The Prestige

Ahh another Nolan film. The Prestige is probably my favorite of his films though they are all excellent. The prestige blends facts, illusions, revenge, deceit, obsession, and a little bit of history all into one engrossing film. I, for one, didn't see the ending coming in the slightest. I'm interested on if other people did or didn't. I don't want to reveal any secrets so this will probably be a brief review.

Christian Bale once again displays his enormous talent for acting. When all is revealed and you realize how he, and for that matter, Hugh Jackman, pulled off their characters...it is truly fun to watch a second, third, or even fourth time. Michael Caine also plays a more central role than other Nolan films they have collaborated on. He plays his role with very understated, classic Caine mannerisms. All three actors fit perfectly together. The two leading women were ,unfortunately, noticeably less talented than their male counterparts. Though to be very fair, ANYONE acting next to those three would have a hell of a time holding their own.

Aside from the acting, Nolan tells a story with each of his shots instead of just telling the story. Very similar to Kubrick in that regard. Instead of just showing two characters, Nolan does so in a way that the two characters are progressing the story, as well as the visuals on the screen. It's very interesting to watch and as I said before, very reminiscent of Kubrick. Nolan again shows his artist brush can paint an enormous canvas in only 130 minutes. The music sets the tone nicely throughout and keeps the pace well.

All in all, The Prestige is a great film that keeps you guessing until the end. See it if you have not already!

IMDB here.

Inception

Well, I have now seen Inception twice and plan to see it a third time. At first I wasn't as impressed as I thought I would be. I expected something (though I'm not even sure what I expected) and it wasn't that. So maybe I was disappointed at first. Then I thought about what I had seen though: one of the most superbly crafted movies ever made. Christopher Nolan has outdone himself with his writing and directing talents. I believe I have mentioned his enormous talent before: The Prestige, Following, Memento,and The Dark Knight are his mainstream successes. That's quite a list of movies. I've heard it said that he could be the next Kubrick, well he just might be but not yet. His movies, and most of all Inception, are exciting, gripping, and really fun to watch, but they lack the emotional depth that Kubrick had. I think he will get there though. I hope his next movie is much less main stream and hard hitting. But on to Inception.

The computer generated graphics are used very sparingly, which, I love. The scenes that do incorporate computer images are stunning and perfectly crafted. The actors that play off of these images are just as good. Leonardo DiCaprio once again shows his impeccable talent for the screen. Michael Caine has a small and enjoyable part that suits him perfectly. Ellen Page turns in a great performance as well. The best of the very talented cast though is Joseph Gordon-Levitt. The scene in the hallway is amazing in every way possible, and I know how physically demanding it was so for him to also stay in character during it is incredible.

All of the actors are great because they are given such a great story. Lot's of twists and turns and nightmares revealed. It is written in a way that I truly and deeply care about the characters. Nolan also treats his well written script with great care when directing it. Nothing takes away from the story and only adds to it. Every detail is accounted for and painstakingly researched. I applaud Nolan for his finest work so far.

Hans Zimmer deserves special mention for his use of music. It complements the story and acting perfectly. In fact there is much more detail that went into the music than I even knew. Listen very closely for each song and see how they work together. It's amazing.

You MUST go see Inception for yourself. I highly recommend. What do you think of the ending?

IMDB here.

The Difference Between Movies and Films - An Essay

Many people ask me what my favorite movie is. That is a difficult answer for me to come up with. So many movie's make me laugh, cry, happy, and sad that it is hard to pick just one. I would probably say Ronin with Robert De Niro. Yes, way out of left field on that one I'm sure. It's an excellent movie, but fall's short of being a film in my opinion. Which brings up another point, these are all my opinion. You may totally disagree which is fine with me. Respectfully argue your point without becoming defensive and moronic and I will listen to every word you have to say. There is one huge distinction in my mind between the word film and movie. Here is my own personally definition of movie:

Movie - Moving pictures and sound meant to entertain an audience from the moment they start said movie, until it ends. It is nothing more or less, simply entertainment. There is no thought provoking argument to be made or intellectually stimulating images to be seen. They are simple entertainment for the average moviegoer.

