100 Movie Challenge 2016 - # 29: Room

Director: Lenny Abrahamson

Genre: Drama

Runtime: 118 minutes

Year: 2015

Starring: Brie Larson, Jacob Tremblay, Sean Bridgers, Joan Allen, William H. Macy, Matt Gordon

Description: After five-year-old Jack(Jacob Tremblay) and his mother (Brie Larson) escape from the enclosed surroundings that Jack has known his entire life, the boy makes a thrilling discovery.

Review: “Room” is based on the book by Emma Donoghue, who was inspired by the real life story of Austrian Josef Fritzl. He locked his own daughter up in a basement, for 24 years. Director Lenny Abrahamson turned it into a movie and Donoghue was asked to write the script.

Room is a shed where young Jack and his mother Joy live. For Joy it’s a prison, but for her five year old son it’s the only world he knows. Joy tries to make their life as normal as possible. She teaches him to read, they cook together, she tells him stories. At night Jack sleeps in a closet, while Joy has to please her abductor who they call Old Nick. Now that Jack is five, Joy thinks it’s the right time to tell him about the world outside Room, but Jack doesn’t believe her.

Although “Room” is inspired by true stories about abducted women who were kept captive, the abduction and captivity is not the main focus. More than a thriller, “Room” is a heartbreaking drama about the power of motherly love and the possibility to find light in the most darkest situations. The fantastic element about “Room” is that we see it through the eyes of Jack, how he sees Room and how he sees the world.

The strong acting is also the movie’s strength. Brie Larson won an Academy Award for her role and she very well deserved it. But also young Jacob Tremblay, what a promising talent. Their interaction is so convincing.

Although there is not as much time to tell the story as you get while reading the book, “Room” managed to do this very well. A movie that grabs you and doesn’t let go. Already a favorite of this year!

Rating: 5/ 5

100 Movie Challenge 2016 - # 28: 4 Months, 3 Weeks & 2 Days

Director: Cristian Mungiu

Genre: Drama

Runtime: 113 minutes

Year: 2007

Starring: Anamaria Marinca, Laura Vasiliu, Vlad Ivanov, Alexandru Potocean, Ion Sapdaru, Teodor Corban, Tania Popa, Cerasela Iosifescu, Doru Ana, Eugenia Bosânceanu, Marioara Sterian, Adi Carauleanu, Ion Grosu

Description: A woman (Anamaria Marinca) assists her friend (Laura Vasiliu) in arranging an illegal abortion in 1980s Romania.

Review: There aren’t many films with a heavy theme like abortion, that is approached in such an adult way. Most films, like “The Cider House Rules” for instance, have a strong moral. But “4 Months, 3 Weeks & 2 Days” doesn’t point fingers or tell you whether it’s good or bad to have an abortion. The film starts with a young woman who wants an abortion, no matter what. You don’t know what happened before she made this decision, but the focus is on that decision and the consequences of it. The woman lives in ‘80s Romania, a country where abortion is illegal.

Romania, 1987, the last days of communism. Otilia and Gabita are students and share a room in Bukarest. Gabita is pregnant. They meet with a man named Mr. Bebe in a cheap hotel, he will execute the abortion Gabita wants. But Mr. Bebe doesn’t want money, he asks for something else.

As an audience we are very close to everything that happens. The use of a shoulder camera gets us very close to all the happenings and there are hardly any cuts in the film. There are many scenes where the camera doesn’t move and we just see it as it is. This visual style looks cheap, but is perfect for a movie as delicate as “4 Months, 3 Weeks & 2 Days”.

This also gives us some moments that could have been left out, like a certain dinner scene. This loses your attention a bit. It takes your attention away from the actual plot. Luckily it’s only that one moment. The rest of the film feels very realistic, has an anguished feel to it. And the start is very mysterious if you don’t know too much about the plot.

The actresses in the film, who are relatively unknown, add believability to the film. “4 Months, 3 Weeks & 2 Days” won a Palme d’Or in Cannes and I totally understand why.

It’s a confronting film, really strong and worth your time.

