Movie Review ... Into The Woods

 

Debuting in 1986, James Lapine and Stephen Sondheim’s musical ‘Into the Woods’ has been enduringly popular.  Combining elements from various Grimm fairy tales, the mix of fantasy, horror and music has appealed.  With the current obsession with all things fantastic, it was a given Hollywood would soon come knocking.  Filled with an excellent cast, tight direction and stirring melodic arrangements ‘Into the Woods’ fits the bill in providing enchanting escapism.

A baker (James Corden) and his wife (Emily Blunt) learn they have been cursed childless by a witch (Meryl Streep). They aim to set things right.  Journeying into the mysterious forest where the witch resides, they must find objects that will break the curse.  Encountering Cinderella (Anna Kendrick), Little Red Riding Hood (Lilla Crawford) and others during their quest, their task is made harder by the witch’s machinations.  Learning about responsibility and the power of wishes, the duo set forth on an epic and bedazzling adventure.

Unlike recent movie musicals, ‘Into the Woods’ achieves the right balance of story and song.  As characters sing about their predicaments, their tunes allow the tale to briskly move along.  Graced with a strong cast embracing their roles with gusto, ‘Into the Woods’ is a very delectable treat.  Whilst moments are predictable, the actors never over-play them with Streep and company enjoying the challenge.  They equip themselves admirably during the musical numbers and remember to have fun as well.

Director Rob Marshall is an old hand in this genre, having overseen ‘Nine’ and ‘Chicago’.  He does it well as he ensures the visuals match the story’s grandiose sweep.  Managing to avoid the confined ‘stagey feel’ that often drags down similar works, Marshall successfully utilises the many locations ‘Into the Woods’ requires.  The blend of story-book vistas with dark, brooding spaces are finely melded as the many colours on display mirror the multiple turmoils the characters face.

Entertaining while imparting its messages, ‘Into the Woods’ is a fine stage to screen adaptation.  Fans should be pleased with its aim for quality more than achieved.

Movie Review Rating out of 10:  8

Movie Review by Patrick Moore

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2014 Best and Worst Movies

 

2014 was an uneven year in film.  One side featured fine independent productions making good use of limited budgets. The other had the usual swathe of Hollywood blockbusters, sequels and remakes.  Creatively, Tinseltown often resembled a wasteland of ideas – something that will likely to continue with the ongoing quest for dollars.  With the threat of downloading and internet based media looming large it will be interesting seeing where films go next.  Hopefully this will result in some higher quality movies with more risks being taken.

In the meantime here is my annual Top Ten list for the year.  Find out which films made me happy to see them and others that made me wish I hadn’t……..

THE BEST

10.  Jersey Boys

9.  Edge of Tomorrow

8.  The Grand Budapest Hotel

7.   Snowpiercer

6.  Dawn of the Planet of the Apes

5.   X-Men: Days of Future Past

4.  Nightcrawler

3.  The Wolf of Wall Street

2.  Guardians of the Galaxy

1.  Gone Girl

What I said then: “One of his best films out of a great career, ‘Gone Girl’ is one of Fincher’s most daring projects.  Consistently insightful and engaging, it’s a cinematic oasis amidst a barren sea of recent celluloid mediocrity.”

What I say now: An unapologetic examination of marital hell and media manipulation, ‘Gone Girl’ was one of the bravest Hollywood films of the year.  Setting itself apart from the usual formulaic movies, it was consistently surprising and compelling.

Honourable mentions: Inside Llewyn Davis, 12 Years A Slave, The Two Faces of January, The Hundred-Foot Journey, A Most Wanted Man, Captain America: Winter Soldier, Kill the Messenger, The Drop, Into the Woods.

THE WORST

10. Grudge Match

9.  Noah

8.   22 Jump Street

7.  Paranormal Activity 5

6.  Hercules

5.   Pompeii

4. Endless Love

3.  The Fault In Our Stars

2.  Tammy

1.  Mrs. Browns Boys D’Movie

What I said then: “Mrs Browns Boys D’Movie’ is a deceptive and cruel beast.  Behind its masque of hilarity lies a seething cesspit of crudity and malice.  It’s a celluloid abomination richly deserving of its place in cinema’s Hall of Shame.”

What I say now: A cinematic shocker in every sense, ‘Mrs. Browns Boys D’Movie was simply appalling.  It established its own creative nadir with no sacred cows spared in its desperate quest in plumbing new comedic depths.

Dishonourable mentions:  The Equalizer, Before I Go To Sleep.

That’s it for another movie-going year.  Everyone enjoy a safe and happy Christmas and may 2015 be even luckier than the year about to go. Until next time – thanks for reading!

