HANNA by Tallbrey

I left the theatre last night, and within five minutes texted both the buddies I went to see the movie with the following message; "I'm not sure what just happened." My thoughts are still scattered all over the place, much like the blood and brain matter of many of the characters in HANNA.


I will start with the highlights- The Chemical Brothers' soundtrack was one of the best marriages between music and film I have ever experienced. Hands down. The music fit so well, during both the slower dramatic points and fast action/chase cuts. I LOVE when solid editing and movements mesh perfectly with the beat, sound, and feel of a song. I have already bought the soundtrack, and am currently listening through it, brainstorming constantly as to what awesomeness I can compile to it.


Storyline- I found there to be a few holes. ***NON-Spoiler*** The entire beginning premise of the movie is father and daughter, alone indefinitely in the tundra forest. As daughter feels she is ready to go on her "mission," she engages a beacon that enables the CIA or CIA-like agency to locate her. Why she didn't just leave with dearest Daddy made no sense. Surprise is an essential element in theory, BUT when making a movie, sometimes you throw logic out the window. You NEED a plethora of well-armed idiots to get slaughtered to make your character look heartless and tough. This is only the launching point of the film, so don't think ol' Tallbrey just ruined anything.




There are two moments in the film that I shall describe as... "Come on. That is ridiculous. You expect me to buy that poo?!?" I know this is a movie about an extraordinary girl with phenomenal abilities to dismantle folks, but I have a line, and they crossed it. Twice. I will not do you the dishonor of telling you what those moments are.     ***Okay, I give you a clue. 1. Army Humvees. 2. Merry-Go-Round.


Plot- I enjoyed the storyline, albeit borderline swiss cheesy. It dragged at times, but for the most part kept a solid pace. Hanna's journey was interesting. To watch her learn, adapt, and evolve. She had two personalities it seemed; She was both a highly trained and capable killer, and a curious coming of age young woman. That is a hard one to pull off. (See casting breakdown below)


Style- One of my favorite things to watch for and evaluate is the style of a movie. Sometimes you cannot even put it into clear vocabulary. It is the overall feel of a movie. Angles. Colors. Editing. Music. Distance from the characters. Focus. Hard to describe, yet palpable. (can be a good or bad thing) With HANNA,  I loved the style. Sometimes the camera was uncomfortably close to the characters. The color usage was beautiful. Scenery was perfect. I will have nightmares of the abandoned theme park/carnival. Director Joe Wright stepped outside his norm to deliver this film. Over the past few years, he delivered ATONEMENT, The SOLOIST, and PRIDE & PREJUDICE. The guy has a wide range of skills.
My only what if... Danny Boyle was originally signed on to direct HANNA. I cannot help but wonder how epic that would have been.


Casting- By and large, a great cast.
Saoirse Ronan, who was nominated for ATONEMENT, was great. Until reading up after watching the film, I did not even relate the two characters as one actress. Briony Tallis and Hanna do not even remotely look like the same girl. They made Ronan look almost as if she was Albino. She is one talented little actress.
Eric Bana is hit or miss with me. He was mesmerizing in MUNICH, and abysmal as HULK. I compare him to a more muscular version of Keanu Reeves, who is far better at accents. If it involves personality or a facial expression besides anger, frustration, or indignation, don't call Bana.
Cate Blanchett is a phenomenal actress. That being said, I was not impressed with her in this film. Her accent seemed fake, and forced. Just something didn't fit well with her in the role of a southern, OCD, CIA-controller with no conscience. I also do not, off the top of my head, have a better option as to who I would have suggested for the role. On paper, Blanchett should've been a star.
My "Amber Alert" was blaring the entire time the creepy long-haired guy was talking to Hanna, dancing around, and helping her. He lived in a creepy candy-coated fun-haus. Sweet madre, I didn't like that. Add one clown, and I was out of the theatre. The British traveling companions were well-casted. I like that we see them through Hanna's perception, and you never get a feel for whether or not they were really as hippie-sh and strange as we are led to believe.
I like the non-verbal Neo-nazi thugs. (Strange sentence. Never typed that before) However, the lead German contract-killer was a slight effeminate man, with bleached flock-o-seagull hair and velour jumpsuit.  Strange call. I couldn't look at him without thinking about Lieutenant Dangle.
Best quote... "I'm the sandman. Go to sleep." Cah-reeeeepy.


