Anonymous

     As of late, I haven't been feeling entirely certain of myself. I feel as if I have lost some of confidence. I can't explain why or how this has happened. The important part is that it did and I need to figure out how to undo it. It didn't happen all at once either, it sort of occurred slowly and not unexpectedly. I don't really know who I am or who I want to be. Is it an identity crisis? Maybe... I get up everyday and I go through my day completing various tasks that I know must be done. I try my best to maintain a decent level of living and project an image of a person I've meticulously crafted over the years. The problem is, when I look into a mirror, or am left to my own devices for too long, I begin to question the decisions I have made. I start doubting the person that I have led most people to believe that I am. At what point does the facade stop being a facade and become reality? Once a shroud has woven itself within very fibers of your being, can it still be cast off? And if so, what would be left behind?

     Alas, I did not intend on discussing the tempest of thoughts that have been vexing me. My intentions were to merely allude to how easily a person can be forced into circumstances that inevitably lead to great personal misgivings. Anonymous is a highly imaginative film that toys with the notion that William Shakespeare did not write any of his plays, poems, or sonnets. Primarily set in the time of Queen Elizabeth 1, Anonymous is a riveting political thriller involving forbidden love, attempts to succeed the crown, and suppression of free speech. Rhys Ifans (Notting Hill & Harry Potter & the Deathly Hallows Pt. 1), Vanessa Redgrave, and David Thewlis (Harry Potter) all lead an ensemble cast through complex English politics and how the greatest playwright to have ever put pen to paper came to be. It is a perilous time for writers and politicians alike.

     The film opens with a brilliant prologue performed by Derek Jacobi. He literally sets the stage for a great tale that even I would love to see performed in a theater or opera house. It rapidly progresses from the prologue to a series of elaborate set pieces and time jumps. At first the timelines are a little confusing, but as the film progresses it entrenches you in a battle of wits and subterfuge that spans decades.

     The central plot of Anonymous surrounds the Earl of Oxford and his personal identity crisis. He struggles with his great imagination and fails to balance it with even a modicum of pragmatism. The choices he makes are merely to satisfy those around him. When he attempts to make decisions for himself, they lead him to great tragedy and sorrow. What is a life worth living if you have not been allowed to live the life you like? I must applaud director Roland Emmerich and writer John Orloff for putting together this unbelievably creative film. From beginning to the very bitter end, you have sit in awe of the fantastic tale that was woven to spark debate and conversations across the globe.

Rating: 4 (Maximum of 5) - Anonymous is a captivating emotional thrill ride that will leave you salivating for more.

A Jarring Remake... Straw Dogs

     It is not often that a film can emotionally shake me to my core. In recent memory the last film to affect me to the point where I had to leave the theater was Precious a film based of of the novel "Push" by Sapphire. It's difficult for me to discuss why films whose prominent themes center on abuse and rape. Abuse and rape are touchy topics, and often difficult to film without crossing boundaries and/or offending people. In my opinion, the acts of physically invading a person's body and battering their mind is a capital offense. Being subject to any form of abuse can mar a person for years. Often altering their social & physical development beyond repair. Speaking from experience, it can take monumental events or years of therapy in order for a person to recover from any form of abuse. Even a once in a lifetime opportunity to speak candidly with a positive role model is all it takes for a person to shed their dark cloak of pain and move on with their life (See my Reflections post).
     Things like rape and abuse can often be avoided. Fear, cowardice, naivety, selfishness, and lack of foresight all play a role in creating bad situations for yourself and others. These are also some of the main themes in Straw Dogs. Straw Dogs is a remake of 1971's dramatic thriller that starred Dustin Hoffman. The remake is helmed by James Marsden (X-Men Trilogy), Kate Bosworth (Superman Returns), and Alexander Skarsgård (True Blood). Unlike the original, Straw Dogs (2011) is set in the deep American south and the professions of the protagonists are changed and vastly improved. The story is essentially about a writer and his wife that move from L.A. to her hometown. Once there they face conflict with the locals, which culminate in a violent showdown of unparalleled intensity.
    James Marsden is perfect as a naive L.A. screenwriter David Sumner. Accustomed to the hustle and bustle of city life and the luxuries afforded by city living is the inevitable downfall of this shortsighted writer. Overly confident in the moral fortitude of his new neighbors, David allows himself and his wife to become targets of advantageous hounds disguised as old friends and honest townsfolk. Kate Bosworth's Amy Sumner is guilty of the same shortsightedness. Only Mrs. Sumner chooses to agitate the situation with her brash actions and immaturity. Together these characters lead us knowingly and painfully to an event that is both graphic and terrible. As biblical references are tossed around, good faith between men become nothing more than an elaborate rouse. Seduction, rape, murder, and even racism bring this film to a terrifying close. Not a single moment is wasted in this gripping portrayal of human indecency.
    

Rating: 4 (Maximum of 5) - Straw Dogs is a well cast, well written, beautifully set menagerie of bigotry and evil deeds.

Action Films! (Killer Elite & Abduction)

     This long overdue post has been unfortunately delayed by a great many things. I had succumbed to an end of summer cold, end of season allergies, a busy schedule, and the realization that I'm not getting paid to do this. Simply put, in the face of everyday life this blog is an indulgence and an often expensive one as well. Now here's the good news, for the next month or so I will be posting much more frequently.
     Moving along, since my last post I have seen quite a few films. Killer Elite, Abduction, Straw Dogs, and Dream House. Seeing as most of these have been out for a while, I'm not sure if it would be worthwhile to write solitary blogs on each film. Besides, Killer Elite and Abduction are barely worth my time to discuss. they are ordinary action films with very little achievements of note. Killer Elite is an attempt at an all-star cast action film starring Clive Owen, Robert DeNiro, and Jason Statham. This film is about a special-ops agent that goes into retirement only to be lured out to rescue his mentor. I never give plot spoilers, so all I have to say further about this movie is that it's mediocre. The action is great but the script hardly delivers. Statham is mono-toned and mostly expressionless. I think he's fumbled his way through one too many Transporter films. As for Robert DeNiro, his character felt fake and insincere. DeNiro is more memorable as a gay air pirate in 2007's Stardust. Clive Owen is the only actor in this movie who delivers his lines with color and emotion. It is films like this that make me avoid the action film genre in general.

     Next is Abduction, an action film starring Taylor Lautner that's unfortunately aimed at underage teenagers. Sigourney Weaver's presence in this film is what initially drew me and her talents are greatly wasted and untapped in this dry extremely corny film. The story centers on Nathan (Taylor Lautner), a young man who's life is sent spiraling out of control once he finds a childhood photo of himself on a missing persons website. The film initially shows great potential by immersing us in the nearly perfect life of Nathan and allowing us to see it unravel at alarming rates. The downside to this is that the film seems to have been written and shot for teenage girls. Awkward moments, cheesy lines, and toned down violence abound in a movie that could have been a great platform for Lautner to shed his Twilight identity. Don't get me wrong, the film is still enjoyable but it clearly intended for a Disney Channel audience.
     Unlike the Killer Elite and Abduction, I have a lot to say about Straw Dogs and Dream House. Both Straw Dogs and Dream House will get individual posts.

Killer Elite - Rating: 2.5 (Maximum of 5) - Clive Owen is the saving grace of this movie that is otherwise just another testosterone fest with no substance
Abduction - Rating: 2 (Maximum of 5) - A witless film with lots of untapped potential