Christian Bale Sounds Off

Christian Bale snapped and tore Shane Hurlbut, the Director of Photography, a new one on the set of Terminator Salvation. This incident occurred in July of last year but an audio clip of the incident just recently surfaced. The main point I want to make is that this should have never leaked to the press, although as a blogger I am glad it did. I believe that things like this probably happen often and that it should remain the business of the professionals on set, and I think that usually is the case.

I really like Christian Bale as an actor but after I heard this I thought of this man as a conceited little brat. One of higher paid individuals on set who thinks he is more important to the film than anyone else. Personally I don't understand how one can attack someone so ferociously for something that is seemingly unimportant in the big scope of things. There is no excuse for his little tirade and at first I lost all my respect for him.

However recently Christian Bale came out on KROQ's radio program with Kevin and Dean to apologize (click here). After listening to this seemingly sincere apology I am back on the Christian Bale band wagon. I have no problem with the graphic language, just the way in which the words were directed. People make mistakes and I think that this apology was sincere and that he should be forgiven. According to Bale, Shane Hurlbut has forgiven him and they have let bygones be bygones and so should we.

Christian Bale is a great actor because he cares about the work he is doing and he expects perfection. Terminator Salvation looks like it will be an awesome film and I can't wait to see. First listen to his rant and then listen to his apology and please don't let this stop you from seeing the film. It's going to be a good one. And Christian you're still my boy.

Revolutionary Road

Directed by Sam Mendes (Jarhead, Road to Perdition, American Beauty), and starring Leonardo DiCaprio, and Kate Winslet, Revolutionary Road seemed to have all the ingredients for a successful film. I went into this film with high expectations and I'm sorry to say I was very disappointed.

Based on the critically acclaimed novel by Richard Yates, Revolutionary Road is a story that takes place in the 50's about a couple named the Wheelers. Although to most the Wheelers seem to be living "perfect" lives, they are actually looking for a way to get out of the routine that has become their everyday life.

April, (Kate Winslet), is a suburban stay at home mom who has given up her dream of becoming an actress, and Frank, (Leonardo DiCaprio), absolutely hates his job in the city. There is a cool scene towards the beginning of the film when Frank is on his way to work. A bunch of men, all dressed the same and carrying briefcases, all get on the train to the city. Then when they get to the train station there is a slow motion sequence with all the men walking to work and I think this shot really personifies how mundane Frank's life has become.

One day after a couple flashbacks to when April and Frank first met, April gets an idea when she remembers how much Frank loved Paris when he spent time there during the war. "People are alive there...Not like here". Her idea is to move to the family to Paris. She would get a secretarial position at a government agency and Frank will have time to look for his life's passion. When circumstances don't go exactly to plan, Frank and April's relationship begins to unravel.

The obvious truth all along is that Paris will not save them from their misery. They are just no longer happy being together. Kathy Bates is good as usual as Helen Givings, Realtor, and friend of the Wheelers, but maybe the best performance in the film is that of Michael Shannon. Shannon plays Helen's son John, who is living in a mental institution and comes over a few times to meet the Wheelers. I think Roger Ebert described this character best when he said "With cruel words and merciless observations, [John] chops through [the Wheeler's] facade and mocks their delusions. It's a wrecking job."

Although I agree with Ebert in regards to this character, I disagree with his opinion on the overall merit of this film. To me this film was basically a depressing story about a miserable couple. Sam Mendes is a great director and Leonardo DiCaprio and Kate Winslet delivered exceptional performances but I don't think that the screenplay gave them much to work with. I'm sure it made a great novel but I don't think that Revolutionary Road was meant to be a film. The aesthetics were great and the film was visually shot well, I just did not gain any attachment to the characters and towards the end of the film I found myself hoping it would end.

Revolutionary Road Trailer

Gran Torino

Clint Eastwood's performance as the quintessential bitter, old, Korean War vet Walt Kowalski, makes Gran Torino one of the best films of the year. Although Walt Kowalski could be considered a bigot, he is so old and set in his ways that it almost becomes acceptable. Some of the things that came out of this man's mouth were absolutely hilarious.

