Rise and fall of celebrities always come with so many theories related to their relationship, wealth and lastly their health.
In are daily basis, we see celebrities become successful in a heartbeat, perhaps thanks to technologies. Social media is able to create an aura of fame in people who just do something mildly meaningful for the rest of the world, but still consider important from large group of people who make fame based on controversial actions not for the sake of art.
In the 1940’s a infamous singer became famous, no for been a good singer, but for beed a terrible one. That’s the story of Florence Foster Jenkins. An amateur soprano and american socialite was able to cross the NY elite and been coach by the most famous people in the music industry.
Stephen Frears directs Meryl Streep playing the main role, supported by Hugh Grant and Simon Helberg.
The film explores her life and dreams to become the famous singer, as well her pivot performance at the Carnegie Hall.
The film is fun and is another great performance to Mr Streep, but also is a great acting achievement for Mr Grant and Mr Helberg. The film is is not a over the top exploration of society but representation of the constant facade of wealth in NYC from the 40’s
The film explore how powerful people can diminish your aspirations, not matter your social background, but ability to inspire others and succeed.
Friday, August 26, 2016
The term rom com is the abbreviation of Romatic comedy film. The terms refers to movies with a aromatic ideals with humorous plot-lines and lighthearted content. Apparently “Girl Shy” (1924) is consider the first one on this genre.
Thought the years so many movies are been made and new subplots been created. USA and UK are the countries producing most of these films, sharing success and failures. The genre drive women and men to the movie theaters with the promise of make them laugh and cry. But the big mystery lives on, what makes this movies so important, who is a good actor for this kind of role?
“Me Before You” is the film adaptation of the famous book written by Jojo Moyes. it tells the story of Louise Clarke (Emilia Clarke) a young girl who lives with her family in a small town outside London. She just been laid off from her job in a coffee shop. After a intensive job searching she is offered to work as a caregiver for Will Traynor (Sam Claflin) a successful banker who had been paralyzed by a motorcycle accident.
Will vision of life is sad and depressing and Louise personality is silly, bright and happy. For her everything is pleasant, she always smile and dress very colorful dresses. At the very begging for Louise is hard to connect with Will, but thanks to a film Louise discover a different world with him.
This romcom presents the most important aspect of the genre. Comedy, colorful characters and conflict. Emilia Clarke performance is good and seems that she fits perfectly for this kind of role, perhaps better than playing Sarah Connors in Terminator Genisys, for Sam Claflin his performance is pretty flat, his not very expressive and seems that his role wasn’t as demanding.
Overall “Me Before You” is film that do what it does right, tale a love story, but is forgettable.
Thought the years so many movies are been made and new subplots been created. USA and UK are the countries producing most of these films, sharing success and failures. The genre drive women and men to the movie theaters with the promise of make them laugh and cry. But the big mystery lives on, what makes this movies so important, who is a good actor for this kind of role?
“Me Before You” is the film adaptation of the famous book written by Jojo Moyes. it tells the story of Louise Clarke (Emilia Clarke) a young girl who lives with her family in a small town outside London. She just been laid off from her job in a coffee shop. After a intensive job searching she is offered to work as a caregiver for Will Traynor (Sam Claflin) a successful banker who had been paralyzed by a motorcycle accident.
Will vision of life is sad and depressing and Louise personality is silly, bright and happy. For her everything is pleasant, she always smile and dress very colorful dresses. At the very begging for Louise is hard to connect with Will, but thanks to a film Louise discover a different world with him.
This romcom presents the most important aspect of the genre. Comedy, colorful characters and conflict. Emilia Clarke performance is good and seems that she fits perfectly for this kind of role, perhaps better than playing Sarah Connors in Terminator Genisys, for Sam Claflin his performance is pretty flat, his not very expressive and seems that his role wasn’t as demanding.
Overall “Me Before You” is film that do what it does right, tale a love story, but is forgettable.
Monday, July 25, 2016
Hollywood devotion for patriotism on film have brought us great films exploring the lives of heroes who protect the liberties of Americans. Movies such as The Hurt Locker, Black Hawk Down, Lone Survivor presents a powerful stories where soldiers have a basic task, which is protect civilians and stop the enemy.
