A Star Is Born (2018) film review

Year: 2018

Running Time: 136 minutes

Director: Bradley Cooper

Writers: Eric Roth, Bradley Cooper and Will Fetters

Cast: Bradley Cooper, Lady Gaga. Sam Elliot, Andrew Dice Clay, Rafi Gavron, Anthony Ramos

A Star Is Born is now showing everywhere thanks to Warner Bros Pictures and Roadshow Films in Australia. 

2018's A Star Is Born has a lot to love. In a film that receives ticks for outstanding in many areas, it is a gritty and powerful portrait of two talented people falling in love while also dealing with fame, jealousy and addiction in the public eye. It is a tremendous achievement in both film and music and to say it is a solid directorial debut by Bradley Cooper would be an understatement.

However, the film is problematic and not as a result of the production itself. It's downfall lies in the inherent nature of the film being the fourth cinematic version of A Star Is Born. One can understand why A Star Is Born has been revamped every few decades as it's formula is a winner with movie-goers. Everybody loves a story about a bright young thing who wants more than anything to find fame and fortune, only to find it to not be as it seems. The film and music industry is constantly changing so the film can be completely redone in a new fashion every few decades.

With Bradley Cooper's A Star is Born, we see the focus shifted to the 2018 music industry; a digital age where struggling singer, Ally (expertly played by Lady Gaga) is plucked from obscurity by a country music star, Jackson Maine (Cooper), who see's something in her that others have not. Again, it is a story that is easy to get excited about as society loves tales from the world of entertainment. It also has the inspirational element for people like Ally, who are struggling to find success and the takeaway from the film is that that success can come when you least expect it as long as you take every opportunity you can. Ally's first live performance of "Shallow" is a perfect depiction of a dream coming true in slow motion. The song, which is a sure thing for an Oscar nomination, not only shows two people falling in love thanks to the power of music, but it is a pivotal moment of the film and everything comes into focus and shows how every little detail of a dream coming true is important.

Yet, the 2018 film has it's problems that the earlier films did not and it is because of the changing times that we can see these problems. A Star is Born suffers from a severe lack of female characters, with Lady Gaga's Ally being the only real female character besides the stagehand, Gail who appears for two minutes. Neither Ally nor Jackson have any females in their families. Ally's whole life is governed by men...in her family, in her job, in her marriage and in her career. In addition to this, the narrative (which has been inherited from earlier films) means that she has a man to thank for her career as Jackson was the one who gave her her break. Her manager, Raz Gavron (Rafi Gavron) also controls her solo career and her rise to fame.

To call 2018's A Star Is Born sexist would be far too simple and a compulsive conclusion to jump to. There are definitely sexist elements. For example, there is no reason Ally should be the only female character of worth. However, it is a credit to the film that they do include gay and transgender characters. Yet the sexism of the narrative is a different matter. There is the idea that Jackson may be able to help propel Ally to stardom, but who is actually the strong one? She is strong to stand beside him in his weakest moments, be his rock and stand up for him when no one else will. So if it is a relationship of give and take, is sexism really part of it? Or is the career aspect of their relationship sexist?

Then there is the other unfortunate part of the narrative which is perhaps an unintentional, but nevertheless unsettling representation of the entertainment industry. Despite the fact that we are living at a time where the industry is experiencing the effects of the #metoo movement, there is a long way to go as the business of both music and film has been run by men for so long. We see in A Star Is Born how all the music executives and decision makers are men and while from the outside this looks horribly sexist, it is an unfortunate reality which is in the process of being changed and still has a long way to go. This is not something someone watching the 1937 version of A Star Is Born which focused on Janet Gaynor's Esther wanting film stardom would have even considered as a notable part of the film, as it was just an accepted part of the industry and seen as normal.  However, current events have made us see things differently. Cooper could have adjusted this, but would it have been realistic if he did?

Despite these inherent problems, A Star Is Born is still a superb film that is emotional and hard-hitting. It does not shy away from the destructive nature of addiction and shows in graphic detail how it impacts the individual and their family. Cooper directs himself flawlessly as he gives a believable and gritty performance of not just a star in trouble, but a man who feels helpless and ashamed within himself. Lady Gaga gives a performance which many will see as reflective of her own rise to fame, but her Ally is far more than that. She is a woman who many will relate to as she is often plagued by her own guilt of doing what is good for her or what is good for the person she loves, and a woman who cannot help but love someone who does not love themselves. More than that, she turns everyone who was ever on the fence as to whether they are a fan of her as a singer into a true fan with her outstanding and memorable live performances throughout the film.

A Star Is Born is it's own worst enemy at times by bringing forward the problems of the entertainment industry and it's original story, which Bradley Cooper would have felt an obligation to remain true to. Yet it is hard to hold too much against it when it truly is an incredible and memorable film for everything it does so right.

