Reviews
Magnolia
- Details
- Written by Matthew Toomey
| Directed by: | Paul Thomas Anderson |
| Written by: | Paul Thomas Anderson |
| Starring: | Tom Cruise, Philip Baker Hall, Philip Seymour Hoffman, William H. Macy, Jason Robards, Julianne Moore, John C. Reilly |
| Released: | March 9, 2000 |
| Grade: | A+ |
As filmmakers become increasingly obsessed with the bottom dollar, studios are becoming more and more conservative as they try to predict what the public want. Scream is the perfect example. It was a bold, unique project at the time but spawned a number of “copycat” films as they know they’ll pull in the green bucks. We go, watch and enjoy these films but isn’t it time that someone put something up there that has no precedence?
Paul Thomas Anderson is fast becoming a Hollywood heavyweight through his independence. His first film, Sydney, was chopped up by studio execs and released under the title, Hard Eight. Not to let this happen again, he struck a deal with New Line Cinema for total control of his follow up, Boogie Nights which went on to earn 3 Academy Award nominations.
Magnolia is Anderson’s third film and it is as different from anything you will have seen before. It is amazing to see a film for what it is rather than one that is manipulated to satisfy.
“There is the story of a boy genius, the game show host, and the ex-boy genius. There is the story of the dying man, his lost son, the dying man’s wife, and the caretaker. And there is the story of a mother, the daughter, and the police officer in love. And this will all make sense in the end.”
The above words come from the film’s trailer, which accurately describe the many characters and stories that make up Magnolia without giving anything away. I’ve stated before how movies are more attractive when there is more than one storyline. Here, several stories are interwoven and it’s like channel surfing - you’re changing storylines every minute to maintain interest.
The credited cast of Magnolia exceeds 100 and unusually, there is no leading role. Anderson has produced the most faultless ensemble. Cruise, Moore, Macy, Reilly, Hoffman, Hall, Robards - brilliant!
Paul Thomas Anderson’s script and direction are inspirational. His use of a single camera unedited for minutes at a time, his use of varying the music to the extent that it overrides the dialogue and his quick pace make this 3 hour marathon seem considerably shorter.
Speaking specifically of the music, Anderson has said that he’s always been a fan of Aimee Mann (who sings 9 songs during the film) and based several of the stories on her songs. He took the song and worked backwards to create the story. Perhaps that what makes it all seem so new.
I can’t spoil anything when it comes to Magnolia because it is pure art from a cinematic genius. It takes several viewing to appreciate just how deep it goes and is open to wide interpretation but a religious tone is evident for those who pay close attention.
Is there a point to it all? Who knows? It’s nothing more that a bunch of stories and strange coincidences - stuff you think only happens in the movies...
Remember, “it did happen”.
The Beach
- Details
- Written by Matthew Toomey
| Directed by: | Danny Boyle |
| Written by: | John Hodge |
| Starring: | Leonardo DiCaprio, Tilda Swinton, Virginie Ledoyen, Guillaume Canet, Paterson Joseph, Robert Carlyle |
| Released: | March 9, 2000 |
| Grade: | B- |
It’s a question often asked - is it harder to write a screenplay from scratch or one based on a novel? The answer is the later. When you write an original script you have freedom to create anything you want. When adapting, you face expectations from those who have already read the book and the challenge of editing 300 or so pages into just 2 hours. It’s like taking a university assignment that you’ve perfected to 5000 words and then told you have to tell it in 500 words. Plenty of good material is going to have to be cut, but you have to make sure the stuff you keep in is (a) worth it, and (b) not losing the essence of the story.
The Beach is the first novel from author Alex Garland and has become a sort of “backpacker’s bible”. Its central character, Richard, travels to Thailand looking for adventure and is left a map with directions to a mystery island where paradise is promised. With two French friends (Etienne and Francoise), they swim to the island and find a community of people from all over the world who have set up their own village. They do everything themselves and it seems the rest of the world is a far distant reality...
Director Danny Boyle (Trainspotting) captures the beauty of the island and the craziness of Thailand well - the contrast is clear. He uses the jungle surroundings well and creates some really great scenes. Two worth noting are the scene where Richard tells the story of his capture of a small shark and a scene where Richard runs through the jungle “computer-game style” (although he’s said that DiCaprio was the inspiration behind that idea).
Speaking of Leonardo DiCaprio, his performance is marvellous. He just has that ability to so accurately express his inner feelings through this exterior. You can tell what he’s thinking and see his character evolving. The rest of the cast are left underdeveloped but Tilda Swinton (as Sal) was well played.
