Scotty©'s Talk

Doubt

Director:John Patrick Shanley
Released: 2008
Stars: Meryl Streep, Phillip Seymour Hoffman, Amy Adams & Viola Davis
Genre:Drama
Country: USA

Set in 1964, Doubt centers on a nun who confronts a priest after suspecting him of abusing a black student. He denies the charges, and much of the play's quick-fire dialogue tackles themes of religion, morality, and authority.

One of the Oscar films that I have watched that has at last reached my cinema and for once my cinema has actually put on some Oscar nominated films. Doubt is one of the best of 2008 and one of my favourites of 2008. Without a doubt( no pun intended,) deserved the nominations it got. An excellent film indeed.

Receiving 5 Academy Award nominations; mainly for the cast members and I think a similar amoutn of BAFTA nominations, Doubt is one to watch if not for the brilliant acting that just lifts the film enormously. Dealing with such issues as religion, morality and authoirty; watching Doubt will leaves you wondering what is going on rather than pointing it out to you. The abuse charges that are put to Father Flyn for instance are implied and you don't see anything other than what the characters see. In other words you are put in the same posistion as the characters of Amy Adams and Meryal Streep. This is what works for the film in my opinion. It also probably shows that it was orginally a play; as that is what plays usually do when you watch them. What is brilliant though about the script is that you feel like you've watched so much on screen, yet nothing has particularly happened.

What is brilliant about Doubt and what has been discussed in many reviews is the acting from all the cast. Meryl Streep is outstanding, Phillip Seymour Hoffman is as brilliant as ever but for me, the heart of this film is Amy Adams. Her portryal of Sister James for some reason just stood above even the performance of Meryl Streep. Sister James, as portrayed by Adams is an incredibly vunerable character, one who never has doubts about people( or in this film people in authority) and one who thrives upon teaching her History class. Adams plays her so well that I started to see myself in her character and I'm sure that there are many Sister's like her around. I'd love her to win the Academy Awards but I just don't see it happening. I will for sure be looking into any future films that she produces that I just loved her performance in this. Viola Davis, with such a brief performance left an strong impact in the film. She played her role with such emotion and feeling that you really believed her. Also worth noting the performance of Phillip Seymour Hoffman, who, from being abuser, almost becomes abused at the end of the film. You suddenly feel for him at the end of the film. As you will see if you catch it yourself.

There are a few minor flaws that kept it from being a 5 star film. For instance the direction was a little odd, as it left me wondering whether it was me sitting in the wrong position. The transition from stage to screen I think isn't as strong as it should be for an Oscar nominated film. It lacks a cinematic flair and feels a little staged a times( showing the transition wasn't so atrong.)

The issues of authority is delt with quite strongly here and quite well. For instance Streep's character at first is quite nice to Father Flyn, as he is above her, towards the end of the film she begins to Doubt him. As shown in the film, the difference in authority of the two characters i quite diverse. For instance there is a contrasting shot of the two characters, at dinner with all the priests and nuns. The Nuns, under Streeps character, eat under absolute silence, The Priests are far more laid back and have a laugh. I think this is some of the reasoning behing the Doubt of Streep's character. Father Flyn has more of a rapour with the rest of the children. I'm sure she evys that.

Generally the script is of a decent standard and the dialogue suits eac character and plays well. Perhaps Shanley could have left out some of the more theatrical lines, which left me a little puzzled to say the least. Roger Deakins, world renowned cinematographer really depicts the backdropt to this film really well. From the autumn feeling to snow, it really works in the film.

Overall, Doubt is an excellent film though with flaws. It's a powerful feel that leaves you wondering certain aspects of your life that you might have doubted before. With some brilliant performances, Doubt is one to watch this year.

Highly recomended.

8/10

Bangkok Dangerous

Not as bad as the critics insist. It's not a dull film, on thje other hand - I enjoyed every bit of it, they also managed to make the audience care for the protagonist (an anti-hero).

Action impressively done - although Cage's hair is kind of distracting... why did it have to look so fake? Why can't such an experienced hitman with such precision not take two minutes out with a comb?

The Hollywood Reporter | Stephen Farber
Bangkok won't be making any appearances at the Oscars, but it is executed with skill and -- a severed limb or two notwithstanding -- without too much bloody excess.

