Tag: Argo

Geekscape Movie Reviews: Live by Night

by MCDave

Despite a momentous start to his directing career, one that includes a Best Picture Oscar win for Argo, Ben Affleck’s latest film hasn’t even made it into the awards season discussion. His new endeavor, Live by Night, a gangster flick predominantly set during the Prohibition Era in Florida, represents a bitter free-fall for the previously unscathed filmmaker. Affleck offers nothing new to the genre and any hope that another adaptation from Dennis Lehane – who also penned the source material for Affleck’s phenomenal 2007 debut, Gone Baby Gone – would be a reason for optimism, quickly falls by the wayside during the film’s forgettable first act.

After a hidden romance with an Irish Mob boss’ mistress (Sienna Miller) nearly end his life, Joe Coughlin (Affleck) returns and sells his soul the rival Italian Mob in order to exact revengeon his nemesis. Consequently, Joe ventures to Florida during Prohibition where he monopolizes the Rum industry and falls for Graciela (Zoe Saldana), a woman whose inside connections help build the empire. But as Prohibition becomes repealed, Joe’s mismanagement of his supreme position makes him a vulnerable man in a dangerous industry.

Live by Night suffers immensely by writer, director and star, Ben Affleck’s, arrogance and misguided vision. It’s obvious that Affleck desires to deliver an ambitious gangster film reminiscent of classics such as The Godfather and White Heat. However, a bloated story continually introduces a wide assortment of characters without ever fully developing them. Therefore, once these flimsy characters meet their demise, empathy is never appropriately earned. Affleck’s screenplay is riddled with flaws, but it still doesn’t feel quite as problematic as the director’s unforgivable decision to cast himself in the lead role. Either Affleck’s perception of Joe Coughlin is remarkably off, or he isn’t quite talented enough to pull-off the necessary performance. Whichever way you dissect it, the blame falls squarely on his shoulders. On the other hand, there are a few select moments of captured creativity and originality, yet they’re swallowed-whole by an assortment of mightily flawed approaches. Notable supporting turns are offered by Chris Messina, who play’s Joe’s right hand man, and Zoe Saldana. But by the time the credits finally role – which follow a dull attempt at an emotionally-charged conclusion, Live by Night reveals itself as a sad and rapid decline for a once unblemished filmmaker.

GRADE: 2.5/5

For other reviews, trailers and movie lists visit MCDAVE’s host site

Geekscape Movie Reviews: The Monuments Men

by MCDave

George Clooney is one of the most prominent figures in Hollywood. As an Academy Award winner for both acting (Syriana) and producing (Best Picture winner Argo), many believed Clooney had a strong chance at pulling off the trifecta with a potential Best Director win for his newest film, The Monuments Men. However, that was before post-production issues delayed the feature’s release until 2014. Unfortunately, we now know that The Monuments Men is light-years away from the prototypical Oscar Nominee.

Clooney stars as Frank Starks, an art historian who makes a pitch to the president of the United States during the closing months of World War II about preserving all of the various artwork spread throughout Europe and returning it to its rightful owners. After being given the green light, Starks enlists six other museum directors, curators and art historians to help him see this mission through. Yet, this group (known as “The Monuments Men”) must stare the dangers of war in the eyes and overcome countless obstacles along the way.

Matt Damon

Clooney’s latest effort has been panned by critics for a multitude of reasons. I wouldn’t be the first to address the movie’s problems with developing distinct tonal differences between comedy and drama, or even the condescending lecture-like dialogue intended to force the audience into accepting the importance of this mission, rather than making us “feel” something. There’s a huge disconnect between film and viewer, something that can never work for a project of this type. Consequently, The Monuments Men is nothing more than an elongated and mediocre fluff piece filled with a strong cast, but weak and ineffective narrative.

mon2

Although The Monuments Men never escapes its stagnant vibe, it’s an interesting premise that remains mildly entertaining at the hands of many fine performances from stars such as Bill Murray, John Goodman, Matt Damon and Cate Blanchett. However, the long list of great actors in the film are required to make the most out of thinly crafted characters. But while the film hopes to elicit suspense and emotion, The Monuments Men instead outstretches minimal plot progression to a near two-hour running time. With the superficial makings of a compelling and moving examination of an inspiring true story, even Clooney’s admirable direction fails to aid a brutally developed screenplay.

There are a few shining moments sporadically peppered throughout The Monuments Men, but they become quickly overshadowed by all of the film’s shortcomings. As a viewer you never feel transported into the story, rather just a spectator to its events. And ultimately, the truly great films know how to differentiate between the two and execute effectively. Illustrating that The Monuments Men is nothing more than an occasionally entertaining run-of-the-mill effort from mega-star George Clooney.

