Film Review - Tommorowland

Brave New World 

Film: Tomorrowland

Cast: George Clooney, Britt Robertson, Hugh Laurie

Directed by: Brad Bird

Duration:  2 hr 10 mins

Rating:  *  *  *  *

 

Director Brad Bird has a rather interesting profile – he directed The Incredibles and wrote Ratatouille, two of the most memorable contemporary animation films, and he made his live action debut with Mission Impossible- Ghost Protocol. Now he has ventured into science fiction with Tomorrowland, produced by a studio not known for such films, Disney. In fact, this is a family science fiction film, if such a category exists.

With an original story co-written by Bird, the film has an interesting and refreshing take. We see Frank Walker (George Clooney) tell his story “When I was a kid, the future was different he says.” We then see him displaying his invention at a New York World Fair, which looks like a Disney fair actually. When he is not taken seriously, mysterious girl comes and helps him and gives him a pin badge.

Several years later, Casey (Britt Robertson) the daughter of a NASA engineer receives a similar badge when one of her adventures goes wrong. When she touches it, she is transported to a futuristic world. As the audience, you are also engrossed and wonder where all this is heading.

In a quick montage we are also told about her curiosity in class to question and look for solutions about all the problems plaguing the earth, right from terrorism to environmental issues.  The mysterious girl re-appears, she is the same as she was decades ago and tries to Casey who lands up at Franks doorsteps. The evil robots are closing in, Casey has no idea what is happening and questions everything to which Frank retorts “Do I have to explain everything to you? Can’t you just be amazed?”

There is action, adventure, science fiction and some serious themes about man kind’s survival.  An interesting and a very optimistic point is made amidst all the gloom and doom as see and hear of in real life. Brad Bird may not have an answer but he does have an idea which is the premise of the film.

The film works on two levels, even if kids and teenagers don’t understand the science fiction and other themes, there is enough razzle-dazzle to engage them. Go ahead, and be amazed.

Published in The Navhind Times on 24th May 2015

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Film Review - The Monuments Men

Art For Art's Sake

Film: The Monuments Men

Cast: George Clooney, Matt Damon, Bill Murray

Directed by: George Clooney

Duration: 2 hrs

Rating: * * *

The Monuments Men directed by George Clooney is based on a true story and make no mistake; it is a great story but doesn’t quite translate into film that is in the same league.  Is the world’s greatest art worth risking one’s life to save it? During the World War II when the Nazis were on a rampage, a bunch of good men thought it was well worth it.

The veracity of the details may be disputed, but considering this is a film, (there is also an excellent documentary made in 2006, The Rape of Europa) you are willing to overlook the authenticity of the proceedings. After all, these men did exist and helped save a lot of treasured art.

The Train (1964) starring Burt Lancaster had a similar story where the Resistance had to stop and salvage a train carrying precious art to Germany. While that film was an absolute edge of the seat thriller, the flaw with Monuments Men lies with the script which has a bit of action, buddy bonding and the occasional bout of thrill without really digging deep in to any of them.

‘Why the three stars then?’ you might ask. Well, consider the story –as WWII was coming to end, the Nazis were looting or destroying all sorts of precious art and sculptures. Monet, Picasso, Matisse, Rembrandt, you name it they were all stolen and Hitler had a grand design of making a Fuehrer museum.  

Enter the art historians and curators, led by the American Lt. Frank Stokes (Clooney) who gets on the scene of action in Europe with his men that has an excellent cast of John Goodman, Billy Murray, Matt Damon and Bob Balaban. Jean Dujardin plays a Frenchman who helps them in their endeavors. Together they help retrieve thousands of prized artworks, which were meant to be purged by the Nazis. Cate Blanchett also plays an important role as the curator of a museum who supports the Resistance and keeps a close eye on the movement of the paintings.

While lots of scenes are sugary, the film succeeds in making the point about how important our art and history is. As Clooney says in the film, if a generation is wiped out, a new generation will come up but if our past culture is destroyed, there is no bringing it back.   

The screenplay should have been more terse, most of the time it appears to be skimming the surface as far as the individual stories are concerned. Nevertheless, it serves as a great lesson in history and serves ample food for thought. 

Published in The Navhind Times on 23rd Feb 2014
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Film Review - Gravity

                                                        It’s a Masterpiece

 

Film: Gravity

Cast: Sandra Bullock, George Clooney

Directed by: Alfonso Cuaron

Duration: 1 hr 31 mins

Rating: * * * * *

 

 It is only once in a blue moon that you get to see a film that uses technology and story telling to such great effect and great is not word one would like to use loosely. Right from the first scene to the absolute last, Gravity keeps you spell-bound and it is a triumph for director Alfonso Cuaron who already has a few impressive films in his C.V.

While for most films, 3D is more of a curse than a boon, Cuaron has used the technology in his favor and the end result is stunning. Not since Avataar, has 3D been put to such good use (Hugo and Life of Pi also deserve a mention).

 For those who don’t know anything about Gravity, it might come as a slight surprise that there are only two characters in the whole film. It opens with one of the most remarkable shots in cinema an 18 minute continuous take up there in space. Dr. Ryan Stone (Sandra Bullock) and Matt Kowalski (George Clooney) are doing some routine maintenance on the Hubble telescope. There is a third astronaut assisting them as well, his name is Sharif and he must be an Indian because he is heard singing Mera joota hain Japani.

 
“You have to admit one thing; you can’t beat the view” says Matt before all hell breaks loose. The debris from a Russian satellite comes hurling sending them running for cover and resulting in a catastrophic situation. Matt and the lady are left to fend for themselves with very little resources as they hardly get a chance to say Houston we have a problem.
 
And we know, in space, no matter how loud, no one can hear you scream.

 Even though a large part of the film is about her endeavor, you don’t feel the lack of characters one bit because the space and the vast emptiness more than makes up for human characters. By transforming you up there, you are also in a different zone altogether. 

Technically, the film is a superior effort. Note the shot where the camera comes close to Sandra Bullocks face, goes into the helmet she is wearing and comes out of it seamlessly making you wonder how on earth they managed that.

 From a science point of view, you might find a couple of aberrations but as a film, there are hardly any.

 George Clooney has a relatively small role to play but yet he makes his presence felt. Sandra Bullock already has an Oscar on her mantelpiece but I won’t be surprised if she is nominated for her extraordinary performance here. For trivia buffs, Ed Harris’ voice can be heard from the mission control at Houston.

 Here’s a film strongly recommended to be watched in 3D, don’t miss it.

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