The second best film I've seen this summer. Rupert Wyatt brought the thunder. The story bogs down a bit when Ceasar is separately from James Franco and the apes seem to learn combat strategy on the fly but these are minor quibbles.
The CGI work is devastatingly good. However, they work because the story is built upon emotional truths. The scene where Ceasar protects John Lithgow by attacking the neighbor is amazing. It feels real because the story has beautifully set up their relationship. This is a perfect example of how CGI should enhance the narrative...not become it.
James Franco does a nice job. His attachment to the young chimp feels genuine in their early scenes.
Ceasar's eyes are able to dominate his scenes. They speak volumes. Just an amazing job.
I expect to see Wyatt climb the ranks quickly. He knows how to tell a story visually and is able to portray emotions and feelings easily. That's a hard thing to master and he pulls it off effortlessly.
Saturday, August 6, 2011
THE MUSIC NEVER STOPPED
You're either going to find this film sappy or poignant. Based on Dr. Oliver Sacks' "THE LAST HIPPIE," the film tells the tale of a father trying desperately to reconnect with his son after the son has a tumor removed from his brain.
J.K. Simmons performance is amazing. He should be used in every single film in need of a strong supporting actor. His talents are exceptional, giving emotional weight to each scene he's in. You can feel the pain and anguish he goes through as his son is returned to him as well as feel the guilt and anger that's built up over the years from their broken relationship.
Dr. Oliver Sacks is a godsend. Think of how many lives he's touched through his work with his patients. Think of how many relationships he's helped to repair. He's given hope to so many people. He can truly say he's made the world a better place.
Film has the power to heal. Unfortunately today, that power's been mostly forgotten. I applaud THE MUSIC NEVER STOPPED. I wish we could see more stories like this up on the big screen.
J.K. Simmons performance is amazing. He should be used in every single film in need of a strong supporting actor. His talents are exceptional, giving emotional weight to each scene he's in. You can feel the pain and anguish he goes through as his son is returned to him as well as feel the guilt and anger that's built up over the years from their broken relationship.
Dr. Oliver Sacks is a godsend. Think of how many lives he's touched through his work with his patients. Think of how many relationships he's helped to repair. He's given hope to so many people. He can truly say he's made the world a better place.
Film has the power to heal. Unfortunately today, that power's been mostly forgotten. I applaud THE MUSIC NEVER STOPPED. I wish we could see more stories like this up on the big screen.
Friday, August 5, 2011
MYTH AND LEGEND
Finished this script by Erik Sommers.
It's an intriguing premise. Heroes really existed. Their heroic feats grew into legends. And then, society would attempt to kill them off out of fear. So the heroes were forced to go into hiding, living amongst us throughout eternity.
Story focuses on Paul Bunyun. He was once called Hercules. He was called many named throughout time. However, he's now an extremely bitter man, hiding out in Venice amongst the freaks and street people.
Along comes the Death Goddess, intent on resurrecting the Gornok, a monster that will devour everything in sight. Then, she reasons, the humans will again fear the Gods.
The problem is, the PG-13 script doesn't have the required laughs needed to make a film like this work. We're firmly in GHOSTBUSTERS territory here. However, aside from the premise, the script lacks wit. The visuals are there but they need to support a great story in order to work.
Alma, the human working with Paul to thwart the Death Goddess is weak. She's a poorly written, cliche character. You never get a sense that she's Paul's true love interest.
We drift from one action sequence to the next without ever feeling for the characters or buying into their plight.
Project needs a page-one rewrite. There's an extremely workable concept here.
It's an intriguing premise. Heroes really existed. Their heroic feats grew into legends. And then, society would attempt to kill them off out of fear. So the heroes were forced to go into hiding, living amongst us throughout eternity.
Story focuses on Paul Bunyun. He was once called Hercules. He was called many named throughout time. However, he's now an extremely bitter man, hiding out in Venice amongst the freaks and street people.
Along comes the Death Goddess, intent on resurrecting the Gornok, a monster that will devour everything in sight. Then, she reasons, the humans will again fear the Gods.
The problem is, the PG-13 script doesn't have the required laughs needed to make a film like this work. We're firmly in GHOSTBUSTERS territory here. However, aside from the premise, the script lacks wit. The visuals are there but they need to support a great story in order to work.
Alma, the human working with Paul to thwart the Death Goddess is weak. She's a poorly written, cliche character. You never get a sense that she's Paul's true love interest.
We drift from one action sequence to the next without ever feeling for the characters or buying into their plight.
Project needs a page-one rewrite. There's an extremely workable concept here.
AGAINST THE WALL
New series on Lifetime.
Here's one that shouldn't have made it past the pilot stage. Story about a female detective who comes from a family of cops and takes a promotion in Internal Affairs.
Family of cops? Isn't this Blue Bloods?
Rachel Carpani just isn't cut out to be a lead. She doesn't hold the screen. And the little quirks that the creators have given her - falling over things, singing in public - aren't endearing, they're annoying.
Episode ends with Rachel going out on an officer-involved homicide only to discover that the officer involved is her brother. Like we didn't see that coming.
Show's terrible. Pass.
