As you may have seen from previous posts, I tried to catch most of the Oscar nominated films this year. For some reason, the cinemas near me tend not to show the less commercial films, and only the big budget, well advertised ones (or let's be honest it may be 2017 but infrequent showings of films heavily featuring People of Colour isn't particularly surprising is it? And the Academy Awards have been called out for white washing before, so often these critically acclaimed movies aren't particularly diverse. Anyway... I digress). Moonlight, after winning 3 Oscars, is now being shown more widespread even in the small cinemas, so I thought it would be an insult not to see it!
Moonlight is my type of film. There is a lot of focus on characters and character development, and I really love that. If you like a film with a big plot, or action, or a major event, you may not be into this movie. The story is about 3 stages in Chiron's (Alex R Hibbert, Ashton Sanders and Trevante Rhodes) life. We follow him as a young boy, a teenager, and a young adult, learning about himself, and the world around him. Chiron's life is proven more difficult as his mother is an addict, leading to Chiron being bullied. We follow him as his relationship with drugs changes, through seeing his mother, but also through befriending those in the industry. We also watch as he forms new relationships and as he grows up.
As I mentioned, I really enjoyed the film, I thought the story was really interesting, and I like watching characters develop, and I think it was innovative to watch one character in three stages of life. I also thought the acting was great, and really believable. The three lead actors must have worked closely together as you really felt like they were drawing on the past events in their life, and even the mannerisms were as if it was the same person. Mahershala Ali was great in his Oscar winning supporting role, and this year I've also learned that Janelle Monae is a great actor as well as an amazing singer (See my review on Hidden Figures)!
Overall, I really enjoyed this movie, and I think it had some great messages in it, but was true to life; it wasn't cheesy and didn't preach or press. I liked the gritty feel of it, and it didn't hold any bars in it's content. I really liked the ending, as I felt it was a little unexpected, but again it wasn't cheesy and perfect, it was real. I'd definitely recommend giving it a watch - I mean it's our 2017 Oscar winner, and I'd give it an 9/10. I can understand some people may feel this is too high - if you're not interested in character development, and you like an easy to follow plot, it won't be the one for you. But if you like watching how the past can shape a future, you're in for a treat!
Showing posts with label Academy Awards. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Academy Awards. Show all posts
Monday, 20 March 2017
Saturday, 4 March 2017
13. Fences
I went into Fences feeling like I was going to love it. I knew Viola Davis had won the Oscar for Best Supporting Actress, and had heard good things.
Fences follows the story of Troy (Denzel Washington) as he raises his perhaps unconventional family in the fifties. He dreamed of being a baseball player, but was told he was too old by the time People of Colour were able to play professionally. At the beginning of our story, he's working as a refuse collector, aspiring to become the driver.
The story is based around the interactions of Troy with his wife Rose (Viola Davis), friend Bono (Stephen Henderson) and children (Jovan Adepo & Russell Hornsby). As much as I like a thriller, or a psychological film, I'm also partial to a film with less action, and more character development. Watching this film was interesting, as actually I really started to detest Washington's character, and felt real empathy for Rose.
There's no doubt that Viola Davis deserved an Oscar for her performance in Fences, she truly was fabulous, and you really felt and understood how the emotions her character was feeling. Her speech, shown in the trailer, is incredible, and you really start to feel how it must be, to be in her shoes. I think Denzel Washington did a great job as Troy as well, we learn about Troy's nasty side, and as I mentioned before, I really started to dislike him, but you still can have see how the past, and how being discriminated against, has affected his behaviour.
Somehow, the plot doesn't quite do it for me. Despite the brilliant acting performances throughout, I wasn't quite as hooked or emotionally invested in this film as I wanted to be. The film is long and has a slow pace, and sometimes is not so good at explaining things. Without ruining the film, there were a couple of places where I thought I was following the dialogue but then felt I had to guess an event that had happened, or work out what was trying to be said. I feel like the film could be improved perhaps, by using flashbacks or something similar, to help really get into the mind of Troy, and to help us see the real story.
