Post by Sgt. AWOLaLot on Jul 1, 2017 10:36:51 GMT -5
A pair of reviews for a director that I think is a rising star, Denis Villeneuve. I think my review for Prisoners is one of my best written reviews so far. The one for Sicario on the other hand doesn't get in depth as much as I'd like, but it was late and I was tired when writing it.
Written June 27th, 2017: Prisoners
"On Sunday I watched one of my favorite drama films for the second time. That film is Prisoners. I gave a mini-review of it before, but this is a movie that deserves a longer analysis.
Prisoners (2013) is a thriller character drama directed by Denis Villeneuve and stars Hugh Jackman, Jake Gyllenhaal, Viola Davis, Terrence Howard, and Maria Bello. In this film, Hugh Jackman's (Keller Dover) family joins Terrence Howard's (as Franklin Birch) family for a Thanksgiving dinner. However they later notice that both their young daughters are missing. They go out on a search and the police are then called. Jake Gyllenhaal's character, Detective Loki, leads the investigation to find the daughters. What ensues is one of the most impressive, dark, stressful, and depressing character dramas I've ever seen. It is like stress in a bottle. You might read those adjectives and wonder how anyone could like or even love this film. Well, it's is because of the terrific acting, directing, and the challenging themes this film covers.
There are two parts that I really love about this film. The first is Hugh Jackman's character. His character and the actions he take will probably be the most challenging parts of the film for most people. The little girls were last seen by an RV. This same RV is found later and the driver is taken into custody (the girls are nowhere to be found). However, the driver literally has the IQ of a 10 year old. He is questioned but set free when it's deemed he doesn't have the intelligence to commit the crime. But Jackman is convinced that the man knows something, and will go to any extreme to find information: even as far as taking this mentally slow man as his prisoner and throwing in some torture for good measure. Yeah. This film is not for the faint of heart. It really is worth it though if one can make it to the end of the film. And I just can't help but be enthralled in what's happening to Jackman's character. Seeing his fall from rational thought and morality is tragic and challenging, but it feels so real that I have to appreciate Jackman's performance, the script, and the plot. It's also through his character that we realize the title of Prisoners takes on more than its literal meaning. Definitely the right title.
Eventually, Gyllenhaal does start to notice Jackman and some strange behaviors. At this point, I should make it clear that Detective Loki is really the only "good" character in the film. Pretty much all of the main characters do something that will be on their conscience later. As for Jackman, he is unwilling to put any blame on himself. He takes offense to being followed by Detective Loki, and says that Loki is wasting time by following him rather than looking for his daughters.
The other part I love is the directing and production design. I liked Villeneuve's camera placements in the conversation scenes, and how they're farther out during the Thanksgiving party and switch to over the shoulder the first time Keller meets Loki. None of the shots felt strange or out of place. Then there's the sound design and the score. The score was composed by Johann Johannsson (Villeneuve's usual composer), and it fits the brooding, dark nature of the film very well. The score is devoid of any joy or brightness, and there isn't a major key signature or even a chord to be found. Johannsson is also usually minimalist with his writing, and this score relies on strings, a little choir (electronically manipulated), and electronic percussion sounds. It is also used sparingly and is never really at the forefront. Though it does provide clues as to when something is going to happen.
The sound design itself is something else I noticed. There's something about the sound mixing that sounds "cold". I'm not really sure how to describe it (and I could if I knew more about sound production), but it just doesn't sound over-produced. I'll put it this way. This film didn't need to hire Skywalker Sound to provide anything extravagant or epic.
I also think that Thanksgiving was a perfect time of year to have the film take place. Prisoners takes place in either a midwest or northern state. And during the film, the sky is usually covered in grey clouds. This mixed with the darker lighting fits the dark nature of the film perfectly.
Another part I liked and noticed after a second viewing was that as a viewer, you really aren't allowed to know more than what the characters do. Like any good thriller, this film keeps you guessing up until the end. I would even go as far as to say even a very keen first time viewer wouldn't be able to figure it out. It also allowed me to make some connections I missed the first time.
The other performances (besides Jackman's) were great as well. Gyllenhaal was excellent as Detective Loki, and I'd like to see more of his work (he was in Nightcrawler right?). Viola Davis and Terrence Howard were also quite good as the other couple.