In Michael Bay’s 13 Hours: The Secret Soldiers of Bengazi he tales the tale of the attack in 2012 of the US embassy in Benghazi Libya. The city is named one of the most dangerous cities in the world, but still the center of operations of for CIA and the US government on Libya’s soil. The arrival of Navy seal Jack Silva (John Krasinski) brings two friends together Silva and James Badge Dale (Tyrone Woods), along with the rest of the marines are there for the protection of the ambassador in a non so secure compound where the operations takes place. At the same time a private military contractors are protecting “The Annex” a not-so-secret CIA outpost a team of private contractors.
The film focus on a single point of view of the story, but is not focusing of understand what really happen on this attack. Michael Bay do what he does best, deliver action and energetic scenes of conflict were the only common element is entertain.
When you first start watching this movie you noticed that the characters are weak, there is no real connection with the audience and the intention of critiquing the controversial events parallel to the attack were the US government failure to support their forces in Benghazi is just a glimpse of a few seconds scene.
The film intend to be like other more powerful films like Black Hawk Down and Lone Survivor but fail miserably but just presenting a action film with a sad turn of events. Biopic films require not only require good cinematography, good camera work, energetic editing but a good researched script.
In Michael Bay’s 13 Hours: The Secret Soldiers of Bengazi he tales the tale of the attack in 2012 of the US embassy in Benghazi Libya. The city is named one of the most dangerous cities in the world, but still the center of operations of for CIA and the US government on Libya’s soil. The arrival of Navy seal Jack Silva (John Krasinski) brings two friends together Silva and James Badge Dale (Tyrone Woods), along with the rest of the marines are there for the protection of the ambassador in a non so secure compound where the operations takes place. At the same time a private military contractors are protecting “The Annex” a not-so-secret CIA outpost a team of private contractors.
The film focus on a single point of view of the story, but is not focusing of understand what really happen on this attack. Michael Bay do what he does best, deliver action and energetic scenes of conflict were the only common element is entertain.
When you first start watching this movie you noticed that the characters are weak, there is no real connection with the audience and the intention of critiquing the controversial events parallel to the attack were the US government failure to support their forces in Benghazi is just a glimpse of a few seconds scene.
The film intend to be like other more powerful films like Black Hawk Down and Lone Survivor but fail miserably but just presenting a action film with a sad turn of events. Biopic films require not only require good cinematography, good camera work, energetic editing but a good researched script.
In the last sixty years DC comics is been presenting stories of several superheroes but the most iconic of are Batman and Superman. Visual and metaporic expressions of America, on one side heroism caring the the human kind and the other the law by all means.
Batman vs Superman: The Dawn of Justice by Zack Snyder is the new exploration of the stories that the filmmaker Zack Snyder left after the events of The Man of Steel. The film starts eighteen months after the climatic battle between General Zod and Superman (Henry Cavill) that nearly destroyed Metropolis, and led to dramatic ramifications in the life of several people, including Bruce Wayne (Ben Affleck) an image America devastated by the destruction of NYC in the attacks of 9/11.
Clark Kent is now living with Lois Lane (Amy Adams) and she is one of the most successful journalist of the Daily Planet. Bruce Way is not longer living in Wayne Mansion but perhaps living in a most stylized house, paying tribute to Phillip Johnson “Glass House” still Alfred Pennyworth (Jeremy Irons) take care of him as well is his substitute to Robin, besides a butler he make sure that Batman equipment runs pristine, a more badass Alfred.
The story of Batman vs Superman explore the conflict of this two powerful and conflicted super heroes, metaphors surround the plot presenting these characters as gods, but with fears and weakness on the inside, the big establishment want them out of the picture, questioning their methods to solve crimes and protect the liberty of human beings. As an audience you feel that government cannot longer protects you, because constantly are trying to stop alternate forms of protection to citizen of Gotham and Metropolis. An illegal alien like Superman is perhaps the cause of the unprotected immigrants, great and iconic image where he saves a few people in a factory and later is surrounded by a group of latinos with painted faces like in the Day of the Death, but also Superman is affected by plots against him, perfectly articulated by people connected to big corporations and the government with the idea of shut him down. Superman is a threat to the country, but also a blessing for the people.
