Daybreakers (2009)Directed by Michael Spierig & Peter Spierig
Length: 98 minutes
Rated R for strong bloody violence, language, and brief nudity
Lately, it has been near impossible to escape the vampire craze created by the awful Twilight saga (let's be for real, those are not vampires). With the success of Edward and Bella's struggle for love, vampires have invaded every facet of our lives, from television series like True Blood and The Vampire Diaries, to musical acts like Vampire Weekend (who have nothing to do with vampires, actually), and movies such as this 2009 horror/sci-fi gem. Forgetting the "romantic" side of vampires and focusing on the primal thirst for blood, Daybreakers is a fresh and original take on one tired genre.
In the not too distant future of 2019, a virus has transformed almost the entire world population into vampires. Save for a few "wild" humans, most are captured and farmed for their blood like cattle. But with the human population dwindling and no suitable blood substitute available, the vampire population has begun to regress into a subspecies that resembles the man-bat form Dracula took in Francis Ford Coppola's 1992 interpretation (click here for a sample). Ethan Hawke (Brooklyn's Finest, Tonight at Noon) plays Edward Dalton, a vampiric blood specialist seeking to develop the blood substitute. Upon meeting some humans, Edward is taken to meet Lionel "Elvis" Cormac, played by Willem Dafoe (Fantastic Mr. Fox, Miral) a former vampire reborn human who holds the key to curing the vampire virus. Now it is up to Edward and Elvis to help stop the vampire population from wiping the humans out for good.
While my description of the story may seem a bit ridiculous, I found it to be a nice alternative to the vampire origin story. Daybreakers does a nice job of introducing the scenario and the impact the virus has had on everyday life for the world's population. In fact, the best aspect of the film is the attention to detail - you won't find vampires that twinkle in the daylight in this film. From cars with daylight driving mode, to no images in the mirror, this truly feels like a real vampire movie. Though the film is definitely more science fiction than horror, there are a few good scare moments to make you jump. As if the plot and details weren't enough to cement the fact this isn't Twilight, than seeing a human being ripped apart by a squad of vampire soldiers will surely change that for you.
The acting isn't anything special, but that is to be expected with most horror/science fiction films. Everyone does a respectable job fulfilling their role and conveying the story. The background and scenery is what truly sets the film apart from most other substandard films. The futuristic setting is the right level of geek without taking away from the story at hand. Daybreakers isn't the best film in its genre much less the best vampire movie ever, but it is a nice take on a stale genre that needed some fresh blood. Give it a taste!
Final Rating: 3 out of 5 stars
Favorite Quote:
Edward Dalton: "Is this place safe?"
Elvis: "Living in a world where vampires are the dominant species is about as safe as bare backing a $5 whore."
Iron Man 2 (2010)
Directed by Jon Favreau
Length: 124 minutes
Rated PG-13 for sequences of intense sci-fi action and violence, and some language
Of all the superheroes in existence, Iron Man is without a doubt my personal favorite. I've never liked Superman, Batman is cool but a little moody, Spider-man has some awesome powers and even cooler villains but again a little emo, etc. Tony Stark aka Iron Man is just a cool guy - a billionaire playboy that boast an MIT education. Yet he also exhibits everyman problems like narcissism, alcoholism, and general disregard for others, creating the perfect blend of hero and antihero. While most traditional comic book heroes struggle to conceal their secret lives, Tony Stark's metallic alias is known to the world, presenting problems concerning fame, notoriety, government intervention, and expectations on not only the hero but the man acting as the hero. While Iron Man 2 can never be considered the cinematic masterpiece that The Dark Knight is, it is a awesome ride with an nontraditional hero that certainly fulfills its obligation to entertain the audience.
Picking up where the 2008 original left off, Iron Man 2 finds Tony Stark, portrayed to perfection by the amazing Robert Downey, Jr. (Sherlock Holmes, Due Date), struggling to balance his multinational corporation, superhero alter-ego, personal life, and friendship. Complicated by the fact that the arc reactor keeping him alive is also slowly killing him, Tony begins to crumble under the pressures of the media and government and sinks deeper into an alcohol induced hazed. As if the personal demons were not enough, the vengeful Ivan Vanko aka Whiplash, Mickey Rourke (13, The Expendables) with a Russian accent, and industry competitor Justin Hammer, the neurotic Sam Rockwell (Moon, Betty Anne Waters), are out to ruin the Stark empire.
