Movie Impressions: The Peanuts Movie

To be honest with you, I wasn't really exposed to Peanuts.Unbelievable right? Though before watching, I did do my research and read a bunch of strips. And from what I can see, the movie is faithful to its source material. It is rather surprising to me that Blue-Sky studios actually took time off from milking the Ice-Age franchise and produce a refreshing animated movie that I have seen in a while.


The story is brisk as we follow Charlie Brown trying to woo her crush, The Red-Haired Girl in an attempt to finally have a fresh start to have a friend who doesn't ridicule him . The situation is simple and relatable in that way and feels, human. The story really feeds itself from the source material and its history, almost to the limit that if the story taken to isolation just might not have the depth that it has. Now the story being relatable is also a predictable one. But if you have seen any romantic movie, you could have guessed it, so the question here really is 'how' instead of 'what'. The sense of  humour here is also nice with some witty writing and visual gags that reference the past but adding a unique twist to them. Though, I wish it tried to go into more high-browed social/psychological satire like some of the Peanuts strips did but I guess the whole story in here can be interpreted as a story on crushing. Nonetheless, the main highlight of the movie is going to be its presentation and the various nods to the comic and the animated stuff.

The biggest nod of them all would be the animation style. It blends hand-drawn with 3-D computer animation superbly. The bodies of the characters are fully fleshed 3-D shapes but have eyes and expressions like as if they were drawn by pencil, it really adds visual identity to the movie that bridges the gap between the comic strips and the movie. It also is a nice addition that the overall animation itself plays in a stop-motion kind of style that again fits perfectly in Peanuts. I was really happy with the animation here plus the cinematography in general is really well done, presenting you a very welcoming world and is surprisingly homely. And also sometimes they actually punctuate or add thought bubbles here and there which I thought were nice touches.

Charlie Brown and his gang is the heart of what Peanuts is and it is really good that they had such an illustrious history because it motivated the writers to be faithful and create something that could be on that level. Charles M. Schultz, the creator of Peanuts, said that Charlie Brown was the caricature of the average person. He suffers from a big inferiority complex that comes from his many mishaps-which I can identify with honestly- and yet still pushes forward towards his goal. He is the quintessential underdog which makes you root for him instantly. The story also doe .There are a myriad of other people in this movie with equally intriguing characteristics and it would be too long if I described all of them. But each one of them is unique in their own way does add variety to the experience(Such as Lucy.)

Did you know that in some regions the title is actually Snoopy and Charlie Brown, The Peanuts Movie? Honestly, I couldn't have been asked to write the whole thing for the title of this post, but it actually makes sense since half of this movie is also centred on Snoopy. These sections are bookmarked in the story and the premise is Snoopy (being the intellectual he is) is writing a story inspired by Charlie Brown's current predicament, and places himself as a WW1 flying ace saving his love from the clutches of the Red Baron. I like the sense of fantasy here and how it parallels with the main narrative. But sometimes it becomes too distracting. I would have loved it though if these sections provided some easter eggs for plot points that would happen later on but it is mostly its own thing. I adore Snoopy as a character though. He is like the poster boy of those animals that are shown more intelligent and talented than their human companions and he acts as a sort of wingman for Charlie Brown, always spurring him on to meet his challenges. Fans would also like to know that Bill Melendez's archival footage was used for Snoopy and Woodstock. In fact I actually like the voice acting in general, it's almost exactly how I imagined them as I was reading. I heard they used actual kids which is cool and I also chuckled at how all the adult voices were just trombone sounds.


Honestly, this movie has opened up a new world for me in Peanuts and it has certainly gained a new reader. To sum up the film in one word, I would say 'adorable'. It is a really good film. Admittedly the story is a bit on the weak side but there are definitely some emotional moments that are executed well. The characters are super-enjoyable  almost leading to the question that without the history that surrounds them, could this movie actually have stood on its own? Nonetheless I think it stands as a great example of respecting the source material its based on and trying to expand it rather than needlessly 'update' it. I think with films such as this and Creed , Hollywood may have finally started to have a heart.

Movie Impressions: SPECTRE 007

The ending of Skyfall arguably was a promise to return to a more classic bond. Yet it also dawned a rather grim realisation that Bond just may have become obsolete both as a concept in films and the real world where computers and information reign. Though can the return of SPECTRE prove otherwise.

