Bigger, Faster, More…

…all the things this movie wants to do…all the things this post is not….

          

Iron Man has always been rooted its cynical take on the contemporary world – contemporary America to be exact. It’s steeped in its glitz, the glamour, cheap thrills. The first film toed that line between decadence and intelligence that made it less of a by-the-book “superhero” movie and something not necessarily better, but more original. When watching Iron Man 2 my mind immediately went to the other sequel I saw recently. Sure, it’s for an entirely different audience but in its way Nanny McPhee routine “saving” of children is an incarnation of Downey Jr’s superhero. It’s obvious though, Thompson’s tale improves on the original… Iron Man 2.

                       

I can’t explain how it’s taking me so long to give my thoughts on this; I guess the general apathy I feel towards doesn’t help much. I have to purge, so on with the words.  

It’s an action flick, and in that realm I suppose Favreau feels the duty to give his audience what they want – endless thrills. The thing is, the film starts out for thirty minutes without trying to give us any outlandish, or obvious thrills and this is where it works the best. Sure, Stark is still something of a prick, but Downey Jr. can pull that off. And sure Palthrow’s Pepper continues to be written as little more than a caricature making her work even harder, but she can handle it. You’d think that with a fairly good starting it’d be off to a good film, but no – false alarm. Moreover, I can’t even be certain why, but I have my ideas. It’s as if Theroux thinks that by injecting the film with character after character, and plot point after plot point he’s going to make the film better. But we can’t build any one character in such a muddle. The film seems to be lacking any significant plot, even as I’m well aware that there’s quite a lot going on. Stark has revealed he’s Iron Man, he’s dying, Pepper is the new CEO of the Company, he’s being pressured to turn over his “weapons”, Ivan Vanko wants to kill him, so does Justin Hammer, a new assistant is more than the benign girl Stark believes her to be, oh and his father also arrives from beyond the grave to order words of wisdom. Did I miss anything? In this way Iron Man 2 reminds me of a huge roll of cotton candy, eye catching and ostensibly sweet but  ultimately unfulfilling (and unhealthy too). But it’s not a bad film….

Iron Man 2 reminds me of Alice in Wonderland - but whereas Alice in Wonderland despite it’s obvious poorness at times, stays on point and features excellent performances from Bonham Carter and Anne Hathaway Iron Man 2 doesn’t succeed as much. Downey Jr. charms wear thin eventually and Palthrow is wasted, even if Pepper has an ostensibly large role. Samuel Jackson, Scarlett Johansson and even the much feted Mickey Rourke add nothing substantial to the film – not because they’re not trying but because no one seems sure what exactly they’re supposed to be offering. I’m not mad at it, though, because it does all it does with honesty at least, and truthfully I hope it makes all the money it can. But really, I’m neither here nor there on it…which is shame considering on all that could have been…

                             

C+

And So He Linked...

So Iron Man II  is out, so I guess everyone's really excited or disappointed, depending on what you thought of it. I'm still mulling over it for a while but you can enjoy two reviews meanwhile. Jose is not a big fan, though he does like some things. Tim also gives his thoughts on the imminenet Summer blockbuster with some fairly similar thoughts...Have you seen it as yet? What were thoughts?

Yojimbo gives some ink to 2008 release In Bruges (and one of my top 5 that year). He's more than a little positive? Were you a fan of the Farrell comedy?
          
James D is wondering if life - movies in particular - ever wear you down. He raises some potent points (even if he knocks Nine and Avatar and Coraline in the process).
          
Darren writes an excellent review of the one that started them all, Spider Man.
          

Mike is in the process of looking at 27 movies that changed the trade. Head over there daily for the writeups.

Robert ranks the Glee cast members. Tsk, tsk, Lea Michele at #10. Mais, non!
                 

What are you waiting for this Summer? Jonathan gives his list...apparently he's a fan of Adrien Brodey..
              

Alex finally saw A Single Man...he's generally positive. 

Rachel makes a list of three films that are inspired by Shakespeare. Take a gander.
         
Luke writes an excellent piece on the enjoyable Sister Act, why isn't Whoopi acting anymore?
    
...and Heather is back with ten more delicious villians...I am enjoying this series...ooh look, Glenn Close...no false alarm. Sigh.
           

As always check the side-bar for more updates. Enjoy.

Anticipating 2010: Part 3

Well we're getting slowly, but surely. Now for top half of the forty films that I'm anticipating for this year. By this time, these are the films that I'm expecting very much of. So here's the next ten.  I hope you read Part One and Part Two.

