FORD V FERRARI

Release Date: Malaysia, 14 Nov 2019

Genre: Drama

Running Length: 2:32

Cast: Matt Damon, Christian Bale, Jon Bernthal, Caitriona Balfe, Tracy Letts, Josh Lucas, Noah Jupe

Director: James Mangold

Screenplay: Jez Butterworth & John-Henry Butterworth and Jason Keller

Do not be put off by the average looking trailer. When I first saw it, it looked uninteresting. But thanks to some positive reviews and buzz worthy word-of-mouth, I'm glad I checked it out. FORD V FERRARI is anything but boring!

This movie is probably the most entertaining feel-good movie of the year for me. And this is coming from someone who has zero interest in cars. Why I really enjoyed this film:

• It has all the beats of a good sports movie; the underdog, the washed up coach, the training montage, the competition, the tension, the victory. 
• Excellent chemistry between movie stars Damon and Bale. It's their "bromance" that makes this movie rise up above the other movies from the same genre. (Side note: This seems to be the year where star-driven movies are making a comeback vs superhero action genre. Case in point; Once Upon A Time in Hollywood)
• The races are beautifully shot. It's not confusing and you can easily make out who's leading the track and who's lacking behind. The race scenes feel real and dangerous, with death a high possibility. Apparently, no CGI was used for the racing scenes. The energetic and pulsating score also added to the intensity of these "action" pieces. 
• The father (Bale) and son (Jupe) relationship here is touching.
• The filmmakers take on who's the true villain (and it's not Ferrari).  

Overall, Ford v Ferrari isn’t necessarily a ground breaking movie, but it’s a solid entertaining blockbuster driven by human drama.

RATING: 9/10

JASON BOURNE (2016)

Genre: Thriller / Action
Running Length: 2:03
Cast: Matt Damon, Tommy Lee Jones, Alicia Vikander, Vincent Cassel, Julia Stiles, Riz Ahmed
Director: Paul Greengrass
Screenplay: Paul Greengrass & Christopher Rouse

Despite the rinsing and repeating elements from the trilogy, JASON BOURNE still feels fresh. It's all there, exactly like how Honest Trailers - The Bourne Trilogy pointed out. That said, one doesn't go into a Bourne movie expecting an intellectually stimulating experience. The series' only has one goal; to keep the audience gasping for breath from get go with Greengrass' frenetic camerawork.

And this installment probably offers the best of such relentless intensity in the series. The action set pieces are not mindless (meaning: predictable and boring) but it's choreographed and edited in such a a way that it amps up the tension. The best of which comes near the end; an exhilarating car chase that actually feels real and dangerous.

As for the plot, the Snowden and social media backdrop are introduced in this film to give it a bit more relevance to today's context but like I mentioned, it's pretty much the same - the CIA hunting down Jason Bourne.

As for the supporting cast, they all do a fine job. Jones,Vikander and Cassel are all serviceable. But man...Matt Damon IS Jason <expletive> Bourne. Eventhough this outing is clearly financially motivated, I'm glad the filmmakers still put in a lot of heart and more importantly, Damon didn't phone-in his performance (*cough* Bruce Willis *cough* Die Hard series).

I'm definitely looking forward for more of Damon/Bourne walking away to Moby's Extreme Ways in the closing credits.

Rating: 7.5/10

THE MARTIAN (2015)

Genre: Science Fiction
Running Length: 2:21
Cast: Matt Damon, Jessica Chastain, Michael Pena, Kate Mara, Sebastian Stan, Aksel Hennie, Jeff Daniels, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Kristin Wiig, Sean Bean

Director: Ridley Scott
Screenplay: Drew Goddard, based on the novel by Andy Weir

"You solve one problem and then the next. You solve enough problems and you get to come home." Mark Watney

THE MARTIAN is probably one of the most accessible films from Ridley Scott since Gladiator. This is Castaway for today's generation; where Damon's character spends the majority of his time talking to an "audience" aka. video blogging rather than talking to himself. And his best friend is Wilson the GoPro camera (several of them actually).

The science and maths in this film is easier to follow compared to Nolan's Interstellar. Apparently it was even fact-checked by NASA. The plot is easy to follow too. Damon's character is an astronaut where he was left behind on planet Mars by his fellow crew mates due to a freak storm. They presumed he was dead. So our protagonist must use his smarts to find a way to survive on the red planet until he is possibly rescued - several years away.

Although the narrative sounds depressing, the film's tone is actually pretty positive and upbeat. Eventhough the subject matter is serious, the film is approachable thanks to several light hearted moments peppered with appropriate low-key comedy. Also, it has a good balance of how Damon's character tackles both his physical limitations and psychological challenges. So, it's not emo all the way. From the trailers, audience may think that they are in for a boring time, seeing one man going up against one complication after another but it's actually more than that. There are several stories unfolding at the very same time but shares the same mission - to bring our astronaut back home safely, thus making this an interesting watch as we witness brilliant minds around the world coordinating and working together.

As good as Matt Damon is as our everyday hero, he is no Tom Hanks. Nevertheless, his performance here is arguably one of the best in his career. The supporting cast (with very big names) is equally impressive.

I'm glad the filmmakers use practical effects to enhance the look and feel, rather than hardcore CGI. Also, the smart editing coupled with an inspired choice of disco music gives the film a good pacing. Although the ending is a little too over-the-top (and the plot involving the Chinese government seemed forced and out of place), The Martian is still a feel-good cinematic experience.

Rating: 8.5/10

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