The movie starts with the very familiar gun-barrel entry, the first time in the Craig-era Bond films. Following the ominous words 'the dead are alive' it perfectly segues into the opening sequence in Mexico City's Day of the Dead festival. In 90% of the interviews/reviews I have seen; everyone quotes this opening, and it is for a good reason. Starting with a beautiful continuous tracking shot of Bond through the busy streets of the city (to a brilliant score) that gradually builds up to a crescendo of a brutal fight in a helicopter in the air above hundreds of civilians in a town square. This opening in my opinion is a great summary to what a Bond film is and effortlessly captures the character's essence. I was a bit on the fence with the new title track by Sam Smith, but with the visuals in, it fits a lot better.

When asked about SPECTRE, former-bond Pierce Brosnan replied that got confused whether he was watching a bond movie or a bourne movie. Once I saw the story, I do get his point. To be honest it tries its best to marry classic bond sensibilities with the personal, gritty tone of recent escapades. But it just doesn't work. The plot (to be honest) feels a bit longer than the story actually is and it tries to wrap up stories from previous films with varying levels of success. Hence largely the cornerstones of interest would be the action and characters.

The action in here well done with practical effects with good editing;so it doesn't leave you nauseous. However none of them could really top the intro. The DB10. I thought would be the return of automotive gadgetry in Bond, but it wasn't so since half of them didn't even work... . The chase scene that we do get is again, well done and also has an absolutely befitting score behind it. But the chase at times felt a bit boring since it was an empty street and it somehow felt too short to be really tense. Some of the locales such as Austria and Rome looked superb though I was longing for a diverse colour palette like we saw in Skyfall.

This being my first Bond review, I have to say that I was one of those people who wasn't completely behind Daniel Craig's casting and still he doesn't physically fit my description of the character. However, you cannot deny what he brings to the role is really something fresh, and he continues that in this movie with one of the best grunt faces I have ever seen. Léa Seydoux plays Madeline Swann who is the female lead of the movie. She also carried herself really well, strong and elegant but I would say do not expect Vesper levels of foil. I did like Dave Bautista's Mr.Hinx; imagine Oddball mixed with Jaws, 'nuff said.
Team MI6 represented by M (Ralph Fiennes), Moneypenny (Naomie Harris) and Q (Ben Wishaw) were enjoyable to a degree given their involvement in the story, though a little more character development wouldn't have hurt. Surprisingly, Monica Bellucci's role was small given that she was a main cast member. Andrew Scott is a good actor, but his role in here was too much of a prick than a genuine threat.

Coming to Christoph Waltz as Franz Oberhauser, I will have to go into spoiler territory.So feel free to skip, though it shouldn't make a real difference. Let me cut to the chase, He's Blofeld and it needn't be that way. After this 'shocking' reveal I still don't get why the villain couldn't be just Oberhauser because the story adds a pretty close, brotherly relationship between him and bond, and his primary motivation comes from a mere childhood grudge seems too low of a level for Blofeld. And his big plan though realistic is almost a rehash of Tomorrow Never Dies. Their relationships and the stakes (dare I say) are a bit too personal. Again if it were just Oberhauser it would have worked, but once you add Blofeld's name there will be the question of legacy regardless of it being a reboot or not. Bond has always been the thorn on the side of Blofeld's plans rather than the main centre of it. And if Bond wasn't, it doesn't explain why he started SPECTRE in the first place. Which is why I would have preferred him just being Oberhauser and it could have been that he inherited the organisation from Blofeld. Also Christoph Waltz tried his very best to present himself in the most interesting manner, but with only 3 scenes, he couldn't make a real lasting impression despite a chilling reveal, which is a bummer.