Put simply, there is a lot going on in Iron Man 2. Multiple plot threads and movie tie-ins aside, director Jon Favreau does a good job of keeping the pace quick but allowing enough plot development to avoid feeling too much like a cliched action movie. As I stated previously, without Robert Downey, Jr., this film does not work: he brings the character of Tony Stark to life just as Stan Lee imagined so many years ago hitting the right amount of charm, impulsiveness, and self-destruction that make Iron Man such a great character. Additionally, replacing Don Cheadle (Brooklyn's Finest, The Guard) as Lt. Col. James Rhodes aka War Machine for Terrence Howard worked out well. Cheadle, an accomplished actor capable of performing in a plethora of roles, does a good job of matching Downey, Jr.'s strong personality. When Tony is on screen, it is easy for the characters around him to quickly find themselves drowned out due to his impetuous nature, but Cheadle is able to keep his character relevant.
One of the coolest aspect of Iron Man 2, as was the case in the first, is the technology utilized by Tony. Virtual computing, robots with emotions, a talking AI...Jesus I want his tech! While Bruce Wayne may be able to match Tony Stark in terms of bank account and gadgets, Tony wins every time in terms of coolness and wow factor. Speaking of Bruce Wayne, inevitably this film, like all future comic book films, will be compared to The Dark Knight. However, one should remember that Christopher Nolan's 2008 masterpiece is a once-in-a-lifetime type of film, closer in nature to The Godfather and other serious crime dramas than its superhero brethren. So while Batman may win the awards, Iron Man knows what it is and does a damn good job doing it.
Will Iron Man 2 win an Oscar? Unless its for visuals, sound, etc. than the answer is likely no. But Favreau continues to blend enough drama with a lot of kick-ass to create a incredibly fun and enjoyable film. It may be cheesy, but this movie just makes you smile. The charm and witty dialogue capture the essence of a superhero unlike any other. Definitely make sure you check this one out in theaters in order to truly enjoy the great action sequences (even better if in IMAX). So cue the AC/DC and enjoy the thrilling ride.
Final Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
Favorite Quote:
Justin Hammer: "Ms. Everhart is doing a spread on me for her magazine."
Tony Stark: "Ms. Everhart did a spread on me last year...and an article."
Oscar Nominations:
Best Achievement in Visual Effects
Brothers (2009)
Directed by Jim Sheridan
Length: 105 minutes
Rated R for language and some disturbing violent content
War, set in any time period, is always a tricky subject to tackle on the big screen; one could argue that the more modern wars (i.e. Vietnam, Iraq, Afghanistan) are the most difficult to portray due to their "nontraditional" nature. Known more for the psychological trauma suffered by American troops, modern war films often deal with the side-effects of war on a soldier and less on the actual battles. Brothers continues with this trend, depicting the trouble troops can have in re-acclimating to life at home after war.
Toby Maguire (Spider-Man 3, The Details) plays Capt. Sam Cahill, an all-around good family man and soldier preparing to leave for Afghanistan, leaving behind his beautiful wife Grace, played by the always lovely Natalie Portman (Hesher, Thor), and his screw-up brother Tommy, played by Jake Gyllenhaal (Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time, Nailed). When Sam's helicopter is shot down, he is presumed dead, forcing his family to move on with their lives. With the news of Sam's death, Tommy soon takes on the responsibility of helping Sam's family. However, Sam has actually been captured by an Afghani rebel force, who torture him in hopes of getting Sam to renounce the American freedom effort. When Sam is finally rescued and returned home, the struggles of a soldier returning from war becomes the focus of the film.
Initially, Brothers drew heavy Oscar buzz; considering its star cast and subject matter, it isn't hard to understand why. However, the movie falls a bit short of these expectations. While the three main actors all do a respectable job, the movie is essentially confined to one truly dramatic and powerful scene; unfortunately, it is at the end of the movie, leaving the film feeling a little dragged out and long. Of the three, Toby Maguire is certainly best as the tortured soldier haunted by the demons of war. While I would not say his performance is memorable or award-worthy, it certainly adds weight to the more emotionally charged moments.
