My Favorite Scene - "Cast Away" (2000) Robert Zemeckis

Video Version Click Here

My favorite scene from “Cast Away “ is actually more of a moment than an actual scene. That moment occurs right after Chuck Noland manages to escape the island on the raft he built. It’s when he’s rowing further away and looking back at the island that slowly fades away behind the fog and the waves. It’s the point of no return for the character and what makes it even more interesting for me is that I always get the feeling that there is some nostalgia sinking in as he escapes. For better or for worse that place was his home for 4 long years. A place where he rediscovered himself. Where life as he knew is changed in almost every way.  It’s a moment filled with layers and, for me, extremely emotional. Because he has passed the point of no return and his destiny is out of his control, the stress and pressure seem to disappear and the film reflects that by showing us very calm seas and weather seconds later as the sequence continues and the film slowly breaks into its third act. There are many metaphors in this scene and in the entire film for that matter. Cast Away is one Robert Zemeckis’ finest achievements to date as is Tom Hank’s performance. I still cannot believe he lost the academy award. In case you’re wondering it was for Kevin Spacey who won for “American Beauty”.

There is another very crucial detail to mention about this scene. It is the very first time we hear Alan Silvestri’s beautiful score slowly emerging and it starts at that exact moment when Chuck is looking back at the Island. Up until then Zemeckis did not resort to any music to carry any scene whatsoever. We are talking about around 96 minutes of film. An hour and a half into the film before you hear anything resembling score. The only music you hear before that is source music in the opening sequence in Russia. Meaning it’s music part of the environment and sound effects not the score. It makes this first appearance of the main theme that much more powerful and significant. It hits a crucial emotional cue. It emphasizes all the points I made earlier about the character’s turning point and essentially the film’s turning point. Not to mention it’s one of Alan Silvestri’s most beautiful themes. So simple yet so effective.

So there you go. My favorite scene from “Cast Away”? What about you? Do you have a favorite scene? Let me know in the comments below.

Catch you soon.

Academy Awards Black Boycott

About the whole Academy Awards "black boycott". I honestly don't understand why this is happening. The same thing happened last year with less of an impact but still I remember some people mentioning the lack of black artists in the list of nominees. 

I read a comment here on Facebook somewhere where a person said something I completely agree with. If you aren't nominated it's because you probably didn't make an oscar worthy film. Why does the Academy or any other festival or venue of the sort have to award prizes based on race or gender? When did the Oscars stopped being about art and started being about social and political issues?

I'm not stupid. It's fairly obvious that there is a huge lobby in the Oscars for certain films to win or not but I honestly don't think it's about race. It's about profit. But that is a whole other issue and that one has been going on for decades. 

Furthermore black actors and directors have won many awards throughout the years. And justifiably so. There has been plenty of recognition and not because they were black but because they were amazing. 

Race was an issue in the past. That I am sure of. But that hasn't been the case for some time now. Denzel Washington delivered a fantastic perfomance in "Flight". He lost. Did it ever cross my mind that he lost because he was black? Of course not. 

My conclusion is that in the minds of those who protest there should always be an empty slot to be filled by a black artist. How is this, in anyway, fair or logical? How is that fair to the actor or actress who produced a great performance and didn't get a nomination because he or she was white? Because that slot had to be filled by a black actor...

Seeing these artists crying out that there are no black nominees is something I struggle to relate with. Make a good film, deliver a stellar performance. Earn your recognition. Don't use racism to basically throw a tantrum.

Issues like this only perpetuate racism which is something that should already be dead and buried in the past.

Bridge of Spies (2015) IN-DEPTH Movie Review

VIDEO VERSION HERE

“Bridge of Spies” is directed by Steven Spielberg and it stars Tom Hanks who plays James B. Donovan. An insurance lawyer recruited to defend an arrested soviet Spy during the Cold War and then help the CIA facilitate an exchange of the spy for the Soviet captured American U2 spy plane pilot, Francis Gary Powers.

This review contains spoilers so if you haven’t seen the movie maybe check out this review after you’ve seen the film.

