Captain Phillips (2013) (PG-13)

     

     As most of you probably know, I'm a big fan of sci-fi and fantasy. I love being immersed in different worlds, and hearing tales that could never possibly occur in our own reality. However, while these stories thrill and excite us, most often the ones that stick with us and impact us are the ones that really happened. This is the case with Captain Phillips, a true-to-life story about a man whose ship was hijacked by Somali pirates and was taken hostage. This movie is an intense, nail-biting, deeply affecting look into the motivations behind terrorism and the horror it causes.

     It was just another freight run for Captain Richard Phillips (Tom Hanks); get the cargo from port to port just like every job. However, this freight run happened to venture very close to the horn of Africa, by Somalia. And in Somalia, there are pirates. We are dropped in a Somali village, where a local warlord's men bluster in and tell the men of the village to get back to work capturing ships for their boss. Right from the get go, we get the impression that these pirates are not evil, even if they are the antagonists of the film. They have choice between doing what the thugs tell them, or going broke and possibly causing more violence. So they get back in the water, and it isn't long before they and Captain Phillips' ship cross paths. They board the ship, and through a convoluted series of events, end up in the ship's lifeboat with Captain Phillips on board. However, the navy soon shows up, and, well.....most of us remember the news stories. The movie's intensity is searing, and in some scenes becomes almost uncomfortable to watch because of how much it is making you squirm. However, just when you almost begin to consider leaving the theater, the situation shifts and the tension lessens. At least for a while. The film is an emotional rollercoaster in the best way. 

    Once again, as we have all come to expect, Tom Hanks delivers another pitch perfect and moving performance. He taps into that "ordinaryness" that makes us able to connect with him on a deeper level than almost any actor alive today. He is resourceful and heroic, and does his best to keep his crew safe, but he isn't so much of a hero that the movie ventures into seeming cheesy. Not everything he attempts works out; he didn't plan on being taken hostage. He is genuinely concerned for the pirates as well, he sees that they don't really want to be there and tries to convince them to give up their futile attempts at fortune. The pirates themselves also give very good performances, particularly Barkhad Abdi as Muse, the leader. While he is trying to provide for himself, there is also an aspect of him trying to achieve some sort of greatness and recognition. He thinks if he pulls off this job, he could maybe rise above his station as "just a fisherman". You feel outrage at the crimes he is committing, but also pity. We've all felt discontent, and the desperation that can set in when we are dissatisfied with our situation. 

     Ultimately, most of this movie's impact comes from the hugely intense last 20 minutes. Shortly before the Navy Seals that have been deployed enact their plan, Muse, marvelling at the chaos, confides to Phillips, "It was supposed to be easy. I take ship.....ransom. No one get hurt." Throughout the movie, Muse had said to Phillips that "everything is gonna be ok". He didn't want or expect things to get to the extent they had gotten to. However, shortly after this, Phillips is left alone and blindfolded in the bloody aftermath of the rescue. Phillips removes the blindfold, and is left aghast at the scene before him. He lets out a heart-wrenching scream of anguish, and then settles into shock. We are left reeling just like Phillips; reeling at the horror of what happens when honest people are driven to desperation. While this is a heartbreaking scene, it is I believe necessary, or even beneficial to watch. To many people are oblivious to the horror that terrorists themselves go through. On another note, this isn't a movie that you can forget about because it was "just a movie". The events of this movie are very real, just like its impact. 9/10

CONTENT: As I mentioned earlier, this is an extremely intense movie. I normally wouldn't mention intensity in the content advisory, but the sheer level of it in this film in my opinion is worth noting. It would be very upsetting for many children or even early teens. The language is minimal, with only occasional mild language. There is violence present, and while most of it is not graphic, there are several beatings that are disturbing. There is only one scene that is becomes rather graphic, and that is the ending. There is no sexual content. 

Gravity (2013) (PG-13)

     Since its announcement, Alfonso Cuaron's Gravity has garnered unimaginable hype. Cuaron is a very highly regarded director (most well-known for his post-apocalyptic epic Children of Men), and his hyper realistic space odyssey was looking like an intense, visually stunning thriller set in the dead of space. However, what we got in this movie is something quite different. And quite spectacular.

     

     This movie is, in my opinion, one of the greatest cinematic achievements of the past 5 years. A film that blends all of its elements together in perfect harmony like Gravity does is rare to the utmost degree. This movie perfectly mixes jaw-dropping visuals, acting finesse, and a rock-solid plot to create an experience that is completely immersive. 

     

     The movie opens with a single, 15- minute shot of Dr. Ryan Stone (Sandra Bullock) and Matt Kowalski (George Clooney) making repairs on the Hubble telescope, and right from the get go you know that this movie is something special. The camera moves through this scene with such breathtaking ease that I found myself wondering how on earth (no pun intended) they shot the scene. This sets the stage for the rest of the movie as well, which boasts throughout some of the best camera work I've seen to date. The swooping camera movements really give the sensation of being out in zero-gravity, and adds to the film's sense of immersion.

     

     The realism of the animation is astonishing. I found myself many times having difficulty distinguishing between reality and CGI, despite the fact that the images I was seeing couldn't have been real. There were several moments throughout the film where my jaw literally dropped at the breathtaking and horrifying sights I was seeing, whether it was a sunrise from space or a massive debris field smashing through a space station. Everything in the movie was gorgeous and realistic to the extreme.