The awful truth is that the information age has taken its toll on the beloved spy. In fact arguably the real hero of the story would be Q considering the plot. In an age where computers do most of the work where does the 'suave spy' fit in ? This has been an age old problem for Bond: how do you keep him relevant? Overtime films like Casino Royale refreshed the franchise with a gritty tone or coming back back to the classic 'suave' tone as I call it. But honestly it doesn't matter as long as it has that 'oomph' factor to it. Even though Casino was gritty and much more darker there was still the ohh wow! moment to it which came out of its tension and emotional impact which matched to that of a really good bond villain or awesome gadgets, there was always something a bit out-worldly-feel to these films. That is what I felt SPECTRE was lacking, that sense of character, it just did not have that 'oomph' to it. That is except the opening sequence and the brilliant soundtrack by Thomas Newman. Bond will always be just that much larger-than-life because that is how Ian Fleming made him. And the moment you ground him too much the effect is gone.

Sam Mendes has done a terrific job here hand-on-heart, its just that the more personal story somehow did not let Bond unleash himself as much he should have been in my opinion. Nonetheless, I feel that we are in a strange transition period with Bond as he rediscovers his place in this changing world. Some teething problems will arise, but I think in the end we may have something truly special that would push the Bond's legacy forward.

Movie Impressions: The Bridge Of Spies

A film directed by Steven Spielberg, a script written by the Coen brothers,starring Tom Hanks and set in the peak of the Cold War. A very cliché intro surely but just cannot falter with it can you? Honestly ever since I heard about this production I really did not know what to expect. From the cold war setting and the spies thing, I thought it would be something more akin to Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy maybe. However, it's nothing like that and I am so happy because of that. 

The movie follows insurance lawyer James B.Donovan who was drafted in by the CIA to negotiate the exchange of imprisoned U-2 pilot, Francis Gary Powers for a Rudolf Abel (Mark Rylance), a Russian Spy in US custody for which Donovan is serving as his legal counsel.

The first thing I noticed into the movie really was how fresh this movie looks aesthetically in terms of colour palette and the overall ambience. It has a way of showing large-scale geo-political tension in the stark differences in the environments of these different places and yet at the same time, is seemingly grounded and very personal. It feels like a reinvigorated Spielberg. You can still make out his classic techniques, but overall it feels quite fresh. I guess that just goes to the credit to the the production designer and the director of photography along with Spielberg himself.

The story starts as a legal courtroom drama a lot like Time To Kill where Donovan is pretty much forced by his firm to serve as a 'capable defence' to Abel only really as a formality and Donovan (in true lawyer fashion) becomes determined to give him justice and the public hates him for that. At this point I'm like "ohh I just know exactly what to expect." Then the U-2 scene happened and the movie almost turned 180 degrees and It almost became a different movie. It may be my own stupidity but nonetheless, it felt really good in the way the plot just changed like that. However, this change is not disrupting and is more of the evolution of the plot.

The pacing and tension in this is something I admired. The first sequence of the movie doesn't even have any dialogue in it, but the suspense of it all and the audience trying to figure out what's happening arrests you. Throughout the movie, it will hold your attention with a tight grip and the plot progresses in such a way that you will become really curious about what happens in the end. Also it has a very satisfying sense of closure to it and when the script hits those emotional beats right, it just takes it to a new level. 

Tom Hanks as James B. Donovan is a true heroic protagonist in his own right. We follow him as he drives the story, and often times he would put himself in such situations that just make you go 'why' in an entertaining way that is testament to his character. He has a very good chemistry with Mark Rylance's character, who also gives a rather brilliant performance as Rudolf Abel, making you feel for him and in turn justifying why Donovan went through so much for his defence earlier in the movie even though he was a spy and Donovan is despised for this in the public and his family's eyes. Their relationship is handled confidently. 

Negotiations or such banter in movies can go either way depending upon the writing of the dialogue and also the set-up to it. One moment you can get JFK and other times you may even have The Phantom Menace. And often times you don't even have that much visual flair to hold on to unlike here. This is where I feel lucky that the Coen Brothers were involved. They have written some nice dialogues that gel very well with certain superb character moments occurring from time to time. The dynamics that happen between Donovan and the opposing negotiators (notable mention to Sebastian Koch) is entertaining to me at least as they butt their heads in mental chess. 

At the end of the day what Bridge of Spies is, is that it's a well rounded experience, as you should expect from one of the best directors in Hollywood. It has a very interesting subject that is supported with superb performances and writing; and cinematography that really sells that particular period of history. It ultimately becomes a story of the value of human life. It has great emotional and entertainment value, and you should definitely see it, if you haven't already. Some are even starting to say that this is Speilberg's best film since Saving Private Ryan (1998). 

