Lars And The Real Girl review (gua.com.my)

by Max Koh
28 April 2008

Ratings:
7/10

Title:
Lars And The Real Girl

Cast:
Ryan Gosling, Emily Mortimer, Paul Schneider, Kelli Garner, Patricia Clarkson, Nancy Beatty and R.D. Reid

Genre:
Drama, Comedy

Review:
‘Lars and the Real Girl’ is an eccentric comedy that is sure to tug at your heartstrings.

What would you do if a family member brought a sex doll to dinner and introduced her to the family as a real person? Would you play along or send him to the mental institution?

When faced with such a conundrum, Gus (played by Schneider who bears a striking resemblance to Adam Levine) and wife Karin (Mortimer) chose the former. And they managed to convince the town folks to play along too, treating the wheel-chair bound sex doll as a real person – taking her out on outings, talking to her, washing her and even cutting her hair.

All this is done out of love for Lars (Gosling), an extremely introverted young man who is the darling of the town.

Lars likes to keep to himself, and since the death of his father often stays alone in the family garage. Still, he seems really normal until the day he brings home a life-sized sex doll for dinner to Gus and Karin’s home.

He treats her like a real person and thinks he has a deep and meaningful relationship with her. He introduces her as Bianca, a missionary from Europe, who is wheel-chair bound.

At first the family is taken aback but upon the advice of the family doctor who say that Gus is working out through some personal issue, they soon play along.

The word eventually spreads, and Lars slowly turns from the ‘wierdo’ to the ‘guy everyone cares about’ thanks to the support of key individual people in the town. People fall in love with Bianca and have no qualms over playing along. In fact, the town soon begins to enjoy this new activity, a break from the monotony of everyday affairs and begin to make Bianca the star attraction of the town much to Lars’ distress. This of course, causes some problems in Lars’ relationship with Bianca.

Although the sex doll (which is anatomically correct, by the way) comes across as creepy at first, it slowly becomes an endearing figure to both the townsfolk and the audience. You can’t help but be drawn to the enigmatic presence of Bianca.

However, the film’s main focus is on Lars who manages to invoke a sense of empathy with the audience. Ryan Gosling’s portrayal of Lars is so powerful and lyrical in its subtleties and nuances, drawing you to him but never letting you too much into his inner psyche. This makes him an enigmatic character of loneliness and familiarity.

For that, Gosling was rightly nominated for Best Actor in the Golden Globe awards last year. He lost it to Daniel-Day Lewis (no arguments about that) but deservingly won the Satellite award for it.

Not overshadowed is the wonderful supporting cast in the film. Schneider evokes a familiarity and closeness as the stiff-necked brother while Mortimer is the endearing sister-in-law who cares too much.

The underrated Kelli Garner plays Margo, the office colleague who is secretly in love with Lars.

The cinematography is sparse and simple in its execution and supports the storyline beautifully; no unnecessary embellishments and aesthetics. The small town is indeed a character of its own in the film.

And just like the passing seasons that are being juxtaposed with Lars’ inner turmoil, the film spans out very nicely, drawing us to his soul and heart.

‘Lars And The Real Girl’ proves three things: Gosling is a talented actor that deserves more recognition, a film does not need a big budget or special effects to carry a story, and that a little love goes a long way. And it takes a sex doll to teach us that.


Did you know?

The film was awarded an Academy Award for Best Screenplay. The film received a standing ovation when it premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival and showed again twice at the Boston Film Festival, where the director took questions from the sold-out audience after the first screening.

Definitely Maybe review (gua.com.my)

by Max Koh
14 April 2008

Rating:
8/10

Title:
Definitely Maybe

Cast:
Ryan Reynolds, Elizabeth Banks, Rachel Weisz, Isla Fisher, Abigail Breslin, Kevin Kline, Marc Bonan and Derek Luke

Genre:
Romance, Comedy

Review:
‘Definitely Maybe’ is a witty, intelligent and undeniably charming film that appeals not only to the heart, but to the head as well.

Packed with an emotional depth that is not often seen in romantic flicks, ‘Definitely Maybe’ deals with relationships in a very human and realistic way.

The foibles of relationship are deftly handled and portrayed, thanks to the genius that is Adam Brooks, who wrote and directed the film.

Brooks does away with all the schmaltz and sugarcoating that plague most romantic comedies (the repeated story arc of boy meets girl, boy doesn’t see eye-to-eye with girl, boy eventually falls in love with girl, trouble brews, boy and girl separate but get together in the end) and chooses to shed light on the very complex problems that besiege relationships in the modern era.

You know how relationships fail and falter in real life. How divorces are real and magic is but only the stuff that you see on films. And true love continues to be the Holy Grail that seems to elude many. (Yep, realists continue to scoff at such films)

‘Definitely Maybe’ conveys that love is a working commitment and involves a lot of heartbreaks, disappointments, misadventures, try-outs, fall-outs, make-ups, break-ups and searching. It may sound depressing but ‘Definitely Maybe’ is by no means a depressing film. It just gets you thinking and offers a realistic view on love and life. And yes, as much as the film defies convention in romantic flicks, there is a happy ending after all. One that is more realistic than most.

