Edited by R. Allen Leider
November 13th, 2009
Edited by R. Allen Leider
November 13th, 2009
2012 Reviewed by CJ Henderson
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My agent Dave Elliott said he
''just sat through 2012:A Cliche Odyssey.
Great sfx, but the bits inbetween were painful.'' That about sums
it up. Never before has a date in history been so significant to so many
cultures, so many religions, scientists, and governments. 2012 is an epic
adventure about a global cataclysm that brings an end to the world and
tells of the heroic struggle of the survivors. What I saw was a wealth
of CGI work laced with hack writing including a total rip off of the last
half of 'WhenWorlds Collide' and most of the situations long ago worn to
a nub by Irwin Allen.
Here's what CJ Henderson thinks of this film- Columbia’s new end-of-the-world disaster film, "2012" is not bad at all. It raises some very interesting questions about whether or not humanity actually deserves to get a chance to survive. Sadly, having to watch the film with other members of the human race, it became apparent that perhaps this Hollywood take on the nobility of man, if anything, might be too optimistic. |
| Now, I know everyone has experienced
a noisy movie theater with people chattering on their cell phones or with
each other during the feature, yelling at the screen, texting, and basically
being the kinds of jerks you pray you never accidentally invite to one
of your upcoming parties. But, this was not a theater filled with urban
teenagers or some other socially-inept subcategory of humanity, this was
a critics screening. The audience was made up of film critics, studio personnel,
and other insiders who, supposedly, were there to view the film as professionals.
Professionalism, to say the least, was not in evidence last night.
I bring this up because, well, first off the irony of a group of presumably
college-educated professionals acting like horse’s asses during a movie--the
point of which was that humanity was not simply a collection of horse’s
asses who deserved to die--screams out to be commented on. Secondly, however,
I have to report that there was so much inappropriate laughter and such
a surprisingly small amount of respect for both the film and other audience
members, that I could not hear large sections of the dialogue. Since there’s
no way for me to see the picture again before it opens, I’ll simply have
to do the best I can. Here goes.
The story: It’s 2009 as the film starts, and the ancient Mayan predictions of the world coming to an end in 2012 seem like a distinct possibility. Very quickly, the film moves through 2010 and 2011, introducing the major political and scientific players and setting the groundwork. By the time 2012 is announced, the stage is set. Quickly thereafter we meet some of the world’s regular folk, and it isn’t long before the audience should have an idea of who’s going to live and who isn’t. Events start to break down quickly. The world is going to know elemental chaos, and it’s coming soon. As the main focus centers on John Cusak’s character’s attempt to save his estranged family, lakes dry, volcanos form, earthquakes and tremors shatter the landscape and it isn’t long before everyone in the world knows that the end times are a’coming. Before long the secret plan created by the heads of numerous governments to save at least something of humanity is revealed, and after that it’s a rush to the end to see if anyone or anything survives. This is, as stated above, a disaster film. One goes to it not for great drama but to see who lives and who dies, and of course for the thrill ride and the special effects. On this level, the film is outstanding. Yes, it’s true, some of the CGI work gets a little sloppy. But, it’s on an average comparable to finding a single bad grape in a two pound bag. Barely noticeable. The excitement level is there as well. If you go to watch the film and have a good time (something in little evidence last night), you should have a great time. The tension builds nicely up to the point where things cut loose, and once they do, there’s no going back. It’s the end of the world and no breathers are permitted. The acting is fine. Cusak is his usual solid self, Danny Glover playing a two-term black U.S. president is fine, as is everyone else. The real star performance comes from Woody Harrelson, though, who as a wide-eyed, fear-the-government conspiracy radio pirate absolutely steals the show. On the downside, yes, like many a disaster movie there are parts of the story that get not only predictable, but formulaic. Still, there is nothing within the script, the special effects, or the performances on the screen that deserved the audience reaction I witnessed. Indeed, when one of the characters makes an impassioned plea to the powers-that-be to save innocent lives, and people all start shouting "let them die" and "save yourselves," and laughing about their cleverness, it’s almost enough to make one wonder if some other studio didn’t plant people in the theater to disrupt the film, because, if that’s not the case, then the disgusting vulgar reactions I witnessed last night were genuine, and the message of "2012" comes a little too late. Mankind isn’t worth saving. But, it can still make a really good disaster movie. Our final word: 4 stars out of 5. |
The Players: John Cusack, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Thandie Newton, Woody Harrelson, Danny Glover, Oliver Platt and Amanda Peet
The Filmmakers:
Directed by Roland Emmerich
Screenplay by Roland Emmerich and Harold Kloser
Release by Columbia Pictures
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Director Wes Anderson's marvellous animated adaptation
of the popular Roald Dahl children's book.
