2010. Dir: John Madden. Starring: Helen Mirren, Jessica Chastain, Sam Worthington, Martin Csokas and Tom Wilkinson. ●●●○○
Who would have thought I would spend a weekend watching two incredibly diverse films but find that both of them have deep parallels to another film I saw earlier in the year. In the case of The Debt thematically it couldn't be further from it's predecessor but if I say one of the similarities is rising star Jessica Chastain then you'll know I'm subconsciously drawn to Tree of Life, but the similarities don't end with the casting because as with Malick's free-associated meanderings there is a great movie hidden within a silly one. Only in the case of John Madden's latest it's centre is much less great and the wrapping infinitely sillier.
The film see-saws between a modern day (or mid 90's at least) Israel and 1960's East Berlin, between a trio of retired Mossad agents (Mirren, Wilkinson and Ciaran Hinds) reminiscing and basking in the glory their younger selves (Chastain, Csokas and Worthington respectively) earned kidnapping the notorious Surgeon of Buckenwald, a nazi war criminal who comes across as a amalgamation of Eichmann and Josef Mengele (as played by Gregory Peck).
The Berlin scenes are very well handled, throwing us back to muscular espionage thrillers of the past, with cut wires and stolen cars each part of the plan to smuggle Vogel (Jesper Christiansen) and his captors across the border seems so precise in it's planning that the failure of the original mission and the days the three spend, cramped together enduring the verbal onslaught of their captured socio-path, more observant and insidious than the agents could have imagined. Chastain proves her mettle as an actress here, utterly captivating as the naive but steely Rachel, watch her haunted expression outside her gynaecological visits to Vogel and you can see why her star has risen so quickly.
There are some interesting plot developments in this section, Csokas ebbing of humanity Worthington's survivors guilt and the love triangle that develops between them even identifying the conflicted soul of Vogel but alas these all lead to nothing much as the film seems anxious to return to the present. Even the second act twist, the debt of the title came as an anticlimax as we'd virtually heard the details in Mirren and Wilkinson's meaty encounters.
You see after the mission Chastain and Csokas marry and have a child who later writes a book about their exploits, keeping them in the public eye long after they should have slipped into footnote lore, so when the threat of the extent of the mission failure looks set to go public they must take action to hide the truth. Between unnecessary dialogue and Mirren prancing around like a female, sexagenarian Bourne the plot disappears into a mess of it's own making so by the time the credits role instead of the indelible image of Chastain holding back her tears you've got old people wrestling. It's undignified.
Madden is as pedestrian a director as always, able to hold a scene but adding nothing that isn't in Matthew Vaugh, Jane Goldman and Peter Straughn's script.
It's probably worth waiting to see this one on TV, and even then I'd probably change channels about 15 minutes before the end. Might be worth chasing down the Israeli original Ha-Hov though.
Showing posts with label The Debt. Show all posts
Showing posts with label The Debt. Show all posts
Thursday, 6 October 2011
The Debt
Friday, 30 September 2011
It ended when you said Goodbye (Out this week - 30/09/11)
It's the second week in a row with two films vying for my attention so much that I'll have to watch them both, although unlike last week there's a large gap between the first and second choice movie - one of which is earning "masterpiece" accolades from Europhile critics (sorry to the von Trier detracters but that's what I'm hearing). Indeed the top end releases have including some incredible pieces this month, and hopefully this sort of high quality will continue into October. Elsewhere fighting to capture the top of the box office charts from that Tinker film will be the usual ragtag of low grade horror and Twiglit escaping thrillers. Unsurprisingly film of the week is Melancholia.
Melancholia
If you would choose any auteur to film the end of the world you might just ask Danish trickster Lars von Trier, as famous for his twisted worldview and headline grabbing personality as his filmmaking, he is still capable of bravura directorial choices finding beauty in the most extreme subjects. Definitely one to watch.
Runs like a Gay Excitometer: ●●●●●●●●●○
The Debt
This remake of a critically and commercially successful Isreali film (Ha-Hov) has been delayed whilst the studio was sold under it, that said it's delicious cast, headed by Helen Mirren and Jessica Chastain, certainly look like they're worth the wait.
Runs like a Gay Excitometer: ●●●●●●○○○○
Guilty of Romance
From Shion Sono, the director of 2008's Love Exposure comes another look at the searing passions and sensual depravity lurking under the veneer of Japanese society.
Runs like a Gay Excitometer: ●●●●○○○○○○
Red State
After an appalling run with the studio system it's good to see Kevin Smith return to his indie roots, even if his bizarre stunt at Sundance (read it here) was a case of biting off the hand that feeds it, with a a balanced indictment of fundamentalism on all sides of the religious debate and the seductiveness of false prophets. Melissa Leo and John Goodman are the names, Michael Parks is getting all the good ink.
Runs like a Gay Excitometer: ●●●●○○○○○○
Abduction
It's test time for wolf-pack alumni Taylor Lautner as he and his magnificent abs go up against a shadowy Government organisation which may have bred him as super-weapon. Like Hanna but without the style somehow Sigourney Weaver has been dragged into this mess.
Runs like a Gay Excitometer: ●●●○○○○○○○
Chargesheet
Silly looking Hindi crime drama with the murder of a Bollywood starlet pointing to several high profile suspects both within the industry and it's improbable mob connections.
Runs like a Gay Excitometer: ●●●○○○○○○○
Force
Part of the supposed new wave of Bollywood, combining traditional styles with explosive Americanized action we follow John Abraham as a cop only too willing to dish out his own form of front line justice.
