Archive for the ‘Mark Strong’ Category

Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy Movie Review

Posted: March 19, 2012 in Colin Firth, Focus Features, Gary Oldman, Mark Strong, Movie Review, Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy, Tomas Alfredson
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Release Date: December 9, 2011 (NY, LA; limited: December 16) 
Studio: Focus Features 
Director: Tomas Alfredson 
Screenwriter: Bridget O’Connor, Peter Straughan 
Starring: Gary Oldman, Ciaran Hinds, Colin Firth, Tom Hardy, Benedict Cumberbatch, Mark Strong, Svetlana Khodchenko 
Genre: Drama 
MPAA Rating: R (for violence, some sexuality/nudity and language) 
Official Website: TTSSmovie.com

In the middle of the 20th century, the effects of the Cold War continue to damage British internal relations.  The United Kingdom stands on the brink of loosing itself and struggles with security while attempting to stay on par with the rest of the world and their efforts in espionage.

Jim Prideaux is sent into Hungary by the Circus (Known as Control) on a secret mission.  But like all good Spy stories, the mission goes horribly wrong, and George Smiley (Played by Gary Oldman) is sent in to save the day with his keen wit and unequaled detective skills.

Much to the dismay of the British government, Smiley is secretly brought back on board with the Governments secret service unit, specifically to uncover the “mole” hidden within the ranks, endangering England by working as a double agent for the Soviet Union.  While going through the motions of his assignment, Smiley is haunted with his past and is forced to confront the details one by one.

Murders and dirty work unfold as the script progresses, certain to get your blood pumping and heart racing.  Even before the inevitable truth is unveiled, however, it’s the involvment and history of each character which truly makes this film the best of 2012.

John le Carré’s 1974 novel reeks of mistrust, twists and turns, and a plot driven by anonymity and uncertainty.  Before walking into the theatre, I never imagined that a modern-day thriller could have a script so well written that it could beat out some of the greatest films to come out in the last few decades.  No doubt, TTSS requires all of it’s viewers to pay CLOSE attention to every detail, which can be a bit trying…but the end result of all that hard thinking will result in one of the most rewarding movie going experiences in the history of independent film making.

Tomas Alfredson (a Swedish director who’s most recent accomplishment was a vampire center story titled “Let the Right One In”) took hold of an idea never meant for the big screen and completes it with flying colors.  TTSS is swarming with personality, tension, and teeth grinding moments, with a mystery that will have you guessing until the very end.  Let me be completely honest with you, I am NOT a fan of spy movies, but this film grabbed me like no other film I can remember seeing has.

From what I can tell, Alfredson had a daunting task before him.   Le Carré’s novel is far from being an EASY read, verging on being so complex that it becomes confusing.  The greatest challenge with TTSS is undoubtedly making sure everything important is included in the script.  Otherwise we, the movie goers, will have nothing to grab onto.  But even more importantly, the task of making all of that important information uncontrived and flow well is even more jolting for any director and screen writer.  How does one compress such a complex story into something tangible while keeping what made  le Carré’s book so fantastic?  What ISN’T spoken is just as imporant, (if not more important) as what IS spoken.

I think it was put best by cinematographer, Hoyte Van Hoytema, with his brief  one lined review of film,  ”It is a melancholic world set in small rooms, drenched in nicotine and bureaucratic sweat.”  Everything that this stellar cast radiates from their performance is soaked into everything surrounding them.  It’s an amazing accomplishment of cinematography, paying respect to the time period this story comes out of without sacrificing the importance of the cinematic beauty of the cities, rooms, and physical objects.

As already stated, the casting is one of the best I’ve ever seen.  I always praise the Harry Potter franchise at having one of the most expertly chosen casts in film history, but TTSS might have just beat it out.  Mark Strong presents a very strong and powerful portrayal of Jim Prideaux,even though it’s very brief. Colin Firth, as always, shows the best performance possible in a supporting actor role, with John Hurt giving us his usual (and all too familiar) role of the creepy leader of a questionable organization.

Gary Oldman, on the other hand, was amazing as he was surprising as the pick to play George Smiley.  So often do we see him playing these exceptionally animated and energized characters, it was very pleasant to see him play a character who’s quite stiff.  Oldman’s depiction of Smiley is not as the name implies; almost antisocial, tired, without the appearance of any ambition, and maintaining a grey undertone to his already faded personality. Despite these aspects to Smiley’s character, Oldman gives a certain amount of life and respect to his role, making him a joy to watch as he uncovers the mystery, piece by piece.

I won’t attempt at explaining the plot in any more detail than what’s already stated above.  To do so would take too much time and be quite cumbersome.  No doubt, however, this film is as complex as it is amazing.  Granted, it isn’t for everyone, and the reviews have shown it hasn’t been as well received as the hype was hoping for it.  But for me, it was nice to see a well written thriller that was reliant on the kind of eye covering moments found in films like Black Swan.  I could sit back and soak in every last detail as it drove my intrigued and yearning for the unveiling of the culprit.

