Man on a Ledge (2012)

Genre: Thriller

Directed by: Asger Leth

Starring: Sam Worthington, Elizabeth Banks, Jamie Bell

Running time: 102 minutes

An ex-policeman who was arrested and sent to prison for stealing a precious diamond escapes the penitentiary and goes out on the ledge of the 22^nd floor of the Roosevelt Hotel threatening to jump, in a ploy to prove his innocence. He claims to have been framed by a wealthy businessman and he is out to prove it.

This is your generic action thriller movie where a guy convicted of a crime he did not commit is out to prove his innocence; it has been done before. The device used in the movie to get his point across is original enough and offers some good tension. The action is fast-paced and the story is interesting enough. Sure, some of the plot twists were somewhat illogical, but, with action movies, it is important to suspend disbelief a bit to enjoy yourself. Unfortunately, the ending and the resolving of the issue felt rushed, so the movie kind of fell flat for me by the end of it.

The acting was nothing to write home about. Everybody played their respective roles well, there was nobody really bad.

Man on a Ledge offers some entertaining fast-pace action in the beginning, but it leaves you wanting more in the end. It is an OK movie, but, in that genre, there are better choices out there.

Rating: «««

The Darjeeling Limited (2007)

Genre: Comedy / Drama

Directed by: Wes Anderson

Starring: Owen Wilson, Adrian Brody, Jason Schwartzman

Running time: 91 minutes

Three brothers who have not seen each other since their father’s funeral, a year before, get back together for a spiritual journey across India. One of them, played by Owen Wilson, has an ulterior motive for this trip, and the three estranged brothers will have to learn to trust each other for this adventure to last and come to its proper conclusion.

I found this Wes Anderson film extremely charming. As a prologue, there is a short film called Hotel Chevalier, with Jason Schwartzman and Natalie Portman. It sets the tone nicely. The rest of the story rests on the shoulders of the three brothers, all other characters are secondary. It is their journey, and the location, India, makes for a beautiful backdrop. As a matter of fact, it is more than a simple backdrop; it is an integral part of the story and the self-discovery that awaits the main characters.

The three main actors do a very good job here; they are all solid in their respective roles.

The use of colors and textures by Wes Anderson is, once again, spectacular in The Darjeeling Limited. Same with the music. The song Where Do You To, My Lovely was stuck in my head for hours after seeing this film, and that is not a bad thing.

Overall, The Darjeeling Limited is a charming movie about reconnecting family bonds that have been broken, in spite of all the obstacles life can put in your way. Highly recommended.

Rating: ««««

The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou (2004)

Genre: Comedy

Directed by: Wes Anderson

Starring: Bill Murray, Owen Wilson, Cate Blanchett

Running time: 118 minutes

Steve Zissou is an aging oceanographer and documentarian who is going on his latest mission, to hunt the “Jaguar shark” that ate one of his colleagues on a previous expedition. This time around, he has on board with him his long lost son, which he had with a woman, decades before, and a journalist chronicling the trip. This new adventure promises to be filled with emotions Zissou might not be ready to contend with.

Of all of Wes Anderson’s films, The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou has to be the most quirky and off-beat, and that is saying a lot. That being said, that quirkiness is definitely part of its charm. I had seen this movie, years ago, and I must admit I liked it better this time around.

Wes Anderson sure has developed a knack, over the years, for working with interesting colors and textures. Whenever you watch his movies, you cannot help paying attention to everything on the screen, as every element battles for your attention. And what to say about the music? Once again, the soundtrack was a big part of the package. I must admit that the David Bowie songs sung in Portuguese and played on acoustic guitar was a nice touch.

Once again, we find many of the Wes Anderson regulars on cast, such as Bill Murray, Owen Wilson and Angelica Huston. Bill Murray is real solid here, as usual. His transformation is profound and he really becomes this blasé Jacques-Cousteau-esque character. He has really mastered that kind of role as of late, and he showed once again how much he controls his craft as Steve Zissou. You forget his previous roles and joins him on his adventure.

The story tended to drag a bit here and there, with some unnecessary scenes slowing the expedition down. The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou also occasionally crossed the line between pastiche and parody, feeling is a tad over-the-top in the process. That being said, it definitely was a movie with a good dose of charm and humor, though definitely not Anderson’s best offering.

Rating: «««

The Squid and the Whale (2005)

Genre: Drama

Directed by: Noah Baumbach

Starring: Jeff Daniels, Laura Linney, Jesse Eisenberg

Running time: 81 minutes

Bernard Berkman is a novelist, who was once very successful, but his star is now on the decline and, in his supreme arrogance, he is not willing to accept that he might be the problem. Just as his wife Joan starts publishing, with great success, their relationship fall apart beyond the point of repair. They get divorced, and, stuck in the middle, are their two children, who are torn between them.

