The Fifth Estate

                                                                       

           Thirty-years ago when people wanted to get their news they would sit around a box and watch “Newsmen” deliver the world’s daily happenings.  You trusted that person and they became almost a part of your family, but times have changed now. Today everybody can be a “Newsman”, all you need is a computer and you can maybe change the world. In 2006 a man named Julian Assange founded a website called “Wikileaks” and changed the way information was shared forever.

          There is a formulation that dates back to the eighteenth century that describes any class or group in society. You have clergy (First Estate), the nobility (Second Estate), the commoners (Third Estate), and the press (Forth Estate). The blogosphere started to refer to itself as the Fifth Estate. The movie “The Fifth Estate” focuses on Julian Assange and the information that his site “Wilileaks” released from 2008 to 2010. Julian (Benedict Cumberbatch) always believed you could change the world by the information that was released. So he decided that he would design a site where people could share secrets anonymously, and unedited. Julian would attract a certain type of person and inspire them to want to help him in his cause. One such person was Daniel Berg (Daniel Bruhl), who with Julian, would go on to release classified documents that would shock the world.  

      “Wikileaks” changed how information was revealed. Yes, there have always been whistleblowers, but they went through a filter by the time we got the news. We were told what someone thought we should know, and not the whole unabridged truth. When “Wikileaks” started releasing the information they did, they put it all out there, and did not edit it to protect the innocent. Unfortunately for us “The Fifth Estate” is not as exciting as what actually happened. Directed by Bill Condon (Kinsey) and adapted for the screen by Josh Singer, from two different books, one even written by Daniel Berg himself. The movie paces it’s self and the movie moves too slow and you feel like the filmmakers missed out on a great opportunity. They could have told a story about a man willing to go to any extremes to release information that he thought the world should know. At about the midpoint of the film, you start to feel like you are about to be taken on a ride, as we watch Assange and Berg try and release the largest amount of classified material ever. I think though that they put that part in the movie to keep you awake, because it doesn't take long for it to start to go back to its snail’s pace. Both Benedict Cumberbatch and Danial Bruhl are excellent in their roles and deserved a better vessel for their performances. I sometimes think that great stories are hard to turn into great movies, because of the subject matter. Is it because of the stories size? Or is it sometimes you just can’t duplicate the greatness that is the real story? Either way I think “Wikileaks” deserves a better retelling, but until then, this is one movie that can be skipped.

Brian Taylor

Escape Plan

                                                                       

              I sometimes sit with my friends and we talk about the worst job to have.  Fast food worker, test subject, maybe that guy who cleans the monkey cages at the zoo. What if your job though was to go to prison? You would have to serve just like every other inmate, but you also have to find a way to break out of the prison you are in. So basically your job is to break out of prisons. It all sounds fun until that day you can’t break out, what happens then?

       “Escape Plan” is a movie about guy who makes a living out of breaking out of prisons, just in case the title didn’t give that away already. That guy’s name is Ray Breslin (Sylvester Stallone) and there is not a prison that can hold him. Ray works for the federal prison system to test their maximum control prisons on how escapable they are. Well apparently Ray always gets out, so I would say those prisons are pretty easy to escape from. Well when you are this good, someone is bound to offer you a shot at a prison that someone believes you can’t get out of. Ray takes that job, and it sent to a prison unlike any he has seen before. The place is designed by someone who read the book on ways to make your prison escape proof, a book which Breslin wrote. It doesn’t take Breslin long to realize that someone wants him to disappear forever, and that this job may be a little harder than planned.  Breslin though meets “the man who can get things” in Rottermayer (Arnold Schwarzenegger), who wants to know who this new prisoner is. Breslin soon lets Rottermayer in on the truth and together they come up with the perfect escape plan.

          Now I will hand it to them, the escape plan they come up with is pretty good, now if only the movie was that good.  Twenty five years ago this would have been the biggest movie in the world. Stallone and Schwarzenegger would be in big bold letters and every red blooded male would be in line waiting. The problem is this is 2013 and not 1991, but just like this movies formula, the story is behind the times. Watching Arnold and Sly in their primes was fun; I mean you really believed that they could both single handily taken out an army.  Now when I see Arnold pick up a M60 and start firing it, I am more worried he might pull something in their prime, Arnold and Sly would pull down twenty million per film, now like all the other aging action stars of the eighties and nineties the only reason they have jobs is because of each other. “Escape Plan” just came out in the wrong decade, written by Miles Chapman and Jason Keller, you get the feeling they watched way to much eighties action movies. Which could have its place in the current state of film, but not here.  When I was younger I used to dream about Arnold and Sly teaming up for a movie, well after watching this movie the only escape I was looking for, was the fire exit.