 

Movie Reviews by Patrick Moore

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Patrick Moore's Movie Review is an alternative look at movie releases in Australia.

Movie Review ... The Hobbit: The Battle Of The Five Armies

 

Much has been made of director Peter Jackson’s decision to film J.R.R. Tolkien’s ‘The Hobbit’ book over three movies.  The story only lent itself to just one with many criticising this extension as a cynical studio money-grab.  Whilst that notion is partially true, it ignores that the Hobbit movies have successfully captured the essence of Tolkien’s work.  The final instalment in the trilogy ‘The Hobbit: The Battle of Five Armies’ does a great job in closing the Middle Earth chapter begun in 2001’s ‘Lord of the Rings’ extravaganza.

Bilbo Baggins (Martin Freeman) is in a world of trouble.  Attempting to free a kingdom trapped in the clutches of Smaug the Dragon, he watches helplessly as it goes on a path of destruction.  Helped by wise wizard Gandalf (Ian McKellen) and dwarf leader Thorin (Richard Armitage), Bilbo tries to face his fears and rid his land of tyranny in a final, desperate battle.

‘The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies’ thrives on sheer scale.  A true epic with some brilliantly realised battle sequences, as an action fantasy event, it is hard to beat.  Jackson immerses himself with gusto into Middle-Earth’s adventures with the different characters combining to make a fascinating whole.  Whether they are hobbits, orcs or dwarves, you care about their actions – something many fantasy film writers forget to do.  Whilst the admittedly threadbare story mostly takes a back-seat to the spectacle, there’s enough to maintain interest.

A technical achievement on a grand canvas, ‘The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies’ is visually arresting.  Those seeing it in the much publicised higher frame-rate may find the picture quality off-putting.  Although distracting, it doesn’t dilute the power of the amazing CGI.  The creativity gone into conjuring Tolkien’s world is inspiring and is aided by the ever lush New Zealand locations.  All are served by the fine performances with the mix of drama and humour revealing Jackson’s determination to have fun in his last sojourn in Hobbit territory.

There’s a sense Jackson didn’t want the franchise to end with ‘The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies’ providing a strong final coda.  He should be content his creative legacy will forever shine with the Lord of the Rings films a bench-mark for others to follow.

Movie Review Rating out of 10:  7

Movie Review by Patrick Moore

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Quotables 18 December

 

Quotables 17 December

 

Quotables 15 December

 

A Ginger Rogers Moment

 

We Three Kings

 

Three Kings Altarpiece - Hans Baldun Grien (1507)

Trivia Bits 14 December

 

With a production budget of $300 million, the 2007 English fantasy adventure film Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End (poster pictured) is the most expensive movie ever made to 2013, even after adjusting for inflation.

The two largest emirates by population in the United Arab Emirates are Dubai and Dhabi.

Legendary Mozambican-born football forward, Eusébio da Silva Ferreira represented Portugal in International games and who, during his professional career, scored 733 goals in 745 matches.

American legal dramedy Boston Legal aired from October 3, 2004, to December 8, 2008 and was a spin-off of long-running Kelley series The Practice, following the exploits of former Practice character Alan Shore (James Spader) at the legal firm of Crane, Poole & Schmidt.

Created by the Rome Statute which came into force on 1 July 2002, The International Criminal Court is situated in the Netherlands to prosecute individuals for genocide, crimes against humanity, war crimes, and the crime of aggression.

Rakija is a popular alcoholic beverage in Southeast Europe produced by distillation of fermented fruit generally with an alcohol content of 40% ABV.

Serenade No. 10 for winds by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart is scored for twelve wind instruments and double bass and consists of seven movements and probably composed in 1781 or 1782 and is often known by the subtitle Gran Partita.

The semi-precious stone lapis lazuli is deep blue in colour and was being mined in the Sar-i Sang mines and in other mines in the Badakhshan province in northeast Afghanistan as early as the 7th millennium BC.

The Golden Grove Mine, producing copper, lead, silver, zinc and gold is in the Australian state of Western Australia and located 52 km south-south-east of Yalgoo.

The Lambeth Homilies are a collection of homilies found in a manuscript (MS Lambeth 487) in the Lambeth Palace Library in Lambeth, England containing seventeen sermons and is notable for being one of the latest examples of Old English, written 1185–1225.

Turophobia is the fear of the commonly eaten food of Cheese and the word being derived from Greek τυρός - turos, cheese and φόβος - phobos, fear.

