February 20, 2008

A B*tch Of A Character, And A B*tch To Watch...

New DVD Review.

Margot At The Wedding
Written by: Noah Baumbach

Directed by: Noah Baumbach

Starring: Nicole Kidman, Jennifer Jason Leigh, Jack Black

The Movie.

Adam's Take.

Margot At The Wedding is the story of two sisters, whom were once very close, but have since grown apart. Pauline (Leigh) is getting married to Malcolm (Black), and her sister Margot (Kidman) is coming for the wedding. Pauline and Malcolm seem like a good couple, but Margot has a habit of being critical and meddlesome and soon has her sister doubting the big day. Margot is even critical of her son, Claude, to the point where I don't see her fit as a mother, let alone a human being. It seems she does all her thinking out loud, mostly in front of her son, who has adopted the very same habit. Every idea she gets in her head, no matter how cruel, comes out. We hate Margot, but her thoughts are not that far away from some we all have, we just know to keep our mouths shut. Malcolm, although not perfect, is quite innocent and perhaps would make a good husband. Pauline seemed content before Margot got there and ruined everything. Even if Margot is right, she has no right to do what she does. By the end of the movie, there have been a couple good scenes and a couple good laughs, but more than anything, "Margot At The Wedding" was boring. The performances are more interesting than the characters, and Black actually steals the show. The film would be lost without him. The Squid And The Whale, Baumbach's last film, was brilliant. This makes "Margot" all the more dissapointing. If it were from an unknown writer/director, I'd be more optimistic. However, it's not. Baumbach made this, and therefore it should not be seen as anything other than a failure.
Parker's Take.

Margot At The Wedding is a mis mash of a film. Part drama and part comedy, it is neither very dramatic nor funny. Admittedly, it did have a few humourous moments, mostly involving Jack Black, as one would expect, but ultimately falls short of laugh out loud. Where this movie does succeed is in creating a cast of character that are all flawed and unlikeable. Notably among these is Margoy, who is well portrayed by a suitably spiteful and vengeful Nicole Kidman. The movie meanders around for the first half hour or so and remains quite boring throughout, with very little happening between the two main characters. This lack of interesting plot, hurtful characters and an unsatisfactory ending combine to make this a disappointing sophomore effort from Baumbach. With so many other releases this week, this one is worth a miss.


The Extras.

  • A Conversation With Noah Baumbach and Jennifer Jason Leigh
Adam's Take.

There's only one extra, and it is OK, but that's all there is. It offers a bit of insight into the characters and a tiny bit into how it was shot. The case is standard. Overall, a weak DVD.

Parker's Take.

Clocking in with a mere one special feature, the set is a disappointment. Coupled with a plastic case without even a slip cover, "Margot" is a bad set all around. The one feature is mildly interesting, offering some insight into the actors experience with the characters, it did not even utilize the full cast, instead just using Jennifer Jason Leigh and Noah Baumbach. This leaves out Nicole Kidman, whose insight would have been most interesting. Overall a bad DVD presentation for a bad movie.


Audio/Video

Adam's Take.

The audio quality is fine but the visuals are a bit grainy and below average.

Parker's Take.

Standard audio and visual with one moment in which the audio was slightly off.

Overall DVD Score.

Adam's Take.

A weak film, weak special features. Weak.

Parker's Take.

Overall bad set.


The Bronze Verdict.
Bad.

February 18, 2008

Oh My...

The following is a video of Kellie Pickler of American Idol fame, on the game show Are You Smarter Than A 5th Grader?

February 16, 2008

In Bruges

New Movie Review.

Directed by: Martin McDonagh
Written by: Martin McDonagh
Starring: Colin Farrell, Brendan Gleeson and Ralph Fiennes

I Don't believe I have ever seen a movie like this before.

In Bruges is a so-called "Action/Comedy" about two hit men ordered to lay low after a bad job. Their hiding spot? Bruges, Belgium. Ken (Gleeson) is quite taken by the medieval town whereas Ray (Farrell) could care less about sightseeing and would rather get back to London. This synopsis plus the trailer may lead you to think this is a typical picture, best to avoid it right? Wrong. It turns out the movie is being advertised as something it's really not. One only has to see the opening credits to discover that this is not an ordinary film. It opens with several still shots of Bruges put to melancholy, beautiful music. The score maintains this mood throughout, and other than a couple goofy parts, so does the flick.

