Dawn of the Planet of the Apes (2014, dir. Matt Reeves)

There has been a recent revamp of the 60's movie "Planet of the Apes" with a new series of films.  One was a remake, the other two, including this one provides back-story leading up to the story-line in the original.  This happened to be the first of those films that I had the privilege of seeing.  I don't regret my choice but I do regret not investing my time in the other films in this series because of the success I perceived in this one.

I believe the reason for this film's success is in its fascinating presentation of a non-human species (apes) which has evolved to the point of overcoming the human species in its degree of emotional and spiritual advancement.  These apes are organized and able to co-exist with their own species in cohesion and harmony.  They don't require guns or electricity but they are content to just be and in that existence they are more successful than their human counterparts.

This especially applies to the humans as presented in this film.  They are in chaos as a result of being stripped of their sources of electrical power and it is their search for this source that is at the heart of this film's plot.  The band of humans who we meet early on are encroaching on the apes peaceful territory in search of the dam that could potentially provide them with the power they need to regain some of their lost glory and sustenance.  

A montage at the beginning of the film sets us up with the information that their has been a colossal contagion that has nearly wiped out the entire human population on earth.  Originally, experiments were done on apes with a new serum that was being tested to fight Alzheimer's.  This gave the apes increased intelligence and evolutionary characteristics.  The apes broke free from captivity and chaos loomed.  After this informational montage we are shown the apes in their new existence, more evolved and functioning at a high level on their own within their own population. 

Caesar is the apes' leader and in a discussion near the beginning he and another ape discuss the fact that it is unlikely there are any more humans around because they haven't come across one in nearly a decade.  Soon we are shown they are wrong when a human comes across two young apes in the forest and in a panic, shoots one of them.  This causes great anger and consternation among the other apes and the humans responsible for the trespass are told to never return to their territory.  

But, because the apes' territory contains the needed power source, the humans return and a series of events transpire that will result in the outbreak of total warfare between the two species.  This provides the action pieces that are at the centre of the film's storyline and these action scenes are exciting and moving.  

The film makes the viewer identify with the apes but at the same time we feel for the human characters as well.  This offers the complicated dynamic at the heart of the film, adds suspense and heightens the dramatic impact.  I was thoroughly impressed by the CGI in this film.  The apes are computer images but are very realistic and their every emotion is visible in their gestures and facial expressions.

Overall, questions are raised about humanity, the natural and animal world and the future of the entire planet.  The film offers hope in all these areas and offers a unique view of our precarious place within the Great Chain of Being.

The Invisible Woman (2013, dir. Ralph Fiennes)

Ralph Fiennes directs and stars in this truth-based, period piece about Charles Dickens.  In it, a woman comes into his life and has a profound influence on his creativity and psychological mindset.  This is familiar cinematic territory: a man is already married to an unattractive wife, a relationship that fails to stimulate him physically, emotionally and spiritually.  Along comes a younger, beautiful woman and the man falls in love.

"The Invisible Woman" takes this trope and offers unique ways of telling it.  It is a true story too but a lot of the historical fact is embellished and expanded for cinematic and story-telling purposes.  The end result is a slow-moving but, in the end, rewarding movie experience with great performances and fascinating characters.

Charles Dickens is probably one of the most famous and widely-read authors of history.  He revolutionized the novel and would influence story-tellers and even filmmakers until the present day and will continue to into the future.  Fiennes portrays him as a kind, playful, and complex figure with a great sense of humor and the troubled psyche that characterizes most of the creatively-gifted population.   His lover in this film, Nelly (Felicity Jones) is in awe of the author at first.  There relationship slowly develops and we get a keen sense of the reasons that such an affair would kindle and continue to ignite for the rest of Dickens' life.

The film takes place in the 1850's, a time when extra-marital affairs and divorce of any kind was much more taboo than it would be a century later.  There is a scene when Dickens' wife receives a letter informing her of the impending end of their marriage.  It is a heartfelt, tragic scene and we feel the heightened implication that such an event would have on the family's social reputation.

