20s Movie Review - Strange World

Director: Qui Nguyen, Don Hall
Genre: Animation/ Family/ Adventure
Runtime: 117 minutes
Year: 2022
Starring: Jake Gyllenhaal, Dennis Quaid, Gabrielle Union, Lucy Liu, Alan Tudyk

I WATCHED THIS MOVIE FOR MY 2023 MOVIE CHALLENGE
WEEK 23: A DISNEY ANIMATION
 
Description: The legendary Clades are a family of explorers whose differences threaten to topple their latest and most crucial mission.

Review: In “Strange World” we are introduced to three generations of the legendary Clade family, as they try to work together and navigate the unknown, treacherous land beneath their own world. Searcher is a family man who is out of his element on an unpredictable mission, he rather stays on his farm. Jaeger is Searcher’s larger-than-life explorer father. Ethan is Searcher’s 16-year-old son, who secretly wants to adventure like his grandfather, much against his father’s will.

I totally missed out on “Strange World” when it first came out. It only played in theaters for a short amount of time, before it hit Disney+. And in case of “Strange World” it says something about the quality of the film. It’s one of the worst films by Disney I have seen in years. The animations are very different from what we are used to from them and the story itself doesn’t really hit any nerves. It’s all about family relationships and that has been done way too many times, and much better. The film doesn’t really connect with the viewer, because you don’t know who to sympathize with.

Strange World doesn't really connect with the viewer, because there are too many main characters, and so as a viewer you can't really choose who to sympathize with. Is it the father, the son, the grandson, mother, expedition members, etc. The out-and-out story where Strange World is now set has its origins in American and Asian cultures, but is not so familiar that it really evokes recognition in the viewer.

One thing I did like, was the LGBTQ+ representation and different ethnicities were represented as well. Kudos for Disney to bring that to the attention.

All in all, there is a reason why many people missed “Strange World”: it’s just not a very good animation, it doesn’t have a memorable story or characters and I already forgot most that happened. So you can see that even Disney has a miss ever once in a while.  

Rating: 2,5/ 5

00s Movie Review - Brokeback Mountain

Director: Ang Lee
Genre: Drama/ Romance
Runtime: 134 minutes
Year: 2005
Starring: Heath Ledger, Jake Gyllenhaal, Michelle Williams, Anne Hathaway, Randy Quaid, Anna Faris, David Harbour, Kate Mara, Linda Cardellini
 
Description: Ennis (Heath Ledger) and Jack (Jake Gyllenhaal) are two shepherds who develop a sexual and emotional relationship. Their relationship becomes complicated when both of them married to their respective girlfriends

Review: Happiness sometimes depends on the choices you make in life. Sometimes you wish you did things differently. One word or one touch could make such a difference, but you didn’t do anything. “Brokeback Mountain” also deals with such key moments. 
Even before “Brokeback Mountain” was released, it was one of the most talked about films of the year. Two cowboys, the model of ultimate manhood, that fall in love is obviously a fascinating given. But by just saying it’s about gay cowboys, you’re not doing it justice. It’s not about homosexuality, it’s about love in its purest and simplest form. A story about how people choose to live their lives, about a world that doesn’t really give them a choice, about suppressed feelings and about letting go. 
 The movie tells the story of young cowboys Ennis Del Mar and Jack Twist, who work together during the summer of 1963 in the mountains of Wyoming. The two develop a close bond which eventually turns into a sexual relationship, much to their own surprise. At the end of the summer, Ennis and Jack both go their own way. Both men get married and start a family, but the memories of their time in Brokeback Mountain are dear to them. When they meet up again after years, it’s still as that last time in Brokeback Mountain. 
 The love between Ennis and Jack is impossible, it’s in a time that the love between two men isn’t accepted. Director Ang Lee could have easily turned it into a melodramatic film, but he managed to find the right tone. I’ve never seen a film where two such rich, complete and complex characters managed to expose the relationship in such an honest, true and sharp way. The pace is slow and so are the developments, but in this film it’s a positive thing. Invest in the characters and you will be rewarded. 
 “Brokeback Mountain” is carried by two great leading actors. Both Heath Ledger and Jake Gyllenhaal are fantastic. Ledger shines as the introvert Ennis. He is afraid to choose for what he really wants. Gyllenhaal’s Jack is a bit more complex. He doesn’t want to live in a lie and fantasizes about a life with Ennis. The choices we make have effect on our happiness, that’s something “Brokeback Mountain” shows us. 
 A fantastic, touching and heart felt film, one of my all-time favorites.

