Review: "Spider-Man: Homecoming" Sparkly Fresh New

TRASH IN MY EYE No. 19 (of 2017) by Leroy Douresseaux

[This review was originally posted on Patreon.]

Spider-Man: Homecoming (2017)
Running time: 133 minutes (2 hour, 13 minutes)
MPAA – PG-13 for sequences of sci-fi/action and violence
DIRECTOR: Jon Watts
WRITERS:  Jonathan Goldstein, John Francis Daley, Jon Watts, Christopher Ford, Chris McKenna, and Erik Sommers; from a screen story by Jonathan Goldstein and John Francis Daley (based upon the Marvel comic book by Stan Lee and Steve Ditko)
PRODUCERS: Amy Pascal and Kevin Feige
CINEMATOGRAPHER: Salvatore Totino
EDITORS: Debbie Berman and Dan Lebental
COMPOSER: Michael Giacchino

SUPERHERO/ACTION/ADVENTURE/DRAMA

Starring:  Tom Holland, Michael Keaton, Robert Downey, Jr., Marisa Tomei, Jon Favreau, Gwyneth Paltrow, Zendaya, Donald Glover, Jacob Batalon, Laura Harrier, Tony Revolori, Bokeem Woodbine, Tyne Daly, Abraham Attah, Hannibal Buress, Michael Chernus, Garcelle Beauvais, Chris Evans, Stan Lee, and Jennifer Connelly (voice)

Spider-Man: Homecoming is a 2017 superhero film and drama from director Jon Watts.  It is the sixth film in Columbia Picture's Spider-Man film franchise, but it is the first in a new film trilogy.  Spider-Man: Homecoming is also a co-production between Columbia and Marvel Studios, making it the sixteenth film in the Marvel Cinematic Universe.  Homecoming finds Peter Parker trying to balance his life as a new threat to the safety of New York City emerges.

Spider-Man: Homecoming focuses on Peter Parker (Tom Holland), who is the superhero, Spider-Man.  Peter quits his high school's academic decathlon team so that he can spend more time focusing on his crime-fighting activities as Spider-Man.  He tells his guardian, Aunt May (Marisa Tomei), his friend, Ned (Jacob Batalon), and his classmates that he needs to spend more time on the “Stark internship” given to him by Tony Stark/Iron Man (Robert Downey, Jr.).

One night while patrolling his neighborhood, Spider-Man sees a group of criminals robbing an ATM.  Upon confronting them, Spider-Man discovers that they are using highly-advanced weapons to which they should not have access.  Through tenacious investigating, Peter learns that the weapons are being produced by Adrian Toomes (Michael Keaton), who owns a salvage company, by using alien technology he scavenges and steals as necessary.  Peter is determined to stop Toomes, who wears a high-tech Vulture-like suit.  However, Peter's Spider-Man activities are causing friction between him and his mentor, Tony Stark, and threatens not only Peter's life, but also the life of everyone close to him.

I really liked Tobey Maguire as Peter Parker/Spider-Man in director's Sam Raimi's three Spider-Man films that started the Sony Pictures Spider-Man film franchise, although I thought that only Spider-Man 2 (2004) was really good.  I liked Andrew Garfield in 2012's The Amazing Spider-Man, which I thought, at the time, to be the best Spider-Man film.

I don't know if I am ready to give up on Tobey Maguire as the best Peter Parker, but I think that Spider-Man: Homecoming is the best Spider-Man feature film yet.  Homecoming really sells the idea that it is about a 15-year-old playing superhero, and the film feels like a teen movie as much as it does as a superhero movie.  It is lighthearted and angsty like one of those John Hughes movies from the 1980s (say Pretty in Pink or Sixteen Candles).

At the same time, Spider-Man: Homecoming reminds me of Marvel Studios' first Marvel Cinematic Universe film, Iron Man (2008).  It is not ironic or coincidental that Homecoming features the movie star (Robert Downey, Jr.) and character from that 2008 film.  Like Iron Man, Homecoming focuses on making Peter Parker the center of the story, making Spider-Man a role that Peter plays.  Spider-Man is not the most important role in Peter's life; Peter's most important role is being himself.  One could say that the first Iron Man movie was about about Tony Stark (as played by Downey) than it was about Iron Man.  So it makes sense for Downey/Stark/Iron Man to appear in Homecoming to help Peter Parker find himself as Spider-Man by first finding himself.

Tom Holland gives a superb performance as Peter Parker.  His performance seems to create a heroic arc in which Peter finds himself as Spider-Man, but most importantly, finds himself and learns what is most important – how to be the best Peter Parker so that he can be the most effective Spider-Man.  [Of note, Homecoming is not an origin story and Parker is already Spider-Man when the film begins.]

Late in life, Michael Keaton seems to be convincing more and more people of just how good an actor he is.  Keaton and his villainous role (“The Vulture,” although he is never called that in the film) turn out to be quite important to this film because Keaton's performance and the character he plays are a mirror of Peter Parker's situation in many ways.  Keaton is so good and effective in this movie that he has earned the right to return in a future film.

Homecoming also features a number of good supporting performances besides Robert Downey, Jr.  Jacob Batalon is just right as Peter's friend, Ned, who is the perfect sidekick and guy-back-at-the-base.  Disney Channel star, Zendaya, makes the most of her role as Michelle Jones, and left me wanting to see much more of her.  As Peter's Aunt May, Marisa Tomei also demands more screen time.

I love Spider-Man: Homecoming.  It is the Spider-Man movie that I have been wanting ever since I first saw Sam Raimi's 2002 Spider-Man.  Spider-Man: Homecoming captures the magic, the sense of wonder, the imagination, and the freshness of Spider-Man's first appearance, a 12-page story included in the comic book, Amazing Fantasy #15 (1962)

9 of 10
A+

Monday, July 17, 2017


The text is copyright © 2017 Leroy Douresseaux. All Rights Reserved. Contact this site for syndication rights and fees.

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Negromancer News Bits and Bites from October 8th to 14th, 2017 - Update #40

Support Leroy on Patreon.

MOVIES - From THR:  The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS), which bestows the Academy Awards (Oscars), has expelled Harvey Weinstein in the wake of sexual harassment and sexual assault charges.

From THR:  Harvey's brother, Bob Weinstein, who cofounded The Weinstein Company with Harvey, gives an interview to "The Hollywood Reporter."

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CULTURE - From BoingBoing:  A white guy tries to blow up a plane and hardly anyone noticed... this is not a joke.

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MOVIES - From TheWrap:  Amazon severs ties with The Weinstein Company and that means that it cancels its involvement with David O. Russell and his TV series to star Robert DeNiro and Julianne Moore.

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MOVIES - From IndieWire:  The title of the Paul Thomas Anderson and Daniel Day-Lewis film is "Phantom Thread."

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MOVIES - From TheWrap:  Actress Amber Tamblyn releases a statement for her friend, Quentin Tarantino, about his friend, Harvey Weinstein.

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COMICS-FILM - From Collider:  "X-Men" spinoff "Gambit," with Channing Tatum, is back on and has a Feb. 2019 release date.  Gore Verbinski is supposed to direct the film.

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MOVIES - From Deadline:  Even if its changes its name, The Weinstein Company may not be able to survive the still-growing Harvey Weinstein scandal.

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MOVIES - From Deadline:  "Beetlejuice 2" is apparently really happening, and has a new writer.

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COMICS-FILM - From JoBlo:  The first teaser for Fox's "X-Men" spinoff, "New Mutants," arrives some time after midnight, Fri., Oct. 13th.

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COMICS-FILM - From DenofGeek:  Marvel Studios will publish an official time line of the Marvel Cinematic Universe so that viewers can figure out what happened and when it happened.

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CULTURE - From TheNewYorker:  From a story by Ronan Farrow, Harvey Weinstein's victims tell their stories.

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MOVIES:  From THR:  Gal Gadot ("Wonder Woman") is in talks to star in the Nazi revenge thriller, "Ruin."  Gadot is a citizen of Israel.

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TELEVISION - From TheWrap:  Fox has cast "Ralphie" in its live musical version of "A Christmas Story."  He is 11-year-old Alex Walken.

