Take Shelter

Director: Jeff Nichols
Writer: Jeff Nichols
Starring: Michael Shannon, Jessica Chastain
Release Date: September 30, 2011
Length: 2 hours 1 minute

    Independent filmmaker Jeff Nichols delivers his second project, Take Shelter, a film that thrives brilliantly and almost solely on the astonishing talent of it’s lead actor, Michael Shannon. Screened at the 2011 Toronto International Film Festival, Take Shelter tells the story of a young couple, Curtis (Shannon) and Samantha (Jessica Chastain), living in a small town of Ohio with their young deaf daughter Hanna (Tova Stewart). They have a happy family and loving marriage but when Curtis begins to have apocalyptic dreams, he worriedly questions if he is inheriting his mother (Kathy Baker)’s schizophrenia. Keeping his worries and visions from his wife, Curtis thoughtlessly begins expanding their storm shelter in the backyard in preparation for a storm he knows is coming. As Samantha becomes worriedly hysterical and Curtis’ visions show no sign of stopping, the strength of the family and Curtis’ sanity are put to the ultimate test for the storm to come. 

    This is one of the rare independent beauties that finds its way to film festivals and then to limited releases in theatres because it has a strength that most films in theatres do not carry. The film shines through the story’s maybe purposefully dull setting and normal circumstances with the incredible character depth written by Nichols and performed by the breathtaking cast. 

    Nichols creates a very slow almost monotonous style of filmmaking from the start that becomes the base to the chaotic plot and the tumultuous protagonist Curtis. His long beautiful shots capture the sandy taupe terrain of the small town as well as the talent of his cast. His slow camerawork perfectly shows the day-to-day regularity of the family while also serving the required pace for the panic and worry of the family toward the end. 

    Nicholls’ pristine script is what remains untouchable in the film though. His realistic and relatable writing of the characters make us connect to the completely original and intelligent story almost instantly. Instead of making Curtis turn into a psychopathic maniac hiding everything from his wife, he becomes troubled by his hallucinations, going to doctors, aware of his mother’s mentally disturbed nature. This makes the worry, the slip into mania, and the consequences he inflicts upon his family that much more real and powerful to the anxious audience. 

    Of course, without doubt, that worry and that connection to Curtis would cease to exist without the single handedly best performance in a film in 2011 by the underrated and brilliant actor Michael Shannon. If you are familiar with Shannon’s previous work, with his breakout Oscar nominated performance in Sam Mendes’ Revolutionary Road, playing a mentally challenged son, playing the crazy producer in The Runaways, or most recently in HBO’s Boardwalk Empire as the fanatical quiet FBI agent Van Alden, you know he’s one of the best actors in Hollywood today. His low-key, but profound performance as the distraught Curtis pulls the entire film to its utter greatness that makes it one of the best films of the year. 

    However, this prodigy of an actor is accompanied by equally talented supporting actors, including Jessica Chastain, who is simply making a sweep of 2011 with roles in The Help, The Tree of Life, The Debt, etc…and gives a heart wrenching performance as the loving but distraught wife of Curtis, worried about his impositions on the family as a whole. Shea Wigman, Shannon’s co-star on Boardwalk Empire is also fantastic as Curtis’ co-worker and best friend who suffers the burdens of Curtis’ psychological spiral while Tova Stewart is also wonderful as the affected daughter of Curtis and Samantha. 

    Like most cinematic masterpieces, this film has a genius blend of a strong poignant story, beautiful camerawork, and an unbelievably skillful cast, that comes together for a moving two hours of subtle captivation. The only thing that might alter your experience of the film is an unforeseen ending that may annoy or satisfy the viewer. However, Take Shelter is a gem of storytelling and acting that will go unfortunately unnoticed by most people, including the Academy, but must be seen by anyone who cares for the brilliance film provides only a few times a year. Take Shelter is an extraordinary work of independent filmmaking that you simply must catch. 

What's Your Number?

