Wednesday 26 February 2014

Quote of the Week Review: Capote (2005)

By Thomas Broome-Jones

"I have 94 per cent recall of all conversation. I tested it myself." 

A master at work: Hoffman steals the show convincingly.
The untimely passing of Philip Seymour Hoffman was one that shocked the world over, the hearts of so many were beautifully opened in tribute to someone who may just be the finest screen actor of his generation. I was devastated to discover that one of my favourite actors was no longer with us, especially as I thought his best was still yet to come. Hoffman was transitioning into directing and his acclaim throughout all fields had him shaping up to become somewhat of a modern-day Orson Welles. But the body of work he has left us with is rich in towering performances, among some of my favourites are his collaborations with Paul Thomas Anderson, a true genius and maestro of modern cinema, I have a particular adoration of Boogie Nights and Punch-Drunk Love.

Capote is statistically Hoffman's finest hour, it's the role that won him his sole Academy Award and it was thoroughly deserved. Simply put, Hoffman carries the entire film on his shoulders with one of the greatest biographical performances I've ever seen. After watching the film I took it upon myself to watch clips of the real Truman Capote, Hoffman's portrayal is more than just uncanny, he IS Truman Capote. The voice, the mannerisms, the facial expressions, I don't know how Hoffman did it but as an actor myself I can't help but adore the fact that he did.


The film's story concerns the process of Truman Capote penning what stands as his most acclaimed work, 'In Cold Blood', a unique non-fiction book that is widely regarded as having started the true crime genre of literature, or at the very least popularizing it. The idea of this genre is a book that uses fiction techniques to craft a narrative around actual criminal acts that have happened, using real names and interviews but arranging the facts in such a way that they tell a story. You may be familiar with the use of such methods in Asif Kapadia's acclaimed 2009 documentary Senna, which portrayed the life and death of Formula One legend Ayrton Senna using entirely archive footage, but still crafting a narrative.


When I say Hoffman carries this film though, I really mean it. Unfortunately I didn't feel like it was anything special outside of his performance, the supporting cast were fine but I'm somewhat confused as to why Catherine Keener received an Oscar nomination for her portrayal of 'To Kill a Mockingbird' author Harper Lee. The real thing that holds the film back though is the painfully uneven pacing, on the one hand, the scenes don't develop enough, we are rapidly whisked from location to location without being given any time to immerse ourselves in the narrative. But the isolated scenes aren't the only problem, the film as a whole feels far too long and whilst it does have an ending that packs an emotional punch, we're too exhausted from unnecessary over plotting to care all that much. "Speed up, slow down" pacing is almost always a deathtrap for a film.


There isn't really much else to say about the film, it doesn't deal with anything too complex, it's less about narrative and themes as it is about Truman Capote and his methodology. I recommend this to anyone who's a fan of Hoffman's work though, it demonstrates his versatility just as well as any other film. Not the best in his library, but certainly one of his strongest performances and one that will only make you appreciate the man's talent even more, Capote is definitely something you should devote your time to, who knows? You may even fall in love with it. 


















 Thomas Broome-Jones is on Twitter, you can follow him @TBroomey

Saturday 8 February 2014

Quote of the Week Review: Moonrise Kingdom (2012)

By Thomas Broome-Jones

"These are my books. I like stories with magic powers in them. Either in kingdoms on Earth or on foreign planets. Usually I prefer a girl hero, but not always."

There's no wedding like a Wes Anderson wedding.
Masterful, loving, warm and heartfelt. Some choice words for Wes Anderson's incredible achievement known as Moonrise Kingdom. If you were to compile a list of true all-time great films from the 2000s it would be a short one, but this belongs on every single list on such a subject.

Anderson is renowned for his quirky and offbeat approach to filmmaking, his distinct style has earned his well-deserved acclaim from the public as well as critics. So, teaming up with Roman Coppola, the son of the legendary Francis Ford Coppola, Anderson has crafted something special and almost transcendent of every other film released within the last 10 years or so.

