The Moon of Liberty

Ratatouille (2007)

Starring - Patton Oswalt, Ian Holm, Lou Romano, Peter Sohn, Brad Garrett, Janeane Garofalo

Directed by - Brad Bird

The recent great film keep coming, this time from a hugely unlikely source. Surely a story about a rat who wants to be a chef cannot work? Well, I'm here to tell you, oh yes it can! Remy the Rat is sweeping cinemas, and deservedly so.

Remy dreams of becoming a great chef, depite the major problem of being a rat. He has a highly developed sense of smell with esnures he can feel the full aroma of the finest food. His dad and brother the wonderful Emile, are not so impressed by Remy's love of good food, their motto, 'Shut up and eat your garbage' makes Remy more determined to seek out the finer tastes in life.

When the group of Rats are threatened and have to take a long escape through the sewage works, Remy ends up in Paris, home to the restaurant of his chef hero Gusteau. Gusteau used to run a five star rated restaurant which has since his death been in decline. Remy is also a follower of Gusteau's book, 'Anyone Can Cook.' Remy pays a visit to the restaurant and aids the boy who takes out the garbage take the credit for a soup that goes down hugely well. The evil head chef Skinner then spots Remy and asks the garbage boy, called Linguini, to dispose of him.

With Linguini contemplating his poor position, he realises the rat is sympathising with him, he also realises the rat can cook. They then come up with a bizarre method of the rat controlling Linguini's actions. What follows is a wondeful journey as Remy helps Linguini be recognised as a great chef, He also helps Linguini find love with Collette, the female chef at Gusteau's. All is well until the harshest food critic in France comes for a visit, the rat is revealed to the staff as the true chef, and Remy has to rely on his family and friends (all rats of course) for help as only Luinguini and Colette stick around to help.

The animations are beautiful, the storyline is a pleasure to watch, as the unlikeliest of ideas combine to create a compelling and fun film. The film moves at a good pace and lets face it, how many films have you cheering on a rat? You will be too however, will the flagship Ratatouille dish win over the critics and win Gusteau's it's five star glory back, or does it all end down the sewage? I suggest you go and see for yourself.

MOON OF LIBERTY VERDICT - RATING 'A-'  Remy cooks up a treat, this is great fun with a great story, will surely have to win best animation come the OSCAR's, it really is that good, or should that be yummy.

Michael Clayton (2007)

Starring - George Clooney, Tom Wilkinson, Tilda Swinton, Sydney Pollack, Pamela Gray

Directed by - Tony Gilroy

This film is a joy to wtach and uses one of the most intelligent devices in the book, when it works, and in this it does. I will come back to that later. This film is also, after the in my view unwarranted overhype of Clooney's roles in Good Night And Good Luck and Syriana, George Clooney's best serious performance.

Clooney plays the title role, Michael Clayton, he fixes things for a corparte compnay called Kenna, Bach and Ladeen. When suits are brought that could cost the company, he is the one to fix it. When the company is asked to take care of U-North's (a water company accused to mistrating water and causing cancer) case, lead litiigator Karen Crowder's (Swinton) career is on the line to ensure a successful conclusion is reached. Clayton's loyalty to the company ensures he does everything to help, until the mysterious death of the firms old head, Arthur Edens, leads Clooney to suspect U-North were behind the murder.

At this point Clayton's suspicions lead him on a new journey to do the right thing and try and find a way to destroy the U-North settlement and get justice for those affected by the U-North's profit at any cost attitude.

Clooney plays Clayton with poise and passion on a higher level than anything I have seen before. He is also aided by a magnificent supporting performance by Tom Wilkinson as the slightly mad, campaigning old head of the firm who this law suit was one dirty case too far. Swinton for me fell a bit flat, and the ending could have brought it all together better for me. One great move of the film was what I mentioned at the start, it began with a scene that we then went backwards from, and the full extent of it could only be understood once we got back there, this technique worked a dream here.

A film very much worth seeing, not quite the full emotional depth of a couple of recent films but Clooney and Wilkinson are well worth the effort to see this on their own merits.

MOON OF LIBERTY VERDICT - RATING 'A-'  A fine film with two excellent male performances, the ending was a little flat and lost some of the emotional drive, the main reason I have not quite got this in the 'A' category.

The Kingdom (2007)

Starring - Jamie Foxx, Chris Cooper, Jennifer Garner, Jason Bateman, Ali Suliman

Directed by - Peter Berg

A film that will send a shudder down the spine of both the United States and the Saudi authorities, The Kingdom explores the cultural differences and similarities that can bind the two countries, and tear them apart.