8/10

Aloha (2015) film review

Year: 2015

Running Time: 105 minutes

Director/ Writer: Cameron Crowe

Cast: Bradley Cooper, Emma Stone, Rachel McAdams, John Krasinski, Danny McBride, Bill Murray, Alec Baldwin, Jaeden Lieberher, Danielle Rose Russell, Bill Camp

 

Director Cameron Crowe made his latest film Aloha as a love letter to Hawaii and it is just that. A love letter to a beautiful part of the world which silently tells his audience that he was just desperate to make a film there and it didn't matter what sort of film. Aloha is a fine example of how trying too hard and not enough is possible in one film. Military man, Brian Gilcrest (Bradley Cooper) returns to Hawaii after more than a decade away and reconnect almost immediately with his now married ex-girlfriend, Tracy (Rachel McAdams) who he stood up in a most cold way. He is teamed up with Hawaiian born, Allison Ng (Emma Stone) who opens up Brian to a world he had neglected and helps him find happiness. He finds that old ghosts catch up with him quickly here and old acquaintances are not easy to forget.

 



Aloha is a wonderful travel advertisement for Hawaii. Cameron Crowe's love for the 50th state comes across loud and clear in this film so much that it feels as though everything else besides the visual representation is done at a mediocre level. The story is incredibly predictable and although there are some elements of originality in there, there is too much going on to pay attention and appreciate the creativity of one storyline when several unoriginal ones are also taking place at the same time. Likewise, it is hard to feel any connection and emotion in any of the film's sub-plots as they are all happening simultaneously and with little time and effort put into each one. This isn't helped by the characters being badly written so that no one can sympathize with them as they never truly feel as if they know them.

 

 

Everything in Aloha points to the explanation that Crowe was just desperate to make a film in Hawaii and that means any film. It feels as though he was so set on writing a film that is set in Hawaii that he only half developed everything else, including the depth of the characters and screenplay. Visually the film is very pretty, which is a feature that many will find attractive and be drawn to the film because of. It is rather atmospheric, but only in relation to the way white people are living there. The way the natives live on Oahu is not represented in a favourable light when it is seen in the film, which is seldom and although Crowe tries to work them into the film it does not seem like nearly enough.

 

Bradley Cooper has had a stellar run of film roles in recent years thanks to the wonderful scripts that have come his way. It will come as no surprise that Brian Gilcrest in Aloha is not one of these roles. Cooper does all he can, but Brian is such a badly written character who at the end of the day really has no idea who is so how is the audience expected to understand him or connect with him? He swings from being arrogant and obnoxious to being goofy and playful with no warning and although his background he should indicate a significant amount of depth, it is hard to take him seriously. Yet, the final scene is such a fine piece of work by Cooper and is his redemption.

 

Perhaps the biggest talking point of Aloha is the casting of Emma Stone as Allison Ng, the quarter Hawaiian and quarter Chinese love interest of Brian. Stone is a fine actress and has the quirky, but relatable personality which is highly marketable and cherished in Hollywood at this point in time. One cannot blame a film maker for wanting her to be in their film, but was Crowe craving her so much that he had to place her in a role that clearly wasn't meant for her? Performance-wise Stone does cross the line into the territory of over-exaggeration in an attempt to maintain her quirky comedic style so many have come to love. However, even if she was spot on it is incredibly hard to take her seriously when she talks of her heritage and her passion for the land and their customs because of her physical appearance.

 

The stand out among the performances is that of John Krasinski who plays Tracy's husband, Woody. The surprising thing is that Krasinski says only a handful of words throughout the whole film, but he is truly hilarious and proves that actions speak louder than words.

 

It is hard to decipher whether Aloha has the potential to be a better film than what it is. Cameron Crowe certainly has the ability to be a better film maker and the impressive cast have given much better performances in the past. Overall it is a mere disappointment, but the last ten minutes is a gem. It is just a shame you have to wait so long for it.

 

2.5/10

 



American Sniper (2014) film review

Year: 2014
Running Time: 132 minutes
Director: Clint Eastwood
Writers: Chris Kyle, Scott McEwen and Jim DeFelice (book), Jason Hall (screenplay)
Cast: Bradley Cooper, Sienna Miller, Luke Grimes

American Sniper opens in Australian cinemas on January 22 and is distributed by Roadshow Films. Now showing in the United States and United Kingdom.

Almost two years after his death, ex-United States Navy seal, Chris Kyle has been given a heroes tribute in Clint Eastwood's American Sniper. It is a tribute which is somewhat troublesome for individual audience members for varied reasons and although Bradley Cooper and Sienna Miller give fine performances, the film does not succeed in achieving the optimum combined level of captivation and enjoyment. The result is a film that will do very little for those who are unentertained by war films and will unsettle and distress others.