Rating: 5/ 5

Movie Review - The Guilty

Director: Antoine Fuqua
Genre: Thriller/ Drama/ Crime
Runtime: 90 minutes
Year: 2021
Starring: Jake Gyllenhaal

Description: A demoted police officer (Jake Gyllenhaal) assigned to a call dispatch desk is conflicted when he receives an emergency phone call from a kidnapped woman.

Review: Joe is a police officer who got demoted and is now working at a call dispatch desk. He receives emergency phone calls and has to make sure the right help is send. One night, he receives a phone call from a kidnapped woman and Joe gets stuck with trying to help her.
“The Guilty” is a movie set in ‘real-time’. We never jump forward or back in time, it’s just time as it is. With that, the film also takes place in only one location, with mainly one character: Joe. And Jake Gyllenhaal is the one with this difficult task.
The story is captivating enough to interest you for the entire runtime. And since it’s only one-and-a-half hour, it’s easier to keep the attention from the audience and to keep the film exciting. And Gyllenhaal, whom I always enjoy watching, I really strong in his role.
The story itself is nothing new and some developments are somewhat predictable. But “The Guilty” is still a very tense thriller and worth your time.

Rating: 3,5/ 5

10s Movie Review - Spider-Man: Far From Home

Director: Jon Watts
Genre: Action/ Adventure/ Science Fiction
Runtime: 129 minutes
Year: 2019
Starring: Tom Holland, Samuel L. Jackson, Jake Gyllenhaal, Marisa Tomei, Jon Favreau, Zendaya, Jacob Batalon, Tony Revolori, Angouri Rice, Remi Hii, Martin Starr, Cobie Smulders, J.B. Smoove

I WATCHED THIS MOVIE FOR MY 2020 MOVIE CHALLENGE.
WEEK 40: A MARVEL MOVIE

Description: Following the events in “Avengers: Endgame”, Spider-Man (Tom Holland) must step up to take on new threats in a world that has changed forever.

Review: The number of superhero movies has become so large that it is becoming increasingly difficult to oversee everything. The various reboots that have been presented to the audience in a short time don’t make it any clearer. You have to invest heavily to stay updated and today it’s also a must to see every movie in the MCU, because they interweave and events in one movie will affect another. “Spider-Man: Far From Home” is the second part of the second Spider-Man reboot. This movie completes phase 3 of the Marvel Cinematic Universe.
“Spider-Man: Far From Home” cleverly builds on previous events. Peter Parker, a teenager, is still broken about the death of Tony Stark. The man that made him an Avenger. But Peter needs a break, which comes in the form of a school trip to Europe. He is too busy planning a way to win over MJ’s heart, that he even doesn’t pack his costume. Don’t worry, Aunt May packs it for him. But when they are in Venice, it’s soon clear that Spider-Man has no time for a break. And he meets the local hero Mysterio.
Marvel took a risk by resetting the adventures of Spider-Man for a second time, but also by making Peter Parker a teenager. Tom Holland with his youthful appearance and ditto spirit is cut for the role. He is my favorite Peter Parker. As a young Peter Parker he not only has to play the superhero, but he is also in the middle of puberty and dealing with lots of teen problems. But this is not my favorite series, that’s still the original with Toby Maguire. It feels more authentic and the new series changed way too much, I prefer the old-school Spider-Man.
Which doesn’t mean I don’t like this film. I liked “Spider-Man: Homecoming” and I really enjoyed “Spider-Man: Far From Home”. Mostly because Tom Holland is such a breath of fresh air to watch and he does such a great job as Peter Parker/ Spider-Man.
I liked the villain, although the reveal was a bit predictable. I think everyone knew who it was. The execution of it is really clever and inventive though. And Spider-Man has a serious opponent in him.
Overall, “Spider-Man: Far From Home” is a highly entertaining film, with an excellent Tom Holland.

