2011. Dir: Gavin O'Connor. Starring: Tom Hardy, Joel Edgerton, Nick Nolte, Jennifer Morrison and Frank Grillo. ●●●●○
Friday's double bill was unusual in the strengths of one film were the weaknesses of the other, so yesterday I reviewed a film that was perfectly made but soulless and today I have a film that is arguably a bit of a dog's dinner however is all heart. I've always admitted that my feelings guide me and much as my brain so I have to admit that Warrior is to me the superior movie. It's story is weak, riddled with cliches and the running time could stand to be cut significantly, but I cried a couple of times and cheered (internally) when appropriate so based against it's own aims the film is an astounding success.
Opening on a rundown church in a working class area of Pittsburgh we witness a shambolic old man walking from the basement to his car, doughy and creased it takes a few moments before we recognise him as Nick Nolte. He gets in his car and starts playing an audio cassette of Moby Dick, it's a crutch, a reaction that allows him to cope with life as a recovering alcoholic, but it's also a guide to where this tale is going. What is the great white whale of Nolte's story, is it a relationship with his sons, his alcoholism itself, or a desire to win at all costs.
On his return home we meet son number 1, Tommy (Tom Hardy), beefed up beyond any of his previous turns, appearing hunched under the weight of his trapezius muscles, and bitter at his old man, launching into verbal attacks at his failure as a father, loosely describing his addiction and the abusive affects. Hardy is a ex Marine and former wrestling champ, hiding from his past, angry at the world and looking for any excuse to vent his aggression.
Cut to son number 2, Brendan (Joel Edgerton), family man, physics teacher and all round nice guy, who can't afford his mortgage who - refusing to move back into an apartment (I really don't understand that motivation) - ready to return the ring, engaging in Mixed Martial Arts as a desperate move to bring some money into the house.
If you hadn't already guessed where the plot is going then you've probably never seen a sports movie or even watched the trailer, and I want spoil it here, but a major MMA tournament bursts into the frame and in unlikely and character-suited twists of fate both brothers are recruited into the 16 contenders.
The fights are expertly handled, gripping and pounding, even to a MMA novice like myself I was glued to the screen, twisting and contorting with the action. Each fight had it's own narrative, each round underlining the traits of our two brothers. Whether it's the knock-out rage of Tommy, or the slow steady technical bouts from Brendan, the former's a wildcard, the latter an underdog.
Is success at the tournament the White Whale? And if so who's whale is it? We're flipped between the ambitions and loyalties of these three men, united by family and mutual distrust. Each unable to let go of the past, each using their collected pain to dish out violence.
Of the men Edgerton has the least to work with, his character seems too bland to compete and the stakes don't appear high enough - just deal with a smaller house and stop wasting money on the latest "stuff". Hardy is superb, bristling with energy squinting past his lowered forehead, he has the dangerous impulses of a coiled snake, unafraid to show the darker sides of the character as well a touch of vulnerability in the climatic battle scene. The main praise has to go to Nolte though, here giving something close to career-best work, grizzled and repentent, training Hardy whist choking back the grief from his son's refusal to acknowledge their past we feel for his evident change of heart whilst being revolted by his history.
Masanobu Takayanagi is a cinematographer to watch out for, shooting mainly handheld and with a murky palette we become accustomed to the intimacy of the cage long before the fights start. Can't wait to see what he does with Liam Neeson starrer The Grey.
Gavin O'Conner proves again that he's a fine director of male centric dynasties, here building on his fine work on Miracle and Pride & Glory, but he needs to pass scripting duties over to others. We were constantly reminded of how shit the childhood of the brothers was in the clunkiest dialogue that with some fine tuning and a better understanding of what actually happened growing up and why Hardy is ready to move on might have improved the technical as well as the emotional aspects of the film.
I can recommend Warrior to all film fans, regardless of their thoughts and experiences of MMA, but strongly advise that you take a couple of tissues to help you through the end.
