Tag: Rooney Mara

Geekscape Movie Reviews: Don’t Worry, He Won’t Get Far on Foot

by MCDave

With over three decades as a filmmaker, Gus Van Sant’s firsthand knowledge of the industry’s highs and lows can’t be questioned. He began as an independent voice in the 80s and early 90s, quickly capturing the attention of critics and artistic devotees, only to blossom into a more mainstream figure following the overwhelmingly successful Good Will Hunting, a personal favorite of mine. And since then, Van Sant has continued to “wow” audiences with celebrated titles such as the Oscar contender Milk and his hypnotic Cannes winner Elephant, while also churning out commercial duds like the 1998 Psycho remake. This time around Van Sant teams with notable talents Joaquin Phoenix, Jonah Hill and Rooney Mara to bring the grueling true story of paraplegic and famed cartoonist, John Callahan, to life in his Sundance selection, Don’t Worry, He Won’t Get Far on Foot.

Chemically dependent on alcohol from a very young age, John Callahan (Phoenix) becomes even more resentful of the world when a night of insane binge drinking results in a tragic car accident that leaves him confined to a wheelchair for the rest of his life. John continues to drown his sorrows with copious amounts of alcohol until a profound epiphany sends him to AA where he begins sobering up under the tutelage of Donnie (Jonah Hill), a homosexual sponsor who imparts valuable wisdom on his many “piglets” striving for sobriety. And as John navigates through his emotional baggage with the program’s 12 essential steps, he also discovers a form of catharsis with his darkly comedic cartoon illustrations that eventually grow to become a national hit.

He Won’t Get Far on Foot becomes a showcase for its performers, as the film’s limited scope gives way to vast bouts of dialogue that push the onus onto this skilled crop of actors and actresses to shine bright. The always fantastic Joaquin Phoenix does just that, gifting audiences with another terrific turn which beautifully encapsulates the strange and complex mind behind a true comedic genius. Yet, Phoenix is anything but alone in his conquests. Co-stars Jonah Hill, Rooney Mara and Jack Black all provide dynamic supporting work that, in turn, help make this occasionally sluggish viewing experience quite tolerable. A slimmed-down and bearded Jonah Hill is a spiritual Zen-master of sorts, possessing a Jesus-like aura that lights the way for John’s tumultuous path to sobriety. But despite these many exceptional performances, He Won’t Get Far on Foot suffers from many lulls, due in large part to the script’s repetitive nature. Although the film is widely outstretched and only marginally funny, Gus Van Sant still delivers an earnest character study that’s undeniably highlighted by its uber-talented cast.

GRADE: 3.5/5

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Geekscape Movie Reviews: A Ghost Story

by MCDave

David Lowery’s filmmaking career has been all over the map. He first stepped onto the scene with his uber-artsy Bonnie & Clyde-esque Sundance selected drama, Ain’t Them Bodies Saints, in 2013, only to follow it up with last year’s successful re-imagining of Pete’s Dragon. Lowery’s upward trajectory following his well-received summer-film reboot would normally send a director in search of his or her next big venture, but Lowery went in a completely different direction. He returns to his artistic prowess in the ambitious festival darling, A Ghost Story.

Casey Affleck and Rooney Mara stars as a loving couple who experience an unforeseen tragedy following a car accident  that results in Affleck’s character’s death. As the saddened widow confirms his passing at the morgue, Affleck’s spirit emerges from the bed as a sheet-covered ghost who transports back to his home where he watches his wife grieve the loss. But as she moves on with her life and leaves a secret note in the crack of a doorway as she sells and leaves the home, the ghost stays in the dwelling desperate to uncover the note’s contents.

A Ghost Story is a beautifully poetic expression of love, loss and countless other emotions. Lowery’s bold endeavor both captivates and mesmerizes throughout a loosely coherent storyline that becomes more and more muddled as it progresses. Nonetheless, uniqueness and originality effectively guide the audience through an existentially-crafted plot and mildly ambiguous resolve. Mara’s soulful turn and Affleck’s surprising depth, even cloaked behind a sheet for the majority of the film, are transcending enough to keep the effort afloat.