Overall, I wasn't as impressed with this film as I thought I was going to be. The talents of the actors involved is there for us all to see, but I think the film could have given more in terms of the plot, and I think it could also have asked more questions. I didn't come out of the film feeling inspired, or shocked, and I didn't even cry, which as you may have seen, is often a theme of a good film in my book. I'd give Fences a 7/10, a slow moving and long film, redeemed by the acting skill.
Fences follows the story of Troy (Denzel Washington) as he raises his perhaps unconventional family in the fifties. He dreamed of being a baseball player, but was told he was too old by the time People of Colour were able to play professionally. At the beginning of our story, he's working as a refuse collector, aspiring to become the driver.
The story is based around the interactions of Troy with his wife Rose (Viola Davis), friend Bono (Stephen Henderson) and children (Jovan Adepo & Russell Hornsby). As much as I like a thriller, or a psychological film, I'm also partial to a film with less action, and more character development. Watching this film was interesting, as actually I really started to detest Washington's character, and felt real empathy for Rose.
There's no doubt that Viola Davis deserved an Oscar for her performance in Fences, she truly was fabulous, and you really felt and understood how the emotions her character was feeling. Her speech, shown in the trailer, is incredible, and you really start to feel how it must be, to be in her shoes. I think Denzel Washington did a great job as Troy as well, we learn about Troy's nasty side, and as I mentioned before, I really started to dislike him, but you still can have see how the past, and how being discriminated against, has affected his behaviour.
Somehow, the plot doesn't quite do it for me. Despite the brilliant acting performances throughout, I wasn't quite as hooked or emotionally invested in this film as I wanted to be. The film is long and has a slow pace, and sometimes is not so good at explaining things. Without ruining the film, there were a couple of places where I thought I was following the dialogue but then felt I had to guess an event that had happened, or work out what was trying to be said. I feel like the film could be improved perhaps, by using flashbacks or something similar, to help really get into the mind of Troy, and to help us see the real story.
Overall, I wasn't as impressed with this film as I thought I was going to be. The talents of the actors involved is there for us all to see, but I think the film could have given more in terms of the plot, and I think it could also have asked more questions. I didn't come out of the film feeling inspired, or shocked, and I didn't even cry, which as you may have seen, is often a theme of a good film in my book. I'd give Fences a 7/10, a slow moving and long film, redeemed by the acting skill.
Sunday, 26 February 2017
11. Hidden Figures
Is it just me, or are there a lot of films based on true stories nowadays? Hidden Figures is based on the lives of African-American women working for NASA in the sixties. The story follows Katherine, (Taraji P. Henson), a maths genius, Mary, (Janelle Monae), an aspiring engineer, and Dorothy, (Octavia Spencer), acting department supervisor who isn't getting any credit.
I found the story captivating and hard hitting. The fact this is based on a true story, illustrating that not so long ago women and people of colour were so badly discriminated against. Katherine has to do a mile round trip out in the elements just for a wee, knocking time out of her day, meaning she actually does work on the loo! I'm not suggesting that we live in a non-discriminatory world today, or that these problems are abolished completely, but I did find it enlightening to see the blatancy of the racism people experienced.
The department that our main characters work in at the start of the film is 'coloured computers'. The women can calculate ridiculous equations by hand, and quickly too. It's astounding to think that it was calculations done in people's heads that essentially propelled us into space. It's even more admiral that the people that came up with these equations were being disgustingly discriminated against at the time.
Throughout my life, I have been a fan of having a motto. More recently these mottos have been 'I'm (Insert Age Here), I do what I want', 'Everything is Corrupt' and my personal favourite 'Science is Bullshit'. If we just focus on the last phrase there, this film speaks to me on a level. Science is moving so fast that something we know as a proven fact today, could be the complete opposite tomorrow. Maths however is always constant, and that's why I like it. This movie illustrates this so well, and Katherine campaigns to be in the meetings with the big dogs so she can use her badass maths to send a geezer to space.
