After Earth – Film Review

Posted on August 8, 2021 by ashleymanningwriter

Director: M. Night Shyamalan

Starring: Jaden Smith, Will Smith

Rating: ★★★

Shyamalan followed up his most hated film to date, The Last Airbender with the sci-fi film After Earth. At the moment, After Earth is his second worst received film, ever. Common criticisms of the film are about the nepotism of Jaden Smith’s casting, poor writing and underwhelming direction from Shyamalan. There has also been a fair few critics who have focused on scientology themes running throughout the film, which is just complete nonsense.

The themes tackled by After Earth involve; a father/son relationship, coming of age, climate change, fear and survivor’s guilt. If there is anything in After Earth that makes it a scientologist film, then it is also evident in pretty much every film ever, especially sci-fi, action or fantasy. It feels like people are so desperate to criticise Shyamalan that they will stretch, or just plain make up, elements to make their point.

Is After Earth a great film? No, however it is enjoyable, entertaining and gripping in a way that most action films dream of being. The biggest negative is that the central thread is very reliant on an overused cliché. This is a film that above all else is about a father/son relationship. How many times has a writer written the words ‘he doesn’t need a…, he need’s a father’, when a mother is talking to her partner about their son. It’s one of the biggest tropes going and that is how After Earth starts. Thankfully once the action is underway the exploration of the relationship between Kitai (Jaden Smith, The Karate Kid) and Cypher (Will Smith, Independence Day) is interesting and compelling.

Cypher has mastered ghosting, where he shows no fear, which is the only way to get close and kill the aliens that are hellbent on destroying humans across the universe. Kitai is a cadet in training, wanting to follow his father’s footsteps and learn to become a ranger as well. Their relationship, helped massively by the real life relationship between the two actors, feels real and natural. The relationship gives the film a much needed emotional hook.

Their performances don’t always match that, though. Will Smith, who shows no fear, often comes across as stilted and emotionless, as if without fear we don’t have any emotions. Jaden Smith also struggles in to bring charisma and charm that his father brings to a film. Both are weighed down by some clunky dialogue. At its core, this is essentially Jaden Smith’s film, he is the main character and as the audience we don’t really leave his side. While he gives a decent performance, this is undermined by legacy that his dad has.

Will Smith, when he isn’t being emotionless, is great on screen. He is a great actor and it’s showing here. After Earth was a pet project for him. He came up with the premise and fleshed it out with Gary Whitta. Shyamalan was then brought on as director and co-screen writer with Whitta. Since he started the project it’s no surprise that Will Smith gives it his all and through a very limited roll, he leaves an impression.

The story focuses on Kitai and Cypher, who crash land on Earth one thousand years in the future, with Kitai having to make a 100KM trip to get a beacon for help. It’s well paced and compelling. The film flies by, without any boring moments. There are some nice tense sequences where Kitai meets the hostile inhabitants of the future Earth. The CGI of those inhabitants isn’t the best, there is a lot better out there, but it does the job and isn’t that distracting.

Like some of Shyamalan’s other work there is an under-current theme of climate change in After Earth. Humans are forced to leave the planet as its become inhospitable. Like The Happening and The Village there is a sense that humans are very capable of destroying the world in one way of another. It’s a very relevant theme that runs through Shyamalan’s work.

After Earth is not a contender for the best sci-fi film of the last decade. It’s not Shyamalan’s best film, but it is enjoyable and entertaining. In no way is this as bad as critics made out at the time it was first released and it’s a shame that this would have put off people from seeing it. After Earth is a fast paced thrilling sci-fi film that works best as something to switch your mind off to and enjoy.  

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Adaptation

Posted on August 7, 2021 by ashleymanningwriter

Director: Spike Jonze

Written by: Charlie Kaufman

Starring: Nicolas Cage, Meryl Streep, Chris Cooper

Rating: ★★★

The first half an hour of Adaptation where the film sets itself up with meta humour, a frantic energy and a freshness, is fantastic. Not knowing anything about this film when you watch it is the best way (so come back once you have), because when you realise that Charlie Kaufman has written a screenplay that is part adaptation of The Orchid Thief and part re-telling of the journey of how he adapted the same book, its mind blowing. Right from the opening scene, after a long monologue with no visuals, it’s captivating. It’s strange and quirky in a way that only Kaufman can achieve.

Sadly, his script about writer’s block and not knowing how to write the script we are watching, overstays its welcome. The concept is neat at the beginning but starts to walk very close to the edges of pretentiousness and the ending just nose-dives into crazy. By that point, the film has been dragged out for so long it doesn’t really matter, because at least the credits are rolling. That first half hour though is genius, it’s just a shame there isn’t enough to carry a 2-hour film. There is a lot of repetition, and we all get it, you have writer’s block.

