Apollo 13 (1995) 20th Anniversary In-Depth Movie Review

There is a VIDEO VERSION of this review HERE

“Apollo 13” is directed by Ron Howard and it stars Tom Hanks, Bill Paxton and Kevin Bacon as the three astronauts that in April of 1970 struggled to survive and return home safely after an explosion during the Apollo 13 mission to the moon.

Times flies. It’s already been 20 years since I first saw this film in the theatres. I watched it again yesterday and I loved every second of it. It hasn’t dated at all. It remains a remarkable film. 

This depiction of the real life drama of the Apollo 13 mission is the perfect homage to the hundreds of man and the women at NASA that worked to get those three men back to Earth safely. Even when things seemed hopeless they never gave up and as Gene Kranz, Ed Harris’s character says at the end it was one of NASA’s finest hours indeed.

The film is a must if you haven’t seen it. Even if you know how it ends it still provides a wonderful and emotional experience. Ron Howard is in great form and he treats the material with enormous attention to detail always staying true to the actual events and constantly paying tribute to the geniuses that helped prevent a disaster from happening.

“Apollo 13” has a running time of 2 hours and 19 minutes and every single time I see this film I’m sad when it’s over. Those 2 hours seem more like 20 minutes.  It’s a film that grabs and pulls you into it very early on and you just want to stay there with these characters. The pacing is perfect and the script is extremely well structured. In my view you have a great story arch working to perfection but you also have a beautiful character arch with Jim Lovell played by Tom Hanks. The B story of Apollo 13, mostly centered around Jim Lovell’s wife Marilyn played by Kathleen Quinlan is the heart and soul of the film. The drama being experienced back on Earth through Marilyn’s eyes bridges the action to the drama of this film masterfully. We all want these guys to get back home safely but we especially want Marilyn Lovell to see her husband again. I can’t stress how much this husband and wife connection makes Apollo 13 that much better.

The dynamic between the three astronauts is mostly of a professional nature but naturally becomes more emotional and tense as the story progresses. Jim Lovell has to be a true leader to keep the spirits up and the focus where it needs to be but he also has to deal with his personal frustration of not being able to walk on the moon. It’s heartbreaking to see Lovell accept that his dream is lost but it’s also inspiring to see him lead his crew back to safety.

Back on earth you see the team at NASA also overcoming obstacles, remaining professional and focused but also dealing with pressure and emotion as time goes by. This is mostly encapsulated in Gene Kranz, Ed Harris’s character. It’s wonderfully to see him at the end decompressing his emotions subtly when the astronauts are finally safe. Ed Harris provides an exceptional performance.

I think it’s fair to say that the characters in this film are extremely well developed, maybe because it’s a portrayal of real people… but not just that; Even with great source material like this, real life events, you still need to be very good at what you do to pull it off so brilliantly. I’m talking about writing, directing and acting at very high standards.

As you can probably tell I think the performances of this film are perfect. Of course Tom Hanks does a tremendous job with his leading role. His performance makes the film that much more believable and relatable and his chemistry with Kathleen Quinlan is gripping. Considering they only share a few scenes together you always get the feeling that they are close the entire film. Of course merits also go to Kathleen Quinlan for achieving this. She delivers an extremely powerful and solid performance. Great match.

Bill Paxton and Kevin Bacon play the other two astronauts along for the ride. Fred Haise and Jack Swigert respectively. Bill Paxton is an underrated actor in my view. We mostly know him for great supporting roles but I always go back to Sam Raimi’s “A Simple Plan” when I think about him. He does a great job in that film and I think he has a lot to give as an actor. Kevin Bacon is no exception in terms of quality in this film. He is an established actor and his contribution to “Apollo 13” goes right up there next to other countless amazing and solid performances through out his diverse career. He’s Kevin Bacon. Nothing to add there.