Prisoners truly is a great film. But it is NOT a film for everyone. It even challenged my father, who was disgusted with actions of Jackman's character. It's depressing, dark, and will challenge you as a viewer. But I think that's what makes it special. Sometimes as an audience we need to watch films that challenge us. Yes, we need fun comedies, good children films, big science fiction extravaganzas, and even lighter drama films. The thing though is that films like Prisoners are pretty rare, mostly because general audiences would prefer not to be taken into the darker depths of the soul. This is understandable. Films like this need to be made though. There has to be dark to balance the light so to speak. That's why I'm curious about films like A Cure for Wellness and Requiem for a Dream. I haven't seen them yet, but I've heard they can get pretty creepy or disturbing, and can leave you emotionally drained (especially Requiem for a Dream). And that's why I think Prisoners is special. It is a drama masterpiece. If you're willing to challenge yourself, it is a film worth seeing to the end. And Denis Villeneuve is definitely a rising star in directing. I look forward to Blade Runner 2049 and future projects."
Written June 1st, 2017: Sicario
"Now for another of Villeneuve's highly acclaimed films, Sicario.
Sicario (2015) is crime thriller drama film directed by Denis Villeneuve and stars Emily Blunt, Benicio Del Toro, Josh Brolin, Victor Garber, and Daniel Kaluuya. In this film, Emily Blunt's character (Kate Mercer) is an FBI agent who is trained to deal with hostage and kidnapping situations, and Daniel Kaluuya's character (Reggie Wayne; not the Colt's receiver) is her partner. We are introduced to them on one of their missions in the film's opening as they go to breach a house with a SWAT team suspected of holding hostages. They clear the house only to have a large bomb go off outside, killing some of the SWAT team members. Soon after, Josh Brolin's character (Matt Graver) stops by the FBI facility and requests that Kate be folded into his team to assist in taking down a member of the Mexican drug cartel on the US/Mexico border. This same man is also apparently the one truly responsible for the bomb that went off. What ensues is very tense, smart, and intriguing film that once again shows Villeneuve is a director to watch for.
Once again, Villeneuve's directing is something to behold. And after seeing two of his films in close proximity, I think I've picked up on what I like so much about his style. He has a very structured, competent, and calculating way of directing his films. I don't know this for sure but I'm willing to bet he uses a lot of storyboards to plan his camera placements and think very hard about his scene transitions. When you watch one of his films, you can just tell that he puts a lot of time and effort into what he's creating. That's why his films seem to flow so easily. Prisoners is a 2 and a half hour movie, but to me it doesn't feel that long. And in Sicario Villeneuve again just seems to know the right moments to cut to another scene or where to put his cameras. This is something I've only noticed from one other director so far, and that is Francis Ford Coppola. I'm sure there are other examples too, but comparing Villeneuve to the likes of Coppola shows the potential he has. One sequence in particular I loved was the first time they are heading back from Mexico on the highway, and Kate along with the other government agents start to take noticed of armed men in vehicles near them. The way that Villeneuve handled the tension was just perfect. It had you waiting and wanting to see what was going to happen.
I also thought the performances were great, and most of the characters were quite interesting. Blunt's character and her character development are particularly interesting. Kate is a by the book, idealistic FBI agent. When she is folded into the unit led by Graver however, she notices that these guys don't always do things by the book and tend to stretch the rules of engagement. She also can't get straight answers on what her purpose on the team actually is. This is a theme that carries through the whole film, and its resolution is quite an intense scene.
I also enjoyed Benicio Del Toro's character. Right away, Kate is suspicious of Del Toro (Alejandro) and knows he's not a US agent. He is a man of few words and tough as nails, and has motives of his own for wanting to fight the Mexican cartels. Josh Brolin's character was also good, and he gets some witty dialogue that makes for an entertaining character.
Once again I also loved the sound design and sound mixing in this film. Wasn't a huge fan of the score however. It was composed again by Johann Johannsson. I actually liked the score for Prisoners and could recognize a theme or two that were present in the film. In Sicario however, I really don't recall anything. I do know that I heard some trumpet like sounds (I say that because they might have been electronic) and a recurring, brooding, low bass sound. But other than that, it wasn't anything special.
Overall I really liked Sicario, but not as much as I liked Arrival or Prisoners. That being said, Villeneuve is a new talent to keep an eye on. Sicario was still a very well made film with a gripping story that deserves a watch. And I think that if Blade Runner 2049 turns out to be great, not just good, it could propel Villeneuve to great heights and give him a lot more exposure. Where Nolan is my favorite director to gain fame since the year 2000, Villeneuve has proven to be my favorite since 2010."
