Moneyball (2011) Film Review

It’s been a while since I last wrote a review, mostly due to my studies limiting the time I have for watching films. However, I recently took a couple of hours off my usual schedule to watch a film called Moneyball, a biographical sports drama based on the book Moneyball: The Art of Winning an Unfair Game by Michael Lewis which, in turn, is based on the true story of Billy Beane (played by Brad Pitt). Billy Beane is the general manager of the Oakland Athletes baseball team. The film centers around Beane assembling a team using evidence based, analytical approaches in an attempt to defeat the most unfair aspect of baseball (and arguably most professional sports) – the team with the most money is the team that will win.

The first great thing about this film I should make note of is the performances. More specifically, Brad Pitt’s performance as Billy Beane. Pitt truly gets into this role, becoming the character. He presents Beane as relaxed, yet edgy – often unsure of himself, but determined to succeed. The rest of the cast is well performed as well, but it’s Pitt’s character that really steals the show. It’s hard to imagine anyone else in the role.

The directing is solid, thought it isn’t particularly mind-blowing. One scene transits into the next smoothly, but nothing is done outside of what you’d expect. Where the film shines is not in its direction, but in its story and pacing. The story of Beane’s attempt to assemble a legitimately competitive baseball team with very little money is absolutely engrossing. Without a doubt, this is one of the most entertaining sports films I have ever seen. The script is funny, tense and often emotional – something which is complimented by the all-round solid performances.

Something I truly love about this film is that it is proof of the relevance of cinema as a means to express art.  I took away an incredible message from this film, and though the ending couldn’t be described as “happy”, a great feat certainly was accomplished. When a film comes along that can change a person’s perspective, that’s when you know it’s special. I personally don’t care for baseball, so the fact that I can be so moved by a film about baseball says a lot in favour of the film. It doesn’t matter if you like baseball or not, nor does it matter if you want to see this film for artistic purposes or for pure entertainment. Moneyball will no doubt satisfy your needs.

4.5/5

Oldboy (2003) Film Review

First things first, Oldboy will not appeal to everyone. I am tempted to say that it will appeal to a minority, and a vast one at that. Some may fail to stomach the brutal artistry that they are presented with when viewing Oldboy. However, for those who are able to withstand such seemingly mindless violence will find a beautifully powerful masterpiece, one that delves into the nature of the human heart, depicting lust, solitude, vengeance and even incest through its disturbing imagery.

Technically speaking, Oldboy is a “thriller” film. However, whereas most thrillers act as mindless distractions from our reality, Oldboy chooses to be artistic in its approach to action. The fight sequences are beautifully choreographed, with every movement looking clear and vivid, whilst still hard-hitting and brutal. This movie is also notable for having one of the best fight scenes I have ever seen in any movie.

Don’t go into Oldboy expecting a straight action flick though. This film is a deep, multi-layered study of the (metaphorical) human heart. Throughout, the film is tragic, depicting a two sad, lonely men coming to terms with the unforgivable sins of their past. We see a man pushed to the limit, enduring such pain, confusion and hatred. Never before have I seen a film approach such dark themes from such a poetic standpoint.

As I said before, the themes in this film a shown through disturbing imagery. If you cannot accept obscurity, or if you do not think you can view this film with an open mind, I can’t recommend this film to you. Most would most likely consider this film sick and twisted, and they wouldn’t be far wrong. The question is whether or not you can accept Oldboy’s warped nature as a higher form of art. Anyone who can will gain a complex understanding of this film, and ultimately take more away from it.

In conclusion, Oldboy is a masterful film, both artistically and poetically. However, I cannot see this film being appreciated unless the viewer really thinks about what it is they are seeing. Also, Oldboy is not for the faint-hearted. The film’s conclusion will sicken some and bring tears to the eyes of others.

5/5

The Inbetweeners Movie (2011) Film Review

The Inbetweeners Movie. Need I say more? If you have ever seen The Inbetweeners on TV, then you know exactly what to expect from this coming of age comedy. The trademark sex jokes and awkward social interactions are all here, just as you’d expect. Unfortunately, the film also shares many of the same flaws that the show itself does, for example: repetition, unintelligent (albeit funny) humour and a sub-par script.

Unlike the TV show, which takes place at school, the movie takes place on a holiday in Malia. A holiday which, according to Jay, will include ‘sex, booze and... sex!’ among other things I cannot bring myself to type. Malia makes for a wonderful location for the film to be set, separating The Inbetweeners Movie from The Inbetweeners TV show and helping it to become its own separate project. We see enough of a variety of Malia’s areas to really get a feel for the place. The clubs are loud, but not obnoxiously so. While the film does try to portray the boys as having a bad time, it cannot hide the beauty of some of the fantastic locations, nor does it try to.

