A bombastic week of movie releases, we’re going on quite a few journeys. Be they ones involving time travel, emotions, self-discovery or visits to history, each is as engaging as the next. Filled with heart, surprise and entertainment, this is the week to “journey” to the theater to see some of my picks of the week.
SAFETY NOT GUARANTEED
Thanks to a shared vision of director Colin Trevorrow and screenwriter Derek Connolly, and stand out performances of a small ensemble cast led by Mark Duplass and Aubrey Plaza, SAFETY NOT GUARANTEED is a quirky, charming, remarkably thoughtful and entertaining film that is, in essence, a beautiful love story cloaked in mystery and magic. There is never a guarantee of safety when the heart is involved and SAFETY is all about heart - finding one's heart in one's self and in others. And by the way, I think I can safely say that a surprise ending will have you gasp, smile and fill with joy in the most unexpected and satisfying fashion in what I believe will be the sleeper hit of 2012.
Some years back, a small little personal ad actually ran in some magazines and online, seeking a companion to engage in time travel. Payment will be made on return back to the present. You must bring your own weapons. The time traveler has only done this once before. And oh yes, “SAFETY NOT GUARANTEED.” Running with that little true life tidbit, Derek Connolly crafted the story of Darius Britt, a young intern at a Seattle magazine. Lost in life since the death of her mother some years back, Darius has floundered, burdened with self-blame, sorrow, sadness and cynicism. But when the opportunity arises to turn this personal ad into an investigative journalism opportunity, Darius jumps at the chance. Joining her boss Jeff and fellow intern Arnau, the three embark on a quest to either win a Pulitzer with some outstanding expose reporting proving time travel or proving “Kenneth” is a nut job, or fall flat on their collective faces and be laughed out of the magazine. But on their arrival in Ocean View, Washington, they are met with more than meets the eye.
Time travelling Kenneth is a paranoid and suspicious, yet affable, young man. Believing he’s being followed by government agents, he runs around town with his own version of covert ops, stealing lasers from scientific companies, immersing himself in technical calculations, physical training and hand-to-hand combat, and making endless plans. Silently excited at the thought of “what if”, Darius is elected, or rather, volunteers, to be the undercover contact with Kenneth. Immediately drawn to her, Kenneth slowly takes her into his confidence. As the two grow ever closer, Darius learns Kenneth’s reason for wanting to go back in time, a reason that surprisingly touches Darius and potentially affecting her cover.
In the meantime, Jeff is off on his own agenda - seeking out a lost love from high school. Finding himself emotionally transported in time, he too ponders “what if”. And as for Arnau, “what if” he could go back in time, or forward in time, and actually turn from bookish nerd to chick magnet?
As for the acting, let's start with Aubrey Plaza. Having just seen her in DAMSELS IN DISTRESS and familiar with her tv work, I can't say enough about her. Her deadpan styling is perfect for Darius and I can see no other actress handling the part with the ease and confidence of Plaza. She tugs at your heart as you watch Darius get more involved and interested in Kenneth and his project. She has an intensity and seriousness that resonates, yet she lets you see Darius' heart ache, and grow.
I don't think I've ever enjoyed Jake Johnson more. Not just a smart ass, as Jeff we see a heart and redemptive value, sincere appreciation for life and others and Johnson just peels back the layers like an onion. Great job from him and with this performance, moves him into an entirely new level of character performance.
When it comes to Mark Duplass, the man can act his way out of a paper bag (Oh wait! He has. With “Baghead”!). Here, as Kenneth, we see a new side of him. A frenzied, slightly screwy guy who, in certain moments reminds one of a boy playing army out in the woods, or being a secret agent or a spy, then just as quickly flips to a confident, committed, strong man with a heart. Out of all of Duplass' roles, this is my personal favorite and he just soars.
Written by Connolly, the story is intelligent, well structured and well crafted with sub-plots and twists and turns that actually integrate with the main plot points. (Surprise! Surprise!) There is nothing extraneous in terms of the storyline and each character, as each are synergistic to the other, intersecting into a textured and layered tapestry - pull one thread out and the entire thing will unravel. The various, distinctly different characters and their relative positions of heartache and/or love in life are aptly chosen and cover the bases - parental love, new love, self love, pain from love, hiding from love, looking for love, remembering with jaded memory a past love. Each character stays within the confines of the specific traits of the character and develops individually, staying true to the heart of that character, but never stagnating. And much of that goes to the acting. Using a narrative device and POV of objective journalists researching a story, sets a tone of openness with no preconceived notions about anything that is about to unfold (other than the fact that a time traveler may be a nut job - which adds a quirky beauty to the entire film)..... everyone is an underdog, everyone is searching for something.
I love the tonal bandwidth that Trevorrow gives SAFETY NOT GUARANTEED - grainier, 70's time travelled feel that suits the thematic elements of the film. Great use of hand held shots personalize the experience and identify each character, allowing us to connect with them and develop our own relationship with each before jumping ahead in the story and widening the scope of the story and the frame. Love the metaphorically extensive wooded exteriors contrasted with the open emptiness of the beach. With the forest adding to the shroud of mystery over Kenneth's time travel, the cool greens are light, freeing, alive. Contrastingly, the coastline settings are vast emptiness, like the hearts of each character - empty, alone, with nothing on the horizon. Every element of SAFETY belies that this is Trevorrow's directorial debut.
Most appreciated is that while there is the thematic element of time travel - ironically to be utilized to go back and fix what are now broken hearts - Trevorrow keeps the film rooted in humanity as opposed to fantastical techie science fiction. The whole time travel notion is handled with a human perspective, further adding to the personal experience.
