MARKED MOVIES

Director: David Fincher.
Screenplay: Aaron Sorkin.
Starring: Jesse Eisenberg, Andrew Garfield, Justin Timberlake, Armie Hammer, Max Minghella, Rooney Mara, Josh Pence, John Getz, Douglas Urbanski, Joseph Mazzello.

After the whimsical and slightly disappointing “The Curious Case of Benjamin Button”, David Fincher attempts another change of direction. However, It’s yet again, a surprising and not entirely successful choice of film from him.

In an act of revenge after being dumped by his girlfriend, Harvard student Mark Zuckerberg (Jesse Eisenberg) hacks into all the local college computers and writes a scathing blog about her and exposes her to everyone. People seem to love it and the site becomes very popular, so Zuckerberg develops plans for a social network site called ‘The Facebook’, which becomes a near-overnight success. As ‘The Facebook’ grows Zuckerberg soon finds himself being the worlds youngest billionaire but drifts away from his best friend and business partner while infuriating a pair of jocks who claim he has stolen their idea, resulting in law suits and legal battles.

Fincher forte is doing dark and I suppose in some ways this is just that, considering it captures the egotistical and greed fuelled invention of the world wide, social networking site “Facebook”. It’s just that his trademark style, seems to be absent. This could quite easily have been directed by someone other than the man that brought us “Se7en” or “Fight Club” as it mostly deals with the legal wranglings of Zuckerberg’s monetary compensation to friends and colleagues who claim the site was their idea. It’s long and it’s talky, if your not paying attention to the almost constant flow of dialogue, the film will leave you behind.
The story is interesting enough but lacked any real depth and I don’t really think it merited a film about it, certainly not so soon after the events. The real life characters are not really a bunch of folk I’d enjoy spending time with either, even from the comfort of my own home. That being said, the solid direction from Fincher and fine performances, particularly Jesse Eisenberg as the confilcted genius Zuckerberg and surprisingly, Justin Timberlake as fast talking “Napster” inventor Sean Parker, keep it ticking along, all-be-it, with some slight buffering.

I “like” it, but I wouldn’t “add as a friend”.

Mark Walker

Director: David O. Russell.
Screenplay: Scott Silver, Paul Tamasy, Eric Johnson.
Starring: Mark Wahlberg, Christian Bale, Amy Adams, Melissa Leo, Jack McGee, Mickey O’Keefe, Melissa McMeekin, Bianca Hunter, Erica McDermott, Dendrie Taylor, Kate O’Brien, Jill Quigg, Art Ramalho, Sugar Ray Leonard.

Director David O. Russell is better known for his quirky off-beat films like “Spanking The Monkey” and “I Heart Huckabees”, so it’s a surprise to have him craft an absolutely fantastic blue-collar, gritty, sports drama.

Based on the real life story of the legendary fighter ‘Irish’ Micky Ward (Mark Wahlberg), who triumphed over a very difficult family situation, including his crack-addict brother/trainer Dickie Eklund (Christian Bale), to become a welterweight boxing champion in the 1980’s.

“The Fighter” may seem like an un-original title for a film, but on the contrary. It’s a perfect title for a story that not only describes Micky Ward’s tribulations in the ring but also his ongoing personal disputes with his disfunctional family. Yes, it’s underdog narrative will be compared to “Rocky” but that still doesn’t take away from this fine drama. It’s also similiar in structure to “Raging Bull” where the fight scenes are secondary to the struggle of the man himself.
The performances are uniformly brilliant. Wahlberg plays his character right down, delivering a solid reserved show of stoicism and anchoring the whole film. The Oscar winning Melissa Leo as the arrogant and controlling mother lends excellent support. Also fine support comes from the Oscar nominated Amy Adams as Micky’s fiesty girlfriend and it’s nice to see the avuncular Jack McGee (from TV’s “Rescue Me”) getting a decent role as Micky’s father. It’s Christian Bale (also Oscar winning) who impresses most though. He lights up the screen whenever he appears, full of strung-out twitches, dark empty eyes, balding hairline and skeletal features. It’s an absolutely superb transformation from his recent Batman/Bruce Wayne escapades and despite always delivering fine performances in the past, here he has outdone himself. As the narrative arc treads old ground, there’s no mistaking this film is all about the acting, and it’s a fine ensemble working under the surprisingly assured direction of Russell – in this genre.

