I’ll be keeping my reviews shorter from now on. Maybe then I will actually post. I liked two of these films.
The King’s Speech delivers everything that it promised to do. A genuinely uplifting tale of a man thrust into a position he wasn’t entirely prepared for. Despite the events that unfolded throughout the movie being thoroughly predictable (even without knowledge of the true events upon which the film is based) the film still managed to elicit joy, sorrow, pity and anger as it follows Bertie’s journey towards the throne and dreaded microphone. Along with Firth, Rush and Carter, Guy Pearce puts in a fantastic performance as George’s brother Edward, equal parts Han Solo and knobhead brother, appearing smooth and charming in one scene then rounding a corner and imitating Bertie’s stammer. There have been complaints that the movie glazes over history, to the point where critics have mused that the film has a kind of old fashioned royalist agenda. However the film has enough conflict, energy and directorial flourishes to make it feel fresh and new. One of the finest bromance movies of the past few years.
SPOILERS FOLLOW
Green Goblin’s son plays Aron Ralston in 127 Hours, a film about a man who got his arm trapped under a rock. I wasn’t looking forward to this. Danny Boyle has yet to make a film which I have enjoyed (though I haven’t seen Shallow Grave yet) and it seemed such a strange choice for a director who adds such kinesis to his film to direct a single location thriller. But boy did this win me over. Ralston could come off as obnoxious. I mean, who goes off into the desert without their mobile phone, really? And there are times when he does grate a little. But the film’s honesty is one of it’s strongest points. He didn’t deserve what he went through, and he is never anything less than sympathetic. Boyle uses everything Ralston had on him to make the movie as thrilling as possible, his video camera, ropes, memories and of course, that multi tool. Like two of the other truly great films from 2010, we know the ending far in advance. Heck, it’s why most went to see this. But it doesn’t detract from the desperation of Aron’s plight or the joy of his eventual escape. I would heartily reccomend this film.
SPOILERS FOLLOW
Black Swan hey? Critics darling. Aronofsky’s much anticipated follow up to The Wrestler. Another film which was well loved. I never understood why. Outside of the scenes showcasing Aronofsky’s admittedly admirable attention (I love those four words together) to detail the film felt hollow. An awkward subplot about his daughter, an emotionally stunted ending and the constant, repetitive scenes of self destruction made it feel stretched out. So I wasn’t looking forward to Black Swan. However everyone loved it. A lot of friends, Internet people and critics said go watch. So I went watch. And was disappointed, for the complete opposite reason to The Wrestler.
There is a lot going on in the movie. She has OCD, she’s turning into a black swan, Vincent Cassel is banging people, her mam’s mental, Mila Kunis might have gotten off with her, Mila Kunis might be trying to steal Portman’s role, Portman can’t seem to get the black swan, ballet is exhausting, the ballet has to succeed or the theatre will fail, Winona Ryder is mental. That is a lot. And each of these threads failed to come together for me. The film managed to feel both bloated, overwrought with ideas and yet also vapidly boring. Portman’s character is a self involved bitch throughout, eager to dismiss her colleagues. When she goes out to enjoy herself the colleague spikes her drink. Then she comes home and imagines (?) lesbian sex with her. How all this ties into the rigours of ballet is beyond me. So the film ends up feeling like three different movies, a bodyshock horror, a drama about the strain ballet puts on it’s performers and a psychological horror about two competitors. None of these three threads tie together in a manner that satisfies, leaving me bored, exhausted and unsatisfied. I just flat out didn’t care.
I know it’s bad form to end with “leaving me“, but most everyone else seems to disagree. And I don’t want to come off as a dick.
