Shutter Island

After finally nabbing an Oscar for Best Director for his 2006 remake of the Hong Kong film Infernal Affairs entitled The Departed. Martin Scorsese was now part of a group of great directors who won the Oscar after trying to get the award several times. Scorsese took a break from feature films to direct a concert film for the Rolling Stones entitled Shine a Light in 2008 while producing various other projects including a restoration of the 1949 Powell-Pressburger classic The Red Shoes. In 2010, Scorsese returned to the big screen for a psychological thriller entitled Shutter Island.

Based on Dennis Lehane’s novel, Shutter Island tells the story of two U.S. marshals investigating a mental hospital where a patient has vanished. Upon the investigation, one of the marshals is haunted by the images of his dead wife as he believes her killer is in the island. Directed by Martin Scorsese with a script by Laeta Kalogridis along with additional work by Steven Knight. The film marks Scorsese’s fourth collaboration with actor Leonardo DiCaprio as they create a thriller that is both visually fascinating and intriguing in its story. Also starring Mark Ruffalo, Michelle Williams, Ben Kingsley, Patricia Clarkson, Emily Mortimer, Elias Koteas, Jackie Earle Haley, Ted Levine, John Carroll Lynch, and Max von Sydow. Shutter Island is an intriguing yet haunting film from Martin Scorsese and company.

It’s 1954 as two U.S. marshals named Teddy Daniels (Leonardo DiCaprio) and his new partner Chuck Aule (Mark Ruffalo) are going to Shutter Island to investigate the disappearance of a patient at a mental hospital known as Ashecliffe. Accompanied by deputy warden McPherson (John Carroll Lynch), the duo meets Dr. John Cawley (Ben Kingsley) who explains about the patient named Rachel Solando (Emily Mortimer) who had disappeared. Solando was brought in after drowning her three kids as Daniels and Aule try to interview staff members along with some patients. When Daniels want to know more by going to Cawley’s colleague Dr. Jeremiah Naehring (Max von Sydow) for more information. Daniels is rebuffed as he is troubled by headaches that feature flashbacks of his period in war along with the images of his dead wife Dolores (Michelle Williams).

With Daniels and Aule continuing their investigation during a stormy day at the island, Daniels reveals his motive to why he’s really at the island believing that a man named Andrew Laeddis (Elias Koteas) is at the island. Daniels believes that Laeddis was responsible for his wife’s death through arson as Daniels is also convinced of some experiments going on. With the two continuing their investigation, Rachel Solando has been found and is safe though the interrogation with Solando proves to be strange. With Daniels more troubled by his migraines and appearances of his wife along with Laeddis, Daniels goes on the search for more about Ashecliffe. In the aftermath of a bad storm where patients are out of the hospital, Daniels goes into the fortress where the most dangerous prisoners are held.

Daniels suddenly meets a man named George Noyce (Jackie Earle Haley) whom Daniels had tried to help. Realizing that Noyce had given him clues about the mysterious lighthouse, Daniels along with Aule try to find a path to the lighthouse where the two got separated. Aule disappears while Daniels meets a mysterious woman (Patricia Clarkson) at a cave who reveals more about the secrets of the island. With Daniels being picked up by the hospital’s warden (Ted Levine), Daniels confronts Dr. Cawley about what is going on as he decides to go to the lighthouse where he finds a shocking discovery.

The film is about a man trying to uncover mysteries about his wife’s death as well as the island where they’re keeping her killer who is possibly being part of a strange experiment. Yet, that’s the film’s plot in a nutshell but in the mind of Martin Scorsese. It’s anything but simple as it’s a film that is really a puzzle of sorts of what is really going on in the island and the people in the island. No character is who they say they are with a few exceptions. It’s all because there is something at the island that no one wants to explain right until the third act where there’s a twist involved.

Screenwriter Laeta Kalogridis creates a wonderful script that builds on the suspense of the story along with the back-and-forth movements of the story where Teddy Daniels is having flashbacks or strange dreams. The flashbacks and dreams play up to the film’s surreal style as it would unveil clues to what’s going on. The characters are also very interesting as Daniels’ partner Chuck acts as a foil of sorts but also a conscience who wants to be at Daniels’ side with everything that is happening. Dr. Cawley might seem like an antagonist since he’s always evading questions along with Dr. Naehring. All of the minor characters Daniels would interact along with the visions of Dolores would eventually lead to the twist.

The twist would definitely change all perspectives of what everyone just saw the first time around. When it is seen again for the second time, more clues are unveiled along with pieces of dialogue and how they’re presented. Overall, it’s a wonderful screenplay by Laeta Kalogridis.

Then, there’s the direction of Martin Scorsese which is truly powerful and engaging in its imagery. Taking an old-school approach to the directing, Scorsese goes for eerie zoom shots along with dolly tracks to create a mood for the film. Even as he creates wide shots for an idea of the island and its dark feel where something doesn’t seem right. Scorsese also goes for an intimate setting for some of the film’s interrogation and conversation pieces where he goes for simplicity in the presentation.

For some of the film’s broader scenes at the island, Scorsese uses some visual effects which are rich in its look. For the most part, they all look great except for one scene where Daniels is talking with the warden on the jeep as the background looks very fake. For many of the film’s fantasy sequences, Scorsese creates a look that is artificial and dream-like while playing up to the surrealism of the film. When it comes time for the twist, Scorsese makes sure that the dialogue that people heard early along with objects including the bandage in Teddy’s head early in the film mean something. Plus, Scorsese also allows a chance to put in a few references in objects such as the red shoes worn by the little girl (Ruby Jerins) as a reference to the Michael Powell/Emeric Pressburger film The Red Shoes. Despite a few flaws, it is a wonderfully stunning yet eerie film from Martin Scorsese.

Cinematographer Robert Richardson does a fantastic job with the film’s eerie yet colorful cinematography. Richardson’s work definitely plays to the film’s chilling mood with lots of dark colors to match the rainy scenes in the exteriors. Even in the prison where the lights are very stylish and moody to build up to the film’s suspense. Richardson’s photography is truly one of the film’s technical highlights for the way it brings atmosphere to the film.

Longtime Scorsese collaborator Thelma Schoonmaker does an excellent job with the film’s editing. Schoonmaker creates dazzling cuts to play with the film’s rhythm and build on its suspense. Even as she utilizes a few jump-cuts for rhythm while playing to the conversation scenes in cutting from one actor to another. Even in the transitions as Schoonmaker’s cutting is truly some of her best work in her career as an editor.

Production designer Dante Ferretti, along with set decorator Francesca Lo Schiavo and supervising art director Robert Guerra, does a fabulous job with the look of Ashecliffe hospital from its old-school wall filled with bricks including the decayed lighthouse. The look of the prison inside the hospital is eerie as it looks old and almost in ruins to help play up the film’s eerie tone. Costume designer Sandy Powell does a phenomenal job with the costumes from the clothes that Daniels and Aule wear early in the film to the suits that Dr. Cawley wears. Even in the colorful dresses that Dolores wears that plays true to the style of the 1950s.

Visual effects supervisor Rob Legato does a very good job with the visual effects from the lush look of the island in exteriors during the rainy season to the look of the flashback sequences where the effects play up to the Daniels‘ own troubled mind. Sound editors Philip Stockton and Eugene Gearty do some brilliant work in the sound from the feel of the storm along with the stark yet near-silent tone of the prison that Daniels investigate.

Music supervisor Robbie Robertson creates an amazing soundtrack that is filled with an array of eerie classical pieces that plays to the film’s suspense. Featuring classical pieces from Gustav Mahler, John Cage, Krzysztof Penderecki, Ingram Marshall, and Gyorgy Ligeti. The soundtrack also includes pieces from 1950s music like Kay Starr, Dinah Washington, Max Richter along with an ambient track from Brian Eno. The soundtrack is an excellent collection that plays well with what the film needed for its tone.

The casting by Ellen Lewis is superb as every actor in the film really hits the right notes. Notable small roles include Robin Bartlett as a patient Daniels and Aule interrogate, Ruby Jerrins as a mysterious little girl in Teddy’s dreams, Elias Koteas as the crazed Andrew Laeddis, and Ted Levine as sly warden who talks to Teddy about the island. Other small but memorable roles include Emily Mortimer as the troubled Rachel Solando, John Carroll Lynch as deputy warden McPherson, Jackie Earle Haley as the crazed George Noyce, and Max von Sydow as the calm but mysterious Dr. Naehring. Patricia Clarkson is excellent in a small role as mysterious woman in a cave who warns Daniels about Shutter Island and its lighthouse.

Michelle Williams is radiant as Dolores, Teddy’s deceased wife who appears in Teddy’s dreams and other visions as she guides him to unlock the mysteries of the island. Williams brings a sense of grace but also darkness of a character that isn’t even alive as she and DiCaprio have wonderful chemistry. Ben Kingsley is superb as Dr. Crawley, a mysterious doctor who reluctantly helps Teddy with the investigation while holding something back about what is going on. Mark Ruffalo is phenomenal as Chuck Aule, Teddy’s partner who helps in the investigation as Ruffalo plays the sidekick as well as conscience of sorts for Teddy. Even as help brings in some clues to the mysteries while being the guy to calm everyone down.

