howtobeawesome Reviews

The King (2005)

Should have gotten some Oscar nominations

[9/10 · 26 March 2007]

The King is the directorial debut from UK's James Marsh and may be the start of a brilliant career. The story is based around a son played by Gael Garcia Bernal (Babel, Amores Perros) who is just released from the Navy who goes to Chorpus Christi, Texas to find his father that he never met played by William Hurt (History of Violence, Dune). Many movies that cover this topic would save the reunion of father and son for either a climax in the middle of the movie or a grand tear filled finale. This movie chooses to have the meeting in the first five minutes of the film and then takes you down a completely different path.

It is hard to go into detail about this movie without giving up important plot detail that you are not really supposed to know until it happens. William Hurt plays a born again pastor of a church who in one of the earliest scenes lets his long lost son know that he is not interested in forming a bond with him. From that point on the director keeps you guessing on what will happen next and where the story will take you, usually proving your expectations of the story wrong. The film is filled with dark, haunting topics such as incest, betrayal, murder and guilt. The major themes of sin and redemption often leaves you wondering if you are supposed to feel sympathy or hatred for the characters and usually end up feeling both as just like in real life the characters are complicated and not a "good guy" or a "bad guy" but humans who make mistakes and have personal demons they have to deal with.

When you watch this movie have your remote control in your hand because you will be turning up the volume constantly as the plot unravels in secrets and whispered conversations among characters. That is part of what makes this movie special, the unknown. There are many scenes where you have no idea what will happen next which will make you sit up on and literally sit on the edge of your seat. Once the secrets are revealed to the audience you are then forced to feel then tension between characters who are still none the wiser to the life changing moments that will eventually come to fruition.

The gorgeous cinematography is a huge player in the mood of the movie. Not that it tells you what to feel like most movies but as it keeps the secrets from you in certain camera movements and shots. In one scene you just see the Wife of William Hurt played by Laura Harring (Mulholland Drive) talking to her daughter played brilliantly by Pell James (Broken Flowers, Zodiac). The camera is behind Garcia who is watching from an upstairs window, you are left in the dark about what is or is not being said. Later a critical moment in the film when you are left wondering what will happen the camera takes you on a 360 degree journey from inside the house to outside and back inside to reveal the answer to a secret you want answered. Even when the audience think they know everything there is to know about the characters it is a joy to watch scenes like one where the camera is fixed up Garcia, Harring and James in a church. You get to see their reactions to things that have been explained to you but still unknown to the characters that affects them all in different ways.

The acting is top notch and in my opinion deserved and would have received some Oscar nominations if it was not for the film's taboo subject matter. I am anxious to see what Marsh will direct next and as usual Garcia Bernal did not let me down as he has yet to act in a movie that I did not love. I think it is only a matter of time before he wins some Oscars.

http://completefuckery.blogspot.com for more.

Kicking & Screaming (2005)

Great for parents and kids.

[7/10 · 29 November 2006]

http://thedailyradical.blogspot.com Today's daily radical comes in the form of a Wil Ferrel movie. Old School, Anchorman? We all know these are radical already, no article necessary. I am talking about Kicking and Screaming. Yes, a very controversial Radical selection. Radical things can come in many different packages and this time it comes in the form of a goofy family comedy.

Keep in mind I have a five year old son, so i am sometimes forced to sit through some horrendously boring or obnoxious movies. Every once in a while a movie comes along that a parent can enjoy just as much as their kid, this is one of those times.

Wil Ferrel plays an overly sensitive goofy dad who must take over the coaching duties of his son's pathetic soccer team. As in any sports movie, there is a rival team which in Kicking and Screaming is Wil Ferrel's overly competitive and overbearing dad played by Robert Duvall. In order to beat his dad Ferrel gets the help of neighbor Mike Ditka who plays himself and a couple of little Italian kids.

It follows the path of any sports movie marketed towards kids. Weird looking kids, goofy jokes, a David and Goliath type plot. The difference about this one that makes it so enjoyable is Wil Ferrel's insane brand of comedy that both adult and kid can enjoy. My son was laughing just as much when Wil Ferrel became addicted to coffee and started getting caffeine rages or when Wil Ferrel started kicking a ball as hard as he could around his house and blamed it on the kids.

Seriously check it out if you are the slightest Wil Ferrel fan, have a kid or just like goofy comedies.

Syriana (2005)

This jam is sweet.

[9/10 · 20 November 2006]

Last night i watched Syriana. I did not know too much about it. I remember the commercials and I could tell it was probably a well acted and written movie. I am pretty sure George Clooney won best supporting actor for his role in the movie also. Besides that stuff the only other thing i knew about it was that George Clooney had a beard in it. Not only did he have a beard but he looked great with a beard. I am a huge fan of beards and I think it is safe to say that i have a beard for at least 6 months out of every year. My mother doesn't like it because she says it hides my handsome face. I have also been told that I look like crazy person or a serial killer when i let it get big and bushy. Despite being told i look crazy or gross with a beard it always gives me more confidence. Its like a protective mask or shield that makes me say things to people i normally wouldn't say. So yeah, George Clooney with a beard? Count me in!

Later i found out that Syriana was written by the guy who wrote Traffic. I loved Traffic and I loved Syriana. It has the same style of hectic writing and intertwined story lines but instead of drugs Syriana focused on the oil industry. It covers the lives of oil executives, the leaders of countries who have oil, the leaders financial advisors, a government worker who gets leaders of countries assasinated and young Islamic students. Each persons actions indirectly and sometimes directly affect one anothers life for better or worse. Though none of the story lines are "fact" the movies gives you a feeling that the events that take place are not far fetched. To see lives ruined for profit gain and the many levels of corruption that could take place is scary. Its probably not a good movie for patriots because the overall message is not anti-American but definitely does not make the way the country look to favorable the way it puts profit before people.

What won best picture last year? hmmm. I don't remember, but I think this is better than whatever won. Plus it has a bearded George Clooney.