Reviews Round Up: Albert Nobbs, Our Idiot Brother, Chronicle

Isn't it funny how much changes with the flick of a switch? Last week, I was struggling to find movies to review because a) there weren't that many movies out and b) anything I did see didn't affect me enough to squeeze a review out. This week, I have so many that I have to resort to the good old review round up of everything that came out in the past week on DVD: Albert Nobbs, Our Idiot Brother and Chronicle. Because I feel like my fingers need to hit the keyboard for these films.

Albert Nobbs was a film that I only held interest in seeing because of all the love it got during awards season. In fact, all I knew about it was that Oscar peeps seemed to be obsessed with Glenn Close's performance (at the expense of marvellous performances from the likes of Charlize Theron and Kirsten Dunst), Janet McTeer's performance (a well-deserved nomination), and the fact that these woman dress up as men in order to overcome adversity in 19th century Ireland. Yeah, it's the kind of thing that attracts Oscar like a magnet, but aside from the performances, the film wasn't the hit that everyone thought it was going to be. To be honest, I couldn't see what was wrong with the film. Perhaps it was because I didn't have any prior expectations. It was harmless, quite thought-provoking, and somewhat touching. Okay, it did drag a bit, and I do have to admit to occasionally having to reel my mind back into the movie. To add to that, I felt as if it was needlessly sad - as if the writers kept running into brick walls so they had to kill someone off in order to keep the story going. However, this film had a lot going for it. Of course, the performances were great. I was most impressed by Janet McTeer as Hubert, and the supporting turns from Mia Wasikowska, Aaron Johnson (he's starting to churn out some really impressive stuff) and Brendan Gleeson (with a pretty impressive beard) were all worthy. Albert Nobbs him/herself was an interesting character, too, even if I didn't quite understand why he was so naive considering everything he has been through. Perhaps the reason why I liked this film so much spawned from one particular scene: where Albert and Hubert put on dresses for the first time in ages, and walk along a beach. Albert comes to realise her true nature and runs freely, enjoying this moment. Had this scene been put in a better film, it'd be the kind that film historians would say is one of the best scenes ever. I don't know, maybe it'll grow on people a little more in the future. It has the potential.

What I got:

DVD--City Island

or: Dysfunctional family.

One word to sum it up: Funny.

Along with coming-of-age films, dysfunctional family films have always been a specialty for me. While Little Miss Sunshine may have had the quirk factor turned up to 100%, City Island is different in the fact that it is heartwarmingly funny, even though the characters tend to get on your nerves a little (in a good way). There aren't any dead grandpas in the boot (but there is Alan Arkin), nor is there a child dirty dancing. Instead, City Island adopts a romance that never happens and a rather...strange relationship.

The Rizzos are a family who don't share their habits, aspirations or careers with each other, and are often doing their own thing. The patriarch, Vince (Andy Garcia), who is a corrections officer, brings home a young ex-con, Tony (Steven Strait), one night, who he discovers is his estranged son. This man threatens to uncover the secrets in this family: that Vince wants to be an actor and spends his nights chatting with a fellow wannabe actor Molly (Emily Mortimer); Vince's wife, Joyce (Julianna Margulies) is out to seek revenge on her husband going out all the time by starting an affair with Tony; their daughter, Vivian (Dominik Garcia-Lorido) isn't really attending college and she's actually a stripper; and their son, Vince Jr. (Ezra Miller) has a very strange fetish...

Before I watched City Island, I wasn't in a very good mood, but this movie really cheered me up. It's by no means perfect, as it is occasionally dragged down by some squandering of valuable running time. Truth is, this movie is one of the better dysfunctional family comedies out there. I don't know what it is, but it just has that certain pizazz that not many of them have. Secrets within the family isn't exactly a new concept. Raymond  De Felitta (writer/director) just gives us some interesting new spins on them which are completely realistic, and manges to throw an idea around like a ball in a pinball machine until it falls nicely in place, so he'll move onto the next one. The good thing is that he can do this simultaneously to have a flawless effect, and to be honest, the end result is great. He has a knack for telling a family story exactly how it is. He doesn't linger too long on regrets or trying to keep the family together, because for most of the movie, the family is so apart that you wouldn't believe they are a family. It's interesting and funny to watch the fall and rise of the patriarch, and everything that goes on beneath him.