Appaloosa

I have an odd fascination towards this motion picture, I find it strange because usually I try to avoid Westerns.

On the other hand, I did like Appaloosa, well directed, likeable and believable characters with a blend of humour, moderate slow violence and unpredictable ending. I noticed that a great deal of attention to the artistic detail of the era was given, great cinematography and overall fine score.

My final verdict would be that, "it's just another Western" or else one can view it as a great character study in Virgil and Everett. Ed Harris and Viggo Mortensen are great to watch.

Rolling Stone | Peter Travers
Appaloosa is gripping entertainment that keeps springing surprises.

Stardust

First of, I'm not a fan of love stories; much to my amusement, as I was forced to watch this film, I liked it a lot, a complete enchanting and original fairy tale. Something that Hollywood rarely does.

Washington Post | Ann Hornaday
Stardust has it all: sweetness, magic, lusty wenches, evil witches, tankards of mead, a gay pirate.

Batman: Dead End

An amazing fan-film, which can be found on YouTube, from Sandy Collora. In just 8 minutes, it delivered that what the 4 previous feature films didn't.

Clark Bartram fit the "Batman" role perfectly, in a way much better than Bale's recent showdown as the legendary Bruce Wayne. The 1939 suit was an absolute idea... The white contacts where a nice touch, and it showed that the producers preferred to focus on the gritty side of the comic other than the "realistic" tilt Hollywood directors chose.

Andrew Koenig as the Joker was very good, I'll will probably get flamed for this, but he was much better than Heath Ledger. I preferred the chaotic, yet psychotic feel of the character.

I never was a fan of AvP films, however the costumes where rather amazing.

The figth scene, Batman vs Predator was mesmerizing to say the least. It's incredible that in such a short time with limited budget and all I still do prefer this fight scene from any other Batman flick. There were no big sets, most of the action was confined to one very simple location with that "Gotham City" feeling, that neither Nolan could achieve in "The Dark Knight".

I never thought I'd see that sort of cinematography in a live action Batman film.

Collora should direct a "1939 feature Batman film", much different than the "Dark Knight Universe" and probably much more appealing to the comic-book fans.

See full 8 minutes film here
Official Site

Revolutionary Road

Director:Sam Mendes
Released: 2008
Stars : Kate Winslet, Leonardo DiCaprio, Kathy Bates, Michael Shannon
Genre: Drama/Romance
Country: UK/USA

A young couple living in a Connecticut suburb during the mid-1950s struggle to come to terms with their personal problems while trying to raise their two children. Based on a novel by Richard Yates.

Part of my Oscar watch season, Revoultionary Road is the 3rd film I think that I've seen that had finally reached my local cinema and very suprrisingly. Only I maye have to re-watch it again because of two annoying women behind me and my Mum, "blabbering their opions in my ear"- to use a line from Annie Hall. It's rude and disrespectful to others around you, so don't it folks! Anyway, I'd also like to add that if you get to see this film, most likely you'll have a "Titanic Crowd" in the cinema screen with you, as I did. Laughing at every sex scene in the film or the sight of a naked body. Yeah, that's just fucking hilarious. Without the annoying distractions, Revoulionary Road is such an underated film and just close to perfection.

Revolutionary Road has been described by many critics and reviewers on the site as being just the same as Mende's 1999 film American Beauty. Well, true, they deal with the same issues but they are set into two different time periods and two different films entirely. For one thing Both characters in this film have different things to deal with. For instance, Frank has to be the breadwinner of the family and be the man of his generation. Clearly, from the portryal of Frank by DiCaprio- that is not really what Frank's all about. Whereas American Beauty is enitrely about that life.

Revoultionary Road centres on the two main characters, Frank and April Weeler. Two different people, wanting different things. Throughout the film we are witnessed to two characters almost keeping up the lie. Underneath it all, they're not the people everyone thinks they are. For example, this is evident with the majority of the characters around them saying "what a great couple they are " and "oh, but you're the Weelers. In some respects they a couple which every other couple aspires to. We can see how much that affects them both. Frank wants to keep pretending to be the ideal man of his generation, by accepting te promotion he gets. April wants to try a new life. It's April that announches all of this as well.