Clint Eastwood's character seemed very real to me because Walt's values and beliefs seemed very similar to many of the senior citizens I have spent time with in my life. I find a lot of humor in some of the things that Walt says despite the fact that it could be offensive to certain people. When you see this old man, you understand that he grew up in a completely different time, with completely different values, and he is not going to change. Even when he begins to make friends with the Asian neighbors, the slurs do not stop. It's almost as if Walt is so old that he has earned his right to say whatever he wants and he had me cracking up in this film.

Walt has just become a widower as the film begins at his wife's funeral. You can tell that Walt isn't very close to his children or his grandchildren. His bitter attitude leads his children to treat Walt with little respect, as though he is someone that they have to put up with. There is a very funny scene that takes place on Walt's birthday, in which his son and daughter in law give him some brochures for retirement homes, and suggest that he sells his house, so on his birthday Walt kicks them out immediately. Walt is in great shape and it really doesn't seem as though he needs anyone to take care of him. It really seems as though his family really doesn't appreciate him and since his wife has died I think Walt is becoming very lonely.

As a Korean War vet Walt is a real old fashioned man's man. He has his lawn, his tools, his guns, his beer, and his 72 Gran Torino. When the Asian teenager who lives next door, Thao, is pressured by his gang member cousin to steal Walt's Gran Torino and fails the plot truly begins. Thao seems to be a good kid who doesn't really want to be a part the gang. When the gang returns to talk to Thao, his struggle lead to the infamous "Get off my lawn". That was a great line in the movie and some say it is the next "Make my day".

In order to apologize, and make it up to Walt for trying to steal his car, Thao offers to work for Walt for a week or so, and help him out around the house. Over the next few days Walt begins to form a bond with Thao and his sister Sue. He begins to become like a mentor to Thao and even helps him get a job in construction. Despite Walt's obvious prejudices he forms a closer relationship with Thao and Sue than he has with his own family. After a few violent incidents involving the gang Walt realizes he needs to take action in order to make sure that Thao and Sue can be safe.

Christopher Carley delivered a great performance as Father Janovich, a priest who promised Walt's wife that he would look after Walt after she died. He was a very important character and I think Carley did a great job. I also really enjoyed the scenes with Walt's Barber played by John Carroll Lynch. I thought Lynch was very funny and he worked really well with Clint Eastwood.

Walt Kowalski is my favorite character of 2008. Of course I have not seen everything, but Walt is badass making Clint Eastwood's performance was marvelous. I think he should definitely be nominated for a best actor academy award. Clint Eastwood is also becoming one of my favorite directors. I didn't get to see Changeling but with Unforgiven, Mystic River, Million Dollar Baby, and Gran Torino, just to name a few, Clint Eastwood is, in my opinion, one of the best directors of all time.

The only negative thing that I found in this film was the performance by Bee Vang. Bee Vang played Thao and wasn't horrible but there were definitely a couple of scenes that I just didn't find his performance believable. Besides that I absolutely loved Gran Torino. One of the best films of 2008 for sure. So, if it sounds like your choice of brew, check it out.

Gran Torino Trailer

Doubt

After only seeing the trailer I went into this film with "doubt". I didn't want to believe that Father Flynn, (Philip Seymour Hoffman), was guilty of the crime he was being accused of. Throughout this film writer and directer by John Patrick Shanley continuously portrays Father Flynn as "the good guy" and Sister Beauvier, (Meryl Streep), as the villain by simply creating doubt.


Doubt is a story that takes place in 1964 in a Catholic school in the Bronx. Sister Beauvier runs the school with an iron fist, believing in strict rules and discipline. Father Flynn is a priest who out ranks Sister Beauvier in the church, and he believes that the times are changing, and that it is essential for the church/school to change with the times.

For example, there is an interesting scene in which Father Flynn suggests adding a secular song, such as "Frosty the Snowman", to the Christmas play. However, Sister Beauvier objects to this stating that "Frosty the Snowman" promotes witchcraft and suggests that they choose something else. Personally I think that is ridiculous and I think this scene is just one example of why Sister Beauvier is an unlikeable character.