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ANIMATION - From Variety:  Walt Disney Animation Studios has stopped development on "Gigantic," its adaptation of the fairy tale "Jack and the Beanstalk."

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POLITICS - From YahooAOL:  LeBron James and Colin Kaepernick have perfect reactions to Eminem's freestyle diss of President Trump during Tuesday night's BET Hip Hop Awards.

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MOVIES - From YahooUKMovies: - A film fan "mansplains" Indiana Jones' costume to the woman who designed it, Deborah Landis.

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CELEBRITY - From YahooEntertainment:  Ben Affleck expressed disgust at the sexual harassment behavior of movie mogul, Harvey Weinstein, but actress Rose McGowan says Affleck knew years ago about Harvey's behavior... because she told him about it!

From YahooUKMovies:  Plus, former MTV host, Hilarie Burton, says Ben Affleck once groped her when she "was a kid."

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RELIEF - From Remezcla:  Here is how you can keep helping Puerto Rico recover from Hurricane Maria.

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TELEVISION - From TheWrap:  Apple is nearing a deal with Steven Spielberg's Amblin Television and NBCUnivesal to revive the 1980s anthology series, "Amazing Stories."

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CELEBRITY - From YahooEntertainment:  When Harvey Weinstein allegedly sexually harassed Gwyneth Paltrow, she was dating Brad Pitt.  Pitt reportedly threatened to beat up Weinstein over the incident with Paltrow.

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CELEBRITY - From YahooNews:  Actor and celebrity host Terry Crews recounts a recent experience with sexual harassment, which sounds more like sexual assault.

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MOVIES - From CinemaBlend:  Dwayne Johnson says that he wants to use his "Hobbs" "Fast & Furious" spinoff to expand the franchise.

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MOVIES - From ThePlaylist:  Sylvester Stallone wants to produce and direct "Creed 2," the sequel to "Creed," which was directed by Ryan Coogler.

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SPORTS - From TheNation:  In light of former NFL player and coach, Mike Ditka's latest racist rants, here is another classic from sports writer, Dave Zirin, "The Unbearable Bigotry of Mike Ditka."

From TheChicagoTribune:   And if Mike Ditka can't see oppression during the last 100 years [Didn't know he was that old! - Ed.], medicines like Viagra (for which he once famously shilled) may cause injury to one's eyesight.

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EMMY - From Emmys:  This Microsoft Word PDF is a detailed list of the winners of the 38th Annual News & Documentary Emmy Awards.

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CELEBRITY - From YahooEntertainment:  The late actor, Anton Yelchin (who died in June 2016) is honored in an emotional celebration of life.

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BOX OFFICE - From BoxOfficeMojo:  The winner of the 10/6 to 10/8/2017 box office weekend is "Blade Runner 2049."

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HUMAN RIGHTS - From Truthout:  This Holocaust survivor is more afraid of Neo-Nazi than Antifa activists.

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CELEBRITY - From THR:  And The Weinstein Company terminates Harvey Weinstein.

From RSN:  Harvey Weinstein losing supporters, including his advisor Lisa Bloom, as controversy around sexual harassment allegations mounts.

From HuffPost:  And Harvey ejaculated into a potted plant.

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HARRY POTTER - From Variety:  Jessica Williams, formerly a correspondent on "The Daily Show," are among the new announced cast members of the "Fantastic Beasts" sequel.

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MOVIES - From BusinessInsider:  Jennifer Lawrence wants to explain her film, "mother," to you.

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CELEBRITY - From TheGuardian:  How weird does a movie star have to be before we stop watching their films.

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MOVIES - From NPR:  National Public Radio offers 16 Fall movies they think we should pay attention to.

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MOVIES - From Variety:  There is a fight over who will have the final cut on the film, "The Professor and the Madman," starring Mel Gibson.

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FILM FESTIVALS - From Wired:  The best films from the 2017 Toronto International Film Festival to look forward to.

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MOVIES - From Variety:  14-year-old Jaeden Lieberher talks about his hit movie, "IT."

TRAILERS:

From YahooEntertaiment:  Here is the first trailer for Fox's "X-Men," spinoff, "The New Mutants."

From YouTube:  The second official trailer for "Star Wars: The Last Jedi."

From Kottke:  Here is the trailer for the documentary, "Score: A Film Music Documentary."

OBITS:

From TheNewYorkTimes:  Basketball Hall of Fame member, Connie "The Hawk" Hawkins, has died at the age of 75, Friday, October 6, 2017.  Hawkins played seven seasons in the NBA.  As a freshman, Hawkins was expelled from Iowa and later barred for awhile from the NBA because his name was connected via unsubstantiated rumors that he was involved in a New York City point shaving scandal.

From ESPN:  Pro Football Hall of Fame quarterback, Y.A. Tittle, has died at the age of 90, Sunday, October 8, 2017.  He was on the 1963 MVP.  He played his college football at Louisiana State University, which he led to the 1947 Cotton Bowl, known as the "Ice Bowl."  He played most of his career for the San Francisco 49ers, but had his greatest success at the end of his career with the New York Giants.

Idris Elba, Channing Tatum Among Presenters at 87th Oscars

Jason Bateman, Idris Elba, Ansel Elgort, Nicole Kidman, Liam Neeson, Gwyneth Paltrow and Channing Tatum To Present At 87th Oscars®

Jason Bateman, Idris Elba, Ansel Elgort, Nicole Kidman, Liam Neeson, Gwyneth Paltrow and Channing Tatum will be presenters at this year’s Oscars, show producers Craig Zadan and Neil Meron announced today. The Oscars, hosted by Neil Patrick Harris, will air on Sunday, February 22, live on ABC.

Bateman appeared in the Best Picture Oscar®- nominated films “Up in the Air” (2009) and “Juno” (2007). Most recently Bateman starred in the “Horrible Bosses” (2011 and 2014) franchise, “This Is Where I Leave You” (2014), and “Bad Words” (2013), Bateman’s directorial debut.  He is currently working on “Untitled Joel Edgerton Project” and recently wrapped production of “The Family Fang,” his second directorial effort in which he also stars.

Elba most recently starred in the 2014 thriller “No Good Deed.” His other film roles include “28 Weeks Later” (2007), “Thor” (2011), “Pacific Rim” (2013) and “Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom” (2013). He has been nominated for four Emmy Awards®, including three for Lead Actor in a Miniseries or a Movie for “Luther” (2010). Elba will next be seen in “Beasts of No Nation.”

Elgort made his film debut in 2013’s “Carrie” and followed up with three more films in 2014: “The Fault in Our Stars,” “Divergent” and “Men, Women & Children.” He will next be seen in the sequel “The Divergent Series: Insurgent.”

Kidman won an Oscar for Actress in a Leading Role for “The Hours” (2002) and was nominated for her leading roles in “Moulin Rouge” (2001) and “Rabbit Hole” (2010). Her other credits include “Dead Calm” (1989), “Far and Away” (1992), “Eyes Wide Shut” (1999), “Cold Mountain” (2003) and “The Golden Compass” (2007). Her upcoming films include “Lion” and “The Secret in Their Eyes.”

Neeson received an Oscar nomination for Actor in a Leading Role for his performance as the title character in “Schindler’s List” (1993). Other film roles include “The Dead Pool” (1988), “Husbands and Wives” (1992), “Michael Collins” (1996), “Love Actually” (2003), “Taken” (2008), “The Grey” (2011) and “Non-Stop” (2014). He will next be seen in “Ted 2” and “Run All Night.”

Paltrow is an Oscar winner for her leading role in “Shakespeare in Love” (1998).  She has starred in such films as “Great Expectations” (1998), “The Talented Mr. Ripley” (1999), and “The Royal Tenenbaums” (2001) and most recently the “Iron Man” franchise (2008, 2010 and 2013).

Tatum, who currently stars in the sci-fi feature “Jupiter Ascending,” appeared in last year’s “22 Jump Street” (2014), “Foxcatcher” (2014) and “The Lego Movie” (2014).  His previous credits include “White House Down” (2013), “Magic Mike” (2012) and “21 Jump Street” (2012).  He will star in “Magic Mike XXL” later this year.

