In the film world there is a term know as typecasting, and it refers to an actor who keeps choosing/being cast in roles that are similar, monotonous, or just plain copies of each other, and the actor then finds it difficult landing other roles because the audience has trouble seeing them out of their element. Pierce Brosnan was one such actor who unfortunately, or fortunately depending on how one looks at it, experienced such an episode in his acting career.
Pierce became famous for taking on the role of a spy/thief, no matter what film he did. As soon as his face came up on screen, the audience either went, "hey that's James Bond," or "hey that's Remington Steele," immediately bringing a halt to the audience's suspension of disbelief and interest in the film being watched, a big minus for producers and casting directors when looking for potential actors to fit certain roles.
Then came The Matador, and Pierce was able to step outside of his comfort zone by essentially making fun of himself, or rather the characters he tended to play.
For those not familiar with the goofball buddy comedy, The Matador tells the story of a burnt out hitman, sorry "facilitator of fatalities"(Brosnan), and a down on his luck business man(Greg Kinnear), who bump into each other in a Mexican bar and strike up an unlikely friendship.
Pierce gives the performance of a lifetime playing a sleazy, crude, and distasteful screw up you can't stand but who's honesty and unwavering loyalty you love. Pierce pokes fun at himself, doing things you would never imagine James Bond would ever have done, throughout the film, and helped pave the way for many roles, both dramatic and comedic, to come for the actor who has now begun to truly harness his talent.
If you are a diehard Pierce Brosnan fan, or you just can't stand him because all his roles are essentially the same, then the Matador will entirely change your impression of the actor.
Sunday, August 29, 2010
Saturday, August 28, 2010
This Week In Trailers: Aug. 22nd - 28th
Here are some trailers that came out in the past week, or two, and my first impressions of them.
127 HOURS
First off, wholly crap I want to free fall into that underground spring. Second off, this trailer has got me really excited. I have enjoyed all of Danny Boyle's work thus far, Trainspotting being the only one of his films I've yet to see, and James Franco as of late has been coming into his own, and I believe he can pull off the persona of Aron Ralston. He gave an outstanding performance in Milk, and his work on The Great Raid and In the Valley of Elah was superb. 127 Hours is a must see for me.
BLACK SWAN
Darren Aronofsky's next project is listed as Drama/Thriller on IMDB's page, and this trailer proves he's out to deliver just that. The dark themes that persist in his films often cut the audience off guard and leaves them with an unsettled feeling that something is lurking beneath the skin of the character on screen. His films are all visually stunning, and one would have a hard time forgetting any of them, if there was ever a justifiable reason to.
Nowhere Boy
Although this trailer has been out for awhile, it was not until recently that I was introduced to it, and a film examining the early childhood of the Beatles helmsman is certainly a story of interest to me. Film buzz has been good thus far for the British film, but more surprising than its exceptional reviews is the type of film it is being classified as; many critics label it not as a biopic of an up-and-coming rock and roll legend but as a coming of age melodrama. Whatever kind of film it is, I was sold as soon as the image of the young Sgt. Peppers donning their Sport Suits up on stage left me with the jitters. Look for a US release, albeit a limited one, end of 2010 or early 2011, and a DVD release to follow.
Monsters
I hadn't heard of this film until the trailer for it was posted on Movieweb, so score one for the marketing campaign. This looks to be a horror inspired District 9 meets Cloverfield, which may set the bar too high for this one to satisfy my science fiction desires. The trailer itself does not do much for me, it's more or less the subject that's trying to convince me to spend the money. Sadly I think early film buzz will be the deciding factor in whether this one lands on my must see in theatres list.
127 HOURS
First off, wholly crap I want to free fall into that underground spring. Second off, this trailer has got me really excited. I have enjoyed all of Danny Boyle's work thus far, Trainspotting being the only one of his films I've yet to see, and James Franco as of late has been coming into his own, and I believe he can pull off the persona of Aron Ralston. He gave an outstanding performance in Milk, and his work on The Great Raid and In the Valley of Elah was superb. 127 Hours is a must see for me.
BLACK SWAN
Darren Aronofsky's next project is listed as Drama/Thriller on IMDB's page, and this trailer proves he's out to deliver just that. The dark themes that persist in his films often cut the audience off guard and leaves them with an unsettled feeling that something is lurking beneath the skin of the character on screen. His films are all visually stunning, and one would have a hard time forgetting any of them, if there was ever a justifiable reason to.
Nowhere Boy
Although this trailer has been out for awhile, it was not until recently that I was introduced to it, and a film examining the early childhood of the Beatles helmsman is certainly a story of interest to me. Film buzz has been good thus far for the British film, but more surprising than its exceptional reviews is the type of film it is being classified as; many critics label it not as a biopic of an up-and-coming rock and roll legend but as a coming of age melodrama. Whatever kind of film it is, I was sold as soon as the image of the young Sgt. Peppers donning their Sport Suits up on stage left me with the jitters. Look for a US release, albeit a limited one, end of 2010 or early 2011, and a DVD release to follow.
