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Reviews
Film Stars Don't Die in Liverpool (2017)
Gloria Grahame is a female Woody Allen, so why will people care to see her story?
Gloria Grahame is a female Woody Allen in the way that she took the virginity of her stepson when he was still a teenager, then married him. Well this movie is not about her relationship with her step son, and the male lead was already 28. But I can't help but wonder why will today's audience care to see her story? In 2017, Sexual harassment news are contaminating Hollywood, so a movie sugar coating a sex predator's last years might not be a good idea.
Anyway, here's my review. I went to watch "Film Stars Don't Die in Liverpool at the 2017 Toronto International Film Festival. It starts with a weak story, then ends a disappointment. The film focuses on the last few years of long-forgotten Oscar winner Gloria Grahame's life, esp. her romance with then 28-year-old British young man Peter Turner. The two main leads - Annette Bening and Jamie Bell - gave pretty good performances (esp. Bening who is brave enough to show her age on screen), but the whole romance just doesn't work for me. I know from the beginning the relationship is doomed because of the huge age difference (28 years apart). They were fighting half of the time in the movie, and Jamie Bell's Peter had to see her dying eventually. The movie is depressing, but I don't feel sad because I actually do not care about either the characters or their unremarkable love story. To me the only reason this movie is made is because the real Peter Turner is a long time friend with Bond movies producer Barbara Broccoli (they mentioned this on stage at the screening). The director's decision of using nonlinear narrative also fails. The story jumps back and forth between different years (1979-1981) and locations (Liverpool, LA and NYC),m. Sometimes I got lost a bit. In summary, this is a mediocre Oscar vehicle for Bening, but she will lose again.
Kaze tachinu (2013)
Disappointing Swan Song From Miyasaki
The Wind Rised is a fictionalized biographical film about Jiro Horikoshi, a Japanese aeronautical engineer who designed military aircrafts before and during WWII. WWII is still a sensitive topic, especially for people as myself who is from neighbouring countries which were deeply hurt by Japan.
The Wind Rises is about a man's dream of designing planes. Unfortunately his designs were used for war purposes. In this movie, the real events became a faded background. Miyazaki told the story from a very narrow personal respective. You don't feel the war affected the characters in the story in a deep way. I think I cannot enjoy the story. Speaking of war-themed Studio Ghibli movies, I was moved by Grave of the Fireflies. But I cannot say the same about The Wind Rises.
Besides chasing the dream of designing aircrafts, The Wind Rises is also a love story. There are a few touching moments. But such precious moments were rather pale in an era of wars and tragedies.
Visually, the movie is okay, but not as breathtaking as Studio Ghibli's previous movies (as I remembered). There are a lot of smoking scenes, and a few kissing scenes. I can't remember if there were kissing scenes in other Studio Ghibli movies. For a moment, I wondered if there would be a sex scene. Oh no, it didn't happen ;p
To sum up, The Wind Rises is a disappointment as a swan song from such an accomplished director. Afterall, telling a story based on real persons and events is just not his strong suit.
Retreat (2011)
Low budget thriller that can't fulfil its potential
If you watch the trailer of Retreat, you watch 75% of the movie.
The movie spends the first twenty minutes telling the story of a young couple Martin (Murphy) and Kate (Newton). They are experiencing some marital problems, so they retreat to this isolated island in hope to save their marriage.
Then Jamie Bell's character Jack - a unconscious stranger covered with blood - finally appears, just as you see in the trailer. However, when I see Jack starts to bar the house when he wakes up the next day, I shake my head. My question is: how could the couple be that stupid to let a 5'7" lunatic do things like that?
Eventually, Jack makes a revelation. By the time, it doesn't matter if he is telling the truth or not.
In my opinion, Retreat suffers from a weak plot and the poor direction of a first-time director. It is supposed to be a thriller, but there is not enough suspense to keep the audience engaged throughout the ninety minutes. In fact, I wonder how can he drag the movie for that long. There is not much happening on the screen to keep the viewers occupied, and the so-called twist in the end feels flat.
The three main cast members did an okay job. However, the script doesn't provide enough room for character development. I don't learn enough about the characters to feel sympathy for them. There is no chemistry among the three characters. However, I feel Jamie Bell might be the one who enjoyed filming this movie most. Playing a lunatic must be fun. It also allows him to show off his toned body, although the shirtless scene is nothing more than a fan service.
Retreat only has four characters with lines. The complete cast consists of no more than six people. Visually, it is impaired by its low budget. I am not saying we need hundreds of extras, big explosions, adrenaline filled car chase sequences or things like that. But it needs some visual elements to help to build the suspense the movie desperately needs. The music and sound effects are effective though.
I don't know how did the director get actors like Murphy, Newton and Bell on board. Although the three actors are not A-listers, they must have read better scripts. Or, maybe the original script has some potential, but the final product becomes a disaster at the hand of an inexperienced director.