SHERLOCK HOLMES is a film consumed by the present, the now, the moment at hand. With a wink and some cinematic sleight of hand, it distracts you from reason and engages you with adventure. And if you're willing to go with it and enjoy the moment, it's a lot of fun.
The story begins with a classic Holmesian construct - the closing of a case and the apprehension of a dastardly villian. No background or details are given as to how our heroes, Robert Downey, Jr.'s Holmes and his trusted partner Dr. John Watson played by a well-mustachioed Jude Law, came to the scene or what prompted their involvement. The scene serves only to set up the "new and improved" Sherlock Holmes reinvented for the post-Bourne Ultimatum age. Holmes is now a badass - a brawler and a martial artist. As played by Robert Downey, Jr., he is also a rambling, tic-ridden mess. Not that there isn't lierary precedence for this, mind you, but it's taken to the extremes here.
As is most of the story. Characters are larger than life, some quite literally. Most of them seem to be experts in hand-to-hand combat, weapons and explosives, and secret mystic cults. Rachel MacAdams seems especially out of place as Irene Adler, the one criminal who eluded Holmes and may have had an emotional impact on him. Concerning, also, is the film's handling of Holmes himself. The film cannot seem to make up its mind as to what it wants Holmes to be. Downey, Jr. plays him as hapless one minute and completely in control the next. We see him evaluate clues only to get the obligatory "here's what happened" scene at the end of the film. There is little excitement of the chase and we don't see the dots being connected.
There is, however, great chemistry between Holmes and Watson as they evaluate the future of their partnership. Director Guy Ritchie also holds most of his MTV-inspired tricks back and serves up his most accessible film. There is flash, to be sure, but it doesn't overpower the sense of gloom that permeates the film. Mark Strong brings gravitas to an under-written villian role and the city of London itself looms large and dirty.
Overall the film is a fun ride. You just need to turn off your brain to really enjoy it. And that, considering that this is a story of one of the greatest deductive minds in literary history, is a shame.
Monday, December 21, 2009
Saturday, December 19, 2009
AVATAR Nearly Makes It
I just got back from seeing James Cameron's new movie AVATAR. The bottom line is that is worth seeing and worth seeing in a good theater. I didn't opt for IMAX or 3-D and I'm glad I went the more traditional route. There is a LOT going on in this movie. I'm pretty sure that I would have gotten sick if I would have seen it on an IMAX.
First the good news, the visuals are absolutely revolutionary. I've never seen a fantasy film look this good or seen the different elements of effects meld so seamlessly. The alien characters are so well done that the subtle facial expressions of the actors really shine through. Cameron also sets the majority of the action in the alien tribe which only makes those characters seem more "normal." When you spend more than two and a half hours with the aliens, you start to forget that they are meant to look strange.
Cameron's command of filmmaking technology is at an all-time high. Say what you will about "Titanic," but the second hour of that film is a showcase of technical craftsmanship that still holds up more than a decade later. But AVATAR crushes it. Cameron has pushed things further than anyone else. Further than Spielberg. Further than Peter Jackson. Further than George Lucas (who shot most of the recent Star Wars trilogy against green screen and using motion capture to astoundingly poorer results than Cameron). Watching AVATAR is like seeing the future of movies.
On the other hand, it was also like a blast from the past. The story and dialogue are pretty stale. It's clear that this script sat in Cameron's desk drawer for several years (supposedly he wrote it more than 15 years ago but had to wait for the technology to catch up to allow him to realize his vision). The script could have used a polish or some freshening up. Honestly, if I see another movie set more than 150 years in the future and people are still using phrases like "let's boogie," or "You're not in Kansas anymore," I am going to scream. Does anyone think these phrases will have any social context more than a century from now?
You'll get the general story from any number of reviews, or the trailer, so I won't go into that here. Except I will note that the motivation of the human characters is vastly underwritten. Why go through all of this? Why engage this alien species on a planet which is a six-year trip from Earth in a violent war? Is it really for a rock? What does the rock do? Is it merely valuable? Is it used as a fuel? Can it save humanity back on Earth? It would add a lot to the story to know that there is more to this endeavor than capitalistic greed.
In the end, the story is serviceable and much of the dialogue passes muster. The visuals, however, are the reason to get out and see this one. The planet itself, inhabited by dozens of beautiful, dangerous, and highly interesting animal species as well as bio-luminescent flora and fauna is breathtaking. I would pay money to watch a fake nature documentary on the planet Pandora. The rich, fully-realized world that James Cameron has created is worth visiting. The most exciting aspect of the whole venture, however, is the thought of all the other worlds that this new technology has opened up to all of us.
Check it out.
First the good news, the visuals are absolutely revolutionary. I've never seen a fantasy film look this good or seen the different elements of effects meld so seamlessly. The alien characters are so well done that the subtle facial expressions of the actors really shine through. Cameron also sets the majority of the action in the alien tribe which only makes those characters seem more "normal." When you spend more than two and a half hours with the aliens, you start to forget that they are meant to look strange.