Monsters
I hadn't heard of this film until the trailer for it was posted on Movieweb, so score one for the marketing campaign. This looks to be a horror inspired District 9 meets Cloverfield, which may set the bar too high for this one to satisfy my science fiction desires. The trailer itself does not do much for me, it's more or less the subject that's trying to convince me to spend the money. Sadly I think early film buzz will be the deciding factor in whether this one lands on my must see in theatres list.
Thursday, August 26, 2010
Have Tattoo, Will Kick A@%: The Expendables Delivers!
The Expendables is an adrenaline pumping action flick with all the explosions and hand to hand fighting you'd expect from a film of its class. Dialogue was at times arbitrary, or even just plain corny, but I don't go to action films to be wowed an incredibly witty script or have my emotions deeply moved; I go for the action.
The action in The Expendables is actually quite good, with some original ideas thrown in, and features Stallone's new look of realistic war violence(if you haven't seen the latest Rambo film, you're in for quite a surprise). At times the action does cross the threshold of the outrageous and "get real," which most people tend to either hate or love. I did not have a problem with it in this film though, and when it came time for the hand to hand combat, I was really impressed, mostly because when it come to Jason Statham and Jet Li, it's them doing the stunts for the most part. One fight down in a tunnel where Statham and Li tagteam a bad guy is quite memorable and got a good reaction from the crowd.
As already mentioned, The Expendables is no Shakespeare, and the one scene featuring Mickey Rourke that even approached a sentimental note felt forced and pretentious. However, the film delivers what it is suppose to deliver on, and the Bruce Willis and Arnold Schwarzenegger cameos, though brief, were an absolute delight.
Until next time!
The action in The Expendables is actually quite good, with some original ideas thrown in, and features Stallone's new look of realistic war violence(if you haven't seen the latest Rambo film, you're in for quite a surprise). At times the action does cross the threshold of the outrageous and "get real," which most people tend to either hate or love. I did not have a problem with it in this film though, and when it came time for the hand to hand combat, I was really impressed, mostly because when it come to Jason Statham and Jet Li, it's them doing the stunts for the most part. One fight down in a tunnel where Statham and Li tagteam a bad guy is quite memorable and got a good reaction from the crowd.
As already mentioned, The Expendables is no Shakespeare, and the one scene featuring Mickey Rourke that even approached a sentimental note felt forced and pretentious. However, the film delivers what it is suppose to deliver on, and the Bruce Willis and Arnold Schwarzenegger cameos, though brief, were an absolute delight.
Until next time!
Wednesday, August 25, 2010
The Resilient Parasite: How Inception has changed the way movies are told and the way you watch movies
Inception is a rare gem in the cinema world, delivering high-stakes, heart-pounding action, while providing the intellectually brave with numerous themes and ideas to provoke all kinds of discussions, ie. philosophical, psychological, and metaphorical.
SPOILER ALERT!
Now not every member of the audience leaves the theatre after seeing Inception and begins to question her own reality, or her percieved reality for that matter, but the very nature of the themes and "ideas" Inception explores creates a greater potential for this level of thought process to occur. Upon leaving the theatre, most attendees have one question on their mind, "Was he dreaming or not at the end?" and many will give a simple yes/no answer based on a handful of hints from the film. A few viewers will go back and watch the film a couple more times, see new clues, and ask themselves, "Was he dreaming at other points of the film though he appears as if he's awake?" Even fewer viewers will begin to ask themselves, "Where did the idea that calls into question Cobb's reality come from," and it's this kind of thinking that has crossed into the threshold of meta-thinking, whether the viewer realizes it or not.
Upon entering into this realm of thinking, one begins to have a relationship with films previously unexplored. A relationship in which the viewer is both absorbed into the imaginary world on the screen but is also aware of the process of percieving the film. If one tries to delve even deeper, she becomes aware of her own awareness, and is realizes that she is both a participant and a audience to the act ideas being created and shared, in this case, the process is achieved through the art of film.
This opens the moviegoer up to an abundance of ways to watch and analyze a film, since she is now aware that more is occuring when she watches a film than her just losing herself in the imaginary world. She now understands that ideas are being placed in her mind, both intentionally on circumstantially, and that breaking the film and its ideas down in different ways, be they metaphorical, philosophical, mythical, psychological, etc., can discern different information and reactions from the same film.
What makes Inception truly brilliant is its awareness of itself. The ideas discussed and explored in the film, that of placing an idea into someone's mind, are exactly what's going on in the audience member's mind. Inception, in explaining the ability for a person to create an idea in someone else's mind, has done just that in explaining that; and that Christopher Nolan is able to pull this off in such a fun and thrilling way is a rarity in the film world. Not every film is going to provoke such thought from an individual, and it is rare for any blockbuster thriller to do as Christopher Nolan's Inception has done.
Many more reviews of Inception are on their way, so come back soon!
SPOILER ALERT!
Now not every member of the audience leaves the theatre after seeing Inception and begins to question her own reality, or her percieved reality for that matter, but the very nature of the themes and "ideas" Inception explores creates a greater potential for this level of thought process to occur. Upon leaving the theatre, most attendees have one question on their mind, "Was he dreaming or not at the end?" and many will give a simple yes/no answer based on a handful of hints from the film. A few viewers will go back and watch the film a couple more times, see new clues, and ask themselves, "Was he dreaming at other points of the film though he appears as if he's awake?" Even fewer viewers will begin to ask themselves, "Where did the idea that calls into question Cobb's reality come from," and it's this kind of thinking that has crossed into the threshold of meta-thinking, whether the viewer realizes it or not.
