All posts tagged Film

This is a movie for anyone that has been ‘there’. If you’ve been there you’ll know exactly where I mean. Whether you’ve been to that dark and depressing place at some time of your life because of a lack of money, love, educational standing or career direction, you will appreciate the tale told with this film. Based on a true story, the film is steeped in the reality of ordinary problems which can destroy hope and sometimes tear families apart.

The Pursuit of Happyness is primarily a story of one man’s often courageous and sometimes foolhardy determination to pursue a happy life. The man in question is Chris Gardner (Will Smith), and he is struggling along with his wife Linda (played by an almost unrecognisable Thandie Newton) and their son Christopher (played by Will’s son, Jaden Smith).

We join the Gardner family facing a mounting pile of bills, working too hard for too little, and desperately trying to not lose hope. Financial pressures in particular though can get in the way of the best intentions and the family ties which are already strained threaten to give way completely. Clearly not happy with his place in the world, Gardner decides to take action and pursue a better life for himself and his family. Rather than accept a crummy job with little chance of providing properly for his family’s future, Chris aims for something better; he wants to be a broker.

With an ambitious goal in sight, Chris somehow finds the courage and determination to keep fighting for a better life after numerous setbacks. Picking himself up, dusting himself off and dealing with the battle scars that appear when life keeps throwing obstacles in your way, Chris endures. While money may not necessarily buy you happiness, it does allow people to take care of primary needs like shelter, food and clothing. When these primary needs are not met, humans suffer.

Will Smith brings an underlying strength and unaffected charm to the role of Chris Gardner, with his emotional responses always carefully weighted. This is not to say that he is a saint. Sometimes impatient, sometimes letting the bitterness of his situation flow to his son, and at times wavering on the edge of desperation, Chris is constantly faced with the reality of only having a few dollars to his name. Despite this he is often a calm presence in a world which brings him no end of chaos.

Changes of scene throughout the film very effectively highlight the gross inequities which exist in the world and contrast the widely different experiences of those that have money and those that don’t. It also presses the importance of not judging people from what appearances suggest as we can never really know what is truly going on in their lives.

Travelling along at a pleasant pace, this is a movie that will help you trust in yourself and accept that some dreams really are worth fighting for.

Exploring the consequences of spontaneous decisions and human actions, Babel takes seemingly disparate threads and gently weaves them together, creating a loose blend of stories. The word ‘Babel’ is defined as a scene of noise and confusion; a meaning which fits well with this story. The chaotic and confusing events which unfold are triggered and connected by a single gunshot.

In the Moroccan desert we join Susan (Cate Blanchett) and Richard (Brad Pitt) as they travel through the area on a tourist bus, intermittently talking around their marital problems in a very foreign world. Their children are being cared for back in America by their nanny Amelia, who is making plans to attend her son’s wedding back home in Mexico. She holds strong loyalties to both her blood relatives and also to her two young charges. Back in Morocco we are introduced to a local family of goat herders, the two young sons of which have the role of defending the grazing goats from predators.

Changing locations to Tokyo we meet Chieko (Rinko Cucuchia), a deaf-mute girl who is struggling with both her mother’s death and her own sexual development. In a world that often ignores her, she feels like somewhat of an outsider, a feeling which prompts her to take drastic action.

Spread across different countries the connections within Babel are not instantly visible but they slowly rise to the surface as the movie unfolds. Using splintered time sequences throughout, it’s interesting to see how the different sequences reveal themselves and ultimately fit against eachother.

While Babel deals with several complete and self-contained stories, each geographically unique sub-story explores similar themes such as what people are willing to sacrifice for others, respect for the value of human life, tolerance of violence, different concepts of family units, and cultural frictions. All of the characters experience elements of the displaced ‘alien’, whether it is in their experiences, their surroundings or their lifestyles.

The film is superbly acted; stand out performances for me coming from Rinko Cucuchi, Brad Pitt, Cate Blanchett and Adriana Barraza. Tightly shot, the film often relies on close ups to capture each emotion and reaction which passes across the actor’s faces, creating powerful connections with the audience. The film is not fast paced in an action sense, it meanders through the lives of the different families, exploring different dramatic circumstances which impact on each. The film ultimately reaches a conclusion which leaves all the character’s lives forever changed; some for the better, some for the worse.

It’s easy to like Rocky. He’s an average guy who came from nothing to become something and be someone for a while. He had a wife he loved deeply, he is surrounded by people he cares for, he always tries to do the right thing and the man is kind to animals. But beneath this gentle exterior still lurks a steely grit and the heart of a warrior.

Rocky Balboa sees us return to Rocky’s life after the fighting glories have faded away to nothing more than legendary stories of times long past. While still well known in the community, he lives a simple existence without his wife and somewhat disconnected from his son. While Rocky seems happy enough, it soon becomes clear that something is lacking. He is searching for some sense of peace and closure.

After making a decision to get back into the ring and fight once more he realises that while he prepares to face other fighters, the real battle is inwardly focussed against his own inner demons. The movie is warmly shot and successfully contrasts the drama and spectacle of ‘the fight’ with the simplicity of everyday life.

Trying to create the perfect blend of fight action, adrenalin soaked training, touching family and ‘nice guy’ moments, it feels like Sylvester Stallone has perhaps dipped a little too generously into the sentimentality bag. Nevertheless this is an entertaining and inspirational movie and offers a fitting close to the Rocky franchise.

Combining elements of courtroom drama and comedy, ‘My Cousin Vinny’ is a delicious and very fun film experience. Unlike some comedies from this era, this 1992 film actually has a coherent plot which provides a firm anchor for the comedy throughout.

Two college friends are arrested as they drive through Alabama after evidence suggests that they are the prime suspects in a first degree murder case. Given that Billy (Ralph Macchio) and Stan (Mitchell Whitfield) can’t afford a lawyer to defend them during the trial, Billy’s cousin Vinny (Joe Pesci) is called in to help. The shakily qualified Vinny is a personal injury lawyer from New York who has no trial experience. When Vinny and his fiancée Mona Lisa Vito (Marisa Tomei) arrive in town they are readily identified as outsiders and consequently can’t help but stir things up.

Given that the prosecution’s case is built on circumstantial evidence and a series of miscommunications with Billy and Stan, hilarity of course ensues. Joe Pesci is in his element as the attorney with attitude who immediately gets the Judge offside with his manner, lack of courtroom procedure and unique wardrobe choices. Marisa Tomei is also entertaining as Vinny’s fiancée with marriage and children constantly on her mind. In fact, she won a Best Supporting Actress Oscar for this role in what has often been viewed as a controversial decision.

Lack of sleep takes its toll on Vinny as he struggles to find decent accommodation in town. With a defence case built around the time required to properly cook grits, matching tyre marks and car models, it makes for interesting viewing. The relationship between Lisa and Vinny interestingly also becomes critical to their case, with Lisa’s in-depth knowledge of cars (gained from growing up in a household of mechanics) coming to the fore.

For those who enjoy good honest fun movies which offer many laughs, this completely fits the bill. It is a great movie to return to on a lazy Sunday or during the end of year holiday period.