McAdams where they both put on an earring and they switch bodies. It’s one of the better films that Schneider is in as he definitely camps it up in every way while McAdams is actually very funny in the way she acts like a dude and such. It’s silly and low-brow but it brings in the laughs.
© thevoid99 2018
Directed by Arthur Penn and written by Thomas McGuane, The Missouri Breaks is the story of a rancher who hires a regulator to hunt down a horse thief whose gang has killed one of his men in an act of revenge while his daughter is in love with the head thief. The film is an offbeat western that play into a pursuit with some eccentric characters as it revolves around a man wanting to kill a thief. Starring Marlon Brando, Jack Nicholson, Randy Quaid, Harry Dean Stanton, Frederic Forrest, John McLiam, and Kathleen Lloyd. The Missouri Breaks is a whimsical yet engrossing film from Arthur Penn.
The film revolves around a horse thief whose gang kills a rancher’s foreman who hung their friend over angering a rancher as they would later buy land from that rancher just to piss him off. Yet, the rancher is trying to find out who killed his foreman as he hires an eccentric regulator who plays by his own rules and would later cause all sorts of trouble. It’s a film that is about a thief trying to maintain a life that is honorable and decent yet he also copes with this regulator being around him and causing trouble as well as having issues with a rancher whose daughter he falls for. Thomas McGuane’s screenplay opens with the rancher David Braxton (John McLiam) hanging a young man named Sandy (Hunter von Leer) whose friend is the horse thief Tom Logan (Jack Nicholson) who runs a gang of horse thieves as they learn about their friend’s death. The first act is about Logan and his gang robbing a train to buy land near Braxton’s ranch to start a ranch of their own yet Logan would be the one tending to the ranch while his gang led by Cal (Harry Dean Stanton) travel to Canada to steal horses from the mounted police force.
Logan would meet Braxton’s daughter Jane (Kathleen Lloyd) who is intrigued by Logan though their affair would be kept secret except that her father’s hired regulator in Robert E. Lee Clayton (Marlon Brando) is watching as he suspects Logan involved in the death of Braxton’s foreman. Clayton is this man who is a real oddball as he arrives to the Braxton camp holding on to his horse on the side as if he’s hiding while he has an Irish accent and wears strange costumes. Yet, there’s an aspect of him that is ruthless and cunning in his pursuits though his initial meeting with Logan with Braxton is based on curiosity yet Logan is aware of his reputation as he just tries to not get into trouble. Even as the third act is about Braxton realizing the trouble Clayton is bringing as it would lead to all sorts of chaos in his pursuit of Logan and his gang.
Arthur Penn’s direction is definitely mesmerizing in the way he presents the American West as it is shot on various locations in Wyoming to play into this world of the West and in areas near the Missouri River. Penn’s usage of the wide shots do play into the vast scope and the attention to detail into the landscape from the trees on the mountains as well as the rivers and other parts of the film while he would maintain an intimacy through medium shots and close-ups as it relates to the characters. Penn’s compositions play into moments that are comical such as the train robbery scene as well as the way Clayton introduces himself. Penn would also maintain that air of humor and low-key drama to play into the characters that are trying to do their work in stealing horses or Logan trying to tend to his land. The smaller moments showcase Penn putting time in the characters while letting the action take hold during the third act as it relates to Clayton’s methods and what he does where the violence is intense. Even as it would play into this confrontation between Logan and Clayton with Braxton having some part in playing to the chaos that he’s created. Overall, Penn crafts an exhilarating and quirky film about a horse thief being watched and hunted by an odd regulator.
Cinematographer Michael Butler does brilliant work with the film’s cinematography with its gorgeous yet natural look for many of the daytime exteriors with some stylish and low-key lighting for some of the interior scenes set in the day. Editors Dede Allen, Gerald G. Greenberg, and Steven A. Rotter do excellent work with the editing as it is largely straightforward for some of the dramatic and comedic moments while using some stylish rhythmic cuts for some of Clayton’s antics. Production designer Albert Brenner, with set decorator Marvin March and art director Stephen Myles Berger, does fantastic work with the look of the Braxton home as well as the ranch that Logan runs and the home that his gang live in.