What does let The Beach down is the screenplay. It sort of plays like a checklist of the book’s leading events and never develops anything closely. Changes were made to the movie (such as Richard’s sexual liaison with Francoise) that were understandable as they try to help keep the movie interesting for today’s audience but just when something looked like it might become worthy, it leads to a dead end (such as the plight of the injured Swede).
John Hodge needed to be more stringent with the screenplay and at the expense of certain events, should have expanded on some of the others. By the film’s weak (and very short) finale, you feel underwhelmed and the whole point of the movie is lost. It’s the case of a movie with a lot of potential that doesn’t use it.
Anticipated as one of the big hits of the new year, The Beach has floundered at the box-office and the reasons can be seen. Conservative studio executives think they know what the public likes when they couldn’t be further from the truth. It’s all too rosy and perfect in attempts to cash in on the Leonardo DiCaprio fan club. As good as he is, DiCaprio should stick to more solid material and his role in the upcoming Martin Scorsese film, Gangs Of New York, should be just the ticket.
Cut
- Details
- Written by Matthew Toomey
| Directed by: | Kimble Rendall |
| Written by: | Dave Warner |
| Starring: | Molly Ringwald, Kylie Minogue, Simon Bossell, Stephen Curry, Jessica Napier |
| Released: | March 2, 2000 |
| Grade: | B+ |
Hot Blooded was a B-grade slasher film that never quite made the big screen. It wasn’t the quality that stopped it but rather the director being murdered on the set by a masked assailant. Five years later, the film was dragged out of the can to be completed by a new director but yes, he too was murdered while watching the first screening.
This brings us to the current time frame where a group of school students plan on completing the infamous film. Bringing back American star Vanessa (Ringwold), new director Raffy (Napier) plans on making the film a cult hit and dispels any rumours that the film is “cursed”. Things start well enough until...
You’d think I was talking about another American teen horror flick but believe it or not, Cut is an Australian production. If there’s one thing rarer than an Australian horror film it’s a good Australian horror film and this film meets the “cut”.
It’s a sharp comedy that has all the wit of Scream with an Australian flavour. Casting Ringwold was a great move and she must have been a top sport to agree to star. All the characters are wonderful (although many don’t last too long) but I’ll single out the rising Stephen Curry who has all the best lines as the “sound man”.
You never quite know where this film is going - you know most of the cast is going to be knocked off but who is the killer and who’s going to survive? I found the climax a touch disappointing but I do confess, it’s certainly hard to predict and caught me by surprise.
Also in the film’s favour is its length which is a mere 78 minutes. It’s a silly genre and people don’t want to be stuck in a drawn out plot. It’s quick, concise and doesn’t waste time in getting to the key scenes.
Certainly a bold gamble and produced on a tight budget, director Kimble Randall and writer Dave Warner have come through with the goods. Let’s just hope it doesn’t spawn a whole new range of tacky teen thriller flicks down-under. Once is enough.
The End Of The Affair
- Details
- Written by Matthew Toomey
| Directed by: | Neil Jordan |
| Written by: | Neil Jordan |
| Starring: | Ralph Fiennes, Stephen Rea, Julianne Moore, Ian Hart |
| Released: | March 9, 2000 |
| Grade: | B+ |
The End Of The Affair is based on the classic novel from Graham Greene which is told here by director Neil Jordan (The Crying Game, Interview With A Vampire, Michael Collins). In typical Jordan style, it’s dark and deliberate. Every scene is meticulously created to revive the era of the film.
Set in the 1940s, we find our two lovers Sarah Miles (Moore) and Maurice Bendrix (Fiennes). They are passionately in love which each other but there is a catch - she is married to Henry (Rea), and although her marriage is anything but lustful, she feels the guilt of her actions and cannot gather the will to divorce him.
After a passionate moment one evening, Maurice is injured in a bomb blast and Sarah proceeds to leave him. Maurice recovers but everything has changed between them. They would never see each other again for two years when a chance encounter in the rain would reunite them and reignite their affections for each other.
This is above the level of a usual period piece film. The performances of the whole cast are wonderful but I was most impressed with Stephen Rea in his supporting role as the husband. He subtly portrays the role and seems the most down-to-earth of the trio. Ian Hart is also excellent in a small role as a detective.
Neil Jordan’s direction is creative as the story is told in two time frames. Both the current and past are told simultaneously and flow well - interest is maintained.
A tiring aspect of the film is it subject material. It’s certainly not a new idea to have a traumatic love triangle and this film does not offer much of a fresh insight. It’s sure to bore many but the style in which the story is told keeps it well above average.