Leonardo DiCaprio is in top form as Teddy Daniels. DiCaprio brings a eerie quality to his performance as a troubled man trying to investigate a disappearance while hoping to expose the hospital for its experiments. There is a grittiness to DiCaprio’s performance as he’s someone worn down and disturbed by his own nightmares along with images of his wife appearing. While it may not top some of his previous collaborations with Martin Scorsese, DiCaprio does create a compelling yet engaging performance as Teddy Daniels.

Shutter Island is an excellent yet entrancing film from Martin Scorsese. While it may not top his recent films like The Aviator or The Departed along with other classic Scorsese films. It is still a remarkable achievement from a master like Scorsese who can still pull off some amazing tricks. Even as fans will be able to enjoy in what he can do with a suspense thriller that is presented with a lot of style. Featuring a great cast led by Leonardo DiCaprio, it’s a film that is like a great puzzle that when seeing it for the second time. It becomes more intriguing as Shutter Island is another wonderful achievement from Martin Scorsese.

Martin Scorsese Films: (Who’s That Knocking on My Door?) - Boxcar Bertha - (Mean Streets) - Italianamerican - Alice Doesn’t Live Here Anymore - Taxi Driver - New York, New York - American Boy: A Profile of Steven Prince - (The Last Waltz) - Raging Bull - The King of Comedy - After Hours - (The Color of Money) - The Last Temptation of Christ - New York Stories-Life Lessons - Goodfellas - Cape Fear - The Age of Innocence - (Casino) - (Kundun) - Bringing Out the Dead - Gangs of New York - (The Aviator) - No Direction Home - The Departed - Shine a Light - George Harrison: Living in the Material World - Hugo - The Wolf of Wall Street - (The Fifty Year Argument) - Silence (2016 film) - (The Irishman) - Killers of the Flower Moon - (An Afternoon with SCTV)

© thevoid99 2011

John Leguizamo's Freak

One of the premier Latin-American comedians in the world of comedy, John Leguizamo has been known for his crazy antics in his comedy acts. Notably playing various characters based on either his own life as a form of satire. While he’s also managed to have a successful career in films appearing in such films as Carlito’s Way as well as two collaborations with Australian director Baz Luhrmann for William Shakespeare’s Romeo + Juliet and Moulin Rouge!. Leguizamo remains a comedy actor on-screen and on the stage while he also dabbles in drama. In the early 1990s, Leguizamo created two successful one-man stage performances entitled Mambo Mouth and Spic-O-Rama that allowed him to make fun of Latin stereotypes as well as members of his own family. In 1998, Leguizamo created his third one-man stage performance about his upbringing and tumultuous family life entitled Freak.

Freak is a semi-biographical one-man stage performance that has John Leguizamo talking about his own upbringing as he grew up in Jackson Height, Queens in New York City to a Puerto Rican father and a Columbian mother along with a younger brother. Leguizamo also reflects on the days he was growing up amidst the chaos of his own dysfunctional family along the moment he wanted to become an actor. Written by Leguizamo and David Bar Katz, the stage play is directed by Spike Lee whom he would work with Leguizamo for his 1999 film Summer of Sam. The result is a wonderful collaboration between John Leguizamo and Spike Lee.

For the first half of the show, Leguizamo discusses his childhood where he grew up in Jackson Heights, Queens after his family emigrated from Colombia. He also reflects on a theory claiming that every kid has a good and bad grandmother. The latter of which is a very religious woman who believes that John was the spawn of Satan. While his father was a man who had the dream of running a tenement building, he was also obsessed by the TV he had at the home where he cleaned everything but the screen. That leads to a skit about the broken antenna during a time John and his little brother that he called Poochie watched the TV and messed around with the antenna.

Leguizamo also discusses about the first time he got drunk with his dad but also his first discovery of sex along with his buddies. It was also around the time that his father finally achieved success running a tenement building while having different types of girlfriends. Yet, all of John’s ideas of his father would be shattered by a lie which ends the first half. The second half has John talking about his life as a teenager where he would fall for this gorgeous African-American girl while trying to impress her Muslim father. Instead, it becomes a disaster as Leguizamo and his family were forced to move to other neighborhoods that featured different ethnicities like the Irish and the Italians. Even as it led to John discussing the time he lost his virginity and how he suddenly got himself into an acting audition with Lee Strasberg.

Shot on location at the Cort Theater on Broadway, Spike Lee creates a document of John Leguizamo performing this one-man performance as he shoots it on various spots. Even as Lee shows the performance from various perspectives whether its from the audience sitting in front of the stage or from the side of the stage. Lee is always making sure that it’s about Leguizamo and how he is telling the story. Even where at one point, Leguizamo is attempting to do something and nearly collide with a cameraman where Leguizamo would do it over as a performance.

Leguizamo’s performance is truly magnificent to watch in how he tells a story without delving into gimmicks or saying lots of profanity. It’s all about who he is as he reveals a bit of his soul to the audience. In the performance, he is very engaging to the audience where he talks to them a bit. Still, he is commanding in making people laugh at something they shouldn’t be laughing at. Yet, he also brings some dramatic elements to his performance which chronicles not just the disappointment he had as a kid but also the turmoil in his parents’ marriage. Leguizamo is able to balance all of that while keeping the audience intrigued and having a laugh. Overall, John Leguizamo’s stage performance along with Spike Lee’s wondrous direction makes Freak a captivating yet entertaining viewing.

Helping Lee and Leguizamo in the presentation is cinematographer Malik Hassan Sayeed whose camera is always capturing the moment in Leguizamo‘s performance. Even as longtime Lee collaborator in editor Barry Alexander Brown helps maintain the rhythm of Leguizamo‘s performance and in Lee‘s direction. Production designer Wendell K. Harrington does a great job in the art direction by creating a screen for Leguizamo’s stage in the back along with props for the performance.

Freak is a wild yet fascinating stage performance from John Leguizamo that is captured with such energy by Spike Lee. Fans of Leguizamo will consider this to be his greatest stat performance of his career as he’s set to return in 2011 with his fifth stage performance called Ghetto Klown. While this film might not be up to some of Lee’s other documentaries, it’s his most entertaining as it proves what Lee can do in capturing a one-man stage performance. In the end, Freak is funny stage performance from John Leguizamo and Spike Lee.

John Leguizamo Stage Performances: (Mambo Mouth) - (Spic-O-Rama) - (Sexaholix: A Love Story) - (Ghetto Klown) - (Latin History for Morons)

Spike Lee Films: (She’s Gotta Have It) - (School Daze) - Do the Right Thing - Mo' Better Blues - Jungle Fever - (Malcolm X) - Crooklyn - (Clockers) - (Girl 6) - (Get on the Bus) - 4 Little Girls - (He Got Game) - Summer of Sam - (The Original Kings of Comedy) - (Bamboozled) - (A Huey P. Newton Story) - 25th Hour - (Jim Brown: All-American) - (She Hate Me) - (Inside Man) - (When the Levees Broke: A Requiem in Four Acts) - (Miracle at St. Anna) - (Kobe Doin’ Work) - (Passing Strange) - (If God is Willing and Da Creek Don’t Rise) - (Red Hook Summer) - Bad 25 - Mike Tyson: Undisputed Truth - (Oldboy (2013 film)) - (Da Blood of Jesus) - (Chi Raq) - Michael Jackson's Journey from Motown to Off the Wall - BlacKkKlansman -

© thevoid99 2011

25th Hour

Originally Written and Posted at Epinions.com on 2/23/04 w/ Additional Edits.

Directed by Spike Lee and written by David Benioff based on his book, 25th Hour tells the story of a man spending the last 25 hours of his life before going to prison.  Set in the post-9/11 world of New York City, the film follows the man with his friends, his girlfriend, and father while wondering where did it all go wrong as he is about to go to prison.  The film also marks a departure of sorts as Lee is directing a cast mostly filled with white actors as opposed to his usual African-American actors that he's worked with for a large portion of his career.  With a cast led by Edward Norton along with Rosario Dawson, Barry Pepper, Philip Seymour Hoffman, Anna Paquin, Tony Siragusa, and Brian Cox. 25th Hour is one of Spike Lee's enriching films to date.

The film begins when a young drug dealer named Montgomery "Monty" Brogan (Edward Norton) and his Ukranian accomplice Kostya (Tony Siragusa) find a battered dog in a highway in New York City as the kidnap him and Monty makes him his dog that he named Doyle. Years later, Monty is now facing a seven-year prison sentence after being busted by feds. On his final day of freedom, Monty decides to go some people for one final day. He decides to meet the first of his two childhood buddies, Jacob Elinsky (Philip Seymour Hoffman) who is now an English teacher in a NYC school. Monty visits him during a class session one day just to tell him about tonight's final romp as he later calls his other buddy, Frank Slaughtery (Barry Pepper) who is a commodities broker. Frank gets a call about the night as he does his usual swagger of making deals and slacking off. Jacob meanwhile, is having problems as one of his students named Mary D'Annunzio (Anna Paquin) wants to talk to him about a grade she got over one of her papers.

With the day looming, Monty goes home to his apartment where he meets with his Puerto Rican girlfriend Naturelle (Rosario Dawson) as he suspects her of being the one who ratted him out to the feds. Naturelle notices the quiet tone Monty has taken to her as he reflects on the day he got busted and how the feds told him it was her that ratted him out. With the day going by after having a meeting with Kostya about a final meeting with his uncle Nikolai (Levani Outchaneichvili), Monty reflects on what has happened to him. He goes back to thinking of his days dealing, the day he first met Naturelle when she was just 18 and still in school. He later has a final dinner with his father James (Brian Cox) as they talk about the last day. Monty goes to the bathroom where he sees himself insulting everything including himself. Monty goes back as he and his father talk about what went wrong with them as James felt, this was going to be the last time he would ever see his son.