Previously announced presenters and performers include:

Presenters:
Ben Affleck, Jennifer Aniston, Cate Blanchett, Jessica Chastain, Marion Cotillard, Benedict Cumberbatch, Viola Davis, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Chris Evans, Kevin Hart, Josh Hutcherson, Scarlett Johansson, Dakota Johnson, Jennifer Lopez, Jared Leto, Shirley MacLaine, Matthew McConaughey, Sienna Miller, Chloë Grace Moretz, Eddie Murphy, Lupita Nyong’o, David Oyelowo, Chris Pine, Chris Pratt, Margot Robbie, Zoe Saldana, Octavia Spencer, Meryl Streep, Miles Teller, John Travolta, Kerry Washington, Naomi Watts, Oprah Winfrey and Reese Witherspoon.

Performers:
Jack Black, Common, Jennifer Hudson, Lady Gaga, Anna Kendrick, John Legend, Adam Levine with Maroon 5, Tim McGraw, Rita Ora and Tegan and Sara with The Lonely Island.

The 87th Oscars will be held on Sunday, February 22, 2015, at the Dolby Theatre® at Hollywood & Highland Center® in Hollywood, and will be televised live on the ABC Television Network at 7 p.m. ET/4 p.m. PT. The Oscars, produced by Zadan and Meron, also will be televised live in more than 225 countries and territories worldwide.

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Review: "Iron Man 3" About the Man in the Iron

TRASH IN MY EYE No. 31 (of 2013) by Leroy Douresseaux


Iron Man 3 (2013)
Running time: 130 minutes (2 hours, 10 minutes)
MPAA – PG-13 for sequences of intense sci-fi action and violence throughout, and brief suggestive content
DIRECTOR: Shane Black
WRITERS: Drew Pearce and Shane Black (based on the characters and stories created by Stan Lee, Don Heck, Larry Lieber, and Jack Kirby)
PRODUCER: Kevin Feige
CINEMATOGRAPHER: John Toll (director of photography)
EDITORS: Peter S. Elliot and Jeffrey Ford
COMPOSER: Brian Tyler

SUPERHERO/SCI-FI/ACTION

Starring: Robert Downey, Jr., Gwyneth Paltrow, Don Cheadle, Guy Pearce, Rebecca Hall, Ty Simpkins, Ben Kingsley, James Badge Dale, Stephanie Szostak, William Sadler, Miguel Ferrer, Jon Favreau, and Paul Bettany (voice)

Iron Man 3 is a 2013 superhero film co-written and directed by Shane Black and starring Robert Downey, Jr. in the title role. It is the third movie in the Iron Man film franchise and the seventh installment in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (which began with the first Iron Man movie in 2008). In Iron Man 3, Tony Stark/Iron Man is forced to rebuild his world after it is torn apart by a formidable terrorist.

Iron Man 3 finds billionaire inventor Tony Stark (Robert Downey, Jr.) suffering from anxiety after his experiences with The Avengers. He has built several new Iron Man suits, which causes friction with his girlfriend and current CEO of Stark Industries, Pepper Potts (Gwyneth Paltrow). Also, Tony’s friend, James “Rhodey” Rhodes (Don Cheadle), is now the U.S. government’s go-to-guy when it needs Iron Man-type help. Rhodes in his War Machine armor has also been re-branded as the Iron Patriot.

Tony has been working non-stop for months, but one thing that does catch his attention is the global tension caused by a mysterious terrorist known as The Mandarin (Ben Kingsley). After his friend, Happy Hogan (Jon Favreau), is gravely wounded in one of The Mandarin’s terrorist attacks, Tony vows revenge, but The Mandarin strikes first. Tony begins a journey of rebuilding and retribution, which is complicated by a cast of characters that includes friends and foes and even people whose allegiances are suspect.

Iron Man 3 is spectacular. Destruction is rendered in vivid colors and in awesome visual effects generated by computer software with the god-like ability to create new realities. But I was buying it the way I did for the first two Iron Man films. Don’t get me wrong, Iron Man 3 is good, and I enjoyed it – for the most part. For all its superhero action pageantry and its out of this world combat between demigods and demigod wannabes, I was only somewhat titillated.

There is one glaring thing that dampened my enthusiasm for Iron Man 3, and it is the entire Tony Stark anxiety, panic attack, quasi-PTSD, crisis of faith/conscience factor that is at the heart of Iron Man 3. To me, Tony’s angst comes across as contrived. I just wasn’t buying it. Didn’t we already litigate Tony Stark’s mental demons, relationship shortcomings, and personality glitches in Iron Man 2?

I did enjoy Gwyneth Paltrow as Pepper Potts, and the actress shows that if the filmmakers did more than just scratch the surface of this character, they’d have something super. In addition, Don Cheadle easily moves past being the replacement actor (as Terrence Howard played Rhodes in the first Iron Man), as he fully comes into his own as James Rhodes. Here, Cheadle is funny and engaging, and he clearly has the film personality to be an action-movie star – certainly in superhero movies. Also, Ty Simpkins is surprisingly good as the Harley, a non-annoying, forthright boy.

In terms of tone, attitude, and spirit, Iron Man 3 is different from its predecessors. In fact, it seems odd, and The Mandarin subplot keeps things weird – perhaps too much. So Iron Man 3… maybe I’ll like it more when I see it again, on DVD or television. It is a good movie, but I can only be generous enough to give it a grade of “B.”

6 of 10
B

Sunday, May 5, 2013

"Iron Man 3" Opens Early in IMAX

Marvel's Iron Man 3 Flies Into IMAX® Theatres Worldwide Starting April 25

LOS ANGELES, Jan. 22, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- IMAX Corporation (NYSE:IMAX; TSX:IMX), and Marvel Entertainment, a division of The Walt Disney Company (NYSE: DIS), today announced that Marvel's Iron Man 3(TM), the latest installment of the film franchise that has grossed more than $1.2 billion at the global box office, will be digitally re-mastered into the immersive IMAX(®) 3D format and released to IMAX(®) theatres internationally starting April 25 and domestically on May 3.

Marvel's Iron Man 3 marks the fourth Marvel Entertainment film to be presented in IMAX theatres, following the releases of Iron Man 2 in 2010, Thor in 2011 and Marvel's The Avengers in 2012 - which all delivered record breaking performances in IMAX theatres.

"Marvel and IMAX are a perfect one-two punch and the Iron Man franchise has become a global phenomenon that resonates with fans around the world," said Greg Foster, Chairman and President of IMAX Filmed Entertainment. "We look forward to moviegoers experiencing this highly-anticipated next installment of Tony Stark's latest adventures in IMAX 3D."

"With Iron Man 3 building on the events of Marvel'sThe Avengers, audiences are in for yet another incredible moviegoing experience from Marvel Studios," said Dave Hollis, Executive Vice President of Motion Picture Distribution for The Walt Disney Studios. "We're thrilled to be able to offer that to fans in the larger-than-life action of IMAX 3D."

The IMAX 3D release of Marvel's Iron Man 3 will be digitally re-mastered into the image and sound quality of The IMAX Experience(®) with proprietary IMAX DMR(®) (Digital Re-mastering) technology. The crystal-clear images, coupled with IMAX's customized theatre geometry and powerful digital audio, create a unique environment that will make audiences feel as if they are in the movie. You can learn more about Marvel's Iron Man 3 by visiting Marvel's official site at http://marvel.com/ironman3.


About Iron Man 3
Marvel's Iron Man 3 pits brash-but-brilliant industrialist Tony Stark/Iron Man against an enemy whose reach knows no bounds. When Stark finds his personal world destroyed at his enemy's hands, he embarks on a harrowing quest to find those responsible. This journey, at every turn, will test his mettle. With his back against the wall, Stark is left to survive by his own devices, relying on his ingenuity and instincts to protect those closest to him. As he fights his way back, Stark discovers the answer to the question that has secretly haunted him: does the man make the suit or does the suit make the man?

