DEEPWATER HORIZON (2016)

Genre: Drama / Adventure
Running Length: 1:47
Cast: Mark Wahlberg, Kurt Russell, Gina Rodriguez, Dylan O’Brien, John Malkovich, Kate Hudson
Director: Peter Berg
Screenplay: Matthew Michael Carnahan and Matthew Sand, based on the article by David Rohde and Stephanie Saul

Rarely can I use "engaging" and "educational" to describe a movie but DEEPWATER HORIZON did exactly that for me. Probably due to my ignorance, I was aware of this true event but I didn't really know much about it. Dubbed as "the worst environmental disaster in American history", this movie reenacts the explosion on the BP Deep Horizon oil rig off the coast of New Orleans in April 2010.

As a result of that, 11 workers were killed and millions of barrels of crude oil were released into the Gulf of Mexico. The oil from the sea-floor gushed out and flowed for 87 days, until it was capped on July 15, 2010. I read a recent report that this deadly spill (even after more than 6 years) may not have fully "cleared up" yet and may have caused a permanent damage to the Gulf's marshes.

Although this movie is based on true events, the narrative is structured more like a disaster movie where the focus is more on the the heroism of ordinary people; very much like the recent Sully (which is still showing in the cinemas). The characters are all well established right at the start of the film.   

What I like about this movie is the build up to the destruction of the oil rig. Symbolism, choice of words, aptly used of sounds and score, and clever scenes such as the young daughter of our protagonist (played by Wahlberg) explaining the principal behind oil drilling using a can of soda - gives the movie a foreboding atmosphere. So much so when the actual explosion took place, I literally said out loud, "Oh Shit!".

If there is a downside to this movie, it is the events that followed after the explosion. There is surprisingly little suspense as characters try to escape from all the fire and carnage. And the demonization of BP in the form of John Malkovich is a little overdone. But thankfully, Malkovich's character is nicely balanced out by Russell's character as the noble captain while the rest of the cast are equally solid.

I urge you not to walk out from the cinema as soon as the movie ends because there is a dignified and fitting tribute to the 11 workers.

Rating: 8/10

127 HOURS (2010)

Genre: Thriller
Running Length: 1:34
Cast: James Franco
Director: Danny Boyle

Finally dared myself to watch 127 HOURS and it wasn't all that gruesome. Maybe it's because there was an anticipation of THE scene so it didn't come as a shock. Needless to say, that scene is difficult to watch as the camera doesn't shy away from our protagonist as he "gave away" his right arm for a chance at survival. It's a bloody and unpleasant experience. For the uninitiated, 127 Hours is a true story of 27 years old Aaron Ralston (James Franco) adventure into Utah's Blue John Canyon. A terrible mishap happened during one of his venture that resulted him being trapped between a rock and a hard place literally (his right arm was crushed between a boulder and a tunnel wall. The ordeal lasted over 5 days). The highlight of the film was not the "his will to live" story because it didn't generate any level of tension and intensity which I was expecting. Instead, I was more fascinated with the form the film makers employed to tell the story. For example, to introduce our main character as a live for the moment person, the director employed multiple angle shots of the same scene presented across three panels, turned up the colour and brightness of the landscape shots and layered it with a throbbing score. As a result, there was so much manic energy I couldn't peel my eyes away from the screen. I'm impressed that the same crew behind Slumdog Millionaire is responsible for 127 Hours as it bears little resemblance to one another. It's a testimony to the talents of these creative folks. James Franco to my opinion was effective but not outstanding. He didn't make me care for him as he transformed from a cocky and selfish person to a grateful and appreciative individual.