That's not to say it isn't funny. It's actually quite hilarious. However, the humor is overpowered by sadness. When it's revealed why the "job" went bad, the movie takes a serious turn, and it takes it perfectly. Ray is a guilty man (you will see why), and it takes a toll on him. He begins to reflect on his moral worth, and when he studies a painting of "judgment day", Ray asks Ken if he believes in the afterlife. Heaven, Hell and Purgatory which as Ray points out, is for people "who weren't that bad, but weren't that great either". I may be way off, but the film seems to hint at metaphor and depth. Perhaps Bruges is Purgatory? Maybe these hit men are awaiting some sort of judgement. They seem like good people, but they have killed. Are they worthy of heaven? Does meaning well make up for sin? There is a point where Ken seems to regret his past and realizes Ray still has a chance at a good life. Ken would give anything to allow Ray such an opportunity. Maybe it's too little too late, however. The film manages to genrate laughs as well as heart wrenching moments and strong emotional undertones. All the while we fall in love with the two leads, which is enhanced by the acting.

Farrell again proves he is the least consistent actor in the business. Here, he shows his brilliance, in fact, it's my favourite of his performances. Gleeson puts in a sensitive, subtle and very sincere quality. When Fiennes shows up as the boss, he nails one of the most interesrting roles of his prestigous career. The supporting cast are great as well.

In Bruges is McDonagh's first foray into film. Previously a playwright, he could fool anyone who doesn't know he's a newcomer. The direction is incredibly impressive, expertly shot and artistically crafted, it's a masterpiece of the genre. Or, it would be, if I could pick a genre to describe In Bruges.

This is a very dark, even disturbing movie. I was heartbroken and moved. Quite close to perfect, with three Oscar-worthy performances. Undeniably unique, In Bruges defies any convention or tired plot point both in it's screenplay as well as in its direction. This is the first great movie of 2008, and I loved every second of it.

February 12, 2008

Juno Q&A Cancelled?



Apparently the Jason Reitman Q&A I posted about earlier has now been canceled. The Festival Cinemas Web Site should have details soon...

Lame.

February 11, 2008

Article Concerning All Fans Of Lost


If anyone missed the "Lost Mobisodes" or simply wants to re watch them, some guy put a site up with all 13 installments streaming. Yay.

www.lostmobisodes.blogspot.com

For anyone who doesn't know what I'm talking about, these are mini episodes of Lost that were created after season 3 (but take place at various times). Definitely worth watching for any true fan of Lost.

Jason Reitman Coming To Van


Jason Reitman, director of the best film of 2007, Juno, is coming to Vancouver. There will be a Q & A (sounds like someone from the Vancouver Sun will be conducting the interview, not the audience) with Reitman following a screening of Juno at Fifth Avenue Cinemas on Feb.14 at 7pm. Just thought i would post this considering it's not getting promoted at all. I already have a ticket for my girlfriend and I. Sounds like like a good Valentine's Day idea. Feel free to say hello if you see me there. Should be some unique discussion considering Juno was shot in B.C. and Reitman is a Canuck himself. (as are the two leads of the movie, Ellen Page and Micheal Cera). Exciting.

check out festivalcinemas.ca for more info and online ticketing

February 06, 2008

New DVD Review: Across The Universe 2-Disc Deluxe Edition

Finally, here it is. The highly-anticipated, long-awaited first ever Bronze DVD review. We would like to claim the format is of our own invention but I pretty much ripped off IGN. Basically both Parker and I will offer up our thoughts to give you two opinions (but trust mine). We will give a briefer analysis than that of my other reviews. But as it is a DVD we shall also tackle special features and even the packaging (it is what matters most) as well as anything we see fit mentioning. Parker's rating and my rating will be averaged out to give an overall "Bronze" rating. Fun. I doubt I need say anything but Parker and I would appreciate if you value the Bronze rating higher than any other, if for no other reason than it would be kinda funny. Oh my, I'm rambling.


The Movie.

Adam's Take.