Written June 27th, 2017: Prisoners
"On Sunday I watched one of my favorite drama films for the second time. That film is Prisoners. I gave a mini-review of it before, but this is a movie that deserves a longer analysis.
Prisoners (2013) is a thriller character drama directed by Denis Villeneuve and stars Hugh Jackman, Jake Gyllenhaal, Viola Davis, Terrence Howard, and Maria Bello. In this film, Hugh Jackman's (Keller Dover) family joins Terrence Howard's (as Franklin Birch) family for a Thanksgiving dinner. However they later notice that both their young daughters are missing. They go out on a search and the police are then called. Jake Gyllenhaal's character, Detective Loki, leads the investigation to find the daughters. What ensues is one of the most impressive, dark, stressful, and depressing character dramas I've ever seen. It is like stress in a bottle. You might read those adjectives and wonder how anyone could like or even love this film. Well, it's is because of the terrific acting, directing, and the challenging themes this film covers.
There are two parts that I really love about this film. The first is Hugh Jackman's character. His character and the actions he take will probably be the most challenging parts of the film for most people. The little girls were last seen by an RV. This same RV is found later and the driver is taken into custody (the girls are nowhere to be found). However, the driver literally has the IQ of a 10 year old. He is questioned but set free when it's deemed he doesn't have the intelligence to commit the crime. But Jackman is convinced that the man knows something, and will go to any extreme to find information: even as far as taking this mentally slow man as his prisoner and throwing in some torture for good measure. Yeah. This film is not for the faint of heart. It really is worth it though if one can make it to the end of the film. And I just can't help but be enthralled in what's happening to Jackman's character. Seeing his fall from rational thought and morality is tragic and challenging, but it feels so real that I have to appreciate Jackman's performance, the script, and the plot. It's also through his character that we realize the title of Prisoners takes on more than its literal meaning. Definitely the right title.
Eventually, Gyllenhaal does start to notice Jackman and some strange behaviors. At this point, I should make it clear that Detective Loki is really the only "good" character in the film. Pretty much all of the main characters do something that will be on their conscience later. As for Jackman, he is unwilling to put any blame on himself. He takes offense to being followed by Detective Loki, and says that Loki is wasting time by following him rather than looking for his daughters.
The other part I love is the directing and production design. I liked Villeneuve's camera placements in the conversation scenes, and how they're farther out during the Thanksgiving party and switch to over the shoulder the first time Keller meets Loki. None of the shots felt strange or out of place. Then there's the sound design and the score. The score was composed by Johann Johannsson (Villeneuve's usual composer), and it fits the brooding, dark nature of the film very well. The score is devoid of any joy or brightness, and there isn't a major key signature or even a chord to be found. Johannsson is also usually minimalist with his writing, and this score relies on strings, a little choir (electronically manipulated), and electronic percussion sounds. It is also used sparingly and is never really at the forefront. Though it does provide clues as to when something is going to happen.
The sound design itself is something else I noticed. There's something about the sound mixing that sounds "cold". I'm not really sure how to describe it (and I could if I knew more about sound production), but it just doesn't sound over-produced. I'll put it this way. This film didn't need to hire Skywalker Sound to provide anything extravagant or epic.
I also think that Thanksgiving was a perfect time of year to have the film take place. Prisoners takes place in either a midwest or northern state. And during the film, the sky is usually covered in grey clouds. This mixed with the darker lighting fits the dark nature of the film perfectly.
Another part I liked and noticed after a second viewing was that as a viewer, you really aren't allowed to know more than what the characters do. Like any good thriller, this film keeps you guessing up until the end. I would even go as far as to say even a very keen first time viewer wouldn't be able to figure it out. It also allowed me to make some connections I missed the first time.
The other performances (besides Jackman's) were great as well. Gyllenhaal was excellent as Detective Loki, and I'd like to see more of his work (he was in Nightcrawler right?). Viola Davis and Terrence Howard were also quite good as the other couple.