Rating: 3,5/ 5

00s Movie Review - Zodiac

Director: David Fincher
Genre: Drama/ Thriller/ Crime
Runtime: 158 minutes
Year: 2007
Starring: Jake Gyllenhaal, Robert Downey Jr., Mark Ruffalo, Anthony Edwards, Brian Cox, Clea DuVall, Adam Goldberg, Elias Koteas, Dermot Mulroney, Chloë Sevigny, Ione Skye, John Carroll Lynch, Lee Norris, Jimmi Simpson

Description: A San Francisco cartoonist (Jake Gyllenhaal) becomes an amateur detective obsessed with tracking down the Zodiac killer.

Review: With “Zodiac”, director David Fincher brings us yet another engrossing film. It’s the story of a mysterious serial killer in San Francisco. It illustrates one of the most intriguing unsolved homicide cases of the US.
With his harassing letters, riddles, puzzles and codes, the San Francisco serial killer kept cops, journalists and civilians on the edge of their seats for years. “Zodiac” starts with some gruesome murders, which are very well shot. The killer demands that his messages are put on the front of some newspapers and threatens to kill more people if they don’t obey him. Fincher chose to tell the story from the perspective of the people who were involved in the case and what impact it had on their lives.
The cast of “Zodiac” has been carefully selected and they chose the right actors. The immense popular Jake Gyllenhaal plays a good role as the young unexperienced cartoonist Robert Graysmith. Robert Downey Jr. is Paul Avery, a journalist at ‘The Chronicle’ and is characterized by his self-destructive and irreverent character. With dry humor, arrogance and willfulness Downey Jr. is an enjoyable asshole. Mark Ruffalo is the best actor in the film, as infamous inspector David Toschi. Together with his colleague he is working on the Zodiac case, day and night.
The acting is strong, but the atmosphere is even stronger. He combines dark, grim and violent scenes with scenes in the streets of San Francisco and the meeting room at ‘The Chronicle’. With that, Fincher handles the way of the suspects and suspicion very well. The only problem I had was the length of the film. Towards the end, you start to feel it.
David Fincher succeeds to create an intriguing and intelligent thriller, about a very interesting case. “Zodiac” is an amazing film.

Rating: 4/ 5

Movie Reviews - Velvet Buzzsaw

Director: Dan Gilroy
Genre: Thriller
Runtime: 112 minutes
Year: 2018
Starring: Jake Gyllenhaal, Renee Russo, Toni Collette, John Malkovich, Zawe Ashton, Natalia Dyer, Billy Magnussen, Tom Sturridge

Description: After a series of paintings by an unknown artist are discovered, a supernatural force enacts revenge on those who have allowed their greed to get in the way of art.

Review: “Velvet Buzzsaw” is a horror satire focusing on the empty and cold art sector in Los Angeles. After it premiered at the Sundance Filmfestival, it can be seen on Netflix.
The story starts at the Miami Beach Basel Art Fair, where art advisors are looking for ‘the next best thing’. Here we meet the art critic Morf Vandewalt, his friend Josephina, art advisor Gretchen, gallery owner Rhodora and PR-machine Jon. All big names or rising stars in the art business.
One day Josephina finds the dead body of her upstairs neighbor, Vetril Dease. He has no family or friends and was a very quiet and to-him-self man. She finds a huge art collection in his house, all painted by him. All of his art is fascinating, yet morbid and disturbing. Dease wanted all of his art to be destroyed, but Josephina decides to show it to the world. When they explore the paintings, it turns out Dease painted with his own blood. When the paintings are exposed, strange deaths start to occur.
Possessed paintings is not very original, it’s a horror cliché. But director Dan Gilroy gave it a modern touch and made it less cliché. The deaths that occur are very original, but “Velvet Buzzsaw” never really gets scary.
Gilroy also directed “Nightcrawler” and reunites with Jake Gyllenhaal and Renee Russo. That was an intense, disturbing and on-point film. “Velvet Buzzsaw” sadly isn’t. Gilroy isn’t out to scare the audience, but it’s also missing suspense. Yet, it’s an entertaining movie, even though I expected more.
Taking a unoriginal cliché horror element and turning it into something more original. That’s been done. But it’s not as exciting as I thought it would be.