The soundtrack to the film, like Newman did on American Beauty, was just stunning to listen to. It fits perfectly with the theme of the film and just helps us as an audience deleve deeper into 1950's America. Like the America Beauty, the them is almost haunting as you know the characters so well and understand the emotions that the them gives off. Just perfect. I will be downloading the soundtrack very soon. Also worth mentioning the brilliant 50's Jazz music that was in and around the film.

Acting in this film is just brilliantly done. From Kate Winslet to Kathy Bates all the cast produce some sublime performances that quite frankly deserve mre credit. Kate Winslet plays her role as April Weeler, so well and with such realism that you really feel for her. Deserved an Oscar nomination for her role, whch stupidly the Academy omitted. Michael Shannon, however I agree with. With a short apearance he left an impact on the characters and the audience. His character also made me laugh on some occasions at his wonderful social observations that both Frank and April noticed noone else had said. His performance is probably one of my favourites of the year. Leonardo DiCaprio also produced another performance of his career for me. Not his best but up there with my top 5 performances of his. I'm suprised he hasn't been given more credit for his performance.

Mendes once again delivers some brilliant direction in what seems to be an underated films of 2008. One shot in particular at the end perfectly summed up the whole films for me. Wanting to switch themselves off from the constant pursuit of the American Dream and live a little. Just superb. Overall his direction, again deserves more credit as it's just sublime and so underated. Only the Golden Globes have credited him. His attention to camera angels and some else I noticed was an shot which he also used in American Beauty, one to look out for.

Overall, Revoultionary Road is a film which deserved more Oscar Nominations as it's just a brilliant film and one which is close to perfect as you can get. A fascinating tale of one couple's constant struggle to bring up their kids, dealing with personal probelms and almost keep pursuing that American Dream.

Close to perfection...

Highly recomended

9/10

RocknRolla

People ask the question... what's a RocknRolla? And I tell 'em - it's not about drums, drugs, and hospital drips, oh no. There's more there than that, my friend. We all like a bit of the good life - some the money, some the drugs, other the sex game, the glamour, or the fame. But a RocknRolla, oh, he's different. Why? Because a real RocknRolla wants the fucking lot.

If you enjoyed Snatch or Lock, Stock, this is worth seeing, some migth say that the former were better, I'd tell them to shut the hell up they ain't the same and stop comparing them.

All you need to know about life is retained in those four walls. You will notice that one of your personalities is seduced by the illusions of grandeur - the gold packet of king size with a regal insignia, an attractive implication towards grandeur and wealth, the subtle suggestion that cigarettes are indeed your royal and loyal friends, and that, Pete, is a lie. Your other personality is trying to draw your attention to the flip side of the discussion, written in boring bold black and white, it's a statement that these neat little soldiers of death and in fact trying to kill you and that, Pete, is the truth.

Oh, beauty is a beguiling call to death and i'm addicted to the sweet pitch of its siren. That starts sweet ends bitter, and that which starts bitter ends sweet. That is why you and i love the drugs and that is also why I cannot give that painting back. now please, pass me a light.

The story was fine, not Ritchie's best work but certainly interesting enough to hold together a film, on the other hand, the dialogue was class. All of a sudden this movie takes off to the Guy Ritchie storytelling, which isn't a bad thing either.

I can't fucking wait for The Real RocknRolla :D

New York Post | Kyle Smith
A sharp comedy as well as a punk-pulp spree. Don't go if you can't handle Brit slang. ("Grass" = informer.)

The Reader

Director:Stephen Daldry
Released: 2008
Stars : Ralph Fiennes, Kate Winslet, Bruno Ganz
Genre: Drama/Romance
Country: USA/Germany

Post-WWII Germany: Nearly a decade after his affair with an older woman came to a mysterious end, law student Michael Burk re-encounters his former lover as she defends herself in a war-crime trial.

Part of my Oscar watch season, The Reader came a few weeks late to my local cinema and suprised me a great deal. Much attention has been given to the performance of one of my favourite actresses, Kate Winslet and I 100% agree with those critics. The Reader is an excellent film and one which is unfortunatly overshadowed by the likes of Slumdog Millionire and various other Oscar nominated films.

The Reader unfortunatly is American funded and by those Wenstein brothers, who are the only reason that this was up for best picture and perhaps for Stephen Daldry. Don't get me wrong Daldry's direction was very good just not Oscar worthy like the film in general. Without the backing of the Weinstin Brothers, this wouldn't have been receiving those awards; OScars and BAFTAs for example.