Making up the family is a great ensemble of actors. Andy Garcia takes the central role, which is one of his best performances in years. Julianna Margulies plays his long-suffering and temperamental wife who is obviously bored, but seems to revel in that by making everyone else feel her pain. Dominik Garcia-Lorido, who is in fact Garcia's real-life daughter, is the ordinary girl not doing what she should be doing. Steven Strait delivers a stand out performance as the con with a heart. I don't whether it was just me, but I absolutely loved Emily Mortimer in this. Perhaps watching Harry Brown a couple of days before helped, but she was perfect as the sort of romantic figure in here, who isn't seen to unravel until the very end. The family performances were fantastic, and added the perfect touch to such a great film that I'd definitely go for again.


THE VERDICT: City Island is a sweet and funny dysfunctional comedy which is to be seen by anyone. Its sharply scripted and well performed, and will undoubtedly manage to make you smile.

8/10

DVD--Harry Brown

or: UK's Gran Torino.

One word to sum it up: Gritty.

There were some reservations to be had with Harry Brown. It had a very similar storyline to Clint Eastwood's instant classic Gran Torino: an aged pensioner taking on the baddies. While that comparison certainly isn't wrong, Harry Brown is way more intense than Gran Torino. Plus, it's great to see Sir Michael Caine kick some ass again. Like, he kicks some serious ass here, and it's lovely to see those thugs go down...even if it wasn't a very nice movie.

In England, retired marine Harry Brown (Michael Caine) spends his lonely life between the hospital, where his beloved wife Kath is terminally ill, and playing chess with his only friend Leonard Attwell in the Barge pub owned by Sid Rourke. After the death of Kath, Len tells his grieving friend that the local gang is harassing him and he is carrying an old bayonet for self-defense; the widower suggests him to go to the police. When Len is beaten to death in an underground passage, Inspector Alice Frampton (Emily Mortimer) and her partner Sergeant Terry Hicock are sent to investigate. They pay Harry a visit but don't have good news; the police have not found any other evidence, other than the bayonet, in order to arrest the hoodlums. This mean that should the case go to trial the gang would claim self-defense. Harry Brown sees that justice will not be granted and decides to take matters into his own hands.

To put it straight: I loved Harry Brown. Sure, it wouldn't have been much a film if Michael Caine wasn't in the titular lead role. He exudes this weird kind of don't-mess-with-me attitude, but he seems to cover that up with the normal helpless-old-guy exterior. His performance is about as heart-breaking as it is scary. Michael cries, you feel like crying. Michael kills, you feel just about the same as him. Yeah, he's still got it. Trust me, there's more to him than being the confidante in every Nolan film.

On one layer of this film, it's an observation of the things that happens in the dodgy parts of England. Once you get to another layer, it throws you right into what really happens within those gangs. Sometimes it feels like you have seen too much, but once you see Caine making things right (in his own little way), it makes what he is doing all the more special. The film loudly ticks over to it's grand finale, which sends shockwaves through to the core...I don't think I've ever been so on edge in my life while watching that bit. Those sensitive to violence will find this a bit too shocking, as it gets really close to home with it's depiction of gangs. However, give Harry Brown a go. It certainly isn't the best film ever made, but if one is searching for a thought provoking piece filled with all the drama, action and moral dilemmas, then Harry Brown is a film which one would feel fulfilled by.


THE VERDICT: Harry Brown boasts an exceptional performance from Michael Caine, which helps level out all the violence that comes with it.

8/10