Texan born Navy seal Chris Kyle (Bradley Cooper) is recognised as the deadliest sniper in American history with over 160 confirmed kills and many more unconfirmed during his four tours to Iraq. His time as a seal saw him exposed to the evils of the world and his time in duty was as dramatic for him as it was for his wife, Taya (Sienna Miller) waiting for him at home. As distressing and deadly as the war is, Kyle finds himself not mentally able to leave it even when he is at home and safe with his family.

With American Sniper, Clint Eastwood has made a rather patriotic film about the man the Navy tagged "Legend", which like many biopics has been amplified for dramatic effect. It is a film which is problematic for various reasons and different people will relate to a different reason as to why they did not completely take to American Sniper. Firstly, the film wastes no time in establishing that one of it's motives is to create an incredibly tense atmosphere which will no doubt shock, unsettle and distress many audience members. The majority of the scenes which are used to demonstrate the evil and terrors of war are extremely confronting and often quite graphic, yet they are also not historically accurate and included in the film purely for dramatic effect and shock value. The problem with this is that it is not a welcomed suspense that is created and makes for an uncomfortable experience and considering these events (such as the first scene and The Butcher torture scenes) are not completely factual, there is no point for this.

What American Sniper lacks is a firm sense of balance. The film covers both Kyle's life on the battlefield and at home with his family so there is an understanding that Eastwood is trying to make a film about war that doesn't discriminate against those who are not typically fans of war films. However, the scenes in the Kyle household are not strong enough nor do they have enough time donated to them to ensure this. The scenes in Iraq are very well made with some incredible location shots and brilliant sound editing, but no matter how strong and tense they may be, do not entertain those who do not admire war films. Yet for those who do admire war films, it will almost feel as though the scenes in the United States take away from the action.

This all being said, one can still understand what the film is trying to do and say. This may be a biographical film about Chris Kyle, but it wants to be a film which any soldier and their family can relate to. As is shown with Kyle, the war doesn't end for the participant and their family when they return home. The horrors they have seen stay with them long after they have left and affect their everyday life. Many find the only way they can combat this torture is to go back on tour, much to the dismay of their families.  A husband going to war is a battle for any army wife, as it is a time of emotional torture filled with constant anxiety. Eastwood is trying to make American Sniper as relatable as possible for families who are directly effected by war and show that although Chris Kyle was tagged a hero and legend, his battles away from Iraq are much the same as anybody else's.

Bradley Cooper gives a flawless performance as the late Chris Kyle. In a performance which is also physically demanding, Cooper brings an incredibly human quality to the well known naval figure. He allows people to see his character as a human being who was not as cold-hearted as his occupation may suggest, but one that was emotionally and mentally effected by him actions. Cooper's performance is strong, controlled and quite wonderful. Sienna Miller is also very good and gives perhaps the best performance of her career thus far. Her Taya could be any army wife and the on screen chemistry between her and Cooper is perfect.

American Sniper is strong minded as it knows exactly what it is trying to achieve, yet is not executed strongly enough to achieve this. The film will strike a cord with any family member who has been personally effected by war, but is not a particularly enjoyable experience for those who cannot relate.

6/10

Guardians of the Galaxy (2014)

Year: 2014
Running Time: 121 minutes
Director: James Gunn
Writers: Dan Abnett and Andy Lanning (comic book), James Gunn and Nicole Perlman (screenplay)
Cast: Chris Pratt, Zoe Saldana, Dave Bautista, Bradley Cooper (voice), Vin Diesel (voice), Lee Pace, Michael Rooker, Karen Gillan, Glenn Close, Benicio Del Toro

Guardians of the Galaxy will open in Australian cinemas on the 7th August and United States cinemas on the 1st of August.

Guardians of the Galaxy is a superhero film in a league of it's own. While being the action packed extravaganza one comes to expect from it being a comic book adaptation, the film has it's own identity which sets it apart from other such films and make it extremely memorable and enjoyable. It's personality resonates through it's witty script, impressive visuals, colourful characters and an incredibly addictive soundtrack. Guardians of the Galaxy is in itself an addiction as the feeling of excitement it creates and it's fun atmosphere is one that is remembered and has a great staying power.

Peter Quill (Chris Pratt), a human living in a far away galaxy who was abducted by an alien life form when he was a young boy, is disturbed by Ronan the Accuser's (Lee Pace) men while stealing a mysterious orb. Upon returning to his home city, he finds he is now a wanted man being tracked by not only Ronan's enigmatic follower, Gamora (Zoe Saldana), but also by bounty hunter racoon, Rocket (voiced by Bradley Cooper) and his offsider, Groot (voiced by Vin Diesel). When the four land themselves in prison for their public battle, they team up with Dax the Destroyer (Dave Baustina), who has revenge on Ronan on his mind and see's Gamora as his key to vengeance. However, when this group of misfits discover that Ronan desires the orb so he can destroy the galaxy, they work together to defend their world from his evil plans.