This is definitely not one of the better or memorable films of 2013.  Many viewers will be bored but it can also be seen as a fascinating glimpse into the life of a famous 19th century genius and the lives he effected.

Umberto D: De Sica's Neo-Realist Masterpiece

"Umberto D" was considered by critics and audiences at the time of its release in 1952 to be a disappointment in comparison to Vittorio De Sica's previous releases, "Shoeshine" and "Bicycle Thieves".  With the passing of time, it now stands as a masterpiece in the director's canon and a beautiful portrait of a troubled Italy in the aftermath of World War II.

The title character is played by Carlo Battisti, a non-professional actor (typical of Italian Neo-Realist films).  It is an understated, engaging performance and lends sympathy to the character's plight.  He is an elderly pensioner who is struggling to make ends meet on his pitiful earnings.  He owes money to his landlord on previous month's rent and his best friend is his constant canine companion, Flike.

As is common in Neo-Realist films there is a very basic plot and not much happens over the course of the story in terms of exciting action.  Modern day viewers used to the spectacles of today will most likely be bored by the slow, meandering storyline.  But, lovers of cinema will savor the lingering beauty of each passing moment of this film.   We see Umberto in soup kitchens, wandering city streets and passing his fleeting moments in his run-down apartment.

Like life itself, not every moment is jam-packed with adventure and flashy dialogue.  This is what makes the film look and feel so authentic and mystifyingly alive.  We get a sense that we are experiencing real life in one moment in history and witnessing the miracle of a life lived to the best of one troubled man's ability.

It is a sad tale, but in the film's last moments we get a glimpse of hope.  Umberto, struggling to maintain his dignity and self-respect comes close to attempting suicide.  But, he chooses life and with the viewer, the courage and hope necessary to continue in this great struggle called Life.

This is a beautiful, life-affirming motion picture and a quintessential entry in the Italian Neo-Realist oeuvre.

Edge of Tomorrow (2014, dir. Doug Liman)

"Edge of Tomorrow" is an explosive, exciting, new sci-fi film under the direction of Doug Liman.  It will stir memories of previous films:  there are elements of "Groundhog Day" and "Memento" woven into the ideas behind the story's fabric.  It will resonate deeply with viewers who hunger for a thoughtful, engrossing plot and believable, complex characters. 

Tom Cruise plays a man by the name of Cage who finds himself caught in a mysterious time loop in which he wakes up with the exact same scenario and obstacles ahead of him every time he dies.  It turns out he has inherited this ability to constantly relive the same thing over and over by being infused with the chemicals of an alien being he has killed in combat.  This alien is part of a deadly race of beings who are threatening the livelihood of the entire planet.

At first Cage is inexperienced in combat and in his dealings with this fearsome foe.  But as he constantly is reborn in the exact same moment and is able to remember his previous incarnations, he gains experience, knowledge, and training that will serve him well as he goes on.  He meets a legendary warrior named Rita (Emily Blunt) who he must convince of his strange predicament.  Together they can figure out from his constant reincarnations, what the appropriate actions will be to destroy the enemy.

The film is damned exciting and never lets up from the get-go.  It is extremely intelligent, but never alienates the viewer by delving into too much complexity and mischievous plot devices.  It paints a glorious picture of a future dystopian planet where the very survival of humanity is in question.  Tom Cruise is perfectly cast and Emily Blunt is great playing a tough-as-nails female soldier.

The constant reincarnation of Cage in the exact same moment is never stretched to a boring level.  It is done very appropriately and the editing is skilled in what it leaves out:  we don't have to go through everything each time he is reborn and the essential story-line fragments are kept so that the viewer never loses his or her bearings.

This is one of the best films I've seen in 2014.  It may be slightly derivative but it makes use of these familiar story-telling devices in unique and imaginative ways.  You will have a great time.

Anchorman 2: The Legend Continues (2013, dir. Adam McKay)

I liked "Anchorman 2".  It has a lot of laughs and I think it is even better than its predecessor.  Mind you, it is stupid.  But we can all use some stupid humour every now and then and Anchorman 2 is chock full of it.