From the scorching opening sequence enriching the frame with vivid colours and whip pan camera movement to keep the pace up, a unique story is set in place. This is a story about love, but the film is so much more than that. Don't go into this thinking you'll be given a simple romance, the word "simple" is most definitely not an adjective applicable to the work of Wes Anderson. Childlike innocence, the absence of authority and guidance, the importance of human connection, this film is about humanity.

The plot concerns a runaway scout who desires to be with a girl he has fallen in love with, his scout leader, who is portrayed magnificently by Edward Norton, goes on a mission to track him down. The location of an isolated island seemingly inhabited by talented actors builds an almost dream-like world for the audience to lose itself in. This is a real strength that Anderson possesses, his films almost feel unreal and yet the problems within them are so easy to relate to, it's like the impossible meeting the possible, negativity in what should be a perfect world.

The comedy is spot on, which is to be expected with the talent involved both behind the camera and in front of it. I'm talking of course about Bill Murray, a man who is widely regarded as the finest comic actor of his generation, and rightly so. Murray is piercingly funny and despicable at the same time here, something at which he is somewhat of a veteran at. Whether he's throwing his shoe at Edward Norton or getting drunk and chopping down trees whilst his apathetic children dutifully ignore him, he's stealing the scene whenever he's in frame. A real return to form from the man who was in not one but two 'Garfield' films, oh, the pain.

The focus on children feuding with one another is reminiscent of Lord of the Flies, but at the same time feels like an original plot element. The children are remarkably able to hold their own with a cast that consists of two Oscar winners and two Oscar nominees as they shatter the preconception that child actors aren't up to par with adult performers. Their characters are believable as well as empathetic, their darker sides are balanced with morals and other human qualities.

Not many films I have seen feel as genuine as 'Moonrise Kingdom', which is somewhat ironic as it toys with reality at numerous intervals. It's something beautiful that I have fallen in love with, Wes Anderson has stolen my heart as a film lover and has sold me on his upcoming feature The Grand Budapest Hotel, which sports a few cast members from this particular picture. The genius in the craft work of Moonrise Kingdom caresses the soul and hits you with Cupid's bow, a romantic film in both the philosophical and figurative sense that can be enjoyed on more than one level, you have to see this.


















Thomas Broome-Jones is on Twitter, you can follow him @TBroomey

Quote of the Week Review: Shrek (2001)

By Ben Hanna

"I like that boulder. That is a nice boulder."

Shrek, a wonderful fairy tale about an ogre that spends his days fending off the village people and living out the normal life of an ogre. This hilarious animated tale is about an ogre, Shrek (Mike Myers) who goes out on a quest to get his swamp to the way it was before it was overrun by fairytale creatures sent by the evil Lord Farquaad (John Lithgow). On his travels, he encounters a donkey played by Eddie Murphy who accompanies him on his journey which takes an unexpected turn.

No, this isn't a photo from Lindsay Lohan's wedding, we've checked.
Shrek is one of those films that I can personally remember from my childhood as being, well, just brilliant. One of those family films that you will always be able to go back and watch, one that never gets old. An aspect of the film that I always have found to be great is the humour that’s used. Shrek can appeal to a younger audience with the silly characters with a fairy tale picture but it’s also enjoyable for older audiences. Subtle jokes and one-liners that are very amusing indeed. That’s what makes Shrek so versatile and enjoyable and definitely on of the reasons why it’s so well regarded. I personally don’t know anyone that doesn't enjoy a bit of Shrek.


The casting for the film is perfect, Mike Myers portrays Shrek as a loveable character that’s witty and funny. What’s interesting is the idea that Shrek, as an ogre is the main protagonist rather than a knight in shining armour. It really puts a spin on the traditional fairy tales but works so well. Eddie Murphy again is an excellent choice to play the excitable Donkey. Shrek’s faithful companion accompanies him through his adventures and definitely portrays that idea of true friendship.

Although Shrek has branched out into three more films, I still believe that this Shrek, the first one, is definitely the best. The story is richer and is more like a fairy tale which makes the film so interesting. The other three films all have elements of a fairy tale but it just doesn't feel the same. Never the less they are all great films and Shrek is definitely here to stay.