Trailer Breakdown: DJANGO UNCHAINED

It's been three years since his last film, but Quentin Tarantino looks to come back with a vengeance with the Christmas 2012 release of Django Unchained. The first trailer for the film has finally been released, and I've taken the liberty of watching it a few times through to try to get a decent sense of what we may be getting once the film hits theaters. For starters, let's take a look at the trailer itself, shall we?

And now, let's talk about it a bit. I've come up with a few questions that came to mind while watching the trailer, and I'll do my best to answer them as accurately as I can. 

1. What is Django Unchained?

Although I'm sure many of you already know the basic plot outline, I'll recap what we're given from the trailer: 

A bounty hunter (Christoph Waltz) enlists the help of a former slave (Jamie Foxx) to find a number of slave owners with bounties on their heads. In return, the bounty hunter will help the former slave free his wife (Kerry Washington) from the clutches of an evil plantation owner (Leonardo DiCaprio) who now holds her captive. 

Knowing Tarantino, there's definitely going to be a bit more to the plot than that, but there's a good starting point for those of you curious about the film's storyline. The film is inspired by the 1966 spaghetti western Django.

2. What's up with the music in the trailer?

The first thing I noticed is that the trailer holds quite a bit of more contemporary music than one would imagine for a film of this genre. Normally, I'd think nothing of it considering Tarantino's normally brilliant music selections, but after his 2009 film Inglourious Basterds, which utilized a number of more rustic scores for the soundtrack, I had a feeling he might be going down that road again this time around. Still, this is only the trailer, and we'll have to wait and see just what Tarantino has in store for the film's soundtrack, but we can be sure it'll fit seamlessly into his storyline. 

3. Christoph Waltz is back. Is this the start of an ongoing Tarantino/Waltz collaboration?

Christoph Waltz has been acting for years and years, but most of his work prior to 2009 took place in either Germany or his native Austria. His supporting role in Inglourious Basterds, which landed him an Academy Award, revitalized his career and brought him into the international mainstream. Since then, he's appeared in sub-par films like The Green Hornet, The Three Musketeers and Water for Elephants as well as the stellar Carnage, but his role in Django Unchained looks like it might rival the one he crafted for his Oscar-winning turn. And we all know that Tarantino has a penchant for keeping some actors around his films. We can see Tim Roth and Steve Buscemi in both Reservoir Dogs and Pulp Fiction. And I think everyone knows about the continued collaboration between Tarantino and Samuel L. Jackson, who will also appear in Django Unchained. So, if Waltz wants to continue working with the director, I honestly have no problem with it.

4. Will this film revitalize Jamie Foxx's career?

I've generally liked what Jamie Foxx has managed to do as an actor, but since his Oscar-winning turn as Ray Charles in 2004's Ray, he's had much less success in garnering critical praise despite appearing in larger films like 2005's Jarhead and 2006's Dreamgirls. His last role was in 2011's Horrible Bosses where he portrayed a man named - and I kid you not - Dean 'Motherf---er' Jones. If anybody is in desperate need of a push, it's Foxx, and hopefully the role of Django can help push him back over the hill.

5. Is Leonardo DiCaprio playing a villain? 

All signs point to yes, although this isn't exactly a revelation. Tarantino hasn't been shy about letting the world know he's bringing the three-time Oscar nominee into the fray as the film's antagonist, and everything I've seen thus far makes it seem as though this could prove to be one of DiCaprio's best roles yet. It will also mark the first time in his acting career that he'll have portrayed a film's villain. Sure, he's played shady characters before, but to be the outright bad guy is something a little out of his area of expertise. But with his talents and with Tarantino's direction, this could be the surprise performance of the film.

6. What genre will Django Unchained fall under?

That's actually a pretty good question. It's currently being listed as a dramatic western, but if the trailer is any basis, then there should be an ample amount of comedy. Tarantino's screenplays often hold a legitimate level of humor, and that's part of what makes his films so entertaining and engaging. For example, the trailer shows two clips that offer the following two lines uttered by Foxx's Django: 

(when asked whether he enjoys bounty hunting)

"Kill white folks, and they pay you for it? What's not to like?

(when asked his name)

"Django. The 'D' is silent."