Also noteworthy are Ed Harris and Gary Sinise. The two main characters back at NASA. As I mentioned before Ed Harris delivers an amazing performance and he is mesmerizing to watch. Gary Sinise is an actor I love. Apart from “Forrest Gump”, one of the films I love to watch him in is “Ransom” also directed by Ron Howard. He’s such a versatile actor and in this film playing Ken Mattingly he proves that once again. Watch “Apollo 13” and “Ransom” back to back and you’ll see how great he really is.

Ron Howard is a very effective director. His films usually work and leave you satisfied. “Apollo 13” is no exception, in fact, it’s one of his finest achievements. Some scenes inside the spacecraft were shot in actual zero gravity using a reduced gravity aircraft. A hollowed-out, windowless, padded Boeing 707 jet that climbs to 30.000ft and then arcs into a steep dive, creating a 23 second period of weightlessness. Of course only compositions that had the actors entire body floating in frame were shot using this method otherwise it would have taken ages and lot more resources to complete. The medium close-ups and close-ups were done in a soundstage. The final illusion was achieved with smooth editing and miming by the actors to simulate weightlessness when it wasn’t there. Movie magic at your service. Ron Howard is a great storyteller and I love how he makes an effort for the audience to always care about the characters. There aren’t any two dimensional characters in his films. They are always very strong and structured be it the hero or the villain. He’s a maestro of emotions and he hits you before you even know something was coming.

The music of “Apollo 13” cannot go unmentioned. James Horner writes one of the best scores of his career. The music is absolutely beautiful. The action cues are great and the emotional ones are phenomenal to say the least. The fantastic launch set piece and the breathtaking end credits cue are just a couple examples of great film music working beautifully to tell a story. It’s a memorable score and a must to any soundtrack lover out there.

And here we are 20 years later looking back at such a great film. I watched “Apollo 13” when I was only 15 and nothing changed from that first screening to yesterday when I was sitting at home. It’s an emotional roller-coaster. It’s excellent filmmaking and an absolute must for everyone.

“We are go for launch!”

Interstellar (2014) In-Depth Review

“Interstellar” is directed by Christopher Nolan and it stars Matthew McConaughey Anne Hathaway, Jessica Chastain and Michael Caine.

This review contains spoilers so if you haven’t seen the film you should probably check it out first. If you don’t mind the spoilers then by all means stick around and enjoy.

There is a VIDEO VERSION of this review you can WATCH HERE.

In Earth's future, a global crop blight and second Dust Bowl are slowly rendering the planet uninhabitable. Professor Brand played by Michael Caine, a brilliant NASA physicist, is working on plans to save mankind by transporting Earth's population to a new home via a wormhole. But first, Brand must send former NASA pilot Cooper played by Matthew McConaughey and a team of researchers through the wormhole and across the galaxy to find out which of three planets could be mankind's new home

“Interstellar” had a lot of buzz around it. The teasers and trailers looked amazing and everyone was hyped with the film. Christopher Nolan is a name that sells itself these days. Everyone rushes to see any film with his name on it. A status he achieved with great films like “The Dark Knight” and “Inception”.

“Interstellar” is visually stunning.  The cinematography is impeccable. Nolan once again chooses to shoot some scenes in IMAX which always adds that extra layer of immersion. Especially if experienced in theatres. The performances are solid and Hans Zimmer brings yet another mesmerizing score to a Nolan film. Despite its running time of almost 3 hours, the film is easy to watch. The plot is engaging and the pacing is perfect.

The film is packed with amazing set pieces and brings to the table Einstein’s theory of Relativity in a very thought provoking manner. The film’s scientific accuracy is almost unquestionable.  But even with all that, the film is essentially about a father trying to reunite with his daughter. That’s it. That’s what the film builds up to all the way through.

That’s also where the film fails dramatically.