Guardians of the Galaxy is a film with a whole lot of character. The film has absolute confidence in what it is and makes the most of what it has to offer. The film is slightly reminiscent of past films such as Star Wars, but it very much has it's own identity. All the elements of the film work wonderfully together to give the film it's own distinct feeling, which is that of excitement, fun and just a sprinkling of nostalgia thanks to Peter Quill's mind still partly dwelling on Earth in the late 1980's. Guardians of the Galaxy doesn't have the same luxury that many other comic book superheroes do which is that unless you are an avid comic book reader yourself, you are not entirely, if at all familiar with the story of the guardians. This works in the film's favour as there is nowhere near as much pressure or expectation on the characters and it is just a pleasure to enjoy getting to know the guardians and understand their world naturally. It really was an ambitious venture by Marvel to create the world of the guardians, but due to some incredible production design it is done brilliantly. The visuals are intriguing and have a wonderful incorporation of colour. The CGI special effects are also quite magnificent.

The screenplay is wonderfully written by James Gunn (who also directed the film) and Nicole Perlman. The story can be a little too busy to begin with while the guardians are forming their alliance, as so many people seem to be wanting Peter for their own reasons. However, once the five join forces the story flows and is intriguing and, to an extent, unpredictable. Although thrilling and action-packed, there is an incredible amount of witty and hilarious dialogue with lines that can be rather quotable. The great thing about the comedy in this film, is that it is not the usual comedic style featured in an action/superhero film which borders on corniness. Much of the comedy in Guardians of the Galaxy wouldn't be out of place in a comedy genre film. The only problem with a lot of the comedic references is that they are quite generation specific. Jackson Pollock and even Kevin Bacon's 1984 Footloose are not references that many younger viewers will understand, but much of the film will be a great deal more relatable to people who grew up in the 1980's in general. The use of the Walkman and particularly the soundtrack give an air of nostalgia to the film. The soundtrack is indeed one of the most memorable features of the film. There is a great mix of tunes from the 1960's, 70's and 80's , which are very well incorporated into the film starting with "Come and Get Your Love" by Redbone to set the scene for something fun and "Cherry Bomb" by The Runaways to build excitement.

The characters who are the Guardians of the Galaxy are all very well constructed and developed during the film. Chris Pratt is perfect as Peter Quill. He is so incredibly relatable and performs his role with absolute ease. His character is quite an interesting one, as he has an incredible amount of boyish charm and slight cockiness which doesn't come from thinking he is special as much as from there being a part of him which refuses to grow up. This is surprisingly really quite a likable quality in him and he charms the audience with this. Pratt's Peter Quill is one which you want to see more of and see more heroes who areas relatable as him.

Zoe Saldana does well as Gamora and is a strong female, action character, which is again the type of character one wants to see more of in action films. She works very well with Pratt on screen and although there is romantic chemistry between the two, the chemistry of them as partners in crime is much stronger. Bradley Cooper gives a superb voice performance as raccoon, Rocket. What is so brilliant about his performance is that for the most part his voice is unrecognisable as Cooper's own, which those familiar with his work would be used to hearing. Cooper gives Rocket true character with his voice and makes Rocket an even more intriguing raccoon than what he already is. Another surprise is Vin Diesel as tree/human mutation, Groot. Groot only has three words to say throughout the film, but Diesel's voice is unrecognisable in those three words. Groot is a wonderful character and with such little speech, comes across as being such a sweet being and an audience favourite.

Guardians of the Galaxy oozes character and is a truly enjoyable ride. It leaves you craving more and awaiting it's sequel with baited breath so to experience more of the fun had in the first and have further contact with it's wonderful characters.

8/10

American Hustle (2013)

 

Year: 2013
Running Time: 138 minutes
Director: David O. Russell
Writers: Eric Singer and David O. Russell Cast: Christian Bale, Amy Adams, Bradley Cooper, Jeremy Renner, Jennifer Lawrence, Louis C.K., Jack Huston, Michael Pena

American Hustle is now showing in Australian cinemas and is distributed by Roadshow Films. Opening in the USA and UK on the 20th January 2013.

Could a film like American Hustle possibly avoid the hype? Not likely. Director David O. Russell’s film making has gone from strength to strength, especially with his last two films, The Fighter and Silver Linings Playbook. Then there is the impressive cast which Russell is able to assemble for his latest film, all of which are past Academy Award nominees (Christian Bale and Jennifer Lawrence having won one award each and both under Russell’s direction) and all, except Jeremy Renner, who have worked with him before. So we have one of the most talented film makers in the business today and five of the biggest movie stars in the world working together on one film. American Hustle is a hit even before the first tickets are sold.