The Talented Mr. Ripley
- Details
- Written by Matthew Toomey
| Directed by: | Anthony Minghella |
| Written by: | Anthony Minghella |
| Starring: | Matt Damon, Gwyneth Paltrow, Jude Law, Cate Blanchett, Philip Seymour Hoffman, Philip Baker Hall |
| Released: | February 24, 2000 |
| Grade: | A |
Tom Ripley (Damon) is a complicated young man living in the slums of New York trying to put a few bucks together. Manipulation for him is second nature - he loves escaping from his own dismal world and making it something better. One day, whilst filling in as a pianist for a small function, he meets an elderly couple that noticed the Princeton jacket he was wearing. Their son, Dickie Greenleaf (Law), also went to Princeton but moved to Italy years ago and has severed all contact with his parents. Tom Ripley is about to be given the opportunity of a lifetime. Under the false assumption that Tom actually new Dickie, they offer him and all-expenses paid trip to Italy, if he can persuade Dickie to return home.
In Italy, Tom meets Dickie and finds in him, everything he wish he could be. He loves his life, his girlfriend (Paltrow), his clothes, his house, everything. They develop a close friendship and Tom couldn’t be happier.
That is until, Dickie tires of their friendship and thinks it’s time Tom Ripley moved on. Unwilling to let go, Tom will do anything to keep what he has. Anything.
Patricia Highsmith’s 1955 novel, The Talented Mr. Ripley, couldn’t be more beautifully adapted then this effort from writer-director Anthony Minghella (The English Patient).
Matt Damon’s performance in the leading role is blistering. On the outside he seems so innocent but slowly we are introduced the darkness that haunts his inside. Yet as bad as Tom seems, he’s still hard not to like and perhaps we can all relate to his situation. It’s always hard to meet someone you think is great and build a friendship/relationship. You’ll lie about anything just to make them like you more.
When Minghella originally cast this movie, none of the four leads were big stars but how so much has changed in two years. Damon and Paltrow have won Oscars, and both Law and Blanchett have picked up nominations. Minghella sure has a keen eye and the cast are up to the task here.
The movie is filled with sly twists and turns as you become more familiar with the characters and what they’re all thinking. It’s almost funny to an extent.
Filled with wonderful Jazz and picturesque scenery, The Talented Mr. Ripley is a timeless thriller that grows on you right up to the film’s final scene. As Ripley so eloquently puts it - “whatever you do, no matter how terrible or how hurtful, nobody thinks that they’re a bad person”. A thought worth pondering...
Boys Don't Cry
- Details
- Written by Matthew Toomey
| Directed by: | Kimberly Peirce |
| Written by: | Kimberly Peirce, Andy Bienen |
| Starring: | Hilary Swank, Chloe Sevigny, Peter Sarsgaard, Brendan Sexton III |
| Released: | March 2, 2000 |
| Grade: | B |
Boys Don’t Cry is the true-life story of Teena Brandon, a 20-year-old woman facing a sexual identity crisis. Disguising herself as a man, she leaves home (Lincoln, Nebraska) and sets off to find a place where no one knows her secret and where she can feel free.
On the eve of her 21st birthday, she travels to Falls City where she meets Candace (Alicia Goranson) and is introduced to her guy friends - John (Sarsgaard) and Tom (Sexton III). Known as Brandon Teena, she fits in immediately and the dream goes to plan.
That is until she meets Lana (Sevigny) and falls head over heels. Uncontrollably attracted to her, she knows Lana’s the one for her and she says to her brother, “I’m going to marry her”.
Teena’s relationship with Lana blossoms and an intense passionate relationship ensues. But does Lana know that Brandon’s a she? You’re never quite sure and that’s what keeps the movie interesting as it unfolds.
Hilary Swank has received wide acclaim for her leading role and her success is warranted. She is wonderful in the film but I was equally impressed with Chloe Sevigny in the supporting role. Swank’s always going to get the credit playing the cross-gender role but Sevigny shouldn’t go unnoticed - her portrayal of Lana was sly and understated.
Working against Boys Don’t Cry, is a tiring screenplay. Sure it’s a true story but it takes far too long to introduce the players and the first hour could only be described as dreary. As the relationship between Brandon and Lana heats up, the tension builds as you know something is imminent. Further, apart from Swank, Sevigny and Jeanetta Arnette (as Lana’s mother), the rest of the cast do little to improve it.
It’s a raw, confronting film that director Kimberley Peirce has created which is going to be appreciated by many. Boys Don’t Cry should be appreciated for two of the year’s finest performances but for me the rest was a tad disappointing.