Weekly Review -- Retroactive future

Premonition (2007) -- This intense drama revolves around the concepts of destiny and love, and is quite a trip. Literally. Housewife Linda Hanson (Sandra Bullock) finds out that her husband Jim (Julian McMahon) has died in a car accident; however, when she wakes up the next day, he is alive. The very next day, he is dead once again, and Linda starts worrying that she is losing her grip on reality... if only she could figure out what reality is. The story is philosophical and mostly gloomy, with moody shots and music setting the ambiance. The claustrophobic confusion of Linda's world is presented in a pessimistic manner, with almost labyrinthine pathways taking the story from one point to the next. Therein lies the problem, though -- instead of realizing what is going on, the audience is often just as confused as the protagonist. We do not really keep discovering things along with Linda, as much as we are hoping that the situation will soon be clarified. Some unnecessary parts, like the asylum scene, do not help the story. I did not see the point of this particular sequence at all; it felt completely out of context.

**HUGE SPOILERS AHEAD (please highlight to read)**

Another problem are some plot holes. The main one for me is found in one of the final scenes, when Linda asks Jim to turn the car around, after he pulls over on the highway where he is supposed to die. I understand that she is terrified of him dying; however, I do not see why she would ask him to turn the car, being that he is out of harm's way at this juncture. I know that the event is trying to illustrate the film's message concerning our inability to change fate, but this was simply an illogical development.

As far as the ending goes, I liked it a lot and thought it to be appropriate. It was an unconventional and optimistic hint at the future. In another film, it may have seemed like the filmmakers' attempt at being preachy and politically correct, but I thought it fit in with Linda's constant inner struggles and fight for her family.

**END OF SPOILERS**

Bullock does a great job as Linda. Her scenes with the children are heartbreaking and her character's determination is a matter of life and death. She is a very good dramatic actress and I hope she gets many more chances to show it. McMahon does not have much to work with, but does all right as the perplexed husband.

Premonition will surely make you think twice about the meaning of life, hope and faith, while also offering up quite a bit of suspense. It is not a perfect film -- some parts could have been more detailed and less disorienting -- but its premise is creative enough to warrant a viewing and a discussion.

8/10

Weekly Review -- Real life on film

World Trade Center (2006) -- One of the tragic historical milestones of the new millennium, September 11, 2001 has re-routed the course of our world as we know it. This Oliver Stone film does not focus on its global impact, though, choosing instead to explore the microcosm of these events' influence on two everyday families. John McLoughlin (Nicolas Cage) and William Jimeno (Michael Peña) are members of New York City's Port Authority Police Department rescue team, sent to help after a plane hits one of the towers. After the buildings collapse, their team gets trapped in the rubble, not knowing if and when they themselves will be saved. While their families agonize over the men's fate, we follow the community's reactions to the tragedy, as well as the efforts of another team dispatched to rescue the two officers. The film's opening is expertly made, capturing the stark contrast between yet another workday morning and the terrorist attack that transformed the world. Stone also successfully depicts the initial confusion felt everywhere when the first plane hit -- not knowing what type of plane it was, if the event was an accident, if there was only one plane etc. The claustrophobia that McLoughlin and Jimeno experienced during what must have been the longest day of their lives is tensely palpable, making us realize their despair, but also their unshakable faith. Cage brings to life the roller coaster of emotions that McLoughlin is going through, while Peña's portrayal of the youthfully optimistic Jimeno is honest and touching. Maria Bello and Maggie Gyllenhaal also give strong performances as, respectably, McLoughlin's wife Donna and Jimeno's wife Allison. Gyllenhaal's character's breakdown at the situation's uncertainty is particularly heartbreaking to watch. I liked the inclusion of other characters -- as much as I would hate to name these people 'characters', I have to do so for the sake of the cinematic context -- and the impact that the events have had on their actions and choices. Overall, the film is an intimate work, treating with respect the events of this infamous day, as well as the human solidarity and altruism that rises from the ashes.

9/10

Weekly Review -- Unpretty urbania

Harsh Times (2005) -- A gritty view of the Los Angeles underbelly through the eyes of two very different, but equally lost men, this David Ayer film serves to remind us just how precious life is and how many choices we have to make every day. Two longtime friends, job-seeking Mike Alonzo (Freddy Rodríguez) and ex-Army ranger Jim Davis (Christian Bale), raise hell around South Central Los Angeles instead of trying to better their lives. While Mike's passivity is due to his (too) laid-back nature, the reasons behind Jim's behavior are much more complex. Traumatized by the first Gulf War and capable of breaking down at any point, Jim is unable to move on with life at a normal pace. He attempts to join law enforcement, while trying to figure out a way to bring his Mexican girlfriend Marta (Tammy Trull) to the States. However, he also turns to petty and not-so-petty crime in order to survive, thereby putting Mike's life in danger more than once. Throughout the film, we are witness to these two young men heading into oblivion. Bale's performance as Jim is devastating. The character is so conflicted and his view of life so skewered, that one wonders how he is able to function at all, and Bale brings his inner battles to life with precision. He elicits at once our anger at society for creating a monster and our sympathy for the lost soul. Rodríguez is impressive as Mike, who can only do so much to help his friend, but who also realizes he has his own confusion to deal with. Trull is fantastic as Marta; her scene in the car is heartbreaking and opens up a new door to what this woman is going through. Occasionally, the film suffers from slow pacing and trying to resolve too many issues in a short timespan. Still, the well defined relationship between the main characters and their emotionally charged choices and doubts override the small flaws, and make Harsh Times an effective, human drama.

