My first stab at a book review is of a fantastically evil compilation of short stories from the good folks at Solarcide publishing. If you like transgressive, in your face fiction, this collection is for you!
Boyhood (2014)
Boyhood is a heartfelt, lovely film about a boys maturation from child to high school graduate. Featuring an incredible performance by Patricia Arquette, Boyhood is an easy top five movie released this year. Read more below!
Derek Episode 3, Season 2 Recap
The second season of Derek is half over, so here’s a recap of went down on this very funny episode.
Tales of the Banished Sequel: The Godfather: Part 3
My new column for Revolt Daily is entitled Tales of the Banished Sequels and examines if the bad reputation of hated sequels is really deserved. The first flick under the microscope is The Godfather: Part 3. Universally hated but does it deserve to be? Find out by clicking Pacino’s mug below!
Derek Episode 1, Season 2 Recap
My Entertainment Weekly recaps keep on rolling. If you’re fan (or even if you’re not), give the below image a click to give it a read! (Crazy ass spoilers within).
Dawn of the Planet of the Apes (2014)
Damn Awesome Apes
Andy Serkis looks less than pleased as Caesar in Dawn of the Planet of the Apes. (image: moviepilot.com)
Allow me to admit to a film fan faux pas. I used to dismiss the original Planet of the Apes as cheesy camp. But can you blame me? The corny costuming, the silly premise, an over the top Charlton Heston. It’s an easy movie for the unaware to dismiss. Now I know better. The 1968 sci-fi classic blew audience’s minds when it first hit theaters. It’s a surprisingly sharp social commentary wrapped in an imaginative world of apes, humans and our natural connection between the two.
Fast forward 25 years to a modern reboot and while the original James Franco movie was good fun, the sequel has matched the excellence of the original. A breathtaking combination of action, social revelations and an award worthy performance by Andy Serkis, Dawn of the Planet of the Apes is the must see movie in a sea of quality 2014 offerings.
Taking place 10 years after the events of Rise, humanity has been all but eradicated by the simian flu. Caesar (Andy Serkis) and his nation of intelligent apes have built a sprawling society founded on the concepts of unity and strength. When Serkis first played Caesar in Rise, there was a strong campaign amongst fans for an Oscar nomination. Back then, I didn’t agree but Dawn is a monkey of a different color. The goal for any actor is to connect with his fellow cast mates and Serkis’ emotive eyes and patient work supersedes any computer aided magic or technical wizardry. His entire performance is controlled whether he’s leading a charge or cradling a newborn in his arms. Serkis more than deserves a Best Actor nomination come January. To deny him would be a crime.
Caesar and Malcolm (Jason Clarke) share a moment. Awww…aint that adorable!
Since humans haven’t been seen in almost decade, things become tense when a group of them discover the simian society. A colony of survivors have been living nearby for years but without the use of a hydroelectric plant, situated in the heart of ape territory, they won’t last much longer. Clan leader Dreyfus (Gary Oldman) wants to eradicate the apes but Malcolm (Jason Clarke) asks for three days to work out a deal. A refreshing shift from the standard man versus beast setup, each faction is fighting for their own survival. Since the narrative drive focuses on staying alive rather than fighting for power, it blurs the line between good and evil. In fact, the story is almost Shakespearian, with backstabbing and in fighting on both sides of the evolutionary tree.
When Rise was released, I thought the human actors were outdone by their CGI counterparts and while the apes still win on the acting front, the homo-sapiens do a much better job. Stereotypes like the anti-ape trouble maker, the cowering love interest (Keri Russell) and an over the top Oldman are prevalent, but the actors keep things believable with solid work. There are also a few silly plot holes that stretch your suspension of disbelief but not enough to ruin the experience.
And of course there’s a good amount of action, which is handled almost flawlessly. At first I thought apes with guns would cause Dawn to jump the shark, but it actually makes sense given the plot’s framework. Some exceptional shot direction enhances the experience, my favorite being a moment where an ape takes over a tank turret. Rather than focusing on the carnage he creates, director Matt Reeves (Cloverfield, Let Me In) positions the camera at a fixed point behind him. As the turret turns, we see the growing sense of power from the attacking ape as opposed to the carnage he’s creating. Smart decisions and flourishes separate Dawn from your standard action fare.
