Hugo (3D)

First Hit: Although interesting from a historical perspective and good acting made it entertaining, it isn't a great film.

This film is a tribute and gives homage to George Melies a pioneer filmmaker who directed 531 films between 1896 and 1914.

He was extremely creative and made “magic” appear on film. He pioneered special effects, multiple exposures, and other editing effects.

Unfortunately WWI created a vacuum of people interested in seeing his films and then the French government took all his celluloid films and melted them down into shoe heels. He ended up being a toy vendor in Montparnasse Train Station.

To create this homage film Director Martin Scorsese creates the character of a recently orphaned boy named Hugo (played by Asa Butterfield) who lives “in the walls” of the Montparnasse Train Station in Paris. Hugo takes care of the station clocks and survives by stealing food from unsuspecting (or maybe willing) station food vendors. The boy, the son of a watchmaker, likes fixing things and he is working on an animatronic human his father found all rusty in an old museum. Hugo hopes that if he fixes this figure that a message will come to him from his deceased father.

To fix this figure, Hugo is always looking for parts and occasionally steals toys from a vendor in the station (Melies). Caught by Melies (played by Ben Kingsley) while trying to steal a small mechanical mouse (for parts); he takes the boy’s notebook which details his father’s drawings about gears and things.

A series of events creates trouble for the boy in the station which is lorded over by a Station Inspector (played by Sasha Cohen). Isabelle (played by Chloe Grace Moretz) who is being looked after by her uncle (Melies) and Aunt “mama” Jeanne (played by Helen McCrory), befriends Hugo and together they figure out that the Melies was the creator of the animatronic human figure Hugo is working on.

The film shifts direction here and focuses on the history of Melies. Here in lies one of three problems for me with this film. First, the shift of the film from Hugo to Melies was not very subtle but it worked and I accepted it.

Second, Scorsese’s use of 3D (the film can also be viewed in 2D) was sometimes excessive (the close up of the Station Agent's Doberman Pinscher is an example) and felt as though the shot with a 3D effect was more important than the content of the shot.

And third, all the main characters where speaking proper English while the scene is Paris, this seemed odd. However, aside of these issues, the cinematography, at times, was extraordinary.

The characters were interesting, especially Mama Jeanne and Melies and I really liked the inter-play between the main characters.

Lastly, knowing little about Melies before the film, this film has driven me to learn more about a man who created magic in a genre I love.

Butterfield is excellent as the driven orphan who is focused on living life on his terms and becomes friends with Melies. Kingsley does an excellent job of being a sad curmudgeon only to have his heart and spirit lifted by the young boy’s efforts. Cohen is funny and effective as the mean Station Inspector whose own physical limitations keep him small minded. Moretz is grand as the little girl who bridges the gap between Hugo and Melies. McCrory is effortless and charming in her role as Melies wife and former lead actress in his films. John Logan wrote effective dialogue. Scorsese did a good job of directing this film although it seemed to be two different films; one about the kid and the other about a tribute to Melies. His use of 3-D was over worked at some point. It almost seemed as though he was using it to excess to honor Melies. I was and am still struck that such a mood piece, taking place in Paris, would be in all proper English - not a French line in it. It just seemed out of sorts (or maybe done so that there is a US audience and a way to make money).

Overall: I really enjoyed learning about Melies and this was an effective way of doing it.

The Descendants

First Hit: Very good acting, especially by George Clooney, but the link to the title is weak.

The Descendants are his relatives and the history of Matt King’s (played by George Clooney) family in Hawaii.

King is a lawyer and sole trustee for the family’s estate, which over the years has been broken apart. There is one huge parcel left and the family members (cousins, nieces, and others) are tossed as to what to do with this property. Some want it preserved and others want it sold for development.

Selling it has the benefit of making almost everyone rich even though most of them were rich enough but squandered their money already. However, storyline is not what this film is about.

What this film is about is how a man navigates a path through making major decisions honorably and all within a 1 month period of time. During the negotiations for the possible sale of this land King’s wife Elizabeth (played by Patricia Hastie) is in the hospital in a coma from a boating accident.

Matt and his wife had lost their path together and therefore there is regret. Their older daughter Alexandra (played by Shailene Woodley) is in a$35K a year school for girls that have drug problems and are in emotional trouble.

Their younger daughter Scottie (played by Amara Miller) has wild ideas and is difficult to handle. The story isn’t about “The Descendants”, it is about dealing with the real estate transaction and his extended family, his wife dying, discovering his wife was having an affair prior to the boating accident, his older daughter and how to help her on her path of discovery to a fuller life, and his younger daughter and how to bring her up.

Clooney is at the top of his game. His subtle expressions of pain, confusion, anger and sadness are top notch. Woodley is wonderful as the older daughter. The intensity and deep pain of catching her mom in an affair and having to share this with her father was extraordinary. Miller as the younger daughter brought the right level of cuteness and abandon required for the role. Nick Krause as Sid and Alexandra’s friend was perfect as the smart and smart-alecky boy who pushed the film along in a unique way. Beau Bridges as Matt’s cousin Hugh who wants the sale to happen was great to see again. Alexander Payne and Nat Faxon wrote a strong screen play that wasn’t afraid to accurately bring up strong situations (like Sid’s laughing at an old persons lost memory). However I’m wondering what the film would have been like without the real estate sale. It seemed like an also ran of the plot but also an odd focal point. Payne also directed this film and he got great performances out of all the characters.

Overall:  This was an actor’s film and they were up to the challenge.

Martha Macy May Marlene

First Hit: Interesting idea but the slow paced execution left me wanting to understand more.

The idea of how someone is affected by living in a cult community and then deciding to leave and go back to their family is a very interesting one.

