I can't remember when I first read one of Roger Ebert's reviews, but it must be over a decade ago. It seems like he's been part of my life forever, but realistically, it would be 15 years ago at most as I didn't get online until 1999, and the Chicago Sun Times was in short supply in the small village in Wales I grew up in.
Since discovering him, though, I've made up for lost time. I've read hundreds of his reviews, reread my favourites on countless occasions, been entertained immeasurably by some of his most scathing, and discovered some of my favourite films through his reviews - Sin Nombre, Lost and Delirious, and Wet Hot American Summer to name but three. (Hey, looking at the review of Wet Hot American Summer, I loved reading him; I didn't say I always agreed with him!)
So this film about the Pulitzer Prize winning critic, based on his memoir, was my most anticipated of the year, but if you want unbiased opinion, you should perhaps look elsewhere. Of course, if you're looking for someone who hasn't been influenced in one way or another by Ebert, you may be looking for some time.
In my hopelessly biased view, then, this is an utterly amazing movie which manages to do the near impossible and of justice to a subject beloved of so many. It takes us quickly through his early days, with interesting anecdotes about his time as editor of a college newspaper, but the main part of the film goes back and forth between looking at Ebert's time as a film critic - often using narration taken from his memoir - and seeing him in declining health.
Watching him as he was towards the end of his life is tough viewing at times, and an early shot which lets us see through Ebert's mouth, since his jaw has been destroyed by the cancer, leaves us in no doubt as to the extent of his health issues. Despite these problems, though, and his inability to speak, he's a remarkably upbeat presence for much of the film, enjoying reminiscing with maker Steve James about his past.
At heart, this is a love story. It's partly one of Ebert's devotion to films, showing how he helped launch the careers of several filmmakers - including Errol Morris and Ramin Bahrani who are both interviewed here - by shining a spotlight on their work, but also how he would hold movies to account when he felt they should have been better - even those of directors, like Martin Scorsese, who he considered his friends. Even more, though, it's a tender portrayal of his long relationship with wife Chaz Ebert, so supportive over such a long period of time, right up until the very end. The love they have for each other shines through every time they're on screen.
The other main relationship the film focuses on is that of Ebert and Chicago Tribune film critic Gene Siskel, who worked together for years on TV. The famously fractious friendship/rivalry is explored in-depth here, with the childish behaviour of both men at times exposed, but it's clear that beneath everything was an underlying respect for each other.
An utterly amazing film, definitely my favourite of the year, and probably the most I've ever cried in the cinema - a seriously emotional ride.
I was lucky enough to see a special screening of this followed by a Q and A with director Steve James, whose recollections of shooting the movie were very interesting.
Also seen this week:
Leviathan - I admired this hard-hitting Russian drama about corruption, a modern-day reworking of the Book of Job, more than I actually liked it. It's well acted - particularly by lead Aleksei Serebryakov as Nikolay - but I didn't really engage with any of the characters that much.
Sacro GRA - This Italian documentary about the ring road which circles Rome was hit and miss but parts were fascinating. I thought it arguably tried to focus on too many people - I'd have loved a smaller group but more time spent with some of the more interesting ones, like the guy trying to save palm trees from the weevils - but I'm glad I caught it.
Sunday 23 November 2014
Thursday 20 November 2014
Top Ten Films Of My First Year As A Curzon Member
I've been considering doing a low-key film blog for a while now, and getting my new Curzon membership card through the post a few days ago made me decide to go for it. When I first came to London I didn't know anyone and my parents got me a Curzon membership as a birthday/Christmas present so that I could go to the cinema without worrying about the cost. Despite my more active social life since meeting various bloggers/authors offline, and setting up #drinkYA, I still try to go a fair bit, and they renewed my membership as this year's present as well.
I've seen more films than I could have dreamed of before getting the membership - I'm hopeless at keeping records but I think I've been perhaps between 50 and 60 times in total. It's definitely encouraged me to try things I wouldn't have given much though to otherwise, with the standout pleasant surprise being Fill The Void. Rama Burshtein's film is an Israeli drama about an Orthodox Jewish girl who, aged just 18, is pressured to marry her sister's widower after her sister dies giving birth. It gave me a glimpse into a culture I knew virtually nothing about and I was surprised by how invested I was in the decisions of the characters. I've also seen a lot that I probably would have waited to catch on DVD or TV if I hadn't had the card; I'm glad I caught Gravity and Dawn of the Planet of the Apes, amongst others, on the big screen.
