Movie Review: "The Damned United"

The Damned United
Directed by: Tom Hooper
Starring: Michael Sheen, Timothy Spall, Colm Meaney, and Jim Broadbent
Rated: R for language
Writer Peter Morgan can seemingly take the most un-cinematic events in British history and turn a fantastic film out of them. Especially when he re-teams with director Tom Hooper (HBO's John Adams), whom he worked with on the movie Longford, as well actor Michael Sheen, whom has appeared in many of Morgan's recent pictures, including last year's film Frost/Nixon. Sheen shines again, this time as the obsessed and outspoken soccer manager Brian Clough. However, it's Morgan's wit and craft, along with Hooper's visual style that truly won me over. Even unlike Frost/Nixon, this film gives you a true sense of its 1970s British setting, especially with it's high contrasted, unsaturated images. The terrific supporting performances, such as Timothy Spall, only add to the film's strength.

However, although it's considered a dramatic-comedy, The Damned United is also a very sad film. Clough's obsession to beat the legacy of his coaching rival is so crippling, Clough not only causes his problems, but can't truly enjoy his own successes. And, while the film ends with some resolution to his turbulent journey, it also hints that Clough's life was continually plagued and difficult, thanks to his cockiness and loud-mouth habits. Clough needed to learn that there are only three people who deserve to brag about their accomplishments: Peter Morgan, Tom Hooper, and Michael Sheen. Because, when they're united, they're unbeatable.

Archive Analysis:"Casablanca"

Zach's Favorite Film: #20

Casablanca
Directed by: Michael Curitz
Starring: Humphrey Bogart, Ingrid Bergman, Paul Henreid, Claude Rains
Rated: PG for mild violence

Casablanca is truly an iconic film, much deeper than it's legendary quotes "here's looking at you kid" or "play it, Sam." It goes beyond the legendary performances of Bogart or Bergman, or even it's setting in World War II. At it's core, Casablanca is a morality tale, where one wonders if the hero and heroine can put their own personal feelings aside in order to do what is right and best for each other, as well as the world surrounding them. It's a romantic film that succeeds where most in it's genre fail: it places responsibility and integrity higher than feelings and desire. And, against the black-and-white backdrop of World War II, Casablanca is truly a timeless picture that, when it's over, one wants to play it again.

Archive Analysis: "Amazing Grace"

Zach's Favorite Film: #21

Amazing Grace
Directed by: Michael Apt
Starring: Ioan Gruffudd, Albert Finney, Rufus Sewell, Romola Garai
Rated: PG for thematic material involving slaver, and some mild language

Ironic that, in my opinion, the greatest “Christian” film ever made was (once again) made by non-Christians. However, no matter who you are, Amazing Grace is one of the most inspiring stories that I have personally ever seen. It chronicles William Wilberforce’s epic campaign to live out his Christian beliefs by ending the slave trade, and the joys and sorrows that the quest brought. It’s a tale that rings true with the humanist in us all, but even more so with the Christian who, like Wilberforce, finds slavery wrong because “God made man equal.” The script is littered with some of the most moving and inspiring lines I’ve seen, the film is technically well-made (especially when compared to other Christian films), and it boasts a terrific cast of fresh faces and timeless performers. This Michael Apt film needs no grace from me; it’s simply amazing.

Quick Reviews for Feburary/March of 2010

Sorry about the recent tardiness of the reviews. We're going to do a little “Deem and Pass” Review Style in order to get caught up. It will be a few-sentence reviews to keep up with the times.

Shutter Island

Directed by: Martin Scorsese

Starring: Leonardo DiCaprio, Mark Ruffalo, Ben Kingsley, Michelle Williams

Rated: R for disturbing violent content, language and nudity.

While Scorsese is a master visual artist, I always feel that his films (the few that I’ve seen) fail to have much of impact or message. All-star cast, and spectacular visuals can’t save a harsh and offensive story that fails to move or say much.

State of Play

Directed by: Kevin Macdonald
Starring: Russel Crowe, Ben Affleck, Rachel McAdams, Helen Mirren, Jason Bateman
Rated: PG-13 for some violence, language including sexual references, and drug content

Another political thriller from writer Tony Gilroy that packs plenty of punches, twists, and suspense to keep you entertained from start to finish. Crowe and cast are great, and Jason Batemen gives a standout performance. A first-rate thriller that focuses on integrity in a world of mistrust and deception.

Now, for some classic films...

The Graduate

Directed by: Mike Nichols

Starring: Anne Bancroft, Dustin Hoffman

Released: 1967

Rated: PG for sexual content (although today would get a borderline R rating)

While Robert Surtees’ cinematography is fantastic, The Graduate is not a film I enjoyed or appreciated. The screenplay forces characters to interact quicker than reason, and the film is just plain dirty. Skipped through most of the film, and would have rather just listened to my Simon and Garfunkle greatest hits album.

Bonnie and Clyde

Directed by: Arthur Penn

Starring: Warren Beatty, Faye Dunaway, Gene Hackman

Released: 1967

Rated: R for Violence

While the beginning of the film seems forced and on-the-nose, I was actually invested in the film by movie’s end. Estelle Parsons (who won an Oscar for the film) didn’t deserve much recognition for her annoying and easy character, while Gene Hackman and the lovely Faye Dunaway (who didn’t get nominated) deserved the golden trophy, instead. Not sure why this 60s blockbuster is as famous as it is, but it is a truly entertaining film at the least, and caters to the rebel culture of the late 1960s.

The Seventh Seal
Directed by: Ingmar Bergman
Starring: Max Von Sydow
Released: 1957
The Film is Unrated (although I would say PG-13 for thematic elements)
A masterpiece of philosophical questions that somehow tries to correlate hope in a world of nihilism and failed theology, where the main character plays a chess game with Death (literally) while trying to derive meaning and purpose outside of the “Christian culture” of the middle ages. Bergman’s rejection of his father’s hypocritical and harsh “Christianity” shines through, giving the film a deeper message than the visuals and storytelling would lead you to believe.



That's all for now.