Jacob meanwhile goes to Franks's apartment, which is nearby the area of what once was the World Trade Center. The two look at ground zero as they reflect on what has happened to Monty. Jacob insists he'll see him after he's out of jail but Frank meanwhile wants to but felt that Monty put himself into all of this and couldn't bring himself to give any sympathy. Later in the night, the two discuss about sex and how Frank is pretty good at flirting with women while the insecure Jacob admits to having troubles. They later see Monty and Naturelle as she joins Jacob and Frank for a drink knowing that they'll never see Monty again. They all decide to go to the club where Monty is supposed to meet Nikolai.

They go to the club where trying to get in was Mary as she sees Jacob and he's in shock that she's out on a school night. Monty decides that she can go in as she joins the gang for the party. Naturelle and Mary dance the night away to Grandmaster Flash & the Furious Five's classic White Lines as Monty decides to give Doyle to Jacob since Doyle always liked him. Monty also has a meeting with Frank as Monty wonders what will happen to him after he's in jail. He feels all those years of dealing cost him not just his freedom but a chance at a future as Frank is trying to figure out how to help him. Mary meanwhile tries to seduce Jacob as they engage in a kiss while Frank and Naturelle have a talk where Frank finally lets out all of his frustrations on her since he felt she was the one who ratted him out.

With the night looming, Monty sees Nikolai and Kostya as Monty is now officially out of Nikolai's business as he learns the truth about the bust. For Monty, it was a strange night as he feels more down in the dumps as he ponders all that is left for any sense of hope.

While 25th Hour isn't up to par with classics like Do the Right Thing or Malcolm X, it is still one of Spike Lee's finer efforts. Being a master of drama Lee brings in a structure of emotional, cerebral moments for the film's central protagonist. Using David Benioff's script as a guideline, Lee definitely uses the elements of humanist drama to portray the complexity of the characters while displaying its flaws, notably the backdrop of post 9/11 NYC that still shows its prejudices and despair while showing the vibrant American spirit that is prevalent throughout. For Spike Lee, it's another endearing tribute to New York City while showing the spirit of the city's residents and the characters in the film.

Capturing a colorful, grainy look to New York City wonderfully is cinematographer Rodrigo Prieto, who definitely gives a dark, classical look to the film, especially showing only blue colors in the dance club scenes and the dark, wooden tone for the bar and outer club scenes. Prieto's work is truly one of the film's technical highlights thanks to eerie cinematography.  Another amazing element to the film is the score by longtime Lee contributor Terence Blanchard, who brings in a haunting, grandiose score with a sprawling orchestra arrangement and an ominous Arabian chant in the background while using the music of Grandmaster Flash and Bruce Springsteen for the film's emotional and fun moments.

With many of Lee's past films, there's always a great cast and here, it's no exception. Edward Norton is excellent as the troubled Monty by showing a sense of intelligence and sympathy of a man gone wrong and seeking any sort of redemption. Since breaking through with his Oscar-nominated performance in Primal Fear, Norton has been one of those actors who can instill a sense of compassion, fear, and intelligence and as Monty Brogan, he brings in a stellar performance. Topping Norton in performance is Barry Pepper as Frank by bringing in a swagger and cynicism that is relevant but also showing signs of sympathy and pain, especially in the film's final moments. Philip Seymour Hoffman is always great as the often-insecure characters and in 25th Hour, he still pulls off another amazing performance by displaying elements of self-loathing as well as compassion as he insists, he will see Monty again.

Rosario Dawson delivers her best performance to date as Naturelle by not just bringing an element of classical sexiness but a display of street smarts and intelligence to her character. She does more than just play Norton's girlfriend by adding her own sense of individuality, especially in a scene with Pepper as the two start a conflict with each other. While Anna Paquin does a good job as a Lolita-like role to Hoffman's character, she still at times has trouble delivering a NYC accent, notably in the club scenes. While this role is miles away from her Oscar-winning breakthrough in The Piano where she looked great in a sweating glow, she still needs to perfect her American accent while try to find more ways to break away from ingenue type roles as it was recently perfected by fellow young-acting peer Scarlett Johansson.

While the roles of DEA agents by Tony Devon and Isiah Whitlock Jr. are hilarious in the bust and interrogation scenes, the film's funnier moments come from Tony Siragusa. While he tries not to play the stereotypical Soviet fat man, Siragusa definitely brings some funny moments that annoy Norton's character while displaying elements of smarts as far as business is concerned. Levani Outchaneichvili as Nikolai is menacing but also noteworthy as he tells Norton's character to watch his back when he's prison as he strays away from a typical mob role. Finally, there's the always-amazing Brian Cox as Edward Norton's father. In a year where he played a screenwriting guru in Adaptation and a tough highway patrol captain in Super Troopers, Cox delivers a stellar performance as Norton's guilt-ridden father as he brings in a performance that I think the Academy has overlooked, especially in the film's final moments where he brings in moments of clarity and moral convictions that was needed. For the versatile Cox, this is one of his best performances to date.

While 25th Hour has a few predictable moments and some flaws, it's still a stellar, enduring film from Spike Lee. Fans of the filmmaker will love Lee's masterful approach to dramatic structure and emotionally intense scenes. Newer fans will find the performances of the actors more appealing while giving a nice introduction to Lee's masterful direction. With amazing performances from Norton, Pepper, and Cox that leads the cast, 25th Hour works not just as a great tribute to NYC but also showing the struggle of a human being regardless of color, which is what Lee wanted to show. In the end, 25th Hour is one of the best films of 2002 coming from one of the most seminal African-American filmmakers in the past 20 years.

Spike Lee Films: (She’s Gotta Have It) - (School Daze) - Do the Right Thing - Mo' Better Blues - Jungle Fever - (Malcolm X) - Crooklyn - (Clockers) - (Girl 6) - (Get on the Bus) - 4 Little Girls - (He Got Game) - Freak - Summer of Sam - (The Original Kings of Comedy) - (Bamboozled) - (A Huey P. Newton Story) - (Jim Brown: All-American) - (She Hate Me) - (Inside Man) - (When the Levees Broke: A Requiem in Four Acts) - (Miracle at St. Anna) - (Kobe Doin’ Work) - (Passing Strange) - (If God is Willing and Da Creek Don’t Rise) - (Red Hook Summer) - Bad 25 - Mike Tyson: Undisputed Truth - (Oldboy (2013 film)) - (Da Blood of Jesus) - (Chi Raq) - Michael Jackson's Journey from Motown to Off the Wall - BlacKkKlansman - Da 5 Bloods - (American Utopia)

© thevoid99 2011

Summer of Sam

Originally Written and Posted at Epinions.com on 2/3/07.

The summer of 1977 in New York City was definitely the hottest and chaotic summers the city has known for. It was a year the New York Yankees were being led by Reggie Jackson. The year were a black-out ensued leading to riots in the poorer parts of the city. Meanwhile further downtown in Manhattan, two clubs were re-defining pop culture. There was the chic, glamorous world of Studio 54 with its disco music, anything goes behavior, and debauchery that was exclusive to those who wanted to be part of the in-crowd. The other club was down in the Bowery at CBGB's were it was the epic-center of the punk rock movement where it was the antithesis of everything Studio 54 stood for. That summer was also known for something far darker as many people were scared to go outside because of a serial killer named the Son of Sam who shoot people at night and sometimes, in their car. Fortunately, the Son of Sam whose real identity was David Berkowitz was captured. In 1999, Spike Lee directed a film chronicling that troubling summer for his film Summer of Sam.

Written by Spike Lee with Victor Colicchio, and The Sopranos' Michael Imperioli, Summer of Sam tells the story of an Italian neighborhood in the Bronx in danger of the killer known as the Son of Sam. Revolving around a womanizing hairdresser and his punk-rock loving friend, everyone in the neighborhood tries to find out who the killer is while dealing with the hot summer, blackouts, and the Yankees trying to win another season. Starring John Leguizamo, Adrien Brody, Mira Sorvino, Jennifer Esposito, Michael Rispoli, Brian Tarantina, Ben Gazzara, Arthur J. Nascarella, Anthony LaPaglia, Roger Guenveur Smith, Patti Lupone, Mike Starr, Bebe Neuwirth, Jimmy Breslin, with Michael Badalucco, and the voice of Lee regular John Turturro. Summer of Sam is an excellent, stylish portrait of the dark summer of 1977.

It's 1977 in the Bronx at a disco where Vinny (John Leguizamo) and his wife Dionna (Mira Sorvino) are hanging out a disco with their friends including bartender Joey T. (Michael Rispoli). When Dionna's Italian cousin Chiara (Lucia Grillo) wants to go home, Vinny was asked to take her home. Vinny and Chiara have sex in a car where another car was behind them. Returning to the disco, Vinny thinks nothing is going wrong until on his way home, he sees the same car he saw earlier where a couple was dead with gunshot wounds. Vinny realized that the Son of Sam might've seen him. Filled with guilt and paranoia, Vinny turns to Joey T. and the rest of their Italian buddies Brian (Ken Garito) and Anthony (Al Palagonia) are hanging out in their spot. Arriving onto their spot with a new look is Vinny's old childhood friend Richie (Adrien Brody) sporting a punk-rock look that's freaked out the rest of the gang. Brian's half-sister Ruby (Jennifer Esposito) notices Richie's new look which brings her some new excitement.