A wily fox uses his formidable cunning to outsmart three feeble-minded farmers, who resort to extreme tactics to protect their chickens. For 12 years, Mr. and Mrs. Fox (George Clooney and Meryl Streep) have lived a peaceful life in the wilderness with their son, Ash (Jason Schwartzman). Shortly after their young nephew Kristofferson (Eric Anderson) arrives for a visit, Mr. Fox's long-suppressed animal instincts begin to take over and the faithful family man resorts back to his old ways as a cunning chicken thief, endangering not only his family but the entire animal community as well. When evil farmers Boggis, Bunce, and Bean force the animals underground in a desperate attempt to capture the audacious Mr. Fox, dwindling food supplies force the frightened animals to band together in one last attempt to fight for the land that is rightfully theirs. |
| It is the story of one Mr. Fox and his wild-ways of hen heckling, turkey taking and cider sipping, nocturnal, instinctive adventures. He has to put his wild days behind him and do what fathers do best: be responsible. He is too rebellious. He is too wild. He is going to try "just one more raid" on the three nastiest, meanest farmers that are Boggis, Bunce and Bean. It is a tale of crossing the line of family responsibilities and midnight adventure and the friendships and awakenings of this country life that is inhabited by Fantastic Mr. Fox and his friends. |
The Players: George Clooney, Meryl Streep, Jason Schwartzman, Bill Murray, Wallace Wolodarsky, Bill Murray, Michael Gambon, Willem Dafoe, and Owen Wilson
The Filmmakers:
Directed by Wes Anderson
Screenplay by Wes Andreson from the book by Roald Dahl
Release by 20th Century Fox
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A captivating story of high school seniors at the
crossroads of their adult lives.
When a pompous actor tells good girl Alexa (Emmy Rossum) that she hasn¹t lived, she embarks on a bold journey that takes her to mysterious bad boy Johnny (Zach Gilford). Envious, her shy best friend Ben ( Ashley Springer) also dares to pursue Johnny, complicating Alexa's romance and pushing the boundaries among the three friends. A drama centered around three high school seniors - an aspiring actress, her misfit best friend, and a loner - who become engaged in an intimate and complicated relationship. |
The Players: Emmy Rossum, Zach Gilford, Ashley Springer, Ana Gasteyer, and Alan Cumming
The Filmmakers:
Directed by Adam Salky
Screenplay by David Brind
Released by Image Entertainment
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In the 1960s this group of rougue DJs, on a boat in the middle of the Northern Atlantic, played rock records and broke the law all for the love of music. The songs they played united and defined an entire generation and drove the British government crazy. By playing Rock n Roll they were standing up against the British government who did everything in their power to shut them down. The band of rebels is lead by The Count, played by the Academy Award Winning Philip Seymour Hoffman, Quentin the boss of Radio Rock, Gavin the greatest DJ in Britian, Midnight Mark, Doctor Dave and Young Carl who comes of age amidst the chaos of sex, drugs and rock n roll. The film features an unbelievable selection of music including The Beatles, The Stones, Beach Boys, Dusty Springfield, The Who, Jimi Hendrix, Smokey Robinson, David Bowie, Otis Redding, Cat Stevens just to name a few. |
| A brilliant ensemble comedy in which the romance takes place between the young people of the '60s and pop music. It's about a band of rogue DJs that captivated Britain, playing the music that defined a generation and standing up to a government that, incomprehensibly, preferred jazz. The Count, a big, brash, American god of the airwaves; Quentin, the boss of Radio Rock -- a pirate radio station in the middle of the North Sea that's populated by an eclectic crew of rock and roll DJs; Gavin, the greatest DJ in Britain who has just returned from his drug tour of America to reclaim his rightful position; Dave, an ironic, intelligent and cruelly funny co-broadcaster; and a fearsome British government official out for blood against the drug takers and lawbreakers of a once-great nation. |
The Players: Philip Seymour Hoffman, Bill Nighy, Rhys Ifans, Nick Frost, and Kenneth Branagh
The Filmmakers:
Directed by Richard Curtis
Screenplay by Richard Curtis
Release by Focus Features
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Here’s an interesting documentary film that goes worldwide,
even interviewing famous celebrities including Hugh Jackman, Ringo Star,
and David Copperfield, to ponder the question: What is God? This is a look
into beliefs and ramifications, stirring up passion, curiosity, self-reflection,
and imagination.
Writer-producer-cameraman-director Peter Rodger goes from this country to Africa, the Middle East to the Far East, bringing up fundamental questions: “Did God create man or did man create God?” “Is there one God for all religions?” “If God exists, why does He allow so much suffering?” He interviews everyday people and spiritual leaders, examining the idea of God through the minds and eyes of various religions and cultures. |
| There were a number of cogent points made in the film
and others gleaned from watching it. I’ll randomly list them, real food
for thought.
1. There are so many variations as to belief in God.
A very enlightening piece of filmmaking that is well worth your time in viewing. |
The Filmmakers:
Written, Produced, Photographed, and Directed by Peter Rodger
Music composed by Alexander van Bubenbaum from Gussi S.A. and Mitropoulos
Films
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