“Polarizing” would be an apt descriptor for Lowery’s latest critically-adored work. The filmmaker begins by utilizing excessively long takes that the audience is forced to muscle through. Thankfully, nearly all of these shots include a purposeful conclusion that help alleviate the frustration. Furthermore, A Ghost Story possesses a misleading title. The film is strictly a drama and fantasy, so don’t expect any horror whatsoever. In fact, the scariest moment in the film is a nearly five-minute shot of Mara sorrowfully spoon-feeding an entire pie down her throat following the loss of her husband. Symbolic of the film’s painfully slow demeanor, but also its poignant capturing of human emotion, A Ghost Story is a sluggish 90-minute indie that certainly pays off from a creative and artistic perspective.

GRADE: 3.5/5

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Geekscape Movie Reviews: The Discovery

by MCDave

Non-traditional film studios have carved a niche in the movie industry as both Amazon Studios and Netflix earned Oscar wins this past year. One of Netflix’s most recent purchases includes the Sundance selection, The Discovery, which releases globally on the streaming platform this weekend. After a snubbed performance for his elite portrayal of American author, David Foster Wallace, in The End of the Tour, Jason Segel continues his dramatic push in Charlie McDowell’s fascinating examination of the afterlife.

Set in the near future Segel stars as Will, son of the famed Dr. Thomas Harbor (Robert Redford) who proves that our consciousness travels to a different plane of existence after we die. Once news spreads of a definitive afterlife, suicide skyrocket by individuals looking for “a fresh start”. And when Will disrupts a young woman’s (Rooney Mara) attempt at suicide, they travel together to Dr. Harbor’s research compound where they discover the truth behind where our consciousness goes.

Ambitious and artsy almost to a fault, The Discovery ponders bold ideas and stirs the imagination with a thought-provoking finale that explodes with possibility. However, Charlie McDowell decides to spend the wide majority of the film developing a slow-burning story of love and loss that merely uses this cerebral conclusion as an afterthought. Rooney Mara grips the audience with a nuanced performance. Her onscreen prowess is further complemented by Jesse Plemons’ energetic supporting work. Sadly, lead star Jason Segel, whom I have defended and supported in the past with all my might, provides a monotonous turn that constantly strikes the same chord over and over again. The Discovery isn’t the most entertaining or exciting watch, but once everything finally pieces together, there’s a satisfying bit of beauty to this somewhat muddled and arduous affair.

GRADE: 3/5

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Geekscape Movie Reviews: Lion

by MCDave

It feels like the “based on a true story” tag exists on just about every movie nowadays. This alarming frequency tends to dilute any semblance of realism meant to be injected into the story. But in rare real-life instances, the truth is just too amazing to discredit, and that certainly exists in the debut drama from Garth Davis, Lion.

As a five year-old boy living in the slums of India, Saroo (Sunny Pawar/Dev Patel) is accidentally separated from his brother and mistakenly travels 1,600 km across the country. Lost from his family, the young boy is left to fend for himself on the devilish streets of Calcutta until he is taken in and adopted by a couple living abroad in Australia. But as Saroo grows up under the roof of wealth and privilege in his new home, a memory from his childhood is triggered and prompts him to venture back to India in search of his lost biological family.

Lion possesses a far greater appeal in retrospect than as it unfolds on the big screen in real time. And once the story shifts to an adult Saroo, there’s an abruptness to the character’s widely evolving emotions. From sadness, to resentment and eventual acceptance of the life he’s been forced to endure, these feelings are highlighted but never actually earned. As a result, Lion struggles to break the emotional barrier necessary to elevate its sentimental finale to appropriate heights. From a filmmaking standpoint, Garth Davis delivers adequate direction that’s enhanced by majestic cinematography and a memorable score courtesy of Volker Bertelmann and Dustin O’Halloran. Much has also been made about Nicole Kidman’s performance but, even during a year of thin competition within the Supporting Actress race, it fails to leave a lasting impression. Lion‘s remarkable true story isn’t quite handled with the care it deserves, yet the film’s heart-warming conclusion helps salvage this otherwise flawed work.