Though the film deals with a disturbing topic, Brothers remains tasteful yet capable of conveying the gravity of Sam's captivity. Torture is never an enjoyable experience to watch in films, but the scenes in this particular case are a little flat. While they are disturbing, it certainly falls under the "tame" category; I can think of many more cringe-inducing/powerful scenes from films (such as Syriana) that do a better job of conveying the hopelessness and sense of peril of the victim.
Though initially heavily hyped, Brothers falls in that middle category that most movies so often do. It certainly isn't terrible, but I wouldn't call it a winner either. One movie with three truly talented performers is a rare find. You may not wind up putting it on your top movies list, but there are far worse things to spend your time on than Brothers. Ultimately, I recommend a rental if you are looking for a decent drama one evening.
Final Rating: 3 out of 5 stars
Favorite Quote: eh...not really any "light" lines
The Imaginarium of Dr. Parnassus (2009)Directed by Terry Gilliam
Length: 123 minutes
Rated PG-13 for violent images, some sensuality, language and smoking
When eating a fine piece of meat, you are often encouraged to slowly chew and savor the experience, letting your pallet absorb and savor the tastes and textures. However, we typically just gobble what is in front of us and move on to the next thing. Movies, like a fine piece of meat, are similar: some can be easily devoured allowing you to instantly form an opinion. Others, such as Terry Gilliam's latest, require a bit of chewing. While the film will more famously be known as Heath Ledger's last, there is an interesting, weird, and almost absurd charm to this marbling.
In my best attempt at summarizing the premise, The Imaginarium of Dr. Parnassus follows a traveling sideshow that allows you to enter the imagination of the film's namesake. However, we soon learn that the real reason Dr. Parnassus, played by Hollywood vet Christopher Plummer (Up, The Last Station), is seeking adventurous patrons has nothing to do with money, but something much more valuable - souls. Over many centuries, the immortal Dr. Parnassus and Mr. Nick aka the Devil, played by none other than Tom Waits (The Book of Eli), have competed on several occasions to see who could collect the most souls. But the traditional carnival sideshow act has lost its luster on today's cynical youth, leading to an ineffectual and ridiculed show. All of this changes when Parnassus and his crew find young Tony, initially played by Heath Ledger (The Dark Knight). With the help of the young and charming Tony, Parnassus is soon able to start collecting souls again; but Tony has a secret that threatens to cost the good doctor the prize at hand in his wager with the devil - his daughter.
Yes, the movie is as ridiculous as the plot; in fact, I cannot even begin to describe the ridiculousness. Inside the imagination of Dr. Parnassus, we find a colorful world of unimaginable possibilities - it's like one giant acid trip mixed with Sergeant Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band. Only adding to the madness is the change in appearance of Tony. With the death of Ledger during production, director Terry Gilliam was forced to rework the script in order to finish the movie. This led to the casting of Johnny Depp (Alice in Wonderland, The Rum Diary), Jude Law (Repo Men, Contagion), and Colin Farrell (Ondine, Crazy Heart) as alternate versions of Tony found within the imagination of Dr. Parnassus. While it may sound confusing, it actually comes off quite nicely and flows well.
Let's just be frank about it, Terry Gilliam is one weird dude. Everything he has ever done or been involved in just takes the level of weirdness higher every time. From his background as a member of the Monty Python troop, to his films like Brazil and 12 Monkeys, Gilliam definitely knows how to make you say "huh?". This film certainly isn't for the casual movie fan - I dare say many of you will probably feel slighted if you were to watch this. Though many will be drawn by the prospect of Heath Ledger's last film, you'd be better off savoring his sublime performance in The Dark Knight. But if you are looking for a good film to enjoy, say recreational activities with, than look no further than The Imaginarium of Dr. Parnassus.
Final Rating: 2 out of 5 stars
Favorite Quote:
Dr. Parnassus: "Percy, what would I do without you?"
Percy: "Get a midget."
Oscar Nominations:
Best Achievement in Art Direction
Best Achievement in Costume Design
