Showing posts with label Ben Kingsley. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Ben Kingsley. Show all posts
Saturday, May 19, 2012
Review of the Week: The Dictator (plus Aguirre, The Wrath of God)
0 comments Posted by Katina at 7:30 PMThe Dictator (MA15+)
When a film is presented in loving memory of former North
Korean leader Kim Jong-Il, previously parodied in films like Team America: World Police, it’s an
amusing foreshadow of what’s to come. In the year since both Jong-Il and Osama
bin Laden died, the surprise of seeing their names disgraced in the eyes of
comedy once more is minimal. But, luckily for them, they have the fearless
tyrant of Wadiya knocking on heaven’s door to comfort them.
Sacha Baron Cohen takes on a new mantle as the dictator of
the fictional North African country, a man used to power from a very young age
but with a more idiotic disposition than some of his counterparts. He sleeps
with celebrities but wants cuddles they don’t give him and executes nuclear
researchers for making bomb heads round instead of pointy.
Agreeing to go to the United States on for diplomatic
discussions with the United Nations, Admiral General Aladeen (ha, geddit?) gets
cast onto the streets after some dastardly work by baddie Tamir (Ben Kingsley)
and finds himself with his complete opposite. Eco-friendly and a major in
feminist literature, Zoe (Anna Faris) takes him to her organic store believing
he’s a foreign dissident.
There’s a fair bit thrown around throughout the film, an
anti-Arab joke here, picking up a bit of Yiddish around the place there. It
addresses some of the bigger stereotypes, playing along with them rather than
breaking them, but always maintaining a comical nature. There’s a bit of sexual
conduct as expected, but again in a typical Baron Cohen way of the more
outlandish kind.
Aladeen is a man with more than one side, but even a pretty
face would be hard pressed to change every one of his thoughts. His struggles
with roughing it out on the streets of New York and dealing in a normal manner
with people is similar to those in film and TV elsewhere; no doubt influences
were pulled from characters like Seinfeld’s
The Soup Nazi.
Structured with an actual storyline, Baron Cohen’s latest
project steers clear of the mockumentaries that made Borat and Bruno centre
stage. Aladeen’s story has most of the puzzle pieces to it (some go missing
when his and the audience’s mind do), taking the journey through strong
beginnings, a messed-up middle and a somewhat solid conclusion.
Plenty made use of the opportunity to work with the comedian
– Megan Fox was happy to parody herself as a celebrity prostitute, Ed Norton
the same… and Ben Kingsley’s inclusion seems strange although his diverse projects
aren’t a secret. Faris, however, fits well trying to see the good in a man who
is instantly terribly rude to her. As Zoe she’s crazy but not nearly as dumb as
she could be. Well, except for the whole not recognising him thing.
Smartly kept short at 83 minutes, the film still creeps
along over the course of the story’s three-day timeframe. With short but
frequent bursts of reasons to at least smile, it’s not the Englishman’s best
work, but remains a timely look at the view of dictatorship from Western
society.
Rating: 3/5
*Published in the Daily Liberal (Dubbo), Western Advocate (Bathurst), Parkes Champion Post and Midstate Observer (Orange) from Saturday 19/5/2012
***
Aguirre, The Wrath of God (1972)
The first of five Werner Herzog-Klaus Kinski collaborations, the story of a Spanish expedition to claim the riches of El Dorado is an unsettling one. Don Lope de Aguirre (Kinski) exerts a demanding presence on the party making their way through Peruvian terrain, outing the chosen commander, Ursua (Ruy Guerra), in favour of self-glory and fortune.
Their one-week quest to find El Dorado comes at a cost early, but Aguirre defies those waiting for them to continue on. Even with his own daughter and Ursua’s mistress in their midst, both impeccably dressed.
It’s narrated through the diary of accompanying monk Gaspar de Carvajal (Del Negro), who himself seems to forget true moral thought as the expedition becomes increasingly difficult. As part of the New German cinema era with the likes of Wim Wenders, the film seems trivial with events like a trial for Ursua but quickly turns frightening when the numbers of the party slowly start to thin.
The backstory to this West German film is priceless. Kinski told Herzog he was leaving the film with only a few scenes to shoot. Herzog threatened (well enough) to shoot him dead, so he came back. And he’s ruthless in his role, with the swagger of Mick Jagger and preposterous ideas for glory. This is an eerily intriguing film, the progressive music haunting to make it the story of one man’s growing madness.
