Cindy Prascik's Review of Snowden

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Dearest Blog: Yesterday it was off to Marquee Cinemas to check out the latest from Oliver Stone: Snowden. 

 

Spoiler level here will be mild, nothing you wouldn't know from the trailers. Convinced the US government's spying has gone too far, a CIA consultant steals information to expose its secrets. Snowden is awards bait at its most obvious. 

 

Timely, contentious subject matter combines with decorated talent to peg it an early contender, but that doesn't necessarily make it a great movie. 

 

Joseph Gordon-Levitt is compelling as Edward Snowden, though his deliberate method of speech is nearly as distracting as his French accent was in The Walk. Rhys Ifans and Nicolas Cage turn in terrific performances as Snowden's CIA mentors, and Melissa Leo, Zachary Quinto, and Tom Wilkinson are fantastic as the journalists who helped break Snowden's remarkable story. 

 

While Snowden's tale is undoubtedly fascinating, the movie seems to drag. Your attention isn't likely to wander too far, but you'll be getting mighty fidgety by the second act. A political story by default, Snowden may annoy both sides of the aisle equally. 

 

Unlike last weekend's pristine cinema hero, Sully, Ed Snowden is no squeaky-clean good guy; his reasons were brave and selfless, but he still broke laws intended to protect the country he loves so much. Is he a heroic villian? A villianous hero? The movie asks the questions, but isn't all that convincing in its answer. Snowden is distractingly desperate for awards, but there are some great moments to be found. 

 

A scene where a video-screen Ifans looms cartoonishly-large over Levitt's doubting Snowen is particularly effective. 

 

The film maintains tension throughout, but a cheesy ending leaves you feeling like it was all for naught. Snowden clocks in at 134 minutes and is rated R for "language and some sexuality/nudity." Snowden is a reasonably entertaining outing, but its heavy-handedness is ultimately its downfall. Of a possible nine Weasleys, Snowden gets five and a half. 

Fangirl points: Timothy Olyphant! Until next time... 

 

MOVIE REVIEW: SAVAGES

IN THEATERS

SAVAGES



Oscar-winning director Oliver Stone adapts author Don Winslow's best-selling novel into this all-star ensemble crime drama about a pair of peaceful, Laguna Beach marijuana dealers who are targeted for extortion by the ruthless Mexican Baja cartel. Ben (Aaron Johnson) is a devout Buddhist and dedicated philanthropist, and his best friend Chon (Taylor Kitsch) is a former mercenary who trained as a Navy SEAL. They may not seem like major drug dealers, but together they make a comfortable living selling top-quality marijuana. And they share more than just a profitable business; their mutual girlfriend O (Blake Lively) is more than enough woman for the two ambitious young entrepreneurs to handle. But just as Ben and Chun are feeling like they're on top of the world, their blissful life of lawless hedonism threatens to yield dire repercussions. The Mexican Baja cartel wants a piece of the action, and their cruel leader Elena (Salma Hayek) has dispatched her top hatchet man Lado (Benicio Del Toro) to ensure that she gets it. When the cartel kidnaps Ophelia and threatens to kill her unless Ben and Chun comply, the desperate pot dealers enlist the aid of a shady DEA agent (John Travolta) to try and avert a tragedy. Emile Hirsch and Uma Thurman also star. ~ Jason Buchanan, Rovi

Release Date: Jul 06, 2012

Rated R for Language Throughout, Drug Use Throughout, Nudity, Some Graphic Sexuality and Strong Brutal/Grisly Violence

Runtime: 2 hr. 10 min.