Movie Impressions: Sicario

Given the subject matter of the movie, Sicario could have easily become a rather generic man-hunt story in a setting that is relatively well-tread in Hollywood. But instead what director Denis Villeneuve and writer Taylor Sheridan has shown us goes way beyond a traditional drug war story into the very dark recesses of human conviction in a world torn by illicit activities.

We follow FBI agent Kate Macer (Emily Blunt) who eagerly becomes part of a special Delta Force team led by CIA officer Matt Graves (Josh Brolin) and his partner Alejandro Gillick (Benecio Del Toro) as a tactical liaison to aid the escalating war on drugs in the border area between the U.S and Mexico.

From the premise itself you can see what I was going on about earlier when I said that it really could have been a very generic movie. But it isn't. And that is exactly why I really can't really delve into the story without ruining the experience. Though as a hint I will give this: It's a very good example of the difference between the protagonist and the hero of a story. It has a very darkly poetic quality which is something I always admire in stories. And the way it wraps up things is oh so satisfying. 

Villeneuve paints a violently hostile atmosphere of Juarez, right at the peak of the Mexican Drug War. His direction is near flawless and he paces out everything brilliantly, Before you know it, the film turns from an action thriller into a gripping character drama almost seamlessly. Also the character stuff doesn't occupy or bog down the film in any way. In fact the action sequences here are so well done and they actually forward the drama and the tension in a way that is also visually exciting. I guess he just has a way with suspense that in the end satisfies you. Its perfectly balanced

This movie made me realise just how great Emily Blunt is as an acting force. There is a scene where she is sitting in one of the convoy cars and there is no dialogue for at least 5 mins or so. And she so effortlessly tells her reactions in the situation just through facial emotions. She superbly pulled off a very strong idealistic character and yet still was able to show her character broken down and vulnerable. Her character is very interesting from a story point of view because her perspective and her reactions mirror to that of the audience.When revelations dawn and you feel the shock, so does she. And in the end when she is left vulnerable, you almost empathise with her.

Benecio Del Toro gives a much more subtle performance, at times too subtle to barely notice, and there is good reason for it. And he is very good when he comes forward. Josh Brolin as Matt Graves is the annoying, wisecracking, yankee, levity-inducing character in every sense of the word.  I guess it really depends on the person watching and/or the specific situation in the film for his quipping to be irritating in a fun way or deeply distracting. I felt Brolin did a great a job in selling his character and how much of a douche he can be sometimes.

Saving the best for last, Roger Deakins is as much of a star as any of the actors on the screen. It is always enjoyable as a film fanatic to pick apart his creative shot designs. An overt example of this would be the climax filmed with night vision and infra-red. However, you know you are in a presence of a great cinematographer when even the airplane transition shot looks interesting. Even then I think what Deakins bought to this project in my opinion was his sense of naturalism (especially in the lighting) that completely immerses you in the story. It just takes the entire mood of the movie to the next level.

Sicario is a very tense and unhasty thriller and that's great. It's a really well made movie, though again given its subject matter, it does get pretty graphic and the rest is pretty dark. So its definitely not for everybody. Nonetheless, the fact that in the end it becomes an emotional story that resonates to people that might not take much interest in the overall setting. I guess what makes this movie work so well is that it is both good in concept and execution. It serves as a really good example of what a film could be when every single facet of it; direction, cinematography, sound design and performances, etc. all work in unison to serve the story like a grand orchestral piece. That is exactly what this movie is.

ps. I believe that this movie warrants for a spoiler discussion, which I will come to soon...

Movie Impressions: The Walk

When I came into the cinema hall and took my seat right at the front row, I noticed some things that don't happen very often. I got to see a movie, relaxed in a near empty theatre without side-talks. I saw the Tristar logo in a new movie after a long time. And for the first time in my life I actually wanted to induce vertigo in me voluntarily. I think this shows that this kind of movie, you don't get to see very often. 

The Walk is a film by acclaimed director Robert Zemeckis and it tells the true story of (and leading to) the high wire-walk of the New York Twin Towers in 1974 by Phillippe Petit, played by Joseph Gordon-Levitt.  

