Contagion

    We've seen it before with films like 1995's Outbreak. A deadly virus is contracted by an unknowing civilian and eventually leads to the greatest medical crisis the world has ever seen. Contagion follows a similar pattern with efficiency and terrifyingly realistic scenarios. In a time where American Health Care is at the forefront of heated political debates, lobbyists pushing even harder to make profits, and H1N1 was big news only two years ago, Contagion serves as a cautionary tale grounded in reality.
    Boasting an star-studded cast Contagion is masterfully directed by Steven Soderbergh (Ocean's Eleven, Traffic). Throughout the film, we are presented with scenarios that are all too familiar and common in today's world. When faced with an epidemic who can we trust? Will the local news tell us what we really need to know? Or will it be the guy that blogs about government and pharmaceutical conspiracies that will win our attention and allegiance? Is Facebook a trusted medium for hearsay and international crisis information? When racked with fear of the unknown, who will the public turn to? Contagion these issues with unprecedented ease and style.  We are privy to the horrors of how quickly and wittingly a global tragedy can escalate.
    I remember when H1N1 or more commonly known as the "Swine Flu" was a massive concern for everyone here in the US. Schools were closed, children died, and decisive measures implemented by the CDC probably prevented mass hysteria. Being overly pro-active is better than not doing anything at all (Where was FEMA during Hurricane Katrina?). Contagion captures all of this and delivers it an well written, beautifully shot, surreal, and epically performed package and delivers it to us in theaters and IMAX screens around the world. A must see event that will leave you breathless till the very end.

Rating: 4 (Maximum of 5) - Not an original work, but modernized, updated, and up-classed

Colombiana

    Vengeance is beautiful and so is Zoe Saldana in this adrenaline pumped action film from the producers of La Femme Nikita. In Colombiana, Saldana plays Cataleya, a woman who becomes an assassin for hire after her parents were murdered when she was a child. Saldana is sleek, slender, and stunning as this Chicago raised woman with a mission. Sneaking into drug compounds, assassinating affluent criminals, and being ruthless comes easy to Saldana in what must be her most physically demanding role of her career. Unfortunately for Saldana, the script and screenplay do very little for the rest of the movie.
    As many may have seen in the trailer, Cataleya sorrowfully proclaims that when she was nine years old her parents were murdered in front of her. Upon watching the first 20 min of the movie, this statement is proven to false. Contrary to her statement later in the movie, the young Cataleya only heard her parent being murdered. A simple mistake like this should have been noticed by someone before the theatrical release. Outside of this slightly grievous error, Colombiana's other down-fall is the slightly repetitive action sequences. In defense of this, I believe that a virtually self-taught assassin hell-bent on revenge would have a very specific method of operation (otherwise referred to as an M.O.). For Cataleya, that would be slinking through ventilation shafts, and finding the vulnerabilities in floor plans which are typically on public record. Lastly, I feel that the sound editing team for Colombiana has a lot to repent for. During the film, moments where a gun shot or car accident should have been an extremely loud or jarring sound are slightly muffled. It is as if we were being shielded from critical noises with sound absorbent pillows over our ears or the microphones themselves. Let me tell you...it's annoying. When I see guns being fired at point blank or a car crash on screen, I would like the sound effects to match what I'm seeing.
    Beyond the aforementioned production issues, Colombiana is still an extremely fun movie to watch. I'm happy to Zoe Saldana growing as an actress with screen presence and versatility. I have personal weakness for films that feature strong female roles, so naturally I found this movie thrilling. Action films are action films, they are not geared to win Academy Awards or Critic's Choice nominations. They are meant to entertain, and in that Colombiana succeeds.

Rating: 2.5 (Maximum of 5)