Costume designer Patricia Norris does amazing work with the costumes from the ragged look of Logan and his gang to the odd clothes that Clayton wears including a dress that he would wear as part of his disguise. Sound editor Richard P. Cirincione does terrific work with the sound as it play into the atmosphere of the locations as well as some of the usage of gunfire and other weapons. The film’s music by John Williams is incredible for its offbeat approach to country and folk with some orchestral elements that add to the film’s odd yet enjoyable tone.
The film’s wonderful cast include some notable small roles from James Greene and Luana Anders as a rancher and his wife that Cy would hide out at, Danny Goldman as a baggage clerk during the train robbery, Hunter von Leer as Logan’s friend Sandy who gets hung by Braxton, John P. Ryan and Frederic Forrest as a couple of Logan’s friends in his gang in their respective roles as Cy and Cary, and Randy Quaid in a superb performance as a young member of the gang named Little Tod who gives Logan the idea to rob a train as he is an able though naïve hood who is always helpful. John McLiam is terrific as David Braxton as a rancher who wants retaliation for the death of his foreman as he is also suspicious of Logan buying land near him. Kathleen Lloyd is fantastic as Braxton’s daughter Jane as a young woman who is often caring for her father as she becomes fascinated by Logan whom she sees as someone who has a lot more to offer as well as an escape from her stuffy life. Harry Dean Stanton is excellent as Logan’s right-hand man Cal who gets some of the film’s best lines and dialogue as he’s kind of the conscience of sorts who often puts Logan in his place but also is aware of how dangerous Clayton is.
Jack Nicholson is great as Tom Logan as a horse thief that is trying to go straight and live a decent life while falling for the rancher’s daughter as he becomes aware of Clayton’s presence as it’s a restrained performance from Nicholson where he displays some charm but also a grounded approach of a man that becomes uneasy by what is happening around him. Finally, there’s Marlon Brando in a phenomenal performance as Robert E. Lee Clayton as this offbeat and odd regulator that has Brando sport an Irish-American accent as well as a twangy-western accent in one sequence as it’s a strange yet exuberant performance that has Brando be funny but also ruthless in the way he does his job as it’s one of his more overlooked performances of his career.
The Missouri Breaks is a sensational film from Arthur Penn that features incredible performances from Marlon Brando and Jack Nicholson. Along with its gorgeous visuals, top-notch supporting cast, John Williams’ exhilarating score, and a compelling screenplay by Thomas McGuane. It’s a western that doesn’t play by the rules while maintaining much of the visual tropes and plot devices expected from the genre with elements of dark humor. In the end, The Missouri Breaks is a spectacular film from Arthur Penn.
Arthur Penn Films: (Portrait of a Murderer) – (The Left Handed Gun) – (The Miracle Worker) – (Mickey One) – (The Chase (1966 film)) – (Bonnie and Clyde) – (Flesh and Blood) – (Alice’s Restaurant) – Little Big Man - (Visions of Eight) – (Night Moves (1975 film)) – (Four Friends) – (Target (1985 film)) – (Dead of Winter) – (Penn & Teller Get Killed) – (The Portrait (1993 film)) – (Inside (1996 film))
© thevoid99 2018
Well, this is so far been a pretty fucked up summer so far not just with this horrific heat wave going around the world but also here in Atlanta as my family home is dealing with falling leaves as if it’s autumn arriving early. It’s something myself and my parents are just unhappy with along with unpredictable weather which is becoming normal as of late thanks in part to climate change. It fucking exists. I don’t go out very much not just due to the heat but also just out of lack of interest other than go to the cinema or wanting to get something I need. Even if there’s a sale somewhere like Barnes & Noble as I’ve managed to acquire some DVDs though this past Saturday when I chose to get some Criterion DVDs on sale. Yet, I came home with the news that my fraternal grandmother had just died at age 92. It was kind of expected but it’s sad even though she has contributed to this ongoing turmoil within my relatives and often stirred the pot. My relationship with her was OK as I much preferred my maternal grandmother who died seven years ago that September.
Aside from the usual family drama that is happening around me which I have no involvement in for good reason. I just choose to do other things such as watching the World Cup as I was really rooting for England to make it to the finals. Sadly, they were beaten by Croatia who were really being the stars of the Cup. Especially Luka Modric as he is an unusual player that is more about making the plays that helps his team wins rather than be known as the goal scorer. For all of this talk about Cristiano Ronaldo, Lionel Messi, and Neymar being the best players out there, Modric is someone I think deserves to be in the conversation. At the finals against France, I was rooting for Croatia but they lost to the French who played great in the Cup. It’s true what some in the press are saying. France may have won the cup but Croatia won our hearts. I hope they win one of these days though I’m not really looking forward to the next World Cup in Qatar as I’m still uneasy over the usage of slave labor at that country.