Nicolas Cage gives an incredible performance worthy on the Oscar nomination that he received. He would go on to lose it to the equally excellent Adrian Brody for The Pianist. Regardless, Cage gives a performance that is one of the highlights of his glorious career. He plays not only a fictional version of Charlie Kaufman, but also his completely fictional twin brother. You can always tell which brother is which, just by the way he speaks and carries himself. It’s a spectacular performance that keeps you captivated long after the plot fizzles out. Meryl Streep, as always, is fantastic as well in the limited role that she had. For the most part she isn’t a focus, but when she’s on screen her performance takes command.

This is a film about obsession, addiction, and imposter syndrome. In a semi-autobiographical tale exploring Kaufman trying to expand and grow as a writer and move beyond Being John Malkovich we see his ideas of elitism and knowing tackled by the seminar held by Robert McKee, played by a very shouty Brian Cox (Manhunter). We see a lot of self-doubt and Kaufman comparing himself to bigger money makers, especially dark thrillers that were popular at the time. Kaufman becomes obsessed with Susan Orlean, the author of the book, to the point that he stalks her. The film is semi-autobiographical but exaggerated enough that it’s fiction. It works well as a character study, but it is messy in its presentation.

Adaptation is one of Cage’s best performances to date. He is absolutely fantastic and deserves all the praise he got at the time and since. The script is original and entertaining, it just isn’t enough for the full film. It’s still an interesting film and the first half hour is great enough to warrant watching.

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Vivo – Film Review

Posted on August 7, 2021 by ashleymanningwriter

Director: Kirk DeMicco

Written by: Kirk DeMicco & Quiara Alegria Hudes

Starring: Lin-Manuel Miranda, Ynairaly Simo, Juan de Marcos González, Brian Tyree Henry and Gloria Estefan

Rating: ★★★★

2021 is turning into a pretty great year for Lin-Manuel Miranda. The film adaptation of his first musical, In The Heights, was finally released to great acclaim. Later in the year his directorial debut, tick, tick, Boom!, will be released on Netflix. He’s also written the music for the upcoming Disney animated film, Encanto. To top it all off, he stars in and wrote eleven songs for Vivo the new animated film from Sony Pictures Animation. After watching Vivo it’s further confirmation that everything Miranda touches, including the excellent Moana and Hamilton, turns out great.

Vivo, voiced by Miranda, is kinkajou, also known as a honey bear, an animal usually found in tropical rainforests. After stowing away in a box, he ends up in Cuba and befriends a local street performer, Andrés Hernández. A letter arrives for Andrés from an old friend, Marta Sandoval, asking him to join her in his final concert in Miami. Just after she left Cuba, Andrés wrote her a song. Vivo makes it his mission that nothing will stop him from delivering the song to Marta.

The animation is simply stunning. Sony Pictures Animation has been really knocking it out of the park lately with Into the Spider-Verse, The Mitchells vs. the Machines, and the Hotel Transylvania series. Vivo looks and feels like a Pixar film. It deals with more serious themes of death, lost love, and parental relationships, with a fun and engaging tone. The animation is great and rivals Pixar’s high quality. To be honest the story, characters, and humour are better than most of Pixar’s more recent outings. If Vivo is anything to go by, then Pixar or Disney are no longer the only power houses of western animated family films.

There are moments of Vivo that are more magical realism with bright neon lights and dream-like sequences. They are beautiful to watch. There are some excellent scene transitions, and the characters look great with a unique art-style that really suits the story being told.

Much like previous films that feature music from Lin-Manuel Miranda, most of the songs in Vivo are great, fun, and catchy. It will make repeat viewings with children a lot easier. There is one song, early on, that is obnoxious, but the character singing it at that point of the film is grating as well. As the film progresses the character becomes more likable and understandable, so when they revisit the song later, it works better. The greatness of the songs also completely overshadows the very obvious plot. From almost the plot starts moving you will be able to guess all of the major beats. There are no surprises here, but great songs and interesting characters makes the simple plot feel more vibrant.

Vivo is a great family animated film, that’s currently available on Netflix. It’s engaging and captivating and the entire film, which is only just over 80 minutes once you cut out the credits, flies by in what seems like no time at all. There isn’t a dull moment to be found.

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Little Shop of Horrors (1986)

Posted on August 6, 2021 by ashleymanningwriter

Director: Frank Oz

Starring: Rick Moranis, Ellen Greene, Vincent Gardenia, Steve Martin, Levi Stubbs and Bill Murray

Rating: ★★★

Taking the B-movie classic The Little Shop of Horrors from Roger Corman and turning it into a stage show was a stroke of genius. The next obvious step was to turn that into a film, which after a stop-start production was finally released in 1986. At one point the film was going to be produced by Spielberg with Scorsese directing. After disputes and delays, Frank Oz ended up directing Little Shop of Horrors, which is now considered a classic musical.

The premise is very similar to the original film, with a flower shop that isn’t doing to well. Seymour, this time played by Rick Moranis (Ghostbusters), has found a unique and original plant that attracts new customers. Seymour has to nurture the plant and there’s only one thing it can feed on: human flesh and blood. The biggest difference is the ending, but at one point the ending was going to a lot darker.

