Movie Impressions: Jimi: All is by My Side (2013)

Jimi: All is by My Side is an aptly titled film in which writer/director John Ridley attempts to capture the development of an optimistic and eager Jimi Hendrix as he finds his foothold into the rock and roll scene as much he develops a rockstar personality, for better or worse. However, the movie tends to get too cerebral and sombre that it hinders the inherent fun of that time period, especially in its music.

I guess that one of my qualms with the story is that the movie spends too much time on his muses/relationships or discussions with political activists. This could be explained by the fact that the filmmakers couldn't get the rights to Hendrix's songs so you wouldn't any of your favourites here. What pains me is that they already got the solution in the form original arrangements by Waddy Wachtel  which are placed in the story just as normal Jams. And each of these pieces beautifully capture the Hendrix style, my favourite being a blues improv in the film which is played when Jimi plays his first night in the Scotch club. Why not more of that?

I do not mean that every biopic should be generically focused on the big events or people chanting and celebrating whoever's name and or in this case just be a musical. Actually, the relationships are quite interesting, taking us through three women, Linda Keith (Imogen Poots) who discovered Hendrix and ex-flame of Keith Richards, Kathy Etchingham (Hayley Atwell), his first girlfriend in London, and Ida (Ruth Negga) and each of these relationships are very unique to each other and one quite nicely transitions into the next. Even all the actors mentioned have great performances, especially Atwell. Now this would have worked great as a subplot to add a layer of dimension to a central story. But the movie spends too much time on it. 

Alright, enough with the ranting, let's get to the good stuff. First of all, Andre Bejamin (better known as Andre 3000) nails Jimi Hendrix to the way he speaks, to the way he walks and the way he plays the guitar, it is quite amazing actually. Also the character is written beautifully that one can easily relate to him in the way that he doesn't want to care about politics of the world or labels and just wants to inspire people with his music and wants to showcase a voice and make a difference on a personal level, which is resonant to the hippie movement of the time. 

The movie also showcases the more controversial side of him such as his perfectionism that has annoyed both producers and audiences alike and also mistreatment to his girlfriends such as beating up, to which the real Kathy Etchingham dismisses as 100% false, so that deeply lessens the impact in the movie yet is reassuring in the real world.

Another thing that this movie gets right is the whole 60's swinging London, at least aesthetically with its costumes and set design and also captures the music scene that encompassed night clubs of the time really well. I should also mention the sound design, which is adds nice touches to the film such as times where you just hear the pick of the strings but not the amp tone of the guitar and other more subtle things like the sound of the band playing in a club actually has like an environmental echo to it and doesn't feel too much like track recorded in a studio. There are some great moments to be experienced here like when Hendrix completely cut Eric Clapton (which is a true story), I mean these are the moments for which I come into a Jimi Hendrix movie. The movie also also shows a rather enjoyable chemistry with the rest of the Experience. It is always a joy whenever he came up on stage and just played and having a blast.

But again it seems like most of the time its like it doesn't want to have fun with it, to embrace the zaniness of the that culture and bogs down with the relationships. And the thing is, if they could have showed more of that setting and culture in the general sense, it could have served as a nice contrast to the story. In simple words I want more of the swinging london music scene because it was actually good at it.

I feel that a good bio-pic based around a singular figure, shows us the personal side of a person in juxtaposition to the public image of said person that can almost be like a thesis of sorts where how much the person represented in media etc. is true. This movie covers the former very well, giving us a rather intimate insight on the person, or at least his relationships. But it doesn't show us much of the creativity or his musical side that formed much of his public image, since I believe that could have balanced it out really well.

Movie Impressions: Fantastic Four (2015)

Right, a third theatrical attempt and fourth overall attempt (gotta love the 60's version) to make a Fantastic Four movie work. From what I have heard, every single one of these attempts was made in order for FOX to retain the movie right to the property. So already this has started on the back foot. After which came a smorgasbord of backlash and other problems of which Mr Sunday Movies even prepared a whole list of them. Though, after seeing Chroncicle, I was confident in Josh Trank's direction that even through all the studio hodgepodge some good might come out. I guess I was wrong. 

