On Saturday, I saw Doctor Strange, starring Benedict Cumberbatch and Chiwetel Ejiofor.
Dr. Stephen Strange (Cumberbatch) is a gifted neurosurgeon with a knack for music trivia. He's sharp, sarcastic and more than a little bit arrogant. He has an on-again, off-again relationship with fellow doctor Christine (Rachel McAdams), who at the very least trusts his professional genius.
When Dr. Strange is in a terrible car accident (caused by distracted driving, of course), he suffers severe nerve damage to his hands—his most precious instruments—and grows desperate for a cure. A discussion with a physical therapist attending to him leads to a conversation with a "miracle" patient who was healed through alternative means. From this patient he learns of a healer in Kathmandu, so he catches the next flight to Nepal.
There, he meets Mordo (Ejiofor) and The Ancient One (Tilda Swinton) who convince him to stop thinking scientifically about everything and embrace the powers of the mind.
Refusing to discard any chance of physical restoration, Strange dedicates himself to learning the spiritual arts of which they speak and finds himself in the midst of a supernatural fight between good and evil. He's a quick study, but he still doesn't seem to be learning the larger philosophical lessons that The Ancient One practically beats him over the head with each day.
The film does a great job of getting the audience invested in Strange. Even though he's not the nicest guy, it's hard not to admire his intelligence and perseverance in the face of a ruined career. Cumberbatch also expresses the pain, both mental and physical, so vividly that a part of you aches for a remedy right along with him.
Swinton is sufficiently creepy as the wise teacher, but considering the casting drama, it seems she was mostly chosen for her look. She works, don't get me wrong, but others could have pulled off the role too.
Ejiofor is a calming presence as the voice of reason, and every time we see him, a little sigh of relief escapes, and Mads Mikkelsen (has their ever been a better real name for a villain?) as Kaecilius does a sufficient job of bringing the anger.
My only issues with the film were the dizzying bendy scenes where mirrors cave in and cities crumble within themselves Inception-style. I was grateful to be at the back of the theater and to be at a non-3D showing, because I fear I could have gotten sick otherwise. It was too much, too often, once the action got going. Excessive and unnecessary.
Nonetheless, I very much enjoyed the film and the teaser for the sequel, which followed the credits.
~~~
Showing posts with label Benedict Cumberbatch. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Benedict Cumberbatch. Show all posts
Monday, November 14, 2016
Monday, October 05, 2015
Black Mass
On Saturday I saw Black Mass, starring Johnny Depp and Joel Edgerton.
Jimmy "Whitey" Bulger (Depp) loved his mother deeply. He was kind to old ladies. He was a doting father. He even took care of an abandoned cat in the neighborhood.
All of those things are true, as is the fact he was a malicious killer who terrorized the streets of Boston in the '70s and '80s as an Irish mob boss. This film tells of his decades evading justice as he used a childhood friend in the FBI to cover for him.
Spoiler alert: They're both now ending their days in prison.
Before they were caught, they each had a good run, though. Jimmy, defending his beloved Southie territory using whatever means necessary, and John Connolly (Joel Edgerton) climbing the ranks of the FBI by claiming Jimmy was a big-time informant.
Depp is icy cold as the brooding Bulger, always calm and collected even in the most gruesome times of violence. Edgerton is obnoxious and twitchy—apparently incredibly accurate—in his portrayal of Connolly, who in a weird, warped way always idolized Bulger. The attacks are frequent and the blood flows freely, but if you can anticipate when to look away, the other aspects of the movie will keep you glued to the screen.
In addition to the two leads, Benedict Cumberbatch, Kevin Bacon, Julianne Nicholson and Dakota Johnson all do a fine job in their supporting roles, but the real stand-out for me was Peter Sarsgaard as cocaine addict Brian Halloran. His brief time on screen was so memorable, he was who we were talking about as we left the theater.
The movie (and its real-life horrors) will stay with you for hours, maybe days after you see it. If you're tough enough to see this, be sure to stay to the very end where they show footage of the real criminals.
It's comforting to know that many of the people involved were in fact brought to justice, but the magnitude of the crimes still haunt.
