Green Zone

Paul Greengrass, director of such marvels of film editing as Bloody Sunday (2002), United 93 (2006), Bourne Supremacy (2004) and Bourne Ultimatum (2007) now comes out with Green Zone. Starring Matt Damon this is a suspenseful and extremely realistic portrayal of the Iraq war at the beginning of operation Desert Storm. Soldiers are told to seek out Saddam’s WMDs (Weapons of Mass Destruction) but are coming up empty as there appears to be a flaw with the intelligence. Of course today we know there never were any WMDs in Iraq and so did the US Government who were informed long before the invasion. This information probably gave the US Military the courage to launch the invasion without worrying about a counter attack and at the same time gave them the excuse they needed to take out Saddam.

This film has much of the same pace and editing style of the Bourne films making it very suspenseful and exciting but it also attempts to show the secret dealings of the US government. If you haven’t seen it or any of Paul Greengrass’ films I highly recommend them. There are some who have criticized the shaky camera style of filming and rapid editing but this all adds to the realism and feeling of immediacy. It puts the viewer closer to the action. That is why it is now a commonly used style of filming for movies and many TV shows.

Greengrass is very good at switching between multiple storylines simultaneously, to heighten the suspense and keep the action continuous. This gives a film added imagery and more shots from different angles so the action can be seen from many different perspectives at the same time. Today there is so much more imagery packed into a film’s two hour running time that you really feel like you are getting your money’s worth of imagery and story. Add to that the benefit of digitally enhanced imagery that can put the viewer anywhere you can imagine, and film is now a much more powerful tool than it has ever been, and Paul Greengrass is definitely one of the directors at the fore-front of the new technical revolution that the film industry is enjoying.

JP

A quick summary of the 2009 film year

What where the most relevant films of 2009? Which films grabbed our attention and changed our view of the world? Which films opened our eyes and educated us and which films stole our hearts and made us fall in love?

There were excellent films in 2009 that did all these things.

If you check out the Annual critics top 10 lists below you’ll see what critics rated the best of the year.

It was an excellent year for Sci-Fi, Animation, War films and again for Documentaries; my favorite genres.

Sci-fi films were very strong this year with the best being Avatar, Star Trek, and District 9 but also very good were 2012, Terminator Salvation, and X-Men Origins: Wolverine

George Lucas’ influence continues to show the way to the future of film making. Combining elements of fantasy, futuristic military hardware, war, and aliens, James Cameron’s Avatar is by far the standout film of the year taking everyone by surprise and really raising the bar for Special Effects in a science fiction film that also has all the right elements of a great universal story. It is now the highest grossing film of all time beating out James Cameron’s own Titanic. (not adjusted for inflation)

Avatar is the Lord of the Rings of 2009 and it is also on its way to becoming a classic trilogy. James Cameron always knew exactly what made the Star Wars films so successful and he is now successfully following in George Lucas’ foot steps with his own original blockbuster Sci-fi/fantasy epic franchise. The films of Cameron’s that most resemble Avatar are Aliens (also starring Sigourney Weaver) and The Abyss.

The Star Trek reboot by J.J. Abrams is also inspired by the Star Wars films. Abrams has said that he wanted to bring a Star Wars sensibility to the Star Trek franchise. He wanted to give it the speed and action of those films of which he is a big fan. The makers of Star Trek thought of the Star Trek franchise as “classical music” and the Star Wars franchise as “Rock and Roll music”, and they wanted to inject Star Trek with some of that “Rock and Roll” feeling. The good news is it worked and the film is easily the best Star Trek film ever. In addition to this the original TV series has also been given a special effects update and facelift exactly like what was done with the Star Wars Special Editions and now the original series looks better than ever. With the update I am now a new fan of the series.

Visually and story-wise District 9 puts a new and unusual spin on the aliens landing on Earth sci-fi film and it works. The movie is a mix of documentary style footage and very realistic special effects aliens set in a South African slum/ghetto. But it is also very funny and poignant in a sense that there are many apartheid era references; only using aliens.

Animation films were numerous (16 films) but the best ones were Up, Fantastic Mr. Fox, Coraline, Mary and Max, Ponyo, The Princess and the Frog, A Christmas Carol, Monsters vs. Aliens, Ice Age: Dawn of the Dinosaurs and Astro Boy.

You can see a complete list of animated films that were released in 2009 in order of best reviewed to worst according to Rottentomatoes.com by clicking on the link in the right margin called Animation Rated 1999 – 2009.

Up by Pixar, who haven’t made a bad film yet, is a very funny but also touching, emotional story about a couple with a dream to go on an adventure trip to South America but are prevented from fulfilling their dream by life and circumstances. It’s also a beautiful film that was actually filmed in remote parts of South America and harkens back to some of Miyazaki’s films in style and story. Pixar are big fans of Hayao Miyazaki and you can see his influence in this film.