Since childhood, Reed Richards has a wish to be the first person to crack teleportation but inadvertently cracks inter-dimensional travel. But an ill-timed accident gives him, his best friend Ben Grimm, Johnny Storm and her adopted sister Susan Storm as well as Victor Von Doom(yes not Domshev anymore) radical powers. Hence they are taken into government custody to be trained and used as weapons. It is up to them to team up together to either fix themselves or to use their powers for something greater.

The first thing you might notice is where is the space and solar rays, well this origin story follows the Ultimate Fantastic Four version. Personally I prefer the original space travel origins however, this does add a new sci-fi element to the mix. I also appreciate the filmmakers going for a sci-fi horror vibe which the Fantastic Four has in its reception of their powers as something horrific rather than awesome at first. Mind you this version has some great concepts going for it here such as it actually took time to explore and set-up a conflict in the friendship between Richards and Grimm (even though it ignores development since), and also the Four being used as weapons of the government, which can prove to be the catalyst for their public image, of which the comics are renowned for.

However, the story is too rushed for any of these set-ups to ever come to fruition since it decides to skip parts of the second-act which could be used to show them getting used to their powers and you know, actual development. Which also points me to say that we live in a post-Avengers world where we have already seen more than 4 superheroes sharing the screen with each of them having their moments and arcs. Yet, this doesn't take the effort to show us character growth, or team dynamics, in a Fantastic Four movie. As a result, the movie starts to become drab very fast. One often gets the sense that the movie wants to skip story to reach to the climax as fast as possible. The only problem is that the entire third act is criminally abrupt and anti-climactic.

Anyhow this movie actually has good acting talent behind it with Miles Teller(fresh from Whiplash fame) as Reed Richards, Kate Mara as Susan Storm , Michael B.Jordan as Johnny Storm and Ian Bell as Ben Grimm. You can see their performances trying to come out like a butterfly out of a cocoon but the script (or at least the story we ended up with) doesn't want to explore these characters so it also hinders their performances. One of the truly tragic cases here is Tony Kebbel as Victor Von Doom, Of course he isn't the megalomaniac King of Latveria (even though the movie refers the place) I actually kinda was liking the enigmatic personality he seemed to be. But oh no! we have to make him Doom in under 99 mins, so just slap on a motive of which we couldn't find traces anywhere before, give him a crappy look, vague powers and fight!

Oh, and by the way, the fighting is dismal. Since the movie never took the time to build-up to something or to make us root for the characters, we don't care for any of the 5 mins of action the movie gives us. To add insult to injury, the special effects do not seem up to par where the simulation effects on Johnny Storm doesn't even look like realistic fire at times. And they under- utilised Reed Richards stretching powers where the most creative use there was him changes his facial muscles to hide his real face. That is cool on paper but the effects botch it up bad. There is also a production rumour surrounding a special effects guy being fired without the knowledge of Trank. Though I must say I really liked the sound effect they used for Susan Storm's forcefields. 

In closing, It seems that this iteration is one of those cases of self-fulling prophecies and an utter production disaster. It is such a spaghetti we don't even know who exactly to blame for this, both FOX and Trank have made good superhero movies with the X-Men franchise and Chronicle respectively. Although if I be honest, I am ready to forgive all of this, and ignore this film to the best of my ability. Just please FOX make a good sequel to this. There is actual potential in here, in its sci-fi premise, to explore other dimensions and finally to see the Fantastic Four become the great public heroes they are. Till then, I would suggest any aspiring filmmaker or screenwriter to watch this movie as it does highlight how improper development and pacing can break your movie. 

  

The Hateful Eight: Trailer Impressions

It is a really nice coincidence that The Hateful Eight is also Quentin Tarantino's eighth feature. Or is it ? I don't know. What I do know that this trailer has got me seriously hyped into the movie that must be already high on many people's 'Most Anticipated' lists. 

