iang_1795 Reviews

Green Book (2018)

Idealism meets Practicality

[7/10 · 10 March 2019]

This is a tale of a working-class Italian American driver - Tony (played by Viggo Mortensen), hired by a celebrated African-American pianist - Don,played Mahershala Ali. Tony is seen to be prejudiced and politically incorrect while Don seeks to refine his language and behavior, projecting his superiority. But both men have something to teach each other, as Tony tries to chip away Don's quixotic nature, which is a poor and potentially fatal fit for the Apartheid system of the South in the 1960s. Particularly memorable is a brief scene of Don, in his suit, staring out at the plantation filled with African American workers.

Tony and Don get through many problems, some of them self-inflicted. They solve the problems in their own ways, although Don keeps emphasising his idealist spirit while Tony prefers to solve his problems in a quick and dirty way. By Christmas, the pair return back to New York, after their experiences have changed them. Despite all his wealth, Don is often lonely while Tony is willing to welcome him like a brother, overcoming his past prejudices.

Nightcrawler (2014)

A Cautionary Tale about Sociopaths as leaders

[8/10 · 7 October 2017]

Jake Gyllenhaal stars as an amateur nightcrawler (videographer) Lou covering crime scenes in nighttime LA. The film displays the development of Lou as he becomes a professional nightcrawler. While his equipment improves, his character hardly changes remaining even more determined and agreeable to risky behaviour. The business is tough and Lou takes no prisoners in his approach. The film knows how to keep tension high at the right moment and shows the extent how Lou has become a poisonous influence to himself and the network, perhaps never to be kept in check.

Okja (2017)

A satire about corporations

[7/10 · 4 July 2017]

Okja is a satire about corporations and their interactions with activist groups that pressure them to change their ways. When a young farmer girl is separated from her pet pig, she is determined to get her back and does so through the help of activists, who have their own motives at heart. The film also depicts the heavy handedness of corporations in clamping down dissent through the forceful use of police action and their arrogant attitudes towards the rest of society. While some of the performances by Jake Gyllenhaal as the animal doctor and Tilda Swinton as CEO seem like caricatures, others are more grounded and authentic like Paul Dano's Jay who is an ideological crusader. The ending is bittersweet, in the sense that while Mija has paid for Okja's freedom, many of Okja's kind will not be so fortunate as they are carted off to slaughter.

Ellie Parker (2005)

A day in the life of a struggling actress

[7/10 · 4 January 2017]

The movie has a depressing overtone as the main character "Ellie Parker", struggles to find her identity after plodding through various auditions. While the film quality isn't great, Ellie still manages to persuade the audience to feel for her struggles while she shuttles between auditions and the people who try to take advantage of her. It is perhaps one of the least glamorous roles that I have seen Naomi Watts play, but she still acts with the same conviction although sometimes it seems a little annoying and over-the-top. While some parts of the movie seem overly dramatic and a little unbelievable, it still reflects the versatility the actors need to have (such as mastering different accents and being prepared to switch roles quickly) and the little support that they receive during auditions, especially among seemingly disinterested producers.