Dallas Buyers Club (2013)

Year: 2013
Running Time: 117 minutes
Director: Jean-Marc Vallee
Writers: Craig Borton and Melisa Wallack (screenplay)
Cast: Matthew McConaughey, Jared Leto, Jennifer Garner, Steve Zahn, Kevin Rankin, Denis O'Hare

Dallas Buyers Club will be released in Australia on the 13th February and in the UK on the 7th February 2014.

Dallas Buyers Club is one of the most memorable films of this award season thanks to the incredible on screen performances by Matthew McConaughey and Jared Leto.

Jean Marc-Vallee's film has attracted a great deal of attention and rightly so. It is the intriguing characters and the way in which they are portrayed which makes Dallas Buyers Club an absolute must see. However, without these career best performances by Matthew McConaughey, Jared Leto and Jennifer Garner, it would become a great deal more evident that the screenplay is less of a story than an outlay of a series of events. Yet this is forgiven as there is more right with this film than is wrong with it.

Dallas Buyers Club is the true story of Ron Woodroof (McConaughey), an electrician who in 1985 was diagnosed with HIV, a disease which was relatively new at the time and believed by many to be primarily a homosexuality related illness. Woodroof, who was straight in the most outspoken way, was given 30 days to live and is ostracised by all those around him who are ignorant to the fact that sexuality doesn't play a part in whether or not you can catch the disease. As Woodroof proves all the doctors around him wrong, he realises that there are better ways to survive with the disease and sets out to give HIV/AIDS sufferers like himself the freedom to choose their own medication and survival methods for themselves.

Dallas Buyers Club is a very interesting and entertaining film. The details of Woodroof's quest for freedom of choice for himself and those around him is intriguing and for those who have not heard his story or have not had anyone close to them be diagnosed with the illness, is a great medical and history lesson. What many will notice about Dallas Buyers Club, is that it is not told in the typical narrative form. It is more a series of events told in the order in which they happened and is more of a biography played out on screen rather than a narrative. Although the subject matter of HIV/AIDS is a particularly sensitive one, the film isn't quite as emotionally charged as one would expect. However, it's power remains in the subtlety of the film and what isn't shown as opposed to talked about. It is the crucial deaths that are not seen and the big emotional reactions that are visually absent that are powerful in themselves. At times though, you almost feel as if you want these big moments in the film, but still feel that the subtlety was effective in itself.

The editing of the film is very well done and there are some very interesting cinematography choices. Dallas Buyers Club is not a pretty film by any means and does contain location shots which can be described as grimy and generally unattractive. Yet the way that these scenes are transferred onto film is very well done. It is an incredible thing to take locations such as run down caravan parks and run down Texan bars and make them the most interesting thing to watch on screen.

Matthew McConaughey plays the part of Ron Woodroof perfectly. He starts off as an unlikeable and irritating character who is on the path to further self-destruction as a result of the inability to put effort into changing his ways and helping himself. Yet, his character develops and becomes a convincing hero to those close to him and the hero of the film. McConaughey plays the role like he was born for it. The way in which he becomes inspirational is unconventional and he really plays the unconventional hero brilliantly.

While McConaughey is really brilliant and at this point in time is tipped to take home the Academy Award for the role, it is Jared Leto who steals the show. Leto plays transgender AIDS patient, Rayon who becomes Woodroof's unlikely partner in crime. It is a strange thing to say that a heterosexual male actor plays a transgender role naturally, but that is exactly what Leto does. At no point in time throughout the film does he break out into the over-the-top stereotypical behaviour that we so often see actors portraying a transgender or cross-dresser on film do and he really is so natural. His performance flows beautifully and he is perfection to watch. McConaughey and Leto work well on screen together and although there is a definite chemistry there, there isn't much relationship development. These two obviously care about each other, but the there is not much to show how they got from the point of hostility to best friends. As amazing as McConaughey is, Leto plays him off the screen in every scene they are in together. It is Jared Leto who really does give life to the most interesting character in cinema of the past year.

 Jennifer Garner, who plays Woodroof's doctor and friend, Eve, is also very good and perhaps gives the best performance of her career so far. She is once again very likable and natural on screen, but her performance is over-shadowed by her make co-stars a great deal.