Director: Mark Mylod
Writers: Jennifer Crittenden, Gabrielle Allen, Kathryn Bosnak (author)
Starring: Anna Faris, Chris Evans
Release Date: September 30, 2011
Length: 1 hour 46 minutes

    Starting with her breakthrough in the enormously successful Scary Movie films, Anna Faris has proved herself to be one of the funniest women in Hollywood in the last ten years, but has done so always in the same mocking role. In Scary Movie, she nailed playing the dumb naïve teenager in the center of a murder mystery. In Just Friends, Faris made us laugh as an idiotic talentless pop star and in The House Bunny, although she was hilarious, Faris yet again just played the dumb blonde. Though her new film, What’s Your Number?, may not be a cinematic masterpiece, it’s the first film where we get to see the talented Faris be funny, playing a normal smart character.

    Ally Darling is a thirty something marketer who has just been fired from her job when she reads a magazine article stating that women who have slept with twenty or more people cannot get a husband. After she is finished writing her list of guys she’s been with, Ally realizes she is at nineteen and decides to look through all her old boyfriends to find the one. She enlists the help of her attractive but sleazy neighbour Colin (Chris Evans), who comes from a family of cops who can easily track people down. He agrees to help her, if he can hide in her apartment while the girls he slept with the night before wake up and leave his apartment. While Ally reconnects with all of her old flames, she realizes why they broke up in the first place and becomes frustrated with her failed plan. As Ally and Colin continue to search for the one that got away, they become much closer and Ally realizes her solution could be right in front of her. Who could have known?

    Being an optimist and someone who takes joy in bad but enjoyable romcoms, I, more often than not, take myself to these films that look poorly written but cute. For the last – almost two years - I have gone to these films with hopefulness and walked out completely unrewarded, shielded from enjoying the light romance of the film by unbearable acting and/or embarrassing writing.

    However, for the first time in a quite a while, I have been rewarded. That’s right, What’s Your Number? has successfully broken the streak of depressingly unenjoyable romcoms. It has all the qualities, humor, romance, two attractive stars and an unrealistic story and plot. Avoiding the fact that Ally has just been fired and is flying around finding each boyfriend without worrying about money or that Colin, who spends all his time eating, playing the guitar or stalking people, is unexplainably extremely fit, you can totally enjoy this movie.

   You can give in to Anna Faris’ adorable and funny performance as Ally Darling, a very uncoordinated clever modern woman. Faris holds her own strongly throughout the movie and usually blinds you from her character’s annoying and usually plot-driven flaws, like being delusional enough in the first place to perform this plan from beginning to end. She shares that perfect romcom chemistry with the beautiful Chris Evans, combining the funny dialogue that easily bounces off each other, and their sweet romantic chemistry as well. Evans, who may have come off to some as too intense or overdramatic in this summer’s Captain America: The First Avenger, is extraordinarily charming and easily convincing as the contemporary womanizer, Colin.

    Ari Graynor, who made me laugh the hardest in 2008’s Nick and Norah’s Infinite Playlist as Kat Denning’s best friend Caroline, does not have as much of a good script to work with in What’s Your Number?, but is still equally lovely. She plays Ally’s younger engaged sister, who thinks her endeavour is absolutely ridiculous. The men playing Ally’s exes are hilarious, including Faris’ real-life husband Chris Pratt, who is hilarious on NBC’s Parks and Recreation, SNL’s Andy Samberg, The Office (UK)’s Martin Freeman, The Hurt Locker’s Anthony Mackie, and comedian Thomas Lennon.

   With the importantly enjoyable cast, What’s Your Number provides a solid amount of laughs for you to feel satisfied by the not only sappy movie that you paid thirteen bucks for. If you are willing to look past the unlikely plot, let yourself laugh at some immature jokes, and simply immerse yourself in the cheese, What’s Your Number? is definitely for you.