The first two acts of the film are amazing and spectacular but when we break into the third act “Interstellar” falls apart like a house of cards. It’s like Nolan and his brother Jonathan had a brain freeze. To me it seems like they got so caught up with the twist of Cooper being the ghost in Murphy’s room that they overlooked the elephant in the room. The disaster they had created in the third act. In my opinion the film starts to fall apart when Cooper goes inside the black hole. That’s when Nolan really starts challenging your suspension of disbelief.  I’m no expert in physics but I’m pretty sure that - if the spacecraft Cooper is in is squished so should Cooper. But of course you can argue that Cooper had the help of the aliens/future humans like the film implies a bit later. Ok, I can accept that. But still, perhaps to solidify that idea maybe the ship could have survived too, at least then it would have been more obvious that a third party was helping Cooper in some way.

The other thing that bothers me is how cryptic the message from Cooper to Murphy is and how easily she picks it up. And how does Nolan try to get away with that? He suggests that love is quantifiable and a man’s connection to his daughter breaks all barriers. Really? Everything was going so well scientifically in the film but then Nolan decides to get sentimental and just asks you to go along with it. It just seems to me that the third act needed a lot more work on it. Ways to maintain the coherence the film had built up to that point. To add insult to injury Nolan creates a forced and frankly unrealistic tension between Murphy and her brother while Cooper is struggling to make contact. Casey Affleck does a tremendous job with such a poorly written character by the way. How does the film expect me to believe that a father would put his family at risk just because he’s stubborn and wants to stay at the house for some reason we don’t fully understand. When he finally gets back to the house and Murphy runs out excited that she made contact with Cooper, Affleck is like “Ok! Cool! Should I be angry now? Happy?”. There seems to have been no reason for Topher Grace’s character to be pressuring Murphy to hurry up seconds before. That scene is probably the worst scene in the film actually. Even the performances are below par. Maybe because no one had a clue how to approach the material.

Then comes the biggest sin the film has. The reuniting of Cooper and Murphy. The biggest moment the film built up to. The most anticipated scene of the entire movie. What do you get? You get 2 minute scene that makes absolutely no sense and honestly fails to pay off gigantically or “gargantually” if you know what I mean. First of all. Why is the rest of the family, Cooper’s descendants , simply standing there emotionless? I mean that guy just helped save mankind and he’s their grandfather, uncle etc… Nobody reacts? Cooper walks to Murphy’s bedside all sobby and they exchange underwhelming dialogue. She hasn’t seen her father in years and she’s dying but she opts to just send him off to go after Brand, (Hathaway’s character), a person she hardly met as a child and would normally not give two fucks about, especially at that stage in her life. Cooper walks away looking back all weepy and that’s it. “Interstellar” builds up to this. Under-developed crap that contrasts too much with the first two acts of the film.  And don’t get me started on how ridiculous it is for Cooper to be able to just get in a ship and sail off to meet Brand without any one noticing in this sophisticated and futuristic space station. You have that very uninspired shot of an engineer guy noticing a ship is missing. Really? Did we really need that? That shot alone is to blame. If it wasn’t there I wouldn’t be questioning this tiny detail at the end of the film. I would just assume it was a planned mission to reach Brand which would have made a lot more sense.

“Interstellar” is a missed opportunity in my eyes. It brings to the table so many great ideas and possibilities topped off with bold and creative filmmaking but manages to ruin it all in the last 20 to 30 minutes. It tried to be something in the likes of Kubrick’s 2001 but it missed by a long, long shot. The film is still very much enjoyable but when you setup to become a masterpiece you’re bound to fail if you don’t pay attention to the details. It’s like Nolan put so much effort into the first 2 acts and then decided that it was enough. “Let’s wrap this baby up. It’s awesome now. It’ll work.” But it didn’t. It needed a lot more development.

With all that said, do I think the movie is terrible? By all means no. It’s still a very enjoyable experience and I will always recommend it to people. Christopher Nolan is a very gifted director and you can’t take that away from him. Matthew McConaughey’s performance is a delight and you are rooting for him from start to finish. It’s amazing how far he has gone as an actor. He has always been talented and competent but he seems to be living the golden years of his career.

