AD ASTRA

Release Date: Malaysia, 19 Sep 2019

Genre: Science Fiction / Drama

Running Length: 2:02

Cast: Brad Pitt, Tommy Lee Jones, Liv Tyler, Donald Sutherland, Ruth Negga

Director: James Gray 

Screenplay: Ethan Gross

"He could only see what was not there and miss what was right in front of him."

AD ASTRA (Latin for "to the stars") isn’t the sort of sci-fi motion picture with action and explosion aka Armageddon, eventhough it has Liv Tyler in this movie. Instead, this movie is in the same vein as The Martian, Gravity and Interstellar where the focus is on the human spirit and relationships. What I really enjoyed about this film is the use of space exploration as a canvas to look inward at the very core of our humanity - what does it mean to live and to love? 

This film spoke to me and probably most men, as our masculinity are pegged with our drive, performance and success in reaching our quest. And if we fail, we are told to "man up". As a result, we are good at compartmentalizing how we feel. Such suppression usually leads to loneliness and being distant in our relationships.

Brad Pitt, fresh off the recent Once Upon A Time in Hollywood turns in another stellar performance. His performances here reminds us that he’s more than a pretty face. He is restrained throughout the entire film (probably because his character's heart rate doesn't go up more than 80 bpm even when he is faced head-on with fight-or-flight situations).

The cinematography and set design captures the vastness of space and just so gorgeous to look at respectively. And the soundtrack complements the film instead of trying to forcefully draw out a certain emotion from the audience.

All in all, it was a meditative and healing experience for me as this film develops at its own pace. At times, it feels personal and intimate as though Brad Pitt was still reeling from his recent split from Angelina Jolie and their children. It feels like we're inside Brad Pitt's brain as we see him close-up in almost every frame and hear him narrating calmly in voice-over throughout the film. A mesmerizing film. 

RATING: 9/10

ONCE UPON A TIME IN HOLLYWOOD

Release Date: Malaysia, 15 Aug 2019

Genre: Drama / Comedy

Running Length: 2:41

Cast: Leonardo DiCaprio, Brad Pitt, Margot Robbie, Emile Hirsch, Margaret Qualley, Timothy Olyphant

Director: Quentin Tarantino 

Screenplay: Quentin Tarantino 

ONCE UPON A TIME IN HOLLYWOOD is nothing like anything being released recently from the Hollywood factory. There isn't really much of a plot. As an audience, I was just kinda "hanging out" with the two leads; Leonardo and Brad, throughout the almost 3 hours movie length. However, the final hour of the movie really paid off with an unexpected jaw dropping "Holy SH*T!" ending! 

When Tarantino announced he would be doing a movie with Charles Manson in it, he wasn't lying when he said this was NOT a movie about Charles Manson. 

I heard of "Charles Manson" but I really didn't know much about him until this movie. If I knew more of what he did and his movement, I'm sure I would have enjoyed this movie more. So here you go if you don't know who the Manson Family is: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Manson_Family Read this before you watch this film. 

Instead, this movie is about middle-aged fading star Rick Dalton (DiCaprio) and his buddy/stunt double, Cliff Booth (Pitt). Set in 1969 during the flower power Vietnam War years, this fairy tale like movie intersects with real historical tapestry, giving us a contrasting look at larger-than-life movie gods and their hedonistic life vs. a more cynical common American society. 

What I like about this movie is its comedic moments especially of the violent variety (although the level of violence in this film is significantly restrained compared to Tarantino's other movies). Tarantino also had some fun here with the audience with his signature treatment of tension and suspense as it plays out counter to what we expect. 

DiCaprio and Pitt are perfect here as buddies. I did enjoy "hanging out" with them. The rest of the performances are on-point too. 

And the set design here is perfect. This film feels like the 60s. I believe this sixties atmosphere is also contributed by Tarantino's decision to shoot this movie on film (and the camera movements). It does make a difference in the output - it looks older and warmer. 