Across The Universe is an endlessly creative musical from film (Frida) and Broadway (The Lion King) director, Julie Taymor. It boldly uses Beatles songs to tell it's story, such a concept could sound brilliant or terrible depending on which ears the idea invades. I, for whatever reason, was never excited about Universe, despite being a Beatles fan. I was very surprised once the movie began and I was swept away with the music as well as the stunning visuals. I believe this film could work for anyone, not just Beatles fans. However, those who know the songs will be allowed a unique experience. A wonderful way to rediscover that initial love for the music or at least an enjoyable fresh take. Some of the songs are meddled with but only to positive ends. Knowing the lyrics was fun as it was neat to see how they would divide them amongst the movie's characters. Who would have thought of "I Want To Hold Your Hand" as a vessel for lesbian longing? Back to the non-Beatles lovers, I wouldn't be surprised if someone who had never heard the band saw Universe, enjoyed it, and never knew it wasn't original music. Quite the testament to the Beatles' music that it could be used in such a way. In fact, it glorifies that which is best of their songs, the simplicity and versatility, which ironically conveys depth.

I could go on praising but I have to bring up the bad stuff. The dialougue and story are each relatively thin (although that might not be an accident). The main story and characters are fine (although nothing special) but Universe seems to hint at subplots which never really come into play. Therefore, the side characters are never really fully realized. I don't mind all that much, but it's worth mentioning. Anyways, the music is fantastic and the visuals (especially the choreography) are astounding. The initial concept IS brilliant, perhaps even revolutionary (maybe I'll make "Sail To The Moon" and cop the idea but swap The Beatles for Radiohead). Anyways, Across The Universe is wondrously inventive and i loved it.
Parker's Take.

First let me preface this review by saying this: I am not a Beatles fan. I have never liked The Beatles, nor do I ever think I will. However, let me also say that I have a soft spot for musicals. So, bearing these two things in mind, I can confidently say I loved this movie. The movie did have some problems with coherency, as it tended to jump around in terms of time and location, but those flaws were overshadowed by how much fun it is. As a long time Beatles hater, believe me when I say it is not neccesary to like them to enjoy this movie.

The modern arrangements of these songs were perfectly suited to the film, and each of the actors delivered on their vocal performances. The visual imagery chosen by Julie Taymor fits each song so perfectly that it feels like the songs were written for these specific scenes. I can only think of one scene, involving strawberries, that I felt like the metaphors were stretched too far and made too obvious that I found it annoying. Overall, the movie was highly enjoyable and succeeded in bringing in a fresh and creative idea to the movie making table. Who knows? It may inspire me to revisit the music of The Beatles one day.


The Extras.
  • Eight extended musical performances
  • Deleted Scene: “And I Love Her” – with Dana Fuchs and Martin Luther McCoy
  • Commentary from director Taymor and composer Elliot Goldenthal
  • 5 featurettes:
    • “Stars of Tomorrow” – an inside look at the cast of rising stars
    • “All About the Music” – an inside look at the film’s unforgettable music
    • “FX on the Universe” – exploring the film’s visual effects with VFX supervisor Kyle Cooper
    • "Creating the Universe” – cast and crew discuss the making of the film
    • “Moving Across the Universe” – a featurette on the choreography including an interview with choreographer Daniel Ezralow
Adam's Take.

The Across The Universe DVD has 2 discs of features, although I'm pretty sure it could fit on one. That's not to say there isn't much content here, but that it's not really enough to justify the whole "2-Disc Deluxe Edition" tag. That said, the features are pretty good. Each featurette tackles an aspect of behind the scenes. "Creating The Universe" is the best one here, supplying a captivating, general behind the scenes look, widening my apprecation for the movie. "Stars of Tomorrow" follows the young cast and is fairly interesting. "All About The Music" is a bit disappointing considering it's title. I was hoping for more in depth stuff, luckily this is made up for with the commentary. The commentary track is done by Julie Taymor and composer Elliot Goldenthal. Although it may be a bit slow and/or dull for some, I appreciated the insight into the process of adapting The Beatles to film. Overall, it's an above average set with quality stuff. But the DVD case is the normal plastic crap. Parker's Take.

It's very rare that a film is only released in a two-disc edition, so it leads one to believe that it must be an amazing DVD set. In this regard, I was a little disappointed. It's not to say the special features weren't good, it's just they weren't what they could have been. One feature, however, stood above the rest. "Creating The Universe" is an amazing feature that really showcases the scope of Taymor's artistic vision for the film. The other features, especially the one about the music, seemed glossed over. Especially for a movie in which the music plays such an integral part. Some of these shortcomings are picked up in the commentary, but by listening to the commentary, it makes the other features redundant. They had the right idea by trying to give the buyer more bang for their buck, and they are interesting, but a hardcore fan may demand more.