It’s a good thing that American Hustle does live up to its hype. Russell once again brings out the very best in his actors with some incredible and captivating performances taking place, especially that of Jennifer Lawrence. The performances do tend to hide the fact that even though the screenplay contains the usual brilliant dialogue Russell’s movies possess, it does try to do a little too much and ends up achieving the opposite of what it is meaning to in parts. It gives too much at times, and too little in others. Yet, the players in American Hustle still manage to overshadow these inconsistencies and make the film the hit it was always believed it would be.

Irving Rosenfeld (Christian Bale) is a charismatic career con man who is in business with the seductive and deceptive Sydney Prosser (Amy Adams), who cons everyone besides Irving into believing that she is the British Lady Edith with numerous valuable connections. At the height of their business, they are caught out by FBI agent, Richie DiMaso (Bradley Cooper). Agent DiMaso convinces the two to work with him in order to con those the FBI has had their eyes on. Together the three of them head into the world of New Jersey powerbrokers and mafia with their sights set on Mayor Carmine Polito (Jeremy Renner) who is looking to rework Atlantic City. The only thing that stands in their way is Irving’s unpredictable and unstable wife, Roslyn (Jennifer Lawrence) who has the power to overthrow everything if she says the wrong thing to the wrong people.

Firstly, the thing that has American Hustle missing the link between a very good film and a brilliant film is it’s screenplay by Russell and Eric Singer. The film isn’t consistently enthralling and at times tends to lull. At 138 minutes running time the film isn’t overly long, but it does try to pack too much into that time. This leads to the film spending a little time on everything and therefore not spending enough time on things which are important to the story, and too much time on little things which don’t have to be in the film. Yet the screenplay is not by a long stretch a failing one due to the brilliant and colourful dialogue given to its characters, which has become a trademark of Russell’s films and is always a favourite amongst audiences.

The late 1970’s is brought back in spectacular style. The fashion and hair is spot on for the time and add to the overall atmosphere of the film. The décor of locations such as Irving’s office and house is extremely reminiscent and spot on of life in the 1970’s, particularly of his house where domestic and psychedelic collide. The time period inspired soundtrack is also great fun. There are some wonderful cinematography moments, in particular during the opening credits with the three lead characters, Irving, Sydney and Richie walking up a corridor in unison, which straight away tells you how important these three will be. There are some strange and unexplained cinematography moments, like the close up of Sydney’s stiletto in the car. Yet this seems to be a recurring visual from Russell’s films as the is a similar vision in The Fighter of Melissa Leo’s high heels.

Russell has once again brought out the best in his lead actors. All of the top five billing actors give performances that will always be remembered as one of their best. Christian Bale is brilliant as Irving. One would normally think of a somewhat sleazy looking and overweight con man and think about how unlikable such a figure would be, but Bale makes him absolutely intriguing and astonishingly makes him likable. He is just so charismatic and full of character and towards the end of the film, you are really rooting for him. Amy Adams has once again morphed herself into another intriguing character. You never really find out exactly who she really is underneath her disguise, but through Adams’ acting we can see the hurt and insecure girl she really is underneath all her sexy glamour.

Bradley Cooper gives another stellar performance under Russell’s guidance. In the opening scenes, the first verbal confrontation between Bale and Cooper is just superb as watching these two amazing actors go at each other is a real treat. Cooper’s scenes where he loses control and goes slightly mad are so interesting to watch. Jeremy Renner is also superb. He is so likable as Carmine and as you watch him being deceived, you feel so embarrassed and bad for him. The only complaint about the films players is that there is not enough of the uncredited Robert De Niro.

It is Jennifer Lawrence who you remember the most when you leave American Hustle. . She is an absolute scene stealer whenever she is on screen and as she doesn’t have as much on screen time as her cast members, you really wish you could see more of her. Her dialogue is great and everything she does is so entertaining. Lawrence has the uncanny ability of being able to play someone who is supposed to be older and more life experienced than she is, and she is never questioned by anyone as she is so believable and brilliant.

American Hustle is a cinematic delight. The story may not be continuously riveting in its execution, but it has many redeemable qualities. A must see for fans of David O. Russell or any of the five main players. And what you have probably heard is also true, there is an astonishing amount off sideboob.

7.5/10


You may have also seen Christian Bale in....
The Fighter as Dickie
The Dark Knight Rises as Bruce Wayne/ Batman

You may have also seen Amy Adams in....
The Fighter as Charlene
Man of Steel as Lois Lane

You may have also seen Bradley Cooper in....
Silver Linings Playbook as Pat Solitano

You may have also seen Jennifer Lawrence in.....
Silver Linings Playbook as Tiffany Maxwell
The Hunger Games: Catching Fire as Katniss Everdeen

You may have also seen Jeremy Renner in....
The Hurt Locker as Will James
The Town as Jem

Silver Linings Playbook

 

Year: 2012

Director: David O. Russell

Cast: Bradley Cooper, Jennifer Lawrence, Robert De Niro, Jacki Weaver

Before I begin my review…
 

Silver Linings Playbook is the first movie in 31 years to have nominations in all four acting categories and for Best Film and Best Director.

