Saturday, August 04, 2012
Back to regular routine this week with both reviews here for you. Classic this week is one of Daniel Day-Lewis' best performances in the 1989 darling My Left Foot.
Abraham Lincoln:
Vampire Hunter (MA15+)
The adage that old is new has proved true in recent years
for literature, with the Bible accessible through phone apps and classics re-written
for a new generation. But while novels like Pride
and Prejudice and Zombies started the mash-up trend, the re-writes are now
relying just as much on history for inspiration. The birth of a nation is the
focus of cinema’s latest vampire story, where revered United States president
Abraham Lincoln gives the Supernatural
brothers a run for their money.
Russian-Kazakh director Timur Bekmambetov, best known for
vampire films Night Watch (2004) and Day Watch (2006), takes us a world away from
the Bella and Edward saga to the 1800s where Abraham Lincoln (Benjamin Walker)
witnesses his mother being sucked dry by plantation owner Jack Barts (Marton
Csokas). Vowing to avenge her death he meets Henry Sturges (Dominic Cooper),
who teaches him the skills to become a vampire hunter.
Abraham finds himself in Springfield, Illinois on assignment
where he meets Mary Todd (Mary Elizabeth Winstead) and finds himself on the
road to a law degree and life in politics. Not focusing heavily on his road to
the presidency, we instead come to realise his mighty battle of the American Civil
War was against an army of vampires hungry for the blood of the country.
Bekmambetov’s style is what audiences have come to know
through his earlier films as well as the more recent Wanted (2008), using effects to sensationalise brutality and
filters to darken the overall tone of the film by sight. He succeeds in
creating a grim world with sepias and grainy shots, and uses slow-motions for
blood splatters as far as he can stretch (no doubt a bonus for those viewing
the film in 3D).
Much of the battle scenes look like something out of a
storybook with the effects at times unconvincing. But there is plenty of blood.
The stylistic take from the director almost fools you into a state of content before
he reels you back into this fake reality when Abraham more than often finds
himself in a scrape. Relative newcomer Walker is imposing in his menace as well
as stature, while Cooper hides his own agenda as Sturges.
The blend of fact and fiction will serve history buffs
nicely, blending in key figures in Abraham’s life like political rival Stephen
A. Douglas (Alan Tudyk) and friend Joshua Speed (Jimmi Simpson) amongst his
interests. Seth Grahame-Smith, adapting his novel into the screenplay and
working with co-producer Tim Burton again after this year’s Dark Shadows, is keen on the kooky but
this time tones it down in favour of the seriousness that marked Abraham’s part
of the 19th century.
The problem is that the story ultimately lacks conviction
because of its general ridiculousness. While vampirism was widely believed to
exist at the time and the story flows steadily enough, a little bit of comedy could
have served well. But played out as a straight horror, it will satisfy some of
those in favour of medium gore levels.
Rating: 2.5/5
*Published in the Daily Liberal (Dubbo), Western Advocate (Bathurst), Parkes Champion Post and Midstate Observer (Orange) from Saturday 3/8/2012***
My
Left Foot (1989)
The true story of Irish painter and writer Christy Brown had been chronicled in the titular autobiography, but its adaptation into film some thirty years later brought a further appreciation for one very talented man. Enduring hardship throughout his life, this story of a man who defied all odds to make something of himself is moving and well-executed.
Played out in chapters, we see
Christy (Daniel Day-Lewis) first gain support from his mother (Brenda Fricker),
going through the troubles of a young adolescent and learning to love. Born
with severe cerebral palsy, his experiences were marked by the stigmas and
harsh realities that came with living in the 1940s and 1950s.
Only able to control his left
foot, Christy’s journey to career success was hard and portrayed so on the big
screen. Director Jim Sheridan steered Day-Lewis and Fricker to Oscars for their
roles, keeping the feel of the story extremely personal and excluding any
elements threatening to make their central relationship saccharine.
Christy’s boisterous character as
well as the miracle of the story itself is what makes him a great role for
Day-Lewis, whose manner is well thought out and carried off with conviction.
While a feel-good film in retrospect, there are emotional ups and downs that
help to build the film and with great performances it remains a great story.
*Published in the Mailbox Shopper (Dubbo) from Wednesday 1/8/2012
MISSED LAST WEEK'S REVIEW? See what I thought of The Dark Knight.
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