Cameron's command of filmmaking technology is at an all-time high. Say what you will about "Titanic," but the second hour of that film is a showcase of technical craftsmanship that still holds up more than a decade later. But AVATAR crushes it. Cameron has pushed things further than anyone else. Further than Spielberg. Further than Peter Jackson. Further than George Lucas (who shot most of the recent Star Wars trilogy against green screen and using motion capture to astoundingly poorer results than Cameron). Watching AVATAR is like seeing the future of movies.
On the other hand, it was also like a blast from the past. The story and dialogue are pretty stale. It's clear that this script sat in Cameron's desk drawer for several years (supposedly he wrote it more than 15 years ago but had to wait for the technology to catch up to allow him to realize his vision). The script could have used a polish or some freshening up. Honestly, if I see another movie set more than 150 years in the future and people are still using phrases like "let's boogie," or "You're not in Kansas anymore," I am going to scream. Does anyone think these phrases will have any social context more than a century from now?
You'll get the general story from any number of reviews, or the trailer, so I won't go into that here. Except I will note that the motivation of the human characters is vastly underwritten. Why go through all of this? Why engage this alien species on a planet which is a six-year trip from Earth in a violent war? Is it really for a rock? What does the rock do? Is it merely valuable? Is it used as a fuel? Can it save humanity back on Earth? It would add a lot to the story to know that there is more to this endeavor than capitalistic greed.
In the end, the story is serviceable and much of the dialogue passes muster. The visuals, however, are the reason to get out and see this one. The planet itself, inhabited by dozens of beautiful, dangerous, and highly interesting animal species as well as bio-luminescent flora and fauna is breathtaking. I would pay money to watch a fake nature documentary on the planet Pandora. The rich, fully-realized world that James Cameron has created is worth visiting. The most exciting aspect of the whole venture, however, is the thought of all the other worlds that this new technology has opened up to all of us.
Check it out.
Thursday, December 17, 2009
Updated League Postings
Hey Gang,
Here is a Fantasy Film Studio League update through the SAG award nominations. We won't have any additional updates until January when the next batch comes in. So, take a nice LONG look at the standings and get ready for the holidays.
Name / Nominations / Points
Danny Sarnowski / 25 / 50
Dekkers / 14 / 28
Paul Hogseth / 13 / 26
Ann Sarnowski / 10 / 20
Jake & Rachel / 10 / 20
Scott Engroff / 10 / 20
Steve & Erin / 9 / 18
Dan Pavlovich / 7 / 14
Jimmy Gordon / 5 / 10
Here is a Fantasy Film Studio League update through the SAG award nominations. We won't have any additional updates until January when the next batch comes in. So, take a nice LONG look at the standings and get ready for the holidays.
Name / Nominations / Points
Danny Sarnowski / 25 / 50
Dekkers / 14 / 28
Paul Hogseth / 13 / 26
Ann Sarnowski / 10 / 20
Jake & Rachel / 10 / 20
Scott Engroff / 10 / 20
Steve & Erin / 9 / 18
Dan Pavlovich / 7 / 14
Jimmy Gordon / 5 / 10
Tuesday, December 15, 2009
Big Week for the Fantasty Film Studio League!
Well, League Participants, this is a big week. Two weeks ago we had the nominations announced for the Film Independent Spirit Awards. That was preamble. That was warm ups. This week things get kicked into high gear. Lots of nominations this week and lots of points on the board for the League.
This week brings up the nominations for the Critic's Choice Awards (announced yesterday), the Golden Globes (announced today), and the Screen Actor's Guild Awards (announced on Thursday). Be sure to check back on the blog Friday night for up-to-date take on the current standings.
Here is the scoreboard as of today, including the Golden Globe Nominations:
Name / Nominations / Points
Danny Sarnowski / 20 / 40
Paul Hogseth / 11 / 22
The Dekkers / 11 / 22
Ann Sarnowski / 9 / 18
Jake & Rachel / 7 / 14
Erin & Steve / 7 / 14
Scott Engroff / 7 /14
Dan Pavlovich / 6 / 12
Jimmy Gordon / 4 / 8
It's interesting to see the scoreboard start to shore up. As I reviewed each studio's picks, it's great to see the diversity of choices people made this year. Of course, some of you REALLY hung your hat on a specific film. If The Lovely Bones or An Education really starts to turn the corner, a few of you will be VERY happy.
This week is also a big week at the box office. For those of you who have the time and the inclination to get to a theater, there is literally something for everyone in the next two weeks. Between now and Christmas the following movies are opening or opening wider:
Up In The Air
Invictus
AVATAR
It's Complicated
Sherlock Holmes
Precious
Nine
So, lots of choices and all of them have been nominated for at least one award by one of the groups so far. Each film could be a great entertainment and good research for the "big show" in March.