In the War film category there were three that were outstanding; The Hurt Locker, Inglourious Basterds and Edward Zwick’s Defiance. Edward Swick was also behind such films as Blood Diamond, and The Last Samurai.

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The Hurt Locker is an excellent war story set in Iraq and follows a bomb squad who defuse road side and car bombs. It’s a beautifully photographed, very suspenseful and realistically depicted film about one soldier who becomes addicted to the adrenalin rush of war. Finding himself irresistibly drawn to dangerous situations where no one else would dare go, he puts not only himself in harm's way, but risks the lives of his fellow soldiers who support him and even innocent civilians. Unable to adjust to normal civilian life back home he keeps going back into the chaos of war.

Defiance is the true story of three Russian Jewish brothers who form a resistance group to protect a large number of Jewish refugees from Russians and Nazis during WW II. Bases on the book called “The Bielski Brothers: The True Story of Three Men Who Defied the Nazis, Built a Village in the Forest, and Saved 1,200 Jews”. It’s a truly inspiring story depicting a part of the War very seldom seen or heard about. Very realistically portrayed and well acted, it is one of the better WW II stories I’ve seen. Daniel Craig is excellent as a Russian Jew.

Of the documentaries that I have watched so far (and I have not seen many) the best were The Cove, The English Surgeon, India Reborn, Trouble the Water, which was nominated for an Oscar last year when Man on Wire won, and This is It the Michael Jackson behind the scenes concert video.

The Cove is an incredible documentary about a group of people trying to expose the horrible cruelty perpetrated by Japanese fishermen on Dolphins. It is a must see film as it opens our eyes to some horrific practices that must be exposed. This film will make you angry and make you want to do something to help dolphins everywhere. You may also never want to eat sushi again.

Action/Adventure/Thriller films were less strong this year with only a few good ones mainly Sherlock Holmes, State of Play and The Informant!

Of the Comedy/Feel-Good/Romance films, there were few films that I liked. So far the best ones I have seen are In the Loop, 3 Idiots, It’s Complicated and Rudo y Cursi.

The dramas that I’ve seen so far were mostly all French films. I liked Summer Hours, The Class, and Coco before Chanel. The Blind Side was also much better than I had expected.

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You can read the film scripts for many of these films under the heading “Scripts/Screenplays” at the top of this blog.

Next article will be a Summary of my favorite films of the past Decade from 2000 to 2009.

JP

Slumdog Millionaire

Slumdog Millionaire (2008) celebrates the power of love to overcome all obstacles. Driven by his love for a girl he meets when he is only eight years old, a young boy dedicates his life to finding her after he and his brother escape the clutches of a child abuser who pimps street kids for money. 

Knowing that she loves watching a TV game show and using his childhood experiences to answer difficult questions, he enters the Indian version of ‘Who wants to be a millionaire’ contest so that she will be able to see him on television and thereby find each other.  

This story is so well told with such bold and authentic visual style and the most adorable children, that it will totally capture your heart.

My favorite types of stories are those positive, uplifting, hero adventure stories where the hero must struggle against all odds; corruption, and criminals, to find a loved one or to restore something that was lost or stolen. The hero must survive the loss of loved ones, or enslavement to fight against those that would destroy him and his world.

Slumdog Millionaire has all these epic elements and tells its story with great uplifting enthusiasm. But this film has so much more going for it. Besides the brilliant, extremely frenetic cinematography and authentic locations in one of the biggest and most vibrant slums in Mumbai India, and the rapid and frantic editing, it tells the story of our hero Jamal, a boy from the slums of Mumbai who is accused of cheating on the Indian version of the game show ‘Who Wants to be a Millionaire?’

We follow three characters at three different stages of life and cut between three stories. As Jamal is being interrogated in one story he must explain how from his life experiences he comes to know the answers to the difficult questions he has been asked on the game show.

The film cuts wildly from the game show questions to Jamal’s life growing up in the slums to the interrogation by the police with a wonderful mix of exhilarating Bollywood music by A.R. Rahman and Sri Lankan singer MIA. 

But the film is no sentimental melodrama like most Bollywood films. This film feels as immediate and realistic as a documentary by putting the viewer right in the middle of the gritty action, and is full of suspense and action packed with chase sequences and near escapes. There is so much to see in the film that I enjoyed my second viewing even more than the first time, as I was able to appreciate and wonder at how some of the sights were achieved.

What really stands out in this film, is its positive spirit and the people’s exuberance for life in the overcrowded bustling city of Mumbai and India. The hero’s determination to find the woman he loves and to be a winner in her eyes is what keeps us hooked in the story.

This is a rare film that seems to bring together, and orchestrates all these elements effortlessly, despite the amazing things we are seeing. It’s no wonder it has won every award going. This is one movie I am looking forward to seeing again on Blu-ray.

Based on the Novel Q&A by Vikas Swarup and adapted for the screen by Simon Beaufoy it was wonderfully directed by British director Danny Boyle who previously directed such movies as Trainspotting, A Life Less Ordinary, The Beach, 28 Days Later, Millions, and Sunshine.