So I would say be prepared to laugh. At the same time, however, there should also be quite a bit of action. Django, the film that inspired this particular venture, was once billed as the most violent film of all time, and we all know just how much bloodshed Tarantino is willing to spill. Is it going to be the most violent film of all time? Certainly not; however, I would be prepared for a rootin', shootin' romp through the Southern countryside. 

*****

Ultimately, none of us will know just how good or bad the film might be until it hits theaters this Christmas. That being said, I personally have to say that I'm ecstatic to see this film. Having only in recent years come to the see the brilliance of Quentin Tarantino's filmmaking, I'm sure that Django Unchained will fit right into the canon of his filmography. I simply cannot wait.

Movie Review: J. EDGAR

J. EDGAR

2011
R


"What's important at this time is to re-clarify the difference between hero and villain."
-- J. Edgar Hoover

J. Edgar is a 2011 biographical drama directed by Clint Eastwood that centers around the life of J. Edgar Hoover (Leonardo DiCaprio), the first director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI). The film is told through a series of flashbacks as Hoover dictates his life story to a series of writers in order to have his life's story on paper. It takes us back to his beginnings with the Justice Department all the way through his years as the head of the FBI; however, the film chooses to focus specifically on two specific aspects of Hoover's life: the case surrounding the kidnapping and murder of Charles Lindbergh's (Josh Lucas) son, and the alleged romantic relationship Hoover had with his right-hand man, Clyde Tolson (Armie Hammer).

When I first saw the trailer for this film, I was thoroughly impressed and began to think this might be the film to beat come Oscar season (for those of you who've been reading me for a while, you'll know that I placed this film as my second most anticipated film of fall 2011). Most of the reasoning behind my excitement was the apparent brilliance it looked like DiCaprio would bring to the role, and the fact that Eastwood was directing didn't necessarily hurt the film's chances either. Early on, I was predicting that DiCaprio might finally bring home an Oscar statuette for this performance, but after the film was released, it opened to some rather mixed reviews. Although most critics agreed that DiCaprio gives a powerhouse performance in the titular role, it seemed as though the screenplay and the direction bogged the movie down and made it terribly uninteresting. Still, I had to give the film a chance on my own, so here's my thoughts.

Let's start with the acting this time around. While I do think DiCaprio did a great job with the role, I personally don't think it's really as good as he's been in the past. It's a far cry from his Oscar-nominated performance in 2004's The Aviator, which I consider to be the best of his career, and personally, I don't think I'd put it in his top five. Still, it's serviceable and a head above what another actor might have been able to do, so I suppose he should be applauded. He's already received a Golden Globe nomination for the performance, but he'll have a tough time bringing home the win with competition from the likes of Ryan Gosling, George Clooney, Brad Pitt and Michael Fassbender. The rest of the cast fills out nicely, but there really isn't anyone truly to rave about. Hammer does well in the main supporting male role, and he's been nominated for a Screen Actor's Guild Award. Judi Dench does well in a limited role, but she's vastly under-utilized. Also watch for some nice scenes from Naomi Watts, who plays Hoover's secretary Helen Gandy.

Now, for the screenplay which has drawn so much criticism. After watching this film, I can honestly say that all the criticism it has received is definitely deserved. While the film does well as to tell some of the major events of Hoover and the FBI's early stages, it all feels very dry, and there's little emotional punch behind any of the scenes in the film. There are some scenes that should be highly emotionally-charged, but I could hardly muster more than a yawn throughout the flick. There's no real hook into the film; instead, it just starts and immediately throws facts and dates at you without setting any real groundwork beforehand. If Eastwood's intent was to craft a moving-picture timeline of Hoover's time with the FBI, then he has succeeded entirely; however, that doesn't necessarily make for an entertaining film, and even a biopic should find a way to hook its audience and keep it engaged with the storyline and the characters. Because there's no access point for the audience, there's no real way to stay engaged with the screenplay, and I personally found myself wandering to and from the screen. That's not good for any movie, much less one that should have been a front-runner for awards season.