8/10

Weekly Review -- Rehash cinema

Open Water 2: Adrift (2006) -- Why did I rent Open Water 2? Frankly, I wanted to see just how this unnecessary sequel would work. It attempts to cash in on the success of the 2004 movie, but also offers a watchable story. A group of friends, including playboy Dan (Eric Dane), aqua-phobic Amy (Susan May Pratt) and her husband James (Richard Speight Jr.) reunite to go yachting. After a stupid mistake, they all end up in the water without a rope to climb back up onto the boat. As time passes, they try to devise a plan, but the circumstances are slowly turning them against one another... The main problem I had with this movie was the lack of psychological tension that the original had in spades. While Open Water felt like a voyeuristic odyssey into an impossible calamity, the sequel gives the impression of trying to imitate a documentary. Its style is too glossy and not half as realistic as Chris Kentis' techniques. Another thing I did not care for were certain characters' ridiculous decisions; I found myself yelling at the TV more than a few times. I also thought that using the 'based on true events' monicker was a bit on the tacky side, since the story of Tom and Eileen Lonergan's dissapearance was the basis for the original and this movie had nothing to do with that story, plot wise or character wise. Finally, I cannot believe that one of the movie's taglines is "In the water no one can hear you scream"; the makers of Alien should consider suing. The plot is not a disaster, since it offers relatable characters and mostly human reactions to one of the worst case scenarios. Still, this is merely the same game with more players, and its few good moments pale in comparison to the truly tense original film.

4/10

Weekly Review -- All hail the beautiful, the unexplainable and the misunderstood

Little Miss Sunshine (2006) -- The most charming film of 2006, this film is everything you have heard about it and more. The Hoover family, including frazzled mother Sheryl (Toni Collette), failed motivational speaker father Richard (Greg Kinnear), porn-obsessed grandfather (Alan Arkin) and suicidal uncle Frank (Steve Carell), set off on a road trip in order to enter Sheryl and Richard's daughter Olive (Abigail Breslin) into the Little Miss Sunshine beauty pageant. Along the way, they bump into every obstacle imaginable, while realizing just how much the happiness of their family depends on their own dysfunctions. Michael Arndt's screenplay is bitingly sharp, playing with stereotypes and staples of American pop culture and beauty obsession. The acting is spontaneous, evoking the kind of realism only seen in documentaries. I thought of Kinnear and Breslin as stand-outs, although Arkin and Carell are equally impressive. The writing is the film's highlight, though, creating a commentary not just on our society's concept of beauty, but also on the meaning of family in our hectic world. Little Miss Sunshine is a sweet and smart story, with honest performances and screenplay, and with a timeless message.

10/10


The Return (2006) -- A pleasant surprise if ever there was one, this film from director Asif Kapadia is an atmospheric piece that creates chills using its gloomy atmosphere and innovative filmmaking techniques. In a time when a movie like Saw is getting a fourth installment, it is no wonder that The Return did not fare well. The film is a subtle horror film with a few other elements added for good measure. Successful car sales representative Joanna Mills (Sarah Michelle Gellar) is having visions and nightmares that seem to be connected with a murder which took place 15 years earlier. She decides to investigate further and her search takes her to small-town Texas... The Return is one of those films where the less you know, the more you will enjoy it. The story is original and I loved the use of the flashback sequences. Gellar is a good choice for the role of Joanna; the character is tough, yet very vulnerable and unsure of herself, masking her insecurities with a calm and collected facade. Some negative aspects include the underdeveloped relationship between Joanna and her father -- we are not exactly sure why they became estranged -- as well as a very slow beginning, which does not seem to know in which direction the film is going. Still, the story gets on track after about 20 minutes, at which point it starts throwing curveballs at the audience. This is a skillfully made and well thought out film. Please let it surprise you. You will be glad that you did.

7/10


Lady in the Water (2006) -- One of the most (unfairly) maligned films of 2006, this M. Night Shyamalan offering is a fantasy for adults. Lonely apartment manager Cleveland Heep (Paul Giamatti) saves the life of a mythical being named Story (Bryce Dallas Howard). She is a water nymph, who has come to our world with a purpose, but who is being chased by monsters from her world. The tenants, usually inhabiting worlds of their own, now need to band together and help Story with her task. One of the best things about this film are the characterizations of the tenants. I appreciated the variety of the oddball characters, as well as Heep's character representing an anchor of sorts. Giamatti is genuinely sympathetic as Heep. His scenes with Howard's character are touching, revealing his nature layer by layer. Howard herself is truly otherworldly as Story; her ethereal appearance is perfect for the character. Bob Balaban is pompously appealing as Mr. Farmer; his monologue on plotline and character clichés is strangely funny and disturbing all at once. Cindy Cheung's Young-Soon Choi is a clever and hilarious character; the dentist line had me in stitches. Some negative aspects of the film are the preachy and long-winded parts of the screenplay, which occasionally make the film seem self-involved. I was, however, too absorbed in the mystery to pay much attention to its shortfalls. The film is a fairytale about faith, grief, magic and salvation. It shows that anything is possible and that random, delightful events can occur even in the most mundane of lives.

8/10