That's not to say all of those films have been great, of course. I saw Mr Turner late one Monday afternoon a few weeks ago and thought it must be Thursday by the time I came out, it dragged so much. Only Lovers Left Alive was a triumph of style over substance, I found the hugely-anticipated Blue is the Warmest Colour to be a real letdown, and you'd think that in the eleven years it took them to film Boyhood they'd have managed to sort out a more interesting script.
Overall, though, it's been an incredible year (it ran roughly from the start of November 2013 to the end of October 2014) and I wanted to share my favourites from it.
10. Guardians of the Galaxy
I’m not a huge fan of the Marvel films and haven’t read any of the Guardians of the Galaxy comics, despite liking a lot of their others, so went into this not really knowing anything about it. It completely captivated me from the early scene of Starlord dancing along to Come And Get Your Love; I thought it was the first laugh out loud comic book movie I’ve seen in years. I also loved the soundtrack, and the coming together of the ragtag bunch of Guardians had real heart. It did have problems – notably THAT line from Drax seemed totally out of place – but it was a hugely enjoyable movie and is one of the only two on this list I’ve seen twice. Just as much fun the second time around!
9. Begin Again
I wasn’t sure whether to put this on – there are other films I’d consider better, more accomplished works – but in the end this is my favourites rather than a ‘best’ list, and I loved this one. Again, it’s not without flaws, being rather predictable and with songs that are pleasant but slight – but good grief, this is a charmer of a movie. Mark Ruffalo and Keira Knightley are fantastic and their growing friendship develops brilliantly. It’s also beautifully filmed, as the pair and their band wander around New York City recording in various locations, as well as being a wonderfully uplifting feel-good movie. This is one I’m going to get on DVD because I think it will stand up to repeated viewing, especially when I need cheering up.
8. Starred Up
Stunning central performances from Jack O'Connell as the 19-year-old transferred to an adult prison and Ben Mendlesohn as his estranged father lifted this one into my top ten. It's been a stunning year for O'Connell, who was also excellent in the recent Belfast-set drama '71. Of the pair, though, this is harder hitting and better written, unfolding into a completely gripping film.
7. Gone Girl
I avoided spoilers for this – both book and film – for several years, only to get told the solution behind the central mystery a week or two before seeing it. Despite hating spoilers and finding it frustrating that I knew what was going to happen, I was still really impressed by this – Affleck and Pike are superb as the central couple, Tyler Perry as a lawyer steals every scene he’s in, and the plot is strong enough to make it worth viewing even if you know part of what’s going to happen.
6. The Lunchbox
I don't watch that many romance movies and I'm not generally a fan of people cheating on their partners in any form of fiction but this one captured my heart anyway. Nimrat Kaur, playing a neglected wife who tries to regain her husband's interest with the food she prepares, and Irrfan Khan, as the cynical accidental recipient of these meals, whose heart is melted by her cooking, are both superb. In addition, it's fascinating to see another culture and learn about the famous dabbawalas of India, who deliver the food.
5. Overnighters
This complex, moving documentary about the problems faced by a small town when fracking creates huge employment opportunities which means there are far too few houses for the new workers is one of the most thought-provoking films I've seen for a long time. Despite focusing strongly on pastor Jay Reinke, who allows workers to sleep in church to hte disapproval of some locals, it provides a balanced viewpoint - we see the residents have some justified concerns but it's heart-breaking to see the struggles faced by some men moving across the country in a desperate search for work.
It has its flaws - I don't think we recieved enough information about the background of one particular worker whose presence adds to the tension, while there's a big reveal towards the end which made me feel uncomfortable that one scene was filmed; it seemed to push what hade been a very restrained film dangerously close to exploiting one person.
Overall, though, this is compelling viewing; a really excellent documentary.
4. The Grand Budapest Hotel
I know at least one of my Twitter followers has seen this about a dozen times and will be bristling that this isn't in my top 3 if she reads this, but it's a tiny bit too long for me. With that minor criticism out of the way, time to focus on the good points - it's a gorgeously-filmed and completely charming story, and a visually stunning film. Ralph Fiennes is at his best here as concierge M Gustave, although newcomer Tony Revolori as a young lobby boy holds his own, and the supporting cast - Adrien Brody, Willem Dafoe, Saoirse Ronan, Jude Law, Lea Seydoux, Tilda Swinton, and many more - add greatly to proceedings.
3. American Hustle
More so than any other film on this list, even Guardians of the Galaxy, American Hustle is pure fun. A fabulous cast of actors seem to be having a ball here, especially Bradley Cooper and Jennifer Lawrence (J-Law's Live And Let Die scene is amazing) and a clever, witty script, which if anything was more impressive the second time I saw it, makes it a fantastically enjoyable film to watch. Love the wonderful soundtrack as well!