Rating: 3/ 5

100 Movie Challenge 2017 - # 98: Life

Director: Daniel Espinosa
Genre: Horror/ Thriller/ Science Fiction
Runtime: 104 minutes
Year: 2017
Starring: Jake Gyllenhaal, Rebecca Ferguson, Ryan Reynolds

Description: A team of scientists aboard the International Space Station discover a rapidly evolving life form that caused extinction on Mars and now threatens all life on Earth.

Review: Trying to bring back dead tissue to life, is probably not a good idea. There are many examples in film history that proof that. In “Life” they find organism on Mars, which they manage to bring to life. And off course, everything goes wrong after that.
“Life” gets exciting and has tension very early in the film. During the openings scene we see how the crew of an international space station try to catch a capsule with a mechanical arm. On board there are samples of the planet Mars, with proof there is life on Mars. The first organism they bring to life they call Calvin.
At first, Calvin is hard to see with the naked eye. It manages to adapt to its environment quickly. It also causes a bizarre accident in the lab and isn’t as friendly as they thought. It starts feeding of off the flesh of the astronauts and gets bigger and stronger by the hour.
It’s clear director Daniel Espinosa was inspired by movies like “Alien” and “Gravity”. He uses the claustrophobic rooms of the space ship to create extra fear and the extra-terrestrial life prefers to enter a human’s body through its mouth. But there are also crucial differences: we get to see the alien a lot more and the characters don’t all have that depth. Although we do see the monster often, it doesn’t always make it less scary. “Life” works perfectly as a popcorn film. The tempo is high and never manages to collapse.
Rebecca Ferguson and especially Jake Gyllenhaal, really steal the show. Their performances are strong. And I rated this movie higher than I expected, because of the ending.

Rating: 3,5/ 5

100 Movie Challenge 2017 - #82: Okja

Director: Joon-ho Bong
Genre: Adventure/ Drama/ Science Fiction
Runtime: 118 minutes
Year: 2017
Starring: Tilda Swinton, Paul Dano, Steven Yeun, Lily Collins, Jake Gyllenhaal, Giancarlo Esposito

Description: Meet Mija, a young girl who risks everything to prevent a powerful, multi-national company from kidnapping her best friend - a massive animal named Okja.

Review: Cannes 2017 got criticized because it showed two Netflix original films. But thankfully the boohs the audience gave when seeing the Netflix logo, turned into smiles and tears, because “Okja” is an endearing film.
Lucy Mirando thinks she has the solution for the world wide food problem and introduces the so-called super pig. Farmers all over the world are given the task to take care of those pigs. It’s a ten year project, where eventually the pigs will become food.
Okja is one of those super pigs, who grows up with Mija, in a beautiful green environment in Korea. Okja is as big as a hippo now and enjoys his life in freedom. He is sweet and loyal, yet clumsy and happy. The connection between Mija and Okja is heartwarming. But the Mirando Corporation disturbs their careless life when they take Okja away.
“Okja” calls for many different emotions. It puts a smile on your face, gets you excited, touches you and gets you to think. The acting is somewhat over-the-top, but fits the setting perfectly. Tilda Swinton and Jake Gyllenhaal excel here.
The message of the film is strong, if you are an animal lover or not. “Okja” is a great film, watch it on Netflix now!

Rating: 4/ 5

100 Movie Challenge 2016 - # 91: Demolition

Director: Jean-Marc Vallée
Genre: Drama/ Comedy
Runtime: 100 minutes
Year: 2015
Starring: Jake Gyllenhaal, Naomi Watts, Chris Cooper

Description: A successful investment banker (Jake Gyllenhaal) struggles after losing his wife in a tragic car crash. With the help of a customer service rep (Naomi Watts) and her young son, he starts to rebuild, beginning with the demolition of the life he once knew.