Anyway, that's it for tonight. Check back on Friday for the Screen Actor's Guild nominations and to see how things move around. Good luck everyone!
This week brings up the nominations for the Critic's Choice Awards (announced yesterday), the Golden Globes (announced today), and the Screen Actor's Guild Awards (announced on Thursday). Be sure to check back on the blog Friday night for up-to-date take on the current standings.
Here is the scoreboard as of today, including the Golden Globe Nominations:
Name / Nominations / Points
Danny Sarnowski / 20 / 40
Paul Hogseth / 11 / 22
The Dekkers / 11 / 22
Ann Sarnowski / 9 / 18
Jake & Rachel / 7 / 14
Erin & Steve / 7 / 14
Scott Engroff / 7 /14
Dan Pavlovich / 6 / 12
Jimmy Gordon / 4 / 8
It's interesting to see the scoreboard start to shore up. As I reviewed each studio's picks, it's great to see the diversity of choices people made this year. Of course, some of you REALLY hung your hat on a specific film. If The Lovely Bones or An Education really starts to turn the corner, a few of you will be VERY happy.
This week is also a big week at the box office. For those of you who have the time and the inclination to get to a theater, there is literally something for everyone in the next two weeks. Between now and Christmas the following movies are opening or opening wider:
Up In The Air
Invictus
AVATAR
It's Complicated
Sherlock Holmes
Precious
Nine
So, lots of choices and all of them have been nominated for at least one award by one of the groups so far. Each film could be a great entertainment and good research for the "big show" in March.
Anyway, that's it for tonight. Check back on Friday for the Screen Actor's Guild nominations and to see how things move around. Good luck everyone!
Sunday, December 6, 2009
First Point Update
With the draft successfully behind us, we can now turn our attention to the different nominations and awards. This week brought us the Film Indpendent Spirit Award Nominations and the scoreboard has been updated to reflect these points. Before we dig into who did what, a few items that need mention:
The Web Site - still under construction at this point. Soon each player will be able to log into his or her studio to see their picks, look at the different nominations and awards, and see the scoreboard. This is still unavialable, but will be up and running soon.
The Film Indpendent Spirit Awards - These awards aim to recognize great achievements in independent filmmaking. While they so serve as a bellweather for other awards and nominations, these awards often recognize smaller films. Some of these nominees are in for a busy season of awards shows and red carpets. Some are not. This group also gives out specialty awards that are NOT part of the Fantasy Film Studio League. For example, they give awards for Best First Screenplay and the John Cassavetes Award, which are not categories that any other group recognizes. Therefore, they are not included in the game. The Film Independent Spirit Awards are given out a few days before the Academy Awards at a casual, cool ceremony. It is broadcast live on IFC this year on Friday, March 5th.
The Scoreboard - Below are the number of nominations and points for the Fantasy Film Studio League so far. I have also included a link to the nominations of the Spirit Awards.
Studio Head / Nominations / Points
Danny Sarnowski / 3 / 6
Jake/Rachel / 2 / 4
Ann Sarnowski / 1 / 2
Paul Hogseth / 1 / 2
James Gordon / 1 / 2
Nate/Jennifer / 1 / 2
Scott Engroff / 0 / 0
Dan Pavlovich / 0 / 0
Erin/Steve / 0 / 0
Link to the Film Independent Spirit Award Nominations Page: http://www.spiritawards.com/nominees
The Web Site - still under construction at this point. Soon each player will be able to log into his or her studio to see their picks, look at the different nominations and awards, and see the scoreboard. This is still unavialable, but will be up and running soon.
The Film Indpendent Spirit Awards - These awards aim to recognize great achievements in independent filmmaking. While they so serve as a bellweather for other awards and nominations, these awards often recognize smaller films. Some of these nominees are in for a busy season of awards shows and red carpets. Some are not. This group also gives out specialty awards that are NOT part of the Fantasy Film Studio League. For example, they give awards for Best First Screenplay and the John Cassavetes Award, which are not categories that any other group recognizes. Therefore, they are not included in the game. The Film Independent Spirit Awards are given out a few days before the Academy Awards at a casual, cool ceremony. It is broadcast live on IFC this year on Friday, March 5th.
The Scoreboard - Below are the number of nominations and points for the Fantasy Film Studio League so far. I have also included a link to the nominations of the Spirit Awards.
Studio Head / Nominations / Points
Danny Sarnowski / 3 / 6
Jake/Rachel / 2 / 4
Ann Sarnowski / 1 / 2
Paul Hogseth / 1 / 2
James Gordon / 1 / 2
Nate/Jennifer / 1 / 2
Scott Engroff / 0 / 0
Dan Pavlovich / 0 / 0
Erin/Steve / 0 / 0
Link to the Film Independent Spirit Award Nominations Page: http://www.spiritawards.com/nominees
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