Margaret (2011); drama film review

Poster artwork for the dram film Margaret.

Mourning Margaret by Linh

It took five years for the little independent film Margaret to make it to the cinemas, following a slew of law suits involving director Kenneth Lonergan’s post-production and editing process problems. Lonergan originally planned for a three-hour length film but eventually settled for a two-and- a-half-hour edited version by Martin Scorsese and Thelma Schoonmaker. The result is a beautifully filmed and wonderfully acted film of teenage angst, anger, death and moral responsibility.

DEVASTATION: Lisa (Anna Paquin) comforts a dying Monica (Allison Janney) shortly after the accident in the film Margaret. Image: Fox Searchlight Pictures.

The film is inspired by the poem Spring and Fall by nineteenth century English poet Gerard Manley Hopkins, with the film named after a girl in this poem. The poem has the author addressing a girl (Margaret) about death and decay, as the child cries when the autumn leaves fall from the trees and she mourns the falling leaves as if they were dying. The author comments on how age will alter her innocence so, although she cannot clearly articulate her sadness now due to her tender age, she will come to know the reality and meaning of death and suffering when she is older. Therefore, not only does Margaret learn to understand death, she also becomes aware of her own mortality. These thoughts and emotions are expressed throughout the film’s narrative and reflect the poem’s sentiment beautifully through the portrayal of the character Lisa. Spring and Fall is also read aloud during a scene in the film by Matthew Broderick.

ACCUSED: Bus driver Jason (Mark Ruffalo) approaches the accident scene in the film Margaret. Image: Fox Searchlight Pictures.

The film Margaret opens in a New York high school, with Lisa (Anna Paquin) in Geometry class as her teacher (Matt Damon) hands back test papers, and he wrote the comment “See Me” on her paper. They have a discussion about cheating, with Lisa successfully talking her way out of trouble again. During English class, Lisa again displays her sharp wit. Her father phones to invite her over to his ranch and suggests she take equestrian lessons beforehand. Lisa decides to buy a cowboy hat to take with her to the trip and on the way to the shop, she notices a bus driver (Mark Ruffalo) wearing a cowboy hat. She runs along the road waving and motioning to him about where he bought his hat. As he was gesturing back to her, he ran a red light and drives over a female pedestrian, Monica Paterson (Allison Janney). As Monica dies in Lisa’s arms, Lisa becomes deeply affected by the death, and the aftermath of the incident forms the rest of the film’s narrative. Lisa experiences painful emotional consequences, from confrontations with those involved with the accident to her own irresponsible and risky behaviour, before finally taking responsibility for her role in the accident.

LITIGATION: Emily (Jeannie Berlin), Lisa (Anna Paquin) and Dave (Michael Ealy) discuss the legal procedure for the accident in the film Margaret. Image: Fox Searchlight Pictures.

The performances are excellent, particularly Paquin as the formidable Lisa; Jeannie Berlin is brilliant as Emily, the pragmatic and grieving friend of Monica who helps Lisa with the law suit; J. Smith-Cameron is superb as Lisa’s mother, the Broadway star Joan, whose relationship with Lisa becomes strained as she deals with her own work and new romance with Ramon (French film star Jean Reno); and Mark Ruffalo is wonderful as the bus driver, Jason Maretti Berstone, who is accused for not accepting responsibility for the death. The cameo appearances are equally good with opera singers Renée Fleming, Susan Graham, Christine Goerke, stage and screen actor Allison Janney, and director Kenneth Lonergan.

Margaret may be a lengthy film, but there are so many moments layered with moral and philosophical reflections of personal responsibility, aspects of crime and punishment, that the viewer will likely feel the painful and powerful effect on the characters’ lives.

