THE DESCENDANTS

Directed by: Alexander Payne
Run Time: 115 min


It's all about family in this drama from Alexander Payne. Accompanied by a nice soundtrack that shows the viewers the variety of Hawaiian music this is where George Clooney shows his talent and proves that he is a versatile actor. Matt King (George Clooney) is a successful lawyer. His wife is suffering from a coma and he comes to terms to something very difficult to stomach; that his wife is actually cheating on him.

The news was broke by her 17-year old daughter; Alexandre (Shailene Woodley) who at first is nothing more than a rebellious teen but later transformed into a mature sister for Scottie (Amara Miller) and a good daughter for King. King himself is an emotionally distant father and this tragedy put him back together with his family not to mention that his cousins is nagging him on a piece of paradise their big family had, to be sold to any developer, thus makes them filthy rich. King, unable to side the news that his wife is cheating on him then go into a journey trying to find the man his wife is falling.

But this one is not just about family coming to terms with reality and unsaid feelings but about protecting family tradition and heritage, something we sometimes forgot in the modern age of materialistic pursuits. Here we see more than just template family drama, the main character transforms from ignorant to care and it is done smoothly without overly melodramatic.

There is no twist whatsoever since Payne is making the viewers enjoying the ride (literally and metaphorically) while treating us with amazing Hawaiian scenery that makes you want to go there.

MONEYBALL

Directed by: Bennett Miller
Run Time: 133 min
 

I don't understand baseball and how people play it. I have seen it on TV and I think it is boring. However it does not turn me down as I know the fact that this one is about baseball since this one is an Oscar nominated film with Brad Pitt on it. But this one is a tough sell for international audience, unless if it is about football.

Unlike many sports drama that relies heavily on dramatic cliche and last minute scoring (well it does happen here but very subtle) this one relies on meetings, dialogues and phone calls. What makes it interesting is how 'flat' but deep this film is. Flat in a sense that there's nothing much going on that can be called as dramatic, not even a romance just like in Jerry Maguire but 'deep' in a sense that Brad Pitt acted his character, Billy Beane, in a good way we can see his layers as a GM and as a father.

Billy Beane (Brad Pitt), former would-be superstar of baseball, he is now the general manager of Oakland Athletic team.  As a GM he faces a huge problem; replacing three of their star players with shoe string budget. Billy then hires Yale-educated economist behind the desk guy, Peter Brand (Jonah Hill) who 'created' a certain mathematical formula in how to assemble a 'cheap' but skillful team. To take matter simply, what Beane tries to do is to built a team as strong as FC Barcelona with the budget of Aston Villa by exploiting undervalued athletes instead of trying to buy a star one.

Billy believed in this so called new approach and try to implement it, to the disdain of many who thinks that baseball cannot be determined by numbers, especially coach Art Howe (Philip Seymour Hoffman). He put everything at stake, even his job as a GM. Will he pull it? Especially it is him against the world.

It is the mixture of instinct, personal approach and statistic, Beane proved that by swimming against the current, sometimes it is worth the fight. Sometimes.

PEARL JAM TWENTY

Directed by: Cameron Crowe
Run Time: 109 min
 

I am a fan of Pearl Jam since I was a teenager. Eddie Vedder's voice is amazing and I have listen to almost all of their songs. However I will not let my love for Pearl Jam to tarnish my review since this is a documentary about Pearl Jam not about the music, which I really like.

I have to admit, if I listen to music and I like it I just listen to it and doesn't even bother to know where the band comes from or even what the vocalist or the singer looks like. Heck, I just knew Drake's face few months ago yet I have listen to his songs for such a long time.

For me this one is enlightening, since I get to know Eddie Vedder's face for the first time [insert your sigh here]. Didn't mean to be rude but I listen to Pearl Jam not watch their faces one by one and try to memorize it in case I stumble into one of them in the mall. Besides there is near zero chance I will stumble upon them here in Indonesia. This means I am just an average fan, not some hardcore fan. However their songs are amazing to me.

So it begins in linear, the beginning of grunge rock movement in Seattle in the early 90s. A lot of stock footage was shown and very nice, it has the look of 90's MTV. As we all know, the 90s were ruled by Nirvana and Pearl Jam.

I do listen to Nirvana and know the face of Kurt Cobain though, in case you wonder. It is interesting to watch the ups and downs the inner work of Pearl Jam as they grow from zero to hero. Through various interviews (so that's their faces, I mumble to myself) the viewers will get to know tidbits, conflicts, dreams and opinions of people and themselves about their career.