This event was in great coverage at the time, so was the intent of Petit so naturally this one isn't the first film to cover it. In fact the documentary Man on Wire (2008) by James Marsh and starring Petit is often considered to be a definitive telling of the story. I haven't seen it nor did I know about this story altogether before The Walk though from the looks of things, it takes much inspiration from the documentary in its presentation. 

However, through Zemeckis' expertise in modern film-making techniques, he knows what the medium brings to make this version stand out. So he focuses on the more experiential side of things. The story itself is very light on the mind as Gordon-Levitt's Petit talks us through his journey atop the Statue of Liberty like a circus presenter announcing his performance. We see Petit grow from being a lowly street performer to a daring artist. It builds up the climax from the start and keeps us engaged throughout the duration via a heist element with most of the first act introducing our protagonist. his motivation to walk the Towers and the relationships he makes in between. There is a romance angle to this as well between Petit and his first accomplice, Annie. It was handled well and was kept re-strained enough to not disrupt the main narrative and its conclusion is also something you might not expect. 

But as I said Zemeckis focuses on the experiential side of things and instead of trying to make us sympathise with this person with the story, he immerses us in the situation itself and encourages the audience to evoke the same emotions he felt, thus placing us right inside Petit's psyche. That is where the 3D comes in. This movie is one of those rare live-action movies where 3D actually enhances the story and is not gimmicky. If you are afraid of heights then you will feel vertigo, I know this cause it happened to me, and for the first time in my life I actually liked the adrenaline rush. I guess it helps that the film from the very start was made with 3D in mind. Each shot of the last sequence is designed to make you feel exactly what Petit must have felt that moment. 

There is a story that in one of the test screenings, a person actually started to vomit. It's that good. 

The place where I really cringed per se was in fact at the climax itself when he is walking the wire and he constantly alternates between the north and south towers to avoid the police. It's just that the nature of the sequence in the way its shown is really drawn out, full of tension and suspense. He just goes back and forth so much that after time, all of that rush just starts to fade out since he is just going back and forth. I was watching with my dad and he was just saying to me (paraphrasing here), 'this is too much, this guy is too stupid'. Now that I look back on it, I think the director wanted us to feel exactly that since Petit actually did start to show-boat after a while in reality as well. Nonetheless, it was becoming really detrimental to the tension and the excess of it all just took me out. 

Joseph Gordon-Levitt is the centre piece of the movie when it came to the actors without a shadow of doubt. He effortlessly makes us see him as the character of Phillippe Petit and not as Joseph Gordon-Levitt playing Phillippe Petit, which is always a sign of a great actor. Gordon-Levitt did actually went method with this by training in wire-walking by Petit himself. And when it comes to the French accent, it is different than the Hollywood stereotype because as much as any language, French too has regional variations. For example Canadian French is different than Parisian French, what Gordon-Levitt was trying to achieve. I looked at footage of the real Petit and I believe he matched it quite well. Another special mention goes to Sir Ben Kingsley as Papa Rudy, Petit's mentor. He just brings both gravitas and levity to his role that added to the movie. 

The Walk is actually an apt title if you see closely. It is not a movie about the journey, neither is it about the person itself, it is a movie about the emotions that transpired in one of the most dangerous feats and the movie does a great job of making you feel those emotions. It is a film that tries to go beyond a narrative into something more abstract. It is about being in the moment. Zemeckis has crafted more of an experience than a story which makes it its own unique thing. And the best part is that it never makes a 9/11 statement. 

Movie Impressions: The Martian

I just love the 'in-universe' viral marketing campaigns that are employed in Ridley Scott's sci-fi films and that holds especially true for The Martian, the director's new venture. It thrusts us 20 years into mankind's future where humans have started manned missions to Mars, one of which housing botanist Mark Watney. But when he is left deserted on the barren planet with limited resources, he will have to use his ingenuity and botany powers to get himself back to Earth, ultimately becoming a tale of human perseverance in what felt like Man vs Wild: Mars edition. And I liked it.