Grade: 3/5

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Geekscape Movie Reviews: ‘Ain’t Them Bodies Saints’

by MCDave

The Sundance Institute’s Writing Lab has become one of the most instrumental stepping stones for amateur screenwriters to bring their stories to the big screen. Earlier this year we witnessed the shining example, Fruitvale Station. Well, another Sundance Institute’s selection comes in the form of David Lowery’s much talked about feature, Ain’t Them Bodies Saints. Nontraditional and undoubtedly unique, Lowery’s work has opened up many eyes within the industry.

Bob (played by Casey Affleck) and Ruth (Rooney Mara) are young lovers from Texas expecting a child and desperate for a better life. But when their aspirations turn them into outlaws, the couple finds itself in the midst of a shootout with local authorities. Bob claims responsibility for their actions and is sentenced to 25 years in jail, while Ruth plays naive and merely walks away with a slap on the wrist. As a few years pass and Ruth raises their young daughter, Bob escapes from prison with hopes of reuniting with his family.

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Budding filmmaker David Lowery’s Ain’t Them Bodies Saints delivers profound aesthetics and very little more. Ambiguous to a fault, the feature claws its way to the finish line by offering a minimal amount of substance. Although the love story is sincere and the characters have a reasonable amount of depth to them, Ain’t Them Bodies Saints would rather focus on its pristine cinematography than crafting a fluid and crowd-pleasing story. Make no mistake about it, Lowery’s breakthrough film is flat out boring and uninformative. While I understand the director’s intention by omitting various details, the plan ultimately backfires and fails to enhance what Lowery feels are the more important aspects of the story. Therefore, Ain’t Them Bodies Saints is a polarizing feature that will be lauded by some and alienated by others.

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No matter how you may feel about the movie, one thing is certain. Director David Lowery deserves to be recognized for his daring attempt at straying from the standard love story. There’s something dark and ominous about their fiery relationship, and Ain’t Them Bodies Saints refuses to shy away from that significant fact. However, the film generates a vibe that never wavers and, as a result, the conclusion lacks bravado. Conversely, another commendable facet of the film is its talented cast. Rooney Mara clearly gives the most impressive turn, yet Casey Affleck and Ben Foster are both exceptional as well. But despite these towering performances, Ain’t Them Bodies Saints drowns in its tragic strive for artistic beauty.

David Lowery molds together a genuinely poetic feature, one that’s intended to move the audience. Ironically, for as branched out as Ain’t Them Bodies Saints feels on an artistic level, the film’s story remains trapped inside of its shell. Breaking from the norm is always challenging. And although I praise director David Lowery for his efforts, his feature never successfully withstands the test.

GRADE: 2/5

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Watch The First Trailer For Spike Jonze’s ‘Her’

by Derek Kraneveldt

Briefly: It’s weird, sure, but it’s also very intriguing.

Yep, it’s the very first trailer for Spike Jonze’s upcoming sci-fi romance, Her. The film tells the story of Theodore Twombly, a heartbroken writer who gets a second chance at love after getting a new, intelligent computer.

The film is very much a Spike Jonze project. The cinematography is gorgeous, performances look down to Earth and believable, and the plot is extremely odd, yet remarkably cute. I’d never heard of Her before today, but after seeing this first trailer, it’s most definitely a film on my watch list.

Her stars Joaquin Phoenix, Scarlett Johansson, Rooney Mara, and Olivia Wilde, and hits theatres (in a limited release) on November 20th.

Set in Los Angeles, slightly in the future, “her” follows Theodore Twombly, a complex, soulful man who makes his living writing touching, personal letters for other people. Heartbroken after the end of a long relationship, he becomes intrigued with a new, advanced operating system, which promises to be an intuitive entity in its own right, individual to each user. Upon initiating it, he is delighted to meet “Samantha,” a bright, female voice, who is insightful, sensitive and surprisingly funny. As her needs and desires grow, in tandem with his own, their friendship deepens into an eventual love for each other. From the unique perspective of Oscar-nominated filmmaker Spike Jonze comes an original love story that explores the evolving nature—and the risks—of intimacy in the modern world.