Runs like a Gay Excitometer: ●●●○○○○○○○
Muran
It's a Tamil remake of Strangers on a Train, only they're in a car on the road to Chennai. And there will be more singing.
Runs like a Gay Excitometer: ●●●○○○○○○○
Red, White and Blue
American indie about confused patriotism, sexual powerplay and the wraught emotions in three seemingly disconnected Austinites. Sure to have your loyalties shifting through the running time.
Runs like a Gay Excitometer: ●●●○○○○○○○
Speedy Singhs
Canadian about an all Asian Ice Hockey team and the choices it's founder and star player must face up to regarding his religious beliefs and family loyalty. Vinay Virmani stars with Rob Lowe providing support.
Runs like a Gay Excitometer: ●●●○○○○○○○
The Woman
As far as I can gather from the plot synopsis this is Nell where Jodie Foster turns out to be a homicidal maniac intent on destroying Liam Neeson's suburban idyll. Probably unwatchable.
Runs like a Gay Excitometer: ●●●○○○○○○○
Broken Lines
Some films stay on the shelf for a reason, and so it might be for this British family drama about grief and the "struggle between betraying another or oneself". Tedious trailer.
Runs like a Gay Excitometer: ●●○○○○○○○○
Shark Night 3D
The usual bunch of vacuous sexy teens find the lake they're partying at isn't quite as placid and gentle as they'd hoped, especially given there's a murderous bunch of locals who've stuffed the waters with hungry fishes.
Runs like a Gay Excitometer: ●●○○○○○○○○
What's Your Number
The concept of this female centric rom-com should work, with the usually reliable Anna Faris going through her exes to find the one who was probably the real thing. Unfortunately a distinct lack of laughs in the trailer and the slight digs at feminism probably work against the pictures chances.
Runs like a Gay Excitometer: ●●○○○○○○○○
Tuesday, 9 August 2011
Tuesday Trailers - The Debt
Continuing with my quest to highlight trailers for movies no-one else really wants to see, it's John Madden Mossad remake with three agents trying to put right the mistakes they made on a mission 40 years previously with Helen Mirren and Jessica Chastain playing the same person as the actions flips back and forth between the two time periods. OK so it looks like by the book thriller territory but admit it you're still a little curious...
The Debt is released on 30 September 2011.
Tuesday, 26 July 2011
Helen Mirren
Happy Birthday to
Helen Mirren
66 today
There was a time, not that long ago, when I was on the edge of my seat in anticipation for a whole string of forthcoming movies with Helen Mirren, unfortunately most of them have passed by without really making an impact on box office - including the direct to DVD ignominy of Love Ranch. Next up is spy thriller The Debt (pictured - with apologies to any one affected by recent news stories that the image may bare passing resemblance) and domestic drama The Door which should give Mirren the chance to shine as a monosyllabic and awkward yet fiercely loyal housekeeper.
Tuesday, 5 January 2010
20 for 2010 - The Debt
That's right, we're at number 13 in the countdown of top films to look out for in 2010 and already we've had 3 titles starring Helen Mirren.
The Debt is a remake of the 2007 Isreali drama Ha-Hov which was nominated for 4 Awards for the Isreali Film Academy. The script has been Westernised by Matthew Vaughn and Peter Straughan making it onto the prestigious "Blacklist" before it was picked up for productioon by Miramax.
The story relates how three mossad agents (Sam Worthington, Martin Csokas and Jessica Chastain) round up and assassinate a Nazi War Criminal, only for the same criminal to unmask himself 30 years later. The agents (now grown into Ciaran Hinds, Tom Wilkinson and Helen Mirren respectively) must reunite to discover whether he is who he says he is and how their mission went wrong.
Without reading the script it's fair to say this could go one of two ways. It could be an introspective drama about the desire for vengeance and the way it rots the soul or it could be a gung ho kill the Nazis adventure. Director John Madden is certainly more experienced with the former, so I'll be happy if that's the way it goes.
Curiously, even though principle photography finished over 8 months ago we haven't seen a single still from the production of this film, and the cast have been extraordinarily tight lipped on where it is. You would have though someone might has asked Sam Worthington where it was during the Avatar publicity tour.
Apparently not which is why I would probably gues that this film may just disappear without trace by the end of the year.
Saturday, 12 December 2009
Tom Wilkinson
Happy Birthday to
Tom Wilkinson
61 today
He certainly isn't the biggest star I will namecheck on the birthdays, however Tom is the most prolific. Currently he has 5 projects on the go for 2010 which I want to see. First up will be The Debt about 3 former Mossad spies finding their past returning to haunt them. If Roman Polanski isn't spending the next couple of years in goal then The Ghost may get a release. We'll also be looking out for The Green Hornet, The Conspirator and the English language remake of After the Wedding.
Saturday, 5 July 2008
Coming Soon (Maybe)
Now, I know this is a lot later than usual, but I've had an extemely busy day. More on that later... Edwin A. Salt
It's been a while since the last coming soon, so what's new:
The Debt 
Has moved one stage closer to production with John Madden now set to direct. It's a remake of the Isreali film Ha-Hov concerning a retired Mossad agent who has has to rectify a mistake and cover up from the 60s. Nothing like You don't Mess with the Zohan, apparantly.
Blindness
Some new posters have appeared, including this gorgeous one of stunner Gael Garcia Bernal.
The helm has passed to Philip Noyce, Peter Berg having moved on to other things. This seems to be a more real version of Minority Report, so naturally Ton Cruise has been mentioned alongside it for some time. This is really just an excuse for a link to the Tom Cruise 25 years official website.
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