It's been a year that the Son of Sam has been killing people as Detective Lou Petrocelli (Anthony LaPaglia) and his partner Curt Atwater (Roger Guenveur Smith) turn to local mob organizer Luigi (Ben Gazzara) for help into catching the killer. Luigi, at first, doesn't but because of the letter Lou found, he decides to help out. Vinny meanwhile, wants to do right by not having affairs though he still has a fling with salon boss Gloria (Bebe Neuwirth). After getting kicked out in his mother's home and forced to live in the garage, Richie gets some surprising support from Ruby, who wants to ditch her disco look for the new punk look. Especially since she knows the Son of Sam is going after women with brunette hair. Dionna begins to wonder on how to satisfy Vinny sexually thinking he's cheating on her. Vinny professes his love to her while becoming paranoid over the Son of Sam. With Ruby's help, Richie gets a job dancing in gay clubs run by Midnite (Michael Imperioli) and doing porno films as the two hope to start a punk band.

Things only get worse as a heat wave arrives on New York City causing blackouts as a riot ensued in Harlem where John Jeffries (Spike Lee) is reporting on the riots while Luigi believes that the Son of Sam is trying to attack on that night during the blackout. Fortunately, he didn't while Joey T. with Brian, Anthony, and Woodstock (Saverio Guerra) make a list of suspects where Woodstock claims the killer is Reggie Jackson. During a night out in which, Dionna wears a blond wig, she and Vinny stop to see the club CBGB's at the Bowery which disgusts both of them because Ruby and Richie are there. Instead, they go to Studio 54 hoping to get in where they meet a photographer named Simon (John Savage) where they take part in an orgy that causes some repercussions.

Richie's appearance in the neighborhood including diners have made the locals uncomfortable. Though Ruby, his mother (Patti Lupone), and stepfather (Mike Starr) disagree, the neighborhood thinks Richie is a suspect where Joey T. thinks he's the Son of Sam. Especially after receiving a tip from their gay, transvestite friend Bobby (Brian Tarantina) who saw him at the gay club. With Vinny's life falling apart, he turns to drugs where he begins to think that his best friend could be the Son of Sam when really, a mailman named David Berkowitz (Michael Badalucco) is revealed to be the killer with .44 caliber pistol.

Spike Lee, like another New York director Martin Scorsese, knows full well of what it was like being in New York City in all of its different cultures and locations. Since he’s going back in time to 1977, Lee chooses to explore a different world than his typical world of African-American life in previous films. While there’s a few admitted stereotypes in the Italian-American characters that are known to be idiotic at times and maybe carried away. Lee and his writers do present some positive aspects of the characters since it's all about community and how they badly react to outsiders. More importantly, Lee and his writers do excellent work in creating the atmosphere of what it was like back in the summer of 1977 with brief insight into his own Bedford-Stuy neighborhood where a murder from the Son of Sam occurred.

While Lee's direction is filled with some great moments including the close-ups and moving platform shots that's a trademark of Lee. There's even some great scenery with a few music sequences as it plays well to the time. One sequence that is notable in all of its grittiness is the stuff involving David Berkowitz who claims he was ordered by a dog named Harvey (voiced by John Turturro). The film adds a bit of horror and black-humor while the scenes of murder are horrifying to watch, particularly a sequence with the voice of Yankees announcer Phil Rizzuto doing play-by-play as Berkowitz hits his target. The only thing that Lee and his writers don't get right is the punk rock scene and references. While the Who are considered to be one of the influences of punk, especially through the mind of Richie. In 1977, the Who were regarded as dinosaurs in the punk community. Plus, those in the punk rock scene didn't wear nose rings or had spiky hair at that time. That's the film's only real flaw was its inaccurate depiction to the punk rock movement since it's a place that not many people, including those in that scene, want to exploit.

Helping Lee in his visual presentation is cinematographer Ellen Kuras whose stylish, colorful camera work adds an arty feel to the film. Where most of the film's exterior, Bronx scenes are wonderfully colored; the sequences with Berkowitz, including a disco orgy scene, are shot with grainy camera work to play to the film's emotions and intensity. Kuras' lighting on some of the interior scenes and sequences are superb as she is truly one of the best cinematographers out there. Production designer Therese DePrez and art director Nicholas Lundy do great work in capturing the look of the disco scenes and clubs as well as the authentic look of Italian Bronx 1977. Costume designer Ruth E. Carter also does great work with the film's 70s clothing while the punk look was outrageous despite its inaccuracies. Editor Barry Alexander Brown does excellent work with the film's editing giving the film a sense of rhythm with its jump-cuts and perspective cuts where it adds to the style that Lee wants. Sound editor Ken Lee also does great work in bringing the tense atmosphere of the times with the layers of gunshots to create suspense.

Longtime Lee collaborator Terence Blanchard brings a wonderfully symphonic film score to play to the film's drama and the suspense towards the times. The film's soundtrack is filled with a large array of disco classics from ABBA, Thelma Houston, Marvin Gaye, the Emotions, Barry White, Chic and MFSB. Also included are cuts from the Who, Elvin Bishop, Elton John, Edith Piaf, Frank Sinatra, and a very appropriate cut from the Talking Heads.

The cast is wonderfully assembled with memorable small performances from Brian Tarantina, Ken Garito, Saverio Guerra, Al Palagonia, and Lucia Grillo despite the stereotypes they play. Other small roles from Mike Starr, Michael Imperioli John Savage, Patti Lupone, Bebe Neuwirth, and Arthur J. Nascarella as Dionna's father Luigi are better with Anthony LaPaglia and Roger Guenveur Smith as the cops bringing excellent support. Ben Gazzara is excellent and subdued as the wise mob boss Mario while the film also features some notable cameos from Spike Lee as a reporter, his sister Joie as a resident of Bedford-Stuy, Evander Holyfield as a person in the riots, John Turturro as the voice of a dog, and Jimmy Breslin who opens and closes the film with some narration on that dreadful summer. Michael Rispoli is excellent as the tough but cautious Joey T. despite the fact that he's an idiot at times while he's just wanting to do what's right though his intentions are wrong.

Though he's only in the film briefly and playing the role of the Son of Sam/David Berkowitz, Michael Badalucco does great work in bringing the insanity of Berkowitz while trying to hide his face and identity throughout the film. Jennifer Esposito is excellent as the lush, vibrant Ruby whose newfound sense of individuality brings energy to the film as she is one of the female character who try something new while having some great chemistry with Adrien Brody. Mira Sorvino is in excellent form as the scorned wife who wonders what she wants from her husband only to develop into a woman who realizes that she had done nothing wrong at all. Sorvino, who hasn't done a lot of great work since winning the Oscar for Woody Allen's Mighty Aphrodite, remains to be an underrated actress.

John Leguizamo is also in excellent form as the cheating, pill-popping, paranoid Vinny whose sense of morality is question as he becomes the most easily manipulated character in the film through his friends (except Richie) and his own penis. Finally, there's Adrien Brody in a fantastic role as Richie. The misunderstood punk kid who is trying to do his own thing despite what people think he is. Though his affiliation with punk is a bit mis-guided, Brody owns the role with his wit and charm while doing some cool dances at the gay club sequences.

Though Summer of Sam isn't a perfect film, it is still an excellent chronicle of that infamous summer by the always-brilliant Spike Lee. With an excellent cast led by Adrien Brody, John Leguizamo, Mira Sorvino, and Jennifer Esposito, it's a film that is part nostalgia, part suspense. While it's not one of Spike Lee's classic films, it's still notable for the fact that it's a change of pace from his study of African-American life as he reveals to be a humanist director despite some of his cynical views. In the end, Summer of Sam is an excellent portrait of the infamous summer of '77 from one of NYC's finest, Spike Lee.

Spike Lee Films: (She’s Gotta Have It) - (School Daze) - Do the Right Thing - Mo' Better Blues - Jungle Fever - (Malcolm X) - Crooklyn - (Clockers) - (Girl 6) - (Get on the Bus) - 4 Little Girls - (He Got Game) - Freak - (The Original Kings of Comedy) - (Bamboozled) - (A Huey P. Newton Story) - 25th Hour - (Jim Brown: All-American) - (She Hate Me) - (Inside Man) - (When the Levees Broke: A Requiem in Four Acts) - (Miracle at St. Anna) - (Kobe Doin’ Work) - (Passing Strange) - (If God is Willing and Da Creek Don’t Rise) - (Red Hook Summer) - Bad 25 - Mike Tyson: Undisputed Truth - (Oldboy (2013 film)) - (Da Blood of Jesus) - (Chi Raq) - Michael Jackson's Journey from Motown to Off the Wall - BlacKkKlansman - Da 5 Bloods - (American Utopia)

© thevoid99 2011

4 Little Girls

Originally Written and Posted at Epinions.com on 2/26/07.

One of the most notable events in the history of the 20th Century was the Civil Rights Movement led by African-Americans for equal rights. While it was a movement spurned by centuries of oppression, notably in the South, it was an important moment in American history despite the race wars and prejudice in the South. One little incident that was spurned by prejudice involved the death of four little girls in a church bombing in Birmingham, Alabama in 1963. In 1997, Spike Lee released a documentary about the incident that some claimed was a turning point in the Civil Rights Movement entitled 4 Little Girls. The documentary reveals the events in Birmingham during the Civil Rights Movement and the incident of the church bombing involving the death of the four little girls that caught the attention of the country.