Some praise must be given to Drew Goddard's screenplay given the fact that he just puts us on Mars in the very beginning and doesn't make a big deal about it. It lets the audience know that manned missions to Mars has been achieved and the mysticism of it all has started to wan a tiny bit with this one being the third mission called Ares 3. Goddard keeps the script tight and efficient as possible and superbly highlights human emotion and struggle with enough levity to not lose our interests completely, especially when it came to Watney, to which we'll come to later.

The other thing which was brilliantly executed in the script from the source material is the whole reality of the situation and actually giving weight to it. It respects the science behind it and the science, in a weird way actually heightens the film's tension just because it feels so plausible both in the problems and its solutions. Another great angle that the story explores is how Watney's situation also in a weird way actually unites the public and governments of the world into saving this guy.

I whole-heartedly believe that Ridley Scott's experience with Alien has certainly benefited the movie in presenting the scare factor. Scott does a great job in creating a hostile atmosphere just through the harsh climates and life-death situations, especially at the beginning, when Watney has to take out something out of his stomach. His direction and style is also bolstered with solid 3D. For example, there a scene when the astronauts are trapped in a dust storm and we can see large martian dust particles blowing in our faces, or showing us more field of depth in the landscapes. This is where 3d works best, environmental effects. I must also commend Scott in creating a light-hearted experience

First Vlogger on Mars...

One just cannot talk about this film and not talk about Matt Damon, and that goes quite beyond just because of the fact that he is the protagonist. Definitely, the character of Mark Watney was written well and that constitutes a rather large portion in making this character work. I mean compare this to Dr.Mann from Interstellar. Though, Matt Damon's delivery of these lines surely takes it to a new level and ultimately makes the quipping botanist very likeable. The best part for me is that the humour doesn't become irritating and actually makes sense because humour does counteract the overwhelming isolation .

It was an absolute joy watching him growing plants from faeces and going for long rover drives. The guy even makes rationing sound interesting. Damon is the one than carries the movie which is impressive when you see rest of the names in the cast. In fact I wanted this movie to only follow Watney like Moon or such examples. The audience identifies and roots for him both in the movie world and our real world which increases the significance of his stakes in our minds, which is a superb thing. Actually one of my only gripes with the story was that the ending felt a bit flat. It's not a bad ending by any means, it just felt a bit underwhelming to his story.

As for the rest of the Ares 3 crew, which consists of Commander Lewis (Jessica Chastain), Rick Martinez (Michael Peña), Beth Johanssen (Kate Mara), Chris Beck (Sebastian Stan) and Alex Vogel (Aksel Hannie), they definitely gave good performances but it always felt to me like they were working with something, less. And that is my second gripe with the script, they never really explore the relationships between the crew mates. We do know that Watney is the 'clown' of the group and the others usually make fun of him calling his field, not a real science. Even though it does establish the relationships in Watney's case, we just don't see much dynamics between the rest of the crew. To know the characters better I guess you have to watch one of the viral films but since they are not part of the movie, its hard to count them.

In this case I felt that the characters back at NASA were given more things to do. Jeff Daniels plays the director of NASA, good performance I must say. Chiwetel Ejiofor plays Vincent Kapoor, the head of the Mars missions, another good performance. Donald Glove plays basically the Jeff Goldblum of The Martian if we really get into labels. I mean they are all good performances but again nothing really clicks you know, especially when for a good time the movie completely shifts to Earth.

In my opinion, on NASA's side, only Sean Bean's character, Mitch Henderson had some sort of development from the story and actually made me care about him. I also liked Kristen Wiig as Annie Montrose who is NASA's spokesperson because you don't really see the 'media person' much in sci-fi movies and her position presents a fresh perspective on the situation. Plus Wiig also plays the character in a very strong, journalistic mindset which makes sense for her character, constantly butting heads with the rest of her colleagues when it came to PR. And Montrose in a way actually represents the public angle of the story, which is cool.

At the end of the day all of my gripes, really are just gripes. Ridley Scott has managed to craft a very satisfying experience and this movie is a great example of how great a director he is. And I definitely feel that he performs better in sci-fi than other genres and this movie is a great example of that also. For all the things that I relatively less enjoyed, there was each scene with Matt Damon or a landscape shot of Mars that was just classic. The Martian is an absolute visual treat, its a bit long admittedly but the situation is very captivating especially since we have already started our jouney towards manned missions to Mars. And yes sometimes it has an identity crisis between a thriller and something more light-hearted but I'm not complaining. In the end its a very enjoyable movie and also teaches you some science along the way.