That is pretty damn impressive. The last film to do this was Reds back in 1982. Come the night, Reds took out Best Actress In A Supporting Role for Maureen Stapleton and Best Director for Warren Beatty.

So what has Silver Linings Playbook got a good shot at?

One would think they surely have to win at least one considering they have nominations in all the major categories. Not necessarily, but it is definitely in contention.

So let’s start with Silver Linings Playbooks’ odds for Best Picture. Very good movie, but it will be a surprise winner if it takes home the big one. At the Toronto International Film Festival it took out the top Audience Award so that is saying something for it, but it does have very stiff competition at the Academy Awards later this month.

David O. Russell for director….he has a very unique method of direction with the improvisational style of directing his actors and his methods of editing. There is no doubt about it, Russell brings out the best in his actors. He directed both Christian Bale and Melissa Leo to their first Oscars for The Fighter and you don’t direct all four of your lead actors to nominations if you are not exceptionally talented. He does have a good chance at taking home his prize this year.

Silver Linings Playbook is without a doubt Bradley Cooper’s best role to date. His nomination is very much deserved, but a win seems a bit out of reach with the front-runner being Daniel Day Lewis and followed closely by Hugh Jackman, who won the Golden Globe over Cooper.

The same can be said for Robert De Niro and Jacki Weaver. Both fantastic performances and well deserved nominations, but both have a lot of competition.

It is Jennifer Lawrence who is the greatest Oscar chance for Silver Linings Playbook. Is there anything this girl can’t do? It is her second Oscar nomination at age 22 and the world is her oyster. Her biggest competition is Jessica Chastain. However since winning the Golden Globe for Best Actress in a Musical/ Comedy and also Best Actress at the Screen Actors Guild Awards, all eyes are in Lawrence. Considering the SAG’s and the Oscars are voted by acting peers, it would seem as though this is her year. Question is, is she deserving of her first Best Performance by an Actress In a Leading Role Academy Award?

Yes, she is.

Review

David O. Russell proves once again with Silver Linings Playbook that he is able to bring out the best in each one of his actors and the sum of these performances lead to a wonderful, raw and heartfelt film.

While Silver Linings Playbook is being categorised as a romantic comedy, it is definitely not your typical rom-com. The heartbreaking and intense issues dealt with are never too far removed from the reality of the everyday person, but are ones that are not usually brought to your attention in a film like this. The characters have so many layers to them that are exposed in the film and are bought to life with some incredible performances.

Troubled Pat Solitano (Bradley Cooper) returns home to live with his parents (Robert De Niro and Jacki Weaver) after spending time in an institution for his bi-polar disorder. He is determined to improve himself by being more positive and believes that he will be able to win back his wife, Nikki (Brea Bee) when she sees how much he has changed.  He then meets Tiffany (Jennifer Lawrence), an eccentric young widow and he believes she may be able to help him win back Nikki. However, both Pat and Tiffany are able to help each other out and change each other’s lives in ways they never imagined.

The best thing about Silver Linings Playbook is that it shows that a film doesn’t need to have amazing images, special effects or be somewhat of an extravaganza in order for it to be amazing. Silver Linings Playbook relies on its story, the emotions it evokes and characters that are portrayed in order to be a film that connects with people, and that it does.

At times, the film is almost uncomfortable to watch as bi-polar and other depression and anxiety related disorders are not uncommon by any means. What Pat and his family go through as a result of his disorder and also the mood swings of both him and Tiffany are very realistic. These scenes will hit close to home for anyone who has experienced anything like this before. It’s not an easy watch at times for this reason, but as the title suggests, the story plays out to show silver linings and you don’t leave the cinema feeling like you’ve been hit by an emotional steam train.

The story is great as it is original, but still slightly predictable. There are some funny moments, but some of the laughs are more like nervous laughter than laughter as a result of comedic value. It’s one of those things were you watch and it seems like it is funny, but you know that if it was happening to you, it probably wouldn’t be that funny.

It is the performances by the actors that make this film what it is. Bradley Cooper is brilliant in his role as Pat. He is completely believable in everything he does on screen and really gets the audiences sympathy. It is the best performance of his career thus far.

Jennifer Lawrence gives an absolute powerhouse of a performance. To begin with, taking the knowledge into the film that Lawrence is only 22 in real life, it does seem a little far-fetched to you that she is a widow and was married for three years. Yet, Lawrence has proved that she can act beyond her years and she is very believable in the part. When her character is angry, she is actually quite scary and it looks like there is a fire behind her eyes that would shoot down anyone who dare challenge her.