Quintessentially, ‘Definitely Maybe’ has a story that feels real. No Prince Charming or knight in shining armour. No magic formula. Just a heartfelt and sometimes complex love story.

Ryan Reynolds (in a very much grown-up role and a far cry from his days as Van Wilder in ‘Two Guys And A Girl’) plays a 30-something Manhattan dad Will who is in the midst of a divorce. One night, his 10-year-old daughter Maya (Breslin) asks him about his love life prior to marrying her mom.

With his daughter tucked comfortably in bed, Will begins to unravel the mysteries of adult relationship and how it is a “very complex thing.”

His story brings us back to the 1990s- the age before e-mail, hand phones and TV reality shows. Will was then an aspiring politician fresh out of university in Wisconsin who dreamt of becoming the President of United States of America.

His ticket to glory was working for the Clinton campaign that saw him leaving his university sweetheart Emily (Banks) in Wisconsin for the big city of New York.

As he slowly worked his way up from being the toilet paper guy to being one of the big guns, he met the apolitical but outspoken April (Fisher) who turns out to be his longtime best friend and confidante. Along the way, he also meets the free-spirited and feisty journalist Summer (Weisz).

So what follows is a guessing game as Maya tries to figure out which of these three women turns out to be her mother (Will changed the names of the women). Thanks to the wonderful script, the audiences are left to guess along as well with no obvious enough hints or pointers.

There are seductions, disappointments, unrequited love, and betrayals but at the end- it is all played out very realistically. And you will find yourself rooting for one woman over the others at any point in the film.

Ryan Reynolds seem to have grown up from his Van Wilder days, playing the sensitive and doting father with ease and confidence. Breslin, the cutie-pie in Little Miss Sunshine, shines as the inquisitive and bright Maya. Considering her other role in another recent film, ‘Nim’s Island’, one can surmise that Breslin is going to be one shining child star. Her chemistry with Reynolds comes across as believable and charming.

Isla Fisher is simply likeable and will have you falling in love with her in no time. Equally alluring is Weisz as the sexy and confident Summer.

All in all, ‘Definitely Maybe’ is a film that is not afraid to explore the different quandaries and complexities that exist in relationships. And it is done with an equal dose of heart, wit and tenderness all bundled up in a film that deserved to be seen by more than just the average romantic comedy junkies. There are no ‘maybes’ about that.

Nim's Island review (gua.com.my)

by Max Koh
18 April 2008

Rating;
7/10

Title:
Nim’s Island

Cast:
Abigail Breslin, Jodie Foster, Gerard Butler, Alphonso McAuley and Michael Carman

Genre:
Adventure, Fantasy

Review:

The last time we saw Gerard Butler in ‘300’, it was hard not to turn our attention away from his rock-solid abs and witty one-liners. He had the character down pat, playing King Leonidas who led 300 Spartans to defend their Greek state from the impending armies of King Xerxes in the Battle of Thermopylae.

In his latest movie ‘Nim’s Island’, Butler sheds his masculine posturing and them perfectly sculpted six packs to take on a doting and fatherly role. But worry not ladies, he is one hot paternal figure. And wait till you hear his lilting Scottish accent ...

Butler, however, isn’t the only one with the charms in the movie. There is his young female co-star, Breslin. She has certainly grown in dramatic strength since mesmerising us with her performance in ‘Little Miss Sunshine’. She holds her own when sharing screen time with Hollywood heavyweight Foster and her chemistry with Butler comes across as heartfelt and genuine. (Those who love Breslin must also catch ‘Definitely Maybe’ where she stars alongside Ryan Reynolds and Academy Award winner Rachel Weisz.)

Breslin plays the 11-year-old titular character who lives with her marine biologist dad Jack (Butler) on a secret island somewhere near Borneo. Even though they are the only two people on the island, they are self-sufficient and lead a simple but contented life. Jack has his research while Nim has her animal friends – a dancing seal, squeaking lizard and a smart pelican – coupled with her vivid imagination to keep her company.

When her father goes missing at sea, Nim enlists the help of her favourite author, Alex Rover (Foster), whom she imagines to be some adventure-seeking Indiana Jones-like character. Unfortunately, Rover turns out to be a neurotic writer who is apprehensive even about stepping out of the house to get her mail and is afraid of almost everything under the sun.

When Nim’s plea for help becomes desperate – she has to defend her island from opportunists who wants to turn the island into a tourist attraction – Rover decides it’s time to conquer her fears and help her little fan. At the same time, Jack struggles to get back to his daughter.

Foster steps out from her usual strong female characters to play the reclusive Rover, which she does with much aplomb. Who would have thought that Foster possesses great comic timing and her antics would easily get the kids laughing aloud. It is a wonderful change seeing her in a comedy after the string of tough roles in ‘Panic Room’ and ‘The Brave One’.

While the actors were great in their roles, the storyline unfortunately loses steam halfway with its uninteresting subplots. Thankfully, it picks up towards the end. So be prepared to find ways to ‘sedate’ (no, I didn’t say that) your boisterous kids during those boring parts for the sake of other patrons in the cinema.

