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Notes on Underworld: Evolution, Kiss Kiss Bang Bang, Narnia, King Kong, Bee Season 1/22/2006 1:21:51 AM
Capsule reviews of recent movies that set out principles of storytelling. Underworld Evolution
posted 1/21/2006
The first movie in this series took about 90 minutes to introduce its story, about loyalty. Which meant the actors mostly had nothing to do except pose and look like they were actually in The Matrix. But, it did seem that the first film would at least set up a story for the second film. Except there's even less of a story in this film. There's a faint jab toward one character trying to resist feeding on ordinary humans; there's another faint jab toward the concept of loyalty. Mostly there's blood and carnage, blood and carnage; and then the movie ends with a voice over that suggests the purpose of the second film was, like the first, an extended trailer/backstory to set up a real story in the third film.
Even more unfortunate, the main characters in this film get overshadowed by the characters who are acting to shape the course and outcome of the story.
The film is yet again another example that special effects won't save a film with a weak story structure. It's hard to feel involved with the characters or what's happening; it's even hard to follow what's happening at times.
Kiss Kiss Bang Bang
posted 1/18/2006
This is a witty, engaging take-off on film noirs, while actually working as a film noir. A criminal in New York finds himself sent to Los Angeles to star in a film, but first he must take lessons in being a private investigator. When he gets involved in a murder mystery, his personal life and his New York baggage combine with his attempts to be a private investigator in his new life in Los Angeles to create a complex, convoluted mystery.
The film should be a real pleasure for people who enjoy the unconventional. Robert Downey Jr. and Val Kilmer play off each other with cheeky charm and wit.
Christmas in the Clouds
posted 1/1/2006
This is a sweet-natured comedy about a resort in Colorado owned and managed by American Indians. The complications include mistaken identity and a missing, colorful mouse. Most of the cast are Indians, and it's interesting to watch Native-Americans play characters with issues to resolve and deal with.
King Kong
posted 12/28/2006
There is much greatness in the 2nd and 3rd hours of this film, which is a remake of the original film. At the heart of the story is the relationship between Kong and a young actress, played by Naomi Watts. The camera-work and effects are amazing. What undermines the great work is that the producer in the story is played as a buffoon. Buffoons carry no dramatic weight. So the film ends up with three tones, an unrealistic tone for the buffoon, a realistic tone for the main characters, and a hyper-realistic tone for the crew on the boat and the natives on Skull Island.
Buffoons in stories lack dramatic weight because they generally live in a self-contained universe unaffected by what's happening around them. Carl Denhem keeps offering to have all the movie's profits go to the most recently killed member of the film crew, but it's a joke that isn't funny. There is a moment toward the end of the film that suggests Carl has broken through his persona to some moment of human feeling, but he immediately turns his back on that.
The film is strongest when it focuses on the growing relationship between Ann and Kong.
The Chronicles of Narnia
posted 12/14/2005
This film and story is often compared to The Lord of the Rings, but in terms of being a film story I thought the better comparison is to the first Harry Potter film. The Potter film was like a coffee table edition of the book; scenes introduced characters and environments. It was only two hours into the film that real narrative tension happened, when Harry had to choose between doing what was right or siding with evil to be able to see his parents in a magic mirror.
I've never read Narnia, but watching the movie I felt like I was being introduced to all the significant characters and situations, except there was no narrative tension for most of the film. The children did act out and resolve their personal issues, but I never felt connected to either side in the war, and, other than being told the wicked witch did wicked things like abolish Christmas and punish her enemies, I never saw the same kind of battle between good and evil that the film of The Lord of the Rings developed.
People who have read Narnia were probably better able to fill in the blanks. I did enjoy the movie and its spectacle, just never found it compelling.
I did wonder who all the cute talking animals ate for dinner.
Good Night, and Good Luck
posted 12/14/2005
This is a thoughtful and intelligent film about Edward R. Murrow taking on Senator McCarthy during the time when fear of communism created an opportunity for demagogues. The decision to confront McCarthy at the height of his power sets up a plot question about what the outcome will be. The story ends on a subtle note, with Murrow's show undone because such a serious program cannot justify its ratings at a time when quiz and variety shows were much cheaper to produce and reached a larger audience.
Bee Season
posted 11/19/2005
This is a quiet, thoughtful film about a young girl and her family. When she begins to win spelling bees, her father, a college professor who teaches the Kabala, becomes aware that words open her to mystic experiences. He becomes enthralled with teaching her. This shift in family dynamics (the father previously ignored the daughter in favor of a talented, older son) unravels the family. An event that shifts family dynamics is one way to start a story, because the characters have to re-define themselves. That the characters in the film redefine themselves to extremes, in terms of storytelling, will either be considered thought-provoking or illogical.
The film will work better for people with an understanding of spiritual experiences (how the son's choices connect to what his younger sister is doing).
This film does not have a pacing typical of Hollywood films, or even some art films. By starting the story with what appears to be a 'perfect' family, the plot takes a while to begin driving the action.