This film gives only the perspective of Martha (played by Elizabeth Olsen) as we see her leaving the compound where she has lived for 2 years. She calls her sister and goes to live with her.

During the two weeks she is with her sister Lucy (played by Sarah Paulson) and Lucy’s husband Ted (Hugh Dancy), her involvement with the commune/cult is flashed back upon. Her first sexual experience was with Patrick (played by John Hawkes) the leader of the commune while she was drugged and passed out.

Patrick sexually enters all his women from behind, which I found telling about him and what he teaches his followers. For someone who demanded others to be open and upfront with everyone, only to have his most intimate actions with the women of the community from behind so that his face isn't seen was poignant.

We learn, as the film moves along, that Lucy and Martha’s mother died when Martha was in high school and Lucy was in college. Lucy feels guilty because she didn’t come back and take care of Martha when their mother died. What didn’t happen in this film was storyline around what was Martha’s decision making process as to how and why she found herself in Patrick’s community.

What was very effective was how Martha portrayed this lost young woman caught between two different lifestyles, right and wrong, and how to find her path through life.

Elizabeth Olsen was very strong and believable as a young girl trying to find herself and what her role in life is. Sarah Paulson was very strong as Martha’s sister. She portrayed the right mix of love, concern and repulsion at her sister’s actions. John Hawkes was effective as the cult leader who uses guilt, intelligence and guile as a base of power. Hugh Dancy is good as Lucy’s husband who has had enough of Martha’s antics. Sean Durkin wrote and directed this film and it seemed to me that this was a good attempt but for such a complex idea there needed to be additional background information.

Overall: This was a valiant attempt to portray a very interesting subject but the execution lacked background to validate the basis.

Like Crazy

First Hit:  Wonderfully realistic acting about a fresh, lasting and true love between two young people in which "I love you Like Crazy” means something.

I’m a romantic at heart and this film worked at all levels for me.

The acting by most everyone in the film was good and was superb by the principals Jacob (played by Anton Yelchin) and Anna (played by Felicity Jones). They meet because Anna leaves a note on Jacob’s car. Their first date was perfect representation of what two somewhat bashful, thoughtful people would go through when they are learning who they are in front of another person.

The relationship builds and their inner connection grows as the school year goes on. This is represented by walks in the park, dinners and in bed. Her goal is to be a writer and his is to be a furniture builder and upon graduation they have some decisions to make. She is on a student visa from England and must go home.

However, she breaks the law and stays beyond the legal limit. She eventually leaves and goes home to England. When she returns on a tourist visa she is detained and sent back home. This event sets up the film discovering how they handle a long distance relationship:  Will they each take other lovers? Will their love last? Was their love real? Will they make it through the trials and tribulations of being separated by “the law?”

The answer to these questions is “yes”. The audience gets to see that even though they each take different lovers who may be prettier (better looking) than their partner, something is missing.

This film is about love, the power of love and two young people realizing it.

Yelchin is wonderful and exemplary as the creative furniture maker. Jones was outstanding as the girl who has found her partner and continues to reach out to make it happen. Jennifer Lawrence as Sam is Jacob’s work assistant and sometimes lover is good and is a perfect example of someone who may be prettier than the other woman but when the spark isn't there you know it. Charlie Bewley is really good as Simon, Anna’s neighbor who falls in love with her, is great looking but there is a connection missing. The scene where he proposes is heartbreaking. Alex Kingston and Oliver Muirhead are divine as Anna’s parents. Drake Doremus and Ben York Jones wrote this wonderful script while Doremus did a wonderful job of keeping the story on track and the film crisp.

Overall:  This was a wonderful love story which depicted thoughtful college age kids with thoughtfulness.

J. Edgar

First Hit: I left the theater thinking that this film only scratched the surface of this man and will not be memorable over time.

Growing up in the 50’s and 60’s J. Edgar Hoover’s name was synonymous to patriotic righteous law enforcement. As many found out, it was a somewhat twisted view of what America was, is and should be.

This film shows him as gay, a liar, pushy, and a self-righteous believer that he and he alone knew the truth. He was the appointed king of his domain, the F.B.I. How and why he got this way is what I was hoping this film would explore. This is what I believed director Clint Eastwood was attempting to show. However, either he did his best with the limited material he had or he had an unwillingness to make an educated guess at what he thought and believed.

There may be a dearth of records about J. Edgar because he was a secretive and spiteful man, but he believed he was truly right. He didn’t want people to know him, he wanted to know people and how they could either hurt or help him or the country. It is known he kept many damaging files on people he might want to have leverage on or over (the Kennedy’s) and this film makes note of this throughout. J. Edgar (played by Leonardo DiCaprio) plays Hoover both young and old.

The effective use of makeup allowed for a continuity of young and old Hoover as the film flashes back and forth between these time periods. Clyde Tolson (played by Armie Hammer) is Hoover’s lover, and this film seemed like it focused on this more than any other one thing.

There is also a lot of film time to the solving of the Lindbergh child kidnaping. This was one of Hoover’s claims to fame because it got the attention of the public and congress and prompted the kind of funding and power for the FBI he wanted.

DiCaprio did a nice job with what he had. To me it was either the material or director that let him down. Hammer was solid as his faithful friend and lover. Unfortunately his makeup as an old man made him look like a mummy and not realistic. Judi Dench played Hoover’s mother as steely, cold and manipulative. Dustin Lance Black wrote this script which had little intrigue. Eastwood had wonderful sets, scenes and pictures but the idea and substantive hope that the public would learn something about Hoover was lost.

Overall: This film was a nice film, with nice shots but non-committed to making an opinion about one of the most reviled and revered people in government law enforcement.