Wednesday, March 27, 2013

"The Call": Surprisingly Good Thriller


Last night I went to see the suspense/thriller, “The Call”, which starred Halle Berry and Abigail Breslin.  It was directed by Brad Anderson, and a lot of reviewers pronounced it to be high-concept.  The film follows Jordan Turner (Halle Berry), who is a 911 operator.  On one of her shifts, she receives a call from a frantic teenage girl whose house has been invaded by a serial killer.  Jordan's clever instructions allow Leah to escape the killer, but when the call disconnects, Jordan redials the number which alerts the killer.  This mistake costs the girls life, and she is found dead several days later.  After this traumatic event, Jordan explains to her boyfriend that she can no longer field 911 calls.

Six months later, Jordan is now a trainer for 911 operations.  This is when a rookie operator receives a call from teenager, Casey Welson (Abigail Breslin).  She was kidnapped in a mall parking lot and shoved into the trunk of a car.  Casey is obviously distraught and fearing her impending murder.  The rookie operator is inexperienced and clearly cannot handle the situation, so this is when Jordan takes over the call.  Jordan soon realizes through the call that the man who kidnapped Casey, is the same man who murdered the other girl 6 months prior.  Jordan is forced to confront the killer from her past in order to save Casey’s life. 

“The Call” was expected to earn about $11-12 million on its opening weekend, but surpassed this by a significant margin and grossed $17 million in its first three days.  The Call” has received mixed reviews from critics, as it currently holds a 40% rating on Rotten Tomatoes based on 81 reviews with the consensus: "The Call builds plenty of suspense before taking a problematic turn in the third act”.  I have to agree with this unanimity.  I found the film to be extremely thrilling, but I was unhappy with how quick and short the end of the movie was.  I felt as though there could have been a better way to finish out the movie.  That being said, I thought that Abigail Breslin gave a tremendous performance, and she really made the audience sympathize, and fear for her situation. 

It’s not an Oscar winning film, but if you’re looking to be creeped out, and kept clinging to the edge of your seat—then I recommend you go see this flick.

As always, here is a trailer for the movie, along with Halle Berry's interview for the call.

                                                                         Source: imdb.com

 

Wednesday, March 20, 2013

"Argo": Great Film; Historically Inaccurate


So you know those weeks where no matter how hard you try, you just can’t seem to fit everything in?  Well this past week was like that for me.  I was so busy with school, work, and family, that I just couldn’t get a chance to see a new movie this week.  I had planned on seeing “The Call” with Halle Berry, but something ALWAYS seemed to get in the way.  I was worried that I wouldn’t have anything to blog about this week, but then it hit me.  I remembered that I had seen “Argo” not too long ago—and this film has sparked some recent controversy so I figured now would be a perfect time to submit my thoughts!

For those who don’t know much about this film, “Argo” won a TON of worldwide awards, including the Oscar this year for Best Picture.  It’s a historical drama, thriller starring Ben Affleck, and was also directed by him as well.  In 1979, the American embassy in Iran was invaded by Iranian revolutionaries and several Americans were taken hostage.  Six of them managed to escape to the official residence of the Canadian Ambassador and the CIA was eventually ordered to get them out of the country.  Exfiltration expert Tony Mendez (Affleck) developed a plan to create a fake Canadian film project looking to shoot in Iran, in order to successfully smuggle the Americans out as its production crew.  He seeks out the help from some trusted Hollywood contacts, and they work together to try and put this plan in motion. 

I thought it was a fantastic film.  Affleck fully immerses you into this hostage crisis, almost to the point where you feel as though you were actually there.  It was witty, thrilling, and emotional all at once.  However, as a Canadian who was not even alive in the time where this event took place, I am still aware that this film EXTREMELY downplayed Canada’s involvement.  Argo largely credits the American CIA at the expense of the Canadian’s.  In an interview conducted my CNN, former President Jimmy Carter says that “90 percent of the contributions to the ideas and the consummation of the plan was Canadian”.  He also gives his personal opinion stating that the real hero was the Canadian Ambassador, Ken Taylor, who orchestrated the entire process.  According to him, Tony Mendez, who was played very well by Affleck, was only in Tehran for “a day and a half.”

I understand that this was a Hollywood movie, and it of course was American, which is probably the main reason why the Canadian contributions were kerbed.  I just hope that those who enjoyed the film will educate themselves on this important piece of history—with the ACTUAL FACTS.  With all that being said, I still recommend that everyone see this movie, and let me know your thoughts on it!  You can leave me a comment here at the bottom!