  Brian Taylor 

          

What's on DVR?--Searching for Sugar Man

In America everyone knows about the common tale of the one-hit wonders.  That songs that everyone is singing for weeks then a year later no one can remember the artist, but they remember the chorus.  Little however is made of the artist who has no hits at all, but maybe caught on in another part of the world.  Even rarer is the artist who achieved Elvis status in another country and never knew it.

“Searching for Sugar Man” is a fascinating documentary about the music and the man known as Rodriguez.  Who in the early 70’s had a couple of albums released, that while well received critically, they basically went nowhere.  He was forgotten, lost to the music gods.  However in South Africa where the apartheid regime was in full force, the youth had the music of Rodriguez to inspire them and give them hope for a better tomorrow.  His sound was like a rougher, rawer version of Bob Dylan.  Maybe it was unpopular in America because it was less poetic, or it was racial thing, all that the makers of the film want to know is the true story behind one of their music legends.  How he lived, how he died, and who benefits from the sales of his albums all these years later.

It’s a short and to the point kind of documentary, which is the best kind, it doesn’t linger too long except where it needs to.  And most of all it feels cinematic, both how it’s shot and in its storytelling.  There are not just floating heads that put you to sleep, they are people that feel like what they have to say about Rodriguez and his music needs to be heard.  The turns the doc takes are as surprising as they are hopeful, and while this music may not be for everyone, (I happen to really dig it) you can’t deny what the power of music can do, and inspire people to do.  I think if nothing else the messages in “Searching for Sugar Man” deserve to be heard and should remind us why we love all kinds of music, from the top 10, to the one-hit wonders all the way to the forgotten.

--Robert L. Castillo   

Captain Phillips

                                                                     

         There are a lot of dangerous jobs out there, but few would consider being captain of a cargo ship as one of them. Usually as a captain you just make sure your ship gets from point A to point B with no trouble. That is easier said than done sometimes, because trouble can find you. Most of the time it is in the form of storms, but there is also the threat of pirates, and not the “Ho ho and a bottle of rum” kind. In the last couple of years pirates from countries like Somali have attacked cargo ships off the African coast, all in the name of profit. This story is about how one captain put himself first to save his crew.

    Captain Phillips (Tom Hanks) has been around the block in the shipping business. He and his crew know the dangers of the waters they are in and signed up for it. Everything starts off normally and the crew heads for their destination not knowing what lies ahead of them. That changes when Captain Phillips notices two blips on the radar that are closing in on his ship. Sensing trouble Phillips calls his situation in with hopes that if something does happen, someone will come to his ships rescue. The two blips are two boats with armed Somali pirates lead by Muse (Barkhad Abdi), which are after the reward for the captured ship. Phillips must find an away to keep the pirate off his ship, but when he fails at that, he must keep his crew safe, what happens next will leave you breathless.

     Most people will maybe vaguely remember this story that happened in 2009, but in the 24 hour news world, it would be easy to forget. For those who do remember the story or read the novel Billy Ray’s screenplay is based off of, it doesn't really matter. I say that because just like last year’s “Zero Dark Thirty”, knowing the outcome does nothing to lessen the suspense. The last thirty minutes of “Captain Phillips” is as tense and full of great storytelling you have ever seen on the big screen.  Paul Greengrass does a masterful job of directing a story that builds tension with very little action. As good as the story and direction are, “Captain Phillips” would be nothing without its two leads. Tom Hanks as Captain Phillips is just simply amazing, and may have just delivered one of his finest performances. It is impossible to not think that this role was made for him and you would think playing opposite of him would be hard to match. Barkhad Abdi as Muse never wilts under Hank’s performance, but instead shines in his first acting role. “Captain Phillips” is a fantastic movie and one that will easily finish among the year’s best. I think the hardest stories to tell are the ones that people already know how it ends, especially in a world where it is ok to fast forward to the end. Well I know how this story ends, and trust me when I say, this is one that you will want to sit through.

Brian Taylor 

What's on Redbox?--The Iceman

If you want to see acting, I mean real acting of Brando-like proportions; you need to see Michael Shannon, in anything.  Well maybe not “Kangaroo Jack” or “Jonah Hex”.  But let’s focus on the positive.  Since his stellar performance in 2003’s “Bug”, he has been on everyone’s radar.  And whether it’s a supporting player (Revolutionary Road) or the lead (Take Shelter) the man always puts his entire self into a role.

