Soderbergh Once Again Perfectly Preys On The Common Life In Side Effects

Without question, one of the busiest directors working in the last several years has been Steven Soderbergh. He has obtained himself an Academy Award and and 3 nominations in his career including 2 of them in 2001 in which he won for Traffic. What makes him one of the most sought after directors for studios and actors has to be his diversity and ability to pull some amazing performances out of his actors. One of his latest films that just recently is set for home video release is Side Effects.

Side Effects is a psychological thriller in which a young wife who is having trouble dealing with her husbands release from prison after 4 years and is experiencing depression and anxiety and after a failed suicide attempt is brought into contact with a psychiatrist played by Jude Law who in his attempts to help her puts her on a new anti-depressant drug called Ablixa. Soon during a sleep walking session the young wife murders her husband and blames the effects of the new drug on her crime. This sends the doctor on mystery mission to find out why and how this could have happened.

Soderbergh has a unique way of developing a psychological thriller that makes you take a look at elements of your own life and possibilities of different events happening to you such as he did with 2 years ago with Contagion. Side Effects preys on a topic that affects most Americans who deal with struggles in their day to day life and need the help of pharmaceutical drugs. The brilliance behind Soderbergh is that while his films don’t have any major twists at the end or something you don’t see coming they still have a highly satisfying ending.

The four main principles in the movie all play each role to perfection. Emily, the main character played by Rooney Mara fresh off her Oscar nominated performance in The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo. Mara proves she is working her way up to be one of the best actresses working and is unafraid to attempt any role she finds challenging.

One of the most unusual casting choices but one that still seemed to work was that of Emily’s husband, Martin played by the very popular Channing Tatum. Normally know for more comedic and even macho roles he plays a former broker who spent 4 years in prison for insider trading and a loving husband who wants to regain his family and make up for mistakes and lost time.

Previously mentioned was Jude Law who plays Dr. Jonathan Banks. This is his second film with Soderbergh and he is definitely showing signs of the actor many thought he was going to be when it seemed like every year he was pulling in award nominations left and right until he made the awful Alfie which seemed to send him on a path that lacked the luster he had previously had shown.

Finally is Catherine Zeta-Jones who is making her third appearance in a Soderbergh movie plays Dr. Victoria Siebert who had previously treated Emily and helps Dr. Banks with insight into her past and possible current condition.

All these elements together pull a very well rounded movie together that just when think there are holes in the story the quickly become filled in leaving you satisfied and vindicated. Soderbergh doesn’t ever treat the audience like they are stupid and think they won’t see what he sees. Side Effects is clearly one of those movies and it will make us look forward to Soderbergh’s next film no matter what subject he decides to undertake.

Jack Reacher Does Just That, In A Desperate Way

Without question,one of the best scripts written in the last 30 years was 1995’s The Usual Suspects by Christopher McQuarrie. It was smart and near perfect with arguably the best twist ending ever. The only thing wrong with it is that it was his first big script and his last best script. McQuarrie has gone on to write several more movies and even direct two, the most recent being one of Tom Cruise’s latest, Jack Reacher.

Jack Reacher is based on the book “One Shot” by Lee Child. The film tells the story of a former military police officer who has since gone underground and is difficult to find until he resurfaces when a someone from his past is faced with charges of sniper murders in Pittsburgh. Reacher comes to town to make sure the now comatose suspect is put away for life until a series of events and findings, leads him to think otherwise.

Jack Reacher is based on a critically acclaimed book and was a highly anticipated release. It, for lack of a better term, completely fell flat. There are several reasons for this but we will focus on only a few.

My first impression of the movie was it played out and even the actors, seemed to be acting as if they were filming scenes for a video game. It was incredibly bad as far as acting goes. With lines delivered almost comically. Tom cruise, who at one point seemed to be in line for a sure fire Oscar seems to be phoning in all his performances lately and when he is there, over acts to an incredible degree.

