Review – A Single Man

A Single Man is a movie that I have a serious love/hate relationship with. But before I continue, I must warn you that this will be a spoiler-filled review, as it is impossible to detail my major complaint with the film without discussing the scene in question.

A Single Man is a beautiful film about grief and moving on. It centers on George (Colin Firth), who plays a British-born English professor living and working in Los Angeles in the 1960’s. His long-term partner (Matthew Goode) dies a sudden tragic death and he is forced to move on. That’s pretty much it, as plot goes. It’s basically a day in his life…how he deals with his grief and how the various interactions he has with people that day shape and change his outlook.

The film is directed by Tom Ford, who was already a famous fashion designer before he decided to get behind the camera and make this movie. As first-time filmmakers go, this is quite a debut. The film is exquisitely painted and gorgeously photographed. He uses various recurring motifs such as clocks and close-ups of people’s eyes. (But don’t ask me to explain the reasoning behind that!) The costumes and set design are impeccable, re-creating the 1960’s to great detail. All of the performances are amazing in this movie, starting with the best: Colin Firth. I believe this is by far the best performance he has given to date and I would be quite pleased if it led him to an Academy Award. Julianne Moore gives a rollicking fun yet brief performance as George’s next-door-neighbor, best friend and fellow expatriate. Also wonderful is Nicholas Hoult as a student who enters George’s life at the right place and time.

This is one of the best films I have ever seen in regards to showing how people deal with grief. It is impossible to watch the film without your heart breaking for George. To see him left alone, unable to see his lover again or even attend the funeral. To watch as he so resolutely tries to go on with his life and retain his composure. To see the profound loss and loneliness he feels that leads him towards suicide. And it fills your heart with joy to watch him fill that hole in his heart, even if only a little bit…enough to keep him from pulling that trigger. You watch him discover that even in the darkest pit of despair, there is hope and see him find new love, wherever it may lead him. And then, after this glorious rebirth, he dies. THIS is my problem with the movie.

I have many problems with this ending. First, I think it does a major disservice to everything that comes before it in the movie. The story was told and a beautiful story it was. So to tack on a “kill the puppy” ending is just ridiculous. Some people may argue that this is the way the story ended in the book by Christopher Isherwood, which this film is based on. But I’ve never read the book so I have no idea if the ending is the same, and I feel the movie should stand on its own merits anyway. Killing off George after seeing his epiphanic transformation is just insulting…especially for someone like me. As a gay man I have spent my whole life needing positive gay male images in my life (as anyone in a minority group would need). Mostly I’ve been stuck with the funny sidekick or, sadly, tortured souls and lecherous villains. I think that’s why this movie hit me so hard. It’s a masterfully crafted piece about a very realistic gay character dealing with grief and overcoming it. To kill him off just adds to the age-old trend of gay characters never achieving happiness.

Review – Red Cliff

Woo hoo for John Woo! I am such a geek for Asian cinema and when I heard the legendary Woo’s first historical epic Red Cliff was finally getting a North American release I couldn’t wait to see it. A monster success in Asia the pared-down from 5-hour into two-hour version make its way into New York City theaters first on November 18th then Los Angeles and beyond on November 20th. The question is will an ancient tale of a bloody Chinese battle resonate with Western audiences?

Ambitious and power-drunk General Cao Cao (highly regarded actor Zhang Fengyi) has convinced the young, impressionable Han Emperor that two unruly warlords Liu Bei (You Young) and Sun Quan (Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon’s thief Chang Chen) need to be brought under heel. And of course the addition of their land would be highly beneficial to the general. After dealing Liu Bei a crushing defeat Cao Cao turns his attention to the junior ruler, Sun Quan. Anticipating the coming attack, Liu Bei’s military strategist Zhuge Liang (Takeshi Kaneshiro) travels to speak with Sun Quan about an alliance. But first he must convince Sun Quan’s trusted friend, the warrior Zhou Yu (international superstar Tony Leung) of the wisdom of uniting against seemingly insurmountable odds. Together they may just vanquish the tyrant and win freedom and peace for all China.

There is a timeless quality to Red Cliff. It’s Troy, it’s Braveheart, it’s the Battle of Agincourt, it’s any time the few fight with passion and intelligence against their oppressors. The fact that the setting is China shouldn’t be a deterrent for North American audiences. Having to read subtitles however may be an issue for those less adventurous folks. I know that there were subtexts and situations that were uniquely Chinese in nature, things that a Chinese person would readily identify as significant. Those things went blissfully over my head and did not interfere with my enjoyment or understanding of the broader story.