Starring Robert Downey, Jr., Gwyneth Paltrow, Don Cheadle, Guy Pearce, Rebecca Hall, Stephanie Szostak, James Badge Dale with Jon Favreau and Ben Kingsley, Marvel's Iron Man 3 is directed by Shane Black from a screenplay by Drew Pearce & Shane Black and is based on Marvel's iconic super hero Iron Man, who first appeared in the pages of Tales of Suspense #39 in 1963 and had his solo comic book debut with The Invincible Iron Man # in May of 1968.

Marvel's Iron Man 3 is presented by Marvel Studios in association with Paramount Pictures and DMG Entertainment. Marvel Studios' President Kevin Feige is producing and Jon Favreau, Louis D'Esposito, Charles Newirth, Victoria Alonso, Stephen Broussard, Alan Fine, Stan Lee and Dan Mintz are executive producers. The film releases May 3, 2013, and is distributed by Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures.

About Marvel Entertainment, LLC
Marvel Entertainment, LLC, a wholly-owned subsidiary of The Walt Disney Company, is one of the world's most prominent character-based entertainment companies, built on a proven library of over 8,000 characters featured in a variety of media over seventy years. Marvel utilizes its character franchises in entertainment, licensing and publishing. For more information, visit http://www.marvel.com/.

About IMAX Corporation
IMAX, an innovator in entertainment technology, combines proprietary software, architecture and equipment to create experiences that take you beyond the edge of your seat to a world you've never imagined. Top filmmakers and studios are utilizing IMAX theatres to connect with audiences in extraordinary ways, and, as such, IMAX's network is among the most important and successful theatrical distribution platforms for major event films around the globe.

IMAX is headquartered in New York, Toronto and Los Angeles, with offices in London, Tokyo, Shanghai and Beijing. As of Sept. 30, 2012, there were 689 IMAX theatres (556 commercial multiplex, 20 commercial destination and 113 institutional) in 52 countries.

IMAX®, IMAX® 3D, IMAX DMR®, Experience It In IMAX®, An IMAX 3D Experience®, The IMAX Experience® and IMAX Is Believing® are trademarks of IMAX Corporation. More information about the Company can be found at www.imax.com. You may also connect with IMAX on Facebook (www.facebook.com/imax), Twitter (www.twitter.com/imax) and YouTube (www.youtube.com/imaxmovies).

This press release contains forward looking statements that are based on IMAX management's assumptions and existing information and involve certain risks and uncertainties which could cause actual results to differ materially from future results expressed or implied by such forward looking statements. These risks and uncertainties are discussed in IMAX's most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K and most recent Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q.

Review: Everything About "The Royal Tenenbaums" is Wonderful (Happy B'day, Wes Anderson)

TRASH IN MY EYE No. 15 (of 2002) by Leroy Douresseaux


The Royal Tenenbaums (2001)
Running time: 110 minutes (1 hour, 50 minutes)
MPAA – R for some language, sexuality/nudity and drug content
DIRECTOR: Wes Anderson
WRITERS: Owen Wilson and Wes Anderson
PRODUCERS: Wes Anderson, Barry Mendel, and Scott Rudin
CINEMATOGRAPHER: Robert Yeoman (D.o.P.)
EDITOR: Dylan Tichenor
COMPOSER: Mark Mothersbaugh
Academy Award nominee

COMEDY/DRAMA

Starring: Gene Hackman, Anjelica Huston, Gwyneth Paltrow, Ben Stiller, Luke Wilson, Owen Wilson, Danny Glover, Bill Murray, Alec Baldwin, Seymour Cassel, Kumar Pallana, Grant Rosenmeyer, and Jonah Meyerson

The subject of this movie review is The Royal Tenenbaums, the 2001 Oscar-nominated comedy and drama from director, Wes Anderson. The film follows siblings whose early success was mitigated by their eccentric father’s behavior. I love this film and…

Apparently, Rushmore was not a fluke.

When Royal O’Reilly Tenenbaum (Gene Hackman) announces that he is dying, his family slowly, painfully reunites. His wife Etheline “Ethel” Tenenbaum (Anjelica Huston) removed her philandering husband from the home over a decade prior to the beginning of the movie. Their three children are business whiz Chas (Ben Stiller), playwright Margot Helen (Gwyneth Paltrow), who is actually adopted, and Richie “Baumer” (Luke Wilson), who grew up to become a professional tennis champion. Family friend and unofficial fourth Tenenbaum child is Elijah “Eli” Cash (Owen Wilson), a novelist and a drug addict, who is also in love with Margot.

Royal would like to get in good with his family, again, but he left so many open wounds when Ethel exiled him. The Tenenbaum children were celebrated prodigies who have fallen on bad times. Chas, a single father of two boys and who lost his wife the previous year in a plane crash, despises his father. Margot is a playwright in limbo, and Richie’s suffered a meltdown during his last championship tennis match. Royal is also disturbed by his wife’s engagement to her accountant Henry Sherman (Danny Glover), and he wants desperately to connect with Chas’s sons, his grandsons. What unfolds is a touching, but unusual family drama/comedy.

Directed by Wes Anderson of the aforementioned Rushmore, The Royal Tenenbaums is a film with a conventional story, the family drama, filled with the usual comedy, familial intrigue, and requisite feuds. What makes this film so different from other family dramas is Anderson’s conviction and determination not to be like other filmmakers or not to deliver something that is nothing more than film industry product. His vision is unique, and his storytelling technique demands not only one’s attention but that one also engage the film.

Anderson is a visual stylist, but in a quite manner. His cinematographer, Robert D. Yeoman has worked on Anderson’s other films and contributes a peculiar color palette that resembles Technicolor, but is merged with clean, earth tones. Tenenbaums has a dreamlike quality with a slight breath of realism. It’s eye candy, but doesn’t distract from the story; in fact, it keeps one attentive to what the camera reveals. Unlike many directors who are visually sharp by way of quick cuts and editing, Anderson doesn’t mind allowing his camera to linger on and to follow his characters.

The script by Anderson and Tenenbaum co-star Owen Wilson is filled with idiosyncrasies, but is, nevertheless, a story about a family and the damage family members do to one another. We’ve seen it before, but unlike American Beauty, Tenenbaums really manages to tell a familiar story in a unique and special way.

The performances are subtle and nuanced even as the characters appear to be over the top. We know that Gene Hackman is good, but he has a knack for giving range to familiar character types. His performances nearly always hint at characters that have lived long lives before their respective movies begin. Royal is like a book, and Hackman makes the mental exercise that it takes to figure out Royal worth it.

Gwyneth Paltrow continues to reveal the scope of her abilities. She is a classic film pretty face, but with the acting chops of serious thespian. Owen Wilson is his usual wacky self; he manages to be self-confident and endearing even when playing a not too bright character. However, the surprise here is his brother Luke Wilson. Even through dark glasses, he makes his eyes the windows to the soul of his troubled character. He is the film’s mystery man, and he is the sum of his family’s troubles. Wilson doesn’t miss a beat while carrying this burden.

The Royal Tenenbaums is filled with wonderful acting, directing, story telling. Too make such an offbeat clan and their associates so lovable, charming, and fun to follow is no minor feat. Anderson takes the ordinary and makes it extraordinary. Truly, he does it like few before him. Bravo!

We get all this and a wonderful voiceover narration by Alec Baldwin.

9 of 10
A+

NOTES:
2002 Academy Awards: 1 nomination: “Best Writing, Screenplay Written Directly for the Screen” (Wes Anderson and Owen Wilson)

2002 BAFTA Awards: 1 nomination: “Best Screenplay – Original” (Wes Anderson and Owen Wilson)

2002 Golden Globes, USA: 1 win: “Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture - Comedy or Musical” (Gene Hackman)

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"Iron Man 3" Goes to China

Marvel’s IRON MAN 3 to Be Co-Produced in China

The Walt Disney Company China, Marvel Studios and DMG Entertainment to Bring Super Hero to China

SHANGHAI & BEIJING & LOS ANGELES--(BUSINESS WIRE)--The Walt Disney Company China, Marvel Studios and DMG Entertainment today announced the intention to co-produce IRON MAN 3 in China. Under the arrangement, DMG Entertainment will make an investment in the production of IRON MAN 3, manage the Chinese co-production process, and jointly produce the film in China. The Chinese portion of IRON MAN 3’s production will run through DMG Entertainment in coordination with Marvel Studios’ production and creative teams. DMG will also distribute IRON MAN 3 in China in collaboration with The Walt Disney Company China.