Moneyball

Director: Bennett Miller
Writers: Steven Zaillian, Aaron Sorkin
Starring: Brad Pitt, Jonah Hill, Phillip Seymour Hoffman
Release Date: September 23, 2011
Length: 2 hours 13 minutes

    One of the most anticipated films to go to this year’s Toronto International Film Festival was the inspirational adaptation of Michael Lewis’ book, Moneyball: The Art of Winning an Unfair Game. Starring the ultimate money-promiser Mr. Brad Pitt, Moneyball tells the incredible true story of how the failing Oakland Athletics baseball team revolutionized the game of baseball.

    With the departure of the team’s most (and only) successful three players, General Manager Billy Beane (Pitt) is at a loss for how he will rebuild the team that has been left in the dust. He refuses to “replace” the lost players, which is the only strategy his old scouts are ready to play out, but he still cannot figure out a way to recruit good players with Oakland’s limited player payroll.

    While visiting the Cleveland Indians, Beane meets Yale economics graduate Peter Brand (Jonah Hill), who has radical ideas about evaluating a player’s value. Beane hires him on the spot as the assistant general manager to the Oakland Athletics. Although he faces scrutiny from the team’s experienced scouts, Brand selects a group of underrated players almost solely on their “on base” percentage. Beane supports Brand’s picks and hires the players. Once the team’s choices becomes public, Beane and the Oakland A’s receive intense criticism from everyone involved with the sport, with everyone agreeing that it’s a nice idea, but you just can’t change over a hundred year old sport.

    The first many games do not prove Brand’s theory true, due to the opposition from manager Art Howe (Phillip Seymour Hoffman), but when he agrees to go on with Beane’s ridiculous plan, the Oakland A’s slowly begin to improve and rise up. Everyone cannot seem to believe they are seeing Brand’s idea resonate, but just because the theory worked out does not mean the team is safe.

    There is a very dark shadow cast over what Michael Lewis calls an unfair game, both visibly, in director Bennett Miller’s camerawork and hidden within the story, both vital for Moneyball. This is not a typical sports movie, in that it has a much more realistic bare look at what many people did not know to be an unjust game, from Aaron Sorkin and Steven Zaillian’s script. Though this is an underdog story, through Beane’s struggle to get the team off the ground, the rewarding feeling does not last very long when it hits.

    When you add Miller’s very dark lighting and intense shooting, you are left with a very unconventional but very honest and intriguing sports movie. The overall dark atmosphere makes the moments of joy between Beane and his daughter, and moments of clever humor from Sorkin and Zaillian, usually between Beane and Brand, that much more important. In a sense, it is up to the cast to bring the light out of the story.

    Brad Pitt gives a brilliant performance as Beane, the complete opposite of his last role, in The Tree of Life as Mr. O’Brien. Where one performance was fantastic as an unstable 1950s Father, the other was fantastic as a normal likable father. In Moneyball, Pitt carries the movie perfectly as the confident, but unsure General Manager and loving parent as well.

    Jonah Hill, in one of his first non-comedic role, simply shines as a serious actor in his performance of the timid, awkward Peter Brand. Sticking to his roots though, Hill still makes us laugh in various scenes with Pitt, who shares a strong bro-chemistry with Hill. Chris Pratt, best known for his hilarious role on NBC’s Parks and Recreation also shows off his skills as a dramatic actor, playing the injured young father Scott Hatteburg thrilled to be unexpectedly hired onto the team. Phillip Seymour Hoffman, who worked with Miller on Capote, is also great in his small role as the irritated manager of the team, while Kerris Dorsey gives a very enjoyable performance as Beane’s loving daughter Casey.

   Though Moneyball may not be the most uplifting movie of the year, it gives you one of the most brutally candid looks at Baseball, which makes for an exceptionally original and free of clichés movie. With Pitt’s performance leading the way, he heightens your appreciation and enjoyment of one of the most refreshing films of the year.

