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sophie_summerfield
Reviews
Crackerjack (2002)
Barely Cracks A Smile
Crackerjack 2002
Crackerjack sees the debut of renowned Australian comedian Mick Molloy in his first ever film role, not only as the star but also the writer and producer to boot. This film illustrates the gap between generations by telling the story of an unenthusiastic bowls club member whose only objective is to sell his parking space but is then forced to play or forfeit said membership and the income that the parking space provided.
Said gaps are exemplified through the elderly characters unwillingness to look to the future and maintain reminiscing about the past by having parties where they "dress as their favourite decade". However, such gaps are bridged with titter worthy comparisons to youth culture made by protagonist, Jack Simpson, the fore mentioned reluctant bowls player, who states that the elderly "pop pills like they're malteasers" allowing the audience to clap feeblemindedly as they enjoy a reference to a popular chocolate.
The film itself is a typical light hearted comedy with no stimulating, or particularly intriguing plot, although in a way it's these qualities that aid the fulfilment of the criteria of such a category. The antagonist, Bernie Fowler (John Clarke) is particularly nonthreatening and therefore provides an unsatisfactory amount of conflict and, disappointingly, even resorts to a cartoon-like resolution to a restraining order by dressing up in disguise. This could be considered as being so unfunny that it works, nevertheless, in my opinion it does nothing but reach towards the ridiculous.
Although, I must consider the appropriateness of such lack of conflict and reflect that it worked well in regards to create a piece which requires no huge effort to digest. However, there are some elements of the plot which aren't completely without merit; an example of such would be the issue of cancer being briefly addressed and therefore providing a realistic way of pushing forward character development in Jack. In addition to this, the father figure which character Stan Coombs (Bill Hunter) whose approval is craved by the rebellious teen of a man which is our main character; an area of the plot that is arguably slightly tedious and unsubtle, but no less heart-warming.
Overall, Crackerjack is an unimpressive, unexciting, easy watch. This piece is only recommended if you're craving an uninspiring, mediocre evening; expect nothing more from this film but barely snigger inspiring, dull banter.
Total Recall (2012)
Not worth remembering
Total Recall
Total Recall 2012, directed by Len Wisemen, starring Colin Farrell, Kate Beckinsale and Jessica Beale, is a star studded adaption from the 1990 original. It follows the trend of book adaptations, sequels and rewrites that appear to be plaguing the box offices at present.
Remake of the 1990 box office hit starring Arnold Schwartzenegger. Set in a future dystopian world, after the 3rd world war, we follow the life of an unsatisfied factory worker, Douglas Quaid who decides to have memories implanted in order to feel more fulfilled.
An intelligent plot, this film it deals with the theme questionable reality, resulting in an intriguing storyline which leads you to question whether what you're viewing as this characters life is real or not and allows you to be part of his confusion and despair.
However, despite a strong start, the film fails to develop Douglas's character effectively. Due to this, initial attentiveness in the film inevitably begins to wain as there's a lack of opportunities in which the audience can establish emotional investment in the character as there is seldom an occasion to see or learn more about who he is. An occasion is presented in the form of the friend that initially contacts him via a telephone implanted in Quaid's hand, however this opportunity is wasted when he is accidentally killed by Quaid and there is no sign or remorse or reflection in response to this. It is this type of reaction, or there lack of, that harks back to the 1980's hero who is very much a 'man's man' who consecrates very little time to emotion and thought. However, this is perhaps done with purpose as homage to the original.
Regardless, this lack of underdevelopment of character could be interpreted as enhancing the plot in regards to the questionable reality therefore forcing Quaid to question his identity. Nevertheless this explanation is not fitting as, after his other possible identity "Carl Hauser" is revealed, he professes to know who he is – meaning that he maintains a feeling of identity but such identity is not made apparent to the audience.