Thursday, 29 September 2011
Warrior
Friday, 29 July 2011
It's a Big World out There (Out this week - 29/07/11)
I won't be going to the cinema this weekend, frankly I'm exhausted it's been a heck of a week what with rehearsing, classes and the 24/7 fringe festival. Not to mention having to do "real work" during the day. However if I were to go the decision might be a tough one, there's a couple of interesting looking foreign language releases and a new Superhero is coming to town, but in the end I'd have to choose, as the RLAG film of the week, Arrietty.
Arrietty
Studio Ghibli take the unusual step of adapting an existing, European story (Mary Norton's "The Borrowers") then still imbue the film with a unique Japanese feel and the traditional acceptance of the absurd. Saoirse Ronan and Mark Strong lead the voice cast as daughter and father in a family of miniature people living behind the skirting board.
Runs like a Gay Excitometer: ●●●●●●○○○○
Captain America: The First Avenger
I have heard some great things about Joe Johnston's contribution to the pre-Avengers story, with many US critics calling it the best superhero movie of the summer. Chris Evans certainly looks hot in the trailers, and backed with a serious and exciting cast that includes Tommy Lee Jones, Stanley Tucci and Samuel L. Jackson what's not to like.
Runs like a Gay Excitometer: ●●●●●○○○○○
Light Thief
A rare example of Krggyzstani cinema that examines the stature of ordinary technicians who restore electricity in the turmoil since the break-up of the Soviet Union. It helps that the main character seems a bit of a happy go lucky type.
Runs like a Gay Excitometer: ●●●●●○○○○○
Poetry
Low-key existential Japanese movie about an old woman contemplating the meaning of life as she comes wearily to the end of hers. Heartbreaking and ultra-real this may still test the patience of most casual cinema-goers.
Runs like a Gay Excitometer: ●●●●●○○○○○
Better Life
Slightly buzzed about immigration drama following an illegal gardener, Damien Bichir, in East L.A. trying to do right by his son whilst avoiding the criminal gangs and the authorities. Looks promising, but not exceptional.
Runs like a Gay Excitometer: ●●●●○○○○○○
Zookeeper
Given it's poor pedigree and mediocre box office performance in the US it's hard to see why this Kevin James vehicle deserves 4 blobs. To be frank it probably doesn't however it does boast Nick Nolte as a gorilla as well as Sylvester Stallone and Cher as a pair of Lions. Sounds like prime crap at least.
Runs like a Gay Excitometer: ●●●●○○○○○○
Horrid Henry: The Movie
There's clearly a market for this big screen translation of the very British kids stories, and no doubt it will clear up during the school holidays, but I don't think it's for me. What persuaded Anjelica Huston to play the stern headmistress I'll never know.
Runs like a Gay Excitometer: ●●●○○○○○○○
Our Day will Come
Bonkers looking French pic starring Vincent Cassell as a ginger therapist who runs away with one of his patients (mmm ethical issues there) to find freedom in Ireland - the land of the red heads.
Runs like a Gay Excitometer: ●●●○○○○○○○
Jihne Mera Dil Luteya
Bollywood love triangle with two best friends falling for the same girl at Patiala University. Cue comedy hijinks and much singing and dancing.
Runs like a Gay Excitometer: ●●○○○○○○○○
Friday, 22 April 2011
In the Depths of Winter (Out this week - 22/04/11)
It's a good job I'm still in the run of "Baby Jesus Freak" as the cinematic landscape is looking a bit bleak at present, with the final deep breath before the summer season of blockbuster action commences. That's not to say there isn't some interesting output, but it's purely on the independent foreign-language kind and therefore hard to get hold of in the majority of cinemas. Anyhoo - film of the week is How I ended this Summer.
How I ended this Summer
Set in a Russian weather station deep within the arctic circle the film follows the progression and breakdown of two vastly different men over one summer as they receive and attempt to process some bad news from home. The trailer indicates high emotions and a fair degree of tension.