The second impression I had was that it felt like McQuarrie tried too hard to have as good of a twist as he did in The Usual Suspects and in doing so, you could see “the twist” coming from miles away.I don’t consider this a spoiler because by my account it wasn’t a twist at all. It may be the fact that since Suspects everyone wants a twist and looks for a secret ending so it is much harder to fool audiences. I was recently told that you could see the ending to Silver Linings Playbook coming; I hope so there is no need for a shocker nor should there be. The purpose of the film is not to catch you off guard.

The last problem i have with this movie is that I saw all this coming. I’m not a Tom  Cruise fan and haven’t been in nearly 15 years. He has made no more than 2-3 decent movies in recent memory and takes no chances. He relies completely on his name and makes no attempt as some actors do the prove his worth as an actor..

Therefore if you are looking for a 2 hour time waster and a movie you can watch while also reading a book through than this is the film for you. Don’t look for this movie to make any “good movie” lists. Its not exactly a razzie winner but it’s not anything to make you write home.

Hollywood Has A Good Young Star In The King’s Of Summer’s Gabriel Basso

For several years now, film festivals have proven to be breading grounds for great unknown films, film makers and actors. This years Sundance Film Festival has produced one of those films and quite possibly one of those actors. The film is called The Kings Of Summer and it is the coming of age comedy about three teenage boys who decide to live the summer out from under their parents roof and under their own and by their own rules.

The highly acclaimed film is being compared to such movies as Superbad and Into The Wild. Director Jordan Vogt-Roberts tackles his first feature length film and does so with first time writer Chris Galletta who left a job on the production staff of The Late Show With David Letterman to pursue his passion and write his first screenplay. The combination seems to have worked as the films was nominated for the Grand Jury Prize at Sundance and has really gained momentum since becoming highly anticipated for it’s May 31st release date.

I recently had the opportunity to speak with 18 year old Gabriel Basso who plays Patrick Keenan, one of the three young boys whom the film focuses on. You may recognize Gabriel from his regular role on the Showtime show The Big C starring Laura Linney and Oliver Platt. He was also featured in the J.J. Abrams directed and Steven Spielberg produced movie Super 8.

How did the movie come to you and how did you know it was a project you wanted to work on?

“I originally got the script in it’s rawest form from Chris Galletta and it was amazing, I fell in love with it instantly. Rarely do I laugh out loud when I read scripts. But this one was just hilarious.I had never done a comedy before and I told my agents I wanted in on it.”

How did you find the independent film making experience versus the experience of working on a film with a large budget like Super 8?

“You know it’s really cool because you get to see both sides of the passion spectrum. J.J. has a huge passion and has been making films since he was a kid with his super 8 camera to the point he’s making films like he is now. Then you go and work with someone who has the passion like Jordan [Vogt-Roberts] and you get to see the pre-requisite to being someone on the level of J.J. Abrams.”

Having developed a palate for scripts at a fairly young age what keeps that passion inside you looking for the next breakthrough project?

Well it still hasn’t occurred to me that I’m going to be an actor but what keeps me searching for the next project and search for things that will mean a lot to me is time, I wanna spend my time doing things I enjoy and am passionate about and that will lead me to different experiences and better experiences. Thru acting I’ve been able to do that and meet a lot of amazing people and go to a lot of incredible places.”

Gabriel went on to talk about how his experience on The Big C and the love that all his cast members have for their work and doing good projects inspires his to want to find those same experiences whether thats in acting or in his other love which is the game of soccer. He mentioned that everyday on the set of the now finished series The Big C he was learning something new from someone and how he found that infectious.

Gabriel can be seen in The Kings of Summer in theaters May 31st and on The Big C on Showtime airing now. You can also follow Gabriel on Twitter @GabeBasso.

Silver Linings Playbook Is Emotional And Brilliant

Every now and then there comes a movie that resonates within you and and you can immediately identify a kinship with. For me recently that movie is Silver Linings Playbook. This is a unique write up for me since I saw the film for the first time several months ago and have seen it several times since then. It tends to bore certain emotions and different feelings with each viewing. I finally decided it was time to give my thoughts/review of the movie now that it has been released on DVD/Blu Ray.