The start pulls no punches on the relationship between the US and the Saudi's down the ages. Then we get into the meat of the film. A terrorist bomb ruins a simple siftball game as local onlookers through their binoculars appear to have a scary sense of what is about to happen. The bomb kills many American's and leads agent Fluery (Foxx) to put together an elite FBI team to go to Saudi Arabia to try and find justice.

To start with they find their pusuit worthless as the dos and donts of local culture hamstring the investigation, as the Saudi's only want to find the killer on their terms. Foxx's understanding of the importance of learning local way and using the personal touch to get unlikely people on board, including Saudi officers, they eventually turn this around and the team eventually get the right to carry out the investigation they want.

This eventually leads to a realisation that to chatch the killer they need to go outside normal compound boarders and into real Saudi Arabia. Their hosts reluctantly agree. The subplot of the family who saw the initial bomb go off and a look into their life reminds us that we are delaing with human beings with families and children too, but in this case with a deadlt twist, leading the FBI eam to fight for their lives while trying to deliver justice to those murdered in the bomb.

The film is a high paced and chilling ride into the realities all too common in todays world. Foxx leads the way with a first rate performance, The section between him and the Saudi officer discussing The Increidble Hulk and the Six Million Doller Man demonstrated only too well that when different cultures meet, there is still plenty of common ground.  the film is well directed and put together and keeps moving along nicely. The ending is one to test the emotions the full 360 degrees, with a stark reminder of the intractable ultimate problem, the course of the film may offer some starters as solutions, but it works because it is balanced, not an all out attack on one side or the other but a good overview of the strengths and defects of the argument from either side. It is also not so pretentious to pretend there are any easy answers to the middle-east.

MOON OF LIBERTY VERDICT - RATING 'A' - A wonderful film, great action, not scared to take on a huge subject and a performance that may put Jamie Foxx in the frame for this years best actor races.

Transformers (2007)

Starring - Shia LaBeouf, Tyrese Gibson, Josh Duhamel, Anthony Anderson, Megand Fox

Directed by - Michael Bay

So after the SImpson next on the big screen is Transformers (robots in disguise.) A former cartoon favourite, this however is no cartoon, it has real people plus spectacular robots the special effects people can be exceptionally proud of. I however, am not one of those who belives special effects alone can make a film (Take King Kong, great effect, terrible film.)

So does the wider film match the work of the effects guys. Well, yes it does. The film wastes no time as decpticons attack a US military base in Qutar from the off. Through the internet both the evil decepticons and the good autobots have traced the all powerful 'All Spark,' an all-powerful cube that can be used for good or evil, to Earth.

Meanwhile in a little school, a young man named Sam Witwicky tells a story about his Grandfathers treck to the Artic circle, he also has his grandfathers glasses salvaged from the trip. Little does he know that these glasses hold the key to the whereabouts of the all spark. He intends to sell the glasses and other artifacts on ebay, seeing robots checking ebay for the details is very amusing.

As a result a pursuading his teacher to gvie him an A he did not deserve, his father buys him his first car, the car however turns out to be Bumblebee, sent to also trace the All Spark. Later Sam and Mikaela, a girl he would like to date, then meets Optimus Prime and the rest of the Autobots. Sam's involvement in the serach fort eh All Spark is set, and takes him on a journey into the dark world of Government Alien survellence units, as well as into the heart of the Government defense department. The race for the cube like object is underway, and to get it before Megatron, the leader of the decepticons, does.

There are few pauses for breath in what is a rattling good story. It moves fast, and the slower parts are principally good humour to add to the drama. My only reservations were the fact we have the 'Is Bumblebee dead?' storyline twice when once would have done, this did drag out the ending a little. There was also much airtime given to two characters, one girl working in the defense department, the other caught with a CD the girl from the defense department had given him. These could have been replaced with standard analysts in the department, I have no idea what the point of these two characers were or what they added to the film.

All in all though, this delivered, good film, good story, good flow. Not great acting but enough to carry the battles between the robots, which afterall, is what this film is really there for. Well worth the hype, and a look if you have not seen it.

MOON OF LIBERTY VERDICT - RATING 'B+' - Lived up to the hype, a great story was put together and had me locked in from start to finish. These films often don't deliver, this did, well done to all involved.

The Simpsons The Movie (2007) First watched by me on Thursday 26 July

Starring - Dan Castellaneta, Julie Kavney, Nancy Cartwright, Yeardley Smith

Directed by David Silverman

The Simpsons The Movie. 17 years in the making. After the hit TV show spanning a whole generation, would The Simpsons appearence on the big screen live up to all the pre-show hype? Would Simpsons fans get the show they all went into the cinema yearning for?