Rating: 4,5/ 5

Marry, Kiss, Cliff - Round 13

Round 13: James Bond (“Bond”-series), Jonathan Trager (“Serendipity”) and Dutch (“Predator”)

Marry: I would definitely marry Jonathan Trager. The things he does to find the love of his life, that’s just amazing.

Kiss: I choose muscles, I would go for Dutch! He’s the real deal when it comes to tough guys. And he also has some cool one-liners.

Cliff: I’m sorry James, but you’re going down. He’s actually a male slut and technically he’s also an alcoholic. He drinks way to much martinis. And when I push him off a cliff, he would probably survive in some mysterious way. With flying shoes or a parachute up his sleeve.

100 Movie Challenge 2016 - # 27: The Age of Adaline

Director: Lee Toland Krieger

Genre: Drama/ Romance

Runtime: 110 minutes

Year: 2015

Starring: Blake Lively, Michiel Huisman, Harrison Ford, Ellen Burstyn, Kathy Baker

Description: A young woman (Blake Lively), born at the turn of the 20th century, is rendered ageless after an accident. After many solitary years, she meets a man (Michiel Huisman) who complicates the eternal life she has settled into.

Review: Many people wish to stay young forever, but by watching movies about immortality you know it’s never the life you dream of. When young Adaline gets into a car accident and hits the water, she gets into a coma. When lightning hits the water, she is brought back. The side effect: she will never age a day. This all happens in the 1930s and we meet Adaline again in the twenty first century. Because Adaline is technically 107 years old, she is forced to move around and take on a new identity.

For a young actress like Blake Lively it’s a challenge to portray an elderly woman. She succeeds, because even though she looks very young, she often makes us realize she is actually an older woman. We get some flashbacks, so we understand Adaline’s life more. This is narrated, like a children’s movie. It somehow bothered me.

Michiel Huisman (Dutch like me) plays Adaline’s love interest Ellis in the 21st century. He has charisma. But from the moment his character enters the story, the film turns into a more standard romance movie. Here it’s immortality, but it could easily be replaced by fear of commitment. Harrison Ford, who plays Ellis’ father, is surprising in the film. His role is much warmer than we are used to see him in these days. He was sadly introduced way too late into the story.

“The Age of Adaline” is a solid romantic drama, which is a bit more standard then I had hoped for. But overall it’s a nice film to watch if you like the genre.

Rating: 3/ 5

Movie Trailer Sunday (228)

Here are this week's trailers.

Pete's Dragon

Director: David Lowery

Description: The adventure of an orphaned boy named Pete and his best friend Elliott, who just so happens to be a dragon.

Starring: Bryce Dallas Howard, Robert Redford, Karl Urban, Wes Bentley, Oakes Fegley

Trailer: Trailer "Pete's Dragon"

Comment: Only a teaser, but I love dragons so much!

The Light Between Oceans

Director: Derek Cianfrance

Description: A lighthouse keeper (Michael Fassbender) and his wife (Alicia VIkander) living off the coast of Western Australia raise a baby they rescue from an adrift rowboat.

Starring: Michael Fassbender, Alicia Vikander, Rachel Weisz

Trailer: Trailer "The Light Between Oceans"

Comment: I love this trailer, I must see this film!

Maggie's Plan

Director: Rebecca Miller

Description: Maggie's plan to have a baby on her own is derailed when she falls in love with John, a married man, destroying his volatile marriage to the brilliant Georgette.

Starring: Greta Gerwig, Ethan Hawke, Julianne Moore, Maya Rudolph, Bill Hader, Wallace Shawn

Trailer: Trailer "Maggie's Plan"

Comment: Looks like fun

Sky

Director: Fabienne Berthaud

Description: Romy (Diane Kruger) is on holiday in the USA with her French husband, Richard (Gilles Lellouche). But the journey quickly turns into a settling of old scores for this worn out couple. After an ultimate fight, Romy decides to break free. She cuts off her ties to a stable and secure life that has become alienating and escapes to the unknown.