I love the way all of our three main characters are all defiant and all campaign for there rights and their knowledge wins against the rules of society, and with this they are all rewarded with success. I found the film so inspiring, and for a film about space (see my first review of the year), and maths, it was really interesting and exciting! I also liked the fact that the title was a meaningful pun. This film definitely deserves an 8.5/10; a must watch for anyone interested in human rights, justice, space, science and maths!
I found the story captivating and hard hitting. The fact this is based on a true story, illustrating that not so long ago women and people of colour were so badly discriminated against. Katherine has to do a mile round trip out in the elements just for a wee, knocking time out of her day, meaning she actually does work on the loo! I'm not suggesting that we live in a non-discriminatory world today, or that these problems are abolished completely, but I did find it enlightening to see the blatancy of the racism people experienced.
The department that our main characters work in at the start of the film is 'coloured computers'. The women can calculate ridiculous equations by hand, and quickly too. It's astounding to think that it was calculations done in people's heads that essentially propelled us into space. It's even more admiral that the people that came up with these equations were being disgustingly discriminated against at the time.
Throughout my life, I have been a fan of having a motto. More recently these mottos have been 'I'm (Insert Age Here), I do what I want', 'Everything is Corrupt' and my personal favourite 'Science is Bullshit'. If we just focus on the last phrase there, this film speaks to me on a level. Science is moving so fast that something we know as a proven fact today, could be the complete opposite tomorrow. Maths however is always constant, and that's why I like it. This movie illustrates this so well, and Katherine campaigns to be in the meetings with the big dogs so she can use her badass maths to send a geezer to space.
I love the way all of our three main characters are all defiant and all campaign for there rights and their knowledge wins against the rules of society, and with this they are all rewarded with success. I found the film so inspiring, and for a film about space (see my first review of the year), and maths, it was really interesting and exciting! I also liked the fact that the title was a meaningful pun. This film definitely deserves an 8.5/10; a must watch for anyone interested in human rights, justice, space, science and maths!
Saturday, 11 February 2017
9. Hacksaw Ridge
As you may already know, I do love a film based on a true story. I'd seen the advert for Hacksaw Ridge, and thought it looked interesting, but war and fighting and armies and what-not are not my favourite. However, this story follows a pacifist who joins the army, so from the offset I'm liking the morals!
The story follows Desmond Doss (Andrew Garfield), as he joins the army to become a medic. To gain this qualification, he needs to pass all his basic training, including shooting with a rifle. This task is particularly difficult for Doss, as he refuses to touch a gun. The rest of the troop now no longer trust him to save him in the battle field, and he is subject to abuse. Alongside this, Doss is planning a marriage to Dorothy (Teresa Palmer) so you could say he'd got a lot on.
I found the story interesting, although cheesy in parts, and liked the fact that it drew on the parts of Doss' (Andrew Garfield) childhood, and found the flashbacks really effective in the storytelling, and in empathising with the character. I also really loved the humour in the film, Vince Vaughn is hilarious as Sergeant Howell, and there were lots of 'laugh out loud' moments in the film which I wasn't expecting. At the end, we see some real life footage, and illustrating that there was jokes and fun, even in such a bleak situation, which I found heartwarming.
Up to here, it all sounds glowing, and that's to be assumed as this is another of our Oscar nominated films. However, there were some bits about this film that weren't for me. At one point there is a battle scene for about 20 minutes with no particular plot, and there isn't even an interesting tactic which either side of the war are using. It's just a scene of fighting and gruesome gore, but neither of those things excite me. In my head, I'm very aware that the gore is all fake, so no matter how realistic it is, I'm quite desensitised. In fact, I flinched more in an earlier scene where Doss was having his blood taken (and I give blood myself!). I also find fighting and violence really boring, so it was not the one for me. In a later battle scene, it was really exciting and there was a real threat and use of intelligence and innovation to evade the enemy, which I did enjoy, but I feel like the first scene was unnecessary. However I do get that that is something people enjoy, so if you're into all that, you'll like it.