For Batman is the same problem, is juror and executioner. Police is afraid of him, because he represents the law. In a way there is a connection of the recent events involve cops and protest agains them. Batman is not an alien, but his image represents fear, control and lawless. He is no longer the superhero that everyone wants, he is the medicine for a chaotic Metropolis, similar to Detroit.
One of the biggest metaphor is Lex Luthor, a powerful millionaire who inherit his fortune thanks to his dad, he is a force of evilness who is able to drive Batman and superman into a climatic battle. He is bad mouth, egocentric and ignorant but ambitious, perhaps his similarities with certain real life politician is not far from the truth.
What lacks Batman vs Superman: The Dawn of Justice is the proper screenplay, the film have an interesting plot that brings all this stories together but the problem is trying to make this movie the device launch for a franchise that was never intended to make. The film get to the point that doesn’t make sense and falls terribly in the arms of impactful visual imagery to fill the void of a real plot development, some solutions to conflicts in the story are solved in a very elementary way.
If you watch Batman vs Superman: The Dawn of Justice the Ultimate Edition, you understand some of the confusing moments from the shorter version making a more complete explanation, but it will never erase the level of problems that this film have. The studio wanted to introduce all the characters of Justice League, but they never intended to fix the story of Batman vs Superman, a tribute that they deserve.
Batman vs Superman: The Dawn of Justice by Zack Snyder is the new exploration of the stories that the filmmaker Zack Snyder left after the events of The Man of Steel. The film starts eighteen months after the climatic battle between General Zod and Superman (Henry Cavill) that nearly destroyed Metropolis, and led to dramatic ramifications in the life of several people, including Bruce Wayne (Ben Affleck) an image America devastated by the destruction of NYC in the attacks of 9/11.
Clark Kent is now living with Lois Lane (Amy Adams) and she is one of the most successful journalist of the Daily Planet. Bruce Way is not longer living in Wayne Mansion but perhaps living in a most stylized house, paying tribute to Phillip Johnson “Glass House” still Alfred Pennyworth (Jeremy Irons) take care of him as well is his substitute to Robin, besides a butler he make sure that Batman equipment runs pristine, a more badass Alfred.
The story of Batman vs Superman explore the conflict of this two powerful and conflicted super heroes, metaphors surround the plot presenting these characters as gods, but with fears and weakness on the inside, the big establishment want them out of the picture, questioning their methods to solve crimes and protect the liberty of human beings. As an audience you feel that government cannot longer protects you, because constantly are trying to stop alternate forms of protection to citizen of Gotham and Metropolis. An illegal alien like Superman is perhaps the cause of the unprotected immigrants, great and iconic image where he saves a few people in a factory and later is surrounded by a group of latinos with painted faces like in the Day of the Death, but also Superman is affected by plots against him, perfectly articulated by people connected to big corporations and the government with the idea of shut him down. Superman is a threat to the country, but also a blessing for the people.
For Batman is the same problem, is juror and executioner. Police is afraid of him, because he represents the law. In a way there is a connection of the recent events involve cops and protest agains them. Batman is not an alien, but his image represents fear, control and lawless. He is no longer the superhero that everyone wants, he is the medicine for a chaotic Metropolis, similar to Detroit.
One of the biggest metaphor is Lex Luthor, a powerful millionaire who inherit his fortune thanks to his dad, he is a force of evilness who is able to drive Batman and superman into a climatic battle. He is bad mouth, egocentric and ignorant but ambitious, perhaps his similarities with certain real life politician is not far from the truth.
What lacks Batman vs Superman: The Dawn of Justice is the proper screenplay, the film have an interesting plot that brings all this stories together but the problem is trying to make this movie the device launch for a franchise that was never intended to make. The film get to the point that doesn’t make sense and falls terribly in the arms of impactful visual imagery to fill the void of a real plot development, some solutions to conflicts in the story are solved in a very elementary way.
If you watch Batman vs Superman: The Dawn of Justice the Ultimate Edition, you understand some of the confusing moments from the shorter version making a more complete explanation, but it will never erase the level of problems that this film have. The studio wanted to introduce all the characters of Justice League, but they never intended to fix the story of Batman vs Superman, a tribute that they deserve.
