Friday, February 17, 2006

Crash

Sandra Bullock (Jean)
I didn't really love Sandra in this film. I guess I found that she was not all that convincing in her role, and by the end when she seems to have had an epiphany and hugs the maid she had belittled throughout the film, it just seems a little too unbelievable.

Matt Dillon (Officer Ryan)
I thought Matt was one of the stars of the film. He did a wonderful job in convincing me he was, as another character described him, a "racist prick". The shame on his face when Thandie Newton's character leaves him after the car wreck is priceless.

Don Cheadle (Graham)
I thought Don was OK, but probably only just OK - nothing special in my mind. I was disappointed a little because I thought he may have shown some great revelation in his character by the end of the film, but to my mind nothing much seemed to happen.

Jennifer Esposito (Ria)
I think Jennifer should have had a bigger role in the film. She only ever seemed to be able to hang off Don Cheadle's character and what he was experiencing. I think Jennifer was good with what she had, but she could have done a lot more.

Brendan Fraser (Rick)
What a dud. I think Brendan is a really bland actor generally, and he was in this film too. To me he still looks like George of the Jungle who has been given a suit and elected DA (not all that hard to believe given a Kindergarton Cop is Governor).

Ryan Philippe (Officer Hanson)
Ryan was for me, the nicest surprise in the film. He did a great job in the role and I think managed to represent the nice guy in all of us who suddenly find themselves having crossed the abyss. I really enjoyed watching the changes that occured for him in this film.

Thandie Newton (Christine)
She was sensational - the scene in the car wreck was simply incredible and I think one that will stick with me in a while. Although seriously, how many cops are there in LA - what are the chances.....

Terence Howard (Cameron)
I am a little on the fence with Terence in this film. I thought the scene where he is 'saved' by Ryan Philippe's character was outstanding. But the rest, well I could take him or leave him. He just was not convincing to me in a role as Hollywood mogul. It was also hard for me to believe he would stand by passively as his wife was being assaulted by the police. Finally, I also can't believe that by the end of the film he would feel connected with a gang of youths so much so that he joins the in burning a car wreck.

Wednesday, February 15, 2006

Walk the Line

Joaquin Phoenix (Johnny Cash)
Before seeing this film, I knew next to nothing about Johnny Cash. I knew he sang country songs in what I thought was the 70s. Thanks to Joaquin's performance, I am now a Johnny Cash fan with plenty of songs downloaded into my iPod. I think Joaquin was unbelievably good in this film. He simply became Johnny Cash. I really enjoyed this film, much more than I had expected to, and it is largely due to his outstanding performance. I did not think that anyone could compete with Heath Ledger in Brokeback Mountain for my favourite male role so far this year - but Joaquin is nipping at his heels. In many ways, playing a real person is much more difficult given the inherent comparisons that will be made and in my mind, Joaquin compared extremely well to what I now know of the real deal. And his impressive vocals just added to what was a first rate performance.

Reese Witherspoon (June Carter)
Another suprise - having seen (and not altogether loved) her in Legally Blonde, I was sceptical of what she could do in this role. However Reese was damn fine as June. At times I thought her almost too perfect and too good to be true, but that aside, I thought she also fell into the role with ease and her singing was incredibly good. There seemed to be real chemistry with Joaquin which simply added to the magic of the film.

Gennifer Goodwin (Vivian)
Poor old Vivian - she gets a bit of a rough portrayal in this film. She seemed like a patient woman - putting up with a pill popping, womanising alcoholic who was on the road most of the year - that would have been difficult for anyone. To then have him flaunting his relationship with June on stage in front of millions, well it is no wonder that she up and left him. I think Gennifer did an OK job in what was a limited part. Gennifer made the role as sympathetic as she could, but could not help but ended up coming off cold given the script.

Brokeback Mountain




Heath Ledger (Ennis Del Mar)
Simply the most incredible, magical, heartbreaking portrayal I have seen in recent times. Heath Ledger is brilliant in this film and the scenes of him breaking down by the lake and then again in Jack's home, are simply divine. I (and the rest of the theatre) had tears streaming down our faces. I think Heath perfectly captured the heart and soul of Ennis and made it look effortless at the same time. It was a joy to watch and I look forward to seeing it again.

Jake Gyllenhaal (Jack Twist)
As if in perfect symmetry, Jake's performance as Jack Twist matched the brilliance of Heath. I have not seen many of Jake's films previously but I want to see all I can now after witnessing his performance in this film. His role in some ways did not allow for the same connection that we seemed to develop with Heath, however due to the magnificence of the film, and the desire to see Ennis and Jack happy, the viewer bond with both was equal.