2. Locke
Locke is a film which takes place almost entirely in one vehicle, with just one person on camera. It's a movie which sees that person wax lyrical about concrete. It lacks special effects, flamboyant costumes, or other attention-catching tricks. It's also one of the most unexpectedly engrossing films of the last decade.
As the title character, Tom Hardy gives a staggering performance. Journeying to visit the woman who's about to give birth to his baby after a one-night stand, he tries to minimise the fallout to his family and his job wiht a series of phone calls, desperately hoping his life won't fall apart around him.
What got me here was the sense of decency that Hardy brings to his character. He's someone who made a mistake which he clearly deeply regrets but is now trying to put it behind him; I had to sympathise with him as well as his cheated-on wife. Meanwhile the subplot as he tried to get an inexperienced colleague to take control of a vital concrete pour, talking him through it on the phone as the colleague panics, is unexpectedly gripping, making me care deeply about the fate of the project.
(Also, it's 85 minutes long. More films should be less than an hour and a half; there seems to be an increasing tendency to go on for too long.)
1. Pride
When watching Locke I was convinced I was viewing the film of the year, if not the decade. It seemed incredibly unlikely that I'd find anything else so well-written, acted and directed.
Then Pride came along. I was cautiously optimistic from a fun trailer, and a great review from Mugglenet, whose reviewers often have similar tastes to mine. I wasn't expecting to be blown away by it but I absolutely was. A host of stunning performances from all members of the ensemble cast are matched with an excellent script, but what makes this stand out over the other superb films I've seen this year is the sheer warmth, as a Welsh mining community welcomes the LGBT group who come to support them. It also has an utterly delightful ending, giving us a feelgood climax without downplaying the sad end to the miners' strike.
Do you agree with my thoughts? Disagree? What have you seen that you think I should seek out when it comes out on DVD? Leave me a comment!
I've seen more films than I could have dreamed of before getting the membership - I'm hopeless at keeping records but I think I've been perhaps between 50 and 60 times in total. It's definitely encouraged me to try things I wouldn't have given much though to otherwise, with the standout pleasant surprise being Fill The Void. Rama Burshtein's film is an Israeli drama about an Orthodox Jewish girl who, aged just 18, is pressured to marry her sister's widower after her sister dies giving birth. It gave me a glimpse into a culture I knew virtually nothing about and I was surprised by how invested I was in the decisions of the characters. I've also seen a lot that I probably would have waited to catch on DVD or TV if I hadn't had the card; I'm glad I caught Gravity and Dawn of the Planet of the Apes, amongst others, on the big screen.
That's not to say all of those films have been great, of course. I saw Mr Turner late one Monday afternoon a few weeks ago and thought it must be Thursday by the time I came out, it dragged so much. Only Lovers Left Alive was a triumph of style over substance, I found the hugely-anticipated Blue is the Warmest Colour to be a real letdown, and you'd think that in the eleven years it took them to film Boyhood they'd have managed to sort out a more interesting script.
Overall, though, it's been an incredible year (it ran roughly from the start of November 2013 to the end of October 2014) and I wanted to share my favourites from it.
10. Guardians of the Galaxy
I’m not a huge fan of the Marvel films and haven’t read any of the Guardians of the Galaxy comics, despite liking a lot of their others, so went into this not really knowing anything about it. It completely captivated me from the early scene of Starlord dancing along to Come And Get Your Love; I thought it was the first laugh out loud comic book movie I’ve seen in years. I also loved the soundtrack, and the coming together of the ragtag bunch of Guardians had real heart. It did have problems – notably THAT line from Drax seemed totally out of place – but it was a hugely enjoyable movie and is one of the only two on this list I’ve seen twice. Just as much fun the second time around!
9. Begin Again
I wasn’t sure whether to put this on – there are other films I’d consider better, more accomplished works – but in the end this is my favourites rather than a ‘best’ list, and I loved this one. Again, it’s not without flaws, being rather predictable and with songs that are pleasant but slight – but good grief, this is a charmer of a movie. Mark Ruffalo and Keira Knightley are fantastic and their growing friendship develops brilliantly. It’s also beautifully filmed, as the pair and their band wander around New York City recording in various locations, as well as being a wonderfully uplifting feel-good movie. This is one I’m going to get on DVD because I think it will stand up to repeated viewing, especially when I need cheering up.
8. Starred Up
Stunning central performances from Jack O'Connell as the 19-year-old transferred to an adult prison and Ben Mendlesohn as his estranged father lifted this one into my top ten. It's been a stunning year for O'Connell, who was also excellent in the recent Belfast-set drama '71. Of the pair, though, this is harder hitting and better written, unfolding into a completely gripping film.