Hollywood blockbusters are not supposed to be this good. When the summer season rolls out its usual roster of superheroes, rom-coms and fratboy / teenage comedies, we don’t expect much. Summer 2014 has been an entirely different animal and the sequel to the 2011 original continues what’s shaping up to be the best summer in recent memory. With an award worthy performance by Andy “Golem” Serkis, engaging action and a story worthy of the 1968 classic, Dawn of the Planet of the Apes is a film going experience that will satisfy fans of every type and tradition. Charlton Heston would be proud.
Score: 9 out of 10
Derek Season 1 Finale and Top 5 Moments
My last two article on Derek Season 1 are finally up and they are fun ones. Why? Because everyone loves a finale and everyone loves lists. Check it out!
Click Derek’s smiling face for the finale rccap
Click this loving embrace for the Top 5 Moments of Season 1
Snowpiercer (2014)
With indie cred, breathtaking visuals and a bizarre performance by Tilda Swinton, Snowpiercer is a strange yet satisfying summer chiller. Just expect something a bit…I don’t know…odd.
The Rover (2014)
Life and Death in the Stoic Australian Wasteland
Guy Pearce confronts a beaten and battered Robert Pattinson in David Michod’s latest apocalyptic thriller. (image: http://www.technologytell.com)
Stories of life after the apocalypse are as common as hipsters at an Arcade Fire concert. Every year, approximately 70,000 tales of irradiated wastelands, nuclear disasters and humanity’s survivors get written (source: my own brain). There’s no shortage of speculation on how our inevitable end will come. The separator is how the story is told. Fresh off of his critically acclaimed Animal Kingdom, director David Michod paints the end of civilized life as we know it with a patient brush. Slow, brooding and intense, The Rover adds another welcome branch to the genre’s ever expanding tree.
In near future Australia, a worldwide economic collapse has left the population desperate for basic life necessities. Crime is rampant and after a bank robbery gone wrong, Rey (Robert Pattinson) is left behind by his fellow bandits for dead. The remaining three escape and after flipping their getaway truck, make off with a faster car. Unfortunately for them, it belongs to Eric (Guy Pearce), a mysterious loner making his way through the wasteland. While going after the missing vehicle, he comes across young Rey and the two go off to find the thieves: one looking for answers on why he was left behind and the other in pursuit of what’s rightfully his.
Channeling Clint Eastwood from The Good, The Bad and the Ugly, Pearce is stoic and methodical in the way he approaches the role of an unreliable hero. The character of Eric is not an easy one to root for, but Pearce gives it just enough empathy to keep us engaged in his journey. On the other side is Robert Pattinson, an actor who looks to be revitalizing his career McConaughey style, is very solid as the robber left behind. Portraying someone who is a bit “slow” is a difficult tightrope, but Pattinson mostly nails it, bringing vulnerability to another complex character. He still has a bit to learn about maintaining stillness on screen and over-emoting, but it’s a far cry from his Twilight days. Couple this with a very strong turn in Cosmopolis, and you have an actor well on his way to career recovery.
Adept at creating tension and intrigue from quiet moments, Michod’s direction is methodical and careful. The pacing is long, slow and drawn out, but like Animal Kingdom, the deliberate pace makes the sudden violence pack an even larger punch. The setting of an impoverished Australia gives off a Mad Max vibe and is a refreshing departure from the usual run of apocalyptic wastelands.
The Rover may not be for everybody. The pacing is glacial, the characters don’t speak much and there are long stretches of not too much going on. However, for those who like their end of the world more The Road than Independence Day, you’ll find a subtle film of hidden wonders. With intense performances, patient camerawork and an uneasy sense of dread hovering over the dry plains of Australia, The Rover is another excellent offering from an incredible up and coming director.
Score: 8.5 out of 10
Derek Episode 5 Recap
Derek and the boys head out for a fun beach day while Hannah stays behind to deal with yet another annoying, self obsessed daughter. Click below to check it out!
thesurrealityproject 