Because Sister Beauvier comes off as a really unlikeable character, it is hard to agree with her when she becomes suspicious of the relationship between Father Flynn and Donald Miller (a young alter boy). Donald Miller is the only black boy in the school and is having trouble being accepted by his peers. Father Flynn is very good to him, he watches out for Donald because racism is very present during this time and Donald is the only black student in the whole school.

One day after Donald returns to class after being called to Father Flynn's office, his teacher Sister James, (Amy Adams), believes he is acting strange and alerts Sister Beauvier. Although it is never stated, it is clear Sister Beauvier believes Father Flynn has committed some form of statutory rape and with no evidence and only her own moral certainty Sister Beauvier attempts to drive Father Flynn out of the school and the church.

Another scene which was very thought provoking was set at two separate dinner tables. It showed the audience a huge difference between the priests and the nuns. The priests sat around their table drinking, smoking, and having laughs, but the nuns dinner table was much more "proper" and stern. Everyone was sitting up straight, drinking their milk, eating their vegetables, and no one could talk without Sister Beauvier's say so. Personally I would prefer to be dining with the priests.

Toward the end of the film Sister Beauvier declares that she has doubts. When she expresses these feeling I think that she is begining to doubt he faith. It was against the rules of her faith to question any higher ranking member of the church and I believe the ultimate outcome really makes her question her beliefs.


Doubt was an excellent film fueled by four exceptional performances. I think that Meryl Streep and Philip Seymour Hoffman are two of the greatest actors who ever did it, so, not suprisingly, Meryl Streep was terrific as Sister Beauvier and I think she is the best actress of the year out of the films I have seen. Philip Seymour Hoffman was also delivered a great performance as Father Flynn. There were also two great performances by actors that are not quite as well known. Amy Adams was great as Sister James and some say Viola Davis should win a best supporting actress Oscar for her role as Donald's mother, Mrs. Miller. I think she was very good but I just think her role was too small to be considered for that award.


Doubt was a great thought provoking film that had me glued to my seat. I think they did a great job of making the audience not certain of whether he did it or not, right up to the very end. I definitely think it was one of the top films of the year and it will be in my collection one day. So, if it sounds like your choice of brew, check it out.

Doubt Trailer

Slumdog Millionaire (Spoiler Alert!)

Based on the critically acclaimed novel by Vikas Swarup, Danny Boyle's Slumdog Millionaire is a wonderful story about a young boy who struggles through life in the slums of Mumbai, India. Because of all the buzz surrounding Slumdog Millionaire I came into the film expecting a lot. I was not completely disappointed but there were a few things that rubbed me the wrong way.

Jamal Malik is a contestant on the Indian version of "Who Wants to be a Millionaire" and he is one question away from winning 20,000,000 rupees. When the show ends for the day right before the last question, the police take Jamal into custody for questioning because they are certain that this orphan, with no education, must have cheated in order to make it this far in the game. As he begins to tell his life story in flashbacks, he explains how he knew the answers to each question.

The story encircles Jamal and his brother Salim. Danny Boyle does a great job developing these characters from the very beginning. It was very interesting to see how these children made it through each day, as their mother was killed and they were forced to live on their own at a very young age.

These children became cons and thieves in order to survive each day. I'm sure everyone has either experienced or heard stories of so called "street rats" in third world countries. Well, I think this film gives people a different perspective on the situation. It shows you some horrible things that these children have to endure and really makes you feel sorry for them.

There were a couple of things in this film that I just didn't like. First of all there was a love story that I just couldn't buy into. Latika and Jamal first meet when Jamal sees her standing in the rain and, despite his brothers wishes, offers her some shelter. A short time later, when the children evade some evil men by hitching a ride on a train, Latika is left behind as Salim neglects to help her onto the train.

Throughout the rest of the film Jamal only sees Latika a few times and in small increments. At the end of the film Salim helps Latika escape the mob boss who basically owns her so that she can go to Jamal. I didn't think that this made any sense because Salim seemed to be an increasingly villainous character as the film progressed. This sudden change of heart just seemed out of character and a little cheesy.