There are a couple iconic John Woo touches in the movie: flocks of doves and a “Mexican standoff” type moment, (see: The Killer). But generally Woo stands back and lets the characters and story be the focal point. The ever classy Tony Leung is perfect at the heroic and honorable Zhou Yu. Red Cliff is a long-overdue reuniting of this director and actor. Takeshi Kaneshiro plays the cagey Zhuge Liang with charm and deference. Model-turned-actress-for-the-first-time Chiling Lin is Xiao Qiao, Zhou Yu’s brave and loyal wife. Some historians say that Cao Cao’s true motivation for waging war on Sun Quan was to take the remarkable beauty, Xiao Qiao for himself. We all know how those endeavors tend to end.

Red Cliff is a martial arts film, though not a typical one. There is some wire work but it’s based very clearly in reality; not so much of that running up and down bamboo trees. This is also a war film. For those of you that like you action exciting and bloody, you’ll get your fill. Finally, Red Cliff is exciting and romantic. If you’re someone who is not afraid of reading subtitles you’re going to thoroughly enjoy this ride. Me? I can’t wait till the 5-hour version is available on DVD!

Red Cliff

From the official site – Legendary action-cinema master John Woo and international superstar Tony Leung reunite for the first time since the 1992 classic HARD BOILED in RED CLIFF, the epic historical drama based on a legendary 208 A.D. battle that heralded the end of the Han Dynasty. RED CLIFF opens as power hungry Prime Minister-turned-General Cao Cao (Zhang Fengyi) seeks permission from the Han dynasty Emperor to organize a southward-bound mission designed to crush the two troublesome warlords who stand in his way, Liu Bei (You Yong) and Sun Quan (Chang Chen). As the expedition gets underway, Cao Cao’s troops rain destruction on Liu Bei’s army, forcing him into retreat. Liu Bei’s military strategist Zhuge Liang (Takeshi Kaneshiro) knows that the rebels’ only hope for survival is to form an alliance with rival warlord Sun Quan, and reaches out to Sun Quan’s trusted advisor, war hero Zhou Yu (Tony Leung). Vastly outnumbered by Cao Cao’s brutal, fast-approaching army, the warlords band together to mount a heroic campaign – unrivaled in history – that changes the face of China forever. A massive hit in Asia and the most expensive Asian film production of all time, RED CLIFF is a breathtaking war epic that marks the triumphant return of John Woo.

Available now on VOD and in theaters November 18th (NYC) and November 20th

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The Twilight Saga: New Moon

From the official site: In the second installment of Stephanie Meyer’s phenomenally successful TWILIGHT series, the romance between vampire and mortal soars to a new level as BELLA SWAN (Kristen Stewart) delves deeper into the mysteries of the supernatural world she yearns to become part of – only to find herself in greater peril than ever before.

Following Bella’s ill-fated 18th birthday party, EDWARD CULLEN (Robert Pattinson) and his family abandon the town of Forks, Washington in an effort to protect her from the dangers inherent in their world. As the heartbroken Bella sleepwalks through her senior year, numb and alone, she discovers Edward’s image comes to her whenever she puts herself in jeopardy.  Her desire to be with him at any cost leads her to take greater and greater risks.

With the help of her childhood friend JACOB BLACK (Taylor Lautner), Bella refurbishes an old motorcycle to carry her on her adventures. Bella’s frozen heart is gradually thawed by her budding relationship with Jacob, a member of the mysterious Quileute tribe, who has a supernatural secret of his own.

When a chance enounter brings Bella face to face with a former nemesis, only the intervention of a pack of supernaturally large wolves saves her from a grisly fate, and the encounter makes it frightening clear that Bella is still in grave danger. In a race against the clock , Bella learns the secret of the Quileute and Edward’s true motivation for leaving her. She also faces the prospect of a potentially deadly reunion with her beloved that is a far cry from the one she hoped for. With more of the passion, action and suspense that made TWILIGHT a worldwide phenomenon, THE TWILIGHT SAGA: NEW MOON is a spell-binding follow up to the box office hit.

Opens November 20th.

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The Twilight Saga: New Moon Volturi Featurette

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The Twilight Saga: New Moon Wolf Pack Featurette

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Fantastic Mr Fox

From the official site – The mean old farmers – fat Boggis, squat Bunce and skinny Bean have joined forces and have Mr. Fox and his family surrounded.

What they don’t know is that they’re not just dealing with any old fox – it’s Fantastic Mr Fox and he has a fantastic master plan to save the day!