Review: Davis Mitchell is in the car with his wife. They get into a crash and his wife doesn’t survive the accident. When he tries to get a bag of M&M’s from a vending machine, and the candy gets stuck, it’s the start of a chain of letters between him and a customer’s service rep.
Davis comepletely loses his way when he loses his wife. He realizes that his job, for his wife’s father, and their ultra modern house, doesn’t really fit him. They are all things that happened because of his relationship with Julia. Now she’s gone, Davis is trying to find a new identity.
Jake Gyllenhaal is a great actor and he proves that again here. Both in the dramatic and comedic scenes. Especially that last surprised me. I also liked him together with Naomi Watts. Her character doesn’t have the depth I hoped for, but she is still strong. The movie is original, but at the more dramatic moments it can’t escape the clichés.
Overall I really liked “Demolition”, mostly because of Gyllenhaal and Watts.

Rating: 3,5/ 5

100 Movie Challenge 2016 - # 83: Everest

Director: Baltasar Kormákur
Genre: Drama/ Adventure/ Thriller
Runtime: 121 minutes
Year: 2015
Starring: Jason Clarke, Josh Brolin, Jake Gyllenhaal, Martin Henderson, Sam Worthington, Keira Knightley, Robin Wright, Emily Watson, John Hawkes

Description: A climbing expedition on Mt. Everest is devastated by a severe snow storm.

Review: When it comes to disaster movie, we can divide them in two categories. One is the impressive spectacle piece where nature is overpowering mankind. Think of movies like “The Day After Tomorrow” or “2012”. The other one is the more character driven disaster film, that focusses more on the people that are facing the critical disaster. “Everest” fits that last category.
“Everest” is based on the real story of a 1996 expedition. The New Zealander Rob Hall leads a group to the top of the Mount Everest, right before a severe snow storm hits them. He leads a group of men and one woman, that all have their own motivation for reaching the top. Like Doug, who wants to proof to school children that even an everyday man can do something so extraordinary. And the Texan Beck, who chooses adventure to flee his marital problems.
The movie is filled with great actors, but most of them have to do it with a minor supporting role. Keira Knightley and Robin Wright are both wives waiting at home for their husbands. Both pretty unthankful roles. Jake Gyllenhaal, although a very strong role as the eccentric expedition leader Scott Fischer, only has a few scenes. I wanted more of him. Josh Brolin does a solid job as well. Jason Clarke is the main man. He does this well, so the overall acting is great. But because there are so many characters, it’s hard to really relate to them. The emotional moments don’t grab you as much.
But it’s not only the acting that is good. The images are beautiful. Gorgeous mountain views, all very realistic.
“Everest” is a stunning looking movie with good acting. But it could have been even better if some interesting characters got more screen time and we got to know them more.

Rating: 3,5/ 5

Movie Battle : Enemy Vs. Nightcrawler

This time I decided to go for two movies with Jake Gyllenhaal. Gyllenhaal is an actor who keeps making better movies. This guy is on a roll and has made so many great films recently. I decided to let two of his more recent ones fight it out in the movie battle. Let’s so who wins: “Enemy” Vs. “Nightcrawler”.

 

 

ACTORS

Enemy: Besides Jake Gyllenhaal we can see Mélanie Laurent, Sara Gadon and Isabella Rossellini. While Gyllenhaal is the star, all the ladies do a very solid job.

Nightcrawler: Rene Russo and Bill Paxton are performing opposite Jake Gyllenhaal. Again, Gyllenhaal is the star and he is at his most maniacal in “Nightcrawler”. What an amazingly overlooked performance by him.

STORY

Enemy: When you read the synopsis it all seems standard. A man seeks out his exact look-alike after spotting him in a movie. But what’s beneath is much more complicated. I didn’t understand the movie when I first saw it, it’s a movie with a lot of symbolism and layers. “Enemy” really makes you think and you want to find out the psychology behind it. And that ending freaked me out.