This crime drama based on actual events called “The Iceman” is no different.  Shannon portrays Richard Kuklinski a Polish working man who gets pulled into the mob and lets out his inner ruthlessness by killing at least 100 people.  Not just because it pays well and it takes care of his family, but because he needs to.  The film starts off pretty great setting up his relationship with his future wife played by Winona Ryder and also gives us a glimpse of his temper and willingness to kill almost anyone.  Except women and children as is the hitman code, even in the 70’s.  After Richard is recruited by Ray Liotta the movie fast forwards through dozens of murders and the rise to upper middle class for Richard and his family.

What holds the film back from being in the same class as “The Godfather” and “Goodfellas” is the writing and directing.  Ariel Vromen and Morgan Land are new to the game and while they capture the feel of the era and even the tone of a good crime drama, they just can’t quite cross that hurdle.  There are some tense moments that they hold on to, but others just not long enough.  They did well by surrounding themselves with some class acts like James Franco, and Chris Evans who seemed to be the only one not beholden to the script.  Everyone else appeared to be going through the gang-movie-101 motions.  And I’m really sorry, as much as I loved, I mean really loved “Friends” I can’t see David Schwimmer as anyone but Ross.  Here he’s Ross with a pony-tail, track-suit, and a gun.  But still Ross.  Anyway the reason that this is worth a watch again is Shannon, he just commands the screen and captivates you with his performance, which is a feat in of itself as he speaks very little in the film.  So while “The Iceman” isn’t as cool as its title, it’s worth a view until “Man of Steel” is released on video and you can see the other side of Michael Shannon.

 

--Robert L. Castillo     

Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs 2

          I was really looking forward to the “Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs” sequel.  The first one was a fantastic family film, with humor and a strong message about believing in one’s self.  And what makes it a classic is the cute/clever moments littered throughout the film that appeals to adults as well as children.  When I saw the trailer for part 2, I was immediately excited by the prospect of another adventure with Flint Lockwood and his friends, and with the added element of the foodimals on an island ala Jurassic Park: The Lost World.  And much like that sequel “Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs 2” does not live up to unique quality of the original.

We pick up minutes after the last film, that’s even called out which was a good sign of that clever humor from the previous film.  Then as they say it was all downhill from there.  Gone is the originality, gone is the surprise laughs, and gone is the great story with fun characters.  What we’re left with is a carbon copy of a carbon copy.  You get glimpses of the familiar, but not much more, they try to introduce a new villain that while moves funny, does very little to make the story any more interesting. 

Enough of the bashing, as far as sequels go it was a noble effort, the little bits that are funny are littered throughout and the foodimals are cute and clever.  But having our hero Flint not growing after his first encounter with his out-of-control inventions seems out of place.  Kids will still enjoy the film, but it will not have the lasting re-watching power of the first “Cloudy”.  Even with shrimpanzees.

 

--Robert L. Castillo     

Don Jon

                                                                     

            Some people would say that with all of the social networks that are out there, there is less need for face to face interaction.  Staring at a screen and reading updates, or watching videos can seem less complicated. The negative part of not having that face time is that you start to lose the ability to relate to others. It also changes your expectations and may affect your relationships outside the online world. A great example of that is porn, something that is far from reality of what sex is like. Porn is also something rarely talked about, as is the place it has it some people’s lives.

            Jon (Joseph Gordon-Levitt) is a typical guy. He is single and lives life the way he wants to. Jon only cares about a few things in life, His family, his car, his place, working out, church, his ladies, and his porn. Jon loves his porn; it is a place he can get away from all the hassles of life. The problem is, even though Jon can have any woman he wants; none of them give him what porn does. Jon’s life changes though when he lays eyes on Barbara (Scarlett Johansson), to him she is the perfect girl. Jon becomes a changed man for Barbara, well changed man if it doesn't evolve giving up his porn. Jon eventually must make a choice between fantasy and what is real and discover that relationships are not a one way street.

               Let’s face it there are not many more likable people out there than Joseph Gordon-Levitt. So he may be one of the few people who could do a film about a guy addicted to porn and get away with it. Not only did he star in this film as the ultimate douchebag, but this is his writing and directorial debut. It has to be fun to write a character like that, a guy you have seen if you have ever partake in any sort of night life. Both Gordon-Levitt and Johansson go all in on their characters and play them perfectly. As good as the two leads are though; the film is helped by the supporting roles. Tony Danza as Jon’s father, Brie Larson as his Sister, and Julianne Moore as a lady who teaches Jon a few things are all fantastic in their roles. As funny and clever as “Don Jon” is, I can see how it might not be for everyone. The movie is about a guy who loves porn, so there is plenty of imagery.  The problem is that if you choose to skip this movie you will be missing something that is good, and fresh, and not like something you see very often. Good movies are harder to find these days amongst the corporate studio world. So why not give “Don Jon” a chance, and enjoy a movie that will give you a good reason to talk about porn.

Brian Taylor