The story of “Bridge of Spies” is quite linear and easy to follow and it’s always extremely interesting and engaging. It might disappoint some people going in expecting a full blown espionage film. The title can be a bit misleading in that regard. This film is all about negotiations. It relies on very little physical action or clever and out of the box plot twists. It’s a film on which most of the scenes are just people talking. Negotiating. And what a wonderful experience it is.

The first act of the film is very strong. All the scenes between the soviet spy, Rudolf Abel, and Donovan are fantastic. You slowly get to know these two characters and especially Donovan. Who he is and what he’s all about. It serves as the perfect setup for the remainder of the film. The only thing I didn’t like as much was the occasional cuts to the setup of the American spy capture. The recruitment, the training and briefing of the espionage operation on Soviet territory. I recognized the necessity of those scenes existing but I was so engaged in Abel and Donovan that I always hated when they got interrupted. It didn’t happen all that often but still it ruined, even if just a little bit, my enjoyment of the film up until at that point. I did, however, love the absolutely amazing plane crash sequence on which Powers, the American pilot is captured. That sequence reminded of something out of a Robert Zemeckis’ film. One of the highlights of the film and, without a doubt, one of its watercooler moments.

The second act changes gears. The American is captured and Donovan has to negotiate an exchange of the prisoners in Berlin. This is when the film’s plot surprised me a bit. An innocent student is arrested in East Berlin and Donovan upon hearing about this is determined to also bring the student back along with the already captured pilot. 2 men for 1. “One, one, one!” It was at this point that it became very obvious for me that this film was a lot more than just about spies and prisoner exchanges. It was about humanity and empathy and the determination and courage of a simple, yet gifted, insurance lawyer. Donovan’s actions were driven by a very sincere concern for the well being of both the two Americans and Abel, with whom he had already developed a friendship during the first act. The plot’s outcome was predictable but that wasn’t a problem. That was never the point of “Bridge of Spies”. The fact that everything would go well and Donovan would get the 2 Americans back was obvious. The film never really tried to hide that. Of course Spielberg masterfully creates a bit of tension towards the end as expected but I always felt more engaged with the characters and the human aspect of the story than anything else. Donovan’s unbreakable motivation and courage and Abel’s true nature as a human being was such a delight to watch.

“Bridge of Spies” is extremely well written. No surprise there as the writing credits have the Cohen brothers in there. It’s very funny at times, it balances the humor and the drama very well. The dialogue in this film is just about as good as it gets these days in film. Absolutely wonderful and crucial to the film’s quality. If this story had badly written dialogue it would have failed catastrophically. The script relies heavily on it and it’s a masterpiece in that regard.

Steven Spielberg proves once again why he’s a master filmmaker. This is one of those films heavily reliant on the director and the performances. Spielberg manages to sustain a two and half hour film with mostly dialogue scenes and he does it with such craft that you don’t even realize he’s doing it. The shot compositions make the scenes seem a lot more paced. They way he sometimes manages to have a wide shot and a medium shot or close up all in one seamless take. You don’t even know it’s happening because it’s so discrete and masterful. He never ceases to surprise me. It’s visual music. Michael Khan’s editing is, as always, brilliant and the production design is top notch. It’s a beautiful film to watch in every aspect. Thomas Newman’s score does its job very well and serves the film perfectly. It’s interesting to note that this is the first time Spielberg makes a film without John Williams. My guess is that John Williams might have been busy with “Star Wars”.

I also love a recurring thing Spielberg does in his films and that is the way he constantly makes you fill in the shoes of the protagonist. Throughout this film, you feel hungry, tired and with a bad cold. Of course Tom Hanks plays a major role in that but Spielberg contributes a lot with the way he constructs a scene and especially with his shot compositions. As an example I can point out the scene on which an extremely tired and hungry Donovan has to leave the hotel,  where he was supposed to enjoy a gigantic breakfast, to resume the negotiations which at that point took a turn for the worst. The very next scene opens with shots of people cleaning up a table filled with empty dishes and Donovan noticing this discretely. A table that was clearly filled with a delicious breakfast  minutes earlier. This has Steven Spielberg written all over it and as I mentioned Tom Hanks is absolutely fantastic enhancing these nuances.  These small details in Spielberg’s work make a huge difference when it comes to relating to your protagonist. It also helps that it’s extremely funny in a film dealing with serious matters. It’s nice to have these details balancing the drama and tension with a bit of humor and executed so masterfully.