Prisoners truly is a great film. But it is NOT a film for everyone. It even challenged my father, who was disgusted with actions of Jackman's character. It's depressing, dark, and will challenge you as a viewer. But I think that's what makes it special. Sometimes as an audience we need to watch films that challenge us. Yes, we need fun comedies, good children films, big science fiction extravaganzas, and even lighter drama films. The thing though is that films like Prisoners are pretty rare, mostly because general audiences would prefer not to be taken into the darker depths of the soul. This is understandable. Films like this need to be made though. There has to be dark to balance the light so to speak. That's why I'm curious about films like A Cure for Wellness and Requiem for a Dream. I haven't seen them yet, but I've heard they can get pretty creepy or disturbing, and can leave you emotionally drained (especially Requiem for a Dream). And that's why I think Prisoners is special. It is a drama masterpiece. If you're willing to challenge yourself, it is a film worth seeing to the end. And Denis Villeneuve is definitely a rising star in directing. I look forward to Blade Runner 2049 and future projects."
Written June 1st, 2017: Sicario
"Now for another of Villeneuve's highly acclaimed films, Sicario.
Sicario (2015) is crime thriller drama film directed by Denis Villeneuve and stars Emily Blunt, Benicio Del Toro, Josh Brolin, Victor Garber, and Daniel Kaluuya. In this film, Emily Blunt's character (Kate Mercer) is an FBI agent who is trained to deal with hostage and kidnapping situations, and Daniel Kaluuya's character (Reggie Wayne; not the Colt's receiver) is her partner. We are introduced to them on one of their missions in the film's opening as they go to breach a house with a SWAT team suspected of holding hostages. They clear the house only to have a large bomb go off outside, killing some of the SWAT team members. Soon after, Josh Brolin's character (Matt Graver) stops by the FBI facility and requests that Kate be folded into his team to assist in taking down a member of the Mexican drug cartel on the US/Mexico border. This same man is also apparently the one truly responsible for the bomb that went off. What ensues is very tense, smart, and intriguing film that once again shows Villeneuve is a director to watch for.
Once again, Villeneuve's directing is something to behold. And after seeing two of his films in close proximity, I think I've picked up on what I like so much about his style. He has a very structured, competent, and calculating way of directing his films. I don't know this for sure but I'm willing to bet he uses a lot of storyboards to plan his camera placements and think very hard about his scene transitions. When you watch one of his films, you can just tell that he puts a lot of time and effort into what he's creating. That's why his films seem to flow so easily. Prisoners is a 2 and a half hour movie, but to me it doesn't feel that long. And in Sicario Villeneuve again just seems to know the right moments to cut to another scene or where to put his cameras. This is something I've only noticed from one other director so far, and that is Francis Ford Coppola. I'm sure there are other examples too, but comparing Villeneuve to the likes of Coppola shows the potential he has. One sequence in particular I loved was the first time they are heading back from Mexico on the highway, and Kate along with the other government agents start to take noticed of armed men in vehicles near them. The way that Villeneuve handled the tension was just perfect. It had you waiting and wanting to see what was going to happen.
I also thought the performances were great, and most of the characters were quite interesting. Blunt's character and her character development are particularly interesting. Kate is a by the book, idealistic FBI agent. When she is folded into the unit led by Graver however, she notices that these guys don't always do things by the book and tend to stretch the rules of engagement. She also can't get straight answers on what her purpose on the team actually is. This is a theme that carries through the whole film, and its resolution is quite an intense scene.
I also enjoyed Benicio Del Toro's character. Right away, Kate is suspicious of Del Toro (Alejandro) and knows he's not a US agent. He is a man of few words and tough as nails, and has motives of his own for wanting to fight the Mexican cartels. Josh Brolin's character was also good, and he gets some witty dialogue that makes for an entertaining character.
Once again I also loved the sound design and sound mixing in this film. Wasn't a huge fan of the score however. It was composed again by Johann Johannsson. I actually liked the score for Prisoners and could recognize a theme or two that were present in the film. In Sicario however, I really don't recall anything. I do know that I heard some trumpet like sounds (I say that because they might have been electronic) and a recurring, brooding, low bass sound. But other than that, it wasn't anything special.
Overall I really liked Sicario, but not as much as I liked Arrival or Prisoners. That being said, Villeneuve is a new talent to keep an eye on. Sicario was still a very well made film with a gripping story that deserves a watch. And I think that if Blade Runner 2049 turns out to be great, not just good, it could propel Villeneuve to great heights and give him a lot more exposure. Where Nolan is my favorite director to gain fame since the year 2000, Villeneuve has proven to be my favorite since 2010."