Audio/Video.

Adam's Take.

For a movie that depends on it's visuals and music it's a good thing it looks and sounds great. Although I have seen standard DVDs with an even clearer picture.Parker's Take.

Being a musical obviously the audio quality needs to be excellent. "Across The Universe" merely achieved the same quality of video and audio that most new releases have.


Overall DVD score.

Adam's Take.

The Movie is excellent, it looks and sounds great and the features are pretty good. Definitely a great DVD.Parker's Take.

Combining some interesting special features with a creative, fun movie makes "Across The Universe" definitely worth purchasing or at the very least worth renting.




The Bronze Verdict.Great.

Why I Love Film


I figure it makes sense to justify why I run this site and watch movies everyday. Not to satisfy the eager interest of those who come across The Bronze, but for myself, as I have never actually put together a conclusive and coherent reason. Mind you, there is no one reason, but rather a combination of many. There is no way to state which is the best art form, as everyone is affected differently by each. I can, however, offer up why I prefer film to anything else. First off, film is the result of more than one art form initially. There's the writing and story. There's the visual side of it, which itself contains a myriad of arts...
-Photography/cinematography
-Costume design
-Art direction
-Set dressing
-The actual direction and editing, meaning the use of specific types of shots and styles
-and others...
There's the use of music, be it original score or otherwise. Also, the general use of sound. Acting, which in the right hands is a complex and even important art.

Second reason is more from personal preference. Unlike in novels/stories/poetry (writings in general) you don't create the images in your head. Rather, you are subject to the mind of the director and his/her choices. This means everything you are seeing is specific and on purpose. In the right hands, the artistic potential is overwhelming.

Then there's the main one. Some of this capability is shared by writing. I am speaking of how a film can make you think and feel. There are hundreds of films that contain deep meaning worth unlocking, considering and learning from. We can discover how other people work. We can connect to someone across the world. We can witness outstanding bravery, and even if for only a moment, feel brave ourselves. Or, we can be ashamed of a character's cowardice, and reflect on our own shortcomings. Most view movies as pure entertainment, but one can gain knowledge of people, the world and self through it, and perhaps even become a better person in the process. I know I have become a better person thanks to film. This is not to say that someone's life should revolve around movies but that someone can take what they learn from film and apply it to their own lives. We can become so attached to a character that when they cry, we cry. This is not silly, this is powerful. One can feel a bond to humanity that no other art could evoke. This is not to say that films are only worth watching if they supply such depth. I only need to mention one of the greatest films ever made, A Hard Day's Night. As far as I can deduct, there is no deep meaning contained in it. There are no realistic characters. But it has a whimsical spirit which can sweep you within it. No matter how you feel previously, you can watch it in delight, laughing hysterically or simply just being content. How remarkable that the simplest of films can be so joyous and powerful.

There are many other reasons I wont get into, but there's a couple more I'll mention. How about that a period piece can provide a window into another time and place? Or, how about animation? Mocked or scoffed at by most adults, animation contains endless possibilities. Anything from anyone's imagination can be fully realized on screen through beautiful illustration. And it is an unfortunate conception that animation must tell kid's stories. Thank God we have access to animated films from Japan to show what can be done. It shocks me that, for the most part, North American animation is so trapped by convention.

I don't know if I've mentioned everything I meant to, but I at least touched on some main reasons of why I love film. I may in the future write more on the subject or simply revise this post. Anyways thanks for reading, or at least for letting me attempt at explaining something that is difficult to explain.




P.S. I'd like to mention that my reasons for loving film can also be applied to television. Although it's rare. I could count all the TV shows deserving such a compliment on my two hands. Specifically the work of Joss Whedon.

February 03, 2008

A Little Backstory....

I just wated to give a little explanation about the clip posted below. We were in the middle of a "Freaks and Geeks" marathon, and I had been holding that particular piss in for two hours after having drunk an assortment of Rootbeer and Pepsi, so I really had to go. I just wanted to clear that up in case anyone thought I had a small bladder. I do not, in fact, have a small bladder. I do, in fact, have a gargantuan bladder, however, the rate in which it fills is directly proportionate to the rate I drink. Which is a lot.

It can be represented by this formula below:

X= 500 ml of liquid
Y= 1 hour

6X+2Y= 3 minutes of solid urine flowage

Peace.