Interstellar (2014) Review

There was an article that I read a while ago in which Christopher Nolan was interviewed. He was asked about how he felt when people on the internet or in other places discussed the "plot holes" in his films. Nolan said he was aware of the plot holes but that he was surprised his films receive so much scrutiny on that end. With all due respect to Mr. Nolan, who is an incredibly talented filmmaker, he sets his films up to be scrutinized in that nature. In fact, he practically begs his audience to do so. How? by making his films with a self-seriousness and gravity which is found in almost no other blockbuster film. This is one of Nolan's strengths, that he makes blockbusters that can actually be intellectually interesting. It is also his curse because it means that his blockbusters are held to a higher level of scrutiny. He doesn't help matters by going around and comparing his latest film to "2001: a Space Odyssey" either.

So what of Interstellar, Nolan's latest film in which the director set his sights on the final frontier. To me this move has all the hallmarks of a recent Nolan blockbuster. It's full of ideas, Its visually stunning, and it has a bombastic score from Hans Zimmer. It is also on the long side, has a few story issues or "plot holes", and  unlike his more recent work it doesn't completely stick the ending. Nolan deserves lots of credit for creating another inspiring spectacle that makes you think at the same time, the trouble is that this time around the film seems to weaken under the burden of its own intellectual weight. While watching I was completely enthralled and exhilarated but after the credits had rolled and I allowed myself to digest what had actually happened in the film, I kept finding myself searching for plot holes. I can't say that I've found many that I could point out but I find it interesting that I was searching for them. I think this might have to do with some of the thematic burdens the film places on itself. It is striving to express so much that I think the film doesn't fully "flesh out", either visually or through dialogue, the ideas that it is expressing.

The truth is that all this thinking happens after the film and the film-going experience itself is incredible. It's emotional, it's suspenseful, and it's also very human. There's even a little more humor here than in many of Nolan's other films. As a theater-going experience it's hard to beat the exhilaration this film provides. Even if the film may falter a little intellectually, it has to be recommended for the sheer power it has up on the big screen.  I  found the film viscerally satisfying but I don't know if it accomplishes everything it set out to.  4/5

2 Films: Early Christopher Nolan Reviews

This is going to be the start of a series in which I take two films in a specific category and review them. These categories can be themes and genres and will be very specific as in this first one which is on two early films of the director Christopher Nolan.

He is now know best for his Batman films but what made him a candidate to direct those? where did this director who has now inspired many filmmakers and become what many consider to be a master craftsman come from? These questions will be answered in my reviews of Christopher Nolan's first two features Following (1998) and Memento (2000)

Following (1998)
Following is considered by many to be one of the most successful no budget films of all time. It was made on 16mm film and was shot in many cases using natural lighting. The cast of the film were Friends and family of Christopher Nolan himself and the production was pretty much in his hands as he was both the writer and director. The film is about a writer who begins to randomly follow people to get ideas for his work. This hobby turns into and obsession and eventually gets him involved in more criminal activity. This film is a neo noir in every way. The story is reminiscent of the noir films of old but the film is entirely modern. by its no budget nature it is shot like a documentary and I think this works. In fact I think the no budget nature makes the film more interesting to watch and knowing that the director who made this film went on to make a film like the Dark Knight Rises is truly incredible. The movie has a lot of energy and clocking in at only 70 minutes it is very taut. This film will keep you on the edge of your seat also because of the way it plays with time. This keeps the audience even more engaged in the film so that they are working to understand the plot and therefor actively involved in the movie. There is something very strange in this movie and that is that one of the apartments broken into has a bat symbol, not just a bat symbol but a batman logo on the door. This is really weirdly coincidental to me but who knows it is a Christopher Nolan Film. Overall I found this movie to be riveting and well worth watching 4/5

Memento (2000)
The difference in budget between Following and Memento is truly staggering. In his second film we see Nolan getting to make a "real" movie with a "real" actor in the form of Guy Pearce. He gets a broader canvas and story to work with and he works with them well. This may be one of the most mind blowing film experiences I have ever had. this film will literally warp your mind and through the way it tells the story in fragments it will make you feel like you have Leonard's Condition. Leonard is the main character in the movie and he has short term memory loss and he is trying to find the men that killed his wife. That is all of the story you should know going in and you should be prepared to brace yourself for one heck of a ride. You have to work while watching this movie in order to put it together and I think that's part of the fun. It really is well done and so well executed by Nolan and you can see him coming into his own. This film really shows that he has talent as a director and I think it was awesome that he went on to direct Batman. Memento is truly a mind bending film for reasons I won't reveal and it is a must watch! 4.5/5

Note: Both Films are Available to Stream on Netflix!  

Most Anticipated Movie of the Year!: Man of Steel

                I remember when I first saw Superman the Movie, the one made in 1978 directed by Richard Donner. I remember the sense of wonderment I felt when watching that film. I had been a moderate fan of the comics for a little while, especially the older ones. When I saw that film the comic world I had been reading seemed to come to life and I remember not wanting the film to end. Unfortunately despite my best efforts I did not feel that way about Superman Returns.

                Ever since that very expensive film that for all intensive purposes flopped it has seemed as if that first Superman film might be the best film. I’m hoping that all that will change this summer. Most critics would not tell you that their most anticipated movie of the year was a superhero film but I’m not most critics and I also happen to really like good comic book films. This film seems to have the makings of one.

The cast looks excellent with the likes of Russell Crowe and Kevin Cosner. This in many ways reminds me of that first film which had Marlon Brando and Gene Hackman. Henry Cavil looks like he can play the part and like Christopher Reeve before him he’s not a huge name. The crew behind the film is almost more impressive. Although I’m not the biggest Zack Snyder fan he does have his own sense of style and Christopher Nolan and David Goyer working on the story. They were the ones who made the greatest comic book films of all time, The Dark Knight Trilogy. Christopher Nolan is also producing which gives me a lot of confidence in the project. Hans Zimmer is doing the music which he says will be “very different” from the original iconic theme by John Williams.

                Not only is the crew exciting but everything that I’ve been hearing about this film seems good. Certainly much of this is probably paid hype but I get the sense that the people working on this film genuinely believe in the direction its going. I also feel that if anyone can make Superman relevant today it will be this cast and crew. Early screenings for Executives were said to have received rave reviews. Some even saying it might be the “best movie of the year”  take that with a major grain of salt but it is still good to see all of the positive buzz.

                I think David Goyer put it best when he stated in an interview that “the world needs a Superman movie now more how more than ever” I agree wholeheartedly with this statement. It is a difficult task to bring the classic superhero into relevance today but if anybody could do it, it would be this crew. If they meet the challenge and overcome it Man of Steel might be “movie of the year” material. I sincerely am just hoping that it can rekindle that magic I felt when watching the original. Because of this Man of Steel is my most anticipated movie of 2013.