Of course only the Simpsons could begin it's own movie by insulting all of it's own fans and dare to get away with it. They did this through the form of Itchy and Scratchy, while Springfield is in a cinema watching their movie, Homer goes on a mad rant about how people who pay to go and watch something on the big screen we can see for free on the small screen are strange. We are all suckers, great start to the film.

This had a storyline, this was for me the main problem with this film, it had too much storyline and not enough of the faces, sights and sounds of the Simpsons we all know and love. For what it's worth the storyline went something like this, Due to an environmental crisis emerging from Lisa Simpson's 'An Irritating Truth' the Mayor declares a ban on dumping waste into Springfield lake. When Marge tells Homer he must get rid of the waste created by 'Spiderpig,' Homer dumps the waste into the lake. This creates a huge problem. To combat this, 'President' Arnold Schwarzenigger authorises a plan to place a dome on top of Springfield, in fact, he picked the plan at random from 5 possible options, he was afterall elected to 'Lead not read.'

The dome means nobody gets in or out, but the Simpsons escape while the rest of Springfield are after Homer's blood. They run to Alaska, but when a TV add hosted by Tom Hanks reveals a new plan to blow up Springfield to create 'A New Grand Canyon to replace the boring old one.' The Simpsons are in a race against time to return and save their home.

Roughly a third of the film was conducted around the run to Alaska, in my view adding little to the enjoyment. There are plenty of good jokes and it is not a disaster. But Mr Burns and Smithers had only one scene of note (excellent one though it was), there was nothing from Marge's sisters (Who would have been perfect for a scenario like this.) There was nothing from Springfield school and far to much of Schwarznegger's cabinet member Mr Cargill who just was not funny.

This is a film that started well but lost it's way. The storyline took over too much and it was not a very good one. There is plenty of subtle humour to amuse and clever ideas in there, but we could have had more from the fringe characters, less in Alsaska, more from Springfield and less of a too serious storyline that appeared determined to ram an environmental theme down our throats that was inappropriate for this movie.

THE MOON OF LIBERTY VERDICT - RATING 'C+' Worth seeing to a point, but don't expect too much. This should have been much better, and failed to deliver what we all wanted to see

Another retrospecive film review.

Walk The Line (2005) - First watched February 2006

Starring - Joaquin Phoenix, Risse Witherspoon, Ginnifer Goodwin, Robert Patrick

Directed by James Mangold

Walk the Line, a story of the rise and fall of Johnny Cash. Cash made his debut in 1955 walking into Sun Studios and delivering a performance that began the process of of the creation of a superstar who would change the sound and face of American music, and the industry itself.

Of course, like many a genius, and musically most would say Cash was one, he was also seriously flawed. This film tells the story of the rise, fall and rise again of Cash. Nothing is spared, as the life of Cash and his volitile relationship with June Carter is covered in a very balance way, warts and all.

The film is neither a vindication or a demolition of Cash, and the film does take a little time to warm up, mainly because while Phoenix does a good job as Cash, the real star of this show, Risse Witherspoon as Carter, does not show up later. Witherspoon delivers a masterclass performance, every scene between her and Phoenix is electric and she creates an energy that takes the film to another level.

Withersppon said this was a role she has long wanted to play and it shone through the screen. The issue deals with the gritty reality of Cash's drug taking and the extent of his decline as a result. Carter helped Cash gradually recover and regain his position at the top of the music world. The intense relationship between the two, and Carter's refusal to stop believing in Cash is a story exceptionally well told.

There is plenty of music too and if you are a Cash fan this alone will see you through the movie, but don't let that get in the way of the fact this is also a well told and directed story of the life of a music legend, along with the probably the finest acting performance of the year from Risse Witherspoon. This is well worth seeing.

MOON OF LIBERTY VERDICT - RATING 'B+' - Witherspoon went on to win the Best actress OSCAR, a fantastic story well told, get the DVD if you have not seen it.

Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix (2007) - First watched Today

Starring - Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson, Ruper Gint, Ralph Finnes, Gary Oldman

Directed by David Yates

The fifth installement of the film based on JK Rowling's best selling series, Harry saves the ghastly Dudley Dursley from an attack from a dementor, and ends up in the dock of the fact he used a spell in front of a muggle to save him. The Head of the Ministry of magic, Cornelous Fudge, refuses to believe Potter's story as it would mean accepting the return of Lord Voldermort, which Fudge is unwilling to do. 