Silver Linings Playbook is the story of Pat played by Bradley Cooper and his journey into discovery of his bi-polar disorder upon his release from a state hospital where he served an 8 month sentence following an incident after he discovered his wife’s affair with a colleague. In his attempt to reconnect with his wife and fight the mental health issues that he deals with on a daily basis, he meets Tiffany played by the talented and beautiful Jennifer Lawrence. Tiffany’s life is also at a crossroads as she is dealing with the loss of a husband and attempting to straighten herself out after having her life spiral slightly out of control. Pat and Tiffany find each other at volatile times in their lives that prove to be exactly what each of them needs.

Mental health is often considered a fairly sensitive and taboo subject in life and is rarely represented accurately in the medium of movies and film. What David O. Russell and the cast of Silver Linings has done is nothing short of blazing a new trail in the fight for recognition and acceptance that mental health is no different than any other health issue. They have proven that it’s a struggle in one’s life everyday but with the right focus and help almost anyone can concur their struggles and go on to live a life that they choose.

The performances in every aspect of the film are some of the most heartfelt and genuine in recent memory. Jennifer Lawrence shines as Tiffany and deservedly won her first Academy Award back in February. Every year there is a performance that is as worthy of an Oscar as any other but it just gets beat out and this year Bradley Cooper’s brilliant portrayal of Pat is that performance. The emotion he conveys and what comes thru the screen is moving and is absolutely captivating. His perfect show of the life and actions of a bi-polar person comes thru in every way right down to the speed in which he speaks. You can feel the confusion he feels in his head and you can see him slowly clear up and settle into a life of healthy mental living.

Robert De Niro returns to his top form that we haven’t seen in many years. De Niro is lovable as the hard tough Philadelphia sports fanatic and father of Pat. Unsure how to live and deal with his sons illness and struggles with thoughts of self blame for not recognizing earlier the help that his son needed.

Anyone who has struggled with depression or any for of mental illness either directly or indirectly will appreciate what David O. Russell has constructed and feel a sense of comfort for the frankness and realness in which he broaches the subject. You can feel his passion come thru the screen and while it’s a life full of struggle and toughness it’s an uplifting story showing that it can be conquered and there is nothing to be ashamed of. We can only hope it strikes a chord with the right people and eventually will be a major mark in the fight of mental illness, along with being a damn good movie.

Downey Once Again Flies High In Iron Man 3

One of the great turn-around/recovery stories in Hollywood, is that of Robert Downey Jr. A man notorious for his addictions and legal woes has since gone on to be one of the most entertaining and biggest box office draws currently working. His resurrection has been nothing short of spectacular with some great films and performances including an Oscar nomination for his role in the film Tropic Thunder. But the feather in Downey’s cap just might be his bringing to life the comic book superhero, Iron Man and the man in the suit Tony Stark. His role of Stark in 2 Iron Man movies and the Avengers and a cameo as Tony Stark in the incredible Hulk has significantly helped push The Avengers movies forward and make Marvel Studios the leader in superhero movies.

In Iron Man 3 Downey once again dons the iron suit and takes on the quick witted and always charming Tony Stark to take on his latest foe, The Mandarin played by Sir Ben Kingsley. Iron Man 3 takes place directly after the events of The Avengers movies tho that is more or less referenced and has no bearing on the plot or your ability to follow it. With The Mandarin viciously attacking various spots throughout the country he soon directly targets Tony Stark and those whom he cares about including his love Miss Pepper Potts played by Gwyneth Paltrow. After his former body guard and head of Stark Industries security, Happy Hogan is severely injured in one of The Mandarins attacks, Stark calls him out publicly, leading to an attack on his home almost killing him and Miss Potts. He is then sent on a personal mission which leads him to Tennessee where he is alone and without the use of his lab left to repair his suit and try and stop the heinous mad man. With the help of a young boy who remarkably shares Starks love of mechanics and engineering he is once again able to do what it is that Stark does.

This is the first of the three Iron Man films not directed by Jon Favreau and therefore naturally has a different feel to it than the first two. Iron Man 3 is directed by Shane Black who had previously worked with Downey on the mystery/comedy, Kiss Kiss Bang Bang and is more well known for his writing such as the Lethal Weapon series. Black brings a tougher more real element to the Iron Man franchise. This element of realism fits well at this point in the franchise because of the events of The Avengers and Tony’s deeper and growing love for Pepper. Dealing with a form of post traumatic stress disorder and the fear of not being able to protect those he cares about is not the side we normally see from a superhero. This is the side of the story that Black brings to Iron Man.

