Tuesday 10 October 2017

Film Reviews: Song to Song, Final Portrait & Blade Runner 2049

Song to Song
9 October 2017
129 mins
R
Terrence Malick (Director)
Ryan Gosling, Rooney Mara, Michael Fassbender
Drama

Two intersecting love triangles. Obsession and betrayal set against the music scene in Austin, Texas.  (IMDB Synopsis)



Song to Song, with its harsh, disjointed narrative, is not going to appeal to everyone. However, I really loved it as I felt the style of the editing and cinematography suited the atmosphere of the story and reflected the characters' confused feelings and disordered lives. Excellent performances from the cast--especially Fassbender and Mara--make this a must-watch piece for serious indie film-lovers. It is one I would definitely like to see again as I'm sure I'd take away something different from it each time. A solid 4.5 stars



Final Portrait
9 October 2017
90 mins
R
Stanley Tucci (Director)
Geoffrey Rush, Armie Hammer
Drama/Comedy

The story of Swiss painter and sculptor Alberto Giacometti. (IMDB Synopsis)


Final Portrait was an interesting film, and the performances were certainly compelling. I did find the pacing a little slow; however, that may have been a conscious choice, to mirror the story, seeing as Giacometti says the portrait will take a day but it drags on for weeks. If you like dramas with a hint of comedy, this will probably appeal to you, but Rush's performance is the real tour de force of the piece. 3.5 stars

 

Blade Runner 2049
9 October 2017
164 mins
R
Ridley Scott (Director)
Ryan Gosling, Harrison Ford
Sci-Fi/Thriller

A young blade runner's discovery of a long-buried secret leads him to track down former blade runner Rick Deckard, who's been missing for thirty years. (IMDB Synopsis)

Naturally I approached this film with a little trepidation. Would it live up to the original? The answer is both yes and no. This new movie lacks the grit of its predecessor. Nonetheless, it is a hugely enjoyable film with good performances, great effects, and excellent pacing. I liked the way the plot continued on from the original, and Gosling's character is completely engaging. The only issue I had (and I'll try to stay spoiler-free) is the ending. I couldn't understand why it was now safe for Deckard to do what he did. That didn't make sense. But in all other ways, this was a brilliant movie and gets a solid 4.5-5 stars from me.

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