At the end of the day, J. Edgar is a film that's probably going to bore you, but it'll still manage to nab at least some nominations come time for the Academy Awards. At this point, I'd be shocked if DiCaprio doesn't nab a nomination, but if he wins, I'll be a tad bit surprised. I personally wouldn't put him at the top of my list - I'm currently leaning towards Gosling's brilliant performance in Drive - but perhaps DiCaprio will find a way to bring that golden statue home for the first time in his career. I'll applaud him and be happy for him, but I just think he wouldn't have won it for the right movie. I guess we'll have to wait and see.

Movie Review Summary
Grade: C+
1 Thumb Down

Happy Birthday, Leonardo DiCaprio!

Today we're celebrating the 37th birthday of three-time Academy Award nominee Leonardo DiCaprio. DiCaprio got his acting start on a number of television shows, but he made his feature film debut in the 1991 film, Critters 3. He made his first splash in 1993's What's Eating Gilbert Grape, which scored him his first Oscar nomination. From there DiCaprio landed lead roles in films like 1995's The Basketball Diaries and 1996's Romeo + Juliet, but it was James Cameron's Titanic in 1997 that truly put him on the map, making him a Hollywood heartthrob overnight. He rode that success until appearing in two films in 2002: Catch Me If You Can and Gangs of New York. He's continued to be one of Hollywood's go-to dramatic actors, and you'd be hard-pressed to find anyone who wouldn't agree that he has talent. You'll next be able to see DiCaprio in Clint Eastwood's J. Edgar, which is being released today. So, for his birthday, I've listed my ten favorite of DiCaprio's roles from over the years. I hope you enjoy the videos I've supplied. Once again, happy birthday, Mr. DiCaprio!

10. Cobb
Inception (2010)


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9. Jack Dawson
Titanic (1997)


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8. Teddy Daniels
Shutter Island (2010)


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7. Frank Wheeler
Revolutionary Road (2008)


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6. Romeo
Romeo + Juliet (1996)


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5. Frank Abagnale Jr.
Catch Me If You Can (2002)


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4. Danny Archer
Blood Diamond (2006)


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3. Billy
The Departed (2006)


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2. Jim Carroll
The Basketball Diaries (1995)


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1. Howard Hughes
The Aviator (2004)

DVD Challenge #14: THE DEPARTED

The Departed
2006
R
Run-time: 2 hours, 31 minutes

Directed by: Martin Scorsese
Starring: Leonardo DiCaprio, Matt Damon, Jack Nicholson, Mark Wahlberg, Martin Sheen, Vera Farmiga, Ray Winstone & Alec Baldwin


It's been a little while since I've seen this former Best Picture winner, but it was high time that I sat down and gave The Departed another viewing. I'll never forget the first time I saw the film: I was living in Santa Cruz at the time, and my mother and some friends had driven up the coast to see me. They thought the best way to enjoy the company would be to take in a movie, so we opted to go with this Scorsese venture. And while I don't personally think it's the best of Scorsese's films - for me, that would have to be 1976's Taxi Driver - but it was the one that finally garnered him an Academy Award win for Best Director. If you ask me, that has to say quite a bit.

What most people don't know is that The Departed is actually a bit of a remake, fashioned as an Americanized version of the 2002 Hong Kong film Infernal Affairs. I personally haven't seen that particular film, so I can't really compare and tell you which is better, but with an all-star cast like the one we're given in this version, I think the original fare would be hard-pressed to be considered the better of the two. Let me break this down for you a little bit: just between the actors listed above, they have a whopping twenty Academy Award nominations and three wins (although, twelve nominations and all three wins belong to Nicholson). Still, that's quite an impressive roster that we're dealt. Wahlberg scored an acting nomination for his role in the film, but I personally believe that Nicholson was snubbed a bit as he delivers easily the best and most entertaining performance in the film. I could probably go on for days about how good each particular member of the cast proves to be, but that would take me literally days. Just know that you're given an all-star cast that delivers on all cylinders.

Now, I know there have been some individuals who had issue with the film's screenplay. Namely, they were a tad confused by the speed with which the film ends. To be fair, the final ten minutes of the film pass at blinding speed, almost giving the audience no time to absorb everything they're seeing. Yes, it's frantic, but I personally think it offers just the right amount of catharsis needed for a film of this nature. The overall plot is so elaborate that the audience finds itself getting so worked into the story that we need some sort of drastic release at the end. This is where The Departed truly delivers. Sure, the journey towards the end is fantastic, but the ultimate payoff is the reason that this film has reached into the annals of film history and cemented itself as an instant classic.