Runs like a Gay Excitometer: ●●●●●○○○○○
Extraordinary Adventures of Adele Blanc Sec
Luc Besson returns to live action adventure with this adaptation of the well-loved French comic book series, with a healthy dollop of feminism. The titular character is a proto-Lara Croft vanquishing mummies and hatched Pterodactyls in 1920's Paris.
Runs like a Gay Excitometer: ●●●●●○○○○○
Arthur
Russel Brand's film career appears to be ending right here, just as he gets his first major lead role. Frankly I dislike the original Arthur so I had very low expectations anyway, and combined with the horrible reviews and box office in America expect Brand to return to scene stealing supporting roles. Helen Mirren and Nick Nolte inexplicably co-star.
Runs like a Gay Excitometer: ●●●●○○○○○○
Dum Maaro Dum
Goa set thriller involving different storylines and characters all being manipulated by a shadowy drug king-pin. Unlikely to end well for the mafia boss, but probably everyone else will sort themselves out.
Runs like a Gay Excitometer: ●●●○○○○○○○
Fast & Furious 5: Rio Heist
Or whatever it's called these days. Paul Walker and Vin Diesel return (along with just about every surviving cast member from the franchise) to drive pumped up automobiles around the back streets of Rio de Janeiro facing off against Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson. I wonder who's muscles will put in the most convincing performance?
Runs like a Gay Excitometer: ●●●○○○○○○○
Pina
Wim Wenders explores the contemporary dance choreography of the late Pina Bausch. Essentially this is a recreation of her stunning work, using her troupe of dancing in a fitting tribute filmed just after her unexpected passing. Probably one for the fans of dance only, but certainly a curiosity that could be very rewarding.
Runs like a Gay Excitometer: ●●●○○○○○○○
Beastly
Following hot of the heels of last weeks Little Red Riding Hood movie is this teen version of Beauty and the Beast in which we see personality free Alex Pettyfer get hideously transformed by a witch before being freed by true loves kiss. I can never remember the moral to this fairy-tale. Is about seeing the inner beauty?
Runs like a Gay Excitometer: ●●○○○○○○○○
Dharti
Bollywood director Navaniat Singh was responsible for high grossing previous films like Mel Karade Rabba so I'm not sure why this Indian Air Force familial drama hasn't managed a page on imdb.
Runs like a Gay Excitometer: ●●○○○○○○○○
Everywhere and Nowhere
Kidulthood spin-off (much like Anuvahood a couple of weeks ago) but this look much more interesting as a Britiah Asian teenager is forced to choose between his traditional family and his blossoming career as a nightclub DJ.
Runs like a Gay Excitometer: ●●○○○○○○○○
Zombie Undead
Low budget British horror jumping on the current craze for zombies. Unlikely to bother anyone other than genre fanatics, and with a trailer that doesn't hint to any deeper parallels with society, it looks as if the everyone involved had fun making it at least.
Runs like a Gay Excitometer: ●●○○○○○○○○
I'm rubbish at keeping up when I'm away, but here a four more films that missed my attention when they first came out:
08 April 2011
Snap
Small scale Irish mockumentary (?) about a mother of a child killer and tabloid hate figure being interviewed by a small documentary crew. Interesting concept, but I'm not sure the style is the best way to present the frustration of the woman. Could be worth catching up on, though.
Runs like a Gay Excitometer: ●●●○○○○○○○
Urumi
I originally thought that was the sense of taste associated with mushrooms, but apparently this is a Bollywood look at the life of the boy who planned to assassinate famed Portuguese explorer Vasco de Gama. I must admit I never knew he was associated with India, but apparently his career was based on successes there - indeed he died (of Malaria) in Goa.
Runs like a Gay Excitometer: ●●●○○○○○○○
15 April 2011
Mallillai
Details on this much-maligned Tamil movie are a little sketchy, but it seems to revolve around a mix-up at an arranged wedding, and a character getting falsely imprisoned. The commenters on imdb are united in their hatred for it though.