Rise of the Planet of the Apes

    Dear reader, before delving into my latest critique, I must state that director Rupert Wyatt has very few films to his credit. When undertaking a summer blockbuster film, you must try and set it aside from all the others. In a summer filled with wizards, robots, aliens, and and super-heroes, Director Rupert Wyatt takes Rise of the Planet of the Apes and delves deeper into the story than any other "Apes" film in history.
    This movie follows James Franco as Will Rodman in his desperate quest for a cure to Alzheimer's disease. In his rush for results, disaster strikes when his experiments go awry and wreak havoc on his life and everyone in San Francisco. Franco continues his streak of success (let's forget about Your Highness) with this foreboding tale of corporate greed and seemingly benevolent pharmaceutical researchers.
    It really isn't a stretch to believe that pharmaceutical companies would be responsible for creating a virus that obliterates man-kind. While this movie avoids such drastic results, it certainly sets the stage for pending doom. This is merely the beginning of a possible end and that is what sets Rise of the Planet of the Apes aside from all the other films in this franchise.
    Solid performances from the entire cast lead us through a series of events that herald both mankind's downfall and also leaves us with a glimmer of hope. The film does an adequate job at addressing issues like animal cruelty, family values, and the perils of gross ignorance. Once an animal becomes integrated into a family does it stop being a pet? Should intelligence play a factor in how a family pet should be treated? I love this movie because it is thought proving and emotional. The final scenes here will leave you breathless and in awe. Truly a job well done.

Rating: 4 (Maximum of 5)

A Simply Barbaric Movie: Conan the Barbarian (2011)

    If you are one of the few individuals who admire a movie for the display of violence and naked women, I will still advise for you to avoid seeing Conan the Barbarian (2011). Starring Jason Momoa (Game of Thrones), Ron Perlman (various terrible film credits), and Rose McGowan (Charmed), Conan the Barbarian is a boorish film about a man's quest for revenge. There really isn't any need for me to elaborate beyond vengeance, because the movie isn't worth the time it takes for me to formulate a synopsis that will differ from all the other blogs out there.
    Amazingly, director Marcus Nispel managed to rope Morgan Freeman into lending his legendary voice as the narrator of the film. Unfortunately, his voice lends nothing to this violent and inane remake of Arnold Schwarzenegger's  Conan The Barbarian (1982) classic. As a fan of Rose McGowan I have to concede that I has high expectations for her, but even she could outwit the what must have only been a paycheck movie for her.
    Lastly, it is movies like this one that give 3D such a bad reputation. Whoever decided to convert this festival of testosterone and violence into 3D should be chastised for their lack of chagrin. Poor films like this one should never be made, let alone released in 3D in hopes of further pillaging the wallets of people struggling in an economic recession.

Rating: 1 (Maximum of 5)

Attack the Block

    It's not every day that I get to see a UK film. In fact, I can't remember the last UK Film that I've watched in it's entirety. Which is partially why I was so thrilled to see this UK independent sci-fi thriller. Thanks to Gofobo.com, I attended an advanced screening of Attack the Block.

    A dark and often violent film about a gang of inner-city London youths that are forced to fight for their lives amidst an alien invasion. Written and directed by Joe Cornish, Attack the Block is not quite what you would expect from the producers of Shaun of the Dead. The movie begins with a London celebration that I believe is Canada Day (the film does not state). Here we find a gang on South London teenagers patrolling their Block for easy victims to rob. Clearly, up to no good, the story is developed through the interactions between the teenagers and their surroundings. Upon meeting a young woman on the street whom they threaten and mug, a chance event allows her to escape with her life only to have it threatened again repeated throughout the movie.

    Attack the Block is a submission from the Sundance film festival that has received critical acclaim from around the world. While it is new to the US this summer, I implore people see this film for it's ingenuity and bluntness. As human beings, we are as alike as we are different and this movie shows us that regardless of cultural background or nationality we are all the same. Especially when confronted with an invasion of shadowy dark creatures from outer space, we need to stick together and think as one. Easily the best release of the summer, Attack the Block does an excellent job all around.

Rating 4 Stars (Maximum of 5)

Adapt or Die...

    As I stated in my post for "Sucker Punch", there is an on-gong trend for female empowerment in the film industry as of late. Films where the heroine is fighting for the survival of herself, and/or her family. Women can be as loving and caring as they can be malevolent. "Hanna" is no exception.