The film was shot mostly in Australia with scenic views of the island. Drawing influences from the children’s book it is based on, the film also boasts some very charming storybook-like visuals at the start of the movie. It lends a nice touch to the film and should definitely appeal to the kids.

‘Nim’s Island’ is a light-hearted children affair that will appeal to kids aged eight and below with its saccharine storyline infused with moral values. Families with young kids can go no wrong with this. However, those with older children would have better luck with ‘The Spiderwick Chronicles’ or ‘Horton Hears A Who!’

And if you really want to see Butler, go buy the ‘300’ DVD instead. This is a kid’s show, so don’t expect a half-naked Butler showing off his abs, even though the premise of Butler getting wet and stranded on a boat in the middle of the sea sounds enticing. But I am disappointed to announce that it doesn’t happen here. So, get your fix somewhere else.

Did You Know?

During shooting, Breslin forced Butler to fill up a jar with coins whenever he used a bad word. The money was later donated to charity. How adorable!

Across The Universe review (gua.com.my)

by Max Koh

Nov 26, 2007

Ratings: 

8/10

Cast:

Evan Rachel Wood, Jim Sturgess, Joe Anderson, Dana Fuchs, Eddie Izzard, Martin Luther Mccoy, T.V. Carpio and Bono

Genre:

Musical, Romance

Review:

“I am the eggman, they are the eggmen, I am the walrus. Goo, goo g’joob.”

Any Baby Boomer growing up in the 60s would recognise that line from I Am The Walrus, a mind-boggling Beatles number filled with nonsensical ramblings (something about yellow mustards and pornographic priestess) and references to the drug LSD (of which Lennon claimed to be high on while writing the first two lines of the song).

For most of us born after that era, listening to that song will only make you go “What the ----?” before you find the chorus lodged in your subconscious and replaying itself over and over again. Goo, goo g’joob. Get it?

You don’t need an acid trip to find out what the Fab Four were saying in that song; just watch Julie Taymor’s wonderful film as she takes you down… not Penny Lane or Strawberry Fields but through the tumultuous 60s, where flower power, anti-war movements, and social revolution was the order of the day (at least in the good old United States of America).

In the film, U2’s Bono gives a stirring and psychedelic rendition of the afore-mentioned song as counter-culture spiritual guru Dr. Robert. How psychedelic? Let’s just say, you don’t need your weeds for this one.

Across The Universe follows Liverpool-bred Jude (Sturgess) who travels to America to find his biological father but gets acquainted with the free-spirited Max (Anderson). And he soon falls for Max’s sister, Lucy (Wood) “when he saw her standing there”.

With a little help from their friends – in the form of the Janis Jolin-esque Sadie (Fuchs), the Jimi Hendrix-styled Jo-Jo (McCoy) and the lesbian cheerleader Prudence (Carpio) – we are transported into the Beatles-dominated universe filled with the songs for the sappy (While My Guitar Gently Weeps, If I Fell), the psychedelic (For The Benefit of Mr. Kite, Happiness Is A Warm Gun), the cutesy (All My Loving, I Want To Hold Your Hand), and the rollicking (Come Together, Helter Skelter).

And what a ride it is! Sure, some scenes merely exist for certain songs to be sung but when you have Eddie Izzard’s bizarre but brilliant circus-performance on Being For The Benefit of Mr Kite, you overlook the shortcomings. 

The director has taken liberties in reinterpreting and rearranging some of the songs. An example is the delightful sing-a-long I Want To Hold Your Hand transformed into a lovelorn ballad. Or the classic Let It Be revamped into a soaring gospel number with a choir thrown in!

If you are a true-blue Beatles fan, you may enjoy the new interpretations. If you are new (or casual) fan, you might just get converted into Beatles devotee.

The songs are that good! The director has done a great job of retaining some of the quintessential Beatles numbers and tweaking several for a new generation. Word is they used period instruments to get the original sound of that era. 

And the stunning cinematography (ranging from High-School-Musical-type choreographies to graphic-heavy visuals) makes the film a visual fest. One memorable scene (among others) is when Max and some US soldiers carry the Statue of Liberty across the jungles of Vietnam. Cryptic?

Running at over two hours, you’ll probably get a sore bum at the end of the movie. But it is worth it, as what you get is a magical tour through the slamming 60s, where nothing is real so there’s nothing to get hung up about. Goo goo g’joob! Get 

it?

Did you know? 

Across The Universe features 31 Beatles songs, spanning from the lesser known Hold Me Tight, Why Don’t We Do It In The Road to the more famous Hey Jude, Blackbird, Lucy In The Sky With Diamonds.

Also look out for references to other Beatles songs (and characters) in the script. Trust me, you will be able to spot all of them before you turn 64.

Joe Cocker does a ‘Nutty Professor’ by playing three characters when singing Come Together. And Bono is brilliant as the Neal Cassady-type spiritual guru Dr Robert. And did I mention that the sizzling Salma Hayek makes a cameo as five sexy, dancing nurses? Yes, five!