Then of course, there is that embarrassment in Helsinki, Finland in which our dictator chose to take it up the ass from Vladimir Putin as it just goes to show that this country is fucked. I guess if El Pendejo chooses to do things the way they are, we Americans are going to speaking Russian. The United States of Russia. Oh fuck, I have nothing against Russians other than their government and their religious leaders as they are the embodiment of corruption and tyranny. There’s been opposition but there’s also trouble as it just adds to this air of chaos we’re in. I’ve been reading about people trying to focus on 2020 but honestly, I’m hoping we get rid of El Pendejo as soon as fucking possible.
In the month of July, I saw a total of 35 films in 17 first-timers and 18 re-watches with one film directed by a woman as part of the 52 Films by Women pledge. A pretty good month due to less distraction from the World Cup while I’m watching a couple of dogs for my sister and family friends. The highlight this month has definitely been my Blind Spot choice this month in Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid. Here are the top 10 first-timers that I saw for July 2018:
1. Thief
2. The Lost City of Z
3. Dont Look Back
4. My Friend Dahmer
5. Pale Rider
6. Logan Lucky
7. Two Lovers
8. No Direction Home
9. The Missouri Breaks
10. Ant-Man & the Wasp
Monthly Mini-Reviews
Nile Rodgers: The Hitmaker
From the BBC is a documentary I saw on YouTube about one of the finest men in the world of popular music in Nile Rodgers. From his work with the disco band Chic that would provide the template for a lot of great dance music as well as the foundations for hip-hop to his work producing other artists such as David Bowie, Duran, Diana Ross, Madonna, and many others. Even as it has Rodgers, before he was to have this major comeback collaborating with Daft Punk, talk about his work and ideas into a song as well as just wanting to play guitar as the documentary also feature interviews from Bryan Ferry, Johnny Marr, John Taylor of Duran, and many others who praise the man for his work as a musician and as a songwriter.
Kingsman: The Golden Circle
I really liked the first Kingsman movie so I was intrigued to see what the sequel will do and while it is an entertaining film. It does suffer from what usually happens with sequels is that it does try to do too much and it does get over-long where it tries too hard to be funny and exciting. Still, there’s enough moments that are enjoyable as the returning ensemble cast of Taron Egerton, Colin Firth, and Mark Strong are fun though I was dismayed by how underused Channing Tatum was though Jeff Bridges and Halle Berry were able to be important. Then there’s Julianne Moore who was a total delight as the film’s main antagonist as her character can be described as a far more psychotic version of Martha Stewart as if she was a drug dealer. Add Sir Elton John in the mix where he kills some people and it’s just a downright fun film.
Stronger
From David Gordon Green is this film based on the real life story of Jeff Bauman who lost his legs during the 2013 Boston Marathon bombing where was there cheering for his ex-girlfriend and deal with what happened to him and such. With Jake Gyllenhaal playing Bauman, it is a compelling and heartfelt film that has Gyllenhaal display the struggles that Bauman endures yet it is Tatiana Maslany who is the revelation in the film as Bauman’s ex-girlfriend Erin who would run the marathon but be in shock over what happened to him as she struggles to take care of him. For Green who has been hit-and-miss as of late does deliver as this is one of his better films.
Top 10 Re-Watches
1. Young Frankenstein
2. Love & Mercy
3. The Outsiders
4. Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country
5. The Running Man
6. 7 Days in Hell
7. Taps
8. Tour de Pharmacy
9. Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home
10. Class
Well, that is all for July 2018. August will be focused mainly on all sorts of films based on the never-ending DVR list that is currently on my TV’s hard drive as well as films I have pre-written. Much of the focus on August will be on the films of Denis Villeneuve for his Auteurs piece along with some DVDs that I’ve purchased for some time while the only theatrical release I hope to see is Spike Lee’s BlackKklansman while I’m still unsure of what Blind Spot to watch. The NIN marathon in my music blog is still on-going though it’s going slower than I thought it would be. Until then, this is thevoid99 signing off…
© thevoid99 2018