*** HANNA - REPORT CARD ***
Music- A+
Plot- B
Directing/Style- A
Casting- B
Ridonkulous moments of fallacy- C-


Overall, I'd have to give HANNA a B or B+. I go back and forth.
Worth seeing. 
P.S. If you appreciate human life, and are opposed to the reckless taking of it, think twice before indulging. haha. You've been warned.

Cochese: Top 100

1. Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope
2. Braveheart
3. Jaws
4. Star Wars Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back
5. E.T.: The Extra-Terrestrial
6. Star Wars Episode VI: Return of the Jedi
7. The Shawshank Redemption
8. Schindler’s List
9. Pulp Fiction
10. Lord of the Ring: The Trilogy
11. The Lion King
12. Spider-man 2
13. 28 Days Later
14. Raiders of the Lost Ark
15. Back to the Future Trilogy
16. Amistad
17. Jurassic Park
18. Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade
19. Oh Brother, Where Art Thou?
20. Saving Private Ryan
21. Spider-man
22. Big Fish
23. American Gangster
24. The Little Mermaid
25. Toy Story
26. Gladiator
27. The Green Mile
28. The Count of Monte Cristo
29. Sweeney Todd
30. The Usual Suspects
31. The Dark Knight
32. The Passion of the Christ
33. Reservoir Dogs
34. Castaway
35. Last of the Mohicans
36. The Iron Giant
37. The 6^th Sense
38. Inglourious Badwerds
39. Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon
40. The Matrix
41. Titanic
42. Beauty and the Beast
43. Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith
44. No Country for Old Men
45. Independence Day
46. Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom
47. Dick Tracy
48. Who Framed Roger Rabbit?
49. Kill Bill Vol.’s 1 & 2
50. Forrest Gump
51. The Muppet Movie
52. Pirates of the Caribbean Trilogy
53. Aladdin
54. V for Vendetta
55. Pinocchio
56. Sleepless in Seattle
57. Rocky
58. Terminator 2: Judgment Day
59. Sin City
60. True Grit
61. The Outsiders
62. Inception
63. The King’s Speech
64. Avatar
65. The Breakfast Club
66. Halloween (78)
67. Hot Fuzz
68. Ferris Beuller’s Day Off
69. Ghostbusters
70. Stand By Me
71. The Patriot
72. A Christmas Story
73. The Goonies
74. The Town
75. Shawn of the Dead
76. Dead Poets Society
77. Bottle Rocket
78. King Kong (2005)
79. Spirited Away
80. 300
81. Truman Show
82. Silence of the Lambs
83. True Romance
84. The Royal Tenenbaums
85. A Nightmare on Elm Street (84)
86. Angus
87. Event Horizon
88. Se7en
89. Cloverfield
90. Up
91. Memento
92. The Hangover
93. The Sandlot
94. Tropic Thunder
95. Jack... Trilogy
96. Mean Girls
97. Little Shop of Horrors
98. The Three Amigos
99. Home Alone
100. War of the Worlds (2005)

With some of these, many may say, "Whhhaaaaaa??"  Bring on the challenges.  We'll fight it out like men.

Top 100 Movie List by Tallbrey

To give you a basic guideline and rubric for whether or not you think I'm an idiot, I give you this list of my biggest movie influences. When I give a review; You look at this list, and realize that you cannot find Steel Magnolias or Bring it On on my top 10, and thought they should have been, you are a girlie and I don't want you reading my blog.

However, if you look at my list and find common-ground, I welcome you as a kinsman. Feel free to let me know how you think I mis-ranked this list. Sidenote- many movies are on here because of the way they changed filmmaking through their groundbreaking style, effects, or innovation.
Love,
- Tallbrey