Is Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy a movie I’ll want to own on DVD?  You bet!  Is it a film that I would recommend to all my friends?  Yes indeed!  This film represents the very best of cinema and movie going experiences.  While it may not be a movie I’ll want to watch as frequently as I do Lord of the Rings, Harry Potter, or many of the comic book films that have come out in the last 15 years, I can honestly say, without a shred of doubt in me, that this is the greatest spy movie ever made and one of the best movies I’ve ever seen in my life time.

10 out of 10 stars

John Carter Movie Review

Posted: March 17, 2012 in Andrew Stanton, Dominic West, John Carter, Lynn Collins, Mark Strong, Movie Review, Taylor Kitsch, Willem Dafoe
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Release Date: March 9, 2012 (3D/2D theaters and IMAX 3D) 
Studio: Walt Disney Pictures 
Director: Andrew Stanton 
Screenwriter: Andrew Stanton, Mark Andrews, Michael Chabon 
Starring: Taylor Kitsch, Lynn Collins, Samantha Morton, Mark Strong, Ciaran Hinds, Dominic West, James Purefoy, Daryl Sabara, Polly Walker, Bryan Cranston, Thomas Hayden Church, Willem Dafoe 
Genre: Action, Adventure, Sci-Fi 
MPAA Rating: PG-13 (for intense sequences of violence and action) 
Official Website: Disney.com/JohnCarter 

Another formulaic adventure story has hit the big screen.  Filled with familiar plot devices and character developing sequences, John Carter is no different from most steam-punk, end-of-the-world genre type movie story lines.  The difference, however, lies within the story’s originality. It was the inspiration for many sci-fi adventure stories that came after it after all, right?

The story tells of a former military captain , John Carter, (Taylor Kitsch) who’s gone off the deep end with alcohol and a criminal lifestyle.  While outrunning a pack of Indians and a Military police force, with almost no warning Carter is transported to a strange planet called Barsoom, more familiarly known to us as Mars.  Carter, soon after, finds himself in the middle a three-way war among the planets’s inhabitants.  Thus follows a series of events that allows Carter to rediscover his humanity and redefine who he is and his purpose.

Let’s not beat around the bush, this film isn’t for everyone.  Much like with John Favreau’s Cowboys and Aliens, it’s only going to attract a certain type of crowd.  And even then, not everyone going to see John Carter will enjoy it.  Its Steam-Punkish take on the mysterious world is hard to swallow for most film goers.  But if you like Star Wars, more than likely, you’re going to like John Carter.

A little too weighty for the big screen, the overall plot from the 1912 novel series does surprisingly well as an adapted screenplay.  Ironically formulaic, there’s some pleasure in knowing that this specific story laid the groundwork for many novels and films with similar desolate landscapes whose inhabitants have state-of-the-art technology.  And there’s always going to be some interest in stories that have biblical, historical, and mythological references whose author has carefully placed chronological care in the story.

Having not read the series of novels, John Carter was a delight to see!  that is due to my likes an interests, however. I pride myself on being able to recognize whether or not a movie is expertly filmed and made, whether or not I enjoyed it.  However, I found that, despite it’s formulaic script, (all too familiar to us now, but not when the novels were being published) the writing and adaptation of the novel was expertly executed and fun.  Nothing about the film felt forced in order to meet its 2 hour duration, and all of the characters, plot developments, and mythological aspects of the story fit into the limited time frame effortlessly.

When it comes to acting in these types of films, you can always count on seeing familiar faces.  It’s hard not see Mark Strong in every end of the world, steam punk adventure story as the bad guy.  Even his performance as the soon-to-be leader of the Sinestro Corps was somewhat evil and misguided.  Lynn Collins, with her gorgeous portrayal of a brilliant woman who struggles with the matriarchal society of Barsoom, shows how strong women are, most often, the best part of any sci-fi adventure story.  And the almost unrecognizable performance of Willem Dafoe as Tars Tarkas should not go unnoticed , as well as Dominic West, who can’t seem to play anything BUT seedy characters that no one likes.  But the lime light was shining brightly on Taylor Kitsch who played Jon Carter.  His performance in Wolverine as Gambit was proof enough that he can handle a comic book style film adventure.  Will Taylor now be inducted into the long list of actors and actresses that continually pop up in comic book and sci-fi related films?  Come to think of it, I think every major actor in this film has appeared in some of the major comic book films within the last 15 years.  Nicely done Andrew Stanton!

If you’re like me and enjoy the campy adventure story of John Carter, you’re going to love the action and CGI explosiveness even more.  The overall cinematography is gorgeous to look at, and the computer generated effects will make James Cameron wonder what the heck he’s doing!  But from what I could see based on the 2D version of the film, 3D can’t be THAT intense.  Go see it in 2D, it’ll be a better watch for you.

This film, without a doubt, is right up my ally; adventure, suspense, action, great writing, and a story that ‘s as weird as it is amazing, you can’t get much greater than that.  For me, I rank this film fairly high, but understand that this cinematic expedition won’t be for everyone.  So for those of you going in with low expectations, remember that even though this film may not be your cup-o-tea, there’s still quality lingering in camp.