Hollywood is always been obsessed with the idea of remaking, repackage and reinterpret a film. Histories that been told by a filmmaker been reimagine by other filmmaker with the intention of make money and appeal to new generations. The experiment have worked and sometimes fail miserable creating a vortex of forgettable products. Films such as “Havana” a remake or reinterpretation of “Casablanca”, “Oldboy” adaptation of a successful Korean film, “Criminal” a american version of a popular Argentinean film is part of a long list but also there are remakes which includes “Planet of The Apes”, “Conan The Barbarian” to name a few represents that collection of films that none wants to remember. But on the other hand, filmmakers like Martin Scorsese have been successful remaking “Cape Fear” and also reinterpret the Chinese film “Internal Affairs” into “The Departed”.
The concept of telling stories is to express emotions empowering people making them dream, the audience wants that. It’s hard to remake and reinterpret a old film and make it successful, but attempts keep going.
Paul Feig decided to step in and reinterpret “Ghostbuster” with a female cast proving that is possible, only if you’re able to get a good cast and also develop a good story that perhaps is not going to make forget the classic film from 1984, but help you understand that we are ready for a new generation of this ghost chasers.
Dr Erin Gillbert (Kristen Wiig) physics professor of Columbia university is been approach by the grandson Ed Mulgrave (Ed Begley) of the owner of a mansion that seems to be hunted. She seems skeptical, because her early days she was involved in publication of a book that she and her co author Abby Yates (Melissa McCarthy) about the study of the paranormal, Erin wants this book to be buried. But later she discovered that the book still available after Abby keep selling it as a source of money. Erin find that Abby continues her studies for the paranormal along with Dr Killian Holtzman (Kate McKinnon) where they developing technologies to find and catch ghost. Erin seems to be interested in going back to that field after all of them have a real encounter in a hunted Mulgrave mansion.
The real treat of this new Ghostbusters is the new cast which is presented with great chemistry in addition of Leslie Jones who is a scene stealer every time she appears. The script wrote by Paul Feig and Katie Depplod quickly gather this four women and Chris Hemsworth as their secretary into a down and dirty ghost chase and energetic encounter with the unknown as well the main villain of the film.
Paul Feig plays with NYC geography which for a real Newyorker like me bothers me a lot, you know where things are in NY but after you see the films annoys you. His approach to the Ghostbusters is fast, which is the same problem that you see in other reboots of films, you never take the time to breathe, everything needs to be so quick. Seen the partial original cast as a cameo is fantastic and that feeds the frenzy of longtime fans.
But unfortunately there is things that cannot be replace, Fall Out Boy song will never reach the level of Ray Parker Jr Ghostbusters, as well the visual tone developed by Ivan Reitman of the original film is not there, this new Ghostbusters is colorful, less scary, but very funny.
The concept of telling stories is to express emotions empowering people making them dream, the audience wants that. It’s hard to remake and reinterpret a old film and make it successful, but attempts keep going.
Paul Feig decided to step in and reinterpret “Ghostbuster” with a female cast proving that is possible, only if you’re able to get a good cast and also develop a good story that perhaps is not going to make forget the classic film from 1984, but help you understand that we are ready for a new generation of this ghost chasers.
Dr Erin Gillbert (Kristen Wiig) physics professor of Columbia university is been approach by the grandson Ed Mulgrave (Ed Begley) of the owner of a mansion that seems to be hunted. She seems skeptical, because her early days she was involved in publication of a book that she and her co author Abby Yates (Melissa McCarthy) about the study of the paranormal, Erin wants this book to be buried. But later she discovered that the book still available after Abby keep selling it as a source of money. Erin find that Abby continues her studies for the paranormal along with Dr Killian Holtzman (Kate McKinnon) where they developing technologies to find and catch ghost. Erin seems to be interested in going back to that field after all of them have a real encounter in a hunted Mulgrave mansion.
The real treat of this new Ghostbusters is the new cast which is presented with great chemistry in addition of Leslie Jones who is a scene stealer every time she appears. The script wrote by Paul Feig and Katie Depplod quickly gather this four women and Chris Hemsworth as their secretary into a down and dirty ghost chase and energetic encounter with the unknown as well the main villain of the film.