Starring: Diane Kruger, Norman Reedus, Q'orianka Kilcher, Lena Dunham, Lou Diamond Phillips

Trailer: Trailer "Sky"

Comment: They had me at Norman Reedus

Precious Cargo

Director: Max Adams

Description: A crime boss tries to make off with loot that belongs to another thief.

Starring: Brice Willis, Mark-Paul Gosselaar, Claire Forlani

Trailer: Trailer "Precious Cargo"

Comment: Bringing back Zack Morris... why not.

100 Movie Challenge 2016 - # 26: Deadpool

Director: Tim Miller

Genre: Action/ Comedy/ Adventure

Runtime: 108 minutes

Year: 2016

Starring: Ryan Reynolds, Morena Baccarin, Gina Carano, Ed Skrein

Description: A former Special Forces operative turned mercenary (Ryan Reynolds) is subjected to a rogue experiment that leaves him with accelerated healing powers, adopting the alter ego Deadpool.

Review: Looks are everything, that’s Deadpool’s conclusion when he shows his deformed face to his friend. Ryan Reynolds is an actor that has his acting career thanks to his looks. And it’s great to see that same Reynolds portray Wade Wilson aka Deadpool in the most brilliant way. He had to give up his looks in order to cure himself from cancer and to become immortal. His humor he kept, thank goodness. From the fun opening sequence that sums up some common superhero movie elements (moody teenage, CGI character, unnecessary cameo) to the after credits scene: “Deadpool” is, besides a great action film, a fantastic film filled with catchy one liners and sharp dialogues.

It starts with Wade in a cab, who tells the audience that his life was once perfect. In an important acquittal, director Tim Miller takes us back to better times with the use of flashbacks. Wade was once part of Special Forces, later became a mercenary and he was a womanizer. In his bar he meets stripper/ prostitute Vanessa. The two fall for each other and have all the luck in the world. Untill Wade finds out he has cancer. He leaves Vanessa to spare her the pain. Wade meets mutant Ajax, who says he can cure him. Hours of torture are ahead of him, but the prize he pays for continuing his life is much bigger than he thought. Wade becomes his alter ego Deadpool and wants revenge.

“Deadpool” is a pleasant variety in the superhero genre. The movie dares to mock Marvel and itself. Many references to “The Avengers” and “X-Men”, and even “The Green Lantern” which stars Ryan Reynolds. This works great. Ryan Reynolds’ performance is really good and he even breaks the fourth wall. And every time you think you discovered a cheesy or unoriginal element, the writers managed to make it surprising.

“Deadpool” is an unconventional take on a superhero story and this separates it from the rest. Fun times!

Rating: 4,5/ 5

Top 5 Thursday: Characters from "The Hunger Games" Series

I love “The Hunger Games” books and the movies. I wanted to take a look at the characters and rank them. Here are my five favorite characters from “The Hunger Games” franchise.

5. Johanna Mason

Johanna Mason won the Hunger Games for District 7, when she pretended to be a weakling. When only a few tributes were left, she showed her true skills. Johanna was send to the Quarter Quell to protect Katniss.

 

 

4. Haymitch Abernathy

Haymitch is Katniss and Peeta’s mentor in the preparation of the Hunger Games. He won the games himself ones, he was the first winner for District 12. Haymitch is a drunk cynic and he doesn’t have faith in Katniss at first.

 

 

3. Beetee Latier

Beetee doesn’t look like the biggest threat, but his intelligence is something to watch out for. He is very skilled with a wire, which eventually saves him and his allys in the Quarter Quell.

 

 

2. Finnick Odair

Finnick was the winner of the 65th Hunger Games and the youngest ever to win. Katniss was hesitant to make Finnick her ally in the Quarter Quell, but he proved to be valuable. Finnick is a key person in the rebellion.

 

 

1. Katniss Everdeen

Off course Katniss, she is every girls heroine. Katniss doesn’t want to be a hero though, she just wants to survive these awful games. She is very loyal to her family and friends and often fights for them instead of herself.

 

 

They Almost Made the Top 5: Cinna, Rue, Effie Trinkett, Gale Hawthorne, Plutarch Heavensbee, Mags