Robert De Niro gives his best performance in years as Pat Sr. His character is slightly eccentric, but not as much as his son. It is such an interesting performance as his character has so many layers and De Niro is able to show all these layers in his portrayal.

Jacki Weaver is also wonderful. She is beautiful on screen as Pat’s mother and as a devoted wife, who is trying to keep it together for the sake of her family. Her and De Niro work brilliantly together on screen. That being said, the family dynamics between Weaver, De Niro and Cooper are both evident and deeply heartfelt.

All the characters have so much depth, but they are all changing gradually throughout the film. It is the best example of character development and progression in a film definitely in the past year and maybe even longer.

Silver Linings Playbook is a beautiful film about those “crazy” people who are perhaps not so crazy, but just feel a bit more and see things that others don’t.

9/10

Limitless

Limitless
Year: 2011
Director: Neil Burger
Cast: Bradley Cooper, Abbie Cornish, Robert De Niro, Anna Freil

In My Own Words
Abbie Cornish is one of those actresses who I personally believe will be an Academy Award winner in the future. And I am not just saying that because she's Australian and I am Australian. Nor am I saying that based primarily on her latest role in "Limitless". Cornish won the AFI (the Australian equivalent of an Oscar) in 2004 for her breakthrough film role as Heidi in "Somersault", and she has recieved 4 AFI nominations. The roles she has undertaken are the calibre of those which are nominated for awards, but Cornish isn't afraid to lend herself to roles such as this one in "Limitless" or in the highly anticipated "Sucker Punch" which is released next month. Personally, I believe she was hard done by not recieving a Golden Globe or Oscar nomination for her role as Fanny Brawne in "Bright Star". She was just stunning in it and gave a heart breaking performance. However, it is a very competitive world out there, which goes without saying!

When you watch as many movies as what I do, you tend to take a bit more of an interest in the opening credits at the beginning of a film and then you tend to start remembering people's names who don't usually get as much recognition by the general public as actors or directors. One such name which I noticed coming up over and over again was the producer Ryan Kavanaugh. A executive producer is the figure who is involved in the overall production of the film and handles the business deals. The main reason why I first noticed Ryan Kavanaugh's name is really because my mother's maiden name is Kavanaugh, but then it kept turning up and I thought "Wow, this guy must be really successful and know what he is doing". So what does one do when you wonder about something? Get on the Google! Well, I felt like I should have known who Kavanaugh was before now. He is an entreprenaur of Hollywood, the owner of Relativity Media who has had an incredible rise. He hasn't been in the movie industry for very long, but his list of credits include" Nine", "Brothers", "Robin Hood"," The Fighter" and now "Limitless". Kavanaugh definately knows what he is doing and I would love to know his secret...as I am sure many people do! He is a powerhouse in the business world of Hollywood.

These are my own words and here is my review.

Review
The onslaught of Hollywood action films continues. "Limitless" may look like just another action thriller on the surface, but it does have something that not many other films of this genre have. Originality. It's unusual these days to see an action film with a storyline which doesn't feel like deja vu. "Limitless" is fresh and entertaining. Based on the novel "The Dark Fields" by Alan Glynn, "Limitless" is a different look at the danger of substance addiction. Eddie Morra (Bradley Cooper) starts off the film as one might descibe as being a loser. He is a writer who has a book deal, but has not written a word and is therefore not earning a dollar. By chance, he bumps into his ex-brother in law, Vernon (Johnny Whitworth) who assures him that a pill which he gives him will fix all his problems. After Eddie takes this pill, he is able to absorb information quicker and his brain works at a higher level than the everyday person. Eddie quickly becomes addicted to this drug known as MDT and although the quality of his world increases dramatically, the danger and fight to stay alive begins.

What is so refreshing about "Limitless" is that it isn't a thriller based on the run from the guys who are after you (although parts of the film do lean towards that) or finding out who are the killers. It is a thriller about a fight against addiction, which is something that many people will be able to relate to. It is almost as if the film serves as a wake up call for some and contains some very real situations that individuals addicted to a substance may encounter such as not being able to pay people back for their addictions and facing financial difficulties with another party, and also the effect it has on your physical and mental health. Not to mention the effect it has on the relationships with those around you. The script is very clever, as one might imagine in a film where the lead characters intelligence increases and he obviously pretty smart things to say. However, the film itself is not as suspenseful at times as it is supposed to be. The reason for this is that it quickens pace and then slows down, and this happens several times throughout the film. There is suspense, and then there is a period in which it's intensity is lowered dramatically. This happens various times throughout the film and this is why the suspense is not consistently maintained, which is actually quite frustrating. The ending is also very anticlimatic and should have finished at least 10 minutes earlier. Yet, this does not destroy the film as it is still entertaining whether it is slow or suspenseful.

