Holiday Movies In Review Part 1 (Les Miserables)

Merry Christmas everyone! I hope you had a great holiday. During my holiday break, I of course took the opportunity to see some movies. My parents and I saw This Is 40, Les Miserables, and Django Unchained.

I was very impressed with Les Miserables and Django Unchained. This Is 40 was great also, but not on the same level as the other two (and I don't think it claims to be).

Les Miserables

I cannot even begin to describe my level of excitement when I first heard Les Mis was being made into an epic studio film. After many years of listening to the soundtrack over and over on my iPod, and watching the four hour 25th anniversary special on PBS, I was excited to see one of my favorite shows on film. I am happy to report, the film was even BETTER than I expected. It was fantastic; I would put it up there with Grease, The Sound of Music, Moulin Rouge, and Chicago as one of my top 5 favorite musicals.

Tom Hooper's (The King's Speech) newest cinematic endeavor, adapting the beloved musical Les Miserables into a feature film, is his best yet. The story remains focused on the same major conflict, Jean Valjean (played by the extraordinary Hugh Jackman) who breaks parole after spending nineteen years as a prisoner (read: hard laborer) for stealing a loaf of bread, and his nemesis, Inspector Javert (Russell Crowe), a man whose life's mission is to catch "the one that got away". After his escape, Valjean surreptitiously rises through the ranks of French society to become a wealthy mayor/business-owner, only to have everything change when he meets a dying Fantine (Anne Hathaway) and agrees to raise her child Cosette (Amanda Seyfried). Will Valjean be able to become a productive member of society and provide for his daughter without Inspector Javert discovering him? This main storyline, set to the backdrop of the violent June Rebellion makes for a fantastic, epic musical... and I have to admit, I am a sucker for epic musicals.

Hooper picked many of the best songs and moments from the show and transferred them beautifully to the screen; the only significant difference I found between the stage show and film, apart from a few songs being removed and one added ("Suddenly"), was that the audience is finally able to see the wide-spread desolation of France during the Rebellion and every drop of blood, sweat and tears in the actors' many close-ups. On that note, I couldn't take my eyes off of Hooper's composition of scenery, costumes and props in every scene. For a 2 1/2 hour movie, I never did a time check. I lost myself in 19th century France.

The all-star casting of Les Mis, besides Russell Crowe, was spot-on. Hugh Jackman has never been better; not only was his singing top-notch, but his acting was one of the best performances of the year. Jackman gave incredible emotion to the character of Valjean, as he constantly battles with himself for his own redemption, from "criminal" to hero. Too bad Les Mis came out in the year of Daniel Day Lewis' Lincoln. Otherwise, Jackman would have a great shot at the Oscar. Maybe the Golden Globes' split Best Actor categories will give him a good shot at some award praise.

Anne Hathaway also did a great job as Fantine. I was nervous when I first heard she was cast in this role, but her singing was fantastic, as was her acting, and she will probably win many awards for her performance. Her extremely raw, emotional rendition of "I Dreamed A Dream" was one of the best I've seen (Susan Boyle be damned). Although Hathaway was fantastic, I think the standout supporting actor in the movie was Eddie Redmayne (Marius). I could not believe how beautiful his voice is, and the emotional depth he gave Marius, both in his love for Cosette and love for France, really brought heart to the film.

I could go on and on about the other actors in supporting roles. Amanda Seyfried once again showed what a wonderful actress she is. She soars in musicals (Mama Mia), drama (Chloe), and comedy (Mean Girls). I am consistently impressed by how high her star continues to rise. Helena Bonham Carter and Sasha Baron Cohen brought the house down as the comedic Sweeney Todd-esque Thernardiers. Whenever they appeared on screen, the audience knew they were in for a laugh; in my book, Helena Bonham Carter can do no wrong. Finally, I was happy to see Hooper cast musical theater vets Samantha Barks (Eponine) and Aaron Tveit (Enjolras) in the film. They were really great in their roles and I can't wait to see what Hollywood has next for them.