The films plot and humour both move at a fast pace, which suits the movie’s style and atmosphere, but the pacing also causes repetition in both humour and plot elements. Many of the jokes you will have heard before on the show, even if it is in a different context. There’s also not much variation, with most of the jokes being extremely crude. Despite this, a lot of the jokes will cause laughter; a couple in particular had me splitting my sides. It sure as hell isn’t intelligent, but it is damn funny.

The plot isn’t what you watch The Inbetweeners for, but I have to talk about it. While the coming of age story about four boys trying to get laid is both satisfying and surprisingly heart-warming at times, there is a lot of repetition, which apparently is the film’s main problem. I felt like many scenes repeated themselves, or that some of the lines of dialogue gave me a feeling of déjà vu.

At the end of the day, we end up with a movie that, while satisfying, really requires you to switch off your mind. There is no thought needed to understand this movie, which is both its greatest success and its downfall. Don’t get me wrong, this is the greatest work of mindless cinema since... well, The Inbetweeners Show, just don’t expect to take anything away from this film.

3/5

The Social Network (2010) Film Review



It has been a while since I have written a review. This is mostly down to a lack of inspiration, call it a “critic’s block”. I simply had nothing I especially wanted to write about. Recently, a film popped onto my radar known as The Social Network, directed by David Fincher. The film depicts the true story of how Mark Zuckerburg, played by Jesse Eisenberg, created Facebook.

When people heard that there was going to be a Facebook movie, I don’t think many took the idea seriously. Some said that it was a stupid idea, that a film about the creation of Facebook could not possibly make for good cinema. Little did these individuals know that The Social Network would prove to be more than just a movie. The Social Network is a critical analysis of our society, a realistic portrayal of the “internet generation” and the defining film of this era.

The film draws comparison between new and old generations. Zuckerburg acts as the idea of the new generation (the “internet generation”) whereas other characters, such as Zuckerburg’s best friend Eduardo, act as the old school generation. The film shows the new generation’s failure to communicate and act properly, showing how their rude and impersonal attitude towards others can ultimately let them down, and how a lack of insight into this truth can continue to bring them unhappiness. As you can imagine, this is very hard to explain, which emphasizes on just how deep this film is. I cannot fully understand it because it is on such a level of complexity. This film is the magnum opus of our generation.

All the praise I have given this film so far has not even touched on the quality of the acting or direction. I can assure you that it is excellent. Jesse’s portrayal of Mark Zuckerburg is outstanding. He’s rude, fast talking, awkward and an accurate symbol of the new generation. All the other actors do a fantastic job as well. A lot of effort was put into every single performance and it really shows.

The direction is intense and exiting; with pacing so fast it keeps your eyes glued to the screen. The fact that Fincher managed to make a film about Facebook intense is truly an accomplishment. The impression left by the direction stuck with me for hours after I had seen the film, I was still enthralled even though the film had ended.

In conclusion, The Social Network is a masterpiece that accurately defines our generation, whilst also pointing out the flaws. It will be remembered as a landmark film, a classic for future generations.

5/5

Shute The Critic's Most Wanted Upcoming Film, Album and Video Game

Film - The Adventures of Tintin

From Director Steven Spielburg and Producer Peter Jackson comes this performance capture 3D film based on The Adventures of Tintin comic book series by Belgian artist Georges Rémi (1907–1983), better known by his pen name, Hergé.
The animation looks stunning, and seeing as how this film is the joint effort of two of the greatest modern day film makers, I can see no conceivable way that this could be bad. I hope for the sake of Tintin fans everywhere that it lives up to the classic comic books.

Album - Smile/The Smile Sessions by The Beach Boys

Smile was a Beach Boys album intended to follow their masterpiece, Pet Sounds (1966). The album was recorded in 1966-67, but was never released due to problems which Brian Wilson (lead songwriter) encountered. Technical difficulties were a problem due to the complexity of the project, and Brian's mental state was at an all time low. Instead of Smile, Beach Boys fans got a different album, with alternate versions of Smile tracks included, called Smiley Smile.
Smile was left alone until, in 2003, Brian Wilson performed the album in its entirety to a very select audience, which included fellow musicians such as Paul McCartney. The entire performance was recorded and can be viewed online. This performance gave Brian the idea to finish the album by himself, so he did. In 2004, Smile was finally released, not under The Beach Boys, but under the name of Brian Wilson. the album has received more critical acclaim than any other since the year 2000 and onwards.
Finally, on November 1st 2011, The Smile Sessions by the Beach Boys is getting a proper release. The box set will include Smile, reconstructed from original recordings, along with alternate takes and session highlights. The world has waited 45 years for this album, and it's finally coming out.