Charlie Wilson's War (gua.com.my)

by Max Koh

28 Feb 2008

Title:

Charlie Wilson's War

Cast:

Tom Hanks, Julia Roberts, Philip Seymour Hoffman, Amy Adams, Ned Beatty, Emily Blunt, Om Puri and Ken Stott

Genre:

Drama, Comedy

Review:

What do a womanising congressman, God-fearing Southern socialite and renegade CIA agent have in common?

How about staging the most successful covert operation in history. An unlikely scenario?

Well, ‘Charlie Wilson's War’ is based on a true story that brought these three very different personalities together to help bring down the Soviet Union and end the Cold War in the 1980s.

Tom Hanks brings the titular character to life. Charlie Wilson is a Texan playboy congressman who is infamous for his promiscuous ways and famously called "Good Time Charlie". Beneath that façade, however, is an as astute politician with a deep sense of patriotism and a compassion for lost causes in the world.

The film begins in Las Vegas as Charlie is sharing a bathtub with pretty women. A television news report on the Mujahideen freedom fighters in Afghanistan comes on (by the legendary news anchor Dan Rather, no less) and soon captivates Charlie's attention.

The Red Armies are invading Afghanistan. Like animals, they are slaughtered without mercy and chased to neighboring countries like Pakistan.

The feeble weapons of the Mujahideen are no match for the high-tech Soviet planes and choppers. What they need are hi-tech weapons to combat the Red Armies.

Urged by longtime friend, frequent patron, and sometimes lover Joanne Herring (Roberts), Charlie then travels to Pakistan to visit the President and the refugee camps.

What he witnessed there is enough to spur Charlie to accomplish the impossible: secure funds and weapons for the Mujahideen to combat the invading Communist forces.

Helping him out is CIA agent Gust Avrakotos (Hoffman); a no-nonsense operative who is often dismissed by his bosses in the agency.

Together, the trio form an unlikely alliance with Pakistanis, Israelis, Egyptians, lawmakers and a belly dancer to organise the largest (and most improbable) covert operation in history against a

common enemy: the Red Commies.

Their success was remarkable. Over the nine-year course of the Soviet invasion in Afghanistan, United States funding for the covert operation went from US$5 million to US$1 billion annually. Subsequently, the Red Army retreated from Afghanistan.

Based on the best-selling novel of the same name by George Crile, the film manages a fine balance between politics and humor. Hanks and Hoffman (both Academy luminaries) make a formidable team onscreen. Their comedic timing is spot-on and their chemistry is magic. You will have your eyes riveted on their performance especially in the first scene they were together. That alone is worth the price of the ticket.

Hanks is amazing as the flawed but likeable Congressman. But Hoffman deserves accolades for transmitting the ghost of the character through his performance. No surprise that he won an Academy for his performance in ‘Capote’ a few years back. Here, he is a far cry from the shy, shaky character that is Truman Capote. He was nominated for an Academy this year again but lost the prize to Javier Bardem who plays a serial killer in ‘No Country For Old Men’.

’Charlie Wilson's War’ also marks the first collaboration between Hanks and Roberts (believe it or not). Roberts appears much older in this film than we are used to but otherwise does a satisfying job as the God-fearing, Communist-hating, rich Houston socialite.

For a political film, ‘Charlie Wilson's War’ is surprisingly funny. The film is cleverly written (kudos to the screenplay writers) and has some of the wittiest lines you'll ever find in a political film. Expect to be engaged from start to finish and get an interesting insight on how politics in the mid-eighties contributed to the political realities in America and the Middle East today.

Charlie Wilson best sums it up at the end: "These things happened. They were glorious and they changed the world ... and then we f**ked up the endgame." Sound familiar?

One scene was rather poignant. After winning the covert operation, Charlie tries to get the Congress to approve a US$5 million fund to build a school in Afghan but to no avail.

The government was willing to inject US$1 billion to fight their war but not a few million to build a school. Afghanistan is left to pick up the pieces while the US washes its hands clean of any responsibility. Today, US forces appears to have no exit strategy for Iraq, as yet again another country is left in shambles ... but I digress.

The film has also received criticism for insinuating that the CIA-led operation funded Osama bin Laden and ultimately produced the 9/11 attack.

The film has also received criticism for insinuating that the CIA-led operation funded Osama bin Laden and ultimately produced the 9/11 attack.

George Crile clarifies: "By the end of 1993, in Afghanistan itself there were no roads, no schools, just a destroyed country -- and the United States was washing its hands of any responsibility. It was in this vacuum that the Taliban and Osama bin Laden would emerge as the dominant players. It is ironic that a man who had had almost nothing to do with the victory over the Red Army, Osama bin Laden, would come to personify the power of the jihad. In 1998, when bin Laden survived US$100 million worth of cruise missiles targeted at him, it reinforced the belief that Allah had chosen to protect him."