Unfortunately, my declarations of praise cannot extend to Russell Crowe. While he did a great job encompassing the gruff, unrelenting dedication of Inspector Javert, his singing made me cringe in my chair. I felt he was off-key most of the time; Crowe sounded more like a drunken bar patron than the deep, powerful baritone I am so used to from the stage show. In my opinion, Hooper should have gone with someone like Norm Lewis. It was a let-down that one of the most interesting characters was so vocally underwhelming.

Les Miserables is a large-scale, visually stunning love letter to the stage show and its fans. For the $12 you pay for a movie I assure you will get your money's worth. I hope that the success of this film will pave the way for more musical adaptations, like I believe Moulin Rouge did for Chicago.


***Warning: Remember, Les Miserables is a "sung-through" musical, meaning there is little to no dialogue. Be prepared for singing... LOTS of singing. If this is not your thing, go see Django Unchained instead (review to come soon).***

Did you see Les Mis yet? Let me know what you thought in the comments below!

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My Childhood is Ruined (The Grease Edition)

My week has sucked. Two of the movies that mattered most to my childhood are being ruined. First I hear Carrie Underwood is going to star as Maria in a made-for-TV remake of The Sound of Music, my favorite movie of all time. I cannot even put into words how ridiculous that is; my rage/disappointment is still settling. But now I have to see a horrific music video John Travolta and Olivia Newton John made for their Christmas album? IS NOTHING SACRED, HOLLYWOOD?!

With that, I have decided to pen a letter to my childhood dream couple...

Movie To See This Weekend: Silver Linings Playbook

Since I saw Silver Linings Playbook over a month ago at an early screening and can't remember as many details as I would like, I am not going to do a full review. I did, however, want to let everyone know what a great film this is; definitely a must-see!

Silver Linings Playbook stars Jennifer Lawrence (of Hunger Games fame), Bradley Cooper and Robert DeNiro. The action of the film centers around Pat (Cooper), a man who was just released from a mental institution into the care of his parents. Pat is determined to win back the affection of his wife no matter what it takes, even if it means making a special deal to help Tiffany (Lawrence) fulfill a lifelong goal in exchange for her delivering letters to his ex. Tiffany has many problems of her own and the conflict between the two characters creates a great, often hilarious story. Also, you won't soon forget DeNiro being a hardcore, OCD Philadelphia Eagle fan.

The movie is a dramedy, with a bit more comedy than drama. The script is awesome and the acting was top-notch. It's definitely going to be award bait this season, and I imagine both Lawrence and Cooper will earn Golden Globes this year for their roles.

Let me know if you see it/what you thought of the film in the comments below!

Trailer for "The Heat" Starring Sandra Bullock and Melissa McCarthy

Since I first heard that Sandra Bullock and Melissa McCarthy would be starring in a film together, I've been dying to see it... for now I'll settle for the trailer. Check it out below. I love the song choice (MIA's "Bad Girls") and was already laughing out loud over the dialogue. For all of you Arrested Development fans, I read that Tony Hale (Buster) will also be in the film.

It's great to see Bullock come back to comedy after the disaster that was All About Steve seems to have scared her away for awhile. My ONLY complaint about the movie so far is... why does Hollywood never allow Melissa to look semi-decent in a film? Why does she always have to be so unkempt?

Anyway, I'm going to pretend that this movie is a prequel/sequel in the Miss Congeniality series. Wouldn't that be a funny twist?

Trailer for "Restless", A Mini-Series Starring Michelle Dockery

Check out this trailer for Restless, a new mini-series from the Sundance Channel starring Michelle Dockery (Mary from Downton Abbey). The plot reminds me of the movie The Debt, starring Jessica Chastain and Helen Mirren. Dockery is a fantastic actress and I can't wait to see her in something other than Downton!

The first installment of Restless will premiere Friday, December 7 at 9 PM.

What to Expect From Spielberg's Biopic Lincoln

Much like Denzel Washington's new film Flight, the trailer for Steven Spielberg's upcoming biopic Lincoln portrays the movie differently than what is shown in theaters. If you are looking for an action-packed thriller with battle scenes for which Spielberg is famous (a la Saving Private Ryan) you will be sorely disappointed. In fact, most of the "action" in Lincoln takes place during heated debates in the Capitol and not on the front lines of the Civil War. My warning is not a dig at Spielberg's latest work, but is more an observation of what audiences should expect.