You leave it to a guy like Tarantino to create what perhaps could be one of the most awkward hotel situation. John 'The Hangman' Ruth (Kurt Russel) brings his bounty Daisy Domergue (Jennifer Jason Leigh) with Major Marquis Warren (Samuel L.Jackson) to a stagecoach stepover, which I think is a tavern of sorts filled with other nefarious people who seek refuge from a blizzard. Tarantino I believe sums up the direction of this movie aptly, "just a bunch of nefarious guys in a room, all telling backstories that may or may not be true. Trap them together in a room with a blizzard outside, give them guns and see what happens." And I am sure excited to see that. The set-up is brilliant and brimming with potential. 

One of the first things that struck me when watching this trailer was how this was going to be a different type of western especially from its setting in the snowy mountains of Wyoming, which in itself is a big departure from desert-towns more traditionally found in westerns. The blizzard lends itself to a new look of the western. And with cinematographer, Robert Richardson, who has worked with Tarantino previously since Kill Bill, I know that he can prove to be the visual counterpoint to Tarantino's dialogues, which I love. This movie will be released in 70mm film theatres on Christmas before the worldwide release on 8th January 2016. Unfortunately I do not have access to a nearby 70mm theatre, although, with the cinematography I see in this trailer, if you happen to get a chance  to see it in 70mm, I will strongly suggest beforehand to catch it. I really do think it would be an experience. The trailer also gives us a very little taste of what I believe is Ennio Morricone's soundtrack right at the end and again while it is decidedly western, it is also fresh and new. 

When you hear the titles of these characters like 'The Hangman" and "The Cow Puncher" etc. It gives me a good sense of how colourful these characters may very well be as the writer/director's characters are. This is a movie with no heroes and it makes it apparent. There is also some strong acting power in its support too. Personally I am really looking forward to Kurt Russell rocking the screen again and Samuel L. Jackson because who doesn't look forward to Samuel L.Jackson. Though when I saw Tim Roth in this trailer, who plays Oswaldo Mobray or "The Little Man", I don't know why but he seemed eerily to me like he was a Christoph Waltz replacement, I don't know, I'm just putting it out there, even though I'm quite certain that's not the case and I have just lost my mind. 

This is a very preliminary look of the film, but like any good first trailer it gives us the tone, the set-up and introduces us to the characters. From the looks of things it takes a big departure from a traditional western, where there are no deserts and the characters seemingly are not even anti-heroes than just people with questionable histories if you will. It kinda makes them feel real in a way and I look forward to explore these characters. I believe that this trailer is enough we need to see before I watch the movie for myself but since its only a teaser, we shall see what the future lies for us. But the movie overall looks really good which to most people shouldn't come as a surprise. 

Movie Impressions: Mission:Impossible Rogue Nation

Whatever you may say about the Mission:Impossible franchise, it is undeniable that when you watch these movies each of them feel uniquely distant to each other yet similar enough to work organically in the franchise. The stylistic changes throughout can be attributed to the regular change in directors. I think with each of the opening 'fuse' intros of these movies lies its directorial stamp for example John Woo's over-stylistic approach, or Brad Bird's more slow and suspenseful take among others. So what does Christopher McQuarrie's take look like. Well, it feels tighter, more fluid and a bit more gritty and it is fair to say this comes up to one of the best this series has offered yet.

The story follows IMF agent Ethan Hunt (Tom Cruise) is tracking down a shadow organisation comprising of ex-spies known as the Syndicate. The catch here is that there is no IMF since it has been absorbed into the CIA by the efforts of its director Alan Hunley (Alec Bladwin), and has made a point to hunt Hunt (lol) down. So Hunt and his team are against the system and against a clock. As Benji says "Difficult, but not impossible". 