I kinda wished that there will be several full footage of their performance and a little bit disappointed that most of it were just cuts and shorts. I am looking forward for the concert video though. This documentary reveals nothing new at all, it feels like any MTV documentary made in the 90s, and that's another disappointment from me.

WE NEED TO TALK ABOUT KEVIN

Directed by: Lynne Ramsay
Run Time: 112 min

I thought that devilish child from The Omen is evil, but this one is also evil, without any supernatural stuff around it. This is a depressing but good drama about a mother, Eva (Tilda Swinton) who raised a hell-child named Kevin. We track Kevin's lifetime since birth until his adolescent age (adult Kevin by Ezra Miller).

Since he was a child, we can see that he's a sociopath who shows no regrets in doing mistakes. This got worsened by the emotionally detached Eva. The husband, Franklin (John C. Reilly) seems like a husband who doesn't want to know more about his son. After Kevin goes for a killing-spree, it is Eva who has to face the blame and guilt of raising Kevin.

It ain't easy being a mother, especially if you have to raise Kevin and this film successfully point that out. It is also not easy to lay the blame on the mother since it seems Kevin has seeds of destruction since he was a child. The family is emotionally dysfunctional and that fuels Kevin's disdain to society plus enhancing his sociopath behavior.

Swinton is amazing as Eva and it shows her spread as an actress while John C.Reilly manages to free himself from his normal comedic roles while Ezra Miller is haunting as Kevin.

The violence are implied and not seen directly but we can sense that there is something dark and depressing about Kevin and his family. Seeing this is an eye opener for parents would be that it ain't easy raising a child.

THE GIRL WITH THE DRAGON TATTOO

Directed by: David Fincher
Run time: 158 min

Did you grind your teeth in anger as you heard the news that David Fincher is about to make the English language adaptation of The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo? I grind my teeth as I read the news. Does Americans lazy enough to read the subtitles of the Swedish version so they need to make the English language version? Besides, I hate Hollywood remakes of successful non Hollywood movies, except for Let Me In, the remake of Let the Right One In.

However this is Fincher who made Se7en and Zodiac, not Bay, so I still have some faith. Lowering my expectation as low as possible this one manages to surprise me. The Fincher version is better than the Swedish one. Thanks to bigger budget and better score from Trent Reznor which will remind you of The Social Network.

Opened with a brief prologue and weird opening credits that remind you of James Bond movies (Daniel Craig is even the leading actor here) with the cover of Led Zeppelin's Immigrant Song, Fincher take us into the feel bad ride of the year.

Mikael Blomkvist (Daniel Craig) is scorned, he lost a case against a millionnaire. Blomkvist is called by Henrik Vanger (Christopher Plummer), a wealthy man, to investigate the disappearance of his niece, Harriet, almost 40 years ago. He assumes that Harriet has been murdered. Telling to Blomkvist that he will work under the guise of writing a biography for him, Blomkvist must stay at the private island of Vanger family to investigate further.

Then Blomkvist get some help from Lisbeth Salander (Ronney Mara), a gothic punk girl with haunting look who can hack into the internet. In fact she manages to hack into Blomkvsit computer previously. Together they are the dynamic duo, dwelving into the dark and shocking secrets of the Vanger family.

As expected, it is a harsh, gritty, murky and rough. Not suitable even for teenagers. The pacing and the acting is good however what comes as my disappointment is how they all speak English in Sweden with 'forced' Swedish accent. It is not necessary and feel awkward. How would you feel if Michael Mann's Heat made in Germany in German language but with 'forced'E nglish accent?

You don't have to read the book or the Swedish version to understand this one, since this time Fincher proves that not all remakes (or re adaptation in this case) have to be bad.

THE ARTIST

Directed by: Michel Hazanavicius
Run Time: 100 min

In the age of 3D movies and heavy special effect, a silent film titled The Artist steal the attention. Made as a homage and love letter to cinema (just like Martin Scorsese's Hugo which I haven't seen up to now), this film even incorporate technical aspect of the silent period like shooting at 22 frames per second, 1:33 aspect ratio and the campy acting. Not in wide screen, 3D even not in IMAX? This must be insane. But insane is the word, together with 'underdog' and we all know how Hollywood loves underdog movies in this award season. Silent is golden this time.