As you’ve probably guessed I think “Bridge of Spies” is brilliantly acted. Tom Hanks excels as expected. He’s one of the finest actors working today and he proves it time and time again. He seems to portray Donovan so effortlessly much like Donovan seems to approach his dealings in the same manner. I love the scene where he makes it very clear that no exchange will take place if it doesn’t include the two Americans. One of the few scenes where Donovan is clearly more assertive and serious in his tone compared to the rest of the film. It makes the scene more powerful because of that contrast built up until that point. It’s brilliant work.

My second mention is obvious. Mark Rylance as Rudolf Abel, the soviet spy. I was mind blown seconds into the film with this performance. It’s the work of a genius. The physicality, the voice and the complete immersion and devotion to his character make Rylance’s performance flawless and absolutely beautiful to watch. So much is being said without uttering a word by Abel. It’s so wonderful to see great actors working at the highest level. “Bridge of Spies” is so much better because of this performance. There are many reasons to enjoy “Bridge of Spies” and Mark Rylance’s performance might just be the biggest.

The rest of the supporting cast is obviously good as well. Loved seeing Alan Alda but then again it’s always wonderful to see Alan Alda doing anything. As is the norm in a Spielberg film, the casting is incredibly good and the it delivers in every possible way.

“Bridge of Spies” is easily one of my favorite Spielberg films from recent years and probably his entire career. The craft in this film is incredible. The script is wonderfully written and it’s an all round fantastic experience. An absolute must. I went in thinking I was going to watch a solid espionage film and came out with a beautiful homage to humanity and in particular to James B. Donovan’s legacy.

It’s great, great filmmaking.

The Art of Acting – From Snape to Gruber – Alan Rickman

Video version

Alan Rickman blessed us with a wonderful and diversified career but I want to focus on just one performance. The first one I ever saw and have worshiped for so many years. I was 9 years old when “Die Hard” came out and I vividly remember watching it even though I wasn’t even allowed to do so. I was able to sneak in the theatre. The film blew me away and is part of the reason I do what I do today.

It’s very easy to pick a scene from “Die Hard” on which Alan Rickman is perfect. It’s easy because you can choose literally any scene. Because of that I decided to highlight his entire performance instead of focusing on just one scene.

Just minutes ago when I found out about Alan Rickman’s passing I immediately jumped out of bed to write about his most iconic role. Hans Gruber. It was his first big break in Hollywood and it turned out to be what he became most famous for. And  justifiably so. His performance is spectacular and John McTiernan was blessed with the perfect actor for the role.

I think it’s safe to say Hans Gruber is amongst the most iconic and memorable characters in film history. Wonderful material to begin with but Alan Rickman elevated it to perfection. He crafted a performance that defined his career. A performance that I could talk about for hours and hours and always in awe. The charisma, the complexity and the motivations are all there and executed perfectly. Alan took the character and made it his own and in the process made it extremely believable and even likable despite his not so noble agenda. Hans Gruber is a charming guy. He’s dangerous, highly motivated and extremely educated. I love that about the character and I love it because of Alan Rickman’s work. 

His first speech trying to pin point Takagi in the crowd. The elevator talk about the suit. The following scene on which he shoots Takagi. His confrontation with John pretending to be a hostage. The list goes on and on.

The world lost a great actor. A body of work that can never be replicated. His legacy remains and it will certainly inspire many generations to come.

Rest in peace Alan Rickman. You were and always will be one of the greats.

An Obvious Choice? Impressionist to play Han Solo

I've just bumped into this FORBES article claiming that a young youtuber called Anthony Ingruber who apparently does a very good Han Solo impression is the "obvious choice to play a young Han Solo". 

First of all I saw his video doing an impression of the Cantina dialogue from Episode IV between Obi Wan, Luke and Solo and I was not impressed. It wasn't terrible but it didn't live up to the hype the article built up. It was average at most.

Second of all, and the main reason I'm writing this, is that people need to get real. An impression is not a barometer of good acting. An impression is the ability to mimic other people's work. To even consider someone to play such an iconic role (or any role for that matter) based off his or her's ability to come up with a good impression is down right naive. 