Instead of Lincoln, the film should be called The Thirteenth Amendment. While the main character in the film is technically Abraham Lincoln, played brilliantly by Daniel Day Lewis, the film only covers the last months of Lincoln's life (from the final surge to pass the Thirteenth Amendment to his death). The camera leaves Lincoln's side many times to show the political processes, especially the patronage system, used to garner enough bipartisan support to pass one of the United States' most significant amendments. 

As a history nerd, I appreciated that the film did not stray from reality by throwing history out the window for the sake of entertainment, like Michael Bay's Pearl Harbor*. The film does, however, run more as a History Channel mini-series than a typical Hollywood blockbuster. Spielberg even has the names of various historical personalities pop onto the screen so the audience will know who they are. I can't remember the last time I saw characters labeled in a feature film; normally, the audience discovers the identity of characters through dialogue. For example, Abraham Lincoln could say "Good morrow Thaddeus Stevens" (is that how people in the 19th century spoke?) and the audience would know he is speaking with the powerful Republican Congressman, Thaddeus Stevens.

Because I went into the screening of Lincoln expecting it to be a character study of Abraham Lincoln as a man, my favorite parts were not the contentious debates on the floor of the Capitol. Instead, I appreciated the moments when Lincoln was telling one of his famous anecdotes that had no relevance to the topic at hand, much to the chagrin of his closest aides and cabinet members; or when he was struggling over a decision to allow his oldest son to enlist in the military. These moments were what I expected to see from a film titled Lincoln.

My main take away from this film is that if Daniel Day Lewis does not win the Oscar for his portrayal of Abraham Lincoln, something has gone terribly wrong. I don't know any actor living today that could capture the essence and voice of Lincoln better than him. Actually, all of the performances in Lincoln were top-notch. Spielberg scored with this ensemble cast, which is probably the biggest casting coup so far this year. Tommy Lee Jones was brilliant as Thaddeus Stevens, Lincoln's biggest supporter of the Thirteenth Amendment and most of the comic relief in the film. Sally Field was also superb as Mary Todd Lincoln. Most of my favorite parts of the film involved Mary being combative, both with Abraham and Stevens. Also, don’t miss James Spader as a wise-cracking lobbyist who steals almost every scene he’s in.

So, if you decide to go see Lincoln this weekend, realize that this is not an escapist movie. This is a movie you should watch if you want to dive into history. As a history and politics major, I enjoyed seeing many of the characters I read about in text books come to life on the screen but make sure that is what you are in the mood for. 

Let me know what you think about the film in the comments below! Based on the trailer (Lincoln Trailer), were you expecting Lincoln to be totally different? I would also love to talk about the difference between the trailer of Flight (Flight Trailer) and the film itself... or any other movies you can think of with this same issue.

*Disclaimer: I still love the movie Pearl Harbor. I've learned to accept the fact it has its historical flaws.

Jurassic Park Is Being Re-Released... in 3D

 I am so excited for the re-release of Jurassic Park (due out April 5, 2013), even if it is in 3D. I usually hate 3D movies; I think the studios have latched onto the public's fascination with "3D" in order to make more money and the effect is gimmicky.  What makes it even worse is that the 3D movies being released these days aren't filmed with a 3D camera, they are converted haphazardly in post-production.

Anyway, enough with my 3D rant. The movie that changed my mind a tiny bit about 3D was Titanic, which was re-released in 3D this past April. Even though the movie wasn't originally filmed with a 3D camera, I think the conversion process was REALLY good. James Cameron's team spent about 14 months meticulously editing each frame of the film. Instead of having objects shoot out at you from the screen, the 3D element in the film gave the scenes depth. Here is a cool article about the Titanic 3D conversion process (Side note: Kate Winslet's dress is amazing and COULD be another main reason I am including this article in my blog). Titanic 3D Conversion

So, needless to say, I hope Steven Spielberg's team follows the path of Titanic. Instead of having the shaking green Jell-O hovering in front of your face, or the spit from the dinosaur who blinded Newman (Seinfeld reference) shooting at you, we will see depths of the scenes, things we may not have picked up on when the movie was first released in theaters.

