American Psycho, Annie Hall, August Rush
American Psycho
[ 4 stars out of 4 ]
I call this movie a “beautiful mess.” Even though there are many great things about this movie, I feel like it’s seriously lacking something. But I think that’s what the movie is trying to tell its audience: something may look stunning on the outside but inside there might lie a big black hole. I’ve seen most of Christian Bale’s films and this is one of his finest performances. Although he may seem extremely charming on the outside, the way he harbors his cravings for a kill in order to calm his inadequacies was brilliant. His inner freak-outs are memorable and darkly amusing. The tone of the film looks sleek and modern but the shadows during the night might suggest something darker and primeval is at hand. The pacing is excellent and each scene builds on top of one another. By the time the ending comes, the pay off is great but not completely satisfying (in a good way because it supports the film’s purpose). This film is rich of quotes worth pondering over well after the credits stopped rolling. I think a really strong script kept this movie from falling apart so I am ultimately recommending it.
Annie Hall
[ 4 stars out of 4 ]
I love this movie because of its razor-like wit and it provided an interesting character study. Despite the idiosyncrasies of the characters, which could be annoying at times, the audiences come to love them because they are relatable. Not only that, after each scene, we learn why some characters are the way they are, what motivates their actions, and what’s really going on inside their heads despite the things they say. Complex characters and their relationships with each other make a really deep and detailed picture that is worth multiple viewings. Woody Allen and Diane Keaton were born for their roles. If some other people played their characters, I think this film could have ended up a lot differently (most likely in a negative way). I also admired Allen’s use of fusion of techniques, such as vignettes, animation, and flashbacks. His confidence and risks he took for this film paid off in a big way. It made me wish that Woody Allen can still make timeless films such as this one. “Match Point” came really close to that level of precision so I know he still has it in him.
August Rush
[ 4 stars out of 4 ]
To sum it all up: I felt the magic. I expected to like this film but I never expected that I would end up loving it. I thought the first hour or so was pretty good but everything got so much more interesting when the three main characters started go get closer to one another. There were definitely moments when I wanted to yell, “He’s your father! He’s your son!” at the screen because I wanted the family to finally get together because they’ve been longing for each other for a decade! Of course, we all know how it’s going to end: the seemingly disparate characters will end up together. If they did not, that would be a complete rip-off. Still, the old-fashioned formula worked well. I also like the fact that the music is integral to this film. In fact, it almost becomes a character to the point where I was wishing for a majestic score after each important scene. I have heard complaints about the last two to three shots of the film. I thought it was perfectly rendered because we know what was to happen next. I must give kudos to the actors. Robin Williams was a villanous S-O-B but I’m glad he was there to increase the ante. Jonathan Rhys Meyers was somewhat one-dimensional but I forgave him for it because I liked his accent. Keri Russell is heartbreaking and I truly felt her longing while searching for her long lost son. Freddie Highmore continues his great work as a teary-eyed, deeply optimistic kid. I sense that he’s growing comfortable in such roles so I kind of want to see him play some sort of villain next time. Overall, it was a joy watching to his movie because I felt like everything was in perfect harmony (not to mention inspiring!). I might have to buy the soundtrack because it was so majestic.