Acting is a difficult job. It's hard work. It's the ability to interpret a script and serve its story in the best possible manner. It's a job for professionals. A job for people who have spent their whole lives devoted to the craft. It's a lot easier to be successful on the shoulders of other people's work like in this case. 

Anthony Ingruber is apparently an actor as well as an impressionist. Well then, I would love to see this young actor perform fresh new material based on nothing else but his own work. Then and only then can he truly be judged. Don't get me wrong. Doing a good impression requires talent and work on its own and Anthony obviously worked hard on this but this is not acting. Acting is something completely different. 

A young Han Solo can never be and should never be an impression of Harrison Ford. A young Han Solo has to be the product of a good and competent understanding of the character and the script in question. Harrison Ford's work should only serve as research material and not the entire foundation of the performance. 

Star Wars: The Force Awakens IN-DEPTH Review

There is a video version of this review HERE

“Star Wars The Force Awakens” This review contains spoilers. But if you still haven’t seen the film at this point I don’t know what to say about that.

The most anticipated film of 2015 finally arrived this Christmas and its box office success continues to pile up as weeks go by. Not much of a surprise there. Along with the rest of the civilized world I too was eager to see the film and confirm, or not, my expectations.

When J.J. Abrams was announced as the director of Episode VII I immediately knew one thing. It would, at the very least, be a solid film. He did a wonderful job with the Star Trek reboot and I expected nothing less with Star Wars. In fact I knew he would have to go the extra mile given the overwhelming responsibility he had.

When the first teaser popped up on the internet I was excited. It looked great. That excitement extended to the following trailers as they came out. The film seemed to have its own identity whilst remaining loyal to the fans and to the original trilogy.   The line “Chewie, we’re home” gave me goosebumps and blasted me to my childhood in an instant. The hype was very real now.

So the day finally arrived and I decided to go to a midnight screening of the film after its release to avoid crowds.

I came out with mixed feelings. The only thing I was certain of is that it wasn’t a bad film, just as I expected. But I couldn’t make up my mind of whether or not it was a good film. I had mixed feelings.

At the time I’m writing this review more than three weeks have passed since I saw the film. I’ve had plenty of time to think about it and discuss it with friends. I also spent a lot of time reading reviews and watching youtube videos about it.

In my opinion “The Force Awakens” is unquestionably a good film and despite its problems it still manages to be strong and solid and an extremely enjoyable experience. For the most part, the script is very effective and well paced. Considering it’s part of a trilogy and this is basically the first act, Episode VII is very strong start and it leaves you with just the right amount of loose ends without leaving you completely unsatisfied or frustrated. It even works as a stand-alone film but luckily it is not and it is so much stronger because of it.

J.J. Abrams manages to deliver what is asked of him but also leave his personal touch in the film. The balance between his own ideas and the demanding expectations of the public was a huge task. He passed the test with flying colors. I think the film has its own identity but also caters to the fans. The new characters all work very well and I think this new generation will bring at least two other great installments to the Star Wars franchise.

Daisy Ridley’s Rey surprised me to say the least. She’s a great new protagonist in this new trilogy and Daisy’s solid performance only enhances the great writing that brought this fresh new character to the Star Wars universe. Her story arch in this film alone is very well done and I can’t wait to see what the future has in store for her.

The same can be said about John Boyega’s Finn. What a great, great character and what a magnificent performance from such a talented and competent actor. Boyega’s performance is close to flawless in this film. I simply adored every single scene with him. I like the idea of humanizing such an unlikely character like a Stormtrooper. Not only is it original but very clever on how it also serves as means to deliver exposition to the background of the First Order and how it operates and of all of this done in a seamless way. Again, great writing.

Kylo Ren is probably one of the most interesting characters in the film. Adam Driver delivers a fantastic performance. Unlike his counter part in “A New Hope”, Vader, Kylo Ren is a lot more conflicted as a character. I like how you feel he’s not quite sure of who he is or what his destiny is and how that inner conflict is, at least so far, his perdition. It’s also great to see this character get even stronger once he removes his helmet for the first time while interrogating Rey. Another hats off to Adam Driver’s performance.