On September 15, 1963, it was a typical Sunday morning as four little black girls were in a Baptist Church on 16th Street. Then suddenly, a bomb exploded onto the church and the four little girls were dead. Their names were Carol Denise McNair, Cynthia Wesley, Carole Robertson, and Addie Mae Collins. The families each talk about the little girls. McNair was a young girl who held tea parties among her friends in the nice black neighborhood where her friend lived. Wesley was an adopted child that was loved by her adopted parents and was an excellent student in school. Robertson was an accomplished Girl Scouts member who has been known to do good. Collins was known as a softball player. McNair's father Chris discusses a moment when her daughter became first aware of race when she wanted a sandwich and her father went to a diner to get one but was refused because they were black.

McNair and fellow neighbors discussed the city of Birmingham as a blue-collar place where by the late 40s and into the early 1960s was a hot-bed for racially-motivated violence where a third of the police was made up of Ku Klux Klan members. The hill McNair and his neighbors lived was a nice neighborhood but would often be threatened by angry whites and bombings would be common. The police didn't help matters as the Civil Rights Movement was starting to emerge with the SCLC formed by Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. was leading the way. Another figure that was important in Birmingham was a preacher named Reverend Fred Shuttlesworth who was leading fellow African-Americans for equal rights in Birmingham. With help from King, Shuttlesworth continued the fight while facing opposition from the police commissioner Bull Connor but also Governor George Wallace in the 1960s. Wallace is also interviewed, a man now trying to gain redemption for his mistakes after his own assassination in the early 70s, reveals the motivation of racism.

While in the middle of all of this problems in America, the world was noticing that Birmingham was in trouble as a photo of a black man being beaten up was shown around the world. The photographer of that photo was also beaten up that same day as the camera and lens was destroyed but not the film. By August of 1963, after several moments that included the death of Medgar Evers, Martin Luther King Jr. held the now famous March to Washington which was a landmark moment in American history. Then on that tragic Sunday in September, the world began to take notice where Walter Cronkite said it was where White America finally understood the hatred of the KKK. Not because of the church bombing but the fact that four little girls, three of them 14 and the other 11 being McNair had happened. It was reported all over the U.S. while many black leaders were in shock. Lillie Brown of the SCLC figured that there were two options, one was to find those who killed the little girls or to use this incident as a rallying cry for the vote of Selma that would happen in 1965.

Individual and joint funerals happened days after the tragic incident where in the joint funeral, Martin Luther King Jr. spoke to the people and his calm, speech helped ease the people in mourning. The late Coretta Scott King reads a letter from her late husband to one of the families expressing his remorse and offering to comfort them. Then in the late 1970s, one of the men who organized the bombing in Robert Edward Chambliss was charged based on evidence by the FBI. Then state Attorney General Bill Baxley served prosecution where fought to have Chambliss convicted and succeeded with the help of evidence and testimony including the appearance of Denise McNair’s father Chris. Chambliss was found guilty as justice was served but in Birmingham by the early 1990s, church bombings still went on.

While the film is partially about the times during the Civil Rights Movement, Lee wisely choose to tell that part of the story as background of what was going. Yet, the film is about the church bombing incident that killed four little girls. The result is a more personal yet powerful documentary that Lee presented. While the film moves back and forth from telling the personal story of the little girls to the story of what was going on in the late 1950s and early 1960s. Lee’s direction doesn’t say anything new about the Civil Rights movement but the footage he uses with help from editor and co-producer Samuel Pollard reminds the audience of what was going on. The interviews with the parents, friends, and neighbors who knew the girls are insightful with wonderful camera work from Ellen Kuras. While the interviews are heartbreaking to watch, Lee wisely knows when not to close-up and give the people time to compose themselves. There’s even a scene right in the end where the relative talks about her anger and how it confuses her feelings.

Lee also interviews some famous people including the late Coretta Scott King reading a letter with footage of her late husband being a family man. Also interviewed are Andrew Davis, Fred Shuttlesworth, Bill Cosby, Jesse Jackson, Lee regular Ossie Davis, and Walter Cronkite whose comments about the incident reveals the impact of what happened. Another famous figure that was interviewed is former Governor George Wallace who reveals his best friend, which was a black man, that shows a man still trying to redeem himself for his past actions. The figures definitely make relevant points about what happened and how they feel while the film remains engrossed in those that knew the little girls. Some of the footage that was wonderfully edited by Samuel Pollard that includes some horrific footage of the girls' bodies after the horrific incident but only in brief seconds. Lee's unique style to the documentary is noted for not just including a wonderfully haunting score from longtime composer Terence Blanchard. He also opens the film with the song Birmingham Sunday about the incident from Joan Baez that was mentioned by Bill Baxley during his trial against Chambliss. The film also includes a jazz piece from John Coltrane on the thing. The result is a sobering, emotional doc from Spike Lee.

While it's not an easy film to watch, 4 Little Girls is among of Spike Lee's great films. History buffs and those wanting to learn a bit of the Civil Rights Movement will find this film to be essential as well as educational. Fans of Spike Lee will consider this one of his masterpieces while it reveals his versatility as a filmmaker who can do both features films and some powerful documentaries. Anyone who wants to see a film about a horrible tragedy told with such sincerity and intelligence, 4 Little Girls is the film to see.

Spike Lee Films: (She’s Gotta Have It) - (School Daze) - Do the Right Thing - Mo' Better Blues - Jungle Fever - (Malcolm X) - Crooklyn - (Clockers) - (Girl 6) - (Get on the Bus) - (He Got Game) - Freak - Summer of Sam - (The Original Kings of Comedy) - (Bamboozled) - (A Huey P. Newton Story) - 25th Hour - (Jim Brown: All-American) - (She Hate Me) - (Inside Man) - (When the Levees Broke: A Requiem in Four Acts) - (Miracle at St. Anna) - (Kobe Doin’ Work) - (Passing Strange) - (If God is Willing and Da Creek Don’t Rise) - (Red Hook Summer) - Bad 25 - Mike Tyson: Undisputed Truth - (Oldboy (2013 film)) - (Da Blood of Jesus) - (Chi Raq) - Michael Jackson's Journey from Motown to Off the Wall - BlacKkKlansman - Da 5 Bloods - (American Utopia)

© thevoid99 2011

Crooklyn

Originally Written and Posted at Epinions.com on 2/23/07.

Following the 1992 historical, epic bio-pic on Malcolm X, Spike Lee took a break from making his cinematic epic that some considered to be his best work. After the break, Lee decided to make a low-key yet thoughtful film about family life in the 1970s in Brooklyn titled Crooklyn. Directed by Spike Lee that he co-wrote with sister Joie and brother Cinque, Crooklyn tells the story of a family trying to survive through money problems and troubles in their neighborhood from the perspective of a little girl growing into womanhood. Starring Delroy Lindo, Alfre Woodard, David Patrick Kelly, Isaiah Washington, Zelda Harris, Joie Lee, Bokeem Woodbine, Vondie Curtis-Hall, and Spike Lee. Crooklyn is a thoughtful, personal feature film from the always prolific Spike Lee.

It's the 1970s in Brooklyn as kids play around the streets and stoops of the Brooklyn neighborhood. A mix of African-American, whites, and Puerto Ricans, it's a place filled with joy and bits of trouble. For the Carmichaels led by musician Woody (Delroy Lindo) and his teacher wife Carolyn (Alfre Woodard), it's a place where they raise their rowdy kids that consists of four boys and a young girl named Troy (Zelda Harris). Troy is a tomboy with an attitude who often calls bad names to other kids and have spats with her brothers including her eldest, Knicks-loving Clinton (Carlton Williams). While the rest of the brothers including the hungry Wendell (Sharif Rashed), the middle child Nate (Christopher Knowings), and the youngest child Joseph (Tse-Mach Washington) are rowdy and rambunctious, the family is still in a loving household. While the boys hang out with adults that include Puerto Rican Tommy La La (Jose Zuniga), Vic (Isaiah Washington), and Richard (Bokeem Woodbine). They often get into spats with the reclusive Tony Eyes (David Patrick Kelly), who lives with dogs and his place always stink. The boys are always supported by their mother and their neighbors into the spats with Tony though the boys do throw trash in his place.

While the family continue their daily lives, money has become tight as Woody chooses to make his own music rather than playing traditional pop. Woody’s decision only troubles the family's financial situation as Carolyn has to make more money teaching summer school. The family dysfunctions that included Clinton's love for the Knicks over everything else finally causes a breakdown in which, Woody is forced to leave for a brief period time as he lives with his brother Brown (Vondie Curtis-Hall). Troy meanwhile, continues her rowdy ways as she attempts to shoplift but the store's manager Hector (Manny Perez) gives her a life lesson into stealing. The lesson doesn’t last long as Troy steals from her brother to buy ice cream for herself and one of her friends. After returning to make amends with Carolyn, Woody decides to take the family out on a road trip as a distraction to deal with the family's ongoing financial problems. Even to the point where they had to live on food stamps which was embarrassing to Troy.