After Jamal is believed to be telling the truth, he returns to the show. Risking the entire 10,000,000, he admittedly takes a wild guess on the final question and gets it right. After winning the 20,000,000 rupees, Jamal finds Latika and, as the film ends, proclaims it was destiny. I think it was all just a little far fetched and hard to buy into.

I was never bored and I really enjoyed myself during this movie. The aesthetics were memorizing. The directing & editing were very well done and it was a really interesting story. I really enjoyed the beginning of this film I just thought the ending was a little too "perfect". Therefore overall i would say Slumdog Millionaire is good but not great. So if it sounds like your choice of brew check it out.

Trailer
http://www.imdb.com/video/screenplay/vi1113194521/

My Favorite Film - City of God

Based on a true story, Cidade de Deus (City of God) is truly an epic tale in which one young man, against all odds, avoids the typical life of crime and violence and finds a way out of the slums of Rio de Janeiro.

City of God takes place over two decades (the sixties and the seventies). In this epic tale there are many characters and most of them play important roles, but overall I would say there are two main characters. Rocket, played by Alexandre Rodrigues, the young man who does not want to partake in this life of crime but, at the same time, is poor and wants to get out of the City of God. The other would be li’l Ze, played by Leandro Firmino, the villain who’s thirst for blood, money, and power ultimately lead to his downfall.

The film begins in the sixties and right away the crime begins. Rocket being a young man never partakes in any crimes but Li’l Ze on the other hand is always the center of these criminal activities. He starts off as a boy following around and participating with older boys known as hoods. One day when one of the hoods die there is a man photographing the body and that is when Rocket discovers what he wants to do with his life.

As the film progresses the li’l Ze goes from simple hold ups to becoming the head of a massive drug business in Rio de Janero. Eventually li’l Ze’s greed and anger lead him to raping the wrong guy’s girl, trying to take over the wrong guy's business, and an all out war in the slum.

Rocket ends up getting a job delivering newspapers and when he asks a friend at his job to develop a roll of film for him someone finds a picture of li’l Ze and his gang posing with guns and she publishes it on the front page. Apparently no reporters can go into the City of God because it is too dangerous so they tell Rocket if he can get more photos then he will have the job as a photographer and an ultimate way out of the slum.

Many people in which I have encountered will dismiss any foreign film before they see it just based on the fact they do not want to go through the minor effort of reading subtitles. I truly feel sorry for these people because this is my favorite movie and I truly believe that it is one of the greatest films of all time.

Nominated for an Academy Award for best director Fernando Meirelles has created a Masterpiece. The way he manipulates different shots is extraordinary. For example there is a shot at the beginning of the film of Rocket as a teenager and the camera spins around him until it is back to the sixties and there is a younger Rocket playing soccer on a dirt field which creates a really cool effect. Also he uses a lot of different techniques such as split shots and overhead views that really enhance the film.

The film is fast paced with action and violence and it tells a remarkable story. With corrupt cops, crime and violence being a way of life it is truly inspirational that this young man could make it out and eventually say “my name isn’t Rocket anymore. I’m now Wilson Rodrigues, photographer.”

Top 10 Biopics of All Time

#10 - Men of Honor - Starring Cuba Gooding Jr. as Carl Brashear the first African American US Navy Diver. An inspirational story about a man who had to overcome relentless bigotry in order to make history. Also starring Robert De Niro as Chief Billy Sunday a disgruntled dive instructor determined to see him fail.

#9 - Ray - Jamie Foxx delivers an Oscar winning performance as the legendary Ray Charles. Ray Charles lived an extraordinary life as a musician despite the fact that he went blind when he was only 7 years old. Ray is a great film about a blind man who despite some struggles with drug addiction, revolutionized American pop music.

#8 - Braveheart - Mel Gibson directed and starred in this amazing story of William Wallace, a 14th century Scottish man who leads his fellow countrymen into battle against King Edward Longshanks of England. An interesting story about a man who wanted nothing more than his countries freedom, mixed with some intense battle scenes makes Braveheart one of the best Biopics of all time.