It is easy to see how Neil Burger would have had fun directing this film and the overall visual surface of the film is quite impressive. There are some great film sequences and visual effects used which are quite attractive and impressive to watch. Although some of the effects may make you suffer from motion sickness. "Limitless" is actually a good showcase of types of visual effects, cinematography and editing which are used in Hollywood action films today. New York City is definately put on show through the filming of this film as well and features heavily in the cinematography, along with the visual representation of Eddie's mind.

Bradley Cooper carries the film well. The best part of the film for him is the beginning where Eddie is rough and ragged and when he experiences his downfall in health and luck. He is so great in this part because it is completely different to the characters which he normally portrays in films. Sure he looks completely different, but you really feel sorry for him in the way which he carries himself and the sorriness in his eyes. Once he becomes the successful Eddie, it is much like any other Bradley Cooper role. Bradley Cooper does Bradley Cooper roles well so you can't really fault the performance. Abbie Cornish is charming as his girlfriend, Lindy and this is actually quite a different role for her. Her and Cooper do also have a great on screen chemistry, which really helps support the film. It is good to see Robert De Niro back on the big screen and he does wuite well in this role, as one would expect from him. He plays Eddie's business partner/boss, Carl Van Loon and he does definately come across as a character who you would love to have on your side, but would hate to have against you throughout the film. 

"Limitless" is one of the better action thrillers released this year. Neil Burger should be applauded for taking on a film which required a lot of originality and creativity to make it work on the screen and pulling it off. It is not often a book which has a story to it that one would normally think should be left as a book as it wouldn't work on screen, does really tell the story and tell it effectively. That really is something to be proud of and is the sign of a great director.
7.5/10

The A-Team

The A-Team
Year: 2010
Director: John Carnahan
Cast: Liam Neeson, Bradley Cooper, Jessica Biel, Quinton “Rampage” Jackson, Sharlto Copley

In My Own Words
Ah, another remake! To be completely honest, I have never seen an episode of the TV show “The A-Team”. According to my lovely father, the film version is nowhere near as corny as the television series. Those who are big fans of the original show will most probably see this as a downfall, but those like myself who are not familiar with the show, will most probably see it as a plus. There is nothing worse than going to see a movie which is based on an old television show or movie which you haven’t seen and being completely confused. I guess that’s what directors of these films have to watch, that they don’t discriminate and that they can reach the widest audience possible. “The A-Team” didn’t fall into the “just for fans of the original” category, which is a great thing so people, such as myself, can also enjoy this film! I was genuinely surprised by how much I enjoyed this film and happy to say so!

Any “The A-Team” television show fans here? What did you think of the remake? I can only ponder which television show will get its remake next. I have actually heard that there is a “Gidget” remake on it’s way!

These are my own words and here is my review.

Review
Finally, a great action film with amazing special effects and a solid story. This doesn’t happen too many times in a year, but “The A-Team” is one of those rare films. It is thoroughly entertaining and extremely enjoyable film which will delight not just fans of the television series. The A-Team are Colonel John “Hannibal” Smith (Liam Neeson), Lieutenant Templeton Peck (Bradley Cooper), B. A. Baracus (Quinton “Rampage” Jackson) and Murdock (Sharlto Copley), a group of soldiers who have been accused of a crime they didn’t commit. In order to clear their names, there is a lot of clever planning and illegal activity (eg. Breaking out of jail) to be undertaken. From here, they endeavour to prove their innocence and uncover the true instigator of the crime.

The special effects in “The A-Team” are truly amazing. Special effects in action films these days are getting better and better and “The A-Team” is an example of what they can provide these days. These are plenty of explosions and high-pace action sequences to keep you interested the whole time, there are certainly no boring moments. Although some of the scenes may make those who are afraid of heights or those who suffer from motion sickness feel quite nauseous. The action can become a bit too much at times, meaning that it can sometimes seem just like a showcase of special effects and can be a bit over-indulgent. The story does not lack lustre as a result of this onslaught of action, as many films fail into the habit of doing. The script is very well written and extremely clever. Not only this, but it is also quite funny. The cinematography in particular scenes is also extremely impressive, particularly the court case scene.

The acting is not bad in the film, but it’s not its strongest point. Liam Neeson does well as Hannibal and does actually resemble an older George Peppard, who played the same role in the original television series . Sharlto Copley is probably the stand out of the actors in the main roles in his role as Murdock. He isn’t the standout for the reason that his performance is particularly better than the others, but his character is very well constructed and very funny. Jessica Biel gives an impressive performance as Charisa Sousa, playing the role of a hard-hearted captain who shows no mercy.

“The A-Team” is a lot of fun and a one of the best action films of the year. Not an Oscar winner, but a good film nevertheless.
7/10