| Author |
 Topic  |
|
|
BaftaBaby 
"Always entranced by cinema."
|
 Posted - 10/22/2013 : 15:06:31
|
Disparate notings:
1. I've only been seasick at two films. Breaking the Waves and this one. During the former, I had to leave to throw up - and couldn't face returning. But this time I did some number on myself, gulped and swallowed a tsunami of saliva, breathed yoga-deep, and watched through half-closed eyes at Hanks vs The Sea-stealers. Shaky-cam didn't help!
2. There's a media storm abrew about the real truth of this story, alledgedly based on real truth. Now, I'm a big girl and know a tad or two about cinema verite. But somewhere, after the reels and the yarns have stopped spinning - it hardly matters. Director Paul Greengrass [as he's proved before] isn't making a documentary. Or even a dramatized documentary. Certainly not a mockumentary - there's nary a giggle to be had here. But shaky as the hand-held camera is, this ain't Blair Witch, and PG treats the tale with enormous respect.
Ditto Tom Hanks in the eponymous role of a family man looking over the horizon to retirement who happens to encounter danger with a capital D which rhymes with T and that spells Trouble.
Oh, yes, there's Trouble - not in River City but in and around the Somalian coast. Somalia - where the dejected but hopeful and intelligent human detritus of an embattled and exploited nation are forced into very bad deeds indeed. Or else they will die, and their loved ones will die. So they form uneasy alliances with pals and strangers in the same boat.
They know they're "the little guys" but desperation drives them to challenge the big boys. In some ideal misplaced dream of a better life, they've written a scenario. It'll be like a vid game. They'll be the Pirate Heroes. Slicing through coastal waters in their fishing skiffs, they'll overpower a mo-fo of a freighter ship. They'll hop aboard and herd the crew into bondage, then demand a ransom as big as the mo-fo ship. No, bigger!
Except life doesn't pan out that way. Neither in this film, nor in the meat world.
But, what matters for the purposes of Da Moovees, is that for something like 2� hours, you're gripped by the moment-to-moment. Even if you're trying to calm your urge to toss your cookies over the side.
Although, as is inevitable in Action Films, lots of the cast isn't well differentiated and their dialogue is drowned out by the atmos - still, some characters have a chance to define themselves. And, refreshingly, they're not just the white guys. So Hurrah for that!
3. Because Greengrass is a very passionate and intelligent filmmaker, his unspoken references inform the viewing experience, hoisting the film clear out of the water of mediocrity. One such is an evocation of Treasure of the Sierra Madre, and another is Ken Loach's subtle dissection of the left in Land and Freedom.
The Somali pirates could and should be united - against a faceless but common enemy they correctly blame for the centuries old destruction of their way of life. They needn't and shouldn't be knitted together by little else but greed - a greed which breeds distrust of their comrades. And that leads to their undoing and the tragedy of a film which purports to pay homage to a hero.
Hanks knows more than most how to portray a flawed hero-figure - pushing his character's humanity past the bounds of real-life into the centerpiece of a film. Could the man ever give even a mediocre performance? No. The answer is no!
|
|
|
benj clews 
"...."
|
Posted - 10/22/2013 : 15:19:17
|
Regarding the real truth of the story, in a recent interview with Empire magazine Greengrass stated he researched the story as much as he could and as far as he's aware the story is basically as told.
With most directors I'd probably make a 'piffle' noise at this point, but PG does come from a documentary background and has previous form in painting as even-handed a story as he can, just as how Phillips is shown to be far from perfect and giving us sympathy towards the Somali pirates. I'd be tempted to think it's probably more likely the other crew members are somewhat bitter Phillips got the book and film deal.
Curious how nobody ever seems to kick up a fuss when a book or film is a dud, isn't it? |
 |
|
|
BaftaBaby
"Always entranced by cinema."
|
Posted - 10/22/2013 : 15:33:08
|
quote:
Originally posted by benj clews
Regarding the real truth of the story, in a recent interview with Empire magazine Greengrass stated he researched the story as much as he could and as far as he's aware the story is basically as told.
With most directors I'd probably make a 'piffle' noise at this point, but PG does come from a documentary background and has previous form in painting as even-handed a story as he can, just as how Phillips is shown to be far from perfect and giving us sympathy towards the Somali pirates. I'd be tempted to think it's probably more likely the other crew members are somewhat bitter Phillips got the book and film deal.
Curious how nobody ever seems to kick up a fuss when a book or film is a dud, isn't it?
PS can I have my dots back, please?  
|
|
|
|
randall
"I like to watch."
|
Posted - 10/22/2013 : 23:02:57
|
I agree that a documentary [20 FEET FROM STARDOM] is way different from a scripted film "based on real events" [CAPT. PHILLIPS]. But of course POV is injected into every documentary [as it should be!]; choice of setups, choice of edits, etc. Even SANSARA.