Once Upon a Time in Hollywood might be too long and meandering for some. It's a little self-indulgent too, as expected since we're talking about QT here. But thankfully it's saved by great performances, an excellent atmospheric 60's Hollywood set design and brilliant memorable moments. 

It's true. Quentin Tarantino is really passionate and loves cinema movies with all his heart. 

RATING: 8/10  

THE BIG SHORT (2016)

Genre: Comedy / Drama
Running Length: 2:12

Cast: Christian Bale, Steve Carell, Ryan Gosling, John Magaro, Finn Wittrock, Brad Pitt, Melissa Leo, Marisa Tomei, Jeremy Strong

Director: Adam McKay

Screenplay: Adam McKay and Charles Randolph, based on the book by Michael Lewis

"Three great forces rule the world; stupidity, fear and greed." Albert Einstein

THE BIG SHORT is one of those rare films which fuses comedy and drama so effectively. And we're not talking about a light subject matter here. It's about the burst of the housing credit bubble in 2008 which brought about the devastating global financial meltdown where tens of thousands of people lost their homes and jobs. To be fair, the comedy showcased here is of the sharp comedic edge and wit genre and not the silly LOL humour one has come to expect from McKay's work. All in all, this is a serious comedy presented in an unconventional filmmaking technique. And it works brilliantly. 

This movie (which is based on true events) tells the story of a few group of investors which saw the opportunity to profit off the imminent collapse of the housing market. This interesting narrative is merged flawlessly with a semi-documentary presentation of what happened leading to the crash. Usually for movies with an ensemble cast, the character development will suffer as there's just too many things happening. But not for this film, as the main characters (Bale and Carell) are fully fleshed out and is ably supported by the other big-name actors. Speaking of the two actors, Carell's performance is equally compelling as Bale's. 

Credit is given to the screenplay for successfully explaining something so complicated ("credit default swaps", "collateralized debt obligations") using object lessons and cameo appearances such as Anthony Bordain and Selena Gomez - employed in a hilarious way. And yet, movie goers are also caught up with the lives of these individual characters. 

With so many things happening, it's a miracle that The Big Short emerges triumphant and didn't fall apart. It's educational, highly engaging and energetic. And I couldn't help but to feel a deep anger when I walked out of the cinema hall as lo and behold, how little has changed today since the devastation of 2008. Oh, and did I say this was a comedy? 

Rating: 9/10

12 YEARS A SLAVE (2014)

Genre: Drama
Running Length: 2:13
Cast: Chiwetel Ejiofor, Michael Fassbander, Lupita Nyong'o, Benedict Cumberbatch, Paul Dano, Sarah Paulson, Adepero Oduye, Brad Pitt
Director: Steve McQueen

12 YEARS A SLAVE is a tough film to watch but a necessary one. This movie does not leave any room for imagination; some scenes of brutality are so unbearable I had to close my eyes. But what is most unsettling for me is the reminder of us humans - that we are capable of inflicting horrific acts on another human being in the name of righteousness and societal pressure (the public humiliation and crucifixion of Jesus, Nazi Germany, Rwanda etc). This true story is actually very straight forward - the main character (played by  Chiwetel Ejiofor in an Oscar worthy performance but personally, not as moving as Tom Hanks in Captain Phillips) who is a free and well-respected family man living in New York circa 1840s, but was abducted and sold as a slave to the south. During his 12 years of slavery, the audience is transported back in time on a journey where we are exposed to the inhumane conditions in which slaves lived and worked under their "masters". It's not all dark and dirty but the contrary as the ugliness of what was happening is told against the setting of the beautiful southern scenery - which makes it realistic (and not manipulative). The main cast is solid especially Michael Fassbander and Lupita Nyong'o. The only complains I have are these minor distractions - the "spot the stars" cameo and Hans Zimmer's score which is closely reminiscent of his work on Inception. Nevertheless, slavery was a very real and sad part in the history of America and 12 Years A Slave is the definitive movie on this subject matter.

Rating: 7.5/10