Now before you start shouting elitist pig, I have nothing against movies or those that enjoy them. I do too. They are a great way to relax and have a good time. BUT, they are not art. On this issue I will not budge. The average movie will not be remembered ten years from now. It will be forgotten by all except a few. Example: Name a movie that came out in 1999 besides Fight Club, The Matrix, and The Green Mile. If you can I give you extreme credit because I couldn't. Granted I was 8 years old but I will not use that as an excuse. Now, why do you remember THOSE pictures from 1999? Are they simply movies? If you saw Fight Club in theaters did it not immediately make you want to discuss it for hours on end? Same with the Matrix, plus it had stunning visuals like we had never seen before. The Green Mile is also excellent fodder for endless discussion. Now, are those simply movies? Or are they more? Much more? I believe so. This distinction is what separates movies and films. The above mentioned pictures should be classified as films in my opinion. They achieve so much more than other movies released the same year. How excited were you when you first saw Blair Witch Project? That came out the same year. The Sixth Sense also came out that year. Do you have the need to see it again? Didn't think so. These movies were excellent at the time but as we reflect on them we see that they are exactly that: Excellent at the time, nothing more. Now for my definition of film:

Film - Moving pictures and sound meant to stimulate the mind of the audience. Films are not meant to be easy to watch, in fact, they are almost always hard to watch. This is because they do not use the cliche, sugar-on-top, cookie cutter Hollywood formula to tell their story. They are an honest look at a slice of life.

In short, films are art. Movies are entertainment. Consider this the next time you are asked what your favorite movie is. I would reply, "Well my favorite movie is probably Ronin. My favorite film is 2001: A Space Odyssey." Here are some examples to help you see the difference between movies and films.

Ex. #1: Movie: Star Wars
Film: 2001: A Space Odyssey

Ex. #2: Movie: The Dirty Dozen
Film: Apocalypse Now

Ex. #3 Movie: A Few Good Men
Film: 12 Angry Men

Ex. #4 Movie: Disturbia (yes re-make I know)
Film: Rear Window

That should give you a pretty good idea about what constitutes a film and a movie. I will repeat again that these are only my opinions. It is my hope that the film community will stop referring to stupid, idiotic movies like Avatar as films. It isn't. It's a movie and it's my opinion that it's barely that. Yes, you might have been entertained by the mind numbing three hour run time, but thwart did you take away from it? Don't cut down trees? Well, that was shoved in your face and basically said out loud throughout the movie, so don't think that you are some great person because you "got" Avatar. There is nothing deep or moving there. Lots of flashy graphics were the only reason you saw it. Obviously I won't argue that the graphics were incredible, they are. But simply having graphics doesn't make a film. There was little to no story that hadn't been done a million times before. The acting was the worst I have seen in a long time, literally the worst. There was no character development so most importantly I didn't care about whether the characters lived or died. The only reason you did is that Mr. Cameron played off your guilty conscience about destroying animals homes so that you could have your nice three story house in suburbia. Think about it. Did you really care or were you guilt tripped into caring? This is my case on the difference between movies and films. I used Avatar because it is just the most recent big, dumb, flashy blockbuster. Please use the terms films and movies more carefully.

Children of Men

Children of Men is an excellent film that begs to be seen by anyone with the stomach to handle it. Gritty, violent, and moving; Children of Men is a stunning vision of the future by Alfonso Cuaron. Humans have been incapable of reproducing for nearly twenty years as we pick up the story with Theo, a reporter in this grim, hopeless future. Terrorist bombings are looked on as an everyday occurrence and little is done about them. What's the point? The human race is extinct. This is where Alfonso's directing really comes into play. It is hard to make a future that is truly and completely hopeless. In "The Road" (which is excellent but doesn't quite warrant making it onto this site) we have hope for the father and son even under horrible circumstances. There are no kids in Children of Men. No school, no laughter ringing out in the streets, nothing. It's a bleak and depressing future. If you can take the subject matter it really is an interesting thought about what we might be like as a people if there was no point in existing everyday because we are working toward our extinction.

