A short break from work for Christmas and New Year gave us the opportunity to get out and see some of the slew of customary holiday blockbusters. And, because we feel entitled to offer our opinions on film as well as music, here you go - our thoughts on Les Misérables, Wreck-it Ralph and The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey!
Les Misérables
I haven’t seen a lot of movies at the cinema recently, so two in a week is pretty exciting. I guess you could call me ‘Mr Hollywood Blockbuster’. Go on… I reckon that would be fine.
I hadn’t seen ‘Les Mis’ in any of its forms before, And, much to the surprise of many of my friends and family, had not recognised ‘I dreamed a dream’ despite being a bit of a musical theatre fan. However, I loved this adaptation, I thought the performances – both vocal and acting – were superb, the film well shot, and the musical so powerful… how have I never seen this before?! A musical with very little spoken dialogue, the musical theme from ‘I dreamed a dream’ is woven into so many sections of the film’s score, and the whole thing is so well thought out that while you can pinpoint songs, it feels so natural that the music flows as one consistent piece, with musical and lyrical themes flowing from one movement to the next.
It’s hard to pick a standout performance, as the ensemble worked so well, but Anne Hathaway’s painful descent, Amanda Seyfried’s Mariah-esque high notes, Hugh Jackman’s transformations and Samantha Barks’ portrayal of unrequited love were played with such power and emotion that you believe them as you would seeing them in a stage musical. Therein lays the game changer with this film – authenticity. In case you didn’t know, unlike others where actors mime to a pre recorded soundtrack, this musical saw the actors singing live and being recorded on set while performing. This allowed a single performance where emotion in the voice, realistic vocal inflections and facial expressions could be executed like a stage production. This required that the actors step up and refine their performance as a single package. The actors even set the tempo of the music, with a live piano player, playing along to the actor’s cues through an ear piece. This is why I find Glee a little uncomfortable. With the technology we now have to get quality recording with hidden microphones, why do shows like Glee feel like karaoke? Sure, you’ve gotta sell singles, but give me a studio version, and a filmed version that feels a little more integrated into the action. Good job, ‘Les Mis’ – now take it and run with it, Hollywood
ALSO: worth a watch for Sacha Baron Cohen and Helena Bonham Carter alone.
MOOSE
Wreck-it Ralph
This is the film I was most looking forward to seeing this summer, and it did not disappoint. Ms Moose and I took two under tens who were glued to the screen, but it definitely wasn’t just for kids. Essentially, it’s a film about wanting to fit in. Fictional 1980s 8-bit video game villain Ralph, is under appreciated by the other characters in his game and feels that being a ‘bad guy’ doesn’t actually mean you’re a bad guy, so he leaves to find appreciation elsewhere. This leads him through several other game worlds you may be familiar with, and to the world of candy racing game 'Sugar Rush', and a hidden world of corruption in need of a hero.
Disney are taking cues from Pixar these days, and spending much more time on heart and character development. Pixar still have the edge, in terms of animation and story, but films like Wreck it Ralph have been leading Disney’s animation division out of straight to video territory for a few years now. This shows through this film’s stunning colour, animation and style, and the story, which never panders to the kids but feels universally relatable.
The thing that brings it all together however is the vocal performances. The film is jam packed with bankable names but never relies on their star power – John C. Riley is so believable as the underappreciated big guy just tryin’ to get a break, and Jack McBrayer and Jane Lynch put their respective schticks to good use. In my opinion though; Sarah Silverman as Vanellope is the star of this film. A ‘glitch’ and outcast of her game, much like Ralph, who just wants to race and be included. Silverman’s performance just makes you fall for this character, makes you laugh and breaks your heart beyond what the visual could have done alone.
In the end, it’s the little things that make a movie like this stand out amongst a slew of cash-in computer animation features, and it’s those great little moments that make up this film. It’s no Up or Wall E, but it’s certainly worth investing time in – especially those into arcade gaming, or feeling a little underappreciated at work.
MOOSE
The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey
This movie is something that I, as a bit of a Tolkien fanboy (which sits somewhere between someone who has read the books and someone who has their paramour’s name tattooed on their person in Elvish), have been waiting for for a long time. Finally, The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey is here… and it was worth the wait.
The performances of the (largely unrecognisable thanks to their costumes and various prosthetics) cast are perfect all round. Martin Freeman as the young Bilbo Baggins, Aidan Turner as Kíli, Richard Armitage as Thorin Oakenshield, Sir Ian McKellen as Gandalf and Andy Serkis as Gollum all excel. The scenery is astonishly beautiful (the film acts as the best tourism advertisement for New Zealand
As you would expect, however, the length is the root of many of the film’s main problems. Given over three hours and another two films to fill, director Peter Jackson is permitted to include a number of passages (taken from Tolkien’s extensive Appendices) which aren’t strictly necessary to telling the main story. Some – like the aforementioned dwarvish singing at Bag End and the Erebor flashback – hit the mark and flesh out the story. Others simply make the film feel overlong. A good 30-40 minutes could easily be cut (the scene showing Radagast the Brown healing an echidna, for example) and the film would remain cohesive and comprehensive. It’s almost as though the extended edition, normally saved for rabid fans to pick up on DVD, has come out in theatres. It may turn some viewers off, but the lush scenery and brilliant performances should (and are, judging from box office takings) save the day.
In the end, I thought the film was great. Its imperfections can be forgiven and the good bits are really good.
This one gets 4 out of 5 preciouses.
SCHNITZEL
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