IRON MAN 3 will be the third movie in the billion-dollar plus franchise from Marvel and stars a returning cast including Robert Downey Jr. (as billionaire inventor Tony Stark) Gwyneth Paltrow (as Pepper Potts) and Don Cheadle (as James “Rhodey” Rhodes). IRON MAN 3 is produced by Kevin Feige and executive produced by Alan Fine, Stan Lee, Louis D'Esposito, Charles Newirth, Victoria Alonso, Stephen Broussard and Dan Mintz. The film is being directed by Shane Black who is working on the script with Drew Pearce. The film releases in the United States on May 3, 2013, and is being distributed by Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures in all territories worldwide other than in China (which is being distributed by DMG Entertainment) and Germany/Austria (which is being distributed by the Tele München Group).

“The popularity of the Marvel franchise globally creates a huge opportunity to deliver fans yet another action packed film,” said Stanley Cheung, Managing Director, The Walt Disney Company, Greater China. “The co-production of IRON MAN 3 in China is testimony to the importance of this audience to Disney and the local industry capability to deliver a blockbuster title,” he added.

“We look forward to working alongside DMG to bring IRON MAN to the Chinese marketplace in a significant way. We are confident that Marvel’s stories will continue to be enjoyed by Chinese audiences, and adding a local flavor, and working with our new local partner, will enhance the appeal and relevance of our characters in China’s fast-growing film marketplace,” said Rob Steffens, General Manager of Operations and Finance for Marvel Studios.

“Our collaboration with Disney and Marvel marks a milestone in the global entertainment landscape, as this signifies the first multi-billion dollar franchise to be produced between Hollywood and China,” said Dan Mintz, CEO of DMG Entertainment. “The IRON MAN franchise has been a major success worldwide, and we look forward to pushing the series to new heights with IRON MAN 3. The movie will further build upon its compelling storyline, and feature the hottest A-list stars, and spectacular action, which will resonate well both globally and in China, the second largest box office market in the world.”

The first installment of IRON MAN lifted off with high-speed, high-flying action when jet-setting industrialist Tony Stark survives an unexpected attack and escapes by building a high-tech robotic suit of armor. When he uncovers a nefarious plot with global implications, he dons his powerful armor and vows to protect the world as Iron Man. Straight from the pages of the legendary comic book, Iron Man is a hero who is built—not born—to be unlike any other and made US$581 million at the global box office when released in 2008. Based on Marvel's iconic Super Hero, IRON MAN 2 continued the story of the 2008 summer box office blockbuster IRON MAN, and made US$624 million at the global box office when released in 2010. Now, IRON MAN 3 continues the story with a new chapter that will deliver more heart-pounding action than ever before. Marvel Studios’ IRON MAN 3 will find Tony Stark with his back against the wall, facing his most fearsome foes yet.

Shooting is expected to commence in May in the United States and begin location filming in China in late summer 2012.


About The Walt Disney Company in China
The Walt Disney Company (NYSE:DIS), together with its subsidiaries and affiliates, is a diversified international family entertainment enterprise with five business segments and is a Dow 30 company with revenues of $41 billion in its most recently reported fiscal year. Disney's first animation screened in China in the 1930s and today our long association continues with offices in Beijing, Shanghai and Guangzhou with over 1000 employees. The Company has a broad range of businesses including publishing, broadcast, mobile, web, retail and its English language program, Disney English, which launched in 2008. Nearly 24 hours of Disney television programming is now available in China every week, reaching 300-360 million people each month. In September 2005, Disney opened its doors to its first theme park in China, Hong Kong Disneyland and in 2011 announced ground breaking for the Shanghai Disneyland Resort, a joint venture with Shanghai Shendi Group.

About Marvel Entertainment
Marvel Entertainment, LLC, a wholly-owned subsidiary of The Walt Disney Company, is one of the world's most prominent character-based entertainment companies, built on a proven library of over 8,000 characters featured in a variety of media over seventy years. Marvel utilizes its character franchises in entertainment, licensing and publishing. For more information visit www.marvel.com. Super Hero(es) is a co-owned registered trademark.

About DMG Entertainment
Founded in China in 1993, DMG owns and operates a premier entertainment company (DMG Entertainment), and an award-winning communications agency (DMG Media), possessing nearly 20 years of experience. DMG Entertainment is a leader in China’s film market through the production of a diverse portfolio of commercially driven films, including 2009’s The Founding of a Republic, 2010’s Go Lala Go!, and 2011’s Beginning of the Great Revival, as well as through the distribution of Hollywood titles such as Twilight, Knowing, Killers, Resident Evil: Afterlife, RED, The Eagle, and Priest. DMG Entertainment has also produced Hollywood/China films including Looper set for release in 2012. DMG Media has provided strategic and creative campaigns for international brands looking to connect with Chinese consumers through DMG’s all-encompassing platform.

Review: "Contagion" is Uncomfortably Real

TRASH IN MY EYE No. 15 (of 2012) by Leroy Douresseaux

Contagion (2011)
Running time: 106 minutes (1 hour, 46 minutes)
MPAA – PG-13 for disturbing content and some language
CINEMATOGRAPHER/DIRECTOR: Steven Soderbergh
WRITER: Scott Z. Burns
PRODUCERS: Gregory Jacobs, Michael Shamberg, and Stacey Sher
EDITOR: Stephen Mirrione
COMPOSER: Cliff Martinez

DRAMA/THRILLER

Starring: Laurence Fishburne, Marion Cotillard, Matt Damon, Jude Law, Gwyneth Paltrow, Kate Winslet, Bryan Cranston, Jennifer Ehle, Sanaa Lathan, Elliot Gould, Chin Han, John Hawkes, Anna Jacoby-Heron, and Enrico Colantoni

Contagion is a 2011 film from director Steven Soderbergh. Essentially an ensemble drama and thriller, Contagion documents the spread of a virus that turns into a global pandemic, causing worldwide social chaos. Meanwhile, government officials try to contain it and medical officials try to identify the virus in order to create a vaccine for it. Contagion is a smart, scary disaster movie that will simultaneously give you the creeps while making you wonder if you are prepared for a pandemic.

The film begins by focusing on Beth Emhoff (Gwyneth Paltrow), a businesswoman in Hong Kong. Unbeknownst to her, Beth returns to the United States bringing with her a pestilence that will leave half her immediate family dead. From there, the story focuses on countless players dealing with the aftermath of the virus that is eventually named, MEV-1. Beth’s husband, Mitch Emhoff (Matt Damon), balances his need to protect his daughter, Jory (Anna Jacoby-Heron), who is frustrated with the quarantine, with her need to be a teenager. Alan Krumwiede (Jude Law), an Internet blogger who is obsessed with conspiracy theories, schemes to make money off the chaos created by the spread of the virus.

At the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in Atlanta, Dr. Ellis Cheever (Laurence Fishburne) leads a team trying to identify the virus, contain it, and create a vaccine for it. A World Health Organization (WHO) epidemiologist, Dr. Leonora Orantes (Marion Cotillard), travels to Hong Kong to trace the origin of the virus. CDC scientist, Dr. Ally Hextall (Jennifer Ehle), feels the pressure to find a cure, so she makes a decision that is either selfish or selfless. Meanwhile, fear and mass hysteria spread faster than the contagion.

Contagion has no single protagonist and no outright human antagonist. However, because it is an ensemble drama, Contagion can explore multiple themes, such as mass panic, loss of social order, the limitations of government during a disaster, cronyism, and greed, etc., from the view point of multiple characters.

Director Steven Soderbergh has this film jumping from one character and plot to the next. Because the characters are so well-defined and the plots so riveting, he always leaves the viewer wanting more, which can directly engage the viewer with the story, almost as if it were a real event. Contagion’s ultra-realism makes the movie feel more human and less post-human like so many modern, computer effects enhanced film thrillers. Of course, Soderbergh has an excellent multi-layered script by Scott Z. Burns from which to work. This reach and scope of this screenplay practically demands that Burns or someone else turn it into a novel.