Going down to Virginia to visit relatives in Uncle Clem (Norman Matlock), Aunt Song (Frances Foster), and their daughter Viola (Patriece Nelson). The real intention was to give Troy a new atmosphere as she is to stay with her relatives for the summer. The visit only alienated Troy despite Aunt Song's well-meaning behavior and a friend in Viola. Back in Brooklyn, the family gets up from their financial problems with help from Uncle Brown and Aunt Maxine (Joie Lee). Troy returns with a new look only to learn of some harrowing family problems. Troy realizes that her role as the only other woman in her dysfunctional yet loving family has to grow while having to deal with the worst. Even the boys have to face new troubles where they learn what is important.

Inspired by their youth growing up in the 70s, Crooklyn was a change of pace and style to the epic-biography of Lee's previous film, Malcolm X. This time around, Lee and his siblings create probably their most accessible feature to date. While the film lacks a strong plot and is a bit episodic, it's only to convey the sense of realism and nostalgia Lee wanted to show about the 1970s. At times, there are moments that are funny. There's moments of real, family drama, and there's even moments of heartbreak and tragedy. Yet, there's an optimism in the film while it's largely done in the perspective of the character of Troy. Troy is obviously inspired by Joie Lee, who wrote the film's original story. Her story is about a young girl growing into womanhood while dealing with the realities of life.

Lee's direction is wonderfully observant and atmospheric in conveying the times while he goes for style in the sequence involving the world of Aunt Song where on full-screen, the film looks cropped. It's to convey the sense of alienation of Troy while contrasting the fullness of what Brooklyn is back in the 70s before crack and gangs came in. Plus, Lee's approach towards the kids reveal the loss innocence of the times when those kids were playing outside and having fun rather than doing something destructive. While it's not a perfect film, it's honesty and personal touch still makes it an enjoyable, heartwarming film.

Cinematographer Arthur Jafa does excellent work in capturing the beauty and atmosphere of Brooklyn with some wonderful shots conveying the look of the road in the sky. Longtime production designer Wynn Thomas and art director Chris Shriver adds to the authentic touch of Brooklyn with the look of products of what they looked like back in the 70s to the furniture in the home of the Carmichaels. Longtime costume designer Ruth E. Carter also adds to the film's authentic look with bellbottoms, shirts, and all sorts of colorful clothes people wore in the 70s. Editor Barry Alexander Brown does some wonderful cuts to convey the structure and feel of the film without being too slow or too fast despite the episodic nature of the film. Sound designer Skip Leivsay also adds a nice touch to the atmosphere to reveal the sense of joy and nostalgia of Brooklyn in the 70s. Longtime composer Terence Blanchard brings a wonderful, dramatic jazz and orchestral score to present the drama and joy of the film. The film's soundtrack is wonderfully amazing with great cuts from Jimi Hendrix, Stevie Wonder, Sly & the Family Stone, the Jackson 5, Marvin Gaye, and many more.

The film's wonderfully diverse cast includes several memorable small performances and appearances from Bokeem Woodbine, Vondie Curtis-Hall, Joie Lee, Norman Matlock, Patriece Nelson, Manny Perez, Jose Zuniga, and Isaiah Washington. Cameos from RuPaul as a woman dancing in a shop with the store owner while Spike Lee and N. Jeremi Duru are hilarious as two, glue-sniffers trying to get money from the kids. David Patrick Kelly is excellent as the irritable neighbor Tony Eyes and a small part as a man named Jim. Frances Forster is wonderful as the well-meaning Aunt Song with Southern beliefs and manner. Tse-Mach Washington is great as the youngest brother Joseph while Christopher Knowings has a great scene that involved black-eyed peas. Sharif Rashed is funny as the hungry Wendell while Carlton Williams is great as Spike's alter-ego Clinton for his love of the Knicks including a great scene that involves the conflict of what was more important than the Knicks.

Zelda Harris gives an exhilarating performance as the no-nonsense, all-attitude tomboy Troy who brings such joy and energy to her performance. Harris really shines in the film's comical and emotional moments that gives her character some wonderful development. Delroy Lindo is brilliant as the struggling yet charismatic Woody who tries to hold the family together in all of its problems as he serves as the glue of sorts despite his need for artistic recognition. Finally, there's Alfre Woodard in a knock-out performance as the no-nonsense Carolyn. Woodard brings all kinds of emotions as the stern, tough, and caring mother who tries to calm everything down and make sure all the kids behave themselves. Woodard alongside Harris, is the performance to watch who shows how a woman plays her role in a family that is dysfunctional but loving.

While Crooklyn maybe considered as a minor film from Spike Lee, his personal touch and semi-biographical take really adds a sense of nuance and care to this film. With a great cast and a story that revels in nostalgia and realism, this is really one of Lee's premier films. While it's also his most optimistic and positive, it's also a reminder of how far Lee is willing to stretch his talents with the help of his siblings. In the end, for a film that reminds everyone about family and the good times that was the 1970s, Crooklyn is the film to go see.

Spike Lee Films: (She’s Gotta Have It) - (School Daze) - Do the Right Thing - Mo' Better Blues - Jungle Fever - (Malcolm X) - (Clockers) - (Girl 6) - (Get on the Bus) - 4 Little Girls - (He Got Game) - Freak - Summer of Sam - (The Original Kings of Comedy) - (Bamboozled) - (A Huey P. Newton Story) - 25th Hour - (Jim Brown: All-American) - (She Hate Me) - (Inside Man) - (When the Levees Broke: A Requiem in Four Acts) - (Miracle at St. Anna) - (Kobe Doin’ Work) - (Passing Strange) - (If God is Willing and Da Creek Don’t Rise) - (Red Hook Summer) - Bad 25 - Mike Tyson: Undisputed Truth - (Oldboy (2013 film)) - (Da Blood of Jesus) - (Chi Raq) - Michael Jackson's Journey from Motown to Off the Wall - BlacKkKlansman - Da 5 Bloods - (American Utopia)

© thevoid99 2011

Jungle Fever

Originally Written and Posted at Epinions.com on 2/19/07 w/ Additional Edits.

Interracial relationships is a discussion that is considered taboo in some circles though in recent year, it's not as scandalous as it was back in the 1950s or in the early 1990s. African-American director Spike Lee explored the world of interracial relationships to unveil the good and the bad from the perspective of its nationalities and races. Written and directed by Spike Lee, Jungle Fever tells the story of a white-collar African-American architect who begins an affair with his white, Italian-American temp secretary amidst the reaction from their families and ethnic groups. Starring Wesley Snipes, Annabella Sciorra, and Spike Lee plus Lee regulars John Turturro, Debi Mazar, Samuel L. Jackson, Nicholas Turturro, Michael Badalucco, Ossie Davis, Ruby Dee, and Michael Imperioli along with Frank Vincent, Loretta McKee, Anthony Quinn, Tim Robbins, and Halle Berry. Jungle Fever is a poignant, eerie film about the troubles of interracial relationships.

Living in a nice part of Harlem, Flipper Purify (Wesley Snipes) works as an architect for a successful firm while living with his wife Drew (Loretta McKee) and daughter Ming (Veronica Timbers). Arriving to work with his bosses Leslie (Brad Dourif) and Jerry (Tim Robbins), they introduce him to his new temp secretary, a white, Italian-American named Angie Tucci (Annabella Sciorra). At first, Flipper isn't sure since he wanted a black secretary but Angie's work ethics impress her. Angie lives in Bensonhurst with her father Mike (Frank Vincent) and two brothers Charlie (David Dundara) and James (Michael Imperioli). Angie also has a boyfriend named Paulie Carbone (John Turturro), a nice, sweet man she knew as a kid who runs a sweet shop with his father Lou (Anthony Quinn). While Flipper has a nice life that included his friend Cyrus (Spike Lee), he also comes from a strict family that included his reverend father Dr. Purify (Ossie Davis) and his mother Lucinda (Ruby Dee). The only person in Flipper's life that isn't doing well is his estranged, crack-addicted older brother Gator (Samuel L. Jackson).

After some time together working, Flipper and Angie bond where immediately, they begin an affair. Though they keep it secret, it only troubles Flipper's problems with his firm where after being denied a partnership, he leaves. Telling Cyrus about what happened and his affair with Angie, the idea of a black man with a white woman causes some problems. Angie meanwhile, tells her friends Denise (Debi Mazar) and Louise (Gina Mastrogiacomo) about her affair with a black man. Knowing that her father is racist, Angie hopes to keep it a secret with her own friends. During Flipper's conversation with Cyrus, Gator appears with his new crack-addicted girlfriend Vivian (Halle Berry) where he tries to persuade Flipper to give him money to get high. Flipper is persuaded grudgingly as he tries to move on with his life. Then one night when having dinner with Angie, a waitress (Queen Latifah) is angry that a black man like Flipper is dating a white woman. Immediately, word gets out as Drew is furious and kicks Flipper out of their home. Angie meanwhile, gets in trouble as her father beats her in front of his sons as she leaves the house. When Angie tells Paulie, he is heartbroken where his father tells him to get on with his life.

After an attempt to win Drew back, she refuses to take him in as she has become upset that he cheated on her with a woman who is white while she's half-white. Alienated by their own friends and family, Flipper and Angie move in together. Despite this time together, it brings a sense of trouble with Gator making a visit at one point and then having to eat dinner with Flipper's parents. During a moment when they're making out passionately, Flipper is reminded of his own skin color when two cops (Miguel Sandoval and Rick Aiello, playing the same cops from Do the Right Thing) stop him thinking he's about to rape her. The incident only troubles Flipper and Angie's relationship where the cynicism over interracial relationship occurs. When Angie decides to make amends with Paulie, Paulie has become interested in a black patron named Orin Goode (Tyra Ferrell) who often visits the store. Despite the prejudices of his friends like Vinny (Nicholas Turturro) and Frankie (Michael Badalucco), Paulie decide to pursue Orin against the wishes of his own father.