Clive Owen is excellent and brings a genuinely good guy nature to this bleak film. Julianne Moore is also good, though nothing special in her role. Michael Caine is excellent as Theo's "accomplice" and friend. The music is moving and flows from one scene to another. Intense and gripping in a frightening way when we see immigrants (not illegal immigrants) being thrown in cages and deported, while moving and touching when the action slows to reveal the intricate story surrounding the characters.

Children of Men is great on many levels but I'll point out the distinct few.

1. Most importantly it has it's own visual style that captures the gritty and violent setting it takes place in. The audience will not be sheltered from seeing people crying out in anguish that they are being ripped forcefully from their homes or being beaten savagely by the police for no reason. This being said, it is also one of the most moving things to see when something good happens. It's almost highlighted in the the strangest ways. Time seems to slow. Sound seems to have no meaning. You are so focused on a glimmer of hope in this horrifying world that it touches you on a deep level. An entire war zone stops to look while three people leave a building to escape the violence (when you see this scene see if you catch yourself not breathing, I wasn't).

2. It's got tons of action and a great story. I would highly recommend if a girl would like to see something emotionally stimulating and if the guy would like to see lots of explosions and violence. It has lots of both. While a film buff would say they need to compliment each other accordingly (and I completely agree), I am merely stating a situation where this movie would fit the bill.

I urge you to see this film if you feel you can emotionally take it. I'm not kidding that this isn't a film to be watched lightly. It is important and excellently made but I would not let someone watch it that couldn't handle it. Films must be a respected form of art. Not simply a form of entertainment.

IMDB here.

A Clockwork Orange

Well, it will be hard to cover this one in a single post. I'm sure I will remember things later and keep adding to it. A Clockwork Orange is a frightening look into the future by the master of film, Stanley Kubrick. While 2001 was an optimistic look about the intelligence of man and where we can go, ACO is the opposite side of man. The depravity and inhumane way we treat each other. How brutal and uncaring man can become. Most importantly: what lengths society will go to to stop a monster. I will address this part of the film at the end of my post, as I believe that that issue IS the entire film.

Of course Kubrick's attention to detail is apparent here as with all of his movies. Every shot is done so to make the audience dislike Alex. He is a villain of the highest magnitude. The cinematography is excellent and complements the weird futuristic story very nicely. Also, the music has an odd, chilling, and ominous tone throughout. Even the language that is spoken is a hybrid mix of English, Russian slang, and another dialect I didn't recognize. Kubrick obviously took great time in construction this....world. It really is a world. Every detail is taken care of so that you KNOW this is a different place. Same planet, different world. With every beating, rape, and drunken brawl we see the humanity drain from Alex. He is hollow. A shell. A monster living among us humans, if we can even be called that anymore.

So, now to my interpretation of the film - of THE issue. Alex isn't human by most peoples standards. So what do we do with him? He cannot be allowed to roam the streets hunting for prey anymore. So he is arrested after a particularly heinous act of violence. Now what? Let him rot in prison? Kubrick had enough of a vision to know that prison would not be an option at some point in the future. It simply does not work. Finally, execution makes society the bad guy so that's out of the question. What do we then do? A Clockwork Orange suggests that we will start to "re-condition" prisoners. Not rehabilitate, that has also been throw out because of the high rearrest rate. To "re-condition" someone means to expose them to "ultra-violence" while injecting them with a serum that reacts to make the "patience" queasy, nauseous and debilitated. Much like Pavlov and his experiment with dogs (look it up if you don't know what aversive conditioning is). So now Alex is "cured" right? The main point of this movie is do we want him on the streets? This is a human that is being to forced to comply and fit into society. True it is for the good of the whole, but do we want people to have this kind of power? What if things like jaywalking are punishable in this way? Things would get out of hand quickly. Ponder the implications of each of Alex's situations throughout the film.

A Clockwork Orange is a piece of art. Not a movie or film. It is not for the weak-of-heart or the squeamish. Malcolm McDowell is brilliant as Alex and the masterpiece is worth seeing even if just for his performance. You have been warned but I urge everyone to see this and sit and think for an hour or two. Strike up a discussion.

IMDB here.