Michelle Williams (Alma Del Mar)
I don't think I have seen Michelle in anything since her days on Dawson's Creek so this was a lovely surprise! Michelle did a great job in a role that was perhaps more understandable given the time in which the film is set (most women these days would no doubt be a little less patient and forgiving!). Michelle managed to elicit sympathy from the viewer, despite the fact we wanted to see Jack and Ennis together. It was a no-win situation which Michelle portrayed brilliantly.

Anne Hathaway (Lureen Newsome)
I felt a little sorry for Anne in this film. She seemed to have the least sympathetic of the 4 main characters yet despite that, I still felt that she did a great job. I think had it been another film where I was not so swept up in the magnificence of the film I may have been a little more harsh, but in this superb movie she can enjoy the adulation.

Casanova


Heath Ledger (Casanova)
Oh, Heath. Last week I saw you in Brokeback Mountain at which time you completely moved me from being a former critic to your most ardent supporter. By why did you do this film? It seems such a waste considering what we all know you can do. It is beyond me how agents can recommend this sort of film for an actor wanting to establish themselves in serious films. Nevertheless, there were moments of beauty in your performance, but generally you were let down by a lame script and an equally lacklustre plot. Despite all that, you did grow on me as the film went on and I ended up feeling sorry for you having to act alongside Sienna Miller for reasons listed below.

Sienna Miller (Francesca)
Simply dreadful. I am sorry to be so harsh, but quite honestly, she no sooner inhabited the feminist Francesca role than my grandmother trying to pretend she is Santa Claus. It was pure farce and in no way was I convinced that she was either in love with Casanova at any point, or that she could care less about the trials and tribulations of Venetian women in the 18th century. In fact, watching her on screen made me wonder whether she was daydreaming through her role about what Jude Law may be up to now!

Omid Djalili (Lupo)
What a star - I simply loved him in this film and for me he was one of the few highlights. Perfect comic timing and what seemed like a wonderful rapport with Heath Ledger combined to make him a standout. I hope to see Omid in other films soon.

Jeremy Irons (Bishop Pucci)
I actually really like Jeremy Irons but I feel as though every character he does these days (and for the past 10 years) is the same. Poor Jeremy must be feeling a little type cast as the villian, enforcer, inquisitor... all the same really.

Helen McCrory (Casanova's mother)
Not a huge role, but I have a real soft spot for Helen McCrory (I think since warming to her on North Square). Shame on those casting directors for thinking you could pass as Heath Ledgers mother!!

Munich


Eric Bana (Avner)
For some reason, and perhaps it is because I can't seem to get his performance as Chopper Reed out of my mind, Eric was less than convincing in this role. He gave a solid performance, and I thought his accent was particularly well done, but he just never seemed to make me believe that he would be someone 2 Army Generals, the Head of Mossad and the Prime Minister would call for tea to provide retribution.

Daniel Craig (Steve)
I have to admit that for a great deal of the movie I wondered two things about Daniel's performance - firstly, why did he need to have such a ridiculous South African accent. Secondly, he does not look anything like I imagine James Bond to be! I was less than impressed by his role in this film. At the end of the film, he just disappeared and that is how I felt his acting was going throughout the movie. A disappearing act.

Ciaran Hinds (Carl)
I don't recall having seen Ciaran in anything before but I thought he was wonderful in this film. He was probably the most convincing of the assasination team and I thought he was very well cast. I really enjoyed his performance and hope to see him in more roles in future.

Mathieu Kassovitz (Robert)
This character reminded me of the token 'goofball' in WW2 escape movies - the one who means well but always bumbles along and is saved by his hero mates. I was not sure whether it was the acting or the script, but for some reason this character just did not seem to work. Why would an organization like Mossad spend millions on funding this kind of operation, but recruit a bomb dismantler rather than a bomb maker? And why did the bombs have to be so elaborate - making them border on the ridiculous?

Hanns Zischler (Hans)
Solid job but not sure what he did in the group or why he was there. Enough said?

Geoffrey Rush (Ephraim)
I wanted to love Geoffrey Rush in this film since I am a fan generally, but I could not help but find him a little irritating. Perhaps it was the accent, or perhaps it was the constant high anxiety levels, but he almost seemed to over-act the role. Unfortunately I was a little disappointed but I am sure he will turn it around in his next performance.

Ayelet Zurer (Avner's wife)
What a beautiful, natural actor. I have not seen her in anything before but I thought she was outstanding in this role. I am not sure many wives would have been as patient, and she ended up in Brooklyn with nary a whine, but I thought she did well. And she survived what I can only describe as a rather bizarre sex scene at the end of the film so she gets full points from me.