Transcendence - Half Baked Cautionary Tale

Transcendence is a science fiction cautionary tale from first time director Wally Pfister. It tells the story of Doctors Will and Evelyn Caster, played by Johnny Depp and Rebecca Hall, who are pioneers in the artificial intelligence field with a particular passion for creating one that is fully sentient. After Will is fatally poisoned by a rogue anti technology terrorist group, Evelyn makes the irresponsible decision to upload her husbands consciousness and thereby makes him a self aware intelligence system who is now omniscient throughout the internet and soon the world.

A cautionary tale of the risks that follow when human beings decide to play God is meant to be fascinating and raise intriguing questions that an audience can wrestle with; however Transcendence has a tragic weakness when the film fails to take a strong stance on what it actually thinks about the topic. At moments, Dr Will Caster's consciousness is making a positive difference and developing methods that can save ailing humans and the Earth itself. There is never a moment in the film when the audience is filled with real dread or concern at the thought that this advanced intelligence system will spiral out of control and hurt the human race. Nor are the human "antagonists" so unreasonable that they prove the the necessary of the intelligence system.

This issue is further perpetuated by the lack of development for the main character of Evelyn Caster, who has so many opinions and ideas at the beginning of the film but is rendered a useless puppet once her husband dies and she's moved like a plot pawn instead of an active character contributing to the story. The same can be said of supporting actors Paul Bettany and Morgan Freeman whose talents are reduced to lines of exposition.

While it's a pleasure to watch a science fiction film that tries to tackle an issue that is quite relevant in our technology obsessed culture, it is ultimately unfortunate when a plot about sentient intelligence fails to express its ideas clearly and ironically lacks the necessary self awareness. (C-)

Bad Words - Story without Root

Bad Words is a black comedy and the first film director credit for Jason Bateman. It opens on the unpopular Guy Trilby, a grown man who has just qualified for a national spelling bee by using a loophole in the registration rules. Hated by all adults, Guy's motivations are a mystery as a local reporter (and casual love interest) played by Kathryn Hahn follows him across the country to chronicle the competition and to also find the motivations behind his bizarre behaviour. 

Things start dark and there are many laughs throughout but the story loses its punch when Guy is befriended by Chaitanya, one of the fellow spellers played by the talented and adorable Rohan Chand. This friendship, while more one sided and often cruel, ends up softening the tone of the film.

Jason Bateman carries the film as the lead and directs competently, however Bad Words is not as black as it tries to be and the story, while intriguing at first, doesn't completely carry through all the way to the end. (C)

Noah - A Sinking Ship

Noah (2014)

Noah (according to Moses) tells the story of a man, husband, and father, who due to his holy life, gains favour with his creator. Through a dream, it is revealed that God, fed up with mankind's wicked ways, has decided a great flood will wipe humans from the face of the Earth. Noah is tasked with building a great ark and starting over with his family and a male and female of every living animal. Noah, according to Darren Aronofsky and Paramount Pictures, is the latest in what will be a string of many grand scale films based on biblical stories.

Aronofsky and studio executives unfortunately struggled with using the simple story laid out above and decided to weigh down the plot with extraneous side stories that turn this apocalyptic tale into an obligatory blockbuster. From teenage tantrums of not being able to find a spouse in time, to Noah turning into a deluded psychopath considering infanticide, to a more than contrite final showdown between Noah and the leader of a small tribe. While dedicating screen time to these mini conflicts, we eventually lose the humanity behind what is meant to be the end of the world and therefore lack emotional investment when all is eventually lost and then found again.

Russell Crowe does do justice portraying the reluctant titular hero and gracefully transitions from environmentalist to tyrannical ship captain to doubting man whose heart wrenching struggles go unanswered by a God who has gone silent. Crowe's acting ability is one of the only things that makes Noah remotely watchable for all its 138 minutes. One thing also worth mentioning, is the films beautiful visual effects, some that bring about awe inspiring images from stony fallen angels, to the massive deluge from first drop to global wasteland, and finally the most stunning representation of the creation story that I've ever seen.

