Gravity

I first saw the multi award winning Gravity in November last year during my non writing phase but it’s a film that I felt I needed to see again. Gravity is a game changer as far as visual effects are concerned and it appears to have re-written the rule book for films set in space. So over two months and $675 million at the box office after its initial release, I was able to take in the film’s awesome effects once more in stunning 3D. I’ll be honest, I never expected to use the words ‘stunning’ and ‘3D’ in the same sentence but Gravity is the first film I’ve seen for which 3D was the right choice and actually added something to the movie.

Rather than working on a two dimensional plane as most films do, Gravity has a full 360 degree scope to work within. The camera is able to, and expected to move around the entire scene, not limited by space or ironically gravity. The use of 3D is completely justified and adds immeasurably to the feeling of floating as well as helps to place the film in its environment. The opening scene of an astronaut moving around a shuttle with wanton ease is spectacular and things only get better from there. Thousands if not millions of tiny pieces of satellite erupt in a magnificent burst high above the earth and set off complex chain reactions which are visually stunning as well as incredibly frightening.

Fantastic Mr. Fox

When I first saw Fantastic Mr. Fox at the cinema in 2009 I fell asleep. I think this is the only time I’ve ever slept through a film and although there were mitigating circumstances I still feel bad as Wes Anderson is one of my favourite Directors. I’ve loved all of his pre Mr. Fox films and Moonrise Kingdom is one of my favourite films of 2012 so far. One of the reasons I fell asleep three years ago was because I was bored by the film but due to my love of Anderson’s work I felt the need to go back and reassess it. Unfortunately my first viewing experience was very similar to my second; the film bored me and I consider it Anderson’s worst film by quite some distance.

Based on Roald Dahl’s book of the same name the plot centres upon a fox (George Clooney) who despite promising his wife (Meryl Streep) that he would stop killing farmer’s chickens for a living, can’t resist one final spree in which he goes for three local farms, run by the meanest farmers around.

The Ides of March

"All the reporters love you. Even the reporters that hate you still love you"

The Ides of March is a political thriller set during the Democratic Primary in Ohio in which Governor Mike Morris (George Clooney) is running for the Party’s nomination for President. His team includes Campaign Manager Paul Zara (Philip Seymour Hoffman) and young up and comer Stephen Myers (Ryan Gosling). Myers is convinced that Morris is the man to lead the country but receives a tempting job offer from rival Campaign Manager Tom Duffy (Paul Giamatti) which opens up a torrent of problems for all involved.

The film is full of twists, turns and surprises and kept me glued throughout its fairly short 101 minutes. Clooney’s Morris felt like a Candidate too good to be true to me, being pro choice, atheist, pro alternative energy and with plans for free college education. He was a candidate with the sort of policies that appealed to me. To be honest, knowing what I do of American Politics, his platform felt a little unrealistic but I’d vote for him. As well as a candidate I was on board with, the film kept my interest up as I never knew which direction it would turn next. It felt like a good episode of The West Wing crossed with a crime mystery.

The Descendants

George Clooney stars as the father of two children who has to cope when his wife goes into a coma after a water sports accident. He has the added burden of an important decision regarding his ancestor’s estate and discovers that his wife was engaged in an affair before her accident.

Filmed and set in Hawaii, the film looks beautiful. That sounds like an easy task considering where it is set, but a lot of the film is set in the built up areas of the archipelago which are rarely seen in films. Not everything is pristine which is nice to see. There are leaves on the driveway and cracks in the walls. When we do see the natural beauty of Hawaii, it is with good reason and not over done. This isn’t a film about Hawaii’s beauty but about a families struggle while living in it.

Family trouble

The story is interesting but unfortunately as so often is the case, too much of it was given away in the trailer. There were very few surprises and generally you already knew where it was heading. The dialogue is witty though which helps with the lack of suspense.  

George Clooney is very good and probably deserves the nominations and awards he has received for his performance. The rest of the cast are also admirable. Clooney’s daughters, played by Shailene Woodley and Amara Miller are both excellent as a rebellious teen and inappropriate ten year old respectively. Woodley’s boyfriend, played by Nick Krause, while remaining annoying throughout, becomes more likable as the film progresses.

I find it difficult to talk about what I liked about the film. The ending was excellent and quite sad but I found myself bored at times and it is far from perfect.

7/10