#7 - Bobby - A film that takes place the day before the assassination of Robert Kennedy. I'm not sure if this film really can be classified as a biopic but I put it on my list anyway because it is a great but mostly fictional story of a number of different characters who are all in the Ambassador Hotel on the night that Robert Kennedy was killed. Robert Kennedy is only shown with real stock footage of him during his political campaign. It is a very moving film with an all-star cast including Sharon Stone, Ashton Kutcher, Anthony Hopkins, Martin Sheen, Demi Moore, William H. Macy, Shia LaBeouf, and more.

#6 - Catch Me If You Can - A Steven Spielberg film, starring one of the greatest actors of our time in Leonardo DiCaprio, Catch Me If You Can is the amazing story of the infamous Frank Abagnale Jr.. Frank successfully impersonates a pilot, a lawyer, and a doctor and cashes millions of dollars in fraudulent checks all before his 19th birthday. An FBI agent played by Tom Hanks tries to track down Frank as he travels around the world. A great story with one of the best directors and a phenomenal cast creates on of the greatest biopics of all time in Catch Me If You Can.

#5 - The Insider - Nominated for 7 Academy Awards including Best Picture, Best Director (Michael Mann), and Best Actor (Russell Crowe); The Insider is a work of genius. An ex research biologist for Brown & Williamson, a major tobacco company, decides to team up with 60 minutes producer Lowell Bergman, played by Al Pacino, to spill some inside information about Brown & Williamson. However, the tobacco company will stop at nothing to prevent him from doing the interview for 60 minutes. The Insider is a wonderful intellectual thriller, an all around great film.

#4 - Milk - Milk is based on the story of Harvey Milk; a business man, Gay Rights Activist, and the first openly gay man to be elected to public office in the USA. Highlighted by an exceptional performance by Sean Penn, Milk is an instant classic, an inspirational story about a man who played an important role in American history. Gus Van Sant's Milk is a Masterpiece.

#3 - Raging Bull - Martin Scorsese's depiction of the life of Jake LaMotta earned him his first Oscar nomination in 1981. Robert De Niro won a best actor Academy Award as he played Jake LaMotta the 1940's middleweight prizefighter known as "The Bronx Bull" or "Raging Bull". Joe Pesci also delivers a captivating performance as Joey LaMotta; Jake's brother and manager. This is one of the greatest films of all time about one of the greatest middleweight boxers of all time.

#2 - Schindler's List - Schindler's List was nominated for 12 Academy Awards and won 7 including Best Picture, Best Director (Steven Spielberg), and Best Adapted Screenplay. IMDB's 7th greatest film of all time is based on the story of Oskar Schindler. Oskar was a businessman and war profiteer during World War II who used Jews from the Ghettos to work in his factory. As he witnesses the truly horrifying acts endured by the Jews, he became an unlikely humanitarian as he began to spend his fortune to save over 1000 polish Jews. Schindler's List is a moving film; an inspirational story of a great man.

#1 - The Aviator - A Martin Scorsese film about the life and Career of Howard Hughes, from the 1920's - 1940's. Howard inherited millions from his parents and used his money to live an extraordinary life. He began as a film maker creating many controversial films but his true love would always lie in aviation. He was an innovator of aviation and hired by the government to build spy planes during the war. He had an incessant case of obsessive compulsive disorder that continued to get worse over the years. Leonardo DiCaprio was amazing as Howard Hughes and I think he should have won the Best Actor Academy Award over Jamie Foxx (Ray) in 2005.The Aviator is one of my favorite films of all time by my favorite director of all time.

Biopics can be some of the best films because they portray real people who have lived fascinating lives. Goodfellas and Cidade de Deus (City of God) are both films that are based on the lives of real men and could be considered biopics. However I think I would consider them both crime dramas. However, the point I'm trying to make is if I had considered these films biopics (which some people do) they would most definitely be in the top 5. Some biopics that I really like but just missed the list include A Beautiful Mind, Cinderella Man , Hotel Rwanda, and The Hurricane.