I have a mixed opinion when it comes to Jessica Chastain. She is a terrific actress but in some scenes she just seems a bit off her game. Namely the scene I mentioned earlier with Casey Affleck. But I think it’s fair to blame the material there. The rest of the cast delivers as expected. I don’t have a lot to add except for Matt Damon. Matt Damon steals the show once he appears. I don’t particularly love his storyline but he’s a tremendous actor and always a pleasure to watch.

And I think I’ve said enough.  Do you agree with my opinion? What do you think of “Interstellar”? Let me know in the comments below.

Happy travels gentlemen and I’ll talk to you soon!

"Gravity" (2013) In-Depth Movie Review

“Gravity” - Directed by Alfonso Cuaron. Starring Sandra Bullock and George Clooney. This review contains spoilers so if you haven’t seen the movie you should probably check it out first.

There is a video version of this review you can WATCH HERE

“Gravity” is the story of Ryan Stone played by Sandra Bullock. She’s an engineer on her first mission to repair the Hubble Telescope. A cloud of satellite debris orbiting the earth destroys the space shuttle Explorer killing the entire crew except Ryan and Matt Kowalski played by George Clooney. They have to work together to survive.

After seeing this film I spent a long time reading and watching reviews. I also read a lot of comments on the youtube videos reviews. The pattern is very clear. Some hate and some love it. The only common ground seems to be that it’s absolutely visually breathtaking. And who can argue with that right? If you didn’t see this film in a theatre and especially in IMAX 3D you missed a golden opportunity. It’s an experience very few films deliver.

Those who don’t like “Gravity” seem to complain a lot about the script or the lack of it and even say that film won’t work outside of a 3D screening. Many say that watching this film in 2D at home will reveal its weaknesses and confirm how bad it really is. It’s nothing but a visual effects ride from start to finish and it might as  well be a ride in a theme park.

I’ve seen “Gravity” three times now. Twice in IMAX 3D when it came out and just now, before I starting writing this review. I wanted to see if the IN FACT the film was different when viewed at home without the aid of 3D and the spectacle that an IMAX screening provides.

Not to my surprise, my opinion did not change. “Gravity” is an absolute masterpiece. Allow me to explain why I think that.

Let’s start with what most people criticize. The script. For me this whole film is a metaphor for overcoming insurmountable obstacles. More specifically depression and personal loss of any kind. Everything is there and easy to interpret. What people call a cheesy sob story that Ryan tells to Kowalski about her daughter that died is in fact the heart of the film and the strongest link the film establishes with the audience. That’s why we’re watching this film. It’s not about satellite debris destroying a space shuttle and killing people. It’s about human endurance. It’s about how strong a person can really be when things seem hopeless. Ryan sinks so deep at one point that she decides to commit suicide. She turns off the oxygen and accepts her fate. We can hear a crying baby over the radio and a father singing a lullaby. That’s when Clooney’s character, Kowalski, magically reappears in the film. Ryan reacts and finds new strength in herself to keep fighting and survive. For me that scene is incredibly layered. It represents something that many people need at some point in their lives. A wake up call. Finally we see Ryan re-enter earth and crash land on the water. She swims up after struggling not to drown and lays on the mud smiling in relief to then rise and face a new life. Also the way that final shot is framed is no accident. The low angle showing Ryan rising up is incredibly strong and again, incredibly layered.

