Film: Steve Jobs

This is my 500^th blog (and 323^rd movie review)

GENRE: Drama

RATING: R for language
RUNTIME: 2 hours and 2 minutes

STARRING: Michael Fassbender (12 Years a Slave, new X-Mens)

Kate Winslet (The Reader, Titanic), Seth Rogen (Knocked Up)

DIRECTOR: Danny Boyle (Slumdog Millionaire, 127 Hours)

WRITER: Aaron Sorkin (Few Good Men, Social Network, West Wing)

PLOT: A behind-the-scenes look at Steve Jobs thirty minutes before three iconic computer product launches. Clever dialogue ensues.

FIVE OBSERVATIONS:

1 While the film is not for everyone, I enjoyed it quite a bit. I love the idea of making this story into a three act play only focusing on three half-hours. Aaron Sorkin is a genius. I could listen to his words all day.

2 I love seeing Jeff Daniels relish Sorkin dialogue. He just delivers it so well. The rest of the cast holds their own, but Daniels is in another league.

3 I appreciated the film stock used for each act. The first thirty minutes is grainy, the last thirty is hi-def digital. Nice touch.

4 While Sorkin’s television shows are often centered on idealists, lately his movies have focused on jerks. First Zuckerberg and now Jobs, not that you can’t help rooting for them anyway.

5 Weird preview choices this time around. Concussion and Spotlight seemed fitting with Steve Jobs. Scouts Guide to the Zombie Apocalypse was completely out of place and confusing to the older audience.

RECOMMENDATION: You can wait for DVD

UPCOMING REVIEWS: Bond - Spectre

Film: Bridge of Spies

GENRE: Drama

RATING: PG-13 for some violence & brief language
RUNTIME: 2 hours and 21 minutes

STARRING: Tom Hanks (Captain Phillips, Road to Perdition)

Mark Rylance (Wolf Hall), Amy Ryan (Gone Baby Gone)

DIRECTOR: Steven Spielberg (Schindler’s List, Munich, Lincoln)

WRITERS: Matt Charman (newcomer), Joel & Ethan Coen (Fargo)

PLOT: An insurance lawyer is asked to defend a Soviet spy and then help negotiate an exchange.

FIVE OBSERVATIONS:

1 Of course the reason to see this film is to watch Tom Hanks in action. He is the classic noble everyman. Maybe it’s because I’m reading To Kill a Mockingbird with my English class, but for the first half the movie Hanks is just like Atticus Finch. I love what Hanks brings to his characters.

2 This is based on a true story. I had no idea how it was going to end, so it kept me pretty engaged the entire time. It’s amazing what people went through back then.

3 Rylance is fantastic as the captured spy. I loved his calm, unruffled tone. His “would it help” made me smile every time.

4 As always Janusz Kaminski creates some beautiful images with his cinematography and Michael Kahn has some very fun transitions in this film, very clever at times. These two have been working with Spielberg for a long time. They know how to put a film together.

5 I was surprised that John Williams was not doing the music for this film; he always backs up Spielberg’s work. This time it was Thomas Newman (Skyfall, The Iron Lady), and it showed. There were some really cheezy swelling music that begged the audience to find speeches more meaningful than they actually were. Bring back Williams!

RECOMMENDATION: You can wait for DVD

UPCOMING REVIEWS: Steve Jobs (my 500^th Blog)

Film: The Martian

GENRE: Drama, Adventure

RATING: PG-13 for language & brief nudity
RUNTIME: 2 hours and 21 minutes

STARRING: Matt Damon (Bourne series, Good Will Hunting)

Chiwetel Ejiofor (12 Years a Slave), Jessica Chastain (Zero Dark Thirty)

DIRECTOR: Ridley Scott(Alien, Blade Runner, Gladiator)

WRITER: Drew Goddard (Cloverfield, Cabin in the Woods)

PLOT: An astronaut is left behind on Mars and must survive for a long time until any sort of rescue or supplies can arrive.

FIVE OBSERVATIONS:

1 Matt Damon rocks this film. He has the perfect mix of humour and intensity in this role. Is there another Oscar nomination in his future.

2 What an engaging story. I was riveted the entire time. Apparently it is a great adaptation of the book and the science makes sense. What I liked is that I didn’t only have to see Damon survive but also the crews trying to get him back.

3 The rest of the cast is also pretty awesome. Everyone gives stellar performances. Also, some pretty interesting casting: Kristen Wiig (SNL) plays the drama well as does Donald Glover (Community).

4 Jeff Daniels (Newsroom, Steve Jobs) is getting lots of work as the man in charge. Goodbye Harry Dunne.

5 This film reaffirmed my belief that duct tape can be used to solve all problems, even space ones.

RECOMMENDATION: See it in theatre (3D not necessary)

UPCOMING REVIEWS: Steve Jobs