I had seen this particular title a while back, but I came back to it in my desire to see and review everything Wes Anderson was involved in. In this case, Anderson served as producer in support of director Noah Baumbach.

Jeff Daniels and Laura Linney are both solid here, as usual. They have shown their talent in the past and they do so again in The Squid and the Whale. They are both very convincing as a couple falling apart. Daniels carries a big chunk of that load, as the arrogance and selfishness of his character is at the basis of the story. He went in head first without holding back, with just the right tone as to not go over-the-top. You see a father who has alienated his younger son, who is closer to his mother, and who might end up doing the same with the older one.

Jesse Eisenberg was already in his early 20’s when this film was made, but he looked the part of teenage boy. He was very touching as a son gravitating towards his father, his hero. He makes you feel the frustration and anger of a boy seeing his life fall apart right before his eyes.

The Squid and the Whale is a very touching movie. There are some tough moments, and some sweeter funny ones. Overall, it is a very good movie, albeit short. Worth a watch.

Rating: ««««

A Dangerous Method (2011)

Genre: Historical

Directed by: David Cronenberg

Starring: Keira Knightley, Viggo Mortensen, Michael Fassbender

Running time: 99 minutes

This 2011 historical film covers the relationship between Carl Jung, Sigmund Freud and Sabina Spielrein. The movie starts when Ms. Spielrein is brought into a psychiatric hospital, in Zurich, for a case of hysteria. Through analysis, young doctor Carl Jung comes to realize that the young lady is feeling that way because of the corporal punishment administered to her by her father as a kid. Her humiliation comes from the fact that she felt aroused whenever it occurred. Jung seeks the help of fellow doctor, Freud, in treating his new patient, but the two don’t agree on the way to get there, and the young woman will play one against the other to get her way.

This movie brings to the screen a very compelling story about the power of taboos and sex on the human mind. The conflict between Jung and Freud is particularly well played-out. Freud believes sex is the underlying factor in everything, but Jung likes to think there is more to it, and would like to delve more into the issues of spirituality. Fassbender and Mortensen do a superb job working off each other as the tension builds between the two doctors. They have some very good scenes together.

Keira Knightley also shows some great intensity as a young woman trying to learn how to control her emotions towards her burgeoning sexuality. She looked totally invested into this role and it paid off in the end.

A Dangerous Method is a riveting and compelling movie. Highly recommended.

Rating: ««««

Soeur Sourire (2009)

Genre: Franco / Biographique

Réalisateur: Stijn Coninx

Distribution: Cécile de France, Sandrine Blanche, Jan Decleir

Running time: 124 minutes

Ce drame biographique est librement inspiré de la vie de Jeannine Deckers, alias Sœur Sourire, qui a obtenu un succès en chanson après s’être réfugiée chez les religieuses. Malheureusement pour elle, ce succès aura profité plus à son couvent qu’a elle-même. Une fois revenue à la vie civile, elle tenta de retrouver le succès, mais tout devait lui mettre des bâtons dans les roues.

Cécile de France est criante de vérité dans le rôle-titre. Elle rend si bien à l’écran cette femme à la recherche d’un sens à sa vie que nous y croyons fermement. Dans ce film, nous retrouvons une Jeannine Deckers sensible et intransigeante à la fois, rebelle mais désireuse de se sentir capable d’aimer et de se soumettre. Dès que les choses se compliquent trop, elle se sauve, et cela durera jusqu’à ses derniers moments sur Terre.

Sœur Sourire est un beau film très touchant. Le spectateur est invité dès le départ à embarquer dans cette histoire, même si tout le monde sait que cela ne peut bien se terminer. Les acteurs et actrices sont solides dans leur performance, à part peut-être Jo Deseure, qui jouait la mère de Jeannine Deckers, et dont le ton sonnait souvent un peu faux, et le film a été bien ficelé. Somme toute, Sœur Sourire est une belle expérience cinématographique, malgré quelques petites longueurs.

Rating: ««««

The Kingdom (2007)

Genre: Action / Thriller

Directed by: Peter Berg

Starring: Jamie Foxx, Chris Cooper, Jennifer Garner, Jason Bateman

Running time: 109 minutes

An FBI investigative team is sent to Saudi Arabia following a terrorist attack that killed many civilians and an FBI legal attaché.

The Kingdom should have been so much better, especially considering the cast involved. Many big names on the marquee here, and the filmmakers should have made better use of all the talent on hand. There was such star power, but so poorly used. The story dragged on slowly and painfully at first, really making it tough to continue. Eventually, business finally picked up and, after some well-done fast-paced action and some compelling storytelling, the movie ended on a high note.

The closing of the movie stuck with me; it is a great way of showing that we have not seen the last of these horrible terrorist attacks. Mentalities do not change rapidly, if at all, and that on both sides of the equation. After all, it takes two to tango.

Rating: «««