This film is speaking out to millions of people that struggle with their own personal problems every day. Be it depression, personal loss or whatever you can think of. Basically people who feel lost and hopeless. I think “Gravity” is inspiring and, if only for a brief moment, it brings hope But of course it’s not just all that that makes this film a masterpiece in my eyes. The rest is an easy sell. Alfonso Cuaron is an amazing director and this film is an achievement that very few filmmakers can brag about having in their resume. The staging and the compositions of this film are absolutely inspired and unique. This film opens with a shot that lasts over 12 minutes or so. One single tracking shot that covers the setup of the film and the catalyst of the story.  Just think about that for a minute. 12 minutes of seamlessly uncut footage. Most films have dozens of shots after 12 minutes. But who are we kidding here? “Gravity” is not like most films. And it’s not just because of the length of the shot that I say this it’s because of the quality of the shot and how it tells the story and the way you don’t even notice how the shot lasts that long. That’s where the genius of Curaon is at and that’s one of the reasons he won an academy award for best director.

I think it’s pointless to talk too much about the visual effects in this film. It’s a technological achievement. Period. Unlike many blockbusters that come out every year this film’s visual effects are flawless and always work to serve the story. What I would like to bring up though, is the sound. The sound effects and mixing of this film are amazing and really put the cherry on top of those amazing visuals. I love how Cuaron uses sound to help tell the story and how it puts us in Ryan’s shoes. During the opening scene when Ryan is detached and spinning the camera slowly navigates inside her helmet and the sound changes to what she hears as opposed to the radio frequency we were hearing before. Those type of details enhance the experience that is watching “Gravity”. There are many other examples of how the use of sound or the absence of it is masterful. I like how Cuaron gives a nod to Stanley Kubrick in that sense.

Sandra Bullock delivers one of the best performances of her career in this film. I don’t need to say anything else about her. If you know anything about acting at all you cannot criticize her in any way. It’s beautiful to watch. Clooney is Clooney. He’s extremely effective and likable and his scenes balance the mood of the film extremely well. I love the scene I mentioned earlier when Ryan is hallucinating and he gets inside the escape pod to have a sip of vodka. He provides a breather for the audience. A moment to relax a little bit.

I can’t finish this review without mentioning Steven Price’s Oscar winning music. The score is beautiful and inspiring and it elevates the film to even higher standards. I listen to it almost every day, especially the last three tracks of the soundtrack album. It’s amongst my favorite scores and believe me I listen to a lot of film soundtracks. It’s unforgettable stuff.

I honestly don’t understand all the hate “Gravity” gets from so many people. Yes there are a few less inspired lines and a detail here or there that isn’t that credible but I think those details are besides the point. As I said, this is not a film about some astronauts in trouble or absolute scientific accuracy. That’s just the background. The setting. This is a film about overcoming incredible odds. There is a lot more to “Gravity” than a shallow theme park ride so many insist on calling it. See past the obvious and take a peek behind the curtain and you’ll find a much deeper film. I would love to hear what you think about the film? Do you agree with my views? Don’t be shy and speak your mind in the comments below. 

See you next time and don’t forget to keep your feet on the ground.

"The Village" (2004) In-Depth Movie Review

“The Village” directed by M. Night Shyamalan is considered by many as the film that marks his turn for the worst. This film was followed by “Lady in the Water” and “The Happening” two films that, in my opinion, are weak and pretentious.

There is a video version of this review you can WATCH HERE

Be aware that this review contains spoilers. It’s actually more enjoyable if you have seen the film and know the story.

In any case the film’s plot can be summarized very easily.

The population of a small, isolated countryside village believe that their alliance with the mysterious creatures that inhabit the forest around them is coming to an end

I recently watched “The Village” again and I have to be honest --- it struck a different cord in me. I remember watching this film in theaters and feeling like I had been robbed. The whole marketing for this film revolved around the creatures in the woods and this isolated village. I was expecting a horror film, a thriller or something along those lines. I didn’t get that. It pissed me off. And for years I was first in line to criticize this film whenever I could. What I failed to realize at the time is that I wasn’t watching a thriller or a horror film. I was watching a love story. The marketing for this film was very well handled but it backfired. And that damage is still felt today whenever this film comes up in a conversation.