With less to do but with no less of an impact is obviously Poe Dameron. Oscar Isaac is wonderful to watch and brings great charisma to the character. I loved his escape with Finn and how you genuinely love this character right from the get go. I can’t wait to see what he will bring to the table in the next two films.

The passing of the torch, so to speak, from the original cast to these new characters works very well and the franchise is in excellent hands. Yes BB-8 is adorable. I didn’t forget about him. The R2-D2 of this generation no doubt.

Of course “The Force Awakens” is not without its flaws and one of the main issues I have with the film is its predictability at times. Out of the top of my mind I see two plot points that I saw coming way too early. One was Luke only showing up at the end of the film, although I did hop he’s pop up sooner during the 3^rd act showdown even though that wouldn’t have made any sense. The other was Han Solo’s death and that one I saw coming because of another problem the film has which is the excessive callbacks to the original 1977 film. Even in the structure of the script. In that structure a key character had to die. In Episode IV it was Obi Wan and this one it was Han Solo. Luke was left alone to face his destiny and this time around it’s Rey. Not to mention the scene itself screams out its outcome way too soon. Unlike Obi Wan’s death, which comes as surprise and hits a much stronger emotional cue with the audience, Solo’s death is slightly more gratuitous for its own good. Never the less it had to happen when you consider structure.

On the other hand I have to mention what I think is one of the most clever and funny moments of the film. The Millennium Falcon reveal. It’s a very small moment in the grand scheme of things but it’s so clever and original that I couldn’t write this review without mentioning. I got goosebumps and almost jumped off my seat when the camera pans to reveal the falcon seconds after Rey dismisses it as “gargabe”. What more could you ask from such an anticipated moment in the film. Every single person had to be wondering  “When do we get to see the Millennium falcon?” and that scene delivers big time. Great writing, acting and directing.

The same cannot be said about Solo and Chewie’s first appearance and not because it wasn’t good but simply because it came at the last possible moment. When Rey and Finn are hiding in the ship and wondering who’s coming in the Falcon, you do the math and think: “Ok it’s been too long in the film for that not be Han Solo and Chewbacca.” Other that that the scene works and Harrison Ford returns to his role in great form. You get to enjoy Han Solo one last time and it’s heartbreaking to see Chewie reacting to his death.

That brings me to Leia. I was a bit disappointed with Leia and not because of the wonderful Carrie Fisher but because of the lack of impact her character had on the film. I frequently got the feeling Leia was only there for marketing purposes. To get as much of the original cast as possible. Of course I could be proven wrong in the next films. Let’s hope so.

Luke’s appearance was a great moment for me. I grew up watching Luke Skywalker fight the Empire and face his father. This character is part of my childhood and imprinted in my brain like few others in film history. It’s a great way to wrap up the film and leaves you drooling for the sequels. Mark Hamill is terrific actor and I’m so happy to see him back in the big screen portraying his iconic role. On a side note, although I love the sequence I think it has one shot too many. The very last shot for me doesn’t do much. I would have cut to the credits on a close up of Luke and not on that circling wide shot of the two. It’s redundant in my opinion. But that’s me nitpicking. The scene is still very effective and emotionally strong.

“Star Wars” music is part of pop culture. Every one recognizes it and it’s amongst the best scores every written for film. John Williams is one of the best composers in film history and his career speaks for itself. “The Force Awakens” brings great new themes that enrich the already wonderful repertoire from the previous films. “Rey’s Theme” is a beautiful piece of music and probably my favorite out of all the new themes John Williams wrote. This composer still manages to surprise me and thrill my heart after so many years. I’m already in love with this soundtrack. So glad it’s already sitting next to the other films in my soundtrack collection.

To sum it up and avoid making this review excessively long I want to say I think “Star Wars The Force Awakens” delivered and did not disappoint. I thoroughly enjoyed this film and it grew on me as days went by. I found myself watching the trailers over and over and I can’t wait to see it again. It’s also a very funny film when the jokes do come up. Well executed and carefully mixed in keeping the tone and direction intact.

J.J. Abrams’s directing and Lawrence Kasdan’s writing did a hell of a job rebooting this franchise and I think it will only get better with the sequels. And no matter how eager I am to see the next one I like that it’s 2 years away. It doesn’t feel rushed and it allows audiences to savor and appreciate this one for some time before the next one comes out. Yes, I’m looking at you Peter Jackson.