Sorry for the long post....here is a bunch of Martian potatoes :) 

Movie Impressions: Black Mass

The True Story of an Unholy Alliance between the FBI and the Irish Mob in my opinion perfectly encapsulates what Black Mass intends to show to the audience. Johnny Depp is a man with a mission, setting out to prove to his fans that he can still act in very serious roles. And he is supported by a strong cast and style to bring this rather intriguing crime drama to life.

When FBI detective John Connolly (Joel Edgerton) returns to his native town of South Boston, arrives with a proposition to his old friend now Gang-leader, James 'Whitey' Bulger(Johnny Depp) to act as informant to take down the Anguilo Family in return for immunity. Bulger decides to use this to his advantage to increase his criminal agenda while the FBI can 'fight their wars' so to speak.

It is from this 'unholy alliance' emerges the underlying themes of the story such as the price of loyalty considering the 'history' between the two and those belonging to the Winter Hill gang as we see the story through flashback accounts of its various members. However, what disappoints me is that the movie really never shows us that much interaction between Connolly and Bulger considering how important this relationship is and how much Bulger influences Connolly throughout the movie. As a result it comes off a bit superficial, only believing in it because the characters say so.

Scott Cooper (Crazy Heart, Out of the Furnace) presents this downward spiral of a story in great style that consistently performs through the cinematography, production design and a chilling soundtrack by Tom Holkenberg. The movie illustrates what real organised crime is like and not something stylised akin to The Godfather or other examples. It shows us how brutal and cold-minded both the world and its people have to be and it is not beautiful. Though, in the midst of stylistic execution, many have raised complaints about the plot moving too slow and not that engaging and I agree with that to a certain extent. Most have claimed that this is due to the lack of a protagonist which could serve as our eyes in the story and that pretty much everyone is a villain. Again, I do see that viewpoint, but personally I did not face this problem as in my mind it felt like a ballad of these men and how just everything collapses around them.

Though I will say, the movie could have tightened things up in its direction and/or in its editing because the story takes place throughout a number of years and falls prey to some meandering and feels dragging round about the 2 hour mark. Much of it comes from too many dialogue scenes that seem too filler than seeing things that have a direct impact on the status-quo of the story.

Now the most important question, Is this the triumphant return of Johnny Depp to more serious roles?

Short version, yes ! Depp portrays the crime lord in a genuinely intimidating fashion that feels natural, even too natural perhaps. Bulger is brutal and has a strict set of moral rules that permeate into his gang, and he will make you face the consequences if you violate them. With some good writing behind him, he also manages to find and show us a more human character beneath the psychopath that is at times much more caring and respecting of familial ties than a normal person, a recurring theme of the movie. There is always a very strong sentimental motivation behind his actions and that arguably becomes the cause of his downfall.

Most of the character drama I believe, comes from Whitey Bulger and his interactions with the Winter Hill gang and for me they make the more entertaining parts of the movie.The gang definitely grounded the movie for me and it feels like in the end, it was about Bulger's sacrifice for the gang and its growth. Special mentions go to Rory Chochrane and Jesse Plemons as Stephen Flemmi and Kevin Weeks respectively. Dakota Johnson plays Lindsey Cyr, James Bulger's wife and she delivered a very good performance and her chemistry with Depp is also commendable as also is the storyline behind them. Benedict Cumberbatch is also in here as Senator brother William Bulger and he gives a good performance as usual.  In the story it is implied that William, James and detective Connolly form like a triangle of partners-in-crime but the interaction between them is so rare that it doesn't connect as much emotionally. 