The other thing I didn't like about this film was the length. I felt like I'd been sat in my chair for days and I think the story could be told just as effectively in 1hr 50, as opposed to 2hr 20. We're almost getting into Wolf of Wall Street territory (although I did love that film).
Overall, I enjoyed Hacksaw Ridge, but I wouldn't be throwing it any Oscars. The romance was cheesy, the violence was mindless, but there was a good and interesting story buried beneath it all. I'd give it a 7/10, but if you're into war and battles and fighting, you'll probably love it.
The story follows Desmond Doss (Andrew Garfield), as he joins the army to become a medic. To gain this qualification, he needs to pass all his basic training, including shooting with a rifle. This task is particularly difficult for Doss, as he refuses to touch a gun. The rest of the troop now no longer trust him to save him in the battle field, and he is subject to abuse. Alongside this, Doss is planning a marriage to Dorothy (Teresa Palmer) so you could say he'd got a lot on.
I found the story interesting, although cheesy in parts, and liked the fact that it drew on the parts of Doss' (Andrew Garfield) childhood, and found the flashbacks really effective in the storytelling, and in empathising with the character. I also really loved the humour in the film, Vince Vaughn is hilarious as Sergeant Howell, and there were lots of 'laugh out loud' moments in the film which I wasn't expecting. At the end, we see some real life footage, and illustrating that there was jokes and fun, even in such a bleak situation, which I found heartwarming.
Up to here, it all sounds glowing, and that's to be assumed as this is another of our Oscar nominated films. However, there were some bits about this film that weren't for me. At one point there is a battle scene for about 20 minutes with no particular plot, and there isn't even an interesting tactic which either side of the war are using. It's just a scene of fighting and gruesome gore, but neither of those things excite me. In my head, I'm very aware that the gore is all fake, so no matter how realistic it is, I'm quite desensitised. In fact, I flinched more in an earlier scene where Doss was having his blood taken (and I give blood myself!). I also find fighting and violence really boring, so it was not the one for me. In a later battle scene, it was really exciting and there was a real threat and use of intelligence and innovation to evade the enemy, which I did enjoy, but I feel like the first scene was unnecessary. However I do get that that is something people enjoy, so if you're into all that, you'll like it.
The other thing I didn't like about this film was the length. I felt like I'd been sat in my chair for days and I think the story could be told just as effectively in 1hr 50, as opposed to 2hr 20. We're almost getting into Wolf of Wall Street territory (although I did love that film).
Overall, I enjoyed Hacksaw Ridge, but I wouldn't be throwing it any Oscars. The romance was cheesy, the violence was mindless, but there was a good and interesting story buried beneath it all. I'd give it a 7/10, but if you're into war and battles and fighting, you'll probably love it.
Saturday, 28 January 2017
7. Lion
A few years ago, I probably wouldn't have even thought about watching Lion. Its a true story, but it's got subtitles for half of it, and you already know the ending, and you know its going to be all emotions and not much action. But then, a few years ago, I didn't even like films...
Since 2014, I've tried to see the big budget, big award nominated films, and January is a great time to cram them all in before the Oscars. So seeing that Lion is up for a few awards for 2017, I was really intrigued to see what it was about.
As you probably already know, the story follows a 5 year old boy in India, Saroo (Sunny Pawar) who gets separated from his older brother in the middle of the night. He searches for him, ending up on an out of service sleeper train, which takes him 1500 miles away, to a station in Calcutta. He is now in a country where he doesn't know anyone and doesn't speak the language, and now is fighting to live, as well as find his family. We follow his story, until he gets adopted by an Australian family, and from then, we learn about how Saroo continues his search for his mother into adulthood (Dev Patel).