Leon: The Professional

Well I was very pleasantly surprised with this film. Of course I know that it is on IMDB's top 250 and has a very high 8.6 average rating (keep in mind that The Godfather has a 9.1). Anyone that knows me also knows that I am a huge fan of Jean Reno. He always brings a quiet confidence and elegance to his roles. It is a refreshing and rewarding experience to watch him. For his role in The Professional, he is also using a subtle approach, though with none of the confidence. He plays Leon: an immigrant, gun for hire, ravenous milk drinker, and socially awkward fellow. The performance is great because he is so believable as a stone cold killer that doesn't know how to act around a child. And that is the center of the movie. Mathilda (Natalie Portman) lives a few doors down from Leon who is constantly abused by her family, but most importantly her drug dealing father. When the corrupt cop Stansfield (Gary Oldman) comes knocking at the door wanting to know where 10% of his drugs went....well lets just say he isn't pleased. In a fit of rage Stansfield kills Mathilda's entire family while she is at the corner store getting milk. As she returns she slowly walks past the carnage to Leon's door, praying he will let her in. He is the only one to ever show her kindness, he is her only hope.

This is where the story really starts picking up. Before I forget I will mention the performances of Oldman and Portman. The very young Natalie Portman was only 13 when she took this very complex role opposite the veteran actors Reno and Oldman, and she owns her performance like a veteran actress herself. Anyone watching it would have known that she would become the actress we know her as today. Oldman is also excellent as the crooked cop with a bit of a mental problem. Psycho yet calculating, he is the ultimate bad guy.

The reason The Professional is universally liked is it has two things - most films only have one or the other. Action and story. Very few films can nail both so that each end of the viewer spectrum is touched on. The story is great. A quirky drama that unfolds into a buddy comedy but still keeps the dramatic overtones. The action will also leave even the most hardened fan saying "Yeah!" during the violent sequences.

All in all an excellent film. The music and cinematography complemented the entire film and each other nicely though there was nothing special about either. I highly recommend watching though it is for sure adults only.

IMDB here.

Not a review

I just want to let all readers of NMP why I haven't posted in so long. Well: I graduated high school, I've been writing my own screen play, started college, took a week off and traveled (Redding), I've started a new training program and honestly my personal life has taken the front seat for a while. I needed it. But now I'm back to the grind, but I love reviewing movies so I don't mind. Keep recommending this to anyone that likes movies and I'll keep posting. Also become a follower if you aren't already. Thanks guys! Also (I keep thinking of things to say) I love have in depth conversations about films so any time you feel like talking about a particularly good one email me at: nic.g.thompson@live.com

Thanks everyone!

Full Metal Jacket

"In Vietnam. the wind doesn't blow, it sucks" poetic words from an intense movie. This is the best Vietnam war movie ever made. Better than The Deer Hunter. Better even than Apocalypse Now. Full Metal Jacket has some of the most gut-wrenching scenes ever put on film. Once again Stanley Kubrick shows what a meticulous director he was with such a superbly crafted movie.

The first half of the movie is only boot camp. We must see the marines before their journey into the unknown, and Vietnam is very much unknown. Boot camp shows humans breaking down at their most basic level. These boys want to kill, they are being trained to kill, but why is this? Why do they have a thirst for blood? That's an individual question so consider that yourself. What is certain is that some people do NOT know what they are getting themselves into. Unfortunately, Pvt. Pyle bears the brunt of the drill sergeant's wrath because he isn't the brightest bulb in the bunch. Kubrick's point to the first half is that soldiers don't have to be in a war zone to be in hell. This is Pvt. Pyle:


Later in the movie we learn of the 1000 yard stare, poor Pvt. Pyle already has it and he hasn't even left the country. It is very hard to watch this healthy, happy, human being turning into a deranged killer. But that is war, to say the least.

The second half is all "in country". This is when Pvt. Joker is tested. He goes in thinking he is a lean, mean, killing machine but see's very little action. When he finally does deal his first fatal bullet, there is a change in him. The same as Pvt. Pyle. Humans aren't meant to kill in this way. Without mercy or care. The second half is more poetic and nuanced than the first and must be paid close attention to to understand.