Director: Kenneth Lonergan

Writers: Kenneth Lonergan (screenplay), Gerard Manley Hopkins (poem)

Cast: Anna Paquin, Matt Damon, Mark Ruffalo, Matthew Broderick, J. Smith-Cameron, Jeannie Berlin, Jean Reno, Rosemarie DeWitt, Kieran Culkin, Olivia Thirlby, Allison Janney, John Gallagher Jnr., Matt Bush, Hina Abdullah, Enid Graham, Michael Ealy, Brittany Underwood, Jake O’Connor, Kenneth Lonergan, Melissa Rocco, Betsy Aidem, Adam Rose, Sarah Steele, Cyrus Hernstadt, Renée Fleming, Susan Graham, Christine Goerke

Producers: Anthony Minghella, Sydney Pollack, Scott Rudin, Blair Breard, Gary Gilbert

Cinematographer: Ryszard Lenczewski

Original Music Composer: Nico Muhly

Film Editors: Anne McCabe, Martin Scorsese (final edit) and Thelma Schoonmaker (final edit)

Production: Dan Leigh (Production Designer), James Donahue (Art Director), Ron von Blomberg (Set Decorator)

Running Time: 2 hours and 30 minutes

The Avengers (2012); action comedy drama film review

Poster artwork for the action comedy drama film The Avengers.

Powerful Pack by Linh

The blockbuster action film from Marvel, The Avengers, that is also called Avengers Assemble in the United Kingdom, and based on the comic book with minor alterations made for the film adaptation is directed and co-written by Joss Whedon (Serenity, The Cabin In The Woods). Most of Whedon’s vision for the film’s premise is realised, and the cast assembled to portray the team of superheroes are superb. Whedon, who is mostly known for his work in the television series Buffy The Vampire Slayer, brings together a group of individuals who all manage to work as a team on the screen. All the superhero characters have already appeared in films leading up to this film’s release, which makes it easier to attract an audience and create a larger fanbase.

AWESTRUCK AVENGERS: Thor (Chris Hemsworth) and Captain America (Chris Evans) prepare for the battle ahead in the film The Avengers. Image: Marvel Studios.

In The Avengers, Nick Fury (Samuel L. Jackson) of the spy agency S.H.I.E.L.D, is experimenting with the special cube of unlimited sustainable energy called the Tesseract, when he is rudely interrupted by Loki (Tom Hiddleston). Loki uses his sceptre to “cast a spell” on Dr. Selvig (Stellan Skarsgård) and Clint Barton/Hawkeye (Jeremy Renner), making them his followers, then destroys S.H.I.E.L.D headquarters as he departs with the Tesseract. 

Nick Fury sends out orders to his spy agents Phil Coulson (Clark Gregg) and Natasha Romanoff/Black Widow (Scarlett Johansson) to enlist the help of Tony Stark/Iron Man (Robert Downey Jr.) and Bruce Banner/The Hulk (Mark Ruffalo) respectively. Meanwhile, Nick Fury convinces Steve Rogers/ Captain America (Chris Evans) to join the fight against Loki. After the team have captured Loki in Stuttgart, Germany, Thor (Chris Hemsworth) drops in to take Loki and the Tesseract back to Asgard. The team warns Thor that Loki has sent an army to destroy Earth and the Tesseract is missing, so he agrees to hold Loki in custody until they find the Tesseract. However, Loki’s plans of ultimate power and control look likely until the team of superheroes can work together to stop the invaders on land and in the air.

HULK HORROR: Natasha Romanoff (Scarlett Johansson) escapes the rage of the Hulk (Mark Ruffalo) in the film The Avengers. Image: Marvel Studios.

The battle scenes look spectacular and are brilliantly edited so the action from the air and on the ground blend and move smoothly from one character’s fight scene to another.  The hand-to-hand combat and fight scenes leading up to the big battle in Manhattan are excellent; Scarlett Johansson as Black Widow and Jeremy Renner as Hawkeye give each other powerful punches and kicks before calming down to a brief emotional moment of shared history from their past; the forest fight scene between Robert Downey Jr.’s Iron Man and Chris Hemsworth’s Thor is a comical masculinity-contest and seems to help establish an understanding of how they can use their powers “with” instead of “against” each other.

