A Most Wanted (Philip Seymour Hoff)Man

This is nearly the final film we'll ever get to see Philip Seymour Hoffman in. And I for one am just relieved that it's actually worth the price of admission. See, it's easy to get lost in the idea that everyone is just on board because one of the greats of our time made this into their swan song. But believe me when I tell you, there is far more to this movie than that.

A Most Wanted Man is an exceptionally crafted tale of espionage in the modern age... as expertly constructed by the master of the genre John le Carré. You know his work: Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy, The Constant Gardener, The Spy Who Came in from the Cold. The man's been writing novels in the genre for years and there's a very good reason so many of his tales have been adapted to the screen... Still, this particular story is somehow different. It hits closer to home than those more classic tales. It takes place now (or as close to now as is necessary).

Hoffman plays a German intelligence agent desperately fighting an uphill battle to both protect his own country from terrorism and prove to other nations with larger firms that the world can be saved using more peaceful tactics rather than just shipping off every would be terrorist to some invisible prison to be tortured. It's invigorating to watch his character work and up until the final moment it is still hard to know if he is a trustworthy individual... if his plan is legitimate... if the intel is correct. This is a fascinating performance in the annuls of his career and he will be sorely missed.

Yet he is not the only actor in the movie. FAR from it. Rachel McAdams with a German accent actually does work! She gives an excellent performance. I am left wondering if there is, in fact, any role she can't play. If you compare her performance here to that of Mean Girls, it's hard to believe this is the same person. Willem Dafoe is always a pleasure to watch and does not disappoint as a conflicted banker. I also appreciated Robin Wright. And while I believe he is sadly underutilized, Daniel Brühl still manages to give a quality performance. Grigoriy Dobrygin does a fine job as the referenced title character, but at the end of the day it really isn't his movie, and that becomes apparent as the story progresses. Still, it is very interesting to watch him struggle with his past and the potentials that his future might hold.

Anton Corbijn did an admirable job. At first I couldn't really feel any style from the movie... which seemed odd because this is the same guy who directed The American, a film that only seemed to exist for the purpose of style. But as the story progressed, this beautiful flower seemed to blossom. The script was almost too smart for its own good (something I never thought I'd hear myself say), yet by the end, all of the oddness that came from the shock of entering this world of espionage seemed to dissipate in favor of a truly exceptional finale. For that, I think Andrew Bovell also deserves a great deal of credit. He managed to condense something in danger of being far too convoluted into a very watchable movie. Now that's good writing!

A Most Wanted Man is already in the Oscar discussion and it's not just because of Philip Seymour Hoffman. This is a legitimately good movie. And well worth your time.

Why All The Fifth Estate Hate??

I finally saw The Fifth Estate.

And while walking in, I was confused. I had seen the trailer and loved it

but almost all of the critics seemed to be bashing it to pieces. So I sat in my seat alone. Didn't even invite friends because no one seemed interested. As the lights went down I instinctively knew which way I'd side.

The Fifth Estate is not a bad movie. Not by a long shot.

In fact, it has one of the most consistently good casts I've seen this year. From the quite excellent leads, Daniel Brühl and Benedict Cumberbatch, to the surprising (I didn't know they were in this movie) co-stars, Laura Linney and Stanley Tucci (???), to the incredibly sexy Alicia Vikander... I honestly can't recall a single bad performance.

Then there's the script. I don't believe there is nearly as much problem with the script as many of those oh so subtle reviewers seem to claim. At one point I recall one critic blasting it as being incompetently un-cinematic. And while there is an element of that (namely the computer sequences) and the script does a poor job tiptoeing around that (a la a metaphorically never ending office with only two employees) the majority of Assange and Berg's relationship seemed quite real to me.

Now I don't know the facts. I wasn't there. But neither was the rest of the media. So when Assange himself gets up and claims the movie to be utterly untrue, I have to wonder... Because the picture this film paints is one wherein both characters see the world the way they want to see it. And there's a succinct believability for me in that. I don't think it "demonizes Assange", nor do I think it claims that Berg is absolutely right. I think The Fifth Estate did a surprisingly good job of staying unbiased. And perhaps that's where the real hate comes from.

I tend to dislike films without "bias"... but when I say that I mean a film without a clear perspective. I think The Fifth Estate still had that and I'll disagree with anyone who claims it was lopsided until they can prove it to me.

One Quick Almost Spoiler
Anyway, there's a scene that I still cannot get out of my head. When Assange goes to Berg's parents' house for dinner, there is a moment that was so believable to me. And in that moment I sensed a better representation of a character's hidden perspective than I think I've ever seen on film. If you've read this blip and know what I am referring to I really want to talk to someone about it!!
End Almost Spoiler

The Fifth Estate... some say it's too smart... some say it's too stupid... and I'm just left here feeling like Goldilocks.

Rush Is Surprisingly Awesome

Last week I had the pleasure of seeing Rush

the new Ron Howard movie with Chris Hemsworth and Daniel Brühl. And let me just start by saying, I was impressed.

In the past, I have had a difficult time with Ron Howard's work.

I think he is an excellent producer, but when it came to his directing style and (perhaps more telling) the stories he chose to tell I frequently would find myself yawning and checking the time. So when I walked into that theatre to experience his latest film, you can imagine I was something less than enthusiastic. Then the movie started. Niki Lauda... I mean Daniel Brühl began to narrate. And I was just hooked.

From start to finish, from race to race, I had to know what was next. I felt an honest connection with the two leads and their perspectives. I felt respect for the caliber of filmmaking. And I came to respect Ron Howard's directing chops.

The story simply cruised across the screen and I never once felt the just over two hour run time. Simply put, I was invested. And when you go to the cinema to see a flick, that's all you can really hope to be - invested.

It's interesting to note the heaviest advertising push came with Hemsworth's image and name,

though in truth, this is Brühl's film for at least the majority of the time. And he really made an impression on me.

When I looked at the images of the actual racers, it took me a minute to adjust.

The casting was so superb and their mannerisms so dead on, that even in those old and frozen pictures I felt like those were the same people I had been watching the entire movie.

What's more, the races were just so fun to watch. I don't enjoy formula one racing... actually any professional racing of any kind wherein the competitors simply go around an enclosed track a myriad of times. So when a film makes me enjoy that "sport" I have to tip my hat.

If you wanna see a good rivalry film, a great sports story, and just a damn fine picture, do yourself a favor and check out Ron Howard's Rush.