 Now with that said it might seem like I went the opposite way and now love this film. No, that’s not the case. But I certainly don’t think it’s a bad film anymore. M. Night Shyamalan is an extremely talented and skilled director. Much like Signs, Unbreakable or The Sixth Sense this film is beautiful to watch. It’s wonderfully shot. The compositions are original and narrate the action very effectively. There is a lot of suspense in this film achieved solely by the camera and the way the shots reveal the action taking place. The scenes are beautifully staged and the performances are top notch. The editing is flawless and the film goes by in a heartbeat. In that sense it’s an absolute masterpiece. As a director and most of all a viewer I was smiling from start to finish watching this after so many years. The film surprised me. I saw it without the “pollution” that its marketing had. Nothing backfired this time because I had no expectations. Well I did have one. I thought I was going to change the channel after 10mns. But I didn’t. I enjoyed the film very much. However even with this new found appreciation for the film I still think it has problems. Not the problems I thought it had. But other issues with the script. I feel like this script needed a few more months of development to solve some issues. However if it had to be shot as it was I think Shyamalan ended up with the best possible film.

The choices I don’t like in the film are choices I myself would probably go with if I had to shoot the film and couldn’t work for another year developing it further and solving the road blocks it has. Everything is fine in the film up until Lucius gets stabbed by Noah. The whole drama that drives the film from then on is a bit silly and really not that much of an obstacle for the main characters. Let’s be reasonable. A guy is dying and you send a blind girl to trek through some woods to reach a road somewhere and then get help? Why didn’t William Hurt’s character just do this himself? He could have even done it secretly if that was the issue. Nothing would be in jeopardy. I mean, Sigourney Weaver was the one taking care of Lucius. She was one of the founders of the village too so the secret would always be safe. Lucius would be healed and no questions asked. Why didn’t they just take care of it? I think know the answer to that question. It’s not interesting and it’s anti-climatic. But most of all, it’s not interesting. As I said, this is a love story. This is how Ivy saves Lucius from death in a race against time. That’s a lot more interesting than solving the film’s main conflict in 10 minutes.

Ignoring these problems is how I started to enjoy “The Village”. When I decided to not question those choices and just enjoy the ride however it goes without saying I still think this script could have used a little more time to try and solve these issues. A scenario on which Ivy could still go on her adventure and somehow still make sense for William Hurt or any of the elders to stay behind. A good solid reason. When I was watching the film I was waiting for at least some hint of explanation but it never came. Just send the girl and treat it as this unavoidable and perilous task that has to be done. And it’s beautiful dealt with, no doubt there. As I said, with the script as it is, Shyamalan did a hell of a job.

Noah’s attack disguised as one of the creatures is a clever idea but I would have removed the creature type sound effects the sound mix has when he’s stalking and chasing Ivy. That would have been more honest from a script perspective. I could also question the way the whole scene is staged. It’s not natural or realistic. It’s purely a visual masturbation. I think Shyamalan went a tiny bit too far there prioritizing aesthetics over story. But at the end of the day I love the scene and seeing it staged more realistically would have removed the suspense that makes it shine. It’s hard to decide.

One last thing I didn’t like was the clunky airplane exposition. Shyamalan himself explaining why no planes ever cross the skies in that area. Did we really need that? Ok, obviously some moviegoers would bring that up? So what? So many commitments had already been made up to that point in terms of credibility. Why bother coming up with some stupid reason to explain that. Sometimes less is more and I only saw that as a poor attempt to fill in gaps that really didn’t need to be filled. But even with all these issues I did enjoy watching “The Village” again and I changed my opinion on it. I think it’s a wonderful film to watch in spite of all its problems.

As I briefly mentioned before, this film is very well acted. The casting is spot on and I love Adrien Brody. He makes Noah work. Not an easy task. Bryce Dallas Howard is lovely to watch. She carries this film on her back towards the end. Also funny to see Jesse Eisenberg taking his first steps in major productions. Things turned out ok for him.

