First up is this years Oscar winning Best Picture, 'No Country for Old Men'.
This is a dark, understated film. Joel and Ethan Coen have made other quality movies, including the Oscar winning 'Fargo" - so you know you're in for some good stuff. Based on a (great) book by Pulitzer Prize winning Cormac McCarthy ('The Road'), its presentation is sometimes taken word for word from the source material.
The short synopsis: In west Texas, Llewellyn Moss (Josh Brolin) is out hunting and runs across a drug deal gone bad- complete with a load of dead thugs and a satchel containing 2 million dollars. Naturally, he throws morality aside and takes the money, which in turn has him being chased down by not only the local sherriff (the always first-class Tommy Lee Jones) as well as the ferocious and relentless hitman Anton Chigurh (Oscar winning Javier Bardem).
What can I say? Bardem is absolutely chilling as Chigurh. Not since Hannibal Lecter in 'The Silence of the Lambs' has a character been more frighteningly violent and without conscience. A psychopath in every stretch of the word.
This movie is certainly NOT for everyone. Besides the obvious risk of giving children a permanent need for therapy if exposed to this gem, it is a slow-moving film, with little action in some sections. The scenery is vast and stark - cinematography was wonderful. The action that is there is ruthless, punishing and brutal. Graphic violence abounds in some parts.
But at the heart of the story, to me, is Bardem. He's so evil you're almost rooting for him! He defines immorality. He is an amazing actor, and there will be no shortage of work for him in the future.
One word of warning. If you have read the book, you will find no fault with the ending, as it is decidedly the same. But if you've not turned the page, the ending might leave you feeling a little provoked. That's all I'm saying.
Next is 'Love in the Time of Cholera', a film I can only assume most people have not seen and more than likely will not see - unless, perhaps, you have read the incredible best-selling novel by Nobel Prize winning Gabriel Garcia Marquez.
The short synopsis: In west Texas, Llewellyn Moss (Josh Brolin) is out hunting and runs across a drug deal gone bad- complete with a load of dead thugs and a satchel containing 2 million dollars. Naturally, he throws morality aside and takes the money, which in turn has him being chased down by not only the local sherriff (the always first-class Tommy Lee Jones) as well as the ferocious and relentless hitman Anton Chigurh (Oscar winning Javier Bardem).
What can I say? Bardem is absolutely chilling as Chigurh. Not since Hannibal Lecter in 'The Silence of the Lambs' has a character been more frighteningly violent and without conscience. A psychopath in every stretch of the word.
This movie is certainly NOT for everyone. Besides the obvious risk of giving children a permanent need for therapy if exposed to this gem, it is a slow-moving film, with little action in some sections. The scenery is vast and stark - cinematography was wonderful. The action that is there is ruthless, punishing and brutal. Graphic violence abounds in some parts.
But at the heart of the story, to me, is Bardem. He's so evil you're almost rooting for him! He defines immorality. He is an amazing actor, and there will be no shortage of work for him in the future.
One word of warning. If you have read the book, you will find no fault with the ending, as it is decidedly the same. But if you've not turned the page, the ending might leave you feeling a little provoked. That's all I'm saying.
Next is 'Love in the Time of Cholera', a film I can only assume most people have not seen and more than likely will not see - unless, perhaps, you have read the incredible best-selling novel by Nobel Prize winning Gabriel Garcia Marquez.
Of course, anything with "love" in the title is going to send most men to their gameroom or den to revel in all things Bruce Willis. ("Let the women have their sappy romances - we don't want any part of it. Let's watch Die Hard again!")
This is a movie for women, I think. And even then that is being generous. An adaptation of one of the best novels in recent times would be a mind-boggling task, to be fair, but this movie only touches on some of what made the book so extraordinary. Put bluntly, it is too hard - at least in this case - to shove this novel into such a short amount of time.
The story is rather simple: Young Florentino (Javier Bardem) falls instantly in love with Fermina (Giovanna Mezzogiorno) and they exchange love letters. Her father (John Leguizamo) disapproves of her choice and moves them away and out of touch - and soon introduces her to her future husband - a local (and strikingly handsome) doctor played by Benjamin Bratt. Florentino, upon discovering she has married, is heartbroken and begins a long journey through a sea of women, being sure to keep count and add descriptions of his rendezvous along the way. He has pledged to always love Fermina, and tells anyone listening that he is waiting for her husband to die so he can announce his everlasting dedication to her and be with her at last.
Sound crazy? It seems a bit strange, yes. It was written so much better by Marquez and didn't seem so ridiculous, a man announcing his 622nd (!) conquest- yet believing he has an undying devotion to an unobtainable woman.
At the end of the somewhat boring melodrama, things do come together in a relatively satisfying manner, but getting to it is a bit tiresome.
However, I doubt a better actor could have been cast as the heart-sick Florentino than Javier Bardem. (ok, maybe Antonio Banderas, but he isn't as good an actor). What a different side he shows of himself in this film - a side we can assume is more like his actual self than the bloodthirsty Chigurh from No Country. He is brilliant in the role, and without him, it would have been a lost cause. The makeup effects (because of the vast time period of years covered) were passable, but in some cases almost scary. Bardem's were the best done, thank goodness. The scenery is truly gorgeous, showing off the natural beauty of Cartagena, Columbia. It is almost enough to save the film, but in all reality, Bardem does that.
In conclusion: No Country for Old Men - must see
Love In The Time of Cholera - not fantastic, not awful
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