**= never watch again.

1. Shawshank Redemption

2. Braveheart

3. O Brother Where Art Thou

4. Life Is Beautiful

5. The Godfather: Part II

6. Gladiator

7. Lord of the Rings: I-III

8. Saving Private Ryan

9. The Count of Monte Cristo

10. The Matrix

11. 28 Days Later

12. The Dark Knight

13. Tombstone

14. Cinderella Man

15. Last of the Mohicans

16. The Godfather: Part I

17. Dances with Wolves

18. Fight Club

19. City of God

20. Jurassic Park

21. Coolhand Luke

22. Snatch

23. The Patriot

24. Silverado

25. The Prestige

26. The Princess Bride

27. Lonesome Dove

28. SE7EN

29. Raiders of the Lost Ark

30. Monty Python and the Holy Grail

31. The Usual Suspects

32. Lion King

33. **American History X

34. Master and Commander

35. Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon

36. The Green Mile

37. True Grit (2010)

38. **Pulp Fiction

39. The Silence of the Lambs

40. Man from Snowy River

41. Amistad

42. The Last Samurai

43. Slumdog Millionaire

44. Batman Begins

45. The Ring

46. No Country for Old Men

47. Big Fish

48. Inglorious Basterds

49. The 6^th Sense

50. V for Vendetta

51. Back to the Future Trilogy

52. Forrest Gump

53. Arlington Road

54. The Sting

55. Rocky

56. The Truman Show

57. Crash

58. Sean of the Dead

59. Inception

60. The Bourne Trilogy

61. The Shining

62. The Departed

63. **GoodFellas

64. Gran Torino

65. Casa Blanca

66. The Hangover

67. Titanic

68. The Good, the Bad and the Ugly

69. Blazing Saddles

70. Jerry Maguire

71. Terminator 2: Judgement Day (game changing technology)

72. The Pianist

73. Mr. Smith Goes to Washington

74. The Fugitive

75. Momento

76. Heat

77. Unforgiven

78. Royal Tenenbaums

79. Signs

80. Aladdin

81. **Reservoir Dogs

82. Ghostbusters

83. Billy Madison

84. Jackass Trilogy

85. Singin’ in the Rain

86. Hot Fuzz

87. **Requiem for a Dream

88. Good Will Hunting

89. The Town

90. Miracle

91. Bottle Rocket

92. Open Range

93. The Outsiders

94. Primal Fear

95. The Road

96. 300

97. Avatar

98. Passion of the Christ

99. Tommy Boy

100. Kill Bill: Vol. I & II

***** Mini-series/shows that should be on this list, as they are worthy. (both

for writing and acting)

*Deadwood

*Rome

*Mad Men

*Breaking Bad

*The Walking Dead

*Spartacus: Blood and Sand

*Dexter

LIMITLESS by Tallbrey

The wife and I decided on a night out, and thankfully I have the kind of wife that almost always lets me pick the movie at the theatre. I have the foresight to send her often to the theatre with her ladies to watch the "girlie pictures." So it was that I got to see LIMITLESS instead of an estrogen filled poo-fest.

Bradley Cooper is turning out to be quite the ticket-seller. At age 36, he seems to quickly becoming Hollywood's golden boy. Big screen movies he has been in just passed the $1 Billion dollar mark. Much of this credit goes to 2005's Wedding Crashers at $209 Million, and 2009's The Hangover at $277 Million. Even mixing in a few small budget independent films that produced little revenue, movies Bradley has acted in have averaged $87 Million at the theaters. These are impressive numbers, for a guy only 9 years after his big screen debut.


Overall, I really enjoyed LIMITLESS. I went in not knowing what to expect. I intentionally avoided previews, as I believe they tend to show entirely too much of the plot-line nowadays. If there is a movie I do not want to see, I watch the extended trailer, and I feel as if I've read the cliff's notes. I know the major characters. I can guess the twist. This has nothing to do with my over the top brilliance, but much more to do with the classic movie formula that most of Hollywood is currently subscribing to. (This subject is for a different post altogether, I know) This movie kept me guessing.


*** SPOILER FREE, No worries ***
Cooper plays Eddie Morra, a broke, unkempt, uninspired writer who is on the brink of losing his girlfriend and writing contract. He has gotten nothing accomplished since finishing college. He runs into an old "buddy"/dealer, Vernon. (Johnny Whitworth) Vernon gives an introductory tablet of NZT, a new drug that can open up his mind. This is our launching point.


Mixed feelings fill my head about the supporting cast. Robert De Niro plays Carl Van Loon, an investment tycoon/nemesis for Eddie Morra. I was not overly-impressed with De Niro. I'm afraid in preparation for this film, he simply watched Wall Street, and decided to do a Gordon Gekko impersonation. Most of the time, I felt like Bobby De Niro was simply pretending to be himself. I wouldn't have thought twice if he had looked at Cooper's character and said, "You talkin' to me? Are you talkin' to me?!?" I'm afraid that De Niro has become like so many other actors in their twilight and simply reprise their old roles from their youth but in the mold of an old man. (i.e. Al Pacino, Morgan Freeman, Nic Cage, Robin Williams, to name a few...) I was also disappointed in Abbie Cornish. I felt like she was blasé and disconnected from the movie. Maybe that was the intent. I dunno.