M. Night Shyamalan maintains the elegance and class that established him as one of the finest of his generation. It’s sad to see how such a gifted artist was able to completely mess up his following projects. I hope that he makes a triumphant comeback because this guy knows film. It runs deep in his veins. When he’s at his best you get something wonderful and memorable.

Anyway I would love to hear what you think about “The Village”. Have you watched recently? Do you still hate it like many do or did you find a new way to enjoy it as I did? I’d love to hear what you think.

Thanks a lot and talk to you soon!

"The War of the Roses" (1989) In-Depth Movie Review

Hello and welcome to my in-depth review of “War of the Roses”.

There is a video version of this review you can WATCH HERE.

This review will contain spoilers so consider yourself warned. If you haven’t seen the film you should watch it first. This review is much more enjoyable if you’ve seen the film and want to listen to my opinion on the script, the performances, directing and so on. Maybe compare to what your own thoughts are on the film.

“War of the Roses” is directed by Danny DeVito and it stars Michael Douglas and Kathleen Turner. It came out in 1989. It’s a black comedy about a couple going through a very bad divorce. After 17 years of marriage, Barbara played by Kathleen Turner and Oliver Rose played by Michael Douglas want out. The trouble is, neither one wants to part with their opulent home. So begins a long war between husband and wife, reaching farcical heights that leave much of the house -- not to mention their lives -- in shambles. The couple's children watch in horror while lawyer Gavin D'Amato played by Danny DeVito tries his best to stem the bloodshed.

I’ll go right ahead and say that I think this movie is absolutely perfect. I don’t think I know anyone who’s seen this film and not like it. It’s one of those cases where everything fits perfectly and works beautifully.

The script is so fine tuned and the fantastic duo: Michael Douglas and Kathleen Turner elevate it to even higher levels of quality. I love the ambience of the film too from the very first scene to the last. The greyish tone of a rainy day in Gavin’s office has always been so cozy for me every time I watch the movie.

Oliver and Barbara’s relationship is like a bubble that slowly grows and then finally bursts. You see all the small details mounting up and filling up that bubble as the story progresses. That’s a key word for me when taking about this film: Details. “War of the Roses” is filled with small delicious details and I’m going to point out as much as I can.

The first part of the film where we see a happy couple getting together is what you’d expect. It’s just right. It’s believable and not over the top. It’s a simple romance blossoming into a marriage. However the first scene when we see Barbara and Oliver already married with tow kids is when you start seeing the bubble grow. That scene contains two key moments that hint what eventually happens to their marriage. First, Oliver disapproves of the kids getting so many sweets and candy and of course he is proven right when we later see them all bloated and fat. The second detail is when they are decorating the tree and Oliver doesn’t like the tinfoil star Barbara got for the top of the tree. We can sense she just agrees with him out of insecurity and submission to him. “You’re right. It doesn’t make it. I’ll learn.” “I’ll learn” is very carefully put in that line for obvious reasons. The film does this constantly. Details like this help build and solidify the character’s main arch.

Another scene to highlight is the dinner with the senior partners on which Oliver interrupts and corrects Barbara when she’s trying to tell the story go they got the Crystal they are displaying. On the last shot you can see Barbara giving Oliver the finger as she flicks the crystal.

It’s soon after that the film establishes what I like to call the pet parallel. Barbara has the cat and Oliver the dog. You see Oliver pushing the cat down from a chair while trying to convince Barbara to hire a live-in housekeeper… and a bit later you see Barbara teasing the dog with treats but giving them to her cat instead. It’s like an outlet for how she feels about Oliver. I could go further and say that the way Oliver pushes the cat away can be seen as metaphor of how he treats Barbara. Like she’s just part of the house and can sometimes be an annoyance. But that might be me reading too much into it.