Hmm… food for thought indeed. But who am I kidding? Isn't it just a film after all? Let us fix our attention on another more pressing issue like, which movie really deserved the Oscar for Best Picture: ‘There Will Be Blood’ or ‘Country For Old Men’? Hmm…

X-Files: I Want To Believe review (gua.com.my)

The X-Files: I Want To Believe

 

by Max Koh
30 July 2008

Title:
The X-Files: I Want To Believe

Cast:
David Duchovny, Gillian Anderson, Amanda Peet, Billy Connolly, Alvin “Xzibit” Joiner, Callum Keith Rennie, and Adam Godley

Genre:
Action, Science-Fiction, Thriller

Review:
The latest X-Files film has been so shrouded in mystery that one did not know what to expect from this. Promotions were a pretty hushed affair (compare that to the viral marketing campaign for ‘The Dark Knight’) and the storyline was kept a tight secret within the bowels of the 20th Century Fox studios. All creator/director Chris Carter divulged is that the film will be a stand-alone – with a beginning, middle and end; without all that convoluted conspiracy stuff that made one go bonkers trying to keep up with the multiple plot-lines in the series.

So, are we going to get to the truth after all? Will Mulder finally get to the bottom of the government conspiracy involving aliens and his abducted sister? Will we finally know what the Syndicate is about? Who really is the Cigarette Smoking Man? What about Scully’s baby? Are Mulder and Scully ever going to get hitched, for John’s sake?

So many questions, and sadly, true to Carter’s words- the film does not address all of the questions above.





But you do get such joy from seeing your favorite FBI couple being reunited onscreen after so many years – even if it clearly reflects that both characters have moved on since they quit the FBI years ago. George Bush is now US president (now that’s an X-File case to be resolved) and terrorists are much more a threat to national security than aliens from above. Ha ha.

Having quit the FBI years ago, Dr. Scully (Anderson) is a surgeon working in a hospital while Mulder (Duchovny) is a recluse after being hunted by his former employers. They are called back to help the FBI work on a case which a psychic (Connoly) claims to see visions of women being abducted and subjected to violence.

Unlike the first film 10 years ago, there are no complex storylines in this film. Carter is right, you can enjoy this as a stand-alone film without having to know all the folklore and mythology of the original series.






However, it proved to be a little disappointing for old-time fans. For the new film cast out all the elements that made the original series such a compelling watch every week (until the plot got way too complicated, that is). The one redeeming quality of the film is the reunion between Mulder and Scully and the evolution of their relationship. Even then, I felt that it could be milked a bit more.

In the end, the new film feels like a long episode that overstayed its one hour mark. You know, those early TV episodes where the dynamic duo investigate a strange phenomenon. However, the scares are not scary enough, the mystery not mysterious enough and the shocks not shocking enough.



For such a long wait since the series ended five years ago, I expected creator Carter (and brother Jonathan) to have come up with a better storyline that this. I want to believe, honestly, that this is good. But unfortunately, the new film comes up a few fries short of Happy Meal.

Oh, another thing. Why did they cast rapper Xzibit with a permanent “constipated-face-mistaken-for-tough-look” as an FBI detective. Now, that’s a mystery to be solved.

What says Chris Carter?
On the TV series
“For me, The X-Files has always been a romance – an intellectual romance of the mind that’s very rare and restrained. It is intimate but not physical. That is a big part of the chemistry. And from the beginning of the show, it was David and Gillian who created our success. Without them, the show would not have worked.”

On the film title “I Want to Believe”
“It’s a natural title. It’s a story that involves the difficulties in mediating faith and science. It really does suggest Mulder’s struggle with his faith.”

On the film
“The film encompasses all the best things people loved about the show. It’s scary, creepy, and has a good mystery. With The X-Files, we often scared people by what they didn’t show, and we use that device for the movie.”

Speed Racer review (Gua.com.my)

First published in gua.com.my
20 May 2008


by Max Koh

Title:
Speed Racer

Ratings:
7/10

Cast:
Emile Hirsch, Christina Ricci, John Goodman, Susan Sarandon, Matthew Fox, Rain and Paulie Litt

Genre:
Action, Family

Review:
The 1960s anime character (yep, it’s that old!) finally hits the big screen with the Wachowski brothers who lead the pack in this year’s summer movies.

While ‘Iron Man’ continues to wow audience with the stunning iron suit, superb storyline, cool action and Robert Downey Jr, ‘Speed Racer’ seems to fall with a whimper. Then you have ‘Prince Caspian’ of the ‘Narnia’ series, which one can only expect so much from if the first film is of any indication. And will the big green monster ‘Hulk’ fare better this year or get beaten by the ‘Dark Knight’ which is getting an unintended marketing boost with the death of darling Heath Ledger? And of course, Indy’s back!





Oops, before I get too far ahead of myself, let’s get back to ‘Speed Racer’.

“Go, Speed Racer, Go!” If you are expecting some ‘Fast and Furious’ gritty action, look elsewhere. ‘Speed Racer’ is a kiddie show just like the cartoon it is based on. Thanks to the Wachowski brothers (of ‘Matrix’) fame, the graphics are outlandish and the laws of physics are thrown out the window. It is as though Neo woke up in another program designed by the Computer and ‘reality’ operates on a different set of rules. The colours are really bright and the environment is constructed by computer programmers.