Geekscape Casts: The Avengers 2

by Matt Blackwood

The Avengers, the movie that multitudes of Marvel maniacs have been discussing ad nauseum for over three years now is almost upon us. And the movie’s financial success is pretty much a foregone conclusion at this point, so a sequel is likely to be green-lit the Monday after it opens.

That realization got us wondering- What classic characters will be recruited into the next Avengers Initiative? And who should play them? A few years ago, we gave our ideal Avengers cast for the first film! Here, Geekscape is at it again as we assemble some of our best ideas on who should suit up for Avengers 2!

ALAN TUDYK as GIANT MAN

First off, let’s assume that writer/director Joss Whedon is brought back for the next chapter due to universal fan approval (that happens, right?). Like most directors, Whedon loves to cast actors that he knows can deliver and Alan Tudyk has been stealing scenes since Firefly. Tudyk can bring the intellect, awkwardness, and, yes, even darkness to the role of inventor/hero Hank Pym.

MAURISSA TANCHAROEN as WASP

Tudyk may be in Whedon’s inner circle, but smart and spunky writer/actress Maurissa Tancharoen is family, having recently married his brother Jed. Tancharoen’s dancing background should help her with the flying wirework as she brings the final founding Avenger to the sky and screen.

CAM GIGANDET as QUICKSILVER

The next two Avengers in comics were reformed mutant terrorists Quicksilver and Scarlet Witch. Quicksilver’s super speed makes him a formidable fighter, but gives him little patience for others. Gigandet’s turn as a cocky, misanthropic pilot in Pandorum makes him a great choice to play Magneto’s son.

ROONEY MARA as SCARLET WITCH

Mara’s star-making performance in 2011’s The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo gave her a chance to show off her strength with action, accents, and insanity. She’ll need all three to play Quicksilver’s powerful but off-kilter sister.

AARON STATON as VISION

With Scarlet Witch in the mix, her synthetic sometime husband would be a smart addition. Staton brings a simplicity that comes off as serene rather than vapid as Ken Cosgrove on AMC’s Mad Men, perfect for the passionless Vision. Plus, Staton’s motion-captured detective Cole Phelps from Rockstar Games’s L.A. Noire already showed us that he can pull off the “creepy lifeless android” thing.

COLM FEORE as ULTRON

Hank Pym’s misguided breakthrough in artificial intelligence is one of the Avengers’ most fearsome villains, and Feore’s cold, terrifying performance in Stephen King’s Storm of the Century give him all the evil cred he needs.

ANNA TORV as MS. MARVEL

Some fan-favorite New Avengers might jump the line and join the cast, such as USAF officer-turned-superhero Carol Danvers. Anna Torv already plays a super-powered government worker on Fox’s Fringe and is one of very few humans who could pull off that costume.

MICHAEL JAI WHITE as LUKE CAGE

White has already played a superhero in the terrible live-action Spawn film, but he didn’t get a chance to show off his attitude and fighting skills. If Black Dynamite had bulletproof skin… Wait, maybe this should be its own movie.

MIA KIRSHNER as SPIDER-WOMAN

Kirshner was sexy and dangerous as recurring assassin Mandy on 24, proving she has what it takes to bring SHIELD/HYDRA double agent and super-powered femme fatale Jessica Drew to life.

JOE MANGANIELLO as HERCULES

Few men have the body to emulate a god (or demi-god), but Manganiello’s True Blood nude scenes keep him in the gym pretty perpetually. A recurring role on How I Met Your Mother showed the former Flash Thompson’s comedy chops, which he’d need to pull off the mirthful Prince of Power.

Did we miss? Hit? What other AVENGERS would you like to see in a sequel? Let Geekscape know in the comments below!