Opens in 1927 the protagonist is George Valentin (Jean Dujardin), attending the premiere of his own movie. He's famous and rich, having a mansion and legions of fans. During the premiere he accidentally kissed a nobody named Peppy Miller (Bérénice Bejo). The kiss was immortalized in a movie newspaper. Seeing that as a capital, Miller start using that newspaper edition to  get inside the movie business.

The film tracks the ascent of Miller into the show business and George's popularity (and financial) decline due to the new technology that allowed movies to have sound. George seem reluctant to adapt to the new technology, in fact he insisted of making his own silent movie from his own pocket in the time of the peak of Miller's popularity with her talking movie.

It is a feel good and heartwarming movie for everyone to watch and the music background is amazing. However if you try to put this film with other 'real' silent movie, the story is just fine, not great but just fine. But in time where cinema has done more than just talking, this is some sort of breathe of fresh air for movie goers. That is if you are not lazy enough to read subtitles. You don't have to be an avid silent film fan to understand this film since the story is universal and easy to understand.

THE HELP

Directed by: Tate Taylor
Run Time: 146 Min
 

Racism is bad and countless film has shown us about that, from Color Purple to Mississippi Burning. But this one takes another less glitzy approach, instead portraying the big picture, it goes to behind the yard of a middle class Mississippi in the 60s where segregation is the 'acceptable' norm.

By focusing on African-American maids were treated by their caucasian employer, this one manage to extract good acting from the cast.

Focusing on Skeeter Phelan (Emma Stone), a recent college graduate who comes home and finds that her own society is treating the maids in a cruel way, thus fuel her spirit to write the stories of the maids from maids's perspective.

The maids are Aibileen Clark (Viola Davis) and Minny Jackson (Octavia Spencer), who has to endure insult even threats of being fired. Aibileen takes care of the kids (who in the future had a chance to be just like their racist bitch mothers) and Minny has to face her ueber bitch employer; Hilly Holbrook (Bryce Dallas Howard), a social climber who has tongue as sharp as razor. As the antithesis for Hilly there is Celia Foote (Jessica Chastain), who is nice and didn't treat Minny as if she is a sub-human.

This is a human story where ignorance and racism will make you puke and the problems of the maids will make you sympathize with them. Emma Stone shine here, but it is Chastain who add the comical effect for this 'serious but safe' movie. I do hope the film could be more 'daring' in exploring racism as a theme, perhaps as daring as American History X but this one is decent and worth watching.

TINKER TAILOR SOLDIER SPY

Directed by: Tomas Alfredson.
Running time: 127 minutes.

What does most spies do in real life? They waited in dark room, smoking, drinking coffee, typing telegrams and discussing. The real actions were done by the one in the field and not as glossy as James Bond. No car chases or fancy gadgets or let alone, sexy girls for the guys.

The story is straightforward but you really need to pay close attention (and intellect so to say) as to why, who and where since it does not being stated clearly on the screen. Having said that, concentration is a must. Bringing the A list of British actors, the acting is not disappointing. Even Benedict Cumberbatch we all know as Sherlock from BBC can shine here.

Main plot is about Smiley (Gary Oldman) who just being 'sacked' from MI 6 (The Circus is the nickname here) and try to find a Russian mole inside the top brass. To assist him is Peter Guillam (Benedict Cumberbatch), head of the Service’s strong-arm ‘scalphunters’ unit and Ricki Tarr (Tom Hardy), Guillam's so called henchmen. With multiple flashbacks often from different angles, we can see a glimpse of the main character's personality.

You can feel the atmosphere of cynicism, distrust, betrayal and insecurity from this one. It makes you feel, as a viewer, how cold, silent and soulless the world of spy is. Sadly this make the film lack emotional and dramatic impact. Not only because of the nature of spying but also the film duration that try to compress the meticulous story into two hour only. Had it been 30 minutes more it can explore more on the mole suspicion  to add the thrill or perhaps some personal insight into some characters. 

 

Thanks to a tight script and editing, the film manages to squeeze Le Carre's book into a two hour movie although sometimes fail to deliver Chekov's gun to make things interesting.

SHERLOCK HOLMES: A GAME OF SHADOWS

Directed by: Guy Ritchie
Run time: 129 min

Thank God this sequel doesn't have number '2' in it but goes for longer title instead. I do not set my expectation high for sequels since it tends to just bring you more superlatives. But I can say that I am entertained. Bringing back the super duo of Sherlock Holmes (Robert Downey Jr) and James Watson (Jude Law) from the first film, the chemistry is still intact. If you have seen the first film this one dealing with James Moriarty, (Lex Luthor of Sherlock universe, well acted by Jared Harris) and watching the first one is something you can do to add knowledge although not necessary.