Contagion is by no means perfect. It burns so hot, which is why it is so intense as a thriller, but Soderbergh needed to dial that back a few notches in certain parts of the story. Sometimes, the film is too aloof when it needs to stop and focus longer on certain characters in certain scenes.

7 of 10
A-

NOTES:
2012 Black Reel Awards: 1 nomination: “Outstanding Supporting Actor” (Laurence Fishburne)

2012 Image Awards: 1 nomination: “Outstanding Actor in a Motion Picture” (Laurence Fishburne)

Wednesday, February 22, 2012

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Review: "Shakespeare in Love" is Always a Delight (Happy B'day, Gwyneth Paltrow)

TRASH IN MY EYE No. 215 (of 2004) by Leroy Douresseaux

Shakespeare in Love (1998)
Running time: 122 minutes (2 hours, 2 minutes)
MPAA – R for sexuality
DIRECTOR: John Madden
WRITERS: Marc Norman and Tom Stoppard
PRODUCERS: Donna Gigliotti, Marc Norman, David Parfitt, Harvey Weinstein, and Edward Zwick
CINEMATOGRAPHER: Richard Greatrex
EDITOR: David Gamble
Academy Award winner

ROMANCE/COMEDY/DRAMA

Starring: Gwyneth Paltrow, Joseph Fiennes, Geoffrey Rush, Colin Firth, Tom Wilkinson, Ben Affleck, Judi Dench, Martin Clunes, Simon Callow, Imelda Staunton, Nicholas Le Prevost, and Joe Roberts with Rupert Everett

When Gwyneth Paltrow won the Oscar for “Best Actress in a Leading role” at the 1999 Oscar ceremonies, few were surprised. When the picture in which she starred, Shakespeare in Love, won the “Best Picture” Oscar, jaws around the world dropped; after all, the film to beat was Steven Spielberg’s oh-so-important, Saving Private Ryan. Well, Shakespeare in Love did beat it. Years later, I still would pick Ryan over Shakespeare, but Shakespeare in Love is a much better movie going experience. The film also won Oscars for “Best Actress in a Supporting Role (Judi Dench), “Best Art Direction-Set Decoration,” “Best Costume Design,” “Best Music, Original Musical or Comedy Score,” and “Best Writing, Screenplay Written Directly for the Screen.”

What’s the story that captured the hearts and imaginations of moviegoers, film critics, and award givers? It’s 1593, and young playwright William Shakespeare (Joseph Fiennes) is a mess. He’s out of ideas, suffering writer’s block, entangled in too many romantic or lustful intrigues, living far way from his wife and children, and he’s out of money. As he struggles to finish his new play, a comedy with the awkward title, Romeo and Ethel the Sea Pirate’s Daughter, he accidentally discovers his muse in a new actor, Thomas Kent (Gwyneth Paltrow). When Kent runs away from his admiring stare, Will Shakespeare chases after him and discovers that Kent is a she, Viola de Lesseps (Ms. Paltrow), the daughter of a wealthy commoner. It’s love at first sight for the both of them, but Viola’s father (Nicholas Le Prevost) has promised his daughter’s hand in marriage to a penniless nobleman, Lord Wessex (Colin Firth).

However, the engagement doesn’t temper their love and they carry on a clandestine affair that leads to the stage. Will gives the part of Romeo to Viola, but her gender remains a secret to him, while the other actors and the backers of the newly renamed Romeo and Juliet believe their Romeo is played by Thomas Kent. (In Elizabethan England, women are not allowed on stage, boys and young men with high voices play the parts of women.) Soon Will and Viola’s affair and secret will be painfully revealed to the world and to her angry husband-to-be.

Shakespeare in Love is light and frothy, but quite entertaining; it is very likely a delight to those familiar with William Shakespeare and his plays. However, the film gives Will such a contemporary spin that even the least informed about Shakespeare may very well like this. Now, for those without a clue, they will have to rely on the filmmaking and storytelling. As a romance, the film often works like a romance novel, or at best, historical fiction: lots of heat, lots of hot lovemaking, and a bit too much overwrought dialogue that too many times comes close to being pure purple prose.

The acting by the leads Ms. Paltrow and Joseph Fiennes is good, but not great. Fiennes’s performance ranges from overdone and pretentious to flamboyant and yearning. Seriously, Ms. Paltrow’s performance is hardly award-winning material, but that’s never stopped Oscar. Still, there’s something about the two of them that makes this work. It’s that intangible element or chemistry that takes everything shoddy or overdone about this film and makes it such a tasty confection, that you’ll come back again and again, even if you keep thinking that there seems to be an awful lot of air packed into this movie ice cream.

There are some very good performances: Judi Dench, Tom Wilkinson, Geoffrey Rush, and Simon Firth. The music is quite good, sweet and pleasant to the ear. The production values give the viewer the sense that they have been transported to somewhere else, another world if not another time. Then again, that intangible something may be director John Madden who brought the ingredients together and made a dessert that deserves encore performances.

7 of 10
A-

NOTES:
1999 Academy Awards: 7 wins: “Best Picture” (David Parfitt, Donna Gigliotti, Harvey Weinstein, Edward Zwick, and Marc Norman), “Best Actress in a Leading Role” (Gwyneth Paltrow), “Best Actress in a Supporting Role” (Judi Dench), “Best Art Direction-Set Decoration” (Martin Childs and Jill Quertier), “Best Costume Design” (Sandy Powell), “Best Music, Original Musical or Comedy Score” (Stephen Warbeck) and “Best Writing, Screenplay Written Directly for the Screen” (Marc Norman and Tom Stoppard); 6 nominations: “Best Actor in a Supporting Role” (Geoffrey Rush), “Best Cinematography” (Richard Greatrex), “Best Director” (John Madden), “Best Film Editing” (David Gamble), “Best Makeup” (Lisa Westcott and Veronica McAleer), and “Best Sound” (Robin O'Donoghue, Dominic Lester, and Peter Glossop)

1999 BAFTA Awards: 3 wins: “Best Film” (David Parfitt, Donna Gigliotti, Harvey Weinstein, Edward Zwick, and Marc Norman), “Best Editing” (David Gamble), and “Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role” (Judi Dench); 12 nominations: “Asquith Award for Film Music” (Stephen Warbeck), “Best Cinematography” (Richard Greatrex), “Best Costume Design” (Sandy Powell), “Best Make Up/Hair” (Lisa Westcott), “Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role” (Joseph Fiennes), “Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role” (Geoffrey Rush), “Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role” (Tom Wilkinson), “Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role” (Gwyneth Paltrow), “Best Production Design” (Martin Childs), “Best Screenplay – Original” (Marc Norman and Tom Stoppard), “Best Sound” (Peter Glossop, John Downer, Robin O'Donoghue, and Dominic Lester), and “David Lean Award for Direction” (John Madden)

1999 Golden Globes: 3 wins: “Best Motion Picture - Comedy/Musical,” “Best Performance by an Actress in a Motion Picture - Comedy/Musical” (Gwyneth Paltrow), and “Best Screenplay - Motion Picture” (Marc Norman and Tom Stoppard); 3 nominations: “Best Director - Motion Picture” (John Madden), “Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role in a Motion Picture” (Geoffrey Rush), and “Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role in a Motion Picture” (Judi Dench)

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All-Stars Join Steven Soderbergh for "Contagion"

Press release:
An All-Star Ensemble Cast Begins Filming on Warner Bros. Pictures’ “Contagion” under the Direction of Steven Soderbergh

BURBANK, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Principal photography is underway on Warner Bros. Pictures’ global thriller “Contagion,” being directed by Academy Award® winner Steven Soderbergh (“Traffic”).

The film brings together a stellar international ensemble cast, including Academy Award® winner Marion Cotillard (“La Vie en Rose,” “Inception”); Academy Award® winner Matt Damon (“Good Will Hunting,” the “Bourne” films); Oscar® nominee Laurence Fishburne (“What’s Love Got to Do With It,” “The Matrix”); Oscar® nominee Jude Law (“Cold Mountain,” “Sherlock Holmes”); Academy Award® winner Gwyneth Paltrow (“Shakespeare in Love,” “Iron Man”); and Academy Award® winner Kate Winslet (“The Reader,” “Titanic”).

