Cindy Prascik's Review of Green Book

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Dearest Blog: Yesterday it was off to Marquee Cinemas for recent Golden Globe Best Picture nominee (and National Board of Review winner) Green Book.

 

Spoiler level here will be mild, nothing you wouldn't know from the trailers.

 

In the early 1960s, a white bouncer from the Bronx accepts a job as driver/security for a brilliant black pianist embarking on a tour of the deep south.

 

Dear reader(s), this review will be sorta short (for me, anyway), because all I can really do is embellish on the sentiment: GO SEE THIS MOVIE NOW.

 

Green Book addresses the very serious subject of racism with humor and heart. The larger theme is obvious, but--without smashing anyone over the head--the movie also smartly tackles those little ways people convince themselves they aren't part of the problem. If it is ungracious to expect accolades, well, Viggo Mortensen and Mahershala Ali should be extremely ungracious right about now. Terrific performances all 'round, led by two of the year's best. Though it exceeds two hours and it's hardly action packed, Green Book engages fully, earning every minute of its runtime. I laughed far more than I expected to, and I'm not sure I'll ever stop crying.

 

Green Book clocks in at 130 minutes and is rated PG13 for "thematic content, language including racial epithets, smoking, some violence, and suggestive material."

 

A timely reminder of how far we've come and why even a small slip backwards is unacceptable, Green Book is warm and funny enough that people might get the message without even realizing it. 

 

Of a possible nine Weasleys, Green Book gets nine.

 

Until next time...

MOVIE REVIEW: A DANGEROUS METHOD

IN THEATERS

A DANGEROUS METHOD



Viggo Mortensen and Michael Fassbender star in director David Cronenberg's adaptation of Christopher Hampton's play detailing the deteriorating relationship between Sigmund Freud and Carl Jung. The year is 1904. Carl Jung (Fassbender), a disciple of Sigmund Freud (Mortensen), is using Freudian techniques to treat Russian-Jewish psychiatric patient Sabina Spielrein (Keira Knightley) at Burghölzli Mental Hospital. But the deeper Jung's relationship with Spielrein grows, the further the burgeoning psychiatrist and his highly respected mentor drift apart. As Jung struggles to help his patient overcome some pressing paternal issues, disturbed patient Otto Gross (Vincent Cassel) sets out to test the boundaries of the doctor's professional resolve. A Dangerous Method screened at the 2011 Toronto International Film Festival. ~ Jason Buchanan, Rovi

Director: David Cronenberg

Cast: Keira Knightley, Viggo Mortensen, Michael Fassbender, Vincent Cassel, Sarah Gadon

Release Date: Nov 23, 2011

Rated R for Sexual content and brief language

Runtime: 1 hr. 39 min.

Genres: Drama

Review:

David Cronenberg’s A Dangerous Method is a possibly his most elegant film in his illustrious career. A true life tale that covers so much territory about human nature that it can take a while to have it all settle in. The film’s restrained façade is a perfect setting for the film’s subject matter. He’s interested in showing us how people can’t discuss and dissect any topic without actually getting your feet wet and looking in the mirror. His cast delivers the kind of impressive turns you’d expect with each commanding the screen in turn. Michael Fassbender career year continues here as he plays Jung in a steely straight laced manner but exemplifying his simmering conflicted nature. Fassbender’s turn isn’t as showy as the other 2 primary roles but it’s just as effective. Keira Knightley, showing she’s master the art of teeth and neck acting, displays some real talent in her role which starts off as overblown but settles into a more effective turn as the film proceeds. Her character is fascinating even if Knightley’s idea of a Russian accent is a combination of her usual British tenor with the occasional deep voiced inflections. Viggo Mortensen’s role could have been larger but his performance as a cigar chomping Sigmund Freud is incredibly impressive. Mortensen and Fassbener’s woefully limited screen time together is one of the film’s many highlights. If there is a complaint it’s the fact that the focus seems misplaced on Jung and Spielrein’s relationship as opposed to Jung and Freud’s. It’s hardly enough to make it a failed endeavor though and while it might leave you wanting for more what we get is fairly impressive.

A-

[Trailer] A Dangerous Method

David Cronenberg directs Michael Fassbender, Viggo Mortensen & Keira Knightley in a story of Sigmund Freud, Carl Jung and a woman that came between them.

This trailer is incredibly impressive and is totally something that right up my alley, personally I can’t wait!

Movie Reviews: THE ROAD

Saturday, November 28, 2009
Movie Reviews: THE ROAD
IN THEATERS

THE ROAD

A father (Viggo Mortensen) and his son (Kodi Smit-McPhee) try to keep the dream of civilization alive as they wander through a post-apocalyptic landscape.

Cast: Viggo Mortensen, Kodi Smit-McPhee, Robert Duvall, Charlize Theron, Guy Pearce


Director: John Hillcoat


Opened ..November 25, 2009..


Runtime: 1 hr. 59 min.