The name Slumdog is a hybrid of the word Underdog and the Slums where the story takes place and where the hero Jamal grows up with his older brother Salim. Non actors where used to portray young versions of our hero and two of the children are actually from the slums of Mumbai.

All nine kids from the film were flown to Los Angeles to attend the Oscars where Slumdog Millionaire won all the major prizes including best Picture. Upon their return to Mumbai the Indian Government has offered the two kids from the slums and their parents a permanent residence paid for by the Government because they have done India proud.

Awards:

- 8 Oscars including Best Picture, Director, Screenplay, Cinematography, Editing , Sound Mixing, Score, and Song

- 7 Bafta Awards including Best Picture, Director, Screenplay, Cinematography, Editing, Music, and Sound.

- 4 Golden Globes including Best Picture Drama, Director, Screenplay, and Original Score

- Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture

- Writers Guild of America for Best Adapted Screenplay

- Director’s Guild of America for Outstanding Directorial Achievement

- Producer’s Guild of America for Best Picture

- American Cinema Editors Award for Best Edited Feature Film

- American Society of Cinematographers for Outstanding Achievement in Cinematography

- Art Director’s Guild for Excellence in Production Design in Contemporary films

- British Independent Film Awards for Best British Independent Film, Director, and Most Promising Newcomer – Dev Patel

- Broadcast Film Critics Association Awards for Best Picture, Director, Writer, Composer, and Young Actor under 21 – Dev Patel

- Satellite Awards for Best Motion Picture Drama, Director, and Original Score.

- National Board of Review Awards for Best Film, Adapted Screenplay, and Breakthrough Performance Male – Dev Patel

- New York Film Critics Circle Awards for Best Cinematography

- Los Angeles Film Critics Association Awards for Best Director.

- The People’s Choice Award for most popular film at the Toronto Film Festival.

- The list goes on…

JP

Film critics: Are they relevant?

There is such a huge gap between the average film-goer and the film critic today, not only in the amount of films that they watch on average, but also the way in which films are watched and the reason they watch them.

The film critic watches hundreds of films a year, a lot of which they’re not interested in seeing but they have to see as part of their job. Because they see so many films, they will often get enthusiastic about a film just because it is somehow unique and unusual; different from the average Hollywood mainstream that they see so much of.

But the average film-goer may only see 5 to 10 movies a year, and he will only see the ones that interest him or her. And what may be considered old hat or mainstream to a critic, may be quite new or interesting to the film-goer who has not seen that type of movie before.

The majority of film-goers are watching movies only for entertainment purposes. They just want to laugh and have some excitement or an adrenalin rush to temporarily distract them. They are not going to a film to be educated or exposed to new ideas or cultures, whereas the critic is always analyzing the film for something deep and meaningful underlying the surface, although many times it may not always be there.

The average film-goer will never read a review to determine if he should see a movie. The only criterion for him that matters is the Ad Campaign for the film. If the Advertising Campaign (Poster, or Trailer) draws his attention and it caters to his interests, he will see the film regardless of any reviews.

Even if the film-goer does inadvertently run across a movie review the only thing that will get his attention is the Star rating it was given. But even that may not influence his decision to see a particular film. Film-goers are probably more influenced by their friends and relatives who have seen the film, than by a film critic.

The other reason the average film-goer will not read a film review is simply because they don’t want to spoil the experience of being surprised while watching a film. Reviews give far too much information about a film that is not relevant to know before seeing the film and can spoil the experience.

Film-goers on average have a taste for a particular type of film and they seldom stray from their preferences. For example some people are only interested in seeing romantic comedies, and also have preferences for particular actors. Some people are only interested in suspense crime thrillers, and others are into musicals. A film review will not change that preference.

I believe that the only time the film critic has some influence with the general public is at the end of the year, when every critic announces their TOP 10 Best films of the year list. During this ritual the film critic has the ability to bring some good films to light that may have been overlooked or ignored by the general public. Some good examples of such films are Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon, Head-On, United 93, Pan’s Labyrinth, The Queen, Babel, No Country for Old Men, and There will be Blood.

At other times film critics may have an influence only when they are unanimously giving an overwhelming endorsement of a film that the media picks up on and starts to drive the momentum. The public then becomes more aware of the film as something special to see even if it doesn’t quite fit their preference. Some examples of this type of situation are My Big Fat Greek Wedding, The Full Monty, Chicago, Lost in Translation, Hairspray, Little Miss Sunshine, or Juno.

Other times that the film critic has an influence is when they are unanimously and overwhelmingly negative to a particular film. Then the film becomes known through the media as something so bad, it should be avoided at all costs and is a complete waste of time. Victims of overwhelmingly bad publicity are films like Alexander, Battlefield Earth, Gigli, and Elektra to name a few.

JP