HOTSHOT HAWKEYE: Hawkeye (Jeremy Renner) makes a perfect hit as he leaps through the air in the film The Avengers. Image: Marvel Studios.

Throughout the film, there seems to be an underlying message of “power” and “unity”, which involves the superheroes assembling as a group without losing their own individuality, and the idea of how power can be corruptive and destructive as well as easily shared to assist humanity. The “power” which Nick Fury and Tony Stark/Iron Man seek pertains to an energy source that is clean, unlimited and sustainable which can provide power for everyone’s daily needs. The “power” which Loki craves is the control or domination over others and a desire that they must serve him as their ruler. In an ironic plot-twist, the power of the Tesseract is used to unleash destructive forces upon Manhattan, New York, prompting the superheroes to use their powers to fight back.

HEROIC HEAT: Thor (Chris Hemsworth), Captain America (Chris Evans) and Natasha Romanoff (Scarlett Johansson) fight off a fiery foe in the film The Avengers. Image: Marvel Studios.

The film uses a variety of special effects in audio and visual depictions, including motion-capture technology for Mark Ruffalo to physically portray The Hulk. In the past, the giant green monster was usually computer generated and voiced by Lou Ferrigno. The film’s visually stunning and breath-taking action sequences are some of the best work for the Marvel comic book film franchise. The Avengers exceeded expectations at the box office in Australia in 2012, as it is a fun, exciting and fast-paced film where every scene counts.

AGILE AVENGER: Natasha Romanoff (Scarlett Johansson) lies low as Bruce Banner unleashes The Hulk in the film The Avengers. Image: Marvel Studios.

Director: Joss Whedon

Writers: Joss Whedon (story, screenplay), Zack Penn (story), Stan Lee (comic book), Jack Kirby (comic book)

Cast: Robert Downey Jr., Scarlett Johansson, Mark Ruffalo, Chris Hemsworth, Chris Evans, Samuel L. Jackson, Jeremy Renner, Tom Hiddleston, Stellan Skarsgård, Cobie Smulders, Clark Gregg, Gwyneth Paltrow, Alexis Denisof, Jenny Agutter, Powers Boothe, Harry Dean Stanton, Stan Lee, Donald Li, James Eckhouse, Lou Ferrigno (voice), Paul Bettany (voice)

Producers: Stan Lee, Jon Favreau, Alan Fine, Patricia Whitcher, Jeremy Latcham, Louis D’Esposito,  Avi Arad, Kevin Feige, Victoria Alonso

Cinematographer: Seamus McGarvey

Original Music Composer: Alan Silvestri

Film Editor: Jeffrey Ford, Lisa Lassek

Production:  James Chinlund (Production Designer), Billy Hunter, Randy Moore, Benjamin Edelberg, Richard L. Johnson, Gregory S. Hooper, Jann K. Engel (Art Directors), Victor J. Zolfo (Set Decorator)

Costume Designer: Alexandra Byrne

Languages: English, Russian and Hindi with English subtitles

Running Time: 2 hours and 20 minutes

Date Night (2010); comedy action film review

Poster artwork for the comedy action film Date Night.

Marriage Mender by Linh

Date Night is the film that masquerades as a romantic comedy before unveiling its more chaotic and dramatic nature.  The film centres on a married couple from New Jersey with children, named Claire Foster, a bored wife, and her boringly predictable husband Phil Foster. One night they decide to spice up their love life by going out on a dinner date together. After failing to make a booking at a posh restaurant called ‘Claw’ in Manhattan, Phil eventually accepts a booking under the name of Tripplehorn. This leads to mistaken identity, a wild chase through the streets of Manhattan from corrupt police officers, seeking assistance from a former military officer who works in security, and a dodgy district attorney.