Hogwarts Headmaster Dumbledor also states Voldermort is back, and Fudge through paranoia, believing Dumbleor is using Voldernmort as cover to oust him, condemns Hogwarts to the rule of Proffessor Umbridge, acting on his behalf. She bans the students from learning to defend themselves against the dark arts, so Potter, after eventually pursuding his friends he is telling the truth about Voldermort,  takes the role of teacher on himself.

Potter also learns about 'The Order of the Phoenix.' Set up to fight Voldermort the first time around, this time Potter will be the key. Sirius Black returns to aid Harry and advises him of his family history, that Black's own family were pureblood fanatics and disciples of the Voldermort view of the world. Maybe this holds a few clues to how all this will end. It becomes clearer and clearer Voldermort is back the longer the film goes (we already knew of course from the Goblet of Fire), but can Sirius, Dumbledor, or anyone stop him? Maybe Harry, we shall have to wait for the other films to wait and see.

This film pieces the jigsaw together nicely from the last film. It flows, with a good balance of appropriate humour too. This film is only around 2 and 20 minutes long, so I expect greater exponents of the books than I will complain plenty has been missed out. but as a continuation of the journey towards the inevitable final clash between Potter and Voldermort it does the job very well. The acting in this film is good too, and huge credit to Imelda Staunton for her role as Umbridge, there were times when she was so horrible you wanted to give her a slap, that was her job, and she did it exceptionally well.

The final dramatic scenes did an exceptional job, with flashback scenes documenting what was going through Potter;s mind exceptionally well directed and edited. A key character dies in the final fight of the film, most of you will know who but I wont spoil it for those who have not read the books. There was an impressive battle between Voldermort and Dumbledor, the flashing colours as they tried through their spells to destroy each other looked like a modern version of Obi Won Kanobi verses Darth Vader. There was also further evidence of Harry having love for other people being the key to his battle against Voldermort, as love stopped Voldermort infiltrating his mind.

It is an ecapsulating film from start to finish, and has me thoroughly looking forward to the Half-Blood Prince. Overall this is not quite as good as the Goblet of Fire, but it more than did the job and leaves you optimistic that when it comes to the big finale, they have a formula to get it right.

THE MOON OF LIBERTY VERDICT - MY RATING 'B+' A Very good film, good acting and a smooth story telling moving the series nicely on towards the Half-Blood Prince

I'm going to kick off my film section with a film I saw and loved a couple of years ago. I will throw in reviews of films I have seen in the past as this blog is new, along with reviews of new films as and when I see them. As a result most of the retrospective reviews will probably be rated higher in general, as I will be positng more my my favourites than duds. I rate each film on an A+ to F rating, this of course, is only my opinion, but on my blog, it counts for rather a lot :)

The Constant Gardener (2005) - I saw this first in November 2005

Starring Ralph Finnes, Rachel Weisz, Danny Houston, Bill Nighty

Directed by Fernando Meirelles

This film at a glance is one I did not expect a huge amount from, as this sort of storyline tends to work better in books rather than films. This however, well and truely delivered. The lead characters, Ralph Finnes as diplomat Justin Quale, and Rachael Weisz who plays his activist wife Tessa, deliver outstanding performances.

The basis of the plot is Justin is parachuted in to deliver a lecture on the diplomats role in Government foreign policy. After the lecture Tessa delivers a diatribe against the Governemnt. Justin finds her passion attractive and the meet up later. Eventually Justin agrees to marry Tessa which allows her to go to Africa to pusue work with poverty stricken children in Africa. Her outbursts however are an embarrasment to the British Government. Eventually on on of her trips to Africa, Tessa is brutally murdered.

Justin is told his wifes death was suicide. Justin does not believe this, and his wifes readicalisation engulfs him in a search through three continents to search for the truth. He finds a deal between the Governement, and a pharmacutical firm making money out of selling dubious medicine to Africans may have been the link to his wifes death, in the process, his own life is now at risk.

The major trick of this movie is the sequencing. It moves back and forward in time, then back again. This allows the film to give hints of whats to come, then explain how it gets there.This clever decice is at its most powerful at the end, allowing the movie to finish in the only way it could, while still being able to show the consequences of Justin's actions afterwards.

It also has the advantage of the third world eye of Fernando Meirelles, this gives the film a true feel of the reality in Africa in the scenes filmed there. The directing and editing in this film is simply beautiful to watch, and gets the balance between beauty and sadness, power and emotion, absolutely right.

This film has politics, romance, cover-up, great acting, great directing and an emotional intensity few films can match. If you have not seen this film, I urge you to do so.

THE MOON OF LIBERTY VERDICT - MY RATING 'A+' - I voted this my own favourite film of 2005, Rachel Weisz went to to win best Supporting Actress at the OSCARS, and deservedly so. I love this film, in my top few films of all time.