Green Lantern Movie Review

Posted: June 21, 2011 in Blake Lively, DC Comics, DC Movies, Geoffrey Rush, Green Lantern, Mark Strong, Martin Campbell, Michael Clarke Duncan, Peter Sarsgaard, Ryan Reynolds, Tim Robbins, Warner Bros., Warner Brothers
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Release Date: June 17, 2011 (3D/2D theaters)
Studio: Warner Bros. Pictures
Director: Martin Campbell
Screenwriter: Greg Berlanti, Michael Green, Marc Guggenheim, Michael Goldenberg
Starring: Ryan Reynolds, Blake Lively, Peter Sarsgaard, Mark Strong, Angela Bassett, Tim Robbins, Temuera Morrison, Jay O. Sanders, Taika Waititi, Jon Tenney, Geoffrey Rush, Michael Clarke Duncan
Genre: Action, Adventure
MPAA Rating: PG-13 (for intense sequences of sci-fi violence and action)
Official Website: GreenLantern.com

The Concept Was Nice….

When you think back to all the comic book films that have come out within the last decade, they all put on the same façade…the difference between good and evil always seem to be questionably unclear, never leaving much room for certainty in who the bad guy and good guy is. That or the notion of good and evil is left in this grey area where only the audience knows the truth, while the movie’s characters stay ignorant.  The X-Men are hated by those they protect, Batman glides on very thin ice with his vigilante ways, Jonah Hex goes around slinging his pistol in the name of good, The Punisher takes fighting crime to a whole new violent level, and the Watchmen decide that the only way to stop nuclear war is by blowing up an entire city…I ask, when does good have no grey area?

Thanks to modern television, shows like Lost, Dexter, Battlestar Galactica, and Heroes, the critics rely on films to be so overthought and analytical that they hurt and ache to be meaningful. Martin Campbell attempts something which hasn’t been done since the first Spider-Man.  Within the Green Lantern film we find a good guy with no real tarnished past, has no extra baggage lugging behind him, is sanctioned by a legitimate and legal intergalactic police force, isn’t fighting some physcho murderous clown, and ends up being a good man defending the galaxy against terrifyingly monstrous evil.  Green Lantern on screen ended up being exactly what the comic book is, where good and evil are clearly defined and the characters within the storyline have a set and clear purpose.  Very few comic book films allow for this type of cinematic prose and I applaud such a daring move on Campbell’s part.

That Being Said…

I found myself a little underwhelmed with the entire film, as fantastic as it is.  The world of Oa took me back to my childhood when films like The Never Ending Story were hibernating in the VCR.  The Green Lantern mythos in and of itself personifies the greatest mythological aspect that defines DC Comics’ core.  But the meat that makes Green Lantern so unique and interesting was missing within this film.

The problem exists with the lack of substance and the “plotty” nature of the film’s progression.  An overabundance of character additions and plot devices make it hard for the editors to give the film a fluid two hour flow, causing the character relationships to feel forced and confusing at times. The film never stood firm on any foundation to give the story much to work with and, at times, I wondered if the film was designed to be more of a bed time story rather than an action movie because, well, I wanted to fall asleep a few times.

The film took a very strange turn somewhere in the middle of it all as Hal Jordan seemed to take a great deal of time in personal reflection and boring one on one dialog with certain characters.  But even more so, the way the film was edited made me feel like I was missing bits and pieces of the storyline in order for it to make sense.  His time on Oa was very brief, and his “training” was so short that the final climactic battle scene between him and Parallax seemed very out of place.  There wasn’t enough buildup of this concept that will is stronger than fear to make the last bit of oratory by Jordan strong enough to feel riveting, (that and Reynolds just didn’t deliver it very well) and so much of the plot relied on this touchy feely mojo crap that was way over played.  To be honest, this film’s weakest and most daunting flaw lied within the script and the editing.

The cast itself was strong.  Ryan Reynolds played a superb Hal Jordan.  I’ve always believed he’d be a fantastic Green Lantern, but the majority of film viewers out there had trouble believing that Van Wilder would pull off a successful Superhero.  Believe it everyone, Reynolds rocked it!  As for the rest of the crew, Mark Strong was the perfect choice to play Sinestro and Peter Sarsgaard freaked me out as Hector Hammond.  I could have lived without Blake Lively playing the part of Carol Ferris, but she wasn’t terrible either.  I could have believed in Angela Bassett’s Amanda Waller if the script didn’t make her out to be some push over government agent, but I certainly believed in Michael Clarke Duncan’s Kilowog.

For comic book readers such as myself, this film will satisfy that fanboyish need to see cool constructs and clever little shout outs to certain Green Lantern and DC Comics events that have already happened.  But even with that, the film itself doesn’t provide enough excitement and made me very groggy-eyed in the process.  With that being said, it’s only going to be worse for the non-comic book reader.  I guess this goes to show that certain superheroes need to remain in the comic and never transcend onto the big screen.  The story itself is, a stated, a simple one and very much a traditional superhero story.  But the potential of this film was shot down the tube when all is said and done and delivered a film very unworthy of one of DC’s most compelling and exciting superheroes.

4 out of 10 stars