     But, for all its dazzling visuals, this movie is still about the characters. The plot remains focused on Dr. Stone's personal issues back on earth (which I won't reveal in this review), and uses the deadly events occurring in the film as a vessel to help her deal with those issues. By the end of the film, she has become a stronger woman than before she ventured into space. We are completely invested in Dr. Stone's character for the entire film; we feel how she feels. We feel terrified when she's cast into space, spinning uncontrollably, and we feel happiness when she finally comes to grips with her problems. The audience basically become her for 91 minutes. This is largely due to Sandra Bullock's excellent performance, which captures every emotion the director was trying to convey perfectly. Clooney is also pitch perfect as the veteran astronaut on his last flight, with his cocky yet instantly likeable demeanour. However, the moment things start going wrong, he snaps into action and gets his job done. 

     As a whole, this movie is something different than it might seem to an average passerby. At first glance, it would seem to be just about two people trying to survive an extremely unfortunate series of events. However, while those events dominate the on screen activity, it's implied that there's much more going on here. As I mentioned earlier, this movie is about the characters, their personal struggles, and how they overcome them. The ending of the movie reinforces this, and while I won't reveal the outcome, the conclusion will make you proud to be human and make you want to jump out of your seat. While this movie dazzles on a level I have scarcely seen in terms of visuals, the characters are where this movie's true impact comes from, and why it is truly a masterpiece. 10/10

CONTENT: This film is fairly tame when it comes to negative content. Language is present, but for the most part it is mild and infrequent. Violence is also at a low, considering there are only 3 characters, but there is one scene that is rather gruesome and could be disturbing to some viewers. There is no sexual content. 

Prisoners (2013) (R)

 

      Keller Dover stands in an abandoned house. Next to him is a shower, boarded up with a man inside. A man he believes knows where his missing daughter is. He turns on the water on full heat, scalding the man and causing him to scream, but he still doesn't offer any information. Why is he not cooperating? Doesn't he know the pain will stop if he tells Dover where his daughter is? Does he even know where the girl is in the first place? These are some of the headache inducing questions that Denis Villeneuve's Prisoners asks.

Plot 

     The basic plot of this movie is very simple, and at first glance may appear to be just another film in the tired "kidnapping-thriller" genre. And while some plot devices in this film are familiar, the way they are delivered is anything but. Keller Dover, his family and his neighbors are enjoying thanksgiving dinner together when Dover's and his neighbor's daughters go missing while outside playing. A search ensues and a suspect is found, but the girls are still missing and the suspect, who is apparently mentally handicapped, isn't offering any information. Detective Loki, who apprehended the suspect, has no choice but to let him go free, but Dover isn't convinced. He kidnaps the suspect and tortures him, completely fixated on the thought that he knows where the girls are. Meanwhile, Detective Loki chases up more leads and begins to uncover the bigger picture of what is really going on behind the kidnappings, all while circling closer to discover what Dover is doing to the suspect. The plot is intense in the extreme, and keeps you on the edge of your seat throughout. It also brings up some very interesting questions. How far would you go to protect or save your loved ones? Would you violate everything you believe in an attempt to get them back? Dover confesses himself to be a religious man, and we see him praying throughout the movie, along with various other religious imagery. However, his "devotion to the faith" is in stark contrast with his actions and decisions, which are at times horrifying. The only moment when the story falters is in the final act, or "the big reveal" when you finally find out exactly what's going on. It ventures ever so slightly into the realm of being corny, but the final shot of the movie makes up for it. 

Acting/Writing 

       An area where this movie shines in particular is in that of acting. The performances in this film are believable to the utmost degree. Hugh Jackman brings a perfect mix of unhinged intensity and pitiable worry to Keller Dover's character, causing you to simultaneously feel sorry for him and afraid of him. The things he is doing are detestable, but you find yourself questioning whether it could be the right thing to do. Jake Gyllenhaal is brilliant as Detective Loki as well, as the only character who consistently makes the right decisions throughout the film. That said, you don't particularly like his character. He's very cocky and sure of himself, and is absolutely infuriating in some of the scenes involving Dover and his family. He assures them that everything will be all right, that they have their best people on it, and they're keeping all leads open.....the typical police bull, all while having a cocky smile on his face. His condescension in the beginning of the film is maddening, but as it progresses he becomes more the hero of the story and becomes truly concerned with finding the girls and putting an end to the madness. Paul Dano as Alex Jones, the handicapped suspect, pulls off the mentally handicapped, terrified child very well. You feel awful for him throughout the movie, because of what Dover is doing to him, but at the same time you wonder whether he's just putting it on as a facade. There isn't a bad performance in the movie, although some stand out more than others. The writing is also fantastic. Prisoners is one of the most realistic movies I have ever seen, particularly the scenes involving the families together and interacting. I felt as if I was looking through a window at a real family. 

Visuals/Audio 

      This movie isn't really about flashy visuals and special effects, so in the visuals department there isn't really much to discuss. The whole movie has a sort of grungy, grey filter over it, increasing the feeling of grittiness and realism, and helping the feel of the movie. The camera work is very good as well, wisely staying away from the shaky-cam fad and sticking to more traditional style. The movie is shot in a way so as not to show all of the terrible violence that is occurring, but the beforehand or aftermath shots we get are bad enough and possibly more affecting than if they bared everything to the audience. The soundtrack is subtle but effective, and speaks more with its absence than with its presence. 

     This movie is a perfect example of why I love when the summer movie season ends. All of the big, flashy, effects-laden blockbusters have come and gone, and most of them have been forgotten, leaving movies like this: thoughtful, slow, and deeply affecting. I have a feeling that this movie is going to stick with me longer than any blockbuster will. 

CONTENT: This is definitely not a movie for children, or for that matter young teens. While for the most part this film is not graphic or bloody, it is highly disturbing and would not be good for most people under 16 to watch. There is also a fairly heavy amount of language present. There is no sexual content.