Nightcrawler: The story is a bit more straight forward than “Enemy”, but also more than meets the eye. Louis Bloom discovers working as a crime journalist and becomes obsessed with the job.

EFFECTS

Enemy: A very grim movie, well filmed. It all looks very creepy and there are some special effects here and there. But not more than needed.

Nightcrawler: Night time Los Angeles is the background of the film and the city of angels is filmed beautifully. The film has a gripping atmosphere and this décor adds something extra to that.

WINNER

Tough choice, I loved both movies. But I think “Nightcrawler” surprised and overwhelmed me more.

100 Movie Challenge 2015 - # 145: Southpaw

Director: Antoine Fuqua

Genre: Drama

Runtime: 124 minutes

Year: 2015

Starring: Jake Gyllenhaal, Rachel McAdams, Forest Whitaker, Curtis ’50 Cent’ Jackson, Naomie Harris

Description: Boxer Billy Hope (Jake Gyllenhaal) turns to trainer Tick Wills (Forest Whitaker) to help him get his life back on track after losing his wife (Rachel McAdams) in a tragic accident and his daughter to child protection services.

Review: When the first promotional images for “Southpaw” were released, there was lots of respect for Jake Gyllenhaal. Before this he was a skinny dude in “Nightcrawler” and he turned into a very muscled man for “Southpaw” in a short period of time.

The life of Billy Hope (Jake Gyllenhaal) is about two things: boxing and his family. After successfully defending his world title, Billy is so hurt that his wife Maureen (Rachel McAams) convinces him to quit and spend more time with his family. His plans are disturbed by an emotional incident and Billy loses everything he cares about. He seeks the help of boxing coach Tick Wills (Forest Whitaker).

Besides the impressive physicals change he went through, Jake Gyllengaal is again very convincing in his role. He keeps delivering great performances, now it’s just waiting for that first Academy Award. The supporting roles are also strong. Rachel McAdams and Forest Whitaker are fantastic as well. Even Curtis ’50 Cent’ Jackson is solid.

The story is not very original. It has lots of clichés and the downwards spiral Billy is going through is a bit too long. It might lead to apathy from the viewers. Acting makes up for that, because you really hope that Billy eventually gets out of it. Where the movie manages to distinguish itself from other boxing movies is the great camera work during the realistic fights. Sometimes we see it from the point of view of the boxer.

Not the most original film, but “Southpaw” is good and has great performance.

Rating: 3,5/ 5

100 Movie Challenge 2015 - # 39: Enemy

Director: Denis Villeneuve

Genre: Thriller

Runtime: 90 minutes

Year: 2013

Starring: Jake Gyllenhaal, Mélanie Laurent, Sarah Gadon, Isabella Rossellini

Description: A man seeks out his exact look-alike after spotting him in a movie.

Review: That there is a person on this planet that looks exactly like you, is an intriguing idea. Director Denis Villeneuve used it as a theme for the movie “Enemy”. It’s loosely based on the novel “The Double” by José Saramago. In the lead Villeneuve choose Jake Gyllenhaal.

The university of Toronto is the work place for professor Adam Bell. His days are dull and filled with giving lectures and pleasing his girlfriend Mary. When a colleague recommends him a movie, Adam decides to rent it. In that movie he spots a man that looks just like him. He can’t get him out of his head and wants to find the man.

If you’re a fan of Villeneuve’s movie “Prisoners”, be prepared for “Enemy”. It’s not as mainstream and probably not as known. Be ready for an abstract movie, with images that will haunt you for a long time.

The unexpected process makes it interesting and your attention never fades. The sinister music gives it a worrying and disturbing atmosphere.

Jake Gyllenhaal does a fantastic job by playing both Adam and Anthony. His great performance makes it easy to separate the two character, although looking identical. It’s in the little details. You hardly notice the transition between the two characters in the first half hour, but it’s clear you’re dealing with two different men.

The movie might make you feel uncomfortable and especially that ending is something you won’t forget very easily. It’s one of the scariest endings I have seen in a long time, because it’s so unexpectedly and it messes with your mind. This movie will stay with you for a long time, you want to unravel every little detail of it. It’s complex, so not a movie for just any viewer, but for us movie fans it’s a cinematic masterpiece.

