Cinderella (2015)

"Just because it's what's done doesn't mean it's what should be done." -Ella & Prince Charming

Hmmmm...This is an interesting trend within film and Disney specifically. I am aware of Enchanted, Maleficent, 101 Dalmatians, and an upcoming Mulan film. (I am sure there are more in the works.)  Long time readers of the blog know that I am not a fan of remakes. However, the idea to take a successful animated film and remake it live action is intriguing, and I am not opposed out of principle. In fact, given the time between releases, I was curious to look for generational, social, and practical differences between the animated and live action.

With that in mind, OK Disney, you've run out of ideas and some MBAs have instructed you that reinvigorating your existing successful brands to maintain public interest is smart business.  I bet films that have existing brand cache do better abroad too. Boo. Stop making monetary decisions.  Start making new, interesting, innovative, and above all original films. @Disney; you have successfully found a way to reduce the inherent financial risk of film production through volume, aggressive marketing, and great consumer insights that allow you to give audiences what they want. I counter that audiences do not know what they want. They know what they have liked, but are poor poor futurists. Please bring back the risk.  It will help you stay creative and open to the possibly disruptive opportunities of the future. Also as I quoted a moral from your feature. Take your own  advice.

To the film.  Cinderella is OK.  In fact, it's definitely on the positive side of OK. If you bring together an all-star cast of notables and tell a classic tale with a huge costume budget and good cinematography, everything will be just fine.

Acting highlights included: The performance of Cate Blanchett; Sophie McShera in all things; and Derek Jacobi as the Old King -All I could think of was him as Emperor Claw-claw Claudius

Acting lowlights included: Helena Bonham Carter as The Fairy Godmother -I love HBC, I just was turned off by her attacking and aggressive "Bibbity Bobbity Boo".

Other highlights: Competent , but not necessarily inspired directing by Kenneth Branagh; and COLORS COLORS COLORS.  Oh my, did they go wild with the colors in Cinderella.  I think the goal was to promote the fantasy and blur the lines between cartoon color and real life.

On a scale of technicolor to technocolor, I give Cinderella (2015) 2.8 out of 5 stars. 

Woman in Gold (2015)

"If life is a race, you beat me to the finish. But if life is a boxing match, I'm the last one standing." -Maria Altman

The best I can say about the film Woman in Gold is that no one disgraces themselves. All the signs are there of an uplifting story of redemption against Nazis and "the system".  David vs. Goliath. Everyone involved should put Woman in Gold on their resume and feel great about being employed during its planning, production, and release. 

Unfortunately, that is the best that can said for Woman in Gold. It bring nothing new to film. It is basically forgettable.  There are countless movies based on similar premises of small pluckly lawyers that battle impossible odds on the side of right to be finally vindicated through almighty justice.  There is considerably more soul in the painting "Woman in Gold" that in the film Woman in Gold. 

While watching I actually made a connection between Woman in Gold and the Monuments Men. Both films at their core are about art and the power of art to describe times, places, and events in a sublime mastery of color and form. Both films use art as the focal piece of their cinematography and shot selection.  It is unfortunate that neither film fully captured the beauty and impact of their subject(s) on film.  It was if they used stock footage.  Something in the way we, as the audience, are intended to view the paintings makes them seem museum-esque.  Great films make art palpable and blur the lines of distance and location.  We are right there with the piece. I wish Woman in Gold had better accomplished this effect. 

On a scale of 1 lawyer against all odds to a team of 40 lawyers representing a mega corp, I give Woman in Gold, 2.3 out of 5 stars.       

Whiplash (2014)

"It's worse if you don't know."-Terrence Fletcher
"The two worst words in the English language are {good job}." -Terrence Fletcher

So I am not particularly thick skinned when it comes to criticism, nor am I fastidious and obsessive about perfection. I have fun, let fly, and don't really want to hear about or think about mistakes.  There are areas of my life where I do focus, but when it comes to music I have blinders towards fun. This can be extremely frustrating for those around me that are dedicated to continuous improvement and exceptionalism. The same goes for me about them. My side: Why can't you just relax?  Who cares if I wasn't perfect? Why are you so uptight?  Can't we just play? And their side:  Why is he so sloppy?  Doesn't he care about the band?  Does he know he's out of tune? Urghhh, he keeps making the same mistake?  Long ago I learned, to a small degree, to empathize with my more single minded music compatriots. If I hear the tell-tale signs of anger with my priorities, I can meet them half way and for brief periods bring up my perfectionism at the expense of my personal fun. I hope they do the same for by occasionally glossing over my errors and thinking about the positives that I bring to the experience.

Whiplash is a study in passion, determination, and perfection within music.  It was made by Damian Chazelle,who clearly has a passion for music, and made a movie for people who are obsessed with music. The film lives, breaths, and is powered by music. I love jazz and that sealed my approval of Whiplash.

On a darker note, I thought Whiplash did an excellent job of ampping up the pressure to boiling point throughout the movie. The complexity and tunnel vision of Terrence Fletcher put in contrast to the relationship casualties of Andrew Neiman aligned with my understanding of the cost of musical professionalism/perfectionism.  I do not generally perform well under pressure. I would have quit and walked away to have fun in music long before enrolling in Jazz college.  I found long segments of Whiplash to be uncomfortable. Well done.

Finally, @Miles Teller -You keep getting roles and that surprises me.  Yet, you keep getting better in each film that see you in.  I don't know you and am not going to disparage you skills. If you maintain your trajectory, I will likely come to respect your work.  I don't really now, but I see light in your future.

On a scale of quarter note=50 to quarter note=300, I give Whiplash 3.6 out of 5 stars.

   

Glory Road (2006)

"You call that a foul?  I call that a love tap." -Head Coach Don Haskins

Glory Road means well.  It does. It is part of long tradition of historical sports movies that combat social ills.  Sports is the crucible upon which our society is forged- according to Disney related sports movies. And Glory Road fits the mold. It's unfortunate that it has nothing more to offer, but it is what it is.

PROs:
Acting:  Josh Lucas is passable and puts on a pretty convincing Southern drawl. Jon Voigt proves that, with a little make-up, he can basically do anything he wants.
Music: It peaks right when it is supposed to.  The sound track is a groovy mixtape of 1960s hits.  Good on them for including: Ballad of the Green Berret.  A strange schism exists in 60s films that discounts its popularity.  I assume it has to do with that the anti-Vietnam movement has had a more lasting cinematic impact.
Social Commentary:  As I mentioned above, the social commentary sports movie is alive and well in Glory Road. In this particular instance, Glory road makes a points of tackling not just African American and white relations within the team and against society, but also African American and white adjustment to the Mexican/Latino culture of West Texas in the 1960s.

Cons:
There was a very understandable, yet confusing, and kind of unnecessary plot involving the wife of Don Haskins as played by Emily Deschanel.  Emily Deschanel is fine actress and when I saw that she was in the movie. I thought that her role would be substantial.  It was not. It was kind of a waste of screen time and narrative.  What was her role supposed to be?  Did something get left on the cutting room floor?

On a scale of a triple double on the court to a triple double at In & Out Burger, I give Glory Road 2.7 out of 5 stars.