Tag: ed harris

When you’re hanging on by your fingernails, you can’t go waving your arms around. “The Abyss” (1989)

SashLeave a comment
directed by James Cameron
© 1989 20th Century Fox. All Rights Reserved.

Who wants some Monday drama? Actually, today’s film is a sci-fi production, but there was a lot of drama going on on the set. First things first, it tells the story of a submarine crew that sinks near the Cayman Trough and, in order to help them, the US government sends a SEAL team (special operations force). The task is not that easy since there’s a hurricane on the way and another kind of hurricane called “Soviet ships” slightly too close. What’s more, deep down there the crew encounters some unidentified object and start to believe it’s not coming from our planet. Doom, doom, doom. To be honest, I didn’t feel that excited watching this film. I would say the screenplay was way too long and complicated, but in the end I find it a worth-your-time production. Why? Because of the visual effects. I bet a lot of people wouldn’t be able to make such a good film that takes place underwater, even today. Mind the fact that “The Abyss” was made in 1989, which is something I was forgetting while watching. That’s something worth appreciating for sure. However, you may read that the actors didn’t enjoy making this film as the production wasn’t well-organised. They were often wasting their time, or performing quite dangerous actions, or simply weren’t treated with respect. Hard to say who’s right here, as I wasn’t there so I cannot judge, but seems like some drama took over the whole production. Too bad they have such bad memories about it, because the film is decent and definitely to watch if you’re into the technical side of filmmaking.

My rating: 7/10
S.

Know your place. Keep your place. Be a shoe. “Snowpiercer” (2013)

SashLeave a comment
directed by Bong Joon-ho
© 2013 The Weinstein Company. All Rights Reserved.

Today I’d like to recommend you my so far favourite film by Bong Joon-ho. I know that there are mixed feelings about this one, because those who liked his typical Korean way of making films were disappointed because this film is quite westernised, and those who were used to American sci-fi productions found it a bit too dramatic and strange. You can’t satisfy people, can you? I remember that I saw this film many years ago in the cinema. Back then I didn’t know much about Bong Joon-ho, so I didn’t have any expectations and I just wanted to see a sci-fi film on a big screen. And I must say that I was very much pleased. The story is based on the novel “Le Transperceneige” by Jacques Lob and it’s about… well, what can happen if we keep being equally ignorant as humanity as we are now. We get the world after the climate catastrophe, where only a small number of people have survived. The main character, Curtis Everett (Chris Evans), is travelling around the globe on the train called Snowpiercer. It’s become his new home, since the rest of the planet is absolutely frozen, so the passengers have been living on that train for several years. And even there the people have been segregated into classes. Curtis is living in the car for the poor, which is extremely frustrating, because he knows that the elite in other cars has it much better than them. One day, he decides to start a revolution and get to the front cars, where a better reality may await them. I guess I’ve already mentioned that in some post, but I’ll repeat – I really like films that happen in one place only. Like one room, one building, a plane, or like in this case – on the train. And maybe it was because of the fact that I saw it on the big screen, but I felt excited about the whole social revolution in the Snowpiercer and everything looked very well-done. Bong Joon-ho has a very good eye for films, he got a wonderful cast and a story that hits audience in the face with its messages (climate change, global warming, class wars etc.) – for me it’s a perfect example of a decent sci-fi film. More, please!

My rating: 7/10
S.

Good Afternoon, Good Evening and Good Night. “The Truman Show” (1998)

SashLeave a comment
directed by Peter Weir
© 1998 Paramount Pictures. All Rights Reserved.

Have you ever thought that we’re all living in some kind of a game? And right now, our “Player” is trying to do the same as some people playing The Sims and deleting the pool ladder when Sims are swimming. Just, in our case, it’s more like deleting the door and setting fire. What a lovely year we’re having, right? Anyway, I’m sure most of you have seen “The Truman Show”, but for those who haven’t, let me explain why I started the post with such random nonsense. The main character of the film is Truman Burbank (Jim Carrey). He’s an ordinary man, working in an ordinary town, not travelling at all because of his fear of… water (you’ll get it) – generally, nothing interesting. However, the thing is that Truman is living in a show. His own show. His life is, in fact, a reality program broadcast live 24/7. All people “living” in the town are actors and the town is actually a huge set. Truman doesn’t know about this, because he’s programmed to be scared of travelling, so he’s never tried to leave the town. One day, despite a totally different scenario planned by the producers, Truman falls in love with one of the actresses, Sylvia (Natascha McElhone). The woman is about to be kicked out of the show, but before she leaves, she tells Truman that his life is a lie. And from now on, the man starts questioning his reality and wishes to find Sylvia. Basically, a smart Sim noticed us deleting the pool ladder and he wants to leave the game. This film is an absolute must-see and perhaps it would be even more meaningful to see it in the current times. What if we’re living in a show like Truman and the producers have come up with “a bit of drama” for the year 2020 to improve ratings? Okay, okay, don’t freak out. But this film is really worth reflecting on because some take it as a creepy comedy, some others as an incredibly serious drama. So I guess it’ll be a surprise for you. Fun fact: after the release, several people started thinking they are like Truman, living in a show, and such case has been called “The Truman Show delusion”. Imagine the power of cinema…

My rating: 7/10
S.