An 'anti-IMF' seems a bit un-imaginative to some in the way superheroes battling villains with the exact same powers. However, in this case it really adds a breath of fresh air from chasing nuclear codes and bio-weapons and also uses it to justify the existence of the IMF. I for one did find the story a bit better than its prequel. This one added more intrigue and political espionage. McQuarrie has done a great job with the pacing of the movie where everything feels has been given its deserved time/development. My only nitpick with the story is that they could have explored more with the vastness of the Syndicate network since the story focuses on very few characters than what you might expect from such a large organisation. Although its not that bad of a thing since it keeps the story tight. The film also adds a pinch of humour here and there and is well balanced overall. 

The action is up to the standard one would expect from M:I. Nothing really mind-blowing like Dubai, but still awesome. The action takes influence from the more gritty direction of the film so I felt it to be much more grounded and fluid than before. One example that comes to mind is Hunt trying to stop 2 snipers shooting a political figure in a opera house. Do not get me wrong though, there are some big action scenes here such as the motorcycle chase scene (calling back to M:I 2 in ways), infiltrating an underwater data bank and of course the A-400 plane trailer shot. But it balances between the two quite brilliantly. Of course all the stunts and action is real which is complete insanity. However insanity is commonplace in M:I. Also, the movie boasts some stellar sound design to levels where in the aforementioned underwater sequence it managed to create a sonic vacuum of sorts that I actually felt my ears closing up like water pressure but it didn't actually happen to me.

There has been a natural progression to Ethan Hunt where he gradually has become an enigmatic and heartfelt personality and trusting of his team which is a nice overall arc considering the beginnings. Tom Cruise is really the glue that holds all these films together both on screen and off-screen with his duties as producer. The guy is committed I tell you, he performs all the stunts for real at the age of 53 is quite mind-blowing and he certainly keeps that trend going here with a strong performance.

The rest of team includes Benji (Simon Pegg), the bumbling tech-guy who plays Halo 3 on his 3 monitor set-up at his office at CIA and he and Hunt work together (illegally) to root out the Syndicate. It is also good to see Benji's increasing experience in field-work. The other part of the team is Jeremy Renner as IMF agent William Brandt and Ving Rhames as Luther Stickell, the cool tech-guy work together under the CIA's nose to find Hunt before them. There was a nice dynamic between the two as the old friend of Hunt working together and getting to know the new friend and vice-versa. Series fans must have noticed that this is the first all-men team (for the most part) in the series and all of them have previously appeared. This pays dividends to both performance and character development. All the four really play off with each other add a sense of camaraderie and friendship that I think we haven't seen before.

As for the additions to the cast, Rebecca Ferguson as Ilsa Faust, an Mi-6 agent is a great character whose true allegiance is not entirely known. She is sort of like the female Ethan Hunt in their motivations and expertise. Plus they do share a good chemistry. Her story does maintain mystery throughout the movie which keeps things interesting. Even the villain Solomon Lane  (Sean Harris) is one of the better ones in the series. Alec Baldwin as Alan Hunley as the determined CIA director bent on shutting the IMF down for good was a source of constant threat and his arc is also well done. 

Of the reviews I had read, many of them state this one as a 'Greatest hits' version, combining the best elements of all the previous 4 movies into one. Even though I do agree with that I wouldn't say that it was unoriginal cherry-picking because it did contribute to the franchise in a whole lot of ways. And as for the Ghost Protocol being the best of the franchise, it still probably is the better movie with more layered characters, better humour, more suspenseful action and more accessible than the rest. But considering the premise and all, I just liked Rogue Nation a wee bit better. 

  

Movie Impressions: Mr. Holmes

There is no denying of the renewed interest in Sherlock Holmes in recent times, and by now the audience has seen more than a dozen portrayals of the character from the determined Basil Rathbone to the eccentric Jeremy Brett or Benedict Cumberbatch's modern day interpretation. Being the fan of the character that I am, I was particularly interested to see Sir Ian Mckellen as an old grumpy Sherlock (I mean Gandalf/Magneto, sure!) in a more personally driven story than most of his adventures. Though the film presents a very interesting premise, the overall experience of it all feels a bit, numb.

