TOMORROWLAND (2015)

Genre: Science Fiction/Adventure
Running Length: 2:10
Cast: George Clooney, Britt Robertson, Hugh Laurie, Raffey Cassidy
Director: Brad Bird
Screenplay: Damon Lindelof, Brad Bird

"If you can dream it, you can do it" - Walt Disney

TOMORROWLAND will divide the critics into two camps; the cynics and the dreamers. And that's exactly what the main message of the movie is trying to convey - which is aptly captured in the tale of the bad wolf vs the good wolf - told by the protagonist's father. The question is, "Which one will win?" When the resolution is revealed, skeptics will chastised it for being too preachy while the hopefuls will be deeply moved. Rest assured, this movie is not a two hour debate on humanity's view of the future as it has interesting collages of mystery and ideas presented in an unhurried pace. It's like a jigsaw puzzle, inviting the audience to piece it together. The film has a good mix of humour, seriousness and adventure which reminds me of Speilberg's earlier films. The visuals are impressive and the characters are very likeable. I actually cared for the characters especially the relationship between Frank (George Clooney) and Athena (Raffey Cassidy) - some will say it's all melodrama but the final act between these two characters touched me deeply.   

Rating: 8/10

THE MONUMENTS MEN (2014)

 

Genre: Adventure/Drama
Running Length: 1:58
Cast: George Clooney, Matt Damon, Bill Murray, Cate Blanchett, John Goodman, Bob Balaban, Jean Dujardin, Hugh Bonneville, Dimitri Leonidas
Director: George Clooney

THE MONUMENTS MEN is unlike the traditional World War 2 stories where people die in the thick of combat as the battle unfolds. The narrative unfolds just after the war's great moments eg. our men arrive sometime after the bloody Normandy beach invasion. Oh, people do die in this movie but in offhand ways. The Monuments Men tells a tale of a unit of eight men consisting primarily of aging art historians and professors with a simple goal - save as much of Hitler's stolen art as possible before he burns it all to the ground. Eventhough it's based on a true story, the tone of the film is light (compared to the recent 12 Years A Slave) but the message - the horror of war - is very serious. There are a couple of very powerful and stirring moments (one of it provided by Bill Murray) but overall, the movie drags a fair bit due to several plot-related problems. Special shout out to the set pieces as it effectively captured the look of wartime Europe and also Matt Damon's character being “fluent in French”, which winds up being one of the funniest jokes in the movie. When the credits rolled, I just couldn't help but re-think my recent visit to the museums in London, Paris and Florence; where I walked past the works of Leonardo Da Vinci, Michelangelo, Manet, Rembrandt etc without taking a second look. The Monuments Men is highly recommended to filmgoers who are exposed to Renaissance art as it's both educational and inspiring entertainment.

Rating: 7/10