Sad to have a dream you know won’t happen. “Enemy at the Gates” (2001)

SashLeave a comment
directed by Jean-Jacques Annaud
© 2001 Paramount Pictures. All Rights Reserved.

I was slightly disappointed by this film. I know, not a promising sentence to begin my post with. The thing is that I’m interested in films about World Wars, because they are always, even though fictional, incredibly emotional and thought-provoking. However, what really pushed me to watching “Enemy at the Gates” was the cast. I mean… Joseph Fiennes, Jude Law, Rachel Weisz, Ed Harris… Yes, please! Too many amazing people on one screen. And maybe that’s why I’m a bit disappointed, because I expected it to be a masterpiece and my new beloved production. Unfortunately, it’s not, but I still believe it’s a well made film with great acting. The script is actually based on a nonfiction book titled “Enemy at the Gates: The Battle for Stalingrad” by William Craig, so what you’ll see in the film has actually happened. I mean, remember it’s cinema, everything’s “brighter and stronger” in here. Still, mind the fact that such people actually lived and went through this hell. Basically, the story is set in 1942 during the Battle of Stalingrad. We follow Vasily Zaitsev (Jude Law), a shepherd, who has been forced to become a soldier in the Red Army. Despite not being well-trained, he’s very smart and skilful, which he proves saving himself and commissar Danilov (Joseph Fiennes). Soon, Zaitsev becomes a hero and an example that all the soldiers should follow. Unfortunately, the German forces find out about this and send Major Erwin König (Ed Harris) to get rid of Zaitsev. And from now on, both of them are trying to kill the other one, which, as you may be guessing, isn’t that easy. And there’s also a love story somewhere there (no, not between Zaitsev and König, just so you know), so it all makes a decent historical-war-drama-romance-action film. I was missing some “wow” moments, which would make me stare at the screen, so that’s why I’m disappointed. Still, it’s a story worth learning about and actors worth looking at.

My rating: 6.5/10
S.

Let me tell you something, happiness is bullshit. “Kodachrome” (2017)

SashLeave a comment
directed by Mark Raso
© 2017 Netflix. All Rights Reserved.

It’s a very good film about relations. Not only between people, but also between us and things. It’s about the value we assign to everything around us. Perhaps the script won’t surprise you much, because it’s a typical father-son story where the father was absent and they try to catch up on the lost years. This time the son is Matt (Jason Sudeikis) who works for a big record label. He’s a bit worried because their last important client signed a contract with another label, which means Matt may lose his job. And to make it even more dramatic, he bumps into Zooey (Elizabeth Olsen) who turns up to be his father’s nurse. She tells Matt that Ben (Ed Harris) is in a very bad shape and he’s going to die soon. Despite the fact that those two men haven’t spoken to each other for a long time, the father asks his son to drive him to Dwayne’s Photo, which is in Kansas. Which is super far away. Why? Because Ben still has some undeveloped rolls and that is the only place that accepts Kodachrome. Although they need to hurry up, because Kodak is soon to stop producing the specific dyes. Aaaand Ben is also soon to die. Obviously, Matt is no longer a child and he’s too angry with his father to agree to this idea. However, Ben promises him that in exchange for driving to Kansas, Matt will have a chance to meet with the Spare Sevens, which is a band that Matt’s label would like to sign with. Well, as you may be guessing, they go to Kansas. And as long as the story is predictable, this film should be appreciated more, in my opinion. First of all, both gentlemen did an amazing acting job. They didn’t try too hard to show their emotions and in a very natural way they created a beautiful, full of anger and slightly destructive relationship between each other. Besides, I loved the camerawork. Mamma mia! It was spectacular. They told some parts of the story without words, which isn’t that often in modern cinema. We like to talk too much nowadays. Perhaps it will be a small spoiler, but I guess you already know that Ben dies at some point. Rather clear since he’s terminally ill. So the scene where Matt finds out about Ben’s death is one of the best and powerful scenes I’ve seen this year. I mean it. Anyway, despite all this drama, it’s also a comedy, so expect a lot of ironic lines, especially from Ed Harris.

My rating: 7/10
S.