GRADE: 2.5/5

You can find lots of other work from Movie Critic Dave at his home site!

MCDave’s 2012 Movie Awards

by MCDave

In honor of the Academy Award Nominations which will be announced on Thursday January 10th, I give you my personal 2012 year-end movie awards. 2012 proved to be an extraordinary year in cinema (view my top ten films of 2012), one that will certainly leave its mark in history. Having seen nearly 100 new releases over this past calendar year, here’s my top 5 picks for each of the 6 major races:

Notable films I missed in 2012: Amour, Beasts of the Southern Wild, Skyfall and Rust and Bone

 

Best Supporting Actress

#5 Sally Field – Lincoln

#4 Amy Adams – The Master

#3 Helen Hunt – The Sessions

#2 Pauline Collins – Quartet

and the winner is …

#1 Anne Hathaway – Les Miserables

 Much like the Academy is sure to do in late February, I reward Anne Hathaway with the Best Supporting Actress role of 2012. For all of the focus on Jean Valjean’s character in Tom Hooper’s Les Miserables, it’s Anne Hathaway who serves as the film’s heart and soul. Her emotionally-crushed rendition of “I Dreamed a Dream” will live on as a Hollywood highlight reel forever, making her the clear cut winner here.

Best Supporting Actor

#5 Benicio Del Toro – Savages

#4 Philip Seymour Hoffman – The Master

#3 Sam Rockwell – Seven Psychopaths

#2 Ezra Miller – The Perks of Being a Wallflower

and the winner is …

#1 Christoph Waltz – Django Unchained

Quentin Tarantino’s Spaghetti Western Django Unchained stood out as one of the year’s funnest movie experiences. The film’s most lovable character was Dr. King Schultz, played by Academy Award Winner Christoph Waltz. While I am starting to feel as though Waltz will be the odd man out in the Best Supporting Actor category when Oscar nominations are announced on Thursday (read about my 2013 Oscar Nomination Predictions), it would be a shame for the Academy to omit his transcending performance.

Best Actress

#5 Helen Mirren – Hitchcock

#4 Naomi Watts – The Impossible

#3 Zoe Kazan – Ruby Sparks

#2 Jennifer Lawrence – Silver Linings Playbook

and the winner is …

#1 Jessica Chastain – Zero Dark Thirty

After storming onto the scene in 2011 with a handful of unforgettable roles, it seemed like a forgone conclusion that Jessica Chastain was a star in the making. Taking home my 2011 Best Supporting Actress Award for Take Shelter, Chastin raises the bar again with her phenomenal portrayal in Kathryn Bigelow’s Zero Dark Thirty. Chastain’s character transforms throughout the feature and her development becomes a valuable aspect of the narrative. Although she finds worthy Oscar competition from my runner-up, Jennifer Lawrence (Silver Linings Playbook), Chastain gives the most decisive female performance of the year.

Best Actor

#5 Bradley Cooper – Silver Linings Playbook

#4 Denzel Washington – Flight

#3 Joaquin Phoenix – The Master

#2 John Hawkes – The Sessions

and the winner is …

#1 Daniel Day-Lewis – Lincoln

This race feels like the biggest “no-brainer” to me. For as many brilliant lead actor performances as there were this year (and believe me there were a TON), none of them were even in the same stratosphere as Daniel-Day Lewis’ once in a life time portrayal of Abraham Lincoln. Every chance I get to watch Day-Lewis deliver groundbreaking role after groundbreaking role, it becomes more apparent that I’m experiencing greatness. Steven Spielberg’s Best Picture contender, Lincoln, survives solely on the shoulders of the actor’s performance. There’s no question who deserves this win.

Best Director

#5 David O. Russell – Silver Linings Playbook

#4 J.A. Bayona – The Impossible

#3 Quentin Tarantino – Django Unchained

#2 Kathryn Bigelow – Zero Dark Thirty

and the winner is …

#1 Ben Affleck – Argo

The Best Director race was the most difficult for me to decide. The Kathryn Bigelow/Ben Affleck debate becomes very difficult to dissect. The direction’s outstanding in both Zero Dark Thirty and Argo, but the difference-maker was Affleck’s ability to conjure up a multi-dimensional movie experience. Bigelow’s feature is more of a character based journey, while Affleck focuses on bringing a remarkable true story to life. Distinct opposites in approach, both films are premier examples of modern day filmmaking. However, I just happened to enjoy Argo slightly more than Bigelow’s gripping manhunt tale.