The film starts with Ron Burgundy (Will Ferrell) having relocated to New York City since the first film's locale of San Diego.  Suddenly, he finds himself fired (while his wife is given a promotion) and goes into a downward spiral.  He gets a lucky break when a man offers him a spot on GNN a new global news network that runs news 24 hours a day.  He reassembles his old news team and the legend continues.

But, the plot is irrelevant in a movie like this.  What matters and delivers is the constant barrage of episodic comedy where new situations provide increasingly funny moments.  This films takes place in 1980 and there are constant riffs and allusions to the popular culture of that moment.  The supporting players are amusing but Will Ferrell is the cornerstone of this film and the main source of all the humour.  Unlike some former SNL cast members who's comedic energy has seemed to taper off in recent years, Ferrell shows no sign of slowing down.

This film proves that sequels can outdo the original in the series.  There is also a part near the end where a large number of celebrities have cameos in a huge fight scene.  The film is not weighted to be stronger at the beginning, middle, or end but is consistently funny all throughout.  This is one of the best comedies of 2013.

Bringing Up Baby (1938, dir. Howard Hawks)

Its difficult watching these old, supposedly "classic" comedies from the 30's through 21st century eyes.  Often they don't hold up to the evolution that cinema has undergone over the past 75 years.  "Bringing Up Baby" is no exception.  It may be considered one of the greatest screwball comedies of all time.  It was in the AFI Top 100 list, I recall.  But, to me it so often just seems stupid.

The film stars Carey Grant as David Huxley, a paleontologist at a museum who has spent the last 3 years assembling the bones of a brontosaurus.  The last piece is coming in the mail and he is to be married the following day.  At a golf game with the lawyer of a probable donor, he meets Katharine Hepburn's Susan.  Things start to go downhill after that (Susan causes all kinds of trouble for Huxley) and you can guess that they'll probably end up together in the end.  Throw in a leopard that they have to look after (named, Baby) and you get the gist of the comedic situations of this film.

I would like to go into why films such as this that were so funny and enjoyable in their day seem silly and unfunny today.  Although there are undoubtedly some who would still find pleasure and amusement in "Bringing Up Baby" today, young, modern-day viewers are more accustomed to the lightening-fast editing and popular culture references that are relevant to today's culture.  Film has changed drastically since 1938 and the MTV generation has new demands and viewing habits.  Acting styles have changed too with the advent of method acting in 1950's and the style today is much more naturalistic and realistic. 

That said, "Bringing Up Baby" has its moments.  If one can suspend their cultural prejudices and try to watch the film as one from the time it came out, he or she may actually get a fair amount of enjoyment out of it.  To this reviewer though, the comedy isn't often funny and the plot is almost non-existent.

Heaven Is For Real (2014, dir. Randall Wallace)

In Randall Wallace’s “Heaven Is For Real” a young boy, after a near-death experience, claims to have witnessed Heaven and had contact with Jesus Christ.  When his father, Todd Burpo (Greg Kinnear) a preacher at a church announces to his congregation the experiences of his son Colton (Connor Corum) there is an uproar and negative reaction.  The film is a story of the Burpo family’s journey through near-tragedy, social scorn, to the community’s love and admiration.

Part of the viewer’s investment in this film will be whether he or she does believe that heaven is, in fact, for real.  I suppose not many atheists would go to a film with such a title as this, so the majority of audience members will be in the category of “believer”.  There is a strong Christian message behind this film and it will appeal to that sort of viewer.

The success of this film is dependent on the performance of its principle cast members, mainly Colton (Corum) the young boy who as the vision of the afterlife.  I think it is a success in this regard.  The young actor is cute but not in a way that detracts from the enjoyment level of the movie.  He is believable and sympathetic and is well cast.  Greg Kinnear does a fine job as well as the man who has doubts about his son’s experience but gradually grows to believe and accept his story.

There is not a lot of depth to this film, however.  It is a relatively straightforward retelling of a real-life experience.  It is short on style and flash but it will appeal to viewers who are looking for a heart-warming, family story of a world that is scientifically unexplainable but is believed in by a large majority of North Americans.  It won’t garner any nominations and will probably be forgotten in a few months but will appeal to a lot of people.