Andrew Howard played a Russian mafia thug named Gennady. His character was enjoyable. Many might say he was cliche and could have easily have been pulled from any various 24 or Law & Order episode, but I liked him. His transformation was fun to watch. And in many ways, he was a more impressive villain than De Niro. 


There were some loopholes that I won't uncover, except to say that they [the writers/producers] didn't tie all the way together. Considering myself smarter than the average movie-goer, I do like to piece things together myself, with the clues scattered out before me. I don't like to be spoon-fed. However, certain scenes of this movie were laid out as mystery in front of the audience as if they were crucial to the plot-line, then completely ignored.  For example...


***  SPOILER ALERT  ***
1. The murder in the hotel that Cooper doesn't know if he committed. Never explained.
2. The character, "Man in Tan Coat", played by Tomas Arana. Way to back and forth. He is always chasing and shooting at people. Then his instant turn. Stupid and improbable.
It is always a joy to get a few minutes with the bad guy from The Bodyguard though, so there 's that.
3. This is fiction, and borderline sci-fi, so it may be stupid to nit-pick, but the whole ice-skating self-defense scene. Uber-crap. I smarted off loudly at this point.
4. The Team Edward moment where blood is slurped. Wow. No comment.


Honestly, I wouldn't punch anybody in the face for giving it higher marks than me. Keep in mind, there were some gaping holes and ludicrous moments in there. I cannot forgive those moments. But, all in all, I enjoyed it. I loved the ending. The writing was the saving factor. The dialogue was strong and the interactions between anybody and Bradley Cooper while he was using NZT were very well done. 


Factoring in the flaws, I still give LIMITLESS a B+.

LINCOLN LAWYER by Tallbrey

I, like Cochese, am a rookie-noob when it comes to blogging. It is an understatement that I LOVE movies. I would rather go to the theatre than almost anywhere else. There is something magical about sitting on that front row of the stadium section, in the "most middled" comfy chair, with a rail in front of me. (so I can kick up my ginormous feet and relax) I unload my smuggled goodies, as there is no way I will ever pay for full-price concessions. Cue the previews, and it's time for 2-3 hours of undisturbed ignoring of the outside world, frustrations, worries, or anything else.


On to my review of LINCOLN LAWYER-
Niche actors tend to drive me bonkers. Certain thespians have painted themselves into one specific corner role that they reprise repeatedly, to the chagrin of movie-goers with a brain. Matthew McConaughey, in recent years, has led the charge into shirtless battle. Few actors create such a polar response from me. The ladies love him, but typically, I believe their love is wrapped up in his washboard abs and Texan drawl, and much less with his talent. I have a theory that if Brad Pitt were NOT so good looking, he would have at least two Oscars over his fireplace. (Legends of the Fall, Benjamin Button, SE7EN, 12 Monkeys- Pick any two for the win) The converse of this theory- If Mattie McConaughey wasn't such a looker, the average theatre attendee wouldn't think much of his ability.


Test me on this- His career has had a few smashing moments of acting brilliance. Among them, A Time To Kill, Amistad, U-571, and I will even throw in How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days. However, McConaughey has peppered his career with (and I'm not going to bring up or blame him for anything he was in prior to A Time to Kill, as this film arguably got him B+ status. I refuse to give him A status) Contact, EdTV, Wedding Planner, Reign of Fire, Sahara, Failure to Launch, Fool's Gold, Surfer Dude, Ghosts of Girlfriends Past, and Two For the Money. Now, of the above mentioned romantic-"comedies," maybe one or two of them would stand alone as borderline enjoyment. However, he plays the same character. I think that in each "comantic" movie he's made, they should have just given him the same character name, like they are all sequels of each other.


LINCOLN LAWYER poked a hole in my theory. I'm man enough to admit it. Matthew McConaughey, I'd like to formally apologize to you. I thoroughly enjoyed your most recent film, despite my predictions walking in. 
He was fantastic. McConaughey plays Mick Haller, Defense Attorney to the obviously guilty. He specializes in finding the loopholes in the American Justice System to gain freedom or reduced sentences for scumbags. He is haughty, self-important, and arguably a semi-functional alcoholic. This is the first movie in recent memory in which Matthew did not play the pretty-boy all the way through. His performance was gritty, authentic, and altogether believable.


***No SPOILERS- The storyline focuses around one central case. A high profile trust-fund social elitist, Louis Roulet, (Ryan Phillippe) is arrested for allegedly attacking and raping a high-end call girl. McConaughey works from his mobile law office, in the back seat of his Lincoln, as he has lost his license for unknown reasons.