Dallas Buyer's Club may not be suspenseful, but is still interesting and entertaining thanks to two of the best performances of the year. Matthew McConaughey is amazing, but it really is the Jared Leto show.

7.5/10

Arthur

Year: 2011
Director: Jason Winer
Cast: Russell Brand, Helen Mirren, Jennifer Garner, Greta Gerwig

In My Own Words
It always takes a bad day followed by a visit to the cinema to remind me why I love movies so much. It doesn't matter what it is going on in your life, while you are in a cinema, you forget everything which is going on outside and lose yourself in the film. The world of film provides ua all with an escape and with all the crazy things that are happenning in our lives and in the world at this point in time, an escape is something we all need at times. When you need that escape, I really love the movies which are out in the cinemas at school holiday time. There is always a comedy or an animation or two to watch which will always put you in a better mood once you make the trip to the movies. It doesn't even matter whether the film is half decent or not, just as long as it isn't is light and fluffy and fun.  Last night when I got home I found myself in a bit lower a mood than usual and I put on "The Country Girl" with Bing Crosby and Grace Kelly. Now forgive me, but this was the first time I had seen "The Country Girl" and it was a lot sadder than what I thought it would be. My mother rang me while I was in the middle of watching it and got mad at me for watching a depressing movie which would only enhance my bad mood! Quite clearly I should have made the trip to the cinemas last night to see "Arthur"! However, even after seeing it today, I feel like a new person! It really is amazing the power a film can hold over you by way of escapism.

These are my own words and here is my review.

Review
Once again, we approach another remake with caution. "Arthur" was originally made back in 1981 with Dudley Moore as Arthur, Liza Minnelli as his love interest and John Gielgud in his Oscar winning role as Hobson, Arthur's servant. 30 years later, Arthur is now Russell Brand, who resembles Moore only in his haircut for the film and Hobson is now Arthur's nanny and played by Helen Mirren. While the 1981 "Arthur" was worthy of 4 Academy Award nominations and 2 wins, the 2011 version can be described as just good enough. It's fun, but just a bit too silly to be completely hilarious. Sure, there are definitely some laughs but it is a case of seeing the funniest parts in the trailer. Arthur is a child trapped in a 30 year old's body. He loves his toys and spends the money he has inherited from his parents on such extravagences as parties with numerous women and booze. In order to get him to calm down and act like an adult, his distant mother decides to give him an ultimatum, marry Susan Johnson (Jennifer Garner) or say goodbye to the millions. This happens at the same time that Arthur meets free-spirited Naomi (Greta Gerwig) who he immediately falls for. Arthur is faced with the biggest decision he has ever had to make, marry a woman he feels nothing for and keep his millions, or keep the girl of his dreams and lose all the money.

"Arthur" is a case of Russell Brand playing Russell Brand. He mixes up the roles which he plays in the movies he partakes in, but they are not a great stretch from each other. In all honestly, Brand will probably never be an accomplished dramatic actor, but he still doesn't do too badly in the dramatic scenes. The chemistry between him and Helen Mirren on screen strengthens throughout the film, as it should be. Unfortunately, the strength of the chemistry between Brand and Great Gerwig on screen is extremely weak and they physically do not look right together. On her own, Gerwig actually does do a very good job as Naomi and she is just delightful with a great amount of character.  In this film, it does feel that Brand has had to tone down his sense of humour to fit in with the film's PG rating. At the beginning of the film, after about 5 minutes it almost feels as though you are going to start to find Brand's Arthur extremely annoying, but by halfway through the film he has actually became quite likable. His character does seem to be extremely overdone in proving that he has a childlike mind. You can see why the director, Jason Winer has made Arthur this way as to make a point, but it is so overdone that Arthur just seems creepy.