7. Gone Girl
I avoided spoilers for this – both book and film – for several years, only to get told the solution behind the central mystery a week or two before seeing it. Despite hating spoilers and finding it frustrating that I knew what was going to happen, I was still really impressed by this – Affleck and Pike are superb as the central couple, Tyler Perry as a lawyer steals every scene he’s in, and the plot is strong enough to make it worth viewing even if you know part of what’s going to happen.
6. The Lunchbox
I don't watch that many romance movies and I'm not generally a fan of people cheating on their partners in any form of fiction but this one captured my heart anyway. Nimrat Kaur, playing a neglected wife who tries to regain her husband's interest with the food she prepares, and Irrfan Khan, as the cynical accidental recipient of these meals, whose heart is melted by her cooking, are both superb. In addition, it's fascinating to see another culture and learn about the famous dabbawalas of India, who deliver the food.
5. Overnighters
This complex, moving documentary about the problems faced by a small town when fracking creates huge employment opportunities which means there are far too few houses for the new workers is one of the most thought-provoking films I've seen for a long time. Despite focusing strongly on pastor Jay Reinke, who allows workers to sleep in church to hte disapproval of some locals, it provides a balanced viewpoint - we see the residents have some justified concerns but it's heart-breaking to see the struggles faced by some men moving across the country in a desperate search for work.
It has its flaws - I don't think we recieved enough information about the background of one particular worker whose presence adds to the tension, while there's a big reveal towards the end which made me feel uncomfortable that one scene was filmed; it seemed to push what hade been a very restrained film dangerously close to exploiting one person.
Overall, though, this is compelling viewing; a really excellent documentary.
4. The Grand Budapest Hotel
I know at least one of my Twitter followers has seen this about a dozen times and will be bristling that this isn't in my top 3 if she reads this, but it's a tiny bit too long for me. With that minor criticism out of the way, time to focus on the good points - it's a gorgeously-filmed and completely charming story, and a visually stunning film. Ralph Fiennes is at his best here as concierge M Gustave, although newcomer Tony Revolori as a young lobby boy holds his own, and the supporting cast - Adrien Brody, Willem Dafoe, Saoirse Ronan, Jude Law, Lea Seydoux, Tilda Swinton, and many more - add greatly to proceedings.
3. American Hustle
More so than any other film on this list, even Guardians of the Galaxy, American Hustle is pure fun. A fabulous cast of actors seem to be having a ball here, especially Bradley Cooper and Jennifer Lawrence (J-Law's Live And Let Die scene is amazing) and a clever, witty script, which if anything was more impressive the second time I saw it, makes it a fantastically enjoyable film to watch. Love the wonderful soundtrack as well!
2. Locke
Locke is a film which takes place almost entirely in one vehicle, with just one person on camera. It's a movie which sees that person wax lyrical about concrete. It lacks special effects, flamboyant costumes, or other attention-catching tricks. It's also one of the most unexpectedly engrossing films of the last decade.
As the title character, Tom Hardy gives a staggering performance. Journeying to visit the woman who's about to give birth to his baby after a one-night stand, he tries to minimise the fallout to his family and his job wiht a series of phone calls, desperately hoping his life won't fall apart around him.
What got me here was the sense of decency that Hardy brings to his character. He's someone who made a mistake which he clearly deeply regrets but is now trying to put it behind him; I had to sympathise with him as well as his cheated-on wife. Meanwhile the subplot as he tried to get an inexperienced colleague to take control of a vital concrete pour, talking him through it on the phone as the colleague panics, is unexpectedly gripping, making me care deeply about the fate of the project.
(Also, it's 85 minutes long. More films should be less than an hour and a half; there seems to be an increasing tendency to go on for too long.)
1. Pride
When watching Locke I was convinced I was viewing the film of the year, if not the decade. It seemed incredibly unlikely that I'd find anything else so well-written, acted and directed.
Then Pride came along. I was cautiously optimistic from a fun trailer, and a great review from Mugglenet, whose reviewers often have similar tastes to mine. I wasn't expecting to be blown away by it but I absolutely was. A host of stunning performances from all members of the ensemble cast are matched with an excellent script, but what makes this stand out over the other superb films I've seen this year is the sheer warmth, as a Welsh mining community welcomes the LGBT group who come to support them. It also has an utterly delightful ending, giving us a feelgood climax without downplaying the sad end to the miners' strike.
Do you agree with my thoughts? Disagree? What have you seen that you think I should seek out when it comes out on DVD? Leave me a comment!
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