Salary caps and sabermetrics do not seem suited for the silver screen but Moneyball entertained an audience for a couple of hours and recounted a reasonably true story. After star free agents Jason Giambi, Johnny Damon and Jason Isringhausen, Oakland A’s General Manager Billy Beane enters the 2001 off-season wondering how to win an unfair game. For two years, the Athletics had made the playoffs but lost to the New York Yankees, a team with almost four times the financial resources. Unlike Michael Lewis’ book – which accurately describes the Oakland front office and the philosophy which had been in …
The Tree of Life
Existentialism on film is a risky proposition: while the theme can be incorporated throughout different types of scenes, it is challenging to construct a conclusion that does not ring hollow. Terrence Malick’s The Tree of Life debates the meaning of life well, combining a unique method of storytelling with stunning visuals, but wanders slightly into the realm of cliché as it reaches its climax. Juxtaposing concrete scenes of life with abstract visions of creation, real-life moments and natural metaphors, Malick captures the attention of the audience without overwhelming them. On one hand, life is precious and fleeting but on the …
Inglourious Basterds
Inglourious Basterds is atypical of Quentin Tarantino films in some regards but similar in many other ways. The film twists traditional archetypes into meaningful characters. The conclusion of the film – which may or may not mirror the actual end of World War II – shows how that each side of the conflict was comprised of individuals, which their own characteristics and choices. The Nazis may have been charming or the Allies cutthroat, although more likely painted in shades of grey. Christoph Waltz won the Best Actor Award at Cannes for his portrayal of S.S. Colonel Hans Landa , “The …
The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford
Interesting film. Promoted to excess. Well shot and director although it could lose a half-hour in length. One of Brad Pitt’s best performances although the supporting cast did better. All things considered, certainly worth seeing in theatres. Certainly, the wide-angle shots of the Midwest make this movie. Viewing this movie at home rather than at the theatre would detract significantly from the experience. I appreciated the time-lapse shots of the sky and the recurring motifs of wheat crops and reflections in glass. There was a feeling that significant events passing and recognition of the characters’ introspection. The film provides intriguing …