Flipper's problems continue when he decides to try and find Gator after pleas from his mother who still hasn't had the money she loaned. After meeting a dealer named Livin' Large (Charlie Murphy), he finds Gator who has spiraled down badly. Flipper suddenly has to contend with his own issues for his family and his relationship with Angie while Gator reaches rock-bottom.

Interracial relationships is an important part of the film yet one of the issues Lee raises is over how parents raise their children. From the way the Purify family raise their sons in different ways through the religious environment to the families of Angie and Paulie. Angie's father is a racist but holds some deep values as does Paulie's father who still couldn't get over the fact that his wife had died. That's one theme while the other is the idea of interracial relationships. Sometimes they work for the right reasons like the way Paulie wants to pursue Orin despite his father and his friends. Others like Flipper and Angie don't work since they came together out of the idea of the myths of a black man and white woman. There's one comment where Flipper said to his friend Cyrus that he was curious. A subplot over the troubled world of Gator does overshadow a bit of the film's other plot but still makes it interesting. Yet, it also presents one of the film's flaws. Despite Lee's wonderfully stylish, observant direction and a great script; it suffers from being uneven while it has an ending that is confusing.

Cinematographer Ernest Dickerson brings a wonderfully stylish, intimate look to the film while many of the film's interior shots are wonderfully lit to convey the different worlds of its characters. Production designer Wynn Thomas and set decorator Ted Glass do excellent work in contrasting the up-scale look of Harlem to the more working-class look of Bensonhurst while revealing the different cultures of black and white. Costume designer Ruth E. Carter also plays to the differences of clothes of blacks and white while revealing some of its similarities. Editor Samuel L. Pollard adds style to the editing with some jump-cuts and perspective cutting to the film's 135-minute running time while dealing with the subplots. Sound designer Skip Leivsay also brings a wonderful atmosphere to the locations in the film. Longtime composer Terence Blanchard brings a wonderful mix of jazz and classical to convey the drama. The film's soundtrack includes some wonderful soul cuts from Stevie Wonder to convey the sense of chaos and positivity to interracial relationships that included the hit title cut.

The film's cast includes some notable small performances from Tim Robbins, Brad Dourif, Charlie Murphy, Debi Mazar, Michael Imperioli, Queen Latifah, Michael Badalucco, Nicholas Turturro, Frank Vincent, Gina Mastrogiacomo, Veronica Timbers, David Dundara, and the cops from Do the Right Thing in Miguel Sandoval and Rick Aiello. Tyra Ferrell is excellent in her small role as the sweet, intelligent Orin who brings something fresh to the character of Paulie. Halle Berry, in one of her early roles, is excellent as Samuel L. Jackson's crack girlfriend, who revealed that she didn't shower for two weeks for the role. Loretta McKee is great as the frustrated, scorned Drew whose anger is understandable, especially with dealing her own race. Spike Lee is also great in his small role as the cautious Cyrus. Ruby Dee and the late Ossie Davis are in great form as Flipper and Gator's parents with Dee being the more supportive, sympathetic figure and Davis as the more religious, confrontational figure.

In a role that's the complete opposite of his character Pino from Do the Right Thing, John Turturro gives one of his greatest performances as Paulie. Turturro's sweet persona and open-minded ideas of race is a shocker as Turturro brings the kind of subtlety and kindness to a man who finds himself attracted to a black woman. Turturro also has a great scene with Anthony Quinn that reveals his range as a dramatic actor. The late Anthony Quinn is also wonderful as Turturro's religious, grieving father who has a hard time dealing with his wife's death and refusal to put other newspapers in his store believing they won't sell. The best supporting performance easily goes to Samuel L. Jackson as the crack-addicted Gator. Jackson brings a complex, haunting performance as a man in the depths of hell of his addiction while his dances are fun to watch as Jackson reveals the horrors of addiction. Jackson, who was just out of rehab when playing his character, proved to be one of the film's highlights.

Annabella Sciorra is great as the kind, curious Angie who wonders about black men while wanting a change from her usual, Italian-American environment. Sciorra brings the right kind of sweetness and realism to the role while she is forced to see the prejudices of the world. Wesley Snipes is also great as Flipper, another man who is curious who then becomes cynical about the idea of a committed, interracial relationship. Snipes proves his dramatic range while unveiling the sense of how a black man can walk into dangerous ground as it's a winning performance from Snipes.

Despite its flaws, Jungle Fever is still one of Spike Lee's quintessential films with some great performances from Wesley Snipes, Annabella Sciorra, Samuel L. Jackson, John Turturro, and Anthony Quinn. While this film provides an intellectual issue of interracial relationships, it also reveals the idea of how families influence their kids. While it's not a masterpiece, Jungle Fever is a fantastic yet harrowing film from the always provocative Spike Lee.

Spike Lee Films: (She’s Gotta Have It) - (School Daze) - Do the Right Thing - Mo' Better Blues - (Malcolm X) - Crooklyn - (Clockers) - (Girl 6) - (Get on the Bus) - 4 Little Girls - (He Got Game) - Freak - Summer of Sam - (The Original Kings of Comedy) - (Bamboozled) - (A Huey P. Newton Story) - 25th Hour - (Jim Brown: All-American) - (She Hate Me) - (Inside Man) - (When the Levees Broke: A Requiem in Four Acts) - (Miracle at St. Anna) - (Kobe Doin’ Work) - (Passing Strange) - (If God is Willing and Da Creek Don’t Rise) - Mike Tyson: Undisputed Truth - (Oldboy (2013 film)) - (Da Blood of Jesus) - (Chi Raq) - Michael Jackson's Journey from Motown to Off the Wall - BlacKkKlansman - Da 5 Bloods - (American Utopia)

© thevoid99 2011

Never Let Me Go

Based on Kazuo Ishiguro’s novel, Never Let Me Go tells the story of three children living in an English boarding school in a dystopian world as they’re prepared to become donors.  During their teenage and adult years, a love triangle is formed by the three while they discover the world outside of their boarding school life.  Directed by Mark Romanek with an adapted script by Alex Garland, the film is a mixture of science fiction and drama set from the 1950s to the 1980s.  Starring Carey Mulligan, Keira Knightley, Andrew Garfield, Domhnall Gleeson, Andrea Riseborough, Sally Hawkins, and Charlotte Rampling.  Never Let Me Go is a heartbreaking yet mesmerizing drama from Mark Romanek and company.

It’s 1978 as three 11-year old kids named Kathy (Isobel Miekle-Small), Ruth (Ella Purnell), and Tommy (Charlie Rowe) live in a boarding school called Hailsham where their life is idyllic.  Yet, they are really children whose fate is set as they’re to become donors for other people while some have the option of becoming a carer, to help care for the donors.  The school is run by Miss Emily (Charlotte Rampling) as the children are not aware of what is outside of the school boundaries as they’re afraid of what will happen after hearing many stories.  When a new teacher named Miss Lucy (Sally Hawkins) arrives at the school, she becomes the kind of person the kids enjoy.  Yet, she is haunted by what kind of school Hailsham is.

While Kathy and Tommy are very close, their relationship changes when Ruth takes Tommy for her own.  Seven years later, Kathy (Carey Mulligan), Ruth (Keira Knightley), and Tommy (Andrew Garfield) are moved to cottages as they’re now 18 and deciding what to do.  Living with a couple of other teens from other schools named Rodney (Domhnall Gleeson) and Chrissie (Andrea Riseborough).  Hearing rumors that they’re really clones and the idea that they have originals along another rumor about getting deferrals if they can prove to their superiors about true love so they can be reprieved.  Kathy, Tommy, and Ruth are wondering about as Tommy believes to be true though Kathy and Ruth aren’t sure.  Even as Ruth and Tommy are having trouble in their relationship as Kathy decides to become a carer.

It’s been 10 years since Kathy leaves the cottage as she has become a carer helping her fellow donors.  While she’s been successful, she hasn’t seen Ruth nor Tommy since she left the cottage.  During another day at the hospital in caring for a donor, she discovers that Ruth is in the same hospital donating.  The already-frail Ruth reveals where Tommy is as they go to visit him at another hospital as he looks well despite having donated three times.  When Ruth reveals something about the rumored deferrals, she suggests that Tommy and Kathy take a chance to meet the school’s madam (Nathalie Richard).  Tommy and Kathy decide to meet the madam with Tommy’s art work as he believes that the school gallery had more meeting as they get a surprise appearance from someone from their past.

The idea that there’s people created to become donors for others as they lead short lives seems like a troubling concept.  Yet, from the perspective of these donors knowing what they’re fate is.  It actually becomes more compelling since the film is all told from the perspective of Kathy as she sees her two closest friends deal with the same fate she’s facing as she is caring for them later on.  Even as she is in love with Tommy while is being part of a love triangle with Tommy and Ruth.