~~~
Jimmy "Whitey" Bulger (Depp) loved his mother deeply. He was kind to old ladies. He was a doting father. He even took care of an abandoned cat in the neighborhood.
All of those things are true, as is the fact he was a malicious killer who terrorized the streets of Boston in the '70s and '80s as an Irish mob boss. This film tells of his decades evading justice as he used a childhood friend in the FBI to cover for him.
Spoiler alert: They're both now ending their days in prison.
Before they were caught, they each had a good run, though. Jimmy, defending his beloved Southie territory using whatever means necessary, and John Connolly (Joel Edgerton) climbing the ranks of the FBI by claiming Jimmy was a big-time informant.
Depp is icy cold as the brooding Bulger, always calm and collected even in the most gruesome times of violence. Edgerton is obnoxious and twitchy—apparently incredibly accurate—in his portrayal of Connolly, who in a weird, warped way always idolized Bulger. The attacks are frequent and the blood flows freely, but if you can anticipate when to look away, the other aspects of the movie will keep you glued to the screen.
In addition to the two leads, Benedict Cumberbatch, Kevin Bacon, Julianne Nicholson and Dakota Johnson all do a fine job in their supporting roles, but the real stand-out for me was Peter Sarsgaard as cocaine addict Brian Halloran. His brief time on screen was so memorable, he was who we were talking about as we left the theater.
The movie (and its real-life horrors) will stay with you for hours, maybe days after you see it. If you're tough enough to see this, be sure to stay to the very end where they show footage of the real criminals.
It's comforting to know that many of the people involved were in fact brought to justice, but the magnitude of the crimes still haunt.
~~~
Thursday, January 08, 2015
The Imitation Game
Tonight I saw The Imitation Game, starring Benedict Cumberbatch and Matthew Goode.
Alan Turing (Cumberbatch) was a mathematician seeking a challenge during World War II. He found it when he scored a job with the British government and joined a team tasked with cracking a difficult German code.
Always perceived to be 'difficult', Turing had trouble getting along with his peers and preferred to work alone. When that wasn't an option for the top-secret, highly time-sensitive project he was assigned to, he became rivals with Hugh (Goode), a more attractive, sociable genius that really couldn't stand the sight of him.
As the months go on and the solution the government is looking for isn't found, they threaten to pull the plug on the whole operation, which is devastating to all who have worked so hard. To avoid any spoilers, I'll leave it at that.
Because this is based on a true story, much of the film is also about the personal life of Turing, which is just as tragic as his professional reign. He was conflicted in every way, and one may assume the finality of solving math problems was the only true coping mechanism that brought him comfort.
The film does a beautiful job of celebrating his genius and drawing sympathy for his inability to fit in during that era. The cast is fantastic and the actual WWII footage gives the setting a frighteningly authentic touch.
Cumberbatch is a lock for an Oscar nomination, and the film may be as well.
I'd be okay with both.
~~~
Alan Turing (Cumberbatch) was a mathematician seeking a challenge during World War II. He found it when he scored a job with the British government and joined a team tasked with cracking a difficult German code.
Always perceived to be 'difficult', Turing had trouble getting along with his peers and preferred to work alone. When that wasn't an option for the top-secret, highly time-sensitive project he was assigned to, he became rivals with Hugh (Goode), a more attractive, sociable genius that really couldn't stand the sight of him.
As the months go on and the solution the government is looking for isn't found, they threaten to pull the plug on the whole operation, which is devastating to all who have worked so hard. To avoid any spoilers, I'll leave it at that.
Because this is based on a true story, much of the film is also about the personal life of Turing, which is just as tragic as his professional reign. He was conflicted in every way, and one may assume the finality of solving math problems was the only true coping mechanism that brought him comfort.
The film does a beautiful job of celebrating his genius and drawing sympathy for his inability to fit in during that era. The cast is fantastic and the actual WWII footage gives the setting a frighteningly authentic touch.
Cumberbatch is a lock for an Oscar nomination, and the film may be as well.
I'd be okay with both.
~~~
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)