Which come to think of it, the film does bear some resemblance to ‘Matrix’. In ‘Speed Racer’, Speed Racer (Hirsch) is the ONE. No one drives as fast and furious as he does. Even after his brother Rex dies in a crash, Speed grows up loyal to the family racing business led by his father, Pops Racer (Goodman), designer of the Mach 5.





When Speed Racer turns down a lucrative offer from Royalton Industries, he also uncovers a terrible secret – that the biggest races are fixed by ruthless tycoons who manipulate drivers to boost sales! With the help of the mysterious Racer X (Fox) and Taejo Togokhan (Korean singer Rain), they form a trinity to challenge the head honchos who rule the racing arena.

And just like Neo, Speed Racer will unwittingly set up a new World Order, only this time it’s the world of motor racing. Cool machines? Check. Babes. Check. Family fun? Check. Pet monkey? Check. That’s right … Speed’s kid brother Sprittle (Litt) and his pet monkey Chim Chim provides some laughs in the film while Goodman seems to enjoy playing Pops Racer.

There is no mistake that Speed Racer is targeted at the kids, but I’m sure it will appeal to audience of all ages.

Eye candy comes in the form of Rain (yes, scream all you K-pop fans), Mathew Fox of ‘Lost’ fame and (surprise, surprise) lead Emile Hirsch who looks like a much younger version of Ewan McGregor. And I must say that he carried the role very well. Guys can squawk at the sight of Christina Ricci who plays Speed’s longtime girlfriend.





With its gamer action, visual wizardry, cartoonish characters and misconstrued reality, ‘Speed Racer’ is built for a fun time at the cinemas. And thankfully it does its job well. For two hours, just sit back and let ‘Speed Racer’ take you for a ride through some mindless fun. I bet you’ll be humming the tune as you leave the cinema.

And probably this is what sets ‘Speed Racer’ apart from Wachowski’s ‘Matrix’ films. They know their target audience and there are no pretensions about it. Kids will love it while adults will enjoy the ride down memory lane. Sing with me again, “Go, Speed Racer, Go!”

Atonement review (gua.com.my)

First published in gua.com.my

8 Jan 2008

Title:

Atonement

Rating: 

8/10

Cast:

Keira Knightley, James McAvoy, Romola Garai, Vanessa Redgrave, Brenda Bletyhn and Saoirse Ronan

Genre:

Drama, Romance  

Review:

Based on Ian McEwan’s best-selling novel in 2001, Atonement is one of those rare films that do justice to the book.

Accolades must be given to director Joe Wright (Pride & Prejudice) and screenwriter Christopher Hampton (Dangerous Liaisons) for doing such a brilliant job of transferring the themes from paper to reel. 

The film truly deserves its seven nominations at the upcoming Golden Globe awards. 

Atonement explores how a young girl motivated by jealousy and lust, irrevocably change the lives of those closest to her. 

The film opens on a hot summer day in 1935 as 13-year-old Briony Tallis (Ronan) finishes her manuscript for a play entitled ‘The Trials of Arabella’ in her lush English countryside mansion. 

Little does she know that she is about to plunge the lives of her sister Cecilia (Knightley) and Robbie Turner (McAvoy) - the housekeeper’s son who is secretly in love with Cecilia - into an indefinite chasm of separation.

Broiny first catches sight of Cecilia stripping in front of Turner at the front lawn, through the tainted glass of an upstairs window. When Cecilia dips herself into the fountain, a distorted view begins to form in Briony’s mind. It is childhood naivety or unbridled jealousy?

Through a series of events, first seen through the Briony’s perspective and then replayed for the audience through Turner’s eyes, we discover how misinterpretation and unchecked emotions can alter the present reality of our understanding. 

Through this skewed vision, Briony soon levels a serious accusation against Turner on a crime that he did not commit, and irrevocably separating the lovers. 

Five years later we find Turner fighting the Germans in France. After serving time, Turner was ‘enlisted’ in the army and is now making his way to Dunkirk to be transported back home to be with his loved one, Cecilia. 

Cecilia is now a nurse and not on speaking terms with Briony. She has not forgiven her sister for her foolish action. 

The grown-up Briony now realises the full extent of her folly. She is tormented by her misdeed and expresses her guilt and regret by typing on her typewriter when she is not nursing the sick during the day. 

Will Briony be able to atone for her wrongdoings? Will she be able to reconcile the lovers by telling the truth about her incriminating testimony? 

In over two hours, the film captured all the riches found in McEwan’s dense and very internalised novel. The intricacies of human emotions and dark impulses are masterly conveyed. 

The re-creation of the war scene at Dunkirk was simply astounding. Through a long-shot (five minutes and thirty seconds) Wright was able to portray the full-scale of the terrible landscape as described in McEwan’s novel. 

When words failed, the visuals did the talking. 

But the film would not have worked if not for the wonderful screenwriting and beautiful cinematography. Not to mention the excellent editing and an exceptional soundtrack that makes Atonement a possible forerunner during the awards season. 