Keep Calm 11 More Days

 

Madonna and Child

 

Holy Family- Marc Chagall 1975-76

Quotables 14 December

 

Movie Review ... The Water Diviner

 

Since the days of Charlie Chaplain, actors directing their own films have become increasingly common.  Whether they want to further their craft or their own egos is debatable.  What isn’t is the differing quality of their directorial projects.  Robert Redford and George Clooney have excelled in their self-made movies, while others have fallen flat.  ‘The Water Diviner’ finds Russell Crowe taking a turn behind the camera.  Crafting an interesting film, it shows he has creative talent behind his sometimes boorish persona.

In 1919, Australian farmer Conner (Russell Crowe) is on a quest.  Wanting to discover the fate of his three sons who fought in Gallipoli, he travels to Turkey.  While staying in a hotel run by Ayshe (Olga Kurylenko), Connor teams with a Turkish officer.  Travelling across the still war-scarred terrain, Connor soon learns about sacrifice and heroism with his mission taking some unexpected paths.

‘The Water Diviner’ marks a respectable directorial debut for Crowe.  Grasping the story’s themes and characters with ease, he reveals flair in blending them together. His handling of the culture clashes between Connor and those he meets are especially fascinating.  Not only does Connor deal with tension amongst the Turks but also the stifling British bureaucracy.  The immediate aftermath of such a bloody war is interestingly told, with passions still running high.

Another plus are the locations which look amazing.  From the Australian outback’s rugged terrain to Turkey’s natural beauty, ‘The Water Diviner’ has a good sense of place.  These further magnify the differing nationalities and the character’s determined natures.  Whilst some editing choices and a few out of place action scenes muddy the narrative, ‘The Water Diviner’ succeeds in being a film of quality. 

Generally free of the pretention of many local drama films, ‘The Water Diviner’ is something many should appreciate. Crowe doesn’t disgrace himself as a director or performer with his latest a more than decent directorial debut.

Movie Review Rating out of 10:  7

Movie Review by Patrick Moore

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Movie Review ... Folies Bergere

 

When a child leaves the family home to the occasional dismay of parents, this is usually results in the ‘empty nest syndrome’.  How these fresh waters are navigated has seen marriages sink or swim whilst forging the new horizons free of daily parental responsibilities.  ‘Folies Bergere’ uses this concept to good effect.  A French romantic comedy, the direction and cast enhance the tale of someone eager to rejuvenate their stagnant life.

Working on a farm with husband Xavier (Jean-Pierre Darroussin), Brigette (Isabelle Huppert) yearns for more personal challenges.  After the recent departure of their son from the familial home, she leaves her husband to seek adventure. Finding herself in Paris, she begins a romance with suave stranger Jesper (Michael Nyqvist).  With rekindled energy and outlook, Brigette’s actions have a marked effect on her marriage in ways she never would have imagined.

Directed by Mark Fitoussi, ‘Folies Bergere’ is different from the usual rom-com fare.  Instead of clear heroes and villains, Fitoussi’s characters have genuinely complex emotions.  Xavier and Brigette are a loving couple looking to escape marital inertia.  Any long-term partners would have their ups and downs with their ability to consistently re-fresh their union a key to longevity.  The issues of love and fidelity are explored with keen astuteness and played well by a fine ensemble.

Unlike many French-set films ‘Folies Bergere’ doesn’t linger too long on the surrounds.  It ensures the story remains front and centre than the admittedly lush vistas.  Deconstructing and then re-assembling Xavier and Brigette’s marriage, the script effectively shows both facets of the coin.  Wisely avoiding showing sympathy for either side, it leaves it to audiences to judge their deeds.  The level of emotional authenticity further magnifies the realism ‘Folies Bergere’s captures, making for continually engaging viewing.

An interesting foray into the nature of love and marriage, ‘Folies Bergere’ is generally satisfying.  Having some unexpected twists, how couples can re-engage with each other is a theme ‘Folies Bergere’ runs with well.

Rating out of 10:  7

Movie Review by Patrick Moore

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Patrick Moore's Movie Review is an alternative look at movie releases in Australia.

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A Gina Lollobrigida Moment

 

We Three Kings

 

The Adoration of the Three Kings - Girolamo da Santacroce

Trivia Bits 13 December

 

Australian operatic soprano Dame Nellie Melba, who was the first Australian to achieve international recognition as a classical musician, features on the Australian $100 bank note (pictured) released in 1996.

Kiefer Sutherland stars as Senator Corvus in the 2014 movie Pompeii, a German-Canadian historical disaster film produced and directed by Paul W. S. Anderson and also stars Kit Harington, Emily Browning, Carrie-Anne Moss, Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje, Jessica Lucas and Jared Harris.

After failing to qualify for the 2008 Summer Olympics in triathlon, American Mary Beth Ellis went on to win five Ironman Triathlons, including the 2012 U.S. Championships at Ironman New York.