True cinema verite takes it one step farther and attempts to show life as it would exist if the camera were not there. [DON'T LOOK BACK, for example, which employs the technique, is partly foiled because Dylan and gang are quite aware there are cameras around, yet you can still see some moments of realism, as when Dylan freaks out after somebody throws a glass out of a hotel window.] Verite films are by definition documentaries, but not vice versa. |
Edited by - randall on 10/22/2013 23:04:13 |
|
|
|
lemmycaution
"Long mired in film"
|
Posted - 10/23/2013 : 04:47:20
|
quote:
Originally posted by randall
I agree that a documentary [20 FEET FROM STARDOM] is way different from a scripted film "based on real events" [CAPT. PHILLIPS]. But of course POV is injected into every documentary [as it should be!]; choice of setups, choice of edits, etc. Even SANSARA.
True cinema verite takes it one step farther and attempts to show life as it would exist if the camera were not there. [DON'T LOOK BACK, for example, which employs the technique, is partly foiled because Dylan and gang are quite aware there are cameras around, yet you can still see some moments of realism, as when Dylan freaks out after somebody throws a glass out of a hotel window.] Verite films are by definition documentaries, but not vice versa.
Got me thinking of Allan King and then I stumbled onto this link:
http://brightlightsfilm.com/31/cinemaverite.php#.UmdFeFZzbIU |
|
|
|
lemmycaution
"Long mired in film"
|
Posted - 10/23/2013 : 04:49:01
|
quote:
Originally posted by BaftaBabe
quote:
Originally posted by benj clews
Regarding the real truth of the story, in a recent interview with Empire magazine Greengrass stated he researched the story as much as he could and as far as he's aware the story is basically as told.
With most directors I'd probably make a 'piffle' noise at this point, but PG does come from a documentary background and has previous form in painting as even-handed a story as he can, just as how Phillips is shown to be far from perfect and giving us sympathy towards the Somali pirates. I'd be tempted to think it's probably more likely the other crew members are somewhat bitter Phillips got the book and film deal.
Curious how nobody ever seems to kick up a fuss when a book or film is a dud, isn't it?
PS can I have my dots back, please?
Dots...dots--I don't haffta show you no steenkin' dots.... |
|
|
|
BaftaBaby
"Always entranced by cinema."
|
Posted - 10/23/2013 : 13:18:52
|
quote:
Originally posted by lemmycaution
quote:
Originally posted by BaftaBabe
quote:
Originally posted by benj clews
Regarding the real truth of the story, in a recent interview with Empire magazine Greengrass stated he researched the story as much as he could and as far as he's aware the story is basically as told.
With most directors I'd probably make a 'piffle' noise at this point, but PG does come from a documentary background and has previous form in painting as even-handed a story as he can, just as how Phillips is shown to be far from perfect and giving us sympathy towards the Somali pirates. I'd be tempted to think it's probably more likely the other crew members are somewhat bitter Phillips got the book and film deal.
Curious how nobody ever seems to kick up a fuss when a book or film is a dud, isn't it?
PS can I have my dots back, please?
Dots...dots--I don't haffta show you no steenkin' dots....
I vant my dots ... and viskey on the side!
|
|
|
|
lemmycaution
"Long mired in film"
|
Posted - 10/23/2013 : 16:46:50
|
quote:
Originally posted by BaftaBabe
quote:
Originally posted by lemmycaution
quote:
Originally posted by BaftaBabe
quote:
Originally posted by benj clews
Regarding the real truth of the story, in a recent interview with Empire magazine Greengrass stated he researched the story as much as he could and as far as he's aware the story is basically as told.
With most directors I'd probably make a 'piffle' noise at this point, but PG does come from a documentary background and has previous form in painting as even-handed a story as he can, just as how Phillips is shown to be far from perfect and giving us sympathy towards the Somali pirates. I'd be tempted to think it's probably more likely the other crew members are somewhat bitter Phillips got the book and film deal.
Curious how nobody ever seems to kick up a fuss when a book or film is a dud, isn't it?
PS can I have my dots back, please?
Dots...dots--I don't haffta show you no steenkin' dots....
I vant my dots ... and viskey on the side!
...and don't be stingy, Baby. |
|
|
|
BaftaBaby
"Always entranced by cinema."
|
Posted - 10/24/2013 : 09:31:46
|
quote:
Originally posted by randall
I agree that a documentary [20 FEET FROM STARDOM] is way different from a scripted film "based on real events" [CAPT. PHILLIPS]. But of course POV is injected into every documentary [as it should be!]; choice of setups, choice of edits, etc. Even SANSARA.
True cinema verite takes it one step farther and attempts to show life as it would exist if the camera were not there. [DON'T LOOK BACK, for example, which employs the technique, is partly foiled because Dylan and gang are quite aware there are cameras around, yet you can still see some moments of realism, as when Dylan freaks out after somebody throws a glass out of a hotel window.] Verite films are by definition documentaries, but not vice versa.
Very interesting take on cine matters of truth from one of the best UK critics de nous jours.
Mark Kermode
|
|
|
| |
Topic |
|
|
|
Captain Phillips