Check out the trailer: Jurassic Park Trailer and if you want a real laugh, check out this video on YouTube of a guy trying to play the Jurassic Park Theme. Never fails to make me die laughing Funny Jurassic Park Clip. 

My First Movie Revew: Sound of My Voice Review (Spoiler Alert: I Drank the Kool-Aid)

 

Brit Marling (co-writer and star of the 2011 independent hit Another Earth) has proven yet again that her films, while having the budget of an indie, carry the heart and punch of a major studio production. Written by Marling and director Zal Batmanglij, Sound of My Voice is a thought-provoking science fiction film that centers around amateur documentarians Peter (Christopher Denham) and Lorna (Nicole Vicius), who are in the process of infiltrating a cult. The couple hopes the evidence gathered from their concealed recording devices during the cult’s ritualistic meetings will expose enigmatic leader Maggie (Marling) as a fraud. 

Members of the unnamed cult believe Maggie has time-traveled to 2012 from 2054 to teach them a new way of life, skills they will need in order to survive an imminent catastrophic event. Through different tests of faith, Maggie bestows wisdom on her followers (dare I say worshipers) while also determining who amongst the group she can trust and who she must cut loose. One particular test Maggie requests late in the film is not only shocking, but also sets the stage for an exciting finale.

Maggie’s tests, paired with Peter’s own personal demons, create a constant tension between the two characters and suspense for the audience. Will Peter’s emotions and motivations get the best of him? Will Maggie discover he and Lorna are trying to expose her? More importantly, did I mention the cult has an awesome secret handshake?

While many films about cults, such as Martha Marcy May Marlene and The Master, make a definitive statement that cults=bad, Sound of My Voice lets the audience choose for itself. Viewers are left with just as many questions as answers, which led me to scour the DVD extras for more. Believe me, I know unanswered questions can be frustrating (I’m looking at you, Lost) but Marling and Batmanglij know just how far to take it... you know, right before “Don’t Stop Believing” starts playing on the jukebox. Sound of my Voice is not only a film that you will want to re-watch, but is one you will want to discuss with friends and search online for theories.

For those fans of Another Earth, and thought-provoking films in general, this is a must-see. Don’t expect sprawling CGI landscapes of a make-believe 2054 Los Angeles. Batmanglij chose to make the scenes minimalistic, which really added authenticity and beauty to the film. In fact, a lot of the action takes place in a house’s stark white basement, letting the action focus on the cast. The actors’ performances, especially that of Marling and Denham, are what really breathe life into the scenes.

I have to admit, Marling and Batmanglij made me drink the Kool-aid. I look forward to reading what everyone thinks about the movie in the comments below! 

My Review: A+

Sound of My Voice is currently available for purchase or rental. You can also stream it on Amazon and iTunes. 

 

Welcome!

Well, I finally did it. I officially decided to start a movie/TV review blog. I've been talking about doing this for awhile, but I finally bit the bullet. As my friends and family know, I am a complete movie/TV nerd. I have a pretty busy TV schedule each week, along with a huge Blu-ray/DVD collection in my apartment. Clearly I lead a busy life...

I can also talk about movies/TV until I am blue in the face. The only thing I like more than watching them is talking about them. I hope this blog can not only be a way for me to tell my opinions, but a way for me to talk to fellow fans as well! Basically, I want this to be as interactive as possible. If you see a new movie or TV show that is awesome, I would love to hear about it (same goes with stuff to avoid).

Not gonna lie, at first I was hesitant to do this.. mostly because I judge bloggers who think they are going to get millions of people to read their blog and care about what they have to say. Buttt since I dedicate many Facebook and Twitter statuses to promoting movies I love and freaking out over TV moments that shock me, I figured hey, why not? I am also hoping this blog will inspire me to write more reviews so I can do some freelance work.

Anyway, I will end this, my first entry, with one of my favorite questions. A question I use to get to know my friends better: What's your favorite movie?

Pssst: Mine is The Sound of Music.