Paul Feig plays with NYC geography which for a real Newyorker like me bothers me a lot, you know where things are in NY but after you see the films annoys you. His approach to the Ghostbusters is fast, which is the same problem that you see in other reboots of films, you never take the time to breathe, everything needs to be so quick. Seen the partial original cast as a cameo is fantastic and that feeds the frenzy of longtime fans.
But unfortunately there is things that cannot be replace, Fall Out Boy song will never reach the level of Ray Parker Jr Ghostbusters, as well the visual tone developed by Ivan Reitman of the original film is not there, this new Ghostbusters is colorful, less scary, but very funny.
Monday, June 13, 2016
In the near future advertising still looking for get the attention of consumer, using state of the art gimmicks. No matter the consequences of what the products do, company owners and advertisers have the need to engage in the general audience to get the products at any cost.
Creative Control is the film directed by Benjamin Dickinson, tells the story of David (Benjamin Dickinson) a creative director of a prestigious ad agency, with the responsibility to create a campaign to release a new pair glasses, in the same vibe as the google glass, but simpler. David is recommended to test the product in order to understand how to create a more effective promotion.
The new augmented reality technology allow the user to manage vast information of their surroundings, from voice recording and recognition, image capture personal data and eventually create vertical personas who interact with the user. David lives with Juliette (Nora Zehetner) a frustrated yoga instructor who left her job to find more mundane style of life. David and Juliette have a fine relationship, but David seems to be unsatisfied with her.
David’s best friend is Wim (Dan Gill) a director and art innovator who is in a relationship with Sophie (Alexia Rasmussen) who is a costumer and fashion designer. Secretly David is attracted to Sophie who turns into his virtual reality experiment after receiving his pair of Augmenta.
Director Dickinson explore several issues with society: technology dependency which have similarities to the film Her by Spike Jonze. The substitution or replacement of real persona by a new wave of avatars of virtual reality.
David’s character turn his obsession from love to sexual desires using Sophie’s digital footprint to a real 3 D character which David interact.
Other subjects explore on this film are advertising as a dying medium of constant repetition of old ideas in the new digital age, enhancing it with fake representations of reality. In a scene David and his creative team are working in a pharmaceutical product where is been shooting on stage, but later will be enhanced digitally. The scene represents the inability of the clients to understand how of visual piece is created and the agency to perform properly and deliver it.
Creative Control express the anger of some millennials against other generations like generation X who are wiser and richer, but seems to be ignorance about new technologies, this seems to be reflected in a conference room scene when David’s boss (Gavin Mclinne) is trying to use the new Augmenta glasses but he is unable until he is been help by David and finally figure out. He said to David: You are a fucking genius! and David replies: No, I’m not, I’m just younger than you…
Creative Control is a great sci fi film for the new digital ages and a great film for advertising people who wants to understand that in the near future, what matter is real ideas to sell products.
Creative Control is the film directed by Benjamin Dickinson, tells the story of David (Benjamin Dickinson) a creative director of a prestigious ad agency, with the responsibility to create a campaign to release a new pair glasses, in the same vibe as the google glass, but simpler. David is recommended to test the product in order to understand how to create a more effective promotion.
The new augmented reality technology allow the user to manage vast information of their surroundings, from voice recording and recognition, image capture personal data and eventually create vertical personas who interact with the user. David lives with Juliette (Nora Zehetner) a frustrated yoga instructor who left her job to find more mundane style of life. David and Juliette have a fine relationship, but David seems to be unsatisfied with her.
David’s best friend is Wim (Dan Gill) a director and art innovator who is in a relationship with Sophie (Alexia Rasmussen) who is a costumer and fashion designer. Secretly David is attracted to Sophie who turns into his virtual reality experiment after receiving his pair of Augmenta.
Director Dickinson explore several issues with society: technology dependency which have similarities to the film Her by Spike Jonze. The substitution or replacement of real persona by a new wave of avatars of virtual reality.
David’s character turn his obsession from love to sexual desires using Sophie’s digital footprint to a real 3 D character which David interact.
Other subjects explore on this film are advertising as a dying medium of constant repetition of old ideas in the new digital age, enhancing it with fake representations of reality. In a scene David and his creative team are working in a pharmaceutical product where is been shooting on stage, but later will be enhanced digitally. The scene represents the inability of the clients to understand how of visual piece is created and the agency to perform properly and deliver it.