On the FBI's side, Joel Edgerton also turns out a entertaining performance and I feel that his character was the one with a definite character arc. This makes it more disappointing that we did not more intereaction between him and 'Whitey'. Kevin Bacon was also thoroughly enjoyable as Charles McGuire while Corey Stall delivers a more focused performance as the 'bulldog' persecutor Fred Wyshak

In conclusion, Black Mass is a rather chilling character drama and it is not your Johnny Depp comedy romp which has become the trend. Its dark, very dark and even though it's not the best screenplay ever made, it provides some juicy subject matter for fans of crime dramas such as myself. But only crime fans for the exact reason could look past the shortcomings, in which case for the non crime-fans, the sheer acting power of the cast and the atmosphere will keep you engaged from time to time and for the very least watch it for Johnny Depp as James 'Whitey' Bulger. You will not be disappointed.

Movie Impressions: Everest (2015)

When I went to see Everest, there was a good percentage of people eating popcorn, probably expecting to have a satisfying 3-D survival flick like most would provided if they were wary of the original story. Then the ending happened and I thought wow they were like 5 year old's who saw this with me. That definitely made me doubt the marketing a bit. Everest is a grim tale, that doesn't mean the movie isn't good, but it is a tragedy and some discretion is advised.

The movie chronicles the events that resulted into the Everest Disaster of 1996 when groups of mountain climbers led by Rob Hall and Scott Fischer among others to scale the eponymous mountain, were faced with adverse conditions once a deadly storm approaches. 

The story is impacting, without a doubt, and highlights just how dangerous this mountain really is and what sort of conditions climbers face. Yet at the same time with its dazzling cinematography, also shows its deadly beauty. With some good development and motivation, it also does a good job of making us care about the characters regardless of whether you have prior knowledge of the events or not. I can prove this because I never heard of this story before watching the movie and it left me awe-struck afterwards. The first hour or so serves as a good education into what preparations climbers go through and the journey that is climbing Mount Everest and you can definitely feel a high once they reach on the top even though you're not actually there. The real story however, starts in the second hour and it is one travesty after the other to the point it feels like Final Destination in real life, things get serious as each of the climbers are tested, exposed to the elements and many of them may not remain alive. 

Another thing that I feel makes this film different from other mountaineering films or even films focusing on Everest is that it serves as an interesting commentary on modern mountain climbing and its commercialisation, especially at Everest. Rob Hall with Adventure Consultants, actually pioneered the business of mountain climbing where they would guide clients into expeditions such as Everest for a sum of money. And now one can see its effects in the so-called traffic jams of Everest as around 29 expedition groups can be found on the path.

As I said before, the cinematography is stellar. And one should expect nothing less considering its setting, the picturesque Himalayas. Something I noticed in the camera work was that it was very spatial in nature, meaning that you see in all of it shots that there is always a degree of dimensionality going in there. For example all the mountain shots, or when they are on the Hillary Step or on the South Summit, the narrow paths become really claustrophobic with a sheer drop at the next step. It represents the physical scale of the environments very well. And the 3D just makes it that more scary right down to some vertigo inducing stuff.  It also helps that much of the shooting did take place on real mountains and a lot of it on Everest itself

The characters are driven by performances by an ensemble consisting of brilliant actors through and through. Star names including are Jason Clarke, Jake Gyllenhall, Josh Brolin, Keira Knightely, Emily Watson, Elizabeth Debicki, Sam Worthington, etc. Jason Clarke, portrays the role of Rob Hall, the leader of Adventure Consultants' group that day and he is a bit of a handholder during the climb, showing us that he really, really cares for the safety of his clients though still taking risks if he felt that it was worth it especially in Doug Hansen's case, as played by John Hawkes. Scott Fischer, Gyllenhall's character, is my favourite being an eccentric mountain climber leading his own group of clients and thus becomes one of Hall's healthy competition. I enjoyed the relationship between the two as in the question of safety they team-up to climb together and help each other. The sense of camaraderie in mountaineering is noticeable and definitely amps up the character interaction as it becomes men against nature. 

The female characters are also good as they provide moral support to the climbers in direcircumstances, or provide logistical support from base-camp. But not all female characters are just support. Yasuko Namba (Naoko Mori) was also a climber on Hall's team and her climbing Everest, effectively making her the second Japanese woman to reach all the Seven Summits. 

With the combination of superb performances and characters, solid direction, stellar spectacle and a deeply impacting and tragic story, Everest highlights the very real dangers that climbers face on Everest and how little mistakes or ignorance can mess things up. When you are exposed on the cruising altitude of a 747, it may not always be a happy ending.