Keira Knightley’s acting is commendable. However, Ronan deserves special mention for her exceptional portrayal of 13-year-old Briony. She is a star in the making. 

But a word of caution: watch out for the final scene. A question still remains: Can an artist ever atone for her wrongdoings through art? 

The film may leave you on a sad note but Atonement is one film you do not want to miss. 

     

Did you know? 

Atonement is director Joe Wright’s second feature film after 2005’s Pride & Prejudice, which is based on Jane Austen’s beloved novel. The film was nominated for four Academy Awards.

This is the second time Wright has worked with Keira Knightley, who was also cast as the main character in Pride & Prejudice. 

The long shot through Dunbirk beach took less than five takes to film.

Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber on Fleet Street review (gua.com.my)

First published in gua.com.my 

31 Jan 2008

Title:

Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber on Fleet Street

Rating:

8/10

Cast:

Johnny Depp, Helena Bonham Carter, Alan Rickman, Sacha Baron Cohen, Timothy Spall, Jamie Campbell and Jayne Wisener

Genre:

Musical, Thriller, Crime

Review:

Don’t let the trailers fool you. There’s nothing sweet or chirpy about “Sweeney Todd”. Those expecting a light-hearted comedy with gothic embellishments should watch “Corpse Bride” or “Edward Scissorhands” instead.

“Sweeney Todd” is as macabre as it gets, even by Tim Burton’s standards. This is not your typical Burton film where beneath all the eerie aesthetics is a sweet little girl with a feel-good message.

No, you won’t walk out of the cinema feeling good at all. But yet, despite the gore and violence, you just can’t turn your eyes away. You may squirm at the sight of blood oozing, spurting and spraying out from people’s necks – but you just … can’t … take … your … eyes … off … the screen.

   

The film may be bloody, but the graphics pale in comparison to the disturbing message of the film. The insights that we are offered into the mind of the deranged, vengeful spirit that is Sweeney Todd (Depp) are deeply unsettling – even by today’s desensitised standards. 

When he sings about “people who are filled with shit!” – you know he means it. The ease with which he kills people is troubling. Only vengeance and hatred seems to fill this maniac’s black vision – whose pain and pathos can only be quenched by the shedding of blood of the ‘guilty’.

 



 

Because in his mind, no one is truly innocent. His only friends are his silver razor blades which higher purpose is to ‘drip rubies’ and kill the judge (Rickman) who ruined his once tranquil life.

“Swing your razor wide! Sweeney, hold it to the skies. Freely flows the blood of those who moralise.”

Even his closest acquaintance, Mrs. Lovett (Carter) has her own agenda in buttressing Todd’s needs. Todd’s victims are dumped into her basement where she grinds and bakes their bodies into delicious meat pies. They are then served to unsuspecting customers who patron her shop.

Providing comic relief, albeit briefly – is counterfeit barber Pirelli (Cohen aka Borat aka Ali G) who attempts to blackmail Todd when he recognises him. Needless to say, he is taken care of in a very bloody and unforgettable manner – thus instigating Todd’s killing spree.

Todd’s crimes may be abominable – but Depp successfully puts a human face to Todd’s reign of terror. As troubling as it sounds, it’s almost like empathising with Hilter or a mass murderer.

The ending is tragic – but we do not feel satisfied. Nor angry. The outcome is strangely distressing. In a world where students massacre their friends in school, and the horror stories at Auschwitz are being disputed – we wonder if there are any goodness left in the world.

If you are depressed, don’t watch this. The only place that is deeper than the dumps is hell. One does wonder whether the person who wrote this is a misanthropist in the first place?

Did you know? 

“Sweeney Todd” first appeared in various 19th century English language works as a barber and an early example of a serial killer.

The film is adapted from the Tony award-winning play of the same name by Stephen Sondheim (music) and Hugh Wheeler (play) that opened in Broadway in 1979.

The Dead Girl (gua.com.my)

Originally published in gua.com.my
18 Feb 2008


by Max Koh

Title:
The Dead Girl

Ratings:
7/10

Cast:
Toni Collette, Brittany Murphy, Marcia Gay Hayden, Rose Byrne, James Franco, Josh Brolin, Giovanni Ribisi, Kerry Washington, Mary Beth Ruth, Piper Laurie and Mary Steenbergen

Genre:
Drama, Mystery, Thriller

Review:
There is a perpetual sadness that hangs over “The Dead Girl”, the second feature film by independent director Karen Moncrieff.

The movie opens with the body of a dead girl (Murphy in one of her most mesmerising performances). However, the focus of the film is not on finding out how the girl died. Instead it examines how lives are irrevocably changed by her death.



Presented through five different stories, the movie offers an unflinching look at how the murder affects the lives of the various female characters, whose relation to the dead girl may not be obvious from the beginning.

As the stories draw you in (helped tremendously by the excellent cast), you can’t help but be affected by the bleakness that dominates their lives and their struggle to break free from it.