Rated R for some violence, disturbing images and language


Genres: Road Movie, Sci-Fi Disaster Film, Science Fiction


Review:


The film adaptation The Road requires the viewer’s patience and attention as it pontificates on various elements of human nature and civility in extreme circumstances. Strikingly bleak yet inspirational and hopeful, John Hillcoat’s film can be a slight chore to trudge through but that’s kind of the point. Hillcoat doesn’t attempt to give the audience any glimmer of anything resembling a ..Hollywood.. style happy ending. The majority of the film is shot in weather worn greys and blacks, sapped of color and life mirroring the plot. The characters all look like walking cadavers; most look like they could barely be considered living breathing human beings. It’s a tough movie to watch and not the type that has a clear path, instead it meanders almost aimlessly. The plot isn’t concerned with the destination as much as the journey and the pivotal relationship between father and son. Viggo Mortensen delivers an Oscar worthy performance, his face a mixture of melancholy and quiet strength. Determined but devastated, Mortensen allows the audience to feel every painful step of this harrowing journey. Newcomer Kodi Smit-McPhee also delivers fine work as Mortensen’s onscreen son only occasionally bordering on irritating. It’s a challenging role and could have easily been drowned out by Mortensen’s shining work but Smit-McPhee more than holds his own. The two share strong on screen chemistry as demonstrated by some gut wrenchingly tough scenes near the film’s conclusion. Robert Duvall and Guy Pearce are nearly unrecognizable in small roles but both make the most of their limited screen time. Charlize Theron has an equally small role her but is nearly forgettable in comparison. Small issues aside the cast provides strong work across the board. Hillcoat’s adaptation of Cormac McCarthy best selling novel, maintains all the power and most of the shocking imagary of the book. The Road is a fasicinating visual parabable about the human condition and the perserverance of the human spirit, a rewarding excursion that might not be for everyone.


B+

Movie Reviews: EASTERN PROMISES & 1408

Sunday, October 07, 2007
Movie Reviews: EASTERN PROMISES & 1408
IN THEATHERS




EASTERN PROMISES

Nikolai (Viggo Mortensen), who belongs to one of London's most feared organized crime families, meets a midwife (Naomi Watts) who unwittingly holds damaging information that could lead to unraveling the family's criminal network. Nikolai must make sure this doesn't happen without ruining the young woman's life.

Cast Viggo Mortensen, Naomi Watts, Vincent Cassel, Armin Mueller-Stahl (more)

Director(s) David Cronenberg

Writer(s) Steven Knight

Status In theaters (wide)

Genre(s) Drama

Release Date Sept. 14, 2007

Running Time 100 minutes

MPAA Rating R - for strong brutal and bloody violence, some graphic sexuality,

language and nudity

Review:

Eastern Promises is quite simply one of the best films of the year. David Cronenberg's new film is a complex and totally enthralling work that keeps your eyes glued to the screen throughout. This is due in no small part to stellar performances from the cast. Viggo Mortensen turns in quite possibly his best performance ever and is fully deserving of an Oscar nod come nomination time. Mortensen's Nikolai is a massively compelling character and it's impossible to take your eyes off him when he's on screen. Vincent Cassel supporting role as Kirill is excellent and he gives the character, which could have been played very clichéd in lesser hands, plenty of depth and pathos. Naomi Watts almost gets lost in the mix but her subdued performance is on par with rest of the cast even if her role isn't as meaty as her counterparts. Cronenberg takes advantage of these wonderful performances and elevates what could have been a very straight forward, even clichéd, thriller and turns it into an operatic piece of art with very Cronenberg sensibilities. Try not to winch and grimace during the naked knife fight which is as potent an action sequence as I've seen on celluloid. I've always been a fan of Cronenberg's work but his recent films like A History of Violence and Eastern Promises he's elevated his game to a truly masterful level.

A

ON DVD

1408

Mike Enslin (John Cusack) is a guy who stubbornly refuses to believe in the paranormal. In fact, he's written two bestselling books debunking myths and rumored hauntings. His latest subject is a hotel room in New York City with a dark and infamous past. However, in his determination to prove that 1408 is not haunted, Enslin may just stumble into a real-life ghost story.

Cast John Cusack, Samuel L. Jackson, Mary McCormack, Tony Shalhoub (more)

Director(s) Mikael Håfström

Writer(s) Matt Greenberg, Scott Alexander, Larry Karaszewski

Status On DVD

Genre(s) Horror

Release Date June 22, 2007

DVD Release Date Oct. 2, 2007

Running Time 94 minutes

MPAA Rating PG-13 - for thematic material including disturbing sequences of violence and terror, frightening images and language

Review:

1408 starts off very well establishing mood and a pervasive sense of dread but quickly fizzles out as it crashes towards the end. Mikael Håfström (Derailed) movie starts with excellent pacing and wonderfully sets up shots that give the film a refined sense of quality. Unfortunately, once the action moves to the actual room these lavish shots quickly disappear and we are subjected to a fairly pain by the numbers ghost/haunted story. The story is surprisingly layered and deep but the execution just fails. My main issue with this film is that John Cusack is so over the top that it's distracting and hard to take him or the story serious. Needless to say I didn't find it particularly frightening or disturbing, on a side note it did make me want to watch The Shining again. As the film progresses and the situations get more and more outlandish the movie it becomes more of a chore to watch than anything else. 1408 starts the movie with the promise of great things ahead but fails to deliver anything new or frightening.

C-