The original ending, which was filmed, involved Audrey (Ellen Greene, Pushing Daisies) being attacked and then eaten by Audrey II (the plant). Seymour goes to attempt suicide and then ends up trying to kill the plant, only to be eaten himself and for Audrey II to spend the final sequence attacking the American army from the Statue of Liberty. When shown to test audiences, they reacted very coldly to the ending, and this was re-written and shot to give the happier ending we have now. It’s a good example of test screenings changing films for the better.

The most important thing about of any musicals is the songs. The first few songs in Little Shop of Horrors from the opening title song up to ‘Dentist’are all great. They’re catchy and fun. The second song, ‘Skid Row’ is reminiscent of something from West Side Story and is one of the best moments in the film. It feels epic in scale. Sadly, the songs do run out of steam and the later half doesn’t match the first half.

The sets are great. Even though they are a little rough around the edges, and bring a very un-polished look to everything. The obvious fake scenery and set design makes it feel like you are watching a direct translation of the stage show. It brings you into the story and brings a charm. The whole film feels gritty and magical in a way that no other musical does.

The puppet Audrey II, is simply fantastic. It looks incredible, with how it moves so swiftly and smoothly. It’s impressive to watch, and it shows that this is directed by legendary puppeteer Frank Oz, who had previously worked on Star Wars and The Muppets. It’s honestly awe-inspiring at how well it is designed and moves around.

Everyone here is giving it their all from Moranis and Greene to the endless list of cameos, including  Jim Belushi, John Candy, Christopher Guest and Bill Murray, who recreates the dentist scene that featured Jack Nicholson in the original. This time Murray is the masochist patient and Steve Martin (The Jerk) is the dentist. While the scene is funny and both are great (Martin is one of the funniest things in the film), it does pale in comparison to the original. There’s just something about the original that is unhinged and that’s missing here.

Little Shop of Horrors is a worthy adaptation of the original. It’s fun, has some catchy songs and some great comedic performances from the entire cast. It does lose a lot of steam in the second half, with all the great songs in the first half. By the end it has outstayed its welcome. The original is a better film, but this is a great musical regardless.

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My Top 50 Films Part 5

Posted on August 6, 2021 by ashleymanningwriter

After today’s part, we are half-way through my top 50 films of all time. If you haven’t seen the first 4 parts, catch up here: PART 1, PART 2, PART 3 & Part 4

This weeks grouping Comedies. They’re in a random order, since listing from 50 – 1 will be impossible. If you’ve seen any of these let me know.

Clerks

I first watched Clerks when I was at university and thought it was a pretty good film. It’s funny and has some nice geeky references. I then re-watched it after I worked on tills and then understood it. This film sums up everything that is horrible and brilliant about serving the public. The unbelievably frustration that customers can cause and the friendships you make while working. I’ve watched it a few times now and see different things every time. It’s a brilliant film and I can’t wait for Clerks 3.

Raising Arizona

Nicolas Cage at his crazy best with a brilliant Coen Brothers story to go with it. Cage and Holly Hunter steal a baby and go on the run. It’s a brilliant funny film that I first watched when I was a teenager with my mum. Cage is her favourite actor and this is one of his best performances. It’s my favourite Cage film and my favourite Coen Brother’s film. Simon Pegg describes it best as a ‘living breathing Looney Tunes cartoon’.  

Chasing Amy

I love most things that Kevin Smith has done, including Tusk and Yoga Hosers. Chasing Amy might be my favourite, purely because of the script. The dialogue between Ben Affleck and Joey Lauren Adams is purely spectacular It’s so funny, so emotional, and so well written. To me this is an almost perfect love story. The moment in Jay and Silent Bob Reboot that acts as a mini-sequel, tying up the loose ends is a perfect epilogue to this one as well.

Jojo Rabbit

Taika Waititi is a genius. From Hunt for the Wilderpeople to What we do in the Shadows. Everything he writes is comedy gold. Jojo Rabbit, the story of an indoctrinated member of the Hitler Youth, whose imaginary friend is Hitler is surprisingly funny and sweet, with a dark undercurrent that carries the film along. The moment with the shoes (Anyone who’s seen it will understand) is absolutely heart-breaking. But a story that can go from tears to laughter in mere moments is perfection. I know a lot of people didn’t like this one when it came out a couple years ago, but I can’t get my head around that. It’s a near perfect film with a great cast. When does Sam Rockwell do anything bad?

Star Trek IV

I only wanted to include one Star Trek film in this list. I’m a massive original Star Trek fan, both the 1960s TV show and the films that would follow. Any of the original 6 films, apart from number 5, could have been here but Star Trek IV is my favourite. The crew travel back in time and have to find a way back to their present. It’s the funniest of the Star Trek films, especially Spock readjusting to life again after his resurrection in the previous film. Leonard Nimoy also directed this one. I love all Trek, but for me the films never got better than this one.

That’s half way through. I hope you are enjoying these posts so far

Thanks for reading and until next time,

Ashley

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