Despite the lack of time devoted to developing Quaid as a character, in comparison there is an odd amount of time dedicated to the quite impressive futuristic transport system, "The Fall". "The Fall" is a tube-like system that allows people to get from one end of the Earth to another in a matter of minutes. However impressive this concept is, it offers nothing in the way of substance to the narrative. I find that the only thing that this transport link offers is a platform on which a, admittedly, very visually dynamic zero gravity fight scene can take place.
Zero gravity fight scene during Total Recall 2012 Still, even though this is superficially engaging, there is an inordinate amount of time wasted on the explanation on the workings of "The Fall", time which could've been better utilized to further develop the protagonists' character and not leave the audience feeling "Why do I care about this person's life?" After all, if there is little emotional investment in the person who is fighting, no matter how entertaining this fight may be, the sequence will be without suspense if the audience doesn't care if the person fighting wins or not.
Visually, this film is impressive. The CGI is faultless and convincing and "The Colony", the city in which Douglas Quaid resides at the beginning of the film, is appropriately grotty and dank which creates a sense of realism in a fictional world. Such resounding CGI and dramatic set design bring these fictional places to life. Due to this, it's sad to say that regardless of its superficial brilliance, after digesting Total Recall I found my mind undernourished and the film, overall, unsatisfying.
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50/50 (2011)
100% Approved
50 50 2011
Inspired by writer Will Reiser's own experience with cancer, 50 50 stars the adorable Joseph Gordon-Levitt. He gives a heart wrenching, as well as warming, performance as Adam Lerner, a 27 year old journalist who is diagnosed with cancer.
Alongside Levitt, Seth Rogan gives an almost equally commendable performance through skilfully injecting humour into this sensitive story line. A particularly memorable example of this being when Lerner, worried about his chances of survival, confides in his friend, Kyle (Rogan) that the likelihood of him surviving cancer is 50/50. In response to this, Kyle shakes his head saying "Oh God, I'm gonna be sick, I'm going to throw up", his empathy and drama lifting the mood and providing light in this very dark story. This method of mixing a theme as serious as cancer with humour is done very intelligently; the film aptly tip toes along the line between appropriately hilarious and being rallied against.
Kyle is a very interesting character in 50 50 in the way that he seems to be, in ways, Adam's alter ego; it appears that Adam keeps burying his feelings about his disease and how the situation is affecting him but Kyle is an outward portrayal of what he is really thinking. An example of this would be the scene in which Lerner shaves his head. He is staring in the mirror holding the clippers and telling himself that it's going to look fine whilst Kyle, in the background of the shot, is shaking his head saying "No it's not, no it's not. It's going to look weird." This not only adds humour but provides the audience an insight into Adam's true feelings of the situation.
Adam shaving his head (Time 31:41) Moreover, Bryce Dallas Howard plays girlfriend and antagonist Rachael masterfully. The audience is able to not only recognise her as the film's "baddie" but also empathise with her and recognise that, despite how immoral her actions are, she believes she is also a victim; this expertly creates a three dimensional character whom we can both hate and understand. However, I cannot ignore that this is also due to a remarkable script writing on Reiser's part. Nevertheless I think that Howard is, without question, deserving of applause for her contribution.
A particularly moving scene in 50 50 is one in which Adam is in hospital and about to be wheeled off into the operating theatre and undergo life threatening surgery in order to overcome his cancer. There is an almost overwhelming degree of desperation to live that seeps from the screen and it, despite the cliché hand grasping, works beautifully.