I enjoyed the film much more than I was expecting (it's 2 hours long, and I wasn't clock watching one bit!). As I mentioned before, the first half of the film is subtitled as all the speaking is in Hindi and Bengali, but I only realised about an hour in that I'd been reading for so long. I felt immersed in the story and the subtitles were not a distraction at all (as I sometimes find). Pawar was absolutely incredible in his debut film - I know Patel is up for an Oscar for supporting role, but I feel like Pawar was the real star of the show. He's got a great acting career ahead of him! That's not to dispute Patel's acting in the film, he worked really well as the character, and I feel like both Pawar and Patel must have worked closely together because the two parts of the story work really well together. Nicole Kidman was also wonderful as Saroo's adopted mother, securing herself an Oscar nomination too. You really see the emotions she is experiencing through adopting a child from the 3rd world, and then the journey Saroo takes.
The entire film was an emotional roller coaster, I cried so much at the end I smudged my eyeliner, much to the delight of my pals. Part of me thinks the film should be more than a PG, as if I watched it as a kid I think I would be heart broken. I feel like the actors, directors and production team did a really good job in terms of bringing this true story to life. At the end we see video footage of the real family, and I think it's a really nice touch.
I did find some parts of the film a little cheesy, and unbelievable, despite it being based on the truth, and I can understand how if you don't connect with the emotional aspect of the film, you may not enjoy it. It isn't a particularly fast paced film.
Overall, I'm really glad I watched the film, and think there may even be an Oscar in it - be it for Patel, Kidman, or the cinematography (it's up for 5 altogether). It's so strange seeing Patel grow from being one of everyone's favourite Skins characters, to his role in Slumdog Millionaire, to becoming Saroo, and it's a great testiment to his acting skill. I give Lion an 8.5/10, definitely worth a watch (but remember the tissues).
Since 2014, I've tried to see the big budget, big award nominated films, and January is a great time to cram them all in before the Oscars. So seeing that Lion is up for a few awards for 2017, I was really intrigued to see what it was about.
As you probably already know, the story follows a 5 year old boy in India, Saroo (Sunny Pawar) who gets separated from his older brother in the middle of the night. He searches for him, ending up on an out of service sleeper train, which takes him 1500 miles away, to a station in Calcutta. He is now in a country where he doesn't know anyone and doesn't speak the language, and now is fighting to live, as well as find his family. We follow his story, until he gets adopted by an Australian family, and from then, we learn about how Saroo continues his search for his mother into adulthood (Dev Patel).
I enjoyed the film much more than I was expecting (it's 2 hours long, and I wasn't clock watching one bit!). As I mentioned before, the first half of the film is subtitled as all the speaking is in Hindi and Bengali, but I only realised about an hour in that I'd been reading for so long. I felt immersed in the story and the subtitles were not a distraction at all (as I sometimes find). Pawar was absolutely incredible in his debut film - I know Patel is up for an Oscar for supporting role, but I feel like Pawar was the real star of the show. He's got a great acting career ahead of him! That's not to dispute Patel's acting in the film, he worked really well as the character, and I feel like both Pawar and Patel must have worked closely together because the two parts of the story work really well together. Nicole Kidman was also wonderful as Saroo's adopted mother, securing herself an Oscar nomination too. You really see the emotions she is experiencing through adopting a child from the 3rd world, and then the journey Saroo takes.
The entire film was an emotional roller coaster, I cried so much at the end I smudged my eyeliner, much to the delight of my pals. Part of me thinks the film should be more than a PG, as if I watched it as a kid I think I would be heart broken. I feel like the actors, directors and production team did a really good job in terms of bringing this true story to life. At the end we see video footage of the real family, and I think it's a really nice touch.
I did find some parts of the film a little cheesy, and unbelievable, despite it being based on the truth, and I can understand how if you don't connect with the emotional aspect of the film, you may not enjoy it. It isn't a particularly fast paced film.
Overall, I'm really glad I watched the film, and think there may even be an Oscar in it - be it for Patel, Kidman, or the cinematography (it's up for 5 altogether). It's so strange seeing Patel grow from being one of everyone's favourite Skins characters, to his role in Slumdog Millionaire, to becoming Saroo, and it's a great testiment to his acting skill. I give Lion an 8.5/10, definitely worth a watch (but remember the tissues).
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