COUPLE CRISIS: Claire (Tina Fey) and Phil (Steve Carell) phone home in the film Date Night. Image: Twentieth Century Fox.

On the surface, Date Night is a lightweight comedy driven by a predictable plot involving car chases, gunfights, some shady characters and a crucial USB flashdrive. Under this formulaic veneer belies a more meaningful message of communication and understanding in relationships. Sometimes it takes a jolt to the system to act as a reminder to show appreciation and patience, such as the frantic fear Phil and Claire experience in one night of madness and mistakes.

Date Night has more to it than the average romantic comedy; even the stars Steve Carell and Tina Fey, throw in more than a few funny lines and some hot moves in an impromptu pole dancing performance. The leading cast convincingly manages to make the uncomplicated plot interesting but the supporting cast and cameos sustain the entertainment factor.

EVADING ENEMIES: Claire (Tina Fey) and Phil (Steve Carell) narrowly escape the corrupt cops in the film Date Night. Image: Twentieth Century Fox.

Steve Carell gives his usual schtick in a performance better than most of his other comic roles, with Phil Foster as the goofy tax consultant-turned-hero who surprises when you least expect; 30 Rock star and writer Tina Fey adds her subtle comic flair to Claire Foster, a suburban house wife/realtor in need of stress relief, only to find her stress-levels hitting new heights while on a nightmare date with husband Phil; Mark Wahlberg is cool, composed and the token eye-candy as Claire’s former client, Holbrooke Grant, who appears topless in every scene; Oscar nominee Taraji P. Henson is excellent as tough-talking and no-nonsense Detective Arroyo.

The cameo appearances lift the comedy bar for the film with James Franco as the scam artist named Taste, and Mila Kunis as his partner in crime, Whippit; Ray Liotta is suitably unyielding as mobster Joe Milletto; Jimmi Simpson, best known as the creepy and sinister Lyle the intern on The Late Show with David Letterman, and rapper Common, play corrupt cops Armstrong and Collins, respectively, who are fun to watch as their guns and police training fail them in capturing Phil and Claire.

POLICE PLEA: Claire (Tina Fey) and Phil (Steve Carell) seek help from Detective Arroyo (Taraji P. Henson) in the film Date Night. Image: Twentieth Century Fox.

Director Shawn Levy has a knack for comedy and his verve adds to the film’s overall effectiveness. Oscar-winning cinematographer from South Australia, Dean Semler skillfully captures the film’s car chases, the cabbie crush scene and the night club atmosphere with his keen eye for detail and action. Date Night is a fun and satisfying serve of silliness, but with heart and hilarity added to the mix. Great out-takes and bloopers appear during the closing credits and if you stay until the end of the credits, you’ll get a special treat in the form of Carell craziness and Fey funniness.

CLIENT CALL: Claire (Tina Fey) and Phil (Steve Carell) ask Holbrooke (Mark Wahlberg) for a favour in the film Date Night. Image: Twentieth Century Fox.

Director: Shawn Levy

Writer: Josh Klausner (screenplay)

        

Cast: Steve Carell, Tina Fey, Mark Wahlberg, Taraji P. Henson, James Franco, Mila Kunis, Mark Ruffalo, Kristen Wiig, Leighton Meester, William Fichtner, Ray Liotta, Olivia Munn, Will.i.Am, Jimmi Simpson, Common, J.B. Smoove, Bill Burr, Jonathan Morgan Heit, Gal Gadot

Producers: Shawn Levy, Josh McLaglen, Joseph M. Caracciolo Jr., Tom McNulty, Billy Rosenberg

Cinematographer: Dean Semler

Original Music Composer: Christophe Beck

Film Editor: Dean Zimmerman

Production: David Gropman (Production Designer), Dan Webster (Art Director), Jay Hart (Set Decorator)

Costume Designer: Marlene Stewart

Running Time: 1 hour and 40 minutes