Rating: 5/ 5

Quotables: "Nightcrawler"

I recently saw this movie and it’s one of the best movies of the year. It surprised me really. Jake Gyllenhaal is phenomenal and there are some great quotes. Here are they, and almost all of them are by Gyllenhaal’s character Lou Bloom.

Lou Bloom: What if my problem wasn't that I don't understand people but that I don't like them? What if I was the kind of person who was obliged to hurt you for this? I mean physically. I think you'd have to believe afterward, if you could, that agreeing to participate and then backing out at the critical moment was a mistake. Because that's what I'm telling you, as clearly as I can.

Lou Bloom: Who am I? I'm a hard worker. I set high goals and I've been told that I'm persistent.

Lou Bloom: Do you know what fear stands for? False Evidence Appearing Real.

 

 

Lou Bloom: Why you pursue something is as important as what you pursue.

Lou Bloom: I feel like grabbing you by your ears right now and screaming, "I'm not fucking interested!". Instead, I'm going to drive home and do some accounting.

Lou Bloom: The name of my company is Video Production News, a professional news-gathering service. That's how it should be read and that's how it should be said. I also want to go to the next rung and meet your team, and the station manager, and the director, and the anchors, and start developing my own personal relationships. I'd like to start meeting them this morning. You'll take me around and you'll introduce me as the owner and president of Video Production News, and remind them of some of many other stories. I'm not done. I also want to stop our discussion over prices. This will save time. So when I say that a particular number is my lowest price, that's my lowest price and you can be assured at whatever that number is very carefully. Now, when I say I want these things, I mean that I want them and I don't want to have to ask again.

 

 

Nina Romina: You don't work with me, you're someone I sell to. And I don't wanna fuck that up.

Lou Bloom: What if by saying no you fuck it up?

Lou Bloom: Get out of your head, Rick, it's a bad neighborhood.

100 Movie Challenge 2014 - # 148: Nightcrawler

Director: Dan Gilroy

Genre: Drama/ Crime/ Thriller

Runtime: 117 minutes

Year: 2014

Starring: Jake Gyllenhaal, Rene Russo, Bill Paxton, Rick Garcia

Description: When Lou Bloom (Jake Gyllenhaal), a driven man desperate for work, muscles into the world of L.A. crime journalism, he blurs the line between observer and participant to become the star of his own story. Aiding him in his effort is Nina, a TV-news veteran.

Review: The word “Nightcrawler” can mean many things. In this case it’s not the newest X-Men spin-off or a movie about worms. Here it means journalists who deliver newsworthy happenings that occur at night.

This tingling theme is translated to film by scenario writer Dan Gilroy, who makes his directorial debut with “Nightcrawler”. Jake Gyllenhaal plays the lead role, who lost 20 pounds to make his character come to life. Who says method acting is dead? He’s koined by Rene Russo, the directors wife, and it’s great to see her in a good film again. Bill Paxton plays a fellow nightcrawler.

Lou Bloom is trying to sell stolen construction material, but it doesn’t get him a lot of money. When Lou witnesses a traffic collision, he sees freelance journalists filming the accident. His new life goal is to become successful in that business. After some rookie mistakes, he starts getting the hang of it and he actually has talent for it. But Lou soon goes beyond boundaries and gets obsessed with the job, by losing all his morals and ethics.

Like “Collateral” and “Drive”, night time Los Angeles is the décor for “Nightcrawler”. The City of Angels is filmed beautifully and adds something to the already gripping atmosphere.

Jake Gyllenhaal can join the club of actors, with for instance Matthew McConaughey and Tom Hardy, who land one good role after another. After being in “Prisoners” and “Enemy”, his portrayal of Lou Bloom might be his best performance so far.

Knowing that the theme of “Nightcrawler” is based on reality, make it very worrying. The tension is very high at times. “Nightcrawler” might just be one of the best films of 2014, a joy for every movie fan.