Go watch “Star Wars” again and go listen to its wonderful soundtrack. Seriously  “Rey’s Theme”. It blows my mind.

Speaking of Rey. Do you remember the scene where she uses the Jedi mind trick to get the Stormtrooper to release her? That Stormtrooper is played by none other than James Bond himself. Daniel Graig. “The Force Awakens” is filled with hidden cameos.

I honestly hope you enjoyed this review and found it as interesting as I did writing and producing it for you.

Have a wonderful day and, of course…

… May the force be with you.

The Art of Acting – Eden Sher

There is a video version of this article HERE

The Art of Acting – Eden Sher

I decided to start this series of articles/videos where I point out a single moment or an entire scene on which I think an actor absolutely excels. Be it in a film or television show. I think actors can make or break a good script sometimes and I’m a sucker for a good performance. Because I teach acting and work with actors professionally I tend to notice subtleties that can, sometimes, go unnoticed and my goal is to point those out and try and dissect a performance so people can start appreciating and understanding even more why a performance is good.

For no particular reason other than that I saw this scene a few days ago, I decided to kick start the series with the actress Eden Sher mostly known for her work in the ABC family sitcom “The Middle”. She portrays Sue Heck the middle child in the Heck family characterized by her unending hope in life and unbeatable spirit. Always finding ways to see things from a positive point of view even when it seems impossible to do so.

Even though I think “The Middle” is an average show when it comes to its writing and general direction I still watch it with pleasure and the main reason for that is Eden Sher’s work. Her Sue Heck is, in my opinion, the heart and soul of the show and it’s definitely what keeps me going back to it. Not that the remaining cast doesn’t bring anything, they do and a lot but Eden Sher’s work just sparkles with finesse that can sometimes go easily unnoticed and taken for granted. I think it’s safe to say that like so many other examples in television history Eden Sher made her character much larger and successful than it was probably foreseeable by the show’s creators and writers. At least in my opinion.

So, to cut to the chase, I decided to pin point a single scene from “The Middle” on which I think Eden Sher shines as an actress. I love to see drama in a comedy show. I absolutely love it. This show does it sometimes but they always seem to chicken out and take a step back before it gets too serious. But that is a whole other issue for another time.

To give you some context this scene is at the end of the second episode called “The Loneliest Locker” from the 6^th season on which the main storyline focuses on Sue Heck deciding which college she wants to go to when she graduates and also a play she’s performing at school. Faced with such high hopes on her future, Mike and Frankie, Sue’s parents, are unable to disappoint her by telling her the hard truth that they probably cannot afford to pay for college. So they decide to get extra jobs to try and raise money. The majority of the episode focuses on this and especially on Frankie that is working very hard from home providing customer service for a local airline. The episode climaxes with Sue’s play being awful and inherently funny of course and with Frankie having to miss her daughter’s play because of the second job.

The scene in question is when Sue gets back home and confronts her mother about missing her play and how she’s missing out on her senior year in high school and so on. Of course poor Sue Heck is unaware of the sacrifice in motion by her parents and her mother in particular to get her to college. To highlight is the way Eden Sher handles the moment Frankie blows up on Sue and tells her the truth about the lack of money. Sue’s subtle shift from anger to guilt and compassion is masterfully done by Eden Sher and is not within the reach of many actors. The way you kind of feel Sue is lying with a smile because she has too. The disappointment sinking in like a giant bulldozer dragging her to the bottom of the ocean. You sink right along with her. This is a tremendous performance in an otherwise typical television show. This type of scene is extremely demanding to work as effectively as it does here. I’ve seen it done well and I’ve seen it done perfectly and Eden Sher does it perfectly. It’s so hard to make these emotional transitions effectively without it being too sudden or overacted and she makes it seem effortless. It’s the kind of work that is impossible to go unnoticed in my eyes and it’s one of the many examples that make “The Middle” above average from time to time. Patricia Heaton who plays Frankie is also extremely effective and certainly enhances Eden’s work. It’s a great scene with two great performances in it. I honestly think Eden She has a great career ahead of her and I hope to see her in bigger and more challenging roles in the future.