*Published in the Mailbox Shopper (Dubbo) from Wednesday 16/5/2012
MISSED LAST WEEK'S REVIEWS? See what I thought of Dark Shadows and Gandhi.
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Saturday, May 12, 2012
Big news in my cinematic world this week!
I'm now writing an extra film column, this time for the Daily Liberal's weekly publication Mailbox Shopper. The reviews I do will be of films from 1001 Movies You Must See Before You Die, my Bible of sorts. It's a life quest I intend to complete so this is one step towards that. As such, I'll be posting what I review for Shopper alongside my regular weekly reviews.
Now aren't I just the nicest? :D
Dark Shadows (M)
Johnny Depp’s work over time as
muse to Tim Burton has been nothing short of a rollercoaster as their
friendship repeatedly turns to some freaky business on screen. Their latest
collaboration continues along that path as television series Dark Shadows is transferred onto film in
typical Burton style.
The grand master of wacky presents
the story of Barnabas Collins (Depp), who loses his parents and the love of his
life to cruel witch Angelique ‘Angie’ Bouchard (Eva Green). She loves him too
much to see him with anyone else so turns him into a vampire, and two centuries
later the bickering resumes as they involuntarily reunite in a 1972 that
Barnabas struggles to comprehend.
His descendants are a
dysfunctional bunch, living off what little money is left from his family’s
former seafood empire and miserable. Supposedly they would have to be if a
proper English vampire is the only thing to get them out of a rut.
But the film quickly edges towards
a romance as a love triangle ensues; Barnabas falls for house governess
Victoria, so reminiscent of true love Joset (both played by Aussie Bella
Heathcote), but warring sides emerge from Angie and house psychiatrist Dr Julia
Hoffman (Helena Bonham Carter).
It’s this love game that makes the
leading man so incredibly confused and entertaining, only to be ruined by the
fact he kills people to survive. Barnabas is a traditional vampire through and
through, staying well out of the sun (to prevent burns, not sparkling) and
sleeping best in a coffin.
Burton plays this film subtle like
much of his previous work, still getting the quirkiest part of every character
to surface in a way that inspires intrigue. Depp cruises through as Barnabas,
perhaps a little too easily, but remains enjoyable while looking as youthful as
ever.
The supporting cast is an
interesting mix, as Burton’s choices usually are, with the likes of Michelle
Pfeiffer, Jackie Earle Haley, Jonny Lee Miller and Chloe Moretz. But it’s Green
as Depp’s downfall that emerges as a standout, suiting the snaky witch to a
tee. She’s a sexy villain, but indecisive on what to do with Barnabas and
letting emotion get in the way.
There’s no end to the torture for
anyone as secrets behind every character are revealed, exposing uncertainties
as they try and restore the family name. But Barnabas’ desire to strengthen
relationships with his descendants and return the Collins’ as a family of
honour is a heavy theme that continues to push on to counter the wackiness.
It’s not Burton’s best, but it’s a fun romp all the same.
Rating: 3/5
*Published in the Daily Liberal (Dubbo), Western Advocate (Bathurst), Parkes Champion Post and Midstate Observer (Orange) from Saturday 12/5/2012
***
This is how I'm getting published for my Shopper reviews. A lot harder to condense my thoughts into a smaller space. Then again, I started with a three-hour film...
Gandhi (1982)
Richard Attenborough’s epic feature on the life of Mohandas
Gandhi, the Great Soul, is an eye-opener for anyone who doesn’t know about the
impact of his actions.
Part one of the 183-minute film focuses on a younger Gandhi
improving his leadership skills to prove most fascinating, while in part two he is much the wiser,
although stubborn right until his death.
This is a beautiful project that took 20 years to be put to
screen. Ben Kingsley is so convincing as a calm man who struggles with the violence
that his calls for peace created.
Gandhi’s growth into a man who wishes only for cooperation
evolves further to make a man of wisdom and strength with simple ideas of
solving his homeland’s problems.
But he wasn’t God, and Attenborough shows his weaknesses
just as effectively as how much he was admired by his countrymen and the media
alike.
The production is excellent; with the extravagant use of
extras a nice reminder that CGI isn’t always the best choice, Gandhi reflects the sheer enormity of
the impact this attorney had on his people, the British Empire and the world.
*Published in the Mailbox Shopper (Dubbo) from Wednesday 9/5/2012
MISSED LAST WEEK'S REVIEW? See what I thought of The Five-Year Engagement.
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*I have two photos entered in the current Qatar Reflections competition. Please show your support for me by voting for either photo! Short backstory and links here.
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