50/50

Director: Jonathan Levine
Writer: Will Reiser
Starring: Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Seth Rogen, Anna Kendrick
Release Date: September 30, 2011
Length: 1 hour 40 minutes

First time screenwriter Will Reiser was inspired by his own personal battle with cancer, to write the truly authentic film 50/50, starring Joseph Gordon Levitt and Reiser’s good friend Seth Rogen. Levitt plays Adam, a twenty seven year old radio program writer, who has a beautiful girlfriend named Rachel (Bryce Dallas Howard), and works with his immature best friend, Kyle (Rogen). When Adam goes to his doctor to figure out what is causing his annoying back pains, he is bluntly told he has a rare form of cancer of the back and he will have to go through chemotherapy to attempt to get rid of the tumor. While in a state of shock, Adam is assigned to a twenty four year old training psychologist named Katherine (Anna Kendrick), to help him get through the straining experience. Adam goes through an emotional transformation not just from the cancer, but also from his overbearing mother (Angelica Huston), his distant girlfriend, his determined best friend and his friendly inexperienced therapist. He humorously continues all these normal relationships in his life, while he simultaneously attempts to beat the intense cancer that has hit him from nowhere. Premiering at the 2011 Toronto International Film Festival this fall, 50/50 left everyone with an indescribable feeling of bitter sweetness that has yet to be created before. Basing Adam’s story on his encounters with cancer, Will Resier creates one of the most authentic scripts of all time. Not many people think that cancer and comedy can possibly go together, but Reiser shows that a film about real people does not need to be either or. His film is neither a serious and depressing cancer drama or a satirical goofball comedy. 50/50 is the perfect example of a film that does not need to fall into a specific genre and wins you over by hitting you in all the right places. At least for me, it’s the films that are funny, and sad and romantic that I enjoy the most because they are the most effective. When you enjoy the comedic or romantic parts of this film, you can’t help but feel like you are watching something extremely genuine to life experiences and not inappropriate for a film about cancer. The rare realism this film holds is only that much more amplified by the incredible cast. Joseph Gordon-Levitt is fantastic as Adam, a complex character who we see goes through multiple changes with every hit and blow he experiences. Starting off as a simple nice guy, Gordon-Levitt shows Adam become a much more layered character, letting fear and confusion change much of his personality in good ways and bad. Gordon-Levitt carries the movie beautifully nailing both the comedy and drama of the story, while his co-star Seth Rogen wonderfully does the same. Almost all the laughs of the film came from scenes between Rogen and Gordon-Levitt, as they share an immensely hilarious friendship with the contrast of Kyle’s crude nature and Adam’s more polite behaviour. There was no doubt that Rogen could perform well in a little bit more of a dramatic genre than he is used to, simply because he’s naturally a great actor and proves so in 50/50. Under all the offensively funny comments Kyle constantly gives, he has a deep loyalty and worry for his best friend that Rogen perfectly portrays to the audience. He is not the only one though to share an enjoyable chemistry with Gordon-Levitt, though. The relationship between Adam and Kendrick’s character Katherine is just adorable and not in a cheesy way, but in a truly sweet way. This is partly just because Kendrick’s character is adorable and we are happily engulfed by her charmingly awkward eagerness. There is another lovable contrast in the film where Katherine’s positivity butts with Adam’s unwillingness to participate in therapy, believing he is fine. Kendrick’s performance is fantastic and highly enjoyable, making Katherine a character we look forward to seeing on screen. Bryce Dallas Howard keeps on getting the role of the bitch with this summer’s The Help and now as the careless girlfriend Rachel in 50/50. Howard however, gives a great and often very funny performance in the film, making the festival’s audience literally cheer when her character leaves. The oddball in the cast of actors is well-known actress Anjelica Huston who is absolutely wonderful as Adam’s loving neurotic mother, Diane. Director Jonathan Levine effectively uses improv with the cast to make the relationships even more entertainingly realistic, including the funniest scene in the film, when Adam and Kyle shave Adam’s head. This is one of those films that has a great cast, a great director and great screenwriter, but when you put them all together, you end up with something extraordinary. The completely original film amazingly makes you laugh just as hard as you cry, leaving you at your most vulnerable to all emotions. The film doesn’t take an unnatural dramatic turn. Rather, the reality of Adam’s cancer presents itself more and more toward the end. The charming 50/50 is a rare, one of a kind film that cannot be skipped.