Here's one that shouldn't have made it past the pilot stage. Story about a female detective who comes from a family of cops and takes a promotion in Internal Affairs.
Family of cops? Isn't this Blue Bloods?
Rachel Carpani just isn't cut out to be a lead. She doesn't hold the screen. And the little quirks that the creators have given her - falling over things, singing in public - aren't endearing, they're annoying.
Episode ends with Rachel going out on an officer-involved homicide only to discover that the officer involved is her brother. Like we didn't see that coming.
Show's terrible. Pass.
Thursday, August 4, 2011
LAST VEGAS
Finished this script by Dan Fogelman.
Story's about four senior citizens that go to Las Vegas and rediscover their vitality.
I was so impressed with CRAZY, STUPID, LOVE, I went back and read this script by Fogelman. There must be two Dan Fogelmans. LAST VEGAS is trite, boring as hell, and dry as a bone. No laughs to be found here at all.
First off, who's going to see this? The leads are all in their late 60's. Do we really want to see them hanging around a pool at the Palms casino? Are we going to laugh when they try to pick up 20-year old hotties?
This is a bad concept. Normally, I would give something like this twenty pages before I toss it. However, since Fogelman wrote it, I read the entire thing. Wish I had tossed it. Total waste of time.
Story's about four senior citizens that go to Las Vegas and rediscover their vitality.
I was so impressed with CRAZY, STUPID, LOVE, I went back and read this script by Fogelman. There must be two Dan Fogelmans. LAST VEGAS is trite, boring as hell, and dry as a bone. No laughs to be found here at all.
First off, who's going to see this? The leads are all in their late 60's. Do we really want to see them hanging around a pool at the Palms casino? Are we going to laugh when they try to pick up 20-year old hotties?
This is a bad concept. Normally, I would give something like this twenty pages before I toss it. However, since Fogelman wrote it, I read the entire thing. Wish I had tossed it. Total waste of time.
Tuesday, August 2, 2011
BULLET RUN
Finished this script by Andrew Hilton.
There's absolutely no character development going on in this script. However, it's wall-to-wall action that can easily translate well into all the foreign territories.
Story's about a group that takes down a North African terrorist and attempts to transport him back to America. However, the terrorist's billionaire father has other plans and hunts the group down to get his son back.
Full on action sequences with a ton of car stunts.
After the success of FAST AND FURIOUS, you have to give this script a hard look. You need another pass to flesh out the characters - Ben in particular doesn't come off too well - you would think he'd be a little more emotional going after the man that gunned his young daughter down in cold blood.
Here's an example of the script not quite being there but you go full throttle anyway because the action can carry it home.
There's absolutely no character development going on in this script. However, it's wall-to-wall action that can easily translate well into all the foreign territories.
Story's about a group that takes down a North African terrorist and attempts to transport him back to America. However, the terrorist's billionaire father has other plans and hunts the group down to get his son back.
Full on action sequences with a ton of car stunts.
After the success of FAST AND FURIOUS, you have to give this script a hard look. You need another pass to flesh out the characters - Ben in particular doesn't come off too well - you would think he'd be a little more emotional going after the man that gunned his young daughter down in cold blood.
Here's an example of the script not quite being there but you go full throttle anyway because the action can carry it home.
Monday, August 1, 2011
WE HATE YOUR GIRLFRIEND
Finished this script by Wendy Molyneux & Lizzie Molyneux.
Extremely well written. The character of Mercy Moser jumps off the page.
However, as NO STRINGS ATTACHED and FRIENDS WITH BENEFITS have shown us, romcoms dependent upon dialogue for laughs have a hard time finding a wide audience. WE HATE YOUR GIRLFRIEND falls into this category.
Today's comedies require visual jokes. The more outlandish the better. Think BRIDESMAIDS or THE HANGOVER. WE HATE YOUR GIRLFRIEND doesn't contain any visual humor which makes it a hard sell. The Molyneux girls are talented writers but they're probably better suited in television.
Story's about a group who hate their friend's (CALEB) girlfriend. The girlfriend breaks up with Caleb sending him into a tailspin. Along comes Mercy Moser who's a dead ringer for the girlfriend. The friends come up with an idea to have Mercy pose as the girlfriend in order to bring Caleb closure so that he can move on with his life.
Pass on the script but the writers are definitely ones to keep an eye on.
Extremely well written. The character of Mercy Moser jumps off the page.
However, as NO STRINGS ATTACHED and FRIENDS WITH BENEFITS have shown us, romcoms dependent upon dialogue for laughs have a hard time finding a wide audience. WE HATE YOUR GIRLFRIEND falls into this category.
Today's comedies require visual jokes. The more outlandish the better. Think BRIDESMAIDS or THE HANGOVER. WE HATE YOUR GIRLFRIEND doesn't contain any visual humor which makes it a hard sell. The Molyneux girls are talented writers but they're probably better suited in television.
Story's about a group who hate their friend's (CALEB) girlfriend. The girlfriend breaks up with Caleb sending him into a tailspin. Along comes Mercy Moser who's a dead ringer for the girlfriend. The friends come up with an idea to have Mercy pose as the girlfriend in order to bring Caleb closure so that he can move on with his life.
Pass on the script but the writers are definitely ones to keep an eye on.
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