Looper Throws Audience for a Loop

 Joseph Gordon Levitt (JGL) is everywhere you look in movies. In 2012 alone, he starred in Dark Knight Rises, Looper, Premium Rush and the just released Lincoln. He is a talented actor that showcases many different personas and characters. So when Looper came to TIFF, I really wanted to see it. Even though the director is relatively new, I trusted JGL. He is one of the few actors I trust to pick interesting scripts.  

Bruce Willis (BW) is also an actor who on occasion picks interesting scripts. Willis is known for his action but he also is very talented at showing love and vulnerability. His character can be seen as the villain yet he cannot be hated. Willis is genius in his portrayal. The audience is forced to empathize with his pain yet are torn about how they feel about his actions. 

 I was fascinated by duality of the character. Joe is both protagonist and antagonist, hero and villain. The movie showed how choices can define a person. One scene in particular stands out in mind - at the diner where both Joes converse. JGL Joe could not recognize BW Joe. He didn't seem to understand how he became the man in front of him and he doesn't want that future. It's an important scene that gives much insight to both versions of Joe. 

That scene also seems to show the infamous struggle between fate and free will. While the choices are shown to clearly define the character, when looking at the larger picture, there is a sense that there was someone behind the scenes pulling the strings. The fact that JGL Joe manages to gain the part of the map which contains the true rainmaker is more then just luck as his existence in the kid's life so early defines the boy for either evil (as BW Joe will believe) or good (as his mom believes). He is a pivotal existence for the boy in more ways then he can imagine. 

Despite the fact that there is time-travel, the movie's focus is not on the sci-fi portion. Instead, the director chooses to focus on the characters, which is why the actors' portrayals were so important. It can make or break the film. Luckily, the actors rise to the occasion. Looper is a brilliant hybrid of action and adventure, science fiction,romance and brilliant story overall. It appeals to the heart while it gets adrenaline pumping. There's also a moral hidden within the film that you just have to look for. Either way, it is a good movie to enjoy. 

Rating: 4/5

Perks for Seeing the Wallflower

I consider myself to be a wallflower. I always slipped under the radar during high school. So, The Perks of Being a Wallflower caught my eye. It was a movie that celebrates being a wallflower! So I had relatively high expectations for this movie. Especially, since this is Emma Watson's biggest role after the finish of the Harry Potter series.

But I didn't quite meet my expectations. Maybe because I truly celebrated and embraced being a wallflower. I had friends and I had social skills but I was never connected enough to be sucked in by the gossip and as such, I had a realistic view of my peers and life in general. That's one of the biggest differences between Charlie and I - besides his other issue that you will just have to watch/read to find out about. Charlie was almost desperate for friendship and had a desire to fit in somewhere.

Putting aside my own experiences as a wallflower, the movie was good. I don't know if it was a completely accurate portrayal of high school but there were still moments where I could relate. Despite all that I mentioned above, I still connected with Charlie. His introverted nature and his difficulty to interact socially with someone is something I think everyone goes through at one point or another. Logan Lerman did fantastic job showcasing a realistic Charlie. He was adorable, awkward, shy and vulnerable. It is a delicate balance as too little of one characteristic would have been plastic, while too much would have been annoying. He is a talented actor that I'm going to keep an eye out for.

Emma Watson is another actor that I have great respect for simply because of the way she handled coming out of the popular Harry Potter series. She could have easily been typecasted but she managed to avoid all problems by changing her looks, modeling and picked supporting roles for a while. She made us notice her as an actor and not just as Hermione Granger. She did a brilliant job as Sam - just enough spicy to be seen as the rebellious character. She's still was a little too sweet for me to 100% see her as Sam who seemed like she should have been a little more wild.

But my favourite character was Ezra Miller's Patrick. He embraced the identity of a misfit completely. He was bold. He didn't let his sexuality define him. It was just a part of the puzzle. He was hilarious to watch. His actions and dialogue brought laughs to the audience easily yet he was not comic relief. Patrick had many problems that he had trouble dealing with. He was beautifully vulnerable during these times.

Emma Watson described this movie best: "this is adolescence on crack". In the span of an hour and forty-five minutes, we experience the exploration of sexuality, various types of abuse, mental disorders, peer pressure, drugs, alcohol, the difficult transition of high school to college, bullying, the highs and lows of friendship, love and dating problems. I felt teenage angst, sadness, happiness, boredom and anger. It was a little exhausting to be honest.

This movie is good depending on your mood. But it has a little something for everyone, regardless of your age, gender or sexuality.

Rating: 3.5/5

Skyfall Meets Sky-high Expectations

After a four-year hiatus while MGM scrambled to find money, the twenty-third Bond film has hit theaters and blows the expectations away. Daniel Craig returned again as Bond and he is joined by an all-star team. Talented Sam Mendes directs what some consider to be the "best Bond yet". 

I loved it. What makes this Bond amazing is that it is also a wonderful movie. People who aren't Bond fans can go and enjoy this film without needing to know anything again.

That being said - it still rewards its dedicated fans. There are many subtle throwbacks that a fan of the series will recognize and be delighted about. 

The key word that sums of this film is "redemption".  It's what Bond wanted and it's what I felt this film was. Quantum of Solace was a flop in my mind after the beautiful masterpiece that was Casino Royale. But this movie seemed to redeem the franchise (not that it was in trouble) and it seemed to complete the reboot that Casino Royale started. 

Ben Whishaw joins the franchise as young, adorable nerd Q. If you recognize his face, it might be because he was in the very recent Cloud Atlas. He does a fantastic job as the quartermaster. He successfully manages to merge the beloved personality with a new hipster nerd vibe. He would appeal to both the older and younger generations. It also doesn't hurt that many females find him adorable. 

And he is only the tip of the ice berg with the wonderful  cast. Judi Dench gives an award winning performance as M. She balances the act between lady and bitch perfectly. Ralph Fiennes is a fresh face that we will thankfully be seeing more of in the future. He was so fantastic that I forgot that I last saw him as Lord Voldemort. 

Skyfall fulfills every requirement that Bond films need. 

1) Bond Ladies - 007 is known for many things especially his weakness for beautiful women. It has sometimes been his greatest weakness. The fifty years has showcased a great deal of unforgettable ladies and borderline hilarious names. Honey Ryder was the start with her iconic white bikini. In Skyfall, Naomie Harris teased the audience with her sexually charged banter. While Bérénice Lim Marlohe made blood pound with her raw sensuality and vulnerability. These ladies fulfill this requirement. 

2) Action - Bond is known for making the impossible seem easy! Before any other franchise, Bond danced with death to bring some amazing stunts to the big screen. Skyfall does that in its first 20 minutes - a car chase followed by a motorcycle chase, climbing from a crane to jump into a train chamber, fighting on top of a moving train, falling from a height into a river. And that's before the song comes on!

3) Beautiful Scenery - from the exotic to the tropic and back to London, Skyfall shows it all. So, check!

4) Creepy Unique Villain - Javier Bardem gives a brilliant performance  that words will do not justice. He is amazing. The character is exactly how I would imagine Bond to be if be ever went bad. He is always one step ahead. 

Skyfall meets every requirement to their formula and then some. Either way - this is a movie to watch in the theaters! Go. Now.

 

Rating: 5/5