The very next scene is, in my opinion, one of Kathleen Turner’s finest moments in the film. Her monologue explaining how she feels about hiring a live-in is absolutely perfect. It’s almost like Barbara is in therapy talking to a psychiatrist and I love how the whole speech leans toward not hiring Susan but at the very end she ends up doing it. This scene is a good example of something Kathleen Turner does exquisitely well through out the film. She projects Barbara as a determined and cold woman but at the same time lets out a slight vulnerability. You can always feel her inner struggle, how she sometimes second guesses herself. The contrast with Oliver is always there. Oliver on the other hand is simply living his life oblivious to what Barbara is going through and Michael Douglas just cruises dealing with his character. Like fish in the water. Again, these two actors are impeccable in their respective roles.

It’s lovely to see Kathleen Turner slightly over act the moment where she gets the phone call about Oliver’s medical emergency. It’s really Barbara trying to act worried because it’s what’s expected of her at that moment. A role she hates more and more. Again one of the many details the fill up this movie with unmatched quality.

Then comes one of the best scenes in the film. The moment Barbara says she wants a divorce. It’s such a well written and brilliantly acted scene. I’ve even seen videos on youtube of fans reenacting the scene. It’s like a beautifully written symphony being played by the best orchestra in the world. Only here the orchestra is composed by writers, actors and an inspired director and the music is a wonderfully crafted scene in a film.

It’s also here you can notice Barbara’s slight vulnerability even though she’s as cold as ice the entire scene. Right after she punches him you can see her hesitate for a split second.

The rest of the film is what you’d expect. Extremely funny but also tapping in serious issues with great elegance and subtlety.

At the end of the film it’s heartbreaking to see Barbara push Oliver’s hand away just before they die. It’s sad to see how Oliver, in spite of his flaws never truly gives up on the marriage. He really loves Barbara. But I suppose it works better if Barbara is portrayed as sort of an antagonist. Wouldn’t be in character if she did grab his hand or something so the choice is wise and it only elevates the film.

With that said, it’s a good time to talk about Danny DeVito. I haven’t seen all the films he directed but just by browsing his director credits on IMDB I think it’s safe to say this is his highlight as a director. This film is beautifully shot and his relationship with acting is of course very intimate. I love Danny DeVito as an actor but I think if he made more films like this I would quickly change that to I love Danny DeVito as a director. His compositions are very creative and most of all very effective. The cinematography and the editing are top notch and always service the story. I can’t even stress how important that is. There are many directors out there who work only for the shot and the action. Ask Michael Bay to direct this film. See what you end up with. I would pay to watch him fail catastrophically. I say this because it’s very easy for Danny DeVito’s work to go unnoticed because it’s so seamless. Brilliant none the less. Of course his role as Gavin is perfect and he’s a delight to watch. I love the scenes between him and Michael Douglas and they way he handles the exposition scenes with his client in his office. With such great writing you can do wonders.

It’s also curious to see a very young Sean Astin we all recognize as Sam in “The Lord of the Rings” trilogy. In this film he has a very small role playing one of the kids. 

David Newman’s score is perfect and it works wonderfully setting just the right mood. It’s a light warm score with only hints of suspense and action never truly crossing over to something more serious. I love how he uses the melody of “Only You” by the Platters and fits it in the score very discretely. Like everything else in this film, the music just blends in.

That’s probably the best way to describe “War of the Roses”: Everything works because of everything else. The actors are great because the script is great which it turn works because of how beautifully it’s directed and produced. It’s not the type of film where you might say that the cinematography is good but the script or the actors are terrible. No, “War of the Roses” works across the board in every aspect. It’s a perfect little gem of a film and it’s an enormous pleasure for me to sit here and write about it while it’s playing in the background. I sincerely hope you enjoy this film as much as I do. I don’t think it will ever become dated. The themes are universal and the dedication and work put into it solidify its place as one of the best black comedies of the 80s and I dare say ever made.

I will shut up now and let you grab a copy of it. It will always be time well spent.