I’ll also leave the theatrical trailer at the bottom, along with the CNN interview with Jimmy Carter.  Very interesting and worth checking out!
                                                                                  imdb.com

Wednesday, March 13, 2013

"Oz: The Great and Powerful" Film Review


This week is March Break so I took my niece to see Oz: The Great and Powerful, which she had been dying to go see.  We arrived 45 minutes before the film was supposed to start, and it was ALREADY sold out.  I couldn’t believe it!  I guess everyone had the same idea as I did.  So we waited an hour for the next show time, which was unfortunately in 3D.  I’m not a fan on 3D movies AT ALL.  First of all, it’s like 4 dollars more just to wear the stupid glasses to see it in a third dimension.  Secondly, I always end up leaving the theatre with a huge head afterwards.  But I’m glad we decided to see it anyways because it was a really mesmerizing film.

Oz: The Great and Powerful is a prequel to the ever so famous classic, The Wizard of Oz (1939).  This film has a stunning cast, which consists of James Franco, Mila Kunis, Michelle Williams, and Rachel Weisz.  Oscar Diggs is a small-time circus magician with questioning ethics.  He is hurled away from dusty Kansas to the vibrant Land of Oz, where he meets three witches, Theodora, Evanora and Glinda.  Oscar presents himself as “the great and powerful Oz”, but the witches are not entirely convinced that he more »is the great wizard everyone's been expecting.  The Wicked Witch has been wreaking terror onto the land, and Oscar reluctantly agrees to help the people of Oz defeat her.  He must find out who is good and who is evil before it is too late by putting his magical arts to use through deception, ingenuity-and even a bit of wizardry. 

The film is a little over 2 hours long, and it is rated PG.  I don’t know who was responsible for this rating, but I really thought that this movie was still too scary for some kids, even with parental guidance.  I saw some kids in the theatre who had to of been around 3 years old!  I’m sorry, but I find that age to be too young.  The Washington Post even said that some of the scarier parts make the film a little much for children younger than 10- especially if it’s in 3D.

Overall, I have to say that my niece and I both enjoyed the film.  The graphics were magical, and Director Sam Raimi takes you on a magical journey through the Land of Oz that you didn’t get to see in the original Wizard of Oz.

Take a look at the trailer below, along with a behind the scenes featurette!
 

Wednesday, March 6, 2013

21 and Over

“21 years ago, Jeff Chang entered the world naked and screaming. Tonight, he will end up the same way."

Before last night, I couldn’t remember the last time I laughed so hard in a movie. I went to see “21 and Over”, starring Miles Teller (Footloose), Skylar Astin (Pitch Perfect), and Justin Chon (Twilight Saga).  This film is from the writers of “The Hangover”, and was the directorial debut for Jon Lucas and Scott Moore. 

I’ve loved Skylar Astin ever since I saw “Pitch Perfect”.  I think he is completely charming in a hot, nerdy kind of way, and he has this sarcastic type of humor that I love.  I’m still a little new to Miles Teller but I think he is fantastic.  I’ve seen him play a total douche bag jock in “Project X”, and an adorable southern boy in “Footloose”.  Regardless of their previous roles— these guys made me laugh my pants off in this film.

Straight-A college student, Jeff Chang has always done everything his controlling father has told him to do.  It’s his 21st birthday, but he is more focused on the important medical school interview his dad set up for the morning after.  His two oldest friends, Miller and Casey, surprise him on his milestone birthday and plan to take him out for “just one beer”.  But, similar to The Hangover, things get out of control and their night turns into a sequence of events engulfed by over indulgence, embarrassment, and absolute debauchery. 

Turning 21 in America is similar to turning 19 in Canada.  It’s a rite of passage.  Like Miller says in the movie, “This is the day that you get to tell every bouncer who’s ever carded you! You’re 21”!  A bunch of stuck up old geezers from Rotten Tomatoes called this film, “tasteless, and unfunny”.  I can only assume this means that they forgot what it was like to be young and 21- probably because it’s been decades since their youth.

Life moves so fast, and before you know it, we are going to be those boring old people with mortgages and kids to take care of.  So until then, I say we all party like it’s our 21 birthday.

Here’s the trailer and a short clip!  Tell me what you guys thought!