Make no mistake the sharp wit and humor of Stark is still a plenty and everything we have come to love about Stark and his alter ego Iron Man is still present in this edition of the series. The action and battle scenes are second to none with spectacular effects and no shortage of explosions to keep everyone enraptured for the whole two hours and twenty minutes. Shane Black and the whole crew aren’t without their surprises as well, within the story and even with their Avengers ties after the credits. One thing is for sure, we know The Avengers 2 is happening but what we don’t know is if this is the end for the Iron Man franchise. With all that said, it is the perfect beginning to the summer blockbuster season.

Tomorrow You’re Gone Is Clearly Lost

When a film has a fairly solid cast or at least a cast with some star power and reputable names, this generally means there was a decent script attached to the project. This by no means guarantees a good final product.

Tomorrow You’re Gone features a well respected actor of smaller films in Stephen Dorff as Charlie Rankin, a recently released convict who is commissioned to finish a job for former cellmate William “The Buddha” Pettigrew played by Willem Dafoe. Soon after his release, Rankin comes to form an odd team with the mysterious actress Florence Jane who is for some reason extremely attracted to Charlie. After attempting to  fulfill his commitment to The Buddha things go awry and out of Charlie’s control. He then decides to hit the road with Florence and right what he has done.

The film attempts to make an art house film out of what seems to be a simple criminal story. With unexplained undertones and symbolism, the films falls flat.

Areas where simple dialogue could prove useful to explain the scene, we are left to imagine for ourselves what could possibly be going on. This is not the only flaw with the almost irritating annoyance of the dialogue which seems to repeat itself and does nearly nothing to further story. It leaves one to wonder what the actors read that drew them to the film. Stephen Dorff is not foreign to playing a mysterious and dark character but his ability to do so is completely lost in the final outcome.

The massively long bouts of no talking and scenes that seem to go nowhere easily take one out of what the idea and outcome that are meant to be interoperated.

There are certain story lines that are meant to be art house stories and some that should just be straight up stories. It’s unclear to me which this should be.

It is no secret that not all films work on certain levels but Tomorrow You’re Gone doesn’t work on any level.

Thale Is A Thriller Of A Different Style

The horror genre is a tricky area of film. Shock factor can easily outshine smart story telling and the power of making one think and wonder. A rare unique product is sometimes difficult to come by. Right off the bat I must disclose that I am by no means a big fan of the genre. That being said I still like being scared, but I like there to be a new element and smart component to the film.

The recent release of the Norwegian thriller/horror film, Thale from director Aleksander Nordaas has pieces of the elements that attract me to a good scary film. I recently had the opportunity to speak with Aleksander and ask him about his latest film.

The first thing I wanted to know was the background on the movie. Having knowledge that it was based on Norwegian folklore I was curious to know more. Aleksander told me, “It is based on a Norwegian legend of a girl who lives in the woods with a tale. We have taken her out of the folklore and put her in our new modern folklore. And we have based the folklore around her.”

One of the most difficult aspects to making a fantasy type horror film is the budget that comes with it. Any time any special effects are involved the budget can quickly rise. Having an undisclosed small budget I asked Aleksander about making the film on such a small budget. “We got some help from the small town of Mosjoen, where it was shot and where I grew up, just to get the actors a plane ticket. Essentially we started out with nothing on location and just used the props we had available. Basically we wrote the film to fit in to what we had available.”

Movies like this cannot turn out well if you don’t have the commitment and talent in your main actors. I wondered how much of the two well turned out performances was due to their talent and how much was do to the writing. 

“Hopefully it was a mixture of both. The actors were always attached to the movie because I knew I wanted to work with these actors and we all wanted to make a movie. I knew the actors from before and knew how they would fit into the movie.

Thale is a wild and captivating movie that will leave you enthralled from start to finish. It is hitting theaters in select cities on April 5 and on Blu-Ray and DVD on April 23. It is truly a must watch for any fantasy and horror fan.