Runs like a Gay Excitometer: ●●●○○○○○○○
Sparrow
Minor Johnnie To (Cheun Jik San Sau, Running out of time) movie which played at the Berlinale in 2008, about a group of street kids in Hong Kong getting by through pick pocketing. Came and went in UK cinemas without much fuss.
Runs like a Gay Excitometer: ●●○○○○○○○○
Tuesday, 8 February 2011
Nick Nolte
Happy Birthday to
Nick Nolte
70 today
Whilst it's hard to imagine Nick Nolte being young it's equally impossible to think of him as a septugenarian. Coming up is the ultimate fighting flick Warrior with Tom Hardy getting into to ring to impress daddy Nolte. Hopefully that won't go the same way as the Renee Zellweger/Nolte starring My Own Love Song which is set to go straight to video in the US.
Saturday, 7 August 2010
A public display of grief (Out this week 06/08/10)
Tricky week to assess (and not just because I've been away from the computer for five days). I would imagine that Tom Cruise and Cameron Diaz will be able to score the box office lead, but both the dance obsessed teenagers and the talking animal loving tweenies have their own counter-programming. It doesn't matter because film of the week is the limited release of Undertow.
Aisha
Quite nice looking bollywood adaptation of Jane Austen's Emma, with the social structures of medern Delhi backing the matchmaking antics of the titular heroine. As ever the lack of mainstream press support hinders my anticipation for the Bollywood product.
Runs like a Gay Excitometer: ●●○○○○○○○○
Cats and Dogs; The revenge of Kitty Galore
Sequel to the 2002 kids film where cats and dogs talk and are at continuous war. Why has it taken so long for the sequel to be made? Because it looks dreadful and no-one should go near it. Nick Nolte, Bette Midler and Michael Clarke Duncan are amongst those who should be ashamed.
Runs like a Gay Excitometer: ●●●○○○○○○○
Coco Chanel and Igor Stravinsky
I doubt you need me to tell you this but it's a biopic about the relationship between the classic fashion designer and the avant garde composer. Less starry than last years straightfoward Coco Chanel picture but should make a nice counterpoint
Runs like a Gay Excitometer: ●●●○○○○○○○
Eccentrities of a Blonde Haired girl
101 year old Portuguese director shows no sign of stopping with his latst highly regarded parable based on the 19th century short story by Eca de Queiros about a love story recounted to a fellow train passenger.
Runs like a Gay Excitometer: ●●●●○○○○○○
Knight and Day
Tom Cruise's latest bid to resurrect his action credentials has only managed middling reviews and looks eminently missable. That said I'm probably going to watch it tonight.
Runs like a Gay Excitometer: ●●●●○○○○○○
Step Up 3D
There's dancing. There's an unlikely relationship between a boy and girl from opposite sides of the tracks/different dance crews. It's in 3D. Is there anything else to say other than "Ugh" (see comments).
Runs like a Gay Excitometer: ●●○○○○○○○○
Undertow
A bisexual love triangle drives the plot forward in this latest magical-realist movie from Latin America. Moving look at the nature of love and the idea of letting go as Christian Mercado must come out to his homophobic fishing community in order to allow his deceased lover to rest in peace.
Runs like a Gay Excitometer: ●●●●○○○○○○
Wildest Dream: The Conquest of Everest
Part documentary on Conrad Anker and Leo Houlding's attempt to solve the riddle of Mallory's disappearance and part biopic on the extraordinary attempt by George Mallory to reach the summit of Everest. Totally stunning cinematography with Lima Neeson and Ralph Fiennes among the voice cast.
Runs like a Gay Excitometer: ●●●●○○○○○○
Sunday, 8 February 2009
Nick Nolte
Happy Birthday to
Nick Nolte
68 today
Big challenge for Mr. Nolte - try finding a picture on the net where his hair looks like it's been combed that week. Nick often turns up in films when you least expect him - which is why I'm looking forwrd to seeing My Own Love Song later this year.