Creative Control express the anger of some millennials against other generations like generation X who are wiser and richer, but seems to be ignorance about new technologies, this seems to be reflected in a conference room scene when David’s boss (Gavin Mclinne) is trying to use the new Augmenta glasses but he is unable until he is been help by David and finally figure out. He said to David: You are a fucking genius! and David replies: No, I’m not, I’m just younger than you…
Creative Control is a great sci fi film for the new digital ages and a great film for advertising people who wants to understand that in the near future, what matter is real ideas to sell products.
Wednesday, June 1, 2016
In the post modern future, society is confined into megastructures. These places gather different type of people. From wealthy to the poor, all group of people are practically forced to live in a symbiotic environment facing so many challenges. This concept is not new. In Snowpiercer society was forced to live in a train due a catastrophic climate experiment who cause the earth to freeze. Every train car contain every level of society.
“Where there is a state of capitalism, there can never be political freedom”
Margaret Tatcher
“High Rise” is the latest film directed by Ben Weathley and it tells the story of Dr Robert Laing (Tom Hiddleston) the new resident in a luxury high rise in London. This building offers the state of the art amenities (swimming pool, gym, spa, supermarket and even a primary school) which make it very appealing to everyone. This place is been praised by his architect Anthony Royal (Jeremy Irons) as the epitome of chic, modern living.
Laing lives in the 25th floor perhaps a metaphor of middle class society, floors above is the rich and famous tenants who despise the residents from levels down.
At this point director Ben Wathley set the foundation of a story of social clash between rich and poor. The audience sort understand that, by using visual nuances as well some line of dialogues who make the story flow. After some of the services in the building start failing residents from level down start creating chaos, claiming sabotage from the upper levels who still receiving the best services no matter the problems within the High Rise.
In certain way this film presents a metaphor of countries like Venezuela, Zimbabwe or Yemen where wealthy people (government) on higher levels enjoy luxurious life, even if the rest of the population are suffering from shortage on supplies as well living conditions. The perfect example is a scene where the residents are experiencing riots on the supermarket and Dr Robert Laing fight for a bucket paint who later use on his apartment wall. This is what it means when there is total desesperation and people fight for what ever resource is available, no matter if is really need it.
The big problem with “High Rise” is the film structure, sometimes I found the film confusing forcing me to give full attention and find meaning to everything what was happening, also the film lacks of connection with characters, this drawn me entirely from the experience. During those 2 hours I was trying to connect and I couldn’t because I didn’t know where most of this characters came from or going.
“Where there is a state of capitalism, there can never be political freedom”
Margaret Tatcher
“High Rise” is the latest film directed by Ben Weathley and it tells the story of Dr Robert Laing (Tom Hiddleston) the new resident in a luxury high rise in London. This building offers the state of the art amenities (swimming pool, gym, spa, supermarket and even a primary school) which make it very appealing to everyone. This place is been praised by his architect Anthony Royal (Jeremy Irons) as the epitome of chic, modern living.
Laing lives in the 25th floor perhaps a metaphor of middle class society, floors above is the rich and famous tenants who despise the residents from levels down.
At this point director Ben Wathley set the foundation of a story of social clash between rich and poor. The audience sort understand that, by using visual nuances as well some line of dialogues who make the story flow. After some of the services in the building start failing residents from level down start creating chaos, claiming sabotage from the upper levels who still receiving the best services no matter the problems within the High Rise.
In certain way this film presents a metaphor of countries like Venezuela, Zimbabwe or Yemen where wealthy people (government) on higher levels enjoy luxurious life, even if the rest of the population are suffering from shortage on supplies as well living conditions. The perfect example is a scene where the residents are experiencing riots on the supermarket and Dr Robert Laing fight for a bucket paint who later use on his apartment wall. This is what it means when there is total desesperation and people fight for what ever resource is available, no matter if is really need it.
The big problem with “High Rise” is the film structure, sometimes I found the film confusing forcing me to give full attention and find meaning to everything what was happening, also the film lacks of connection with characters, this drawn me entirely from the experience. During those 2 hours I was trying to connect and I couldn’t because I didn’t know where most of this characters came from or going.
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