Video Game - The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim

The Elder Scrolls V: Skyim is the sequel to The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion (2006). The Elder Scrolls is a series of Role-Playing Games which uses a First-Person perspective. The games are open world, and allow the player a lot of freedom, not only in where they go, but what choices they make.
Skyim will feature many improvements to the gameplay, including levelling perks, improved NPC conversation system, dragon battles and much, much more.
The hype surrounding Skyrim is unheard of. The game will have to be a masterpiece for it to not be a disappointment. I'd recommend looking up some gameplay footage. From what's been displayed so far, it's looking sure to be Game of the Year.

Avatar (2009) Film Review

Avatar is a film that will be remembered. That much is certain. This film completely won over audiences in 2009 and was hugely successful in the box office, not unlike James Cameron’s previous effort, Titanic (released in 1997). However, while Titanic was not even close to being worthy of its hype and cult status, Avatar is.

On a visual level, this film is one of the most (if not the most) beautiful films ever made. The effects took 12 years to pull off and that really shows. The scenery is vivid and beautiful, the creatures are detailed and imaginative and world of Pandora feels full of life. The plants and animals all feel like they could (and should) be real, which really sucks you into this world and makes you want to believe that it’s real.

The design for both the human technology and the inhabitants of Pandora is exceptionally impressive, managing to be both creative and believable at the same time. The Na’vi are also fantastic. Their war paint makes them look fierce and strong, while their language gives the impression that they are also very wise.

However, amongst all this originality and visual prowess is what many people consider to be the weakest aspect of Avatar, and that’s its plot. The plot is nothing new, and some of the characters are slightly stereotypical. I also felt that the back-story of the main character could have been explored a bit more. However, the characters which really made me get emotionally involved with the film were the Na’vi. As the film progresses, I came to understand the Na’vi and their culture. By the end of the film, I really found myself on the edge of my seat. I wanted them to win. It was at that moment when I realised what a brilliant film this truly was.

In conclusion, Avatar is a flawed masterpiece. While it may not satisfy plot-wise, the visual effects, creativity, cinematography and emotional involvement make this film a must see. Many years into the future, there is a good chance that this film is looked back upon and viewed as a classic.

I watched the Collector’s Edition version of the film, which features 16 minutes worth of deleted scenes. While this may not sound like much, they were very good scenes. They gave the plot a bit more depth and explained some things which weren’t explained in the original theatrical release.

4/5

Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon (2000) Film Review

Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon is a Chinese martial arts film released in the year 2000. Since its release, it has received a lot of attention internationally and has received multiple awards for its art direction, cinematography, acting, musical score and much more. Armed with this knowledge, I knew I had a good deal on my hands when I saw this film being sold for 50p in a second-hand shop. I bought it without hesitation, and am now ready to give my opinion.

Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon is a film that does not fall into any single category. While it is, technically, a martial arts film, it manages to be so much more. As well as some of the best fight choreography I have ever seen, this film boasts an impressive cast of actors, as well as a character driven plot that manages to be deep and meaningful as well as exiting and fast pasted.

The action sequences in Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon achieve what most modern action films can do with CGI, but does it without any form of computer generated effects, and looks all the more fluid and natural for it. The rules of physics break for the action in this film, allowing things like wall running and roof jumping to become possible. All of these effects are achieved with methods beyond my knowledge, and they look spectacular. The actual fighting is also very impressive, with fast paced sword duels and intense hand to hand combat. The action is so fast paced, it makes you wonder how long these scenes to choreograph and rehearse.

The plot of this film is, like every other aspect, fantastic. The story is one of love and betrayal, one of passion and vengeance, one of life and death. The characters are deep, complex and contrasting, each with their own back-story and motives. Where there is one character who wishes for peace, but lives the life of a warrior, there is another who lives a peaceful life, but dreams of being a master swordsman. There is a lot of symbolism in the film as well, which only makes it even more stunning to watch. The ending of the film is exceptionally beautiful, and leaves room for a lot of interpretation.

In conclusion, Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon is one of the finest foreign films I have ever seen. The viewing of this film is a beautiful experience that I will never forget.

I recommend watching in Mandarin with subtitles.

5/5