So, this film, I'm not a scientist. My degree's in English so though science isn't my specialty, I still feel that there are many inconsistencies in this film.
The plot's basic enough, Roy McBride (Brad Pitt, solid) has to send a message to his father, Clifford (Tommy Lee Jones, with an aw sucks, southern accent personality) to stop the power surges on Earth so people won't die. And then he ends up going to Neptune to destroy his father's mission. He gets there and forces his father to come back to Earth with him, despite his objections and while doing so, Clifford severs the tie that was holding them to the ship. Roy lets him go and Clifford drifts down to his death while Roy somehow forces himself back up to get the shuttle so he can return to his home. That just makes no sense to me whatsoever. So, yeah, I'm wasn't a big fan of this film before that scene and certainly wasn't after that scene. Sure, I guess there are some good scenes on the underlaying theme of how twisted government agencies are, but it could have been done so much better and the secondary characters had thin, underdeveloped personalities so the film wasn't much to watch. If you want to watch a good space spectacle, try The Martian. Grade: B-
Side Notes:
-Another nitpick, during the final video feed from Clifford, the timer goes from 21 minutes to 42 minutes back down to 36 minutes. That is another ridiculous mistake.
-It is nice to see Ruth Negga in a film. It's a shame her role is small and weak. There was so much potential there and it was wasted.
-Ditto with Liv Tyler and Donald Sutherland.
Saturday, January 18, 2020
Friday, January 10, 2020
1917 (2019)
First of all, I just want to give George McKay a hug. Second, get off your butts and go see this film. It's a masterpiece.
The plot is somewhat basic. Two young soldiers need to cross enemy lines to deliver a message so more lives can be saved. Blake (Dean-Charles Chapman) and Schofield (George McKay) are up for the task, namely because Blake literally has skin in the game. His brother is among the men needing saved. Sure, Schofield isn't thrilled at imminent death but he doesn't question the scary orders. The two actors carry the film, with cameos from more famous names scattered throughout.
Filmed as though it is a single-take, the two main actors brilliantly capture your attention. You can't take your eyes off them as they battle the enemy and the elements as they leave the trenches and cross into German territory. Both nearly die several times, first in a landmine in a German trench and then when a German plane nearly crashes on them, before burning down the abandoned barn. Poor Blake is then killed as he tries to help the badly burned German pilot. His death is just devastating. Schofield is rightly hurt and upset, you can see the pain etched on his face, but soldiers on nevertheless, only sleeping when he is again nearly killed by another soldier, the backfire tossing him down the stairs.
Major spoiler alert, he makes it, just after the doomed attack has begun. Captain Mackenzie (Benedict Cumberbatch) can't believe this message but at least he reads the letter and calls off the attack. And Schofield finds Blake's brother, Joseph (Richard Madden) to give him the bad news in person, before collapsing against a tree with sheer, utter exhaustion.
A masterpiece in every sense, you feel as though you have been transported back to that time, with an epic set and the score is almost like the third main character, cluing you in to when something will happen. And the story has you on the edge of your seat the entire time and Schofield that you truly become invested in, terrified every time he makes a move to avoid a danger that another worse one is on the other side. Also, I've been saying for three years (since 2016's Captain Fantastic) that George McKay is one of the best actors of his generation and this film absolutely proves that. This film will not disappoint. Grade: A
Side Notes:
-Sure, it is a bit ridiculous that the letter is spotless when handed to Captain Mackenzie, especially after Schofield nearly drowns. I chalk it up to it being in a watertight container.
-For the record, Blake's first name is Tom and Schofield's is Will.
-Blake is always hungry while Schofield remains more somber without getting into much detail in regards to his family.
-Also, this film begins on April 6, 1917, which is, if I remember correctly, Good Friday and the day America finally, officially entered the war, though that is never mentioned.
-Schofield only drinks water once during the course of the film and never goes to the bathroom.
-This film deserves all the Oscars and every other award known to man. Yeah, it's that good.
The plot is somewhat basic. Two young soldiers need to cross enemy lines to deliver a message so more lives can be saved. Blake (Dean-Charles Chapman) and Schofield (George McKay) are up for the task, namely because Blake literally has skin in the game. His brother is among the men needing saved. Sure, Schofield isn't thrilled at imminent death but he doesn't question the scary orders. The two actors carry the film, with cameos from more famous names scattered throughout.
Filmed as though it is a single-take, the two main actors brilliantly capture your attention. You can't take your eyes off them as they battle the enemy and the elements as they leave the trenches and cross into German territory. Both nearly die several times, first in a landmine in a German trench and then when a German plane nearly crashes on them, before burning down the abandoned barn. Poor Blake is then killed as he tries to help the badly burned German pilot. His death is just devastating. Schofield is rightly hurt and upset, you can see the pain etched on his face, but soldiers on nevertheless, only sleeping when he is again nearly killed by another soldier, the backfire tossing him down the stairs.
Major spoiler alert, he makes it, just after the doomed attack has begun. Captain Mackenzie (Benedict Cumberbatch) can't believe this message but at least he reads the letter and calls off the attack. And Schofield finds Blake's brother, Joseph (Richard Madden) to give him the bad news in person, before collapsing against a tree with sheer, utter exhaustion.
A masterpiece in every sense, you feel as though you have been transported back to that time, with an epic set and the score is almost like the third main character, cluing you in to when something will happen. And the story has you on the edge of your seat the entire time and Schofield that you truly become invested in, terrified every time he makes a move to avoid a danger that another worse one is on the other side. Also, I've been saying for three years (since 2016's Captain Fantastic) that George McKay is one of the best actors of his generation and this film absolutely proves that. This film will not disappoint. Grade: A
Side Notes:
-Sure, it is a bit ridiculous that the letter is spotless when handed to Captain Mackenzie, especially after Schofield nearly drowns. I chalk it up to it being in a watertight container.
-For the record, Blake's first name is Tom and Schofield's is Will.
-Blake is always hungry while Schofield remains more somber without getting into much detail in regards to his family.
-Also, this film begins on April 6, 1917, which is, if I remember correctly, Good Friday and the day America finally, officially entered the war, though that is never mentioned.
-Schofield only drinks water once during the course of the film and never goes to the bathroom.
-This film deserves all the Oscars and every other award known to man. Yeah, it's that good.
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