Ohai there!
First off, I would like to congratulate Roseanne on being the only one who correctly guessed the answer to yesterday's riddle: the man built the road! Did you know that construction is one of the dwarves main industries?! But I digress...
I have become drunk with power recently after purchasing a gold card at Mareel. After exactly a week of use, I have been to see (in chronological order) 'To Rome With Love', 'Skyfall', 'The Shining', 'Untouchable' and 'Looper'. That's this month's money paid back anyhoo! It is the last two films I would like to talk a little about now.
It appears I may just be plain drunk after comparing the general critical reaction to 'Untouchable' and 'Looper' to my own opinion of the films.
What I found one of the most charming films of the year, The Independent described "as a third-rate buddy movie that hardly understands its own condescension". Living up to its heart-warming reputation, it's as predictable as all hell, but my god is it good fun. It appears the french have found their comedic niche - the darker the comedy is, the more hysterically I laughed. What it managed to do was find the light in dark situations, as is appropriate when the film's subjects are a paraplegic and a ghetto-bound man from a broken home.
It hit every beat you would expect from a fish-out-of-water story, but it wasn't about the plot. The narrative acts only as a loose structure on which to hang surprisingly involving character moments and winking juvenile comedy. I would recommend you all nip out and catch it where you can (its on in Mareel until Thursday), and hopefully you'll leave the cinema with as big a smile as I did.
'Looper', however, was about the plot, which there is nothing inherently wrong with. And it is a clever clever film with a clever clever premise. As I was watching it, I was wondering why I wasn't enjoying myself as my much as my (admittedly sky high) expectations predicated. I think it hit me when Joseph Gordon-Levitt reached the farm...
I love 'Inception'. And while I managed to avoid I direct comparison while I was watching it, it was clearly the same formula - interesting sci-fi concept, grounded in emotional character motivation/background and blistering action set-pieces. While I thought the sci-fi worked, and the action was fine, it not gripping, the whole thing felt hollow to me. I was constantly aware of how clever the film was being, which is a kind of back-handed compliment.
It may just be my seemingly baseless dislike of Bruce Willis, or it may be the fact it seemed like JGL (whom I continue to love) was attempting to play Joe similar to how Ryan Gosling played his character in 'Drive', but not quite pulling it off. He is suave, but ultimately came off as cold to me, failing to make the character endearing. Leaving me (dare I say it) actually quite bored.
It was a gorgeous looking film, with many admirable qualities, and though some questionable choices were made (Bruce finding **** so he can ***** them, DEMON CHILD!) it was not a film I regret going to see. I just wouldn't go again.
So, have you seen either of the films? Tell me what you think about them and my reaction.
Tara! x
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