Sherlock is 93, retired for a considerable number of time now and lives in a small cottage somewhere in the Sussex countryside with his housekeeper Mrs.Munro (Laura Linney) and her son Roger (Milo Parker). Disappointed with Watson's fictionalisation of his last case, he wants to write the accurate account of the case as a last mission but has difficulty recalling the details due to failing memory. All the while forming a relationship with Roger as he seems to express particular interest and aptitude to his methods and his bees. 

One of the strong points of this film is that it nails its atmosphere. From the first scene it makes it apparent of its more sombre tone. Director Bill Condon brilliantly expresses how it must feel living a rather inactive life in a picturesque setting. There is some beautiful cinematography and art direction here that it makes it work great as a period piece. 

Another strong point of this movie is Sir Ian Mckellen as Sherlock Holmes. The film really concentrates on showing the 'real' Sherlock Holmes behind the literary distortions (which Sherlock despises in this version) with examples like 221b being a fake address or him preferring the cigar over the pipe. Furthermore, it reflects in Sir Mckellen's performance in that its hard to compare or find similarities to prior portrayals. It really is its own thing which is thematic to the reality behind the fiction thing they have here. Deductions are not like magic tricks here. It treats its detective work very real and serious and how it can take a toll on a person.

That being said, I do come into a Sherlock Holmes story for the deductions and the thrill of the chase. And there is a serious lack of any major thrill or suspense mostly sourced from the fact that the case is technically solved and he is just trying to remember it, so the stakes have significantly lessened from a traditional standpoint. Also the pacing is way too slow for my taste so it can become boring. My point being this is not a detective thriller but more of an introspective character study dealing with quite heavy hitting themes such as existential crisis, old age and what comes with it (both physically and mentally as one loses his faculties) and when one's methods/beliefs are tested. If you like those sort of things, the movie definitely excels at that and you will enjoy but if you prefer the more thriller experience, it can become tedious since the story doesn't focus on the case itself but its repercussions. 

I enjoyed the performances and the character relationships  since the movie places Holmes in a new environment amongst completely new characters and how it handled it. As I said before Sir Ian Mckellen as the detective delivers a terrific performance where he portrays as a retired Holmes and also him in his prime thirty years earlier from which one can see how the former is such a far cry to the latter and makes it apparent that this is a man who is in his twilight. He also captures Holmes' dry humour very well. Laura Linney as housekeeper Mrs.Munro is someone who does not like tending to Holmes but does it due to her economic circumstances. You can see the frustration on her face and it does make you feel sort of sorry for her. On top of that you add his old age and his growing fondness to her son Roger, played by Milo Parker. Its  nice to see that their relationship is kept quite ambiguous where one can view it as a mentor-protege relationship or look it as a father-son bonding. With that you include the great chemistry between Milo and Mckellen in both story and performance. These three characters at times do play off each other rather well.

Anne Kelmot (Hattie Morahan) is the main person case-wise and her situation regarding her miscarried children is certainly dark and has intriguing parts though again since it doesn't focus on the case much of that intrigue is lost. Though I liked how she grew into somewhat of a love interest at the end. There is also an interesting side-story between Holmes and Matsuda Umezaki played by Hiroyuki Sanada (Yashida's son from Wolverine). Though at times I felt it focused too much on it. 

In conclusion as I said its a really good character study that attempts to test the very foundations of Holmes' beliefs that is supported with great performances and characterisations. However, I do believe that if it could do all that upon a better mystery element, the story could have been tighter and more enjoyable for me at least. As a Sherlock fan you will not be entirely remiss if you could not catch this version. It's really only meant for those who wish to really, really want to get thoroughly in-depth of the character. Did you know Bill Condon previously directed the last two Twilight films? Now that is a major step-up.