“Contagion” follows the rapid progress of a lethal airborne virus that kills within days. As the fast-moving epidemic grows, the worldwide medical community races to find a cure and control the panic that spreads faster than the virus itself. At the same time, ordinary people struggle to survive in a society coming apart.

The original screenplay is written by Scott Z. Burns (“The Bourne Ultimatum,” “The Informant!”). “Contagion” is being produced by Michael Shamberg, Stacey Sher (“World Trade Center”), and Gregory Jacobs (“The Informant!”).

Collaborating with Soderbergh behind the scenes are production designer Howard Cummings (“Percy Jackson & the Olympians: The Lightning Thief”), Oscar®-winning editor Stephen Mirrione (“Traffic”), and costume designer Louise Frogley (“Quantum of Solace,” “Ocean’s Thirteen”).

Filming will take place on location around the world, including sites in Hong Kong, Macao, Chicago, Atlanta, San Francisco, Abu Dhabi, London and Geneva.

“Contagion” will be distributed worldwide by Warner Bros. Pictures, a Warner Bros. Entertainment Company. The film is slated for release in October 2011.

Review: First "Iron Man" Film Was Good - Surprisingly Good

TRASH IN MY EYE No. 26 (of 2008) by Leroy Douresseaux

Iron Man (2008)
Running time: 126 minutes (2 hours, 6 minutes)
MPAA – PG-13 for some intense sequences of sci-fi action and violence and brief suggestive content
DIRECTOR: Jon Favreau
WRITERS: Mark Fergus & Hawk Ostby and Art Marcum & Matt Holloway (based upon characters created by Stan Lee, Don Heck, Larry Lieber, and Jack Kirby)
PRODUCERS: Avi Arad and Kevin Feige
CINEMATOGRAPHER: Matthew Libatique, ASC (D.o.P.)
EDITOR: Dan Lebental, A.C.E.
Academy Award nominee

SUPERHERO/FANTASY/SCI-FI/ACTION

Starring: Robert Downey, Jr., Terrence Howard, Jeff Bridges, Gwyneth Paltrow, Leslie Bigg, Faran Tahir, Clark Gregg, Sayed Badreya, and Shaun Toub

After years of watching other movie studios make hundreds of millions bringing its comic book characters to the big screen (Spider-Man, X-Men), Marvel Studios makes its first foray into financing and making its own superhero movie. It’s called Iron Man, and this first Marvel Studios movie is as bold and as brash as Marvel’s attempt to bring the classic armored superhero to the silver screen on its own dime.

Tony Stark (Robert Downey, Jr.) is a billionaire industrialist and genius inventor, and his Stark Industries is the U.S. government’s top weapons contractor. He has celebrity status as the protector of American interests around the globe and lives a carefree lifestyle. While in Afghanistan, his military convoy/escort is attacked, Stark is gravely injured by life-threatening shrapnel embedded near his already weakened heart. Kidnapped and held hostage by a group of insurgents, Stark is forced to build a devastating weapon for Raza (Faran Tahir), the mysterious leader of the insurgents. Instead, Tony uses his intelligence and ingenuity to build a high-tech suit of armor and escapes captivity.

Returning to America, Stark is determined to come to terms with his past and vows to take Stark Industries in a new direction, but meets resistance from Obadiah Stane (Jeff Bridges), his right-hand man and top executive, who took the reigns of the company while Stark was gone. Spending his days and nights in his workshop, Tony develops and refines the suit of armor that gives him superhuman strength and physical protection. When he uncovers a nefarious plot with global implications, Stark once again dons his new, more powerful armor, and with the help of his longtime assistant, Pepper Potts (Gwyneth Paltrow), and his trusted military liaison, Jim “Rhodey” Rhodes (Terrence Howard), Tony Stark fights evil as his new alter ego “Iron Man.”

There are several reasons why this Iron Man film turns out to be such a joyous and entertaining film. The main reason is Robert Downey, Jr. as Tony Stark/Iron Man. Much has been made that Downey has used his experience as an addict to play Stark (a heavy-drinking playboy), who, in some of the Marvel comic books, was portrayed as an alcoholic. The truth is that Downey is simply a superb actor whose talent has been overshadowed by his public battle with his demons. Here, Downey offers a complicated view of both the man and superhero just as Tobey Maguire has done as Peter Parker/Spider-Man and Christian Bale as Batman (in Batman Begins).

Downey presents Tony Stark as a hard worker and hard player. He’s dedicated to creating the best weapons for the United States, but he focuses on his down time with equal zeal; he’s all work and all play. This is how Downey presents Stark as a man who is so self-centered and so focused only on what he wants to do that he essentially ignores everything and everyone else around him. Stark takes his friends for granted, and although he works hard to create the best inventions for his company, he actually ignores how Stane is running it. By presenting such a fully developed character, Downey uses that performance to drive both the narrative and its central conceit – in order to better the world, Tony Stark, with the help of Iron Man has to better himself.

Iron Man’s visual effects are another element that sells the film. The CGI and other special effects look slick, as would befit a futuristic hero who wears shiny, beyond state-of-the-art technology. Still, there is an earthy quality to it that becomes this tale of a knight in shining armor that saves both the world and the man inside the armor.

The third and fourth elements about Iron Man that really stand out are actor Jeff Bridges and director Jon Favreau (who also has a small acting role here). Bridges is a consummate actor, and I would be hard-pressed to find an instance in which he gave a poor performance. Stane, for the most part, is a small role, but Bridges so easily creates the duplicity, menace, and outright evil of Stane that the character’s dark presence and ominous machinations straddle the narrative just the way a villain and his wrongness should do in a superhero movie.

Finally, Jon Favreau already has a blockbuster to his directing resume, the heart-warming and wonderfully endearing Christmas flick, Elf. It was, however, his thoroughly underrated children’s sci-fi flick, Zathura (2005) that gave him the chance to show how much he understood handling a complicated technical production. In Elf and Zathura, Favreau also showed his knack for constantly offering surprises in his film narratives. It doesn’t matter if it is a quiet moment, a moment of intense drama, or a sequence of slam-bang action and SFX; Favreau always offers something visually appealing – the presentation of an event or a bit of dialogue that keeps the film fresh and moving. The viewer’s interest is usually stimulated and kept focused on the film. With Iron Man, Favreau wisely takes Downey’s witty and droll turn and makes a film that from beginning to end is absolutely fun to watch – with no time for a dull moment.

7 of 10
A-

Monday, May 19, 2008

NOTES:
2009 Academy Awards: 2 nominations: “Best Achievement in Sound Editing” (Frank E. Eulner and Christopher Boyes) and “Best Achievement in Visual Effects” (John Nelson, Ben Snow, Daniel Sudick, and Shane Mahan)

2009 BAFTA Awards: 1 nominations: “Best Special Visual Effects” (Hal T. Hickel, Shane Mahan, John Nelson, and Ben Snow)

2008 Black Reel Awards: 1 nomination: “Best Supporting Actor” (Terrence Howard)

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Review: "Iron Man 2" Doesn't Disappoint

TRASH IN MY EYE No. 32 (of 2010) by Leroy Douresseaux

Iron Man 2 (2010)
Running time: 124 minutes (2 hours, 4 minutes)
MPAA – PG-13 for sequences of intense sci-fi action and violence, and some language
DIRECTOR: Jon Favreau
WRITER: Justin Theroux (based on the characters and stories created by Stan Lee, Don Heck, Larry Lieber, and Jack Kirby)
PRODUCER: Kevin Feige
CINEMATOGRAPHER: Matthew Libatique (director of photography)
EDITORS: Dan Lebental and Richard Pearson

SUPERHERO/SCI-FI/ACTION

Starring: Robert Downey, Jr., Don Cheadle, Gwyneth Paltrow, Scarlett Johansson, Sam Rockwell, Mickey Rourke, Samuel L. Jackson, Clark Gregg, John Slatterly, Jon Favreau, Garry Shandling, and Paul Bettany (voice)

Back in 2008, the most anticipated superhero event movie was Christopher Nolan’s The Dark Knight, which certainly delivered on its promise and more. Many people were looking past the early May release of Iron Man; some had even been laughing at this film, which starred a superhero character that was probably C-list (at best) in the minds of the general movie-going audience. Iron Man was a surprise smash, grossing over 300 million dollars domestically. Now, the sequel, Iron Man 2, arrives with a bigger bang, and actually improves on the original – giving us more Iron Man-in-action.