Rating: 6.5/10

THE BUTLER (2013)

Genre: Drama
Running Length: 2:07
Cast: Forest Whitaker, Oprah Winfrey, David Oyelowo, Terrence Howard, Cuba Gooding Jr., Lenny Kravitz
Director: Lee Daniels

LEE DANIELS' THE BUTLER is too ambitious for its own good. It tries too hard to tell a tale of the Civil Rights movement in America (60s - 80s) from the perspective of Cecil Gaines, a White House butler who served under eight presidents. The movie is based on the real-life events within the White House during the tenure of Eugene Allen, THE actual butler. The irony is that the White House scenes are among the least effective as viewers will be distracted by famous big name actors playing the different presidents. It just doesn't work. The movie shines when it focuses on the relationship (or the lack of) between Cecil and his eldest son Louis where both have a divergent perspective on the "rights" of a black man in America. One believes the way to advance in life is to be hard-working, non-confrontational and quietly blends in while the other prefers to take a stand, be heard and be seen. Forest Whitaker as Cecil is effective and his portrayal of the butler's later years is the most convincing. For non-Americans (and the uninitiated like myself), this movie will provide a good introduction to the struggles of a black American living in the 60s to 80s where viewers will be given a fast track history lesson on who's who and what's what such as Martin Luther King Jr, Freedom Ride, KKK, Malcolm X, Black Panther party etc.

Rating 6/10

DALLAS BUYERS CLUB (2013)

 

Genre: Drama
Running Length: 1:58
Cast: Matthew McConaughey, Jared Leto, Jennifer Garner
Director: Jean-Marc Vallee

In many ways, DALLAS BUYERS CLUB is all about Matthew McConaughey's eye-opening performance. I will reserve my opinion on whether or not he deserved the Best Actor nod for this film but what I would like to highlight is his transformation from former leading romantic lead to a dramatic actor. After taking a hiatus from film-making three years ago, McConaughey made an important decision to rebrand himself by breaking away from romantic comedies in favour of dramatic roles in several independent films. He was relentless in this pursuit (including his Christian Bale/The Machinist-style physical transformation in this movie) and as a result, earned himself a well deserved Oscar. There's a lesson here, folks. One of the most compelling aspect of Dallas Buyers Club comes from watching McConaughey's character develops from a macho redneck into someone who shows respect for gay men and women, and from a bum into a person who takes charge of his life. McConaughey is supported by Jared Leto, whose portrayal of a transvestite is effective. Another thing the movie successfully accomplishes is to recreate the AIDS-related paranoia climate of the mid-to-late 1980s. A secondary plot of the film revolves around the allegation of the US government "collaborating" with Big Evil Pharmaceutical Companies on which drugs to approve for the treatment of AIDS. The movie does what it sets out to do by providing a story of the journey of a broken character and offering a history lesson about AIDS sufferers during the dark ages of the 1980s.

Rating: 6.5/10

RUSH (2013)

Genre: Drama
Running Length: 2:03
Cast: Chris Hemsworth, Daniel Bruhl, Olivia Wilde, Alexandra Maria Lara
Director: Ron Howard

Ron Howard'a RUSH is a very different kind of sports movie. The ones I have been exposed to are usually about the underdog going against all odds to beat the giants and wins the championship in the end. The "good guy" and "bad guy" are clearly defined. I love those movies so I was pleasantly surprised that I actually enjoyed this movie - a true story which presents a balanced view of the rivalry between two race car drivers in Formula One racing, an inherently non-cinematic sport. The movie's strength lies in the character study of the two drivers (James Hunt vs Niki Lauda), the forces that motivate them and the mutual love/hate for each other. Oh, it's not all serious drama as it balances out with plenty of tension in the racing sequences especially the rainy finale in Japan (probably fuelled by Hans Zimmer's booming score). Ron Howard's filming approach is very different from his previous movies; it's actually "refreshing" although the film is set in the 1970s. The details given to that period is impeccable especially the recreation of the 1976 Formula One season. It also educates the viewers of the dangers of F1 racing circa 70s/early 80s. There are many personal leadership lessons one can learn from the two characters but the biggest lesson I walked away from this film - although we know that the majority of the time the race of life is against ourselves, sometimes we need a challenger to push one another to the glorious finishing line.

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

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