We live in a time where technological advancements will allow us to imagine and portray the imaginative stories of the Bible but this cannot be the only focus of these films. Unfortunately for Noah, the visuals, while gorgeously executed, and the competent acting were not enough to float this drowning drama. (C-)

Captain America: The Winter Soldier - A Mighty Marvel

Captain America: The Winter Solider is the latest in the single hero installments of the Marvel super heroes franchise. After the less than stellar showings of Iron Man 3 and Thor: The Dark World, my thoughts for The Winter Soldier were less than optimistic. However, directors Anthony and Joe Russo have managed to shift Steve Rogers from a less than interesting human Popsicle and transform him into a mature and moodier presence that shifts the series in a more serious tone.

Chris Evans and Scarlett Johannsen's subtle performances help develop their characters into more than the two dimensional one liner suppliers that we were previously used to, however they are helped by Anthony Mackie and Sebastian Stan who hold their own as supporting characters the Falcon and Winter Soldier. This sequel also pleases audiences with some very intriguing new world order espionage plot full of backstabbing, assassination attempts, and enemies hidden in every corner.
What's most impressive about The Winter Soldier is the technical levels director brothers Anthony and Joe Russo elevate the film to. Well cut scenes from hand to hand combats to wide sweeping VFX driven sequences that put some other Marvel films to shame.

Overall, there were a few moments that could have been left on the cutting room floor and one does have to get past the fact that a simple text to some super friends would have expedited the solving of this epic crisis, however Captain America: The Winter Soldier is a visual treat that is sure to dazzle young and older fans alike- definitely worth a trip to the theatres. (B+)

Jack the Giant Slayer- Fun Folktale

Jack the Giant Slayer is a fantasy action adventure from director Bryan Singer, which features Nicholas Hoult as Jack, the plucky protagonist who unwittingly participates in an evil plot to bring about a reunion of war between mankind and the resentful giants who live between Heaven and Earth- and at the same time must rescue the Princess in distress, who he happens to be in love with.

The story is simple and the stakes are high: save the Princess and stop the giants or all is lost. Bryan Singer, along with his talented cast, competently takes the audience on a whirlwind adventure filled with laughter, scares, thrills, the ever handsome Ewan McGregor, and most of all FUN.

Not the most artfully made film and certainly won't be in an Oscar pool any time soon, but it was definitely a pleasure to sit back, relax, and be taken on this adventure.

Django Unchained- Freedom Reigns

Django Unchained is the highly charged exploitation film from director Quentin Tarantino, starring Jamie Fox, Christoph Waltz, and Leonardo DiCaprio, which pays homage to the 1966 Italian spaghetti western with the same named protagonist. Tarantino, fearlessly and unapologetic, paints a controversial time in American history to portray a heart wrenching and graphic revenge story fueled by true love while testifying to the endurance of the human spirit in the most dire of circumstances.

Tarantino takes the traditional heroes journey and sets it against a time that not many directors are willing to tackle, especially when including moments of African American slavery rife with humor and purely exploitative and often gratuitous violence. But it is all in good faith as the viewer trusts the director and actors' nervy head first dive into a project that oozes with passion.

The landscapes are beautiful, direction is motivated and stunning, the soundtrack is sublime, Christoph Waltz is a shoe in for another Oscar nomination but he'll have to wrestle Leonardo DiCaprio for the win as his portrayal of the evil plantation owner Monsieur Candie still gives me heart palpitations.

What a treat to watch a film unafraid of offending and is quite frankly one of the best of 2012 and is a project I think Quentin Tarantino should be very proud of.

Cloud Atlas- One Drop That Ripples

Cloud Atlas is the ambitious Wachowski siblings (writers of The Matrix Trilogy and V For Vendetta) film, adapted from the brilliant science fiction novel written by David Mitchell. The story travels through the intimate lives of seven seeming individuals whose journey's inevitably connect and intertwine over the span of almost 2000 years.

The movie is beautiful but the real gift that comes from this film are the actors' natural abilities (with the aid makeup and prosthetics) to take on the characters they represent in each of the separate seven stories that eventually stream together as one. The other treat is the masterful editing skills of Alexander Berner who constantly cuts between the separate story lines yet naturally brings them together as one cohesive thought that impels an audience to follow along.

Everything is connected. We are all one and even the smallest drop in an ocean significantly contributes to that ocean- thoughts we've heard before but Cloud Atlas and the Wachowski's effortlessly drive this theme home through this creative and ambitious film adaptation.

The scope of their vision is to be admired and Cloud Atlas is a must see for science fiction fans who love the journey just as much as the destination.