As the new film opens, billionaire inventor Tony Stark (Robert Downey, Jr.) reveals to the world that he is the armored superhero, Iron Man, whom people previously believed was Stark’s bodyguard. However, that only puts Stark under more pressure from the federal government, especially the grandstanding Senator Stern (Garry Shandling), to share his technology with the military. Stark is unwilling to divulge the secrets behind the Iron Man armor because he fears the technology will slip into the wrong hands.

When an unexpected adversary attacks Tony Stark using technology similar to the Iron Man armor, the public, the press, and Senator Stern are no longer willing to take no for an answer. In fact, this new villain, a Russian named Ivan Vanko (Mickey Rourke), has a connection to Tony’s late father, Howard Stark (John Slatterly), and Vanko even joins forces with Stark’s industrial rival, Justin Hammer (Sam Rockwell). With his secretary Pepper Potts (Gwyneth Paltrow) and his friend James “Rhodey” Rhodes (Don Cheadle) by his side, Tony forges new alliances – the mysterious Nick Fury (Samuel L. Jackson) and a shadowy new assistant, Natalie Rushman (Scarlett Johansson) – and confronts the two men determined to destroy him.

Watching Iron Man 2, one gets the feeling that the cast is having a good time, especially Robert Downey, Jr. as Tony Stark/Iron Man. Downey spent a decade sabotaging his career via drug addiction, which was sad, but made even worse by the fact that Downey was such a damn fine actor. Surviving the scourge of Lady Cocaine, Downey has resurrected his career, in large part by revealing his deft skills as a comic actor who can throw down droll wit and sledgehammer snark with equal power. Iron Man 2 simply reminds me that I could watch Downey all day as Iron Man or Tony Stark

Gwyneth Paltrow is equally good as Pepper Potts, but her good work only serves as a reminder that this is a sadly underutilized character. Don Cheadle is a better Rhodey than Terrence Howard. Cheadle is so serious and strong in his performance that he makes it believable that Rhodey is one of the few people Downey Jr.’s Tony Stark respects, takes seriously, and genuinely likes. I was also quite surprised at how good Mickey Rourke is as Ivan Vanko; in fact, Rourke’s Vanko is good enough to become Stark’s signature film rival.

Sam Rockwell is not good as Justin Hammer, an annoying character that seems out of place here and is actually a detriment to the film. Scarlett Johansson is actually good in this film, but her character, though fun, is a little extraneous. Pepper Potts could have done much of what Natalie Rushman did in the story. That said I wouldn’t mind seeing the Natalie Rushman in her own movie.

Iron Man 2, however, is so highly-polished and entertaining that I’m inclined to ignore the faults: the occasionally clunky pacing, too many superfluous or unconnected characters, and that isolated awkward Nick Fury/Shield sub-plot. The superhero fight and action scenes make Iron Man 2 seem like a superhero comic book come to life as a high-octane thrill ride. Robots, Iron Man armor, battle suits, rockets, and assorted big guns pound away at the senses. The big (and extended) final battle between Iron Man and Ivan Vanko is dazzling. Though not perfect, moments like that made me wish Iron Man 2 wouldn’t end.

7 of 10
B+

Monday, May 10, 2010

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Sky Captain and the World of Tomorrow a Fluffy Fantasia

TRASH IN MY EYE No. 186 (of 2004) by Leroy Douresseaux


Sky Captain and the World of Tomorrow (2004)
Running time: 107 minutes (1 hour, 47 minutes)
MPAA – PG for sequences of stylized sci-fi violence and brief mild language
WRITER/DIRECTOR: Kerry Conran
PRODUCERS: Jon Avnet, Marsha Oglesby, Sadie Frost, and Jude Law
CINEMATOGRAPHER: Eric Adkins
EDITOR: Sabrina Plisco, A.C.E.

SCI-FI/ACTION/ADVENTURE with elements of a mystery

Starring: Gwyneth Paltrow, Jude Law, Giovanni Ribisi, Michael Gambon, Bai Ling, Omid Djalili, and Angelina Jolie

Writer/director Kerry Conran’s Sky Captain and the World of Tomorrow is the first feature film released to theatres in which the live action photography was shot entirely against a blue screen. After the completion of principal photography, the filmmakers filled in every frame-detail digitally. The film has virtually no real sets and no actual locations. Digital technology and CGI (computer generated imagery or computer graphic imagery) created the sets: from the skyscraper mountains of 1930’s New York City (an NYC that never quite existed) to the lush primordial jungle of a lost island; from the art deco offices of the Chronicle newspaper offices in New York to the streamlined sci-fi fortress of the mad villain.

In the story, Chronicle newspaper reporter Polly Perkins (Gwyneth Paltrow) is investigating the disappearances of several famous scientists when she meets Dr. Walter Jennings (Trevor Baxter) who believes that he will be the next scientific genius to be kidnapped. The doomed man whispers one word into her ear, the name of the man hunting him, Totenkopf. Polly enlists the help of her old flame, Captain H. Joseph Sullivan (Jude Law) – aka – Sky Captain, an ace aviator with daredevil flying skills, a heroic pilot who is part Buck Rogers and part Indiana Jones, who is also hunting Totenkopf. Meanwhile, the mysterious Dr. Totenkopf sends his giant robots and other diabolical machines around the world to steal machines and building supplies. Polly and Sky Captain travel to the Himalayan Alps and beyond in search of the evil mastermind behind a plot to destroy the world. With the help of Sky Captain’s old friend, Franky Cook (Angelina Jolie), the captain of an amphibious squadron, and Sky Captain’s technical super genius Dex Dearborn (Giovanni Ribisi), Polly and Sky Captain are the planet’s only hope against Totenkopf’s plot.

Sky Captain and the World of Tomorrow certainly wears its influences on its sleeves. The film borrows (current PC term is homage) from films like King Kong, Lost Horizon, and 40’s aerial flicks like the Buck Rogers and Flash Gordon serials. The film also borrows heavily from Max Fleischer’s Superman cartoons, film noir, and the old sci-fi, fantasy, and adventure stories found in pulp fiction magazines like Weird Tales. The late Sir Laurence Olivier even makes a surprise cameo via archival black and white film footage.

The acting is pretty good, good enough for a film that is just a fluffy piece of adventure entertainment. There is, however, something great about Gwyneth Paltrow as reporter Polly Perkins. She plays the part with the sass and self-assuredness of the great “girl reporters” of the screen. It’s a shame her character was lost in a film in which the effects and explosions dominated the tale.

But is the movie good? Sky Captain is a rollicking adventure like Raiders of the Lost Ark, itself an homage to old Saturday matinee adventure serials, but Sky Captain isn’t as good as Raiders. In fact, sometimes, the film is quite dry, and for all its visual aplomb, the film has nothing to say. The wonderful digital visual images often come across as plastic fantastic. The film has one truly great sequence, Sky Captain’s duel with Totenkopf’s flying machines through the concrete canyons of New York City is as good as any other aerial duel every put on film. A later underwater duel is quite good, but not as great as NYC throw down, but still good.

Early on, I found the film’s retro-look and its hazy, quasi color photography that was made to look black and white annoying. The story and plot is light, tightly wound, although the villain’s motivation and plot are ridiculous. The film stumbles drunkenly through the last act to the end, and the resolution with Totenkopf is a miscalculation. It’s a good time at the movies, and Sky Captain and the World of Tomorrow actually isn’t as forgettable as a lot of other summer popcorn fluff. I wouldn’t mind visiting the scenario again on DVD, and a sequel would be sweet treat on the level of a Hershey’s Kiss.

6 of 10
B