The year is 1891 and World War I is still far away but you can smell the embryo of it as it is being fueled by Moriarty himself. He even, in one scene, predicts that even Sherlock cannot stop the suppressed need of the nations in Europe for a conflict. Well we all know world war I is inevitable somehow.

Unlike most criminals, Moriarty is not a big mafia boss but an university professor making genius plot to put European nations head to head in a world war so his weapon industry could profit from it.

This time less bromance element and more to Sherlock's deduction plus pre-visualization skill. The slow motion scene is awesome and glossy, Zach Snyder better watch out, Ritchie can hold your breath for these scenes only.

Sadly Irene Adler's  (Rachel McAdams) screen time is too brief and the woman role taken by Simza (Noomi Rapace) as the kick-ass gypsy lady. The first half deal with how the special effect helps the story and the last half is about battle of wits between Sherlock and Moriarty. The fights are amazing and the change in setting (not only in England but also Paris and Switzerland) is visually refreshing. Ritchie has managed to breathe new air for this franchise by not dwelling too much on bromance but focusing on the investigation.

However the BBC miniseries is better, in terms of story and wits, but it doesn't make this one disappointing since each has its own pros and cons.

50/50

Directed by: Jonathan Levine
Run time: 100 min

When you are up, it's not a wonder so many people wanted to be your friend. But when you are down, it reveals who your real friends are.

I rooted for the main character, Adam (Joseph Gordon-Levitt) who suddenly had the news that he had a rare spinal cancer with 50% survival rate (thus the  source of this movie title).  Hearing this new is a blow to Adam and without overly melodramatic (or even flashy) and trying to extort your tears, this one manages to make me laugh and cry at the same time.

Revealing he had cancer is quite difficult for Adam, His mother become extremely worry not to mention that she has to taken care of Adam's father who suffers from Alzheimer. His girlfriend, Rachel (Bryce Dallas-Howard) who initially back him, finally bow out in disgrace since she cannot handle the situation anymore.

But his friend, Kyle (Seth Rogen) stand by him, no matter what. Although at certain point he is just plain annoying and low (besides his character doesn't seem to be different from his previous movies), trying to pimp Adam's misery so he can get laid. The chemistry between these two characters is intense and funny. Then there is Katherine McKay (Anna Kendrick) an inexperienced young therapist who is nervous but actually have good intention.

This is one of Joseph Gordon-Levitt's best act (let's just erase G.I. Joe from our collective mind shall we?) since he can deliver a realistic and memorable character.

The whole film is a beautiful experience for me, accompanied by a good soundtrack from Pearl Jam, one of my favorite band. It teaches you that if you cannot change how things are, at least you can change how you can see it.

CONTAGION

Directed by: Steven Soderbergh
Run time: 106 min

Don't talk to anyone. Don't touch anyone.

This one can be easily called Virus, Actually just like Love, Actually, a hyperlink (?) film with bunch of marquee names and it's all about one theme. This time it is virus and lucky for the viewers it's not about zombie or being as silly as Resident Evil.

But Soderbergh take another approach, he make it 'what if a lethal viral disease' is happening right now?' in the style of documentary and realism. Following Beth Emhoff (Gwyneth Paltrow) who contracted the virus in Hong Kong and his husband (Matt Damon) must face this. Then there's Dr Ellis Cheever (Laurence Fishburne) the head of CDC who send Dr Erin Mears (Kate Winslet) to investigate. Meanwhile the virus spread so fast, creating panic in the society, fueled by an activist blogger Alan Krumwiede (Jude Law) who publishes inflammatory and controversial stories about conspiracy theory involving the government and the pharmaceutical company.

Then there is Dr. Orantes (Marion Cotillard), a WHO investigator, who is being kidnapped by her Chinese counterpart Sun Feng (Chin Han); she is being held for a ransom of the vaccine, as soon as it is developed.

It is not only virus being taken care of in this film but also the fabric of the society plus how fast the spread of fear among people is. The film itself is good but at certain point it feels too brainy and left no space for character development due to the number of ensemble cast almost the same as the number of players of a football team.

This is not pure entertainment and felt like some documentary which pose us the most common question: what would you do in such situation? Would we just work separately and not as a global citizen helping each other regardless of politics and interest?