Alicia Vikander, an actress being primed for A-list, stars as Vera Brittain in this adaptation of Brittain's highly revered memoir. Brittain fought hard to be accepted at Oxford, only for WWI to derail her life. As she decides to become a nurse, her relationships with her brother (Taron Egerton), her true love (Kit Harrington) and her friend (Colin Morgan) are put to the test. The film is very important, as Brittain's story is one of courage, tragedy and resilience. But the film does feel very typical in its style--it's very much a British prestige biopic. The cast and the dialogue are quite remarkable. Vikander makes for a ferocious lead and her co-stars are remarkable enough. Just don't expect much in the way of inventive filmmaking. But these images of war and its effects on the nation are stirring and relevant and the film is quite effective.
John Cusack and Paul Dano share the role of Beach Boy and musical genius Brian Wilson, in the 80s and the 60s respectively. This film offers two stories of a man whose fragile mental state is exploited or ignored or both. Cusack and Dano are both brilliant, and I like how their twin performances didn't match or emulate each other. They are playing Wilson in different eras and their work shows it. I admit I found the Cusack portion of the film more compelling thanks to the sterling work from Paul Giamatti as the controlling Dr. Landy and Elizabeth Banks as Wilson's fierce 2nd wife Melinda Ledbetter. The Dano part of the film is very interesting, seeing Brian Wilson fight for his experimental Pet Sounds album. But for me the love story between Brian and Melinda is heart-rending. I love seeing Elizabeth Banks expand her range and playing different characters. Her work here is subtle but commanding at the right times. The film is beautifully made, with wonderful editing and camerawork.
This semi-biopic is about the emerging "garage" genre of music in 1990s France. The film is sweeping, spanning 20 years. But at 132 minutes, it drags by becoming too typical of these formless character studies. Paul (Felix de Givry) is a detached protagonist, who can only express himself as a DJ. His struggles with the real world--countless girlfriends, lack of money, changing trends--are engaging. However, the film feels unfocused with bizarre detours and subplots. Mia Hansen-Love is a talented director, but considering the film is based on her brother, perhaps she was too close to it to edit it properly. The soundtrack is amazing though and de Givry is a great find. The film is enlivened by the all too brief presence of American indie superstar Greta Gerwig.
Indie director Andrew Bujalski, who last made the popular Computer Chess, makes his most mainstream movie yet: a romantic-comedy with three recognizable actors. Guy Pearce, Marvel's Cobie Smulders and comedian Kevin Corrigan star in this comedy. On the surface, Results is a typical rom-com. It's a love triangle between an overweight millionaire, a personal trainer and a passionate gym owner. But Results is not a sellout movie for the indie director. It is appealingly formless, as the movie moves through 3 phases, with each of the stars taking over. I liked the film but I did not find it as funny as it could have been. The film features some great moments and a terrific supporting cast. For me, the highlight was Smulders; the actress thrives in this complicated leading role.
Alan Rickman made his directing debut in the 1990s and now he's made a second film. A Little Chaos is the fictionalized story about a female landscaper (Kate Winslet) who comes to design an outdoor ballroom at the Palace of Versailles and falls in love with the lead architect, played by Matthias Schoenaerts. If Rickman is known for his droll and deliberate line delivery, then his directing style is exactly the same. The film looks wonderful but the pacing is sluggish and there is little passion beyond intellectual. Winslet and Schoenaerts make for an appealing pair but their romance isn't as hot and heavy as it should be. Unlike the previous Schoenaerts period drama Far from the Madding Crowd, this one is not as lively or as vital. The supporting cast, with Rickman, Stanley Tucci and Helen McCrory is fine. Fine is basically the only word I'd use to describe this movie--it's not awful but I won't ever see it again.
MATM Must See: Love & Mercy
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