However, the script does allow for Arthur to have some very funny dialogue, even though a lot of it is in the trailer so it doesn't seem as funny the second time you have seen it. The script does tend to miss out on some pivotal moments of Arthur's development, particularly towards the end. "Arthur" does tend to get really qute silly at times, but there really is something in this film for everyone.  The best thing is, Winer has made "Arthur" his own and it really is different from the original. Yes, it is not as good as the original, but it is a different film. Gone is the massive Arthur laugh from Dudley Moore and it is replaced by Brand and his own Arthur. The decision to make Hobson into a nanny rather than a servant does work as well as it adds to the immaturity of Arthur's character. The decision also to make Naomi into a tour guide who is running from the police because she doesn't have a license makes her more endearing and perfect for Arthur'sa love interest, rather than Linda (who was played by Liza Minelli) who was running from the police as she was trying to steal a tie for her father.  A remake that isn't trying to be the original is always worthy of praise.

"Arthur" is a good film for the holidays. It is entertaining enough, doesn't require the use of too many brain cells and is a bit of fun. It does border on the funny/silly border, but has something for everyone no matter how frustrating it can be at times.
5.5/10

The Invention Of Lying

The Invention Of Lying
Year: 2009
Director: Ricky Gervais and Matthew Robinson
Cast: Rickey Gervais, Jennifer Garner, Jonah Hill, Rob Lowe, Tina Fey

In My Own Words
The main reason I wanted to see this movie was to see one of my heroes, Tina Fey back on the big screen. All five minutes of her on screen it turned out, but I knew I wouldn’t mind watching Ricky Gervais once again, especially after his hilarious performance in “Ghost Town” last year.

It turned out that this review was going to be one of the harder ones to write, which I was totally unaware of before I went to see the movie. The reason being is that I am a Christian, and this movie does poke fun at religion, especially aspects of Christianity. I know some people who would take offence to most of the second half of the movie. I was a little offended, but I tried not to take it too seriously. The movie in itself is a story, it’s not a story that is meant to be taken literary. That is the way I looked at it anyway. Although, unlike most comedy movies of its kind, it will evoke many a conversation between people who go to see it afterwards. Some people may think it makes some valid points about religion (if you are atheist anyway) and some people may think that it just makes some valid points about human nature and existence. I did think that it made some valid points about the latter, which I definitely did talk about after the movie over dinner.

These are my own words and here is my review.

Review
“The Invention Of Lying” is the motion picture directorial debut from British comic, Ricky Gervais. Mark Bellison (Gervais) is a single, lonely man living in a world where everyone tells the truth, and it is inconceivable to speak of what isn’t. When things are at their very worst for Mark after being rejected by Jennifer (Jennifer Garner), losing his job and being told he is being evicted from his apartment, he finds that he is able to lie, and because nobody else in his world has ever lied before, he can finally live the life he has always dreamed of. He find that by lying, he can not only make his life better, but he can also make life better for other people. However, he finds even though lying can initially have benefits, those benefits do not last.

The film is quite clever and very well written, as one would expect from Gervais. There are some great laughs in the film, especially in the first half. The concept of a world where no one lies is more like a world where everyone says it as it is, rather than just telling the truth. The folk in this town that the movie is based in reveal all their thoughts when they talk each other, such as people waiters telling patrons that they are embarrassed to be there and how they want to ask a girl for her number. The people can come across quite rude as a result, but that adds to the humour. Gervais is hilarious in his role as Mark, while it is not Garner’s best role. She comes across as weak and at times, very annoying. The film is packed with cameos such as Tina Fey, in a tiny role as mark’s secretary and one that does not seem to fit her after becoming familiar with her as television show producer Liz Lemon in “30 Rock”. Philip Seymour Hoffman makes a hilarious cameo as a bartender, as does Jason Bateman as the doctor.

This may not be a film for everyone, particularly those who are religious, as during the film, there are references to religion and its origins not being true. However, there are quite a few holes in the story as a result of this. Of course, the idea of no religion in the world of the world in non-existent, but this is not supposed to be a true story. There are also references to marriage before there is any mention of the “Man in the Sky”, and marriage is considered an institution related to religion, in many cases anyway. So some people may want to avoid the movie for this reason, but the movie, just like the things Mark says in the film, is just a story and should not be taken seriously. Particularly as it is a comedy movie. The movie does have some morals that should be taken home in it and even though it pokes fun at religion at times , it does also make some good points about how religion can do good in society and peoples lives.

This film may not be for everyone for the above reason, but it has got some very funny moments in it. The jokes tend to get less funny towards the end of the movie, but the first half will give the audience loads of laughs.

5.5/10