Upon entering into this realm of thinking, one begins to have a relationship with films previously unexplored. A relationship in which the viewer is both absorbed into the imaginary world on the screen but is also aware of the process of percieving the film. If one tries to delve even deeper, she becomes aware of her own awareness, and is realizes that she is both a participant and a audience to the act ideas being created and shared, in this case, the process is achieved through the art of film.
This opens the moviegoer up to an abundance of ways to watch and analyze a film, since she is now aware that more is occuring when she watches a film than her just losing herself in the imaginary world. She now understands that ideas are being placed in her mind, both intentionally on circumstantially, and that breaking the film and its ideas down in different ways, be they metaphorical, philosophical, mythical, psychological, etc., can discern different information and reactions from the same film.
What makes Inception truly brilliant is its awareness of itself. The ideas discussed and explored in the film, that of placing an idea into someone's mind, are exactly what's going on in the audience member's mind. Inception, in explaining the ability for a person to create an idea in someone else's mind, has done just that in explaining that; and that Christopher Nolan is able to pull this off in such a fun and thrilling way is a rarity in the film world. Not every film is going to provoke such thought from an individual, and it is rare for any blockbuster thriller to do as Christopher Nolan's Inception has done.
Many more reviews of Inception are on their way, so come back soon!
Monday, August 23, 2010
Where the F&%# is BRUGES!
My favorite film from 2008, sorry Dark Knight. A beautiful and artistic masterpiece that explores such themes as guilt, sin, redemption, suicide, honor, and love, Martin McDonagh's In Bruges is a film that I watch at least once a year.
The casting is spot on, with Colin Farrell admirably portraying the guilt stricken Ray, earning him a Golden Globe, and Brendan Gleeson and Ralph Fiennes bring grace, humor, and menace as the fatherly Ken and the mob boss Harry, respectively.
Setting is almost a character in and of itself, with the Medieval city of Bruges as an excellent canopy for many of the film's themes. The architecture and ambience of Bruges is seen as both enchanting and menacing, thanks to some wonderful cinematography by Eigil Bryld. The city casts a majestic spell on the audience; its beauty conflicts sharply with the violent events that take place within it, best exemplified in the clocktower scene as Ken looks out at the city before making a fateful decision.
As stated earlier, the city and her medieval heritage underscore the classical themes in the film. Sin, redemption, hell, purgatory are all discussed openly but with restraint by the lead characters as they visit a Church which is said to contain a veil holding Jesus' blood and a museum featuring some Bosch inspired paintings.
Look for more reviews on In Bruges to COME SOON!
The casting is spot on, with Colin Farrell admirably portraying the guilt stricken Ray, earning him a Golden Globe, and Brendan Gleeson and Ralph Fiennes bring grace, humor, and menace as the fatherly Ken and the mob boss Harry, respectively.
Setting is almost a character in and of itself, with the Medieval city of Bruges as an excellent canopy for many of the film's themes. The architecture and ambience of Bruges is seen as both enchanting and menacing, thanks to some wonderful cinematography by Eigil Bryld. The city casts a majestic spell on the audience; its beauty conflicts sharply with the violent events that take place within it, best exemplified in the clocktower scene as Ken looks out at the city before making a fateful decision.
As stated earlier, the city and her medieval heritage underscore the classical themes in the film. Sin, redemption, hell, purgatory are all discussed openly but with restraint by the lead characters as they visit a Church which is said to contain a veil holding Jesus' blood and a museum featuring some Bosch inspired paintings.
Look for more reviews on In Bruges to COME SOON!
Welcome To FJA
Welcome everyone to Film Junkies Anonymous, a personal blog and open-discussion-forum for everything movies.
Several times a week I will post brief reviews of films, both in theatres and on DVD, for your enjoyment and benefit. These will not try to settle whether you should see it or not, since I really have no idea what kind of films you enjoy. More importantly, they will discuss some of the key ideas, themes, characters, features, or moments from the film that stuck with me after my first, second, or possibly even third viewing.
Feel free to share your own thoughts on the films discussed, be they positive or negative.
This is meant to be an open and friendly environment for fellow fans of the cinema to further their enjoyment of the art of film.
So have FUN and STAY TUNED!
REVIEWS ARE COMING SOON!!!
Several times a week I will post brief reviews of films, both in theatres and on DVD, for your enjoyment and benefit. These will not try to settle whether you should see it or not, since I really have no idea what kind of films you enjoy. More importantly, they will discuss some of the key ideas, themes, characters, features, or moments from the film that stuck with me after my first, second, or possibly even third viewing.
Feel free to share your own thoughts on the films discussed, be they positive or negative.
This is meant to be an open and friendly environment for fellow fans of the cinema to further their enjoyment of the art of film.
So have FUN and STAY TUNED!
REVIEWS ARE COMING SOON!!!
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