Alex Garland’s screenplay is superb not just for its structure by allowing the film to be told in three parts in Kathy’s journey.  Also for exploring the characters in their surroundings and the situation they’re put upon.  While Kathy is the center of the story of how she sees things and being the observer of everything that is happening.  Her perspective of how Tommy and Ruth act are interesting.  Tommy is an emotionally-fragile person who often feels left out and unsure of himself as he is later revealed to be a talented artist.  Ruth is a person who becomes jealous of Tommy’s friendship with Kathy as she becomes Tommy’s lover.  Yet, she is the most troubled because she wants to be loved while only to be destroyed by guilt as she tries to redeem herself.

Garland’s script also brings an idea of how outsiders think of all of this as the character of Miss Sally wonders why Tommy didn’t get a ball outside of the fence during a game.  Even as she learns more about the art gallery while there’s one amazing scene where Miss Sally gives this monologue that is heartbreaking about what these kids are facing.  Yet, it would allow the chance for someone like Kathy to try and lead a normal life as a carer despite the fact that she’s going to become a donor soon.  The dystopian feel of the story is balanced by the romance and longing for love that the story needs as Garland’s work is superb.

Mark Romanek’s direction features what is definitely his best work to date as a director.  From the way he frames big scenes of the school, beaches, and fields in the varied locations all over Britain.  To even a simple shot of a ball on the ground during a rainy day.  Romanek is always interested in what is going on as he lets the drama unfold while creating dark moods for some of the film’s more dramatic scenes.  Yet, there are a few times when the drama is hampered by the score during scenes of dialogue where the music isn’t necessary.  The silent moments is where Romanek really strengthens the drama including a scene where the young Kathy sees Tommy and Ruth and her reaction is just one of the most heartbreaking moments.

While the film is partially a sci-fi movie based on its concept.  Romanek approaches the film as if he’s making a period film where while it’s set in three different periods.  They all look like it’s a very different period than the ones they’re set in.  1978 looks more like 1950-1960s.  The 1985 segment looks a bit like 1970s while 1994 looks like a mixture of all of those things except for the hospital scenes and some exterior shots.  Romanek’s overall work is truly dazzling in its imagery and staging as he is truly becoming a director to watch out for.

Cinematographer Adam Kimmel does an amazing job with the film’s gorgeous cinematography.  Kimmel’s work is truly amazing from the rainy days where the green matches with the gray rainy skies in the Hailsham scenes along with some lush interior shots matched with the dark shadows inside the school.  Even as the film moves out of the school, the scenes in the forests, beaches, and other natural environments are truly stunning.  Even in the hospital scenes as the look inside the dark hallways matched with other lights play to the dread of what is going to happen to some of the characters brings a lot to its look.  Overall, Kimmel’s work is definitely one of 2010’s best work.

Editor Barney Pillons does some excellent work on the editing from the rhythmic cuts to intensify some of the film’s dramatic moments.  Even in the transitions where Pillons help play to what Kathy is dealing with and the reaction afterwards.  Pillons also helps in creating some nice fade-ins to help present each section of the film for its structure.  Production designer Mark Digby, along with set decorator Michelle Day and art directors Paul Cripps and Denis Schnegg, does a spectacular job with the different looks for each of the film‘s main locations.  From the 1950s-like look of the Hailsham school to the rural cottages that the kids live in as teenagers.  Even the look of the city where Kathy lives in has a more modern look along with some set pieces that help play to the film’s different periods.  Another noted piece of the art direction is Tommy’s drawings by Charlie Cobb which is some amazing drawings to reflect Tommy’s personality.

Costume designers Rachael Fleming and Steve Noble do a wonderful job with the different clothes that the characters wear from the school uniforms to the casual clothes that they wear as teens and adults.  Notably the suits that Tommy wears and the colorful dresses that Kathy wears late in the film.  Sound designer Glenn Freemantle does fantastic work with the sound from the hollowed sounds of the school to the quieter though chaotic world of the cottages where sex is often happening.  Freemantle also plays to the quieter scenes with natural sounds of waves in the beach scenes along with the shots in the forest during a conversation between Kathy and Tommy.

The film’s score by Rachel Portman is very good for some of the dramatic touches including some flourishing pieces for the less dramatic moments.  Some of the film’s more heavier scenes does have broader arrangements though at times, it goes a bit overboard.  Notably a scene between Ruth and Kathy where the music is playing as the two are talking which was really unnecessary.  Additional music from supervisors Randall Poster and George Drakoulias features a mixture of classical pieces and low-key rock stuff yet the most notable track is the song Never Let Me Go sung by Jane Monheit which is the real highlight of the film’s soundtrack as it plays to what Kathy is reacting about Tommy and Ruth’s relationship.

The casting by Kate Dowd is superb with a cast that is truly magnificent.  Notable small roles include Domhnall Gleeson and Andrea Riseborough as two fellow teens living in the cottages who believe about a rumor at Hailsham as well as Nathalie Richard as an art teacher called Madam.  Another small performance that has a great monologue is Sally Hawkins as Miss Lucy.  Hawkins’ performance is mesmerizing about how she observes things at Hailsham while her performance in which she tells the kids about their fate is definitely heartbreaking.  Charlotte Rampling is phenomenal as Miss Emily, the school’s headmistress who isn’t a typical authority figure but one who believes about what the school represents.  Rampling as this commanding presence when she gives speeches that is truly a marvel to watch as she remains one of the best actresses working today.

In the younger roles of Kathy, Ruth, and Tommy.  Isobel Miekle-Small, Ella Purnell, and Charlie Rowe are outstanding as the young characters they portray.  Miekle-Small sells the innocence of Kathy while being the one character who comforts the young Tommy during his anguish.  Even in a scene where her reaction to Tommy and Ruth’s romance is truly stunning in how little she portrays that reaction.  Purnell is very good in providing the outgoing personality of Ruth by talking a lot and being all smug about the happenings at the school.  Rowe is amazing for bringing the anguish and insecurity of Tommy along with his quiet persona when he’s just trying to draw.

Keira Knightley is excellent as Ruth, the most adventurous of the trio who envies Tommy and Kathy’s friendship along with the possibilities about the world outside of where she’s destined to do.  For Knightley, it’s her darkest role as she plays a character that is very mean and at times, angry as it’s proof that there’s more to Knightley than her looks and the profile she has in Hollywood.  Andrew Garfield is fantastic as Tommy, the anguished young man who is caught in the middle of a love triangle between he, Ruth, and Kathy.  Garfield’s performance is spellbinding for someone who is quite innocent while dealing with the rumors he  hears about Halisham as well the fact that he’s torn between Kathy and Ruth.

Finally, there’s Carey Mulligan in a spectacular performance as Kathy.  A towering follow-up to her Oscar-nominated breakthrough role in Lone Scherfig’s An Education.  Mulligan truly captures the sense of longing about wanting Tommy while dealing with her own discoveries about sex and individuality.  Her best work is in the third act as she becomes a carer and sees what Ruth and Tommy each have to deal with.  It’s a radiant for the young actress as well as proof that she’s one of Britain’s rising talents.

The Region 1 DVD from Fox Searchlight presents the film in the widescreen aspect ratio of 2:35:1 with 5.1 English Dolby Digital plus Spanish and French Surround Sound and subtitles in Spanish and English for the hearing impaired.  The special features of the DVD includes a 30-minute making-of featurette called The Secrets of Never Let Me Go.

The making-of featurette features interviews with director Mark Romanek, screenwriter Alex Garland, novelist Kazuo Ishiguro, and actors Carey Mulligan, Andrew Garfield, Keira Knightley, Isobel Miekle-Small, Ella Purnell, and Charlie Rowe.  They discuss Ishiguro’s novel as well as the development of the film.  Particularly in wanting to get a fresh perspective of a film that is essentially British as Mark Romanek was chosen for his visual presentation.  Romanek wanted to create something different that is seen in period films which impressed Ishiguro who was also impressed by the young actors chosen to play the roles.

Mulligan, Garfield, and Knightley got to talk about their approach to their performances while helping the younger actors, who play their respective younger versions, to get their approach to the characters.  Romanek also talks about the visual approach of the film as well as the dramatic approach to the film.  Even as he reveals that for a lot of the objects in the film, he wanted them to feel dated and used just to give an idea of what the characters are living with.  The overall featurette is superb as it reveals what was done for the film.

Three galleries appear in the special features content of the DVD.  First is Mark Romanek’s on-set photography which is a three-minute featurette of black-and-white photo stills to the score of Rachel Portman.  The second gallery is Tommy’s artwork that is a two-and-a-half minute piece featuring all of the drawings played to another piece of Portman’s score.  The third and final gallery is a collection of programs and graphic from Halisham school and the National Donor Programme group.  The two-minute piece with another piece of Portman’s score reveals leaflets, flyers, and posters representing the school and donors program.  Also in the DVD is the film’s theatrical trailer plus trailers for Conviction, 127 Hours, Cyrus, and a 75th Anniversary special for 20th Century Fox.  It’s an overall good DVD though its lack of huge special features is a bit disappointing.

Never Let Me Go is a remarkable yet heart wrenching drama from Mark Romanek.  Featuring wonderful performances from Carey Mulligan, Andrew Garfield, Keira Knightley, Sally Hawkins, and Charlotte Rampling along with the young children that play the younger characters.  It’s a film that deserves its reputation as a weepie that truly earns its heartbreak over the situation the characters live in.  For Mark Romanek, this is his best film to date as he ups his game and more as a feature-film director.  In the end, Never Let Me Go is an amazing yet enchanting film from Mark Romanek and company.

Favorite Films #6: Never Let Me Go

© thevoid99 2011