Opens November 13th.

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The Men Who Stare at Goats

In a comedic look at real life events that are almost too bizarre to believe, a reporter discovers a top-secret wing of the U.S. military when he accompanies an enigmatic Special Forces operator on a mind-boggling mission.

Reporter Bob Wilton (Ewan McGregor) is in search of his next big story when he encounters Lyn Cassady (Academy Award® winner George Clooney), a shadowy figure who claims to be part of an experimental U.S. military unit. According to Cassady, the New Earth Army is changing the way wars are fought. A legion of “Warrior Monks” with unparalleled psychic powers can read the enemy’s thoughts, pass through solid walls, and even kill a goat simply by staring at it. Now, the program’s founder, Bill Django (Oscar® nominee Jeff Bridges), has gone missing and Cassady’s mission is to find him.

Intrigued by his new acquaintance’s far-fetched stories, Bob impulsively decides to tag along. When the pair tracks Django to a clandestine training camp run by renegade psychic Larry Hooper (two-time Oscar® winner Kevin Spacey), the reporter is trapped in the middle of a grudge match between the forces of Django’s New Earth Army and Hooper’s personal militia of super soldiers. In order to survive this wild adventure, Bob will have to outwit an enemy he never thought possible.

The Men Who Stare at Goats was inspired by Jon Ronson’s non-fiction bestseller of the same name, an eye-opening and often hilarious exploration of the government’s attempts to harness paranormal abilities to combat its enemies.

The film stars George Clooney (Burn After Reading), Jeff Bridges (Iron Man), Ewan McGregor (Angels & Demons), Kevin Spacey (Moon), Robert Patrick (“The Unit”), Stephen Root (The Soloist), Stephen Lang (Public Enemies) and Rebecca Mader “Lost”). It is directed by Academy Award® nominated Grant Heslov (Good Night, and Good Luck) from a screenplay by Peter Straughan (How to Lose Friends & Alienate People) from the book by Jon Ronson. The Men Who Stare at Goats is produced by Clooney, Heslov and Paul Lister. Director of photography is Academy Award® winner Robert Elswit (There Will be Blood). Editor is Tatiana S. Riegel (There Will Be Blood). Costume designer is Louise Frogley (Quantum of Solace). Production designer is Sharon Seymour (Gone Baby Gone).

Opens November 6th.

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Cirque Du Freak: The Vampire’s Assistant

From the official site – Cirque Du Freak: The Vampire’s Assistant, based on the popular series of books by Darren Shan, is a fantasy adventure about a teenager who unknowingly breaks a 200-year old truce between two warring factions of vampires. Pulled into a fantastic life of misunderstood sideshow freaks and grotesque creatures of the night, one teen will vanish from the safety of a boring existence and fufill his destiny in a place drawn from nightmares.

16-year old Darren (Chris Massoglia) was like most kids in his suburban neighborhood. He hung out with his best friend, got decent grades and usually stayed out of trouble. But when he and his buddy stumble upon a traveling freak show, things begin to changed inside Darren. That’s the exact moment when a vampire named Larten Crepsley (John C. Reilly) turns him into something, well, blood thirsty.

Newly undead, he joins the Cirque Du Freak, a touring sideshow filled with monstrous creatures from a snakeboy to a wolfman to a bearded lady (Salma Hayek) and a gigantic barker (Ken Watanabe). As Darren flexes his new found powers in this dark world, he becomes a treasured pawn between the vampires and their deadlier counterparts. And while trying to survive, one boy will struggle to keep their brewing war from devouring what’s left of his humanity.

Opens October 23rd.

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Where the Wild Things Are

From the official site – Inside of us all is – everything we’ve ever seen, everything we’ve ever done and everyone we’ve ever loved.

Innovative director Spike Jonze collaborates with celebrated author Maurice Sendak to bring on of the most beloved books of all time to the big screen in WHERE THE WILD THINGS ARE, a classic story about childhood and the places we go to figure out the world we live in.

The film tells the story of Max, a rambunctious and sensitive boy who feels misunderstood at home and escapes to where the Wild Things are. Max lands on an island where he meets mysterious and strange creatures whose emotions are as wild and unpredictable as their actions.

The Wild Things desperately long for a leader to guide them, just as Max longs for a kingdom to rule. When Max is crowned King, he promised to create a place where everyone will be happy.

Max soon finds, though, that ruling his kingdom is not so easy and his relationships there prove to be more complicated than he originally thought.

Opens October 16th.

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