Rating: 5/ 5

100 Movie Challenge 2014 - # 34: Prisoners

Director: Denis Villeneuve
Genre: Drama/ Thriller/ Crime
Runtime: 146 minutes
Year: 2013
Starring: Hugh Jackman, Jake Gyllenhaal, Terrence Howard, Viola Davis, Maria Bello, Paul Dano, Melissa Leo

Description: When Keller Dover's (Hugh Jackman) daughter and her friend go missing, he takes matters into his own hands as the police pursue multiple leads and the pressure mounts. But just how far will this desperate father go to protect his family?

Review: On Thanksgiving the young daughters of the Dover and Birch family go missing. Fathers Keller and Franklin go looking for them, but can’t find them. Around the time the girls went missing, a mysterious RV was spotted and Detective Loki goes to the owner. Alex Jones is arrested, but eventually the cops let him go. Keller is sure Alex is responsible.
Fans of feel-good movies should be warned, because this film has a grim atmosphere. Just when you think you figured it out, the film comes with some masterful twists. This makes “Prisoners” everything but predictable and you never see the actual ending coming.
The cast of “Prisoners” did a tremendous job. Hugh Jackman and Jake Gyllenhaal stand out. Jackman is known for his friendly character, which makes his performance even more impressive. Jake Gyllenhaal has a more introvert way of acting, which fits his character of detective Loki perfectly. Paul Dano was also cast very well as Alex Jones.
Director Denis Villeneuve did a perfect job and this is definitely one of the best films of 2013. If you like darker movies, this is just what you need. “Prisoners” will make you gasp for air and leave you breathless in the end. But no worries, this film is worth that.

Rating: 5/ 5

100 Movie Challenge 2014 - # 25: End of Watch

Director: David Ayer
Genre: Drama/ Thriller/ Crime
Runtime: 109 minutes
Year: 2012
Starring: Jake Gyllenhaal, Michael Peña, Anna Kendrick, Natalie Martinez, America Ferrara, Cody Horn

Description: In South Central Los Angeles, street cops Brian (Jake Gyllenhaal) and Mike (Michael Peña) are partners, patrolling the streets as Latino gangs are in a power struggle with Blacks.

Review: Two LAPD-agents film themselves while on duty. Their sergeant doesn’t like it, but a tough cop does what he wants. That’s how easy it is, to give a cop film a bit of an original twist.
The police duo Brian Taylor and Mike Zavala is proud of what they do for society. Even if it’s basically picking up the scum of the streets, but it makes the world a little better. With the cameras constantly running, it does make both cops a bit reckless. But that is what keeps you close to the characters. With this way of filming it increases the tension. It’s been a while since we got a chance to empathize so intensely with characters and to get a realistic look on the job.
Both Gyllenhaal and Peña deliver a nice piece of acting work and director David Ayer manages to avoid to put a patriotic feel in the film.
“End of Watch” surprised me pleasantly and I love the way this great concept was executed.

Rating: 4/ 5

Quotables: "Brokeback Mountain"

Such a great movie, I really fell in love with it when I saw it for the first time. What great performances by Jake Gyllenhaal and Heath Ledger. Here are some quotes.

Jack Twist: As for our marriage, we can do it over the phone.

Ennis Del Mar: You ever get the feelin'... I don't know, er... when you're in town and someone looks at you all suspicious, like he knows? And then you go out on the pavement and everyone looks like they know too?

Jack Twist: There ain't never enough time, never enough...

Lureen Newsome: He always said he wanted his ashes scattered on Brokeback Mountain, but I wasn't sure where that was. I thought Brokeback Mountain might be around where he grew up. Knowing Jack, it was probably some pretend place, where bluebirds sing and there's a whiskey spring...

Joe Aguirre: You boys sure found a way to make the time pass up there. Twist, you guys wasn't gettin' paid to leave the dogs babysittin' the sheep while you stem the rose.

Jack Twist: Tell you what... truth is, sometimes I miss you so bad I can hardly stand it...

Ennis Del Mar: Bottom line is... we're around each other an'... this thing, it grabs hold of us again... at the wrong place... at the wrong time... and we're dead.