While safety many not be guaranteed, there is one thing that is a guarantee - one of my top picks of 2012, SAFETY NOT GUARANTEED is a guaranteed great movie-going experience.
OC87
A real privilege for me is writing about OC87: THE OBSESSIVE COMPULSIVE, MAJOR DEPRESSION, BIPOLAR, ASPERGER’S MOVIE. A documentary written and co-directed by my fellow Philadelphian and Temple RTF alum, Bud Clayman, this is without a doubt one of the most honest and heartfelt stories you will ever see as Clayman opens up about his life and coming to terms with the aforementioned multiple debilitating mental illnesses.
Interspersing footage and photographs of Clayman throughout his life, including some of his own student film work, with present day video diaries and interviews, OC87 is an educational, engaging and eye-opening stream of consciousness as Clayman bravely talks about the internal battle he wages daily just to make it through a day in his continuing efforts to come to terms with his illnesses and function “normally” in society. (Having spoken to Clayman at length, I can tell you first-hand that he is one of the most delightful, engaging, humorous and gregarious people I have ever had the pleasure to know.) Inviting the cameras into his home, his mother’s home, his father’s office, we see and hear first-hand Clayman’s perceptions of not only his life, but life in general, as well as those views of his parents. Interviews not only with mental health professionals, but with a spokesperson and champion for individuals with bipolar disorders, Maurice Benard of “General Hospital”, provide touchstones and encouragement for others dealing with similar conditions, something Clayman believes is important to convey with this documentary.
Co-directed by Clayman with Glenn Holsten and Scott Johnston, OC87 doesn’t fall into the trappings of third-party manipulation or dramatization and retains its focus and the personalization Clayman so desperately wants and needs. Interesting is that one facet of Clayman’s O.C.D. is that “I must control every thought and every action perfectly”, including the making of this documentary. So for him to relinquish some control to others, is in and of itself, a great step forward in Clayman’s management of his condition.
Telling are the personal diaries which provide glimpses into Clayman’s thoughts, psyche and heart as he engages, or tries to engage, in some of the most mundane of daily tasks. With the camera at Clayman’s side almost 24/7, there are times the film feels claustrophobic, adding to the realization and experience of what Clayman must feel everyday. Revealing is footage as he embarks on new adventures in life like speed-dating, singing karaoke, and letting his mother clean his slummishly kept apartment.
OC87: THE OBSESSIVE COMPULSIVE, MAJOR DEPRESSION, BIPOLAR, ASPERGER’S MOVIE is one man’s journey to “normal” that you don’t want to miss.
BEL AMI
Set in 1890 Paris, BEL AMI is based on Guy de Maupassant’s novel and the story of George Duroy. One time soldier, he has been down on his luck ever since, that is until an old army buddy, now Editor of a major newspaper, gives him a job. Of course he gets the job not because he has any talent for news or writing, but because the editor’s wife and her socialite female friends are quite smitten with George’s hidden talents.
Making Richard Gere’s “American Gigolo” look like an amateur, George spends his time manipulating three prominent women through sex. Madeleine, who has designs on her own career as the woman behind the men manipulating politics and fortunes, spearheads George’s campaign by introducing him to the lovely and nubile Clotilde. Married to a somewhat older and often absent husband, Clotilde embarks on an affair with George that lasts for years and no matter what transgression he may commit, her love and desire is unwavering. And then there’s Virginie, an older desperate woman past her prime. Married to the newspaper publisher, Virginie clings to George worse than a ratty old vine, but he knows the value in keeping her satisfied.
But while George believes he is manipulating these women to attain his own success, Madeleine has another game plan entirely.
Directed by Declan Donnellan and Nick Ormerod based on a screenplay by Rachel Bennette, the film excels with Attila Kovacs’ exquisite production design and breathtakingly rich period costuming of Odile Dicks-Mireaux. Sadly, Stefano Falivene’s cinematography and some short-shrifted editing choices fall short of the other technical excellence of the film.
But where BEL AMI soars is with the performances, starting with Uma Thurman. Watching and listening to Thurman’s Madeleine, one could swear it’s Bette Davis on screen with a duplicitous coquettish act from “The Letter”. Phenomenal. Absolutely transformative. And then there’s Christina Ricci’s Clotilde. Ebullient, joyous delight. Ricci’s chemistry with Robert Pattison’s George is heated, intense and playful. As for Pattison, while I believe Daniel Radcliffe would have been a better choice for the role, Pattison does step beyond “Twilight” and give us a bit more depth, not to mention some nice ass, er, ass work.
PEACE, LOVE & MISUNDERSTANDING
Bruce Beresford is back before the camera journeying back to 1969, at least with Jane Fonda, for a delightful romp of present meeting past in PEACE, LOVE & MISUNDERSTANDING.
Diane is a miserable, soon to be divorced, uptight NY lawyer. Mother of two teens, Jake and Zoe, when her life falls apart, Diane heads home to her mother whom she hasn’t spoken to in 20 years. The antithesis of Diane, Grace is the epitome of “hippie” and the “flower power” generation and all its trappings (and I do mean all).. In what starts out as a weekend getaway to “sort things out”, Diane soon finds the healing power of a mother’s love and wisdom despite a generational divide.
Predictable? Yes. Enjoyable? Without a doubt. Fun, free-flowing and free-spirited, warm, funny, Jane Fonda hasn't been this fantastic in a long time. She is perfection as Grace, as is Catherine Keener’s Diane. And ladies, just wait till you see Jeffrey Dean Morgan. A lovely, and groovy, moviegoing experience, PEACE, LOVE & MISUNDERSTANDING envelops you with the nostalgic emotion and love of the 60's.
Read the full reviews to these and more, and exclusive interviews with the filmmakers, at www.moviesharkdeblore.com.
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