We also get an utterly fantastic and innovative musical score from the likes of Howard Shore, who has also scored films like Se7en, The Aviator and the Lord of the Rings trilogy. However, he may have presented my favorite of his compositions with this film. Here's a little taste of what he brings to the table - I'd bet you that you'll enjoy it:

Overall, Scorsese definitely brought a winning combination of screenplay and acting to the screen for this Best Picture winner. It's a movie that definitely doesn't get old with multiple viewings, and in fact, I'm sure I've started to appreciate it all the more each time I watch it. If you haven't seen this film, you should drop what you do and give it a gander. I can almost guarantee you'll enjoy it.

Rankings
Best All-Time: #106
Best Since 2000: #41

Awards
2006: 9 nominations, 2 wins

Previous DVD Challenge: TOY STORY (1995)

Movie Review: THE MAN IN THE IRON MASK

THE MAN IN THE IRON MASK

1998
PG-13

The Man in the Iron Mask is a 1998 action film directed by Randall Wallace. It has been called a very loose adaptation of Alexandre Dumas' The Vicomte de Bragelonne, the second sequel to the famed The Three Musketeers. This film follows a plot by everyone's favorite musketeers: Aramis (Jeremy Irons), Athos (John Malkovich) and Porthos (Gérard Depardieu). These aging soldiers have major issues with how the current king, King Louis XIV (Leonardo DiCaprio), is treating the people of France. The three men decide to take action by finding a prisoner encased in an iron mask to replace the king on his throne. This prisoner (also played by DiCaprio) serves well because he is the unknowing twin brother of the current king. However, one man truly stands in their way: D'Artagnan (Gabriel Byrne), who was once the fourth musketeer in their small group. So the story essentially becomes a battle between the two sides, each of which is either trying to start or prevent a chance in the country's kingship.

If the previous synopsis seemed a little bit convoluted, then you'd be hitting the nail on the head. It's not that the storyline is hard to follow - in fact, it's a little too simplistic. Rather, it's just not very good. I felt like it was entirely predictable. You'd be hard pressed to think that the film would end in a way other than it does, and that doesn't necessarily bode well for this particular film. However, the biggest problem with the film (and I blame the screenplay) is that it never truly pulls you into the story. The Man in the Iron Mask is a film you can watch while working on other things. It's the perfect multi-task flick because you can be working on something else and still know exactly what's going on in the film. For some, this is a good thing because they won't miss any major plot details. In terms of a film's effectiveness, however, there's no hook. That's not a good thing.

I also had some issue with the level of acting in the movie. While no one is downright awful - save Judith Godrèche, who plays King Louis' love interest throughout the film - there's really nobody that's terribly good, either. If anyone is standing above the rest, it's Irons, who I found to be the most believable. Byrne is also very good, but his blank stares kinda killed it a little bit. My biggest issues, however, were with the actors who couldn't even manage to deliver even a hint of an accent. Whereas most of the cast, as well as all supporting and nameless characters, had some sort of accent (it was supposed to be something like French, but anything that didn't sound "American" was a plus for me in this movie), a few of our big names couldn't bring anything like that to the table. For starters, DiCaprio was totally out of his element. I feel like it was too early in his career to delve into a film where he would play dual roles, especially if he couldn't give either character an accent. Shouldn't the King of France sound French? Malkovich also does nothing different with his voice, and that probably annoyed me the most, considering he's a phenomenal actor who's usually so dedicated to his craft. And even though he only plays a minor role early in the film, Peter Sarsgaard doesn't give us an accent. I know I'm nit-picking, but you've gotta be better than that, guys. Seriously.

Oh, and I'd also like to mention that we get a Hugh Laurie sighting in the film. He's not an important role, by any means, but I suppose it's worth mention that "House" did do films before becoming a full-time, certified doctor.

Overall, The Man in the Iron Mask is a tad bit on the boring side, and although you can watch it while working on other things, it still may not be worth your time. Nothing's really adding up to anything of quality, which really is sad considering the caliber of actor we're presented. It's all just too bad.

Movie Review Summary:

Grade: D
1.5 Thumbs Down