Genres: Drama, Suspense/Thriller

Director: Oliver Stone Cast: Taylor Kitsch, Aaron Johnson, Salma Hayek, Benicio Del
Toro, Blake Lively, John Travolta, Emile Hirsch, Demián Bichir

Review:

Oliver Stone has wallowed in the pits of mediocrity since the mid 90’s, producing films that neither excite nor intrigue. His film’s started to feel like he was phoning it in, putting in as little effort as possible which was readily apparent onscreen. Thankfully Savages is a return to a more confident and self secure filmmaker, closer akin to Natural Born Killers without the film school excess. Working on a script based on a novel by Don Winslow, Stone is kept on course making his most coherent film in years. Savages is a gleefully violent crime tome told in an wonderfully engaging manner. A rather impressive feat since some of the character arch are terribly clichéd and clunky. Even with that, Stone’s film never disengages or loses your interest during its 2 hours plus run time. Taylor Kitsch and Aaron Johnson are stuck playing two halves of what could have been one character in reality. Kitsch does his best to bring some gravity to his role, occasionally succeeding. Johnson is far too passive, a result of how his character is written, to register much. A golden baked and busty Blake Lively is given far too much screen time, made even worse with an annoying voiceover throughout, for my taste bringing very little to the role. The supporting cast, made up of grade A talent, is clearly having a ball playing overblown exaggerated characters. Salma Hayek in a black bob wig is a steely spitfire of a villain. Benicio Del Toro delivers one of his best performances, along with a mullets, in years playing an unhinged psychopath with subtle strength and ease. John Travolta rounds out the cast, playing a small but equally fun role which grows in importance as the film reaches its climax. It’s great to see Stone back on the top of his game let’s hope this is a sign of things to come.

B+

Movie Reviews: W.

Sunday, October 19, 2008
Movie Reviews: W.
IN THEATERS

W.








The life and controversial presidency of George W. Bush (Josh Brolin).

Cast: Josh Brolin, Elizabeth Banks, James Cromwell, Ellen Burstyn, Thandie

Newton, Richard Dreyfuss

Director: Oliver Stone

Opened October 17, 2008

Runtime: 2 hr. 11 min.

Rated PG-13 for language including sexual references, some alcohol abuse,

smoking and brief disturbing war images

Genres: Political Drama, Biopic [feature], Drama

Review:

W. is not what you'd expect from Oliver Stone, it lacks his usual edge to be honest if I didn't know Stone directed it I'd never assume he did. Does that mean W. is a bad movie, no not really. It's a somewhat flawed if straight forward film that never delves too deep into most of the political issues outside of a few. Instead we are given broad melodrama dealing mostly with Dubya's daddy issues. It's intriguing and engrossing to watch but it feels lacking. Stone does do a good job of painting a fairly well balanced picture of a man that polarizes just about anyone. Josh Brolin does a fantastic job in the lead role and avoids the easy pitfall of falling into caricature. Brolin performance is excellent, nailing the mannerism and tenor of speech. He holds this film together as he make Dubya an almost sympathetic character as we see, the film's told with intermingled flash backs to his younger days while coming back to his presidency, his rise to power. The rest of cast is filled with excellent actors and actresses, some of whom are frightening close to the real thing. Elizabeth Banks brings sincerity to her portrayal of Laura Bush and she has some good chemisty with Brolin. Richard Dreyfuss is spot on as Dick Cheney and gives a solid supporting turn here. Also excellent in a supporting turn is Jeffrey Wright, who lacks the physical likeness of Colin Powell, who gives character a surprising amount of depth. Ellen Burstyn and James Cromwell both do very well and the momma and "poppy" Bush with both getting some great lines to deliver. Thandie Newton doesn't fair as well as her Condi Rice is nearly mute through most of the film and portrayed as nothing more than a "yes" woman. Toby Jones plays it a little to devious as Karl Rove but he's still gives an interesting performance. Solid performances make for a solid film but Stone makes a few miscues. Some of the musical choices are pretty amateur and his bookend scenes of Dubya in the outfield doesn't achieve the intended effect. W. feels like a film that might have benefited from a bit more distance from the actual events, the film was shot quickly so it could be released before the upcoming election, so it'd have more perspective on the decisions made during Dubya's presidency.

B-