A tight, eventful, rags-to-riches sports flick with never a dull moment and career best performances.

Mark Walker

Director: Sean Penn.
Screenplay: Sean Penn.
Starring: Emile Hirsch, William Hurt, Marcia Gay Harden, Vince Vaughn, Hal Holbrook, Catherine Keener, Jena Malone, Kristen Stewart, Zack Galifianakis, Brian Deirker, R.D. Call.

Sean Penn has not always delivered the most cheerful of films when behind the camera. There always seems to be a tortured soul as his protaganist (Viggo Mortensen in “The Indian Runner” and Jack Nicholson in both “The Crossing Guard” and “The Pledge”), so it’s a surprise that with “Into the Wild” he mostly keeps things upbeat and positive.

Based on the real life story of straight-A college graduate Christopher McCandless (Emile Hirsch), who in 1992 destroyed his ID, changed his name to ‘Alexander Supertramp’, donated his savings to charity, spurned his parents – and America’s capitalist society- and, with no warning to anyone, dropped off the radar in search of a quieter, more personal fulfillment in the Alaskan wilderness. Along the road he met a variety of people who became something like extended family to him.

Sean Penn employs a completely different approach with this sweepingly beautiful road-movie/new-age affirmation. There are long methodical shots of gorgeous landscapes and a meditative pace throughout, showing that he’s in no hurry to tell this man’s story. You can see his admiration for McCandless as he paints a very nuanced and positive portrait of him and puts his faith in Emile Hirsch in carrying it off. Hirsch in return, delivers a wonderful, heartfelt piece of acting and it’s apparent that he has also invested himself in this film. Added to which are some great cameo appearances peppered throughout, with Vince Vaughn as a particular highlight, stepping out of his comedy comfort-zone. It’s a film that’s hard not to like, with it’s anti-capitalist, free-spirited message and a reminder to maintain a conciousness in our modern times of corporate greed and disillusionment.

For some, it may just come across as another Hippie-on-a-trippy but McCandless was a human-being that had an awareness and a bravery to live by his beliefs and Penn ambitiously depicts that, with poetic care and respect.

Mark Walker

Director: Gus Van Sant.
Screenplay: Dustin Lance Black.
Starring: Sean Penn, Josh Brolin, James Franco, Emile Hirsch, Diego Luna, Denis O’Hare, Victor Garver, Alison Pill, Joseph Cross, Stephen Spinella, Lucas Grabeel, Brandon Boyce, Kelvin Yu, Jeff Koons.

When he’s not making ‘arthouse’ cinema or experimenting with his medium, director Gus Vant Sant is very capable of delivering well structured dramatic pieces. “Drugstore Cowboy” and “Good Will Hunting” are notable ones. This is another.

In America in the 1970’s, Harvey Milk (Sean Penn) was an openly gay man who became a pioneer for gay rights and equality. When he was finally elected an official, he changed both laws and perceptions throughout San Francisco and the world.

The rise and fall of Harvey Milk is an affecting and uplifting story skillfully told by Gus Van Sant and screenwriter Dustin Lance Black. Seemlessly intercut with old news footage, the historical significance of Milk’s story is all the more believable and a marvellous device that adds to the dramatic weight. The life and impact that Milk had on society was a powerful one and Sean Penn’s intimate portrayal of him is very fitting. Penn has always been a superb actor with several blistering performances throughout his career. My personal favourites being “Dead Man Walking”, “Carlito’s Way”, and his Oscar winning turn in “Mystic River”. This is another superb delivery garnering him his second best actor Oscar. His effeminate mannerisms and gentle yet forceful nature perfectly capture Harvey Milk. I must admit, I was a bit disappointed that Mickey Rourke didn’t win the best actor award in 2009 for “The Wrestler” but there’s no denying that Penn was a worthy winner. This is a film that is still relevant today. In 1978, Milk was campaigning against ‘Proposition 6’ which was a conservative initiative to prevent any gays or lesbians from teaching in California’s public schools, so as not to ‘corrupt’ the minds of the young. When this film was released in 2008, ‘Proposition 8’ was passed which prevented the right of gay couples to marry. Only marriage between a man and a woman is recognised in California. The events of this film may have happened 30 years ago but the inequality is still the same.
If Milk were alive today, he’d still be campaigning and this is a poignant portrait of the man and his understanding of social injustice.

A wonderful film anchored by a wonderful central performance.

Mark Walker