Across The Universe

What fun! In my opinion, the best musical of the year so far. Julie Taymor (who gave us the amazing Frida) is a visually orientated director, everything in this movie is visually fuelled and emotionally charged. The music is great, Evan Rachel Wood and Jim Sturgess had great chemistry, and to be honest, I almost cried during this film, three times.

A work of art it is indeed, with not much left to the imagination in terms of visual effects and props. It is essentially a love story set in the 60’s when a person could be anti-war, pro-war or just didn’t care.

Jude (Jim Sturgess) and Lucy (Evan Rachel Wood), along with a small group of friends and musicians are tossed into the anti-war movements. The young lovers are torn apart by forces out of their control, forcing them to reunite on their own terms and find their way back to each other no matter what. Artistically, the film is well done. I think Evan Rachel Wood is so talented, with so much going for her, I can’t wait until she gets her Oscar. Sturgess, who I have never seen or heard of before, pulled off the lead with ease and managed to carry the majority of the film through his onscreen vulnerability and natural capabilities. This film’s only real awards prospect is for the Artistic/Technical categories. Overall, a great musical, visual experience.

Fatac Rating: ****

Across the Universe. Directed by Julie Taymor, written by Julia Taymor (story) , Dick Clement and Ian La Frenais, staring Evan Rachel Wood, Jim Sturgess, Joe Anderson, Dana Fuchs, T.V. Carpio and Martin Luther, featuring cameos by Eddie Izzard and Bono, running time: 133 min. Rating out of five.

Release in South Africa on the 2nd of November 2007.
Viewed at the “Unique Arts” festival on the 31st of August 2007.

First of all, I just want to get this out of the way, I think Paul Haggis is great. Crash was amazing - albeit not nearly as good as Brokeback Mountain - Million Dollar Baby was a masterpiece and In The Valley of Elah was very well done. I left Flags of our Fathers out as it was the only film I know of that Paul was connected to that failed miserably, in my books at least.

The cast includes Tommy Lee Jones, Susan Sarandon, Charlize Theron as well as a few actors who were once members of the actual Army. They all give impeccable performances, but I felt Susan Sarandon was wasted in a role that offered very little screen time and didn’t add all that much to the story. Charlize Theron - South Africa’s golden girl - was just as good as she has every been in any one of her other roles, just as gritty. The story revolves around a career officer (played by Jones) and his wife (played by Sarandon) who work together with a female police detective (Theron) to uncover the truth behind their son’s disappearance following his return from Iraq. I thought it was very well done, one of the better war drama’s of the year, and I think fan’s of Haggis’s work will not be dissapointed.

Fatac Rating: ***1/2

In The Valley of Elah. Written and directed by Paul Haggis, story by Mark Boal, staring Charlize Theron, Tommy Lee Jones, Susan Sarandon, Running Time: 124 minutes. Rating out of five stars.

Release in South Africa is set for the 26th of October 2007.
Viewed at the “Unique Arts” festival on the 30th of August 2007.

After first hearing about this film, I was not interested. I don’t generally like Michael Boy’s films and his techniques, and I didn’t have a clue who Shia Labeouf was. Then I watched Disturbia and A Guide To Recognizing Your Saints and became interested in his work. I also found out that Steven Spielberg would be the executive producer, and my interest became solid.

The film is by far the most visually astounding of the year, and the visual effects are gasp worthy. The plot is nothing to write home about, but tied in with a few stars, great visuals, a hot soundtrack, and you get what you paid for, mindless entertainment. I saw the film on it’s opening night back in June, and I must admit that I was really anticipating the film, and have subsequently ordered the DVD as well, which has some of the best special features of any DVD this year.

The story follows the typical teenager who is unpopular, but then gets the hot girl and actually becomes important. Yes, the same teenager that you find in every film that involves teenagers. This guy, Sam Witwicky (Shia Labeouf), is at the age where his father is about to buy him is very first car. little does he know that the car he eventually gets is actually Bumblebee, an Autobot (Autonomous Robotic Organism) sent from his home planet to protect Sam, and aid his fellow Autobots in their quest to prevent the Decepticons from getting their “hands” on the All Spark. I mean, who would have thought?

Together with his new car, Sam tries to impress the “it” girl at his school, Mikaela Banes (Megan Fox) who gets swept into this machine war by accident, and they eventually get together.

There is a sub plot that involves the American government, but all that nearly put me to sleep. I am not the target audience for the film, and whenever the robots or Sam were out of the picture, I was a little bored.

Shia Labeouf is a natural comedian, and manages to bring a sense of humanity and energy to what could have been a throw away role. He is currently an “it” young actor in Hollywood and this kid is going places. Funny me calling him a kid, because at age 21, he is five years older than me. He is on the road to success, but I think he should get involved in more character study based films and steer away from all the blockbusters. His next film, Indiana Jones, will be out next year.

The supporting cast is good, the performances are all what you expect, but nothing more and they include Josh Duhamel, Jon Voight, Tyrese Gibson and Anthony Anderson. They cast work well together, and even though they are not the main attraction, they all bring something to the table to elevate the story.

Oscar glory for the visual effects and sound categories are in the cards, and I will go as far as to say that this film may not be the best summer blockbuster this year but I would go far enough and say that it could be Michael Bay’s best film ever. Entertaining, funny, dramatic, explosive and a great film to see with friends.

Fatac Rating: ***

Transformers. Directed by Michael Bay, written by Roberto Orci and Alex Kurtzman, starring Shia Labeouf, Megan Fox,  include Josh Duhamel, Jon Voight, Tyrese Gibson and Anthony Anderson, produced by Steven Spielberg (executive), Tom DeSanto and Don Murphy, editing by Paul Rubell and Glen Scantlebury, music by Steve Jablonsky, Running Time: 143 mins. Rating out of five stars.

Viewed at a public screening with an audience of ordinary moviegoers.