Entertainment of all age brackets.
After taking a year off from production, Disney returns with the second half of their 2016 animated offerings.
"Moana" returns to the Princess tale story archetype that the
company has been most famous for. Much of the last decade or so has been about
revising the status of the Disney Princess into something more suitably empowering
for the modern era, leading to several quality films but mixed results in terms
of truly updating their status quo until now.
It sticks a little too close to home in terms of
storytelling but "Moana" may just be the shining gem of the Princess formula that
Disney has striving to polish out ever since “Princess and the Frog” opened the
door for postmodern interpretation of their cash cow style.
Everything about the animation from the art style, to the
lighting, some of the most gorgeous water effects that I’ve ever seen on the
big screen is a characteristically technical masterpiece but the natural
conformity of the plot to the formula without needing to rely on the
juxtaposition of actuality with tradition is what really makes it a winner.
The story remains as relatable as it would have been had any
other society been used as the backdrop but only works well as it does because
of the Polynesian culture that spices up the visuals. Moana’s primary conflict
stems from whether to lead her people where they are or venture beyond their
comfort zone to guide them towards something brighter. Demigod Maui grows
closer to the heroine throughout the film but knows where to follow his own
path regardless of whether or not it means remaining at her side.
Despite so much of Disney’s efforts to be modern by twisting
and attempting to reject their formulas, it’s one of the most formulaic of
their modern films that manages to pitch the social benefits of diversity,
expansion, feminism, and globalism successfully without compromising story
integrity.
Almost all of what “Moana” has done has been seen countless
times before but the by embracing its familiarity through the usage of the
elements that set it apart from others of its ilk, it may perhaps be the very
best of the similar films that it’s succeeding despite not quite beating out “Zootopia”
for best animated flick of the year.
9 You’re Welcomes out of 10
Mel Gibson has a lot of issues to work out and seeing that
reflected in his art is one of the most mesmerizing things that I have seen all
year. Not that I’m ungrateful for it. He may not be a particularly admirable
person but I’ll give credit where it’s due to him for making one of the best
World War II movies since “Saving Private Ryan.”
The tale of Conscientious Objector Desmond Doss and his
endeavor to save lives as a field medic during the war without taking a human
life was sold by its trailer as a heavy handed Chick Tract featuring Andrew Garfield
sporting a laughably cartoonish southern accent that makes Joseph Gordon Levitt’s
take on a French man in “The Walk” look downright subtle comparatively. It did
the actual film no favors.
“Hacksaw Ridge’s” unflinchingly brutal and explicit gore on
the battlefield would be almost darkly comedic if the chaotic and hectic pace
at which it was all occurring wasn’t so damn effective in conveying the very
real relentlessly threatening atmosphere of a combat zone.
Garfield’s portrayal of the soft spoken and slightly
socially awkward man within the context of the film may be one of his best performances
yet as his character, the very real Desmond Doss, has his beliefs put to the
test in a rare faith based movie that actually grasps that religion isn’t about the
superficiality of names and imagery but a provision of guidelines to be our
best selves and help our fellow man regardless of our views on life.
While it’s not without a narrative hiccup or two here and
there, I never once looked down at my watch for the 2½ hour length encompassing
“Hacksaw Ridge’s” runtime. That’s an impressive feat in and of itself.
8 Chances to save one more out of 10
Apparently the key to redemption from last year’s “Fantastic
Four” is to star in a boxing movie. On the heels of Michael B. Jordan’s
resurrection of the “Rocky” franchise last year, Miles Teller gives one of the
best performances of his already short but impressive career as lightweight and
middle weight late 80s-90s champion Vinny Paz.
Where “Bleed for This” refreshingly breaks from the trend of
underdog stories in the sports genre is that Paz’s tale isn’t one of adversity
so much as redemption and rising to true potential.
Teller’s portrayal of a man whose arrogance and short
sightedness cost him his title despite a clear intelligence and capacity to be
more is equally entertaining to watch as it is fascinating to watch him find
his way until ultimately coming face to face with the trial of his life
threatening accident that asks him to either go further than he ever has before
or go home.
The film’s narrative makes for one hell of a comeback story
that lends itself to one of the more unique modern sports films despite wearing
its genre clichés on its shoulder almost like a badge of honor. It’s only true
setback is that despite featuring a prime cast, the movie doesn’t venture far
beyond the story of Paz’s ordeal.
Plot points are often discussed regarding the contradiction
of his family’s wishes but beyond a talk with his father played by Ciaran
Hinds, very little drama actually comes of it. Paz’s coach Kevin gives the
impression that training him has reinvigorated his drive but despite Aaron
Eckhart’s excellent performance, he never quite generates an arc for the
character which would have been so easy to do.
Despite not quite ending up in the area of greatness that it
may have been aiming for, like the real life Paz, “Bleed for This” pushes
forward and perseveres to success carrying all of its weight proudly.
8 Halo Procedures out of 10
No comments:
Post a Comment