The supporting cast was great. Marisa Tomei plays Maggie McPherson, the Prosecuting Attorney in the case, who coincidentally is Haller's ex-wife and mother of his daughter. William H. Macy plays Frank Levin, an ex-cop who is currently a Private Investigator for Haller. John Leguizamo plays the fast-talking Bail Bondsman, and is significantly underrated. I find that he is almost always fantastic. Bryan Cranston, Trace Adkins, Laurence Mason, and Josh Lucas all play small roles, but are pivotal to the film.


My only caveat for this film... Mick Haller is terrified of the idea that he would ever let an innocent man go to prison. It is a huge underlying theme of the movie. He sees the importance of seeking true justice in  freeing a wrongfully convicted client. He wrestles with a huge moral dilemma.
However, ***Borderline spoiler*** After the outcome of the big case, he goes back to being the same seedy lawyer, seeking to get the highest bidders out of trouble. Instead of rethinking who he represents as his change of moral grounds, he decides to represent a scumbag pro-bono as the big change of heart. 


Overall, I give LINCOLN LAWYER a solid A-.


***Disagree with me? Totally agree? Think I'm an idiot? That's awesome. We want to hear from you.
Tallbrey

PAUL by Cochese

When in the course of human events, there comes a time to find a profound way to begin one's first blog post.  Now that I've knocked that one out of the park, time to move on to my first movie review.

Paul, starring the now legendary Seth Rogen, Simon Pegg, and Nick Frost, and directed by the now legendary Greg Mottola, is basically E.T. for grown ups.  I'm not one for divulging the entire plot in a movie review, so I'll leave it at that.  That's basically it anyway.

Seth Rogen, love him or hate him for what he did to Green Hornet, delivers his usual I'm-just-gonna-play-Seth-Rogen bit.  Like it or not, the man is funny.  The irony (and I'm a big fan of irony) is that even though he's voicing the titular CGI alien, when thrown in with this cast of characters, he pretty much plays the straight man.  He's the Abbot to their collective Costello.  Rogen is no stranger to voicing such characters, having done Kung Fu Panda, Monsters Vs. Aliens, Spiderwick Chronicles, Horton Hears a Who, and Shrek the Third, so he knows how to play it right.  And the laughs are definitely steady.  Much like Rogen, Pegg and Frost play Pegg and Frost with their usual ambiguously gay antics (see Shaun of the Dead and Hot Fuzz).  But make no mistake, when Pegg and Frost play Pegg and Frost, that's when the magic happens.  I feel like I'm just hanging out with them in their living room, laughing at everything they say.  By the time Paul showed up, I had forgotten there was going to be anyone else in the movie.  The rest of the cast is rich, with the likes of Jason Bateman, a "hidden" Sigourney Weaver (revealed in the final scene as though we had no idea it was her voice we were hearing the entire time like Charlie talking to his Angels), and Mottola regulars Bill Hader and Joe Lo Truglio as the token bumbling cops.  But the shining star is Kristen Wiig.  Mark my words people:  Wiig is the Carol Burnett of this generation.  She's only getting started.  Watching her character learn to eagerly and awkwardly break free of her oppressive father and live in the real world is comic gold.  Nobody plays eager awkwardness better.

However..

There is one dark blot on this otherwise hilarious movie that keeps me from giving it a completely good review.  Part of what Kristen Wiig's character is breaking free from is her zealous belief in God, which Paul's existence somehow disproves.  Let me explain myself.  Perhaps I should be, but I'm not the type to get offended every time movies insult Christianity.  I get it.  You've got your platform, you're making your played out, cliche'ed statement.  It's hip to down-talk Christianity in movies.  But in this case, it was blatant, direct, and even cheesy, all because of one ridiculous scene.  (SPOILER ALERT...I guess)  Paul, in a typical sweet moment at the end of the movie, apologizes for scaring Wiig's character and shaking her faith, and Wiig replies, (get ready) "You didn't scare me...you set me free."  It was an odd moment of simultaneous heart sinking and eyes rolling.

I did laugh.  A lot.  And it was a great Pegg/Wright buddy movie.  Without the aforementioned blot, I would have easily given it an A-.  Lots of laughs, lots of heart.  But I just can't think back on it without first thinking of that one final scene.  So I can't give it better than a flat C, all things considered.  Sorry, Paul.

By Cochese