Just wanted to point that out. The Reader is an excellent film and suprised me enormously. What is just perfect about The Reader is that, despite being made for an English Language Audience, it feels very Geman orientated. Which for me is the key to any English Language based WW2 film or any other foreign orientated theme. What it does for the audience is that we can add meaning to what we are watching and really delve into each characters because they are very believable. The likes of Ralp Fiennes and Kate Winslet, for example, despite being English were very believable as German characters in the film. The film also sets the backdrop to Germany very well and the scenery around Germany was just brilliant and again added to meaning of the film for the viewer. One scene in particula which was extremly poignent, was the scene in which Michael visits Auswitz and goes in a series of rooms. What was brilliantly done here was the ommision of the soundtrack and just following Michael through what he is seeing. One to watch if you catch it at your cinema.

As metioned throughout the Media, Kate Winslet is just outstanding and highly believable. Thoughout the course of the film I was really feeling for her character and really believing this was Hana Schmitz that I was watching and not Winslet, playing Schmitz. Just brilliant! I hope to see her finally win the Oscar for this year because it was just brilliant to watch her on screen. Ralph Fiennes, brilliant as ever is great as older Michael as is Bruno Ganz as Michael's Law professor. A notable mention to newcomer David Kross who played his role with such innnocence and such a great performance. With the majority of the cast, from what I noticed, being German, I thought still kept the German theme going. For instance I felt like I was watching it in German because it was just done to perfectly.

The Reader, however does rush into the story a little fast and you really have to think for a bit as to watch just happened. I mean there are a few other tiny flaws that I noiced, but none other than the first one that make a difference. What Daldry does perfectly aswell is Michael's story as a boy, when he met Hanna, running alongside him as an older man. For some reason this let us as an audience get to know the character much quicker and establish a posistion with him before the two meet.

What is great is the chemistry between David Kross and Kate Winslet. For instance when thy first meet, you really feel for the both of them, which is difficult to say unless you catch the film. What is difficult to do when you what the film is feel negative towards the character of Hanna in any way. Trying to distinguish between the terrible things that she did as an SS officer and her relationship with Michael is very diffuclt to do. That is all down to Kate Winslet's brilliant performance.

Overall, The Reader is an excellent film and which should see Kate Winslet win her first Oscar. It's also one which shouldn't really be up for Best Picture as it's just not quite there in the 5 star films that I would normally regard in the Oscars. However, at the same time I think it has been forgotten as the other films have taken centre stage and because of Kate Winslet's performance. The Reader is a great film in it's own right and not just " Kate Winslet" film.

Highly Recomended

8/10

Man on Wire

Philippe is an emotional captivating story-teller.

Upon completing the feat, people kept asking why they did it and with their French ideals they didn't understand why there had to be a reason - it was art, nothing more. I couldn't imagine how a documentary about a tight rope walker would be so entertaining that critics would acclaim it so much I had my doubts, but then, I realized they were right.

Best documentary of 2008.

New York Post | Lou Lumenick
Engrossing and exhilarating documentary.

Defiance

Given this was a true story, without going nuts, there are limits to the variance.

Don't expect any over the top hollywood action. In my opinion depiction of the situation and the battles was fabulously real. Ordinary people, victims of war, rebel against trained soldiers - eventually getting their buttocks kicked - even if some survive, none of them was portrayed as some immortal being. In particular Tuvia Bielski's (Daniel Craig) part, as the leader he breaks down a few times - but fights to live, as this in his opinion is his revenge towards the Nazi occupiers.

The New Yorker | David Denby
Defiance, as it turns out, makes insistent emotional demands, and those who respond to it at all, as I did, are likely to go all the way and even come out of it feeling slightly stunned.

Transsiberian

Although the film itself entails a huge number of incorrect stereotypes, I still liked it. A lot. Mostly because I didn't expect much.

It's probably the most engaging thriller I've seen for 2008, plenty of suspense, fine performances and a story that will hold your interest. It is not particularly original but it's handled professionally. Good score and excellent cinematography to say the least. Too bad it didn't make it to the big screens.

New York Post | Lou Lumenick
Brad Anderson's Transsiberian is a genuine sleeper that jump-starts an almost extinct genre.