Best Picture

#5 Perfect Sense

#4 The Sessions

#3 Zero Dark Thirty

#2 The Impossible

and the winner is …

#1 Argo

No one can question the abundance of top tier films released in 2012. It was a difficult decision and very close, but I’m going with Argo as the Best Picture of 2012. A roller coaster ride of emotions, Ben Affleck’s Argo interweaves between espionage thriller and comedy. The pacing and tone is perfect, making Argo the most enjoyable film of the year. Its Oscar hopes are still very much alive, despite a major December-long onslaught of competitive releases. Affleck continues to solidify himself as a bonafide filmmaker and gives us Argo, 2012’s Best Picture.

*** Where am I right and where am I wrong? Leave a comment and spark a debate. You can view other work by MCDave at Movie Reviews By Dave

Geekscape Movie Reviews: Argo

by MCDave

Sometimes it’s easy to forget, but Ben Affleck already has an Oscar win under his belt. He took home a Golden Statue in 1998, along with co-writer Matt Damon, for his Good Will Hunting screenplay. But despite his early career honor as a screenwriter, Affleck has managed to find his niche in the director’s chair. With a phenomenal debut in the form of 2007’s Gone Baby Gone and a successful follow such as The Town, Affleck quickly found himself among the elite directors in Hollywood. However, with his third directorial effort, Argo, slated to hit theaters everywhere on Friday October 12th, Affleck graces us with his finest work to date.

Set against the backdrop of the Iranian Revolution in 1979 when militants scaled the fences and stormed the U.S. Embassy, Argo follows CIA exfiltration specialist Tony Mendez (played by Affleck) and the efforts he put forth in rescuing six Americans who escaped the kidnapping. While these six men and women discreetly took shelter in the Canadian Ambassador’s house in Tehran, the U.S. and Canada were in a race against time to try to rescue them covertly.

Ben Affleck’s Argo is a flawless instant classic that molds together brilliant direction, a dynamic screenplay and skilled acting. At the helm of the feature, Affleck uses editing techniques such as quick cuts to help build the action and suspense throughout the duration of the film. Furthermore, the director intertwines real life footage with his own reenactments, and the similarities are amazing. Affleck truly makes you feel as if you’re reliving the horrific standoff. Through his efforts, he creates an aura of authenticity that’s vital to the success of the film. He’s quickly proven that he’s a visionary director with a keen appreciation for detail. I’ve become very impressed with his work and I firmly place him among Hollywood’s finest. In addition to Affleck’s directorial efforts, perhaps screenwriter Chris Terrio is the unsung hero behind Argo. Boasting the smallest of credentials, Terrio crafts a screenplay for the ages. Using the most precise combinations of comedy and drama, Argo perfectly fluctuates between a tension-filled thriller and a surprisingly lighthearted affair. Argo is undoubtedly a movie for the ages and a force to be reckoned with come Awards Season. Its strength begins with the foundation of its script and flows all the way to the top with the vision of its director, Ben Affleck.

Another commendable aspect of Argo is the extraordinary cast used to bring this astonishing true story to the big screen. Led once again by Ben Affleck as the film’s central character Tony Mendez, Argo actually sees its most shining characters in the form of its supporting cast. Most notable is a shoe-in Oscar worthy performance given by Alan Arkin. Arkin stars as Hollywood Producer Lester Siegel who helps generate buzz for the fake movie being used in Mendez’s covert operation. He gives a performance every bit as strong as his Oscar Nominated turn in 2007’s Little Miss Sunshine. Arkin and his onscreen counterpart John Goodman are used like chess pieces to complement Argo‘s more compelling moments. Goodman, who portrays real life Hollywood Makeup Artist John Chambers, teams up with Arkin to provide quick wit and jocular dialogue essential to balancing out the ebb and flow of the movie. In addition to the pair of funny men, Bryan Cranston gives a stellar standout performance as Jack O’Donnell, Tony Mendez’s boss in the CIA. To Argo‘s benefit, Affleck makes the right decision by never attempting to take over the screen. While the wise actor/director shines when it’s needed, ultimately he allows the film’s interesting plot lines to lead the way. In doing so, he gives his colorful supporting cast every opportunity to fill in all of the empty spaces and completely round out the feature.

All in all, Argo is an amazing true story that manages to translate perfectly to the big screen. Affleck goes above and beyond both of his previous efforts and offers the best film I’ve seen in years. Argo is a faultless masterpiece and sure to make some noise in the Best Picture, Best Director and Best Supporting Actor categories at the 2013 Oscars. Arriving in theatres nationwide on October 12th, Argo is the “must-see” picture of the year. Be sure not to miss it.

Grade: 5 out of 5

You can also follow MCDave at Movie Reviews By Dave