            

#20 The Tempest

Julie Taymor is not a favourite of mine. Her excellent work in parts of Across the Universe was eviscerated by some horrid parts. I’m not too keen on changing the sex of Prospero, who I’m already resenting as a woman, but it’s Helen Mirren and I can forgive her for anything. Despite the alleged racial overtones of Caliban [which I think are BS] Djimon Honsou could be a wickedly good Caliban and even though The Tempest is nowhere near my favourite work by Will, I’m expecting much of this. And Ben Whishaw is in this, so it's a plus.
                      

#19 Brooklyn’s Finest

Ethan Hawke probably takes the crown as the most underrated actor of his generation. He has a lead role in this cop drama which looks as if it could be a sleeper hit, and I’m hoping for that. I don't really know what it's about, which should make it somewhat lower on the list. But, that's me. Richard Gere and the talented Don Cheadle costar and the film is directed by Antoine Fuqua of Training Day fame. Here's to this.

             

#18 Dirt Music

I'm worried that this will not be completed for this year: three Weisz films this year does seem to be much. Weisz and Collin Farrell star as two broken people who share a tentative romance. The book is a bit of a thriller. This could be a good low-key drama, if it gets done.

           

#17 You Will Meet A Tall Dark Stranger

Woody Allen. That’s enough to make me watch.The film centres on a family and the drama in their lives which isn't much, but Woody never lets on about his films - plot wise. I sure would have liked if Nicole Kidman was still attached, but the cast still looks strong. Anthony Hopkins, Naomi Watts and Antonio Banderas are actors I like and Josh Brolin is rising in my esteem, so I'm particularly hopeful for this. I like Woody's drama as much as his comedy actually.

           

#16 Agora

I’m still not sure if it’s only this country that doesn’t have this or not. Is this even a 2010 release? Well, it’s Rachel Weisz who is enough of a pull for me, but the entire premise is quite interesting and it looks to be quite a provocative drama and it's directed by Amenabar who was the director of the underrated, but wonderful The Others.I expect this to be a good one.

                   

#15 Iron Man 2

As The Mad Hatter said it’s Iron f***ing man. Of course it’s not that high on my list, but I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t expecting this to be good. Robert Downey Jr. is a whole lot of fun, Gwyneth Palthrow is fun when she’s having fun, Mickey Rourke is flippantly cool. And then there’s Scarlett: va va voom. It’s wrong that she’s my biggest draw her, but she is. Blame it on the hormones, but Scarlett Johansson in leather. Count me in.

             

#14 Wall Street 2: Money Never Sleeps

To be honest, I was not a big fan of the first Wall Street since Michael Douglas is still a question as far as I’m concerned and Charlie Sheen is just ugh. Still, I’m interested to see what Oliver Stone can do twenty years after the fact and with Susan Sarandon and Carey Mulligan joining on with Shia LeBouef, who I believe has more potential than we can discern from Transformers, I’m excited for this. The plot follows Gekko [Douglas] who is now out of prison and trying to repair relationships with his estranged Daughter [Mulligan].

                   

#13 The Way Back

The film is inspired by a true story that traces the escape of a group of Russian soldiers from a Siberian iprison n 1942 and the passage they take to India. Peter Weir, an accomplished director, writes and directs and the film stars Collin Farrell [he's going to be having quite a year, no?], Ed Harris [who is underrated], Jim Sturgess and Saoirse Ronan. This could be a very nice drama. I expect it to be, at least, aesthetically satisfying.

                 

#12 London Boulevard

This could have been higher,  but form here on out it's all a toss up. William Monahan, writer of the almost  perfect The Departed adapts this novel and makes his directorial debut with this piece. It centres on a reclusive actress [Keira Knightley] who befriends  a London criminal played by Collin Farrell. Yes, this is Colin's fourth film in my top 40. Told you, he's going to be having quite a year. I'm very excited for this. Keira Knightley is broadening her horizons, and I like it. She's underrated, same goes for Farrell. I'm unsure about Monohan, I hope his debut is not too gratuitous.               

        

#11 Black Swan 

The film chronicles two rival ballet dances - Natalie Portman and Mila Kunis. Portman's character's world falls apart when she loses the lead in Swan Lake to her rival. Hence the title. This looks good, I'm a fan of Portman and this also has Winona Ryder and Barbara Hershey. Darren Aronofsky is yet to completely wow me, but I know he has the potential. Perhaps, this is it?

                     

So the top ten is a few posts away? Any one here you expected to crack the ten? Which Farrell film are you looking forward to more? Waiting for Agora? Black Swan?