In the first story, ‘The Stranger’, Arden (Collette) discovers the body of the murdered girl and overnight becomes a local celebrity. However, she is berated and scorned by her abusive but ailing mother (Laurie in grandma-“Carrie”-mode) who calls her ugly and despises the attention she is getting. Arden meets a stranger (Ribisi) and is attracted to him despite his unhealthy obsession with serial killers. Eventually, she decides to elope with him.



‘The Sister’ revolves around a forensic undergraduate who examines the dead girl’s body and is convinced that it is her sister who has been missing for 15 years. Her mom (Steenbergen), however, refuses to give up on her missing daughter, thus preventing her from having closure and moving on. She becomes dependent on anti-depressants and shuns the interest of a young colleague (Franco). Her mom does not see that she is on the verge of losing her remaining living daughter in a bid to find her dead one.



Mary Beth Hurt is ‘The Wife’ whose relationship with her husband, Carl, is on the verge of a breakdown. He often leaves the house for long periods of time and she is left to pick up his mess. One day, she finds incriminating evidence that could link her husband to the dead girl’s murder.

In ‘The Mother’, we meet the dead girl’s mom, Melora (Hayden). It is easily the most moving story in the film. It has been years since her daughter, Krista, ran away from home, where she became a drug addict and prostitute. To understand her daughter’s life, Melora meets Krista’s roommate, Rosetta (Washington), and eventually learns out about her illegitimate three-year-old granddaughter, Ashley. Melora takes her granddaughter in and promises to love her as she did Krista.



Finally, we meet ‘The Dead Girl’ who turns out to be the most buoyant and ‘alive’ character in the film despite the oppressive circumstances. We follow Krista’s final hours as she finds her way across town to surprise her daughter who is turning three years old the next day.

“The Dead Girl” may be bleak but there are underlying optimistic nuances. ‘The Mother’ gets a second chance by caring for her granddaughter. The forensic sister eventually opens up her heart. And therein lies the irony – it takes a dead girl to revive the lives of others.

Did you know?
This film was nominated for Best Picture and Best Supporting Female (Hurt) at the Independent Spirit Awards last year.

Vantage Point review (gua.com.my)

Originally published in gua.com.my
21 February 2008


by Max Koh


Title:
Vantage Point

Ratings:
6/10

Cast:
Dennis Quaid, Matthew Fox, Forest Whitaker, Bruce McGill, Edgar Ramirez, Said Taghmaoui, Sigourney Weaver and William Hurt

Genre:
Action, Thriller

Review:
In “Vantage Point”, the attempted assassination of the US President is told from eight different perspectives.

Thomas Barnes (Quaid) and Kent Taylor (Fox) are two Secret Service agents assigned to protect US President Ashton (Hurt) who is in Spain for a landmark summit on global terrorism.

When he is shot at the summit and bombs go off, chaos ensues. Amongst the crowd is Howard Lewis (Whitaker), an American tourist who thinks he has captured the killer with his video camera.

Also at the scene is news producer Rex Brooks (Weaver) who has recorded the whole incident on camera with her news team.



A high-paced action thriller, “Vantage Point” explores the period before and right after the assassination attempt from the unique perspectives of eight key participants. They include the president, Secret Service agents and terrorists.

Beginning with the news producer’s, each viewpoint is like a piece of the puzzle falling into place, the truth being uncovered for audiences to see.

“If you were to follow only one story, you wouldn’t find out the truth about what really happened,” says director Pete Travis. “As you see each story, you see something else that you never knew before. It’s only when you get to the end that you figure out what really went on.”



Although the idea is not really new, the suspense will keep you at the edge of your seat. The “cliffhanger endings” for each perspective makes the experience only more intense as the events ‘rewind’ to reveal other viewpoints.

Along the way, you also get a cool car chase across the Spanish capital.



Dennis Quaid does an awesome job as the agent with a turbulent past. Forest Whitaker is lovable as the “citizen hero” who tries to save an innocent girl’s life while William Hurt embodies all the qualities of a certain US President.

My only gripe is Matthew Fox, whom I feel, was miscast for the role. He simply could not tackle the intensity of the character. I like him in “Lost” but here he does not deliver.
Like most US-ego-centric action movies, the US supremacy nuances are very much present in this film. Although the script does take a few jabs at the propaganda-driven mainstream media; a sentiment most local political bloggers can relate to.

However, it is not the intention of the film to be smart or preachy about the issues it delves on.



Like the narrative style it adopts, “Vantage Point” presents itself as a really good action thriller film. Not quite “The Constant Gardener”, but not as dumb as “Die Hard 4”.

Overall, “Vantage Point” delivers with the right amount of style and substance to entertain the first date but not enough to make a lasting impression.

Did you know?
Director Pete Travis was a social worker before he made movies. This attracted the attention of Whitaker, winner of 2006 Academy Award® for Best Actor for his portrayal in The King of Scotland, to star in this film.

Besides the Hollywood heavyweights, the film also feature international stars such as Spain’s Eduardo Noriega (star of “Abre los ojos”, the original version of “Vanilla Sky”), Israel’s Ayelet Zurer (“Munich”), France’s Saïd Taghmaoui (“La Haine”), and Venezuelan actor Edgar Ramirez (“The Bourne Ultimatum”).