Yad Kennedy, located in the Mateh Yehuda Region near Jerusalem, Israel, is a 60-foot high (18 m) memorial to John F. Kennedy designed by Brazilian-born Israeli architect David Resnick, shaped like the trunk of a felled tree, symbolizing a life cut short and was built in 1966 with funds donated by American Jewish communities.

Sovereign city-state and island country in Southeast Asian of Singapore takes its name from the Malay word meaning Lion City.

The large populated landmass of Greenland, an autonomous country within the Kingdom of Denmark, is mostly situated in the Arctic Circle and is said that the Norwegian-born Icelander Erik the Red was exiled from Iceland for murder and set sail with his ships to the northeast and founded Greenland.

Guy-Manuel de Homem-Chisto is best known as half of the duo of French electronic music duo Daft Punk with Thomas Bangalter as the other half.

The South African alcoholic drink umpombothi is a type of beer made from maize (corn), maize malt, sorghum malt, yeast and water with usually less than 3% alcohol content.

The International Sociological Association was established in 1949 under the auspices of UNESCO with its headquarters in Madrid, Spain.

Naomi Campbell, often referred to as the queen of the catwalk, was discovered in the 1980’s while studying ballet at the Italia Conti Academy of Theatre Arts in London, her hometown, and became an instant favourite of the Versaces, who for two decades never staged a show without her.

Only 12 to go

 

Madonna and Child

 

The Alba Madonna by Raphael

Quotables 13 December

 

A Gilbert Roland Moment

 

Father Christmas in Shades of Blue

 

Father Christmas or Santa Claus has not always been portrayed as being in a red suit. Many vintage cards show him in differing coloured suits or cloaks. Here are some in shades of blue.

 

Irving Berlin – "White Christmas" (1940)

 

Irving Berlin – "White Christmas" (1940)

Estimated earnings: $36 million

Written by a Jewish immigrant from Russia, no song captures the heart of the Christmas period like "White Christmas". Bing Crosby's version is by far the most famous but countless other artists have recorded the song. Crosby's version is one of the best selling pieces of music in history, with over 100 million copies sold worldwide to date.

Label from the 78 single release of "White Christmas" by Bing Crosby on Decca Records

Music and Lyrics by Irving Berlin
Sung by Bing Crosby and Martha Mears (dubbing Marjorie Reynolds)
from the 1942 movie 'Holiday Inn'

We Three Kings

 

Adoration of Magi - Unknown Master Germain 1420

Trivia Bits 12 December

 

The 1954 classic novel Lord of the Flies (cover pictured) by Nobel Prize-winning English author William Golding features Ralph, Jack, Simon, Piggy, Roger, Sam and Eric and is about a group of British boys stuck on an uninhabited island who try to govern themselves with disastrous results.

Broadcast from 1974 to 1977, Porridge is a British situation comedy stars Ronnie Barker and Richard Beckinsale as two inmates at the fictional HMP Slade in Cumberland with "Doing porridge" is British slang for serving a prison sentence and was followed by a 1978 sequel, Going Straight, which established that Fletcher would not be going back to prison again.

Olivia Cockburn is better known as Olivia Wilde, an American actress who has appeared in a number of television and film productions including Tron: Legacy and Cowboys & Aliens.

English actor Martin Freeman, known for his role of Bilbo Baggins in Peter Jackson's The Hobbit film trilogy, plays John Watson in the 2010 British television crime drama Sherlock opposite Benedict Cumberbatch as Sherlock Holmes.

Callisto is one of the largest moons of the planet Jupiter which has been explored on several occasions by robotic spacecraft, most notably during the early Pioneer and Voyager flyby missions and later by the Galileo orbiter.

Of Dutch origin, Vincent van Gogh was a part of the Post-Impressionism Art Movement whose work was notable for its rough beauty, emotional honesty and bold colour.

American rock musician Meat Loaf released in October 1977 the album Bat Out of Hell which was his second album and major-label debut, as well as being his first collaboration with composer Jim Steinman.

The most common shape of the food bowl known as a ramekin is circular and are often built to withstand high temperatures, as they are frequently used in ovens, or in the case of crème brûlée, exposed to the flame of a cooking torch.

Portuguese American guitarist, singer-songwriter, and record producer Nuno Bettencourt is best known as the guitarist for the Boston rock band Extreme.

One of the most famous and beautiful beaches in Australia, Cable Beach, is close to Broome, Western Australia, with the beach being over 20 Km long and arcs around the shoreline forming a stunning ribbon of white sand fringing the turquoise sea and the trees and vegetation inland.

Christmas To Do List