Adam being taken to the operating theatre (Time 1:26:36) However, although this film seems initially without fault, after considering 50 50 further I came to realise the very strange way in which doctors are represented. Doctors are presented to the audience very negatively and without an obvious explanation as to why. An example of such negative representations would be the dizzy, unprofessional – in spite of her efforts - and under experienced psychiatrist, Katherine McKay (Anna Kendrick) that has been entrusted with this serious case. Her naïvity and youth exemplified through a reference to Doogie Howser and her confusion as to who/what that is and justification of asking, "Does he work here?" McKay progresses in the film to be a seminal character but is awarded such importance through such innocence and not via her skills as a psychiatrist. Another example of such representations would be when character Kyle goes as far as undermining a surgeon when she is telling him, and Lerner's mother, the result of Adam's surgery. In addition to this, the doctor who initially diagnoses Lerner's cancer is cold and distant when delivering the news and treats Adam as if he is a nuisance when he interrupts him making notes on this unique case. This coldness could be interpreted as exaggerating the protagonist's personality as polite and innocent with a juxtaposing character, however it just further reinforces the idea that doctors, or those in the medical industry, do not care.
Nevertheless, the fore mentioned scene, in which Lerner is diagnosed, is brilliantly shot. As he receives the news and the word "cancer" is uttered the audience hears nothing further than white noise. The screen fills with disjointed close ups and mid shots, illustrating that Adam is no longer concentrating on what the doctor is saying and is deafened by the weight of the word.
The film creates what seems to be an insight into an alternative view of the experience of being diagnosed with cancer. It provides us with a 27 year old man who, as well as deserving sympathy, still uses his illness to get girls, uses his friend's pubic hair trimmers to shave his head and, along with the other cancer patients, eats macaroons laced with marijuana when being treated with chemotherapy. 50 50 presents the audience with a cancer sufferer who is uncomfortable with sympathy and wishes people would be honest with him and isn't allowing the disease to become part of his identity or reflect how people interact with him. This alternative view, that alleviates the weight of the topic with wittiness and hilarity, makes 50 50 a refreshingly honest film.
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Brave (2012)
Awe-inspiring Animation
Brave 2012
Pixar's Brave delivers everything you could expect from a family friendly animated film and more. Uncomplicated humour and a relaxing watch; the most uncomplicated of humour being exemplified by scot's flashing their bottoms, a feminine crown-wearing bear and a set of mischievous red headed triplets.
Merida provides a princess which has not often been seen amongst the likes of Cinderella, Sleeping Beauty and Pocahontas. In Brave the audience is treated to a young girl who refutes gender stereotypes, enforced by her mother, and competes for her "own hand" which, in this case, means her independence. Such takes place in an archery competition in which she beats her suitors in a Robin Hood-esque fashion, making her more of the hero as opposed to the Maid Marion damsel in distress.
However, when looking more analytically into the film, as Brave's protagonist refutes these stereotypes and clearly identifies best with her father, King Fergus - the audience are given a visual means of such identification via their bright orange, very Scottish, hair - it begins to create a character that is seemingly in the midst's of an Electra complex which she must overcome (identify with her mother) in order to succeed.
Still, conversely, aside from the slightly perhaps worrisome psychosexual references, this film is light hearted fun and thoroughly enjoyable nevertheless. It provides entertainment not only for young audiences but for adults as well. The crow-abusing witch character being particularly amusing, as a woman who makes whimsical wooden carvings, mostly of bears, and also trivialises magic and witch craft. She details how she performed a spell for a prince as well as providing him with an "especially attractive mahogany cheese board."
The impeccable CGI only adds to the many merits that Brave deserves, an example of such being Merida's hair which is captivating in detail. Her hair, in which the audience is treated to gaze upon almost every curl, each one individually crafted, is as visually stunning as it is important in regards to representing her rebellious character and heritage.
It is this type of awe striking CGI that was first seen in Pixar's Monsters Inc. in which technology was introduced that allowed each hair on character Sully's body to move individually. Yet, it is not only the hair which aid in the capture of the imagination, but the way in which the clothes move with the character's bodies the audience could be forgiven for overlooking its brilliance as, in its perfection, it becomes unnoticeable in the way you wouldn't notice synchronisation between clothes and an actor's movements in an unanimated film. In order to make such beautiful computer animation, Pixar rewrote their animation systems for the first time in 25 years and, without a shadow of a doubt, it has paid off.