   
    "Hanna" starring Saoirse Ronan (The Lovely Bones, and the upcoming film "The Hobbit), Eric Bana (Star Trek, and The Hulk), and Cate Blanchett (The Curious Case of Benjamin Button) is an epic film about a young girl who is raised in the wilderness by her father, and embarks on a journey across Europe, while being pursued by Intelligence Agents.
    First, Saoirse Ronan plays the role of Hanna, a painfully socially ignorant girl, that has spent her entire life (thus far) training for the day that she can leave the metaphorical nest. While the film does very little to address the exact nature of her mission, it is clear from the first moments that she is on screen, that survival is key.
   Her father Erik (Eric Bana) has been preparing her to face life in the same fashion a predator in the wild would do for it's cub. He is ruthless and methodical in his zeal to ensure her safety. Combat training, intensive foreign language studies, memory recall techniques, and foraging are all part of his daily regimen for her. The theme is survival of the fittest, kill or be killed, adapt or die...
    Cate Blanchett's Marissa, is cold, calculating, and prideful. A woman that executes every task with a maniacal drive for perfection. She alone aims to capture Hanna, and kill Erik, Hanna's father, and will not allow anyone to derail her from her path.
    Now honestly, I have to say that this film is impressive. It gives very little information and allows us to discover what we need to know as Hanna discovers what it's like to truly live. While we are led through remote locations where Hanna is forced to adapt to social situations and experiencing things she has only read about; we are given a forced perspective of the harrowing journey for life. How would one deal with being marked for death at the whim of a government agent. How would you cope with knowing you were 'different' from EVERY other human being. As a parent, how far would you go to ensure that your child could fend for themselves. This movie presents us with all these questions in fantastic form, as only director Joe Wright can provide.
    "Hanna" is eccentric, action packed, dramatic, and emotional. A film worth a thousand words, with a sound track perfectly matched with it's gritty cinematography and intimate camera work. More films should strive to be as individualistic as this and offer just as much, if not more.

Rating: 4.5 (maximum is 5)

"Sucker Punch"

    Lately, going to the movies has been a little difficult for me. I work mornings & early evenings at an organic restaurant by the name of Nana. Since my return from my amazing Bahamas vacation, the business at the restaurant has maintained a busy and steady pace. As a direct result, my hours there had increased to the point where seeing and accurately criticizing a film would have been impractical (not that I'm complaining). The week following my return from the Bahamas included filming for Food Network's Diners, Drives, & Dives (DDD) with television celebrity Chef Guy Fieri. While this will inevitably do wonders for business at the restaurant, I deeply disagree with our restaurant being included on the that particular show. Nana, is neither a diner, a drive, or a dive and I slightly resent having our fine dining establishment included on a show that highlights places like Chicago's White Palace Grill... Nevertheless, we filmed what should be a great segment to a future episode and plowed directly onto Localicious (an exclusive party featuring Chicago Restaurants that buy and feature locally grown organic produce) and Chicago Chef's Week (a week in which prix fixe menus are available at select restaurants with seasonal menus). Needless to say, we were swamped and I was exhausted for 2 consecutive weeks.
    Now getting to the most important matter, my synopsis of "Sucker Punch".

    "Sucker Punch" is a PG-13 rated action/adventure/fantasy/drama or epic fantasy from the mind of Zack Snyder. The film follows a young girl by the name of Baby Doll (Emily Browning) who is institutionalized by her abusive stepfather after the death of her mother. Once imprisoned, we are plunged into a fantastic realm of sex and heroism as she struggles to cope with her harsh reality, and the decisions she must make in order to obtain her freedom. Along the way, we are introduced to cast of characters that are menacing, memorable, and beautifully reticent.
    Make no mistake, while "Sucker Punch" seems to be aimed at teenage action fan-boys, this film manages to stir up enough emotional content to dissuade those seeking only visual titillation. The concepts driven hardest by the film are tough life questions that many of us ponder, but are rarely afforded the chance to actualize. What will it take to survive? Am I strong enough to persevere this? How far will you go to save the life of someone you hardly know? The movie poses these questions and more, and does very little to actually answer them. Through a series of journeys through Baby Doll's imagination we are exposed to myriad of environments that act as pop culture references. "Black Swan", "Kill Bill", "Inception", "Lord of the Rings" (or "The Hobbit"), "Repo: The Genetic Opera", and many more can be seen within the 109 minutes that "Sucker Punch" is.
    It can be said that the overall arching theme of many films released over the last year has been a woman's fight for survival (see "Black Swan" and "Winter's Bone"). Emily Browning's Baby Doll, fights for her life in this visually fantastic adventure that crosses the lines of three separate realms of reality. A round of applause for Zack Snyder who also co-wrote the film. Could it have been better? Most certainly. But this is not a film that was meant to answer questions. It is only a tool with which one should use to inspire conversation and provoke thought.

Rating: 3.5 Stars (maximum of 5)