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Danny Collins (2015)
Pleasant Surprise
Danny Collins is a film that is filled with sappy, predictable, Hollywood bullshit...and I loved it. I very seldom if ever see movies like this, that's why I would consider Danny Collins a pleasant surprise.
The story is interesting and not too far fetched, even though I thought the whole John Lennon thing was a bit overplayed. The cast is great especially the chemistry between Pacino and Bening. Pacino plays a Neil Diamond/Rod Stewart type pop singer and he does it effortlessly. I don't know why I'm shocked that a fine actor like Pacino could give such a great performance, but this role just seems so much against his type. Jennifer Garner and Bobby Cannavale are great in supporting roles.
The only really negative thing I can say about this film is that the Christopher Plummer character was a bit miscast for my taste. I would've been more convinced had it been someone like Harvey Keitel or Robert De Niro in that role, but I can dream. This is a feel good film and a crowd pleaser. It has a lot of heart, humor, and emotional moments. I was shocked how much I liked it, so don't be fooled this is a good movie.
The Drop (2014)
Just a solid film
I love Tom Hardy, he can do no wrong in my book. He rarely, if ever, disappoints me and The Drop was no exception.
It's not an amazing movie by any means, but it does a lot of things really well. The tension in this movie is palpable. It just keeps getting more and more tense to the point where you're just gagging on it and want to find out what happens. I found myself shifting in my seat quite a bit. The dialogue is hit and miss, conversations between characters seem awkward at times. James Gandolfini gives a nice final performance as Cousin Marv. Noomi Rapace is fine here, but I could've used more to her character. I would've liked to see the relationship between her and Hardy have a bit more legs to it. Sketchy characters work around the periphery and when they enter they leave with a very unsettling feeling. The villains of this film walk around with an aura that screams something bad is gonna happen.
Although the twist doesn't really pay off that tense build, it is very satisfying.This is just a really solid film that is worth checking out. Nothing mind blowing, but nothing egregious. Great acting, solid story, and an excellent build.
Blue Ruin (2013)
Outstanding Indie Thriller
I had only heard a little bit about this film when I saw it, but was intrigued by everything I knew about it. It did not disappoint.
At its core Blue Ruin is a revenge film, but one unlike any other. Dwight played by Macon Blair is an everyman but not the hulking bad ass we see in most revenge films. He's the type of guy that is in way over his head and his plans aren't that well thought out, but that's the beauty of it. It makes you think what would you do in his situation. He slips up, makes mistakes, seeks help in fulfilling his revenge. The events in the first act of the film set the stage for a war between two families that only gets more tense as the film progresses. It's a slow build but doesn't meander, there is a purpose for every scene. I don't want to give too much information about the plot because this a film that needs to be seen. The genius of the film is how it carries suspense throughout but in a very understated way. This is not an in your face film that beats you over the head with action, but one that is smarter and sneaks up on you.
Blue Ruin is the best film I've seen thus far this year and I stand by that. Given time I could absolutely see this in my all time top 10, top 20 at the very least. Some of the most interesting, thought provoking films being made right now are independent films and not the big budget Hollywood studio films. Blue Ruin serves as just another example of this. It says so much by doing so little.
Cold in July (2014)
Great cast, but story doesn't hold up
Cold in July has a lot of good things going for it. A solid cast, a great poster, and a great name.
This film isn't slow, but it feels slow. There is stuff happening and the story is progressing it just isn't all that engaging. While Sam Shepard, who I love, is preying on Michael C. Hall you should be on the edge of your seat, but the tension falls a bit flat. The story has layers and gets a bit convoluted, but about 45 minutes in things pick up and the movie starts to come around. Don Johnson where have you been? I love you Don Johnson. You should see this film because it does have some good stuff, chief among them is Don Johnson's performance. Shepard and Johnson have some funny lines, or at least I found them to be funny. They both are grizzled, bad asses who have been around the block more than once. Where as Michael C. Hall's character is just a little bit too meek and unassuming. At times you wonder why he's even there. The third act delivers on the somewhat meandering story.
If you're a fan of either of the three principal characters then you'll like this movie. I had a few issues with it here and there, but nothing that ruined the film for me. The story does have some holes and the first 30 minutes or so wasn't as compelling as it should have been. Solid performances by Johnson and Shepard, but would you expect any less of those guys. It's a solid film overall, but nothing that blows you away.
Gone Girl (2014)
Underwhelming, but has its moments
I didn't hate this movie, but I can't say I really liked it either. I hadn't read the book, but I was interested because of David Fincher. I wasn't disappointed, just more underwhelmed.
The issues I had mostly lied with the movie wanting to be too cute and clever with all of the twists. It was like the movie took turns just for the sake of it and on a few occasions they were just absurd. The casting of Neil Patrick Harris didn't work for me. It's nothing against him as an actor, that's just not a role for him. He just felt uncomfortable and out of place in this film. Last but not least this thing really needs a trimming. Easily 20 minutes too long and maybe even 30. It really didn't know when or where to end. Just when you thought it was closing they added on another 10 minutes. Some of that trimming could include some ridiculous scenes like the library sex scene or the TV news sequences of which there were way too many.
I can't believe I'm going to type this next sentence but a bright spot of this film was
Tyler Perry. That is the first and last time I will ever give Tyler Perry any type of recognition, but he was quite enjoyable here. Rosamund Pike did put in a great performance, probably worthy of an Oscar nomination. Her voiceovers that appear throughout the film are chilling. As for Ben Affleck, I really don't really have an opinion one way or the other. He bothered me at times in this film especially in the first act. Although the "smiling" incident next to the missing poster was morbidly funny for me.
Gone Girl will most certainly be up for awards, all the parts are there for this to be an Oscar nominated film. It's not a bad movie by any means, but it's nowhere near Fincher's best work. While I'm hearing that they stayed very true to the book, maybe that's not always the best thing. Gillian Flynn wrote the book and the screenplay so it's easy to understand that she wanted to mirror her source material, but I felt like Fincher really didn't put much of his spin on this film. Which could be why I was so underwhelmed.
Frank (2014)
I want more of funny Fassbender
Michael Fassbender deserves to be a household name like Brad Pitt or George Clooney, I think he's more talented than both of those guys. His turn as the eccentric title character in Frank is something unexpected and out of left field. Sometimes the best gifts are the ones we don't expect.
Frank on its base level is a comedy, but to call it just a comedy would be an injustice. This film speaks volumes about the creative process and the struggle that is involved. Domhnall Gleeson of About Time fame is the real main character that we follow throughout this film. Maggie Gyllenhaal and Scoot McNairy have great supporting roles as well.
I must mention the head that Fassbender wears throughout the movie, it's hilarious at times and creepy at others. It just adds to the mythic figure that is Frank. He is filled with this overwhelming sense of optimism. More than just the leader of the band, he's a friend to many. They don't really give much back story to the band, but there is a sense that Frank has impacted his bandmates lives in a very profound way.
The story flows pretty well but has a short lull in the 2nd act. I wanted a bit more back story into the characters, but this is a film that isn't very heavy on plot. The music in the film, much like the film itself, is not for everybody but I found it to be pretty catchy. The energy that Fassbender puts into the performance is reason enough to watch. The song he sings at the end is so sweet and hilarious, it put a nice ribbon on things.
I could see this being a very polarizing film if it hits a wide audience. It's not a quirky, laugh out loud comedy like the trailer would suggest. It has comedic beats here and there, but I thought of it more as an offbeat dramedy. I was looking forward to seeing this film and I don't know that it necessarily delivered on everything that I was expecting, but at the same time it's transfixing and entertaining beyond words.