20s Movie Review - Here

Director: Robert Zemeckis
Genre: Drama
Runtime: 104 minutes
Year: 2024
Starring: Tom Hanks, Robin Wright, Paul Bettany, Kelly Reilly
Description: A generational story about families and the special place they inhabit, sharing in love, loss, laughter, and life.

I WATCHED THIS MOVIE FOR MY 2025 MOVIE CHALLENGE
WEEK 11: A FILM WITH ROBIN WRIGHT
 
Review: Robert Zemeckis, once the Hollywood legend of blockbusters such as “Back to the Future” and “Forrest Gump”, hasn’t had many success lately. His last one was probably “The Walk” from 2015. With “Here” he proves what a talent he has.

“Here” is based on a graphic novel and it seems difficult to film. The book is quite experimental, telling the history of a particular place without a traditional storyline. The point of observation remains the same; the reader is merely an observer of events. Such a non-narrative concept is not easy to translate to film, but in the right hands it van produce something very special. As a result, the films has some engaging plot lines, but no concrete story. “Here” is more about theme and the bigger picture than individual stories. The graphic novel focuses primarily on the broader existential question surrounding forgotten history and emotions of a place. The film has a clearer focus and acts as a silent reflection on American history.

The film shows moments from different times, sometimes even within the same fram. While an important event takes place in the living room, other parts of the screen show what took place there years earlier and later. As a result, you not only see how society is changing, but also get an intriguing glimpse into the lives of everyday people.

A common criticism concerns the CGI rejuvenation of Tom hanks and Robin Wright. Although the effects look technically very impressive, and they both look as how they did years ago, it’s still strange because we know they are much older know. Because when we meet these characters they are teenagers, when they’re both well in their fifties and sixties.

Regardless of the quality of this, all the actors deliver great performances. Hanks an Wright reunite after having worked together in “Forrest Gump”. Paul Bettany is actually the one that stands out the most.
I really think that the concept of this film is really unique and special and I’m glad that Robert Zemeckis hasn’t lost his groove yet. I feel that “Here” deserved more attention when it came out, I feel that this was a very overlooked film. I enjoyed it.

Rating: 4/ 5

100 Movie Challenge 2016 - # 149: The Walk

Director: Robert Zemeckis
Genre: Drama
Runtime: 122 minutes
Year: 2015
Starring: Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Guillaume Baillargeon, Émilie Leclerc, Mark Trafford, Inka Malovic, Lucas Ramaciere, Martin Lefebvre, Philippe Bertrand, Laurence Deschenes, Patricia Tulasne, Jean-Robert Bourdage, Sylvie Lemay, Sasha Dominique, Soleyman Pierini, Jade Kindar-Martin

Description: In 1974, high-wire artist Philippe Petit (Joseph Gordon-Levitt) recruits a team of people to help him realize his dream: to walk the immense void between the World Trade Center towers.

Review: A good 3D camera is all you need. When high-wire artist Philippe Petit walks on a rope between the Twin Towers and you look over the edge of the building, the images give you vertigo. This movie is definitely a movie experience while watching it on the big screen, but you can still feel it when you’re watching it at home.
The movie builds up to the climax at the end: the actual walk. We meet Philippe and his big dream of making the impossible possible. We see how he shows his acrobatic tricks in Paris, but how he wants to go to New York to do something much bigger.
If you saw the documentary “Man on Wire”, you know the story. What Petit did and what his drive was. He is an interesting man and it’s great to get to know him in “The Walk”. The film is good, but the final act is sublime. I was on the edge of my seat at all times and loved it. Joseph Gordon-Levitt performed wonderfully. It’s easy for an American to mess up a fake French accents, but he pulled it off. Levitt made Petit a likeable and intriguing figure. It shows he was very dedicated to this role.
“The Walk” is a very good film, I highly enjoyed it. Just for that final act alone.

Rating: 4,5/ 5