R. Lee Ermey is...vivid to say the least. When you watch this film, keep in mind that almost all of Ermey's lines were ad-libbed by him. Which for Kubrick must have been hard to get over, but the end result is very satisfying and will burn the ears of even the most hardened marine. Vincent D'Onofrio hits all the right notes as Pyle. Adam Baldwin is a sight to see as Animal Mother, a much more in depth character than he is portrayed as, pay close attention to him. Finally, Matthew Modine is perfect as Pvt. Joker.

Also, Kubricks use of music warrants mention. The score contrasts drastically with the subject matter and yet compliments it.

Many people love the first half of this movie and hate the second. I'm sorry to say, that's stupid. The entire first half of the movie is the set-up. An exquisite portrayal of the dehumanizing effect our military has on young men from all walks of life.

IMDB here.

It's a Wonderful Life

It's a Wonderful Life is one of the most moving movies of all time. I am very surprised that when it was first released, it was panned by critics. They hated it. It was released in 1946, so I can understand that, at the time, it would be hard to watch such an emotionally wrenching film. It really does bring tears to my eye every time I watch it.

James Stewart does an excellent job as George Bailey, a free spirit and dreamer growing up in Bedford Falls. As a kid he was a hardworking boy that actually saved his brothers life from a frozen pond - at the expense of hearing in his left ear. After that he gets a job in "old man Gowers" drug store. Gower fills a medicine bottle with poison accidentally. George sees this but doesn't know what to do. He eventually confronts Mr. Gower who beats him before checking the bottle, only to find that George was right. He apologises immensely and vowes never to hurt him again.

So before the age of 12, George Bailey has saved 2 people's lives. This says a lot about the character we will come to know that is the adult George Bailey. Constantly stopping his own quest or dreams to help someone else. This leads him to consider suicide on a cold winter night. Luckily, Angel Second-Class, Clarence is called in to show George what the world would be like if he had not existed.

Henry Travers does an excellent job as Clarence. His performance holds qualities of deep compassion, and childlike ignorance. He is truly a joy to watch.

For 1946 the production was extremely large for a film that did not do very well at the box office. Literally tons of chemical snow (that was created specifically for this movie and later used for years as the "new fake snow") was made to make every scene realistic. The music and cinematography lend itself to the story but nothing special here.

The ending really does make all the heartbreak the audience and George endured worth it. This film really shows the impact one man (and an angel) can have on a town and the world. It is deeply moving and cannot be scoffed at. Everyone can and will take something away from this great film. Recommended viewing for everyone.

IMDB here.

Pulp Fiction

Some call it a "cult hit". Some call it the best movie of all time. I don't agree with either of them. Pulp Fiction won an Oscar for Best Screen Play and was nominated for 6 others. Most "cult" movies do not achieve this kind of success if they pertain to a cult following. It is also not the best movie of all time. Extremely interesting, funny, exciting, violent, dirty, and foul is how I would describe it. Really nothing else has come close to being such an enigma.

What really makes the movie is the acting:

Samuel L. Jackson - This is probably his most enjoyable/best performance ever, here, as Jules the hitman. His lines are ridiculous at times and at others - deathly serious. But he gives such a stellar performance that you eat it up. You believe him. That is who Jules is. Not Samuel acting like him. That's Jules. Excellent performance.

John Travolta - Also great acting from a guy I was never a fan of. This movie changed my mind. Sure he hasn't done much of anything good since (a few exceptions) but this movie is his legacy. THIS is the movie he will be remembered for. His Vincent Vega is perfect, the best counterpart to Jules you could have asked for. His conversations are great, believable and interesting. Must be seen by a fan and non-fan alike.

Uma Thurman - There is something very understated about her performance. Quiet, out of it, and ready for some excitement, Mia Wallace gets much more than she bargained for with Vincent on their night out on the town. The "out of it" part of her performance stems from her characters drug habit. Great acting to be found here.

The list of famous actors and actresses that had parts in this movie is extremely long. Take a look at the IMDB page posted after the article and take a look. Tim Roth - awesome. Bruce Willis - doesn't pull any punches (haha). Ving Rhames - menacing as always. The list goes on and on.

The great writing is kept up with only through the quick editing and cinematography that accompanies it. The music also oddly aids the movie though it feels out of place in some parts.

Pulp Fiction is so interesting it takes multiple viewings to fully appreciate it. A must see for any film enthusiast.

IMDB here.