The Stanford Prison Experiment (Review)

The Stanford Prison Experiment (Film Review) 2015

Directed by Kyle Patrick Alvarez
Starring Ezra Miller and Billy Crudup

The Stanford Prison Experiement is an independent drama which follows the notorious 1971 psychological experiment carried out by Dr. Philip Zambardo. 15 applicants are randomly assigned the roles of prisoners or guards to participate in a simulated jail setting over the period of two weeks. The experiment, and the film, act as an exploration of the transformation of human nature under negative circumstances.

The film's introduction is a beautifully filmed process of printing the advertisements for the experiment, completely devoid of any human features, already highlighting the deindividuation faced by both the ''prisoners'' and the ''guards'' involved in the experiment.

The cast mainly consists of young men, already established in the acting world. Ezra Miller (We Need To Talk About Kevin, The Perks of Being a Wallflower) stands out as a very strong actor, along with Tye Sheridan (Mud, X-Men) and Johnny Simmons (The Perks of Being a Wallflower). The acting adds a level of needed realism, to drive home the fact that this experiment did actually occur, and that this is definitely human nature.

The film did have a minor downfall with pacing. Some scenes, although many of these were intentional, were very repetitive, and not very interesting to watch. While other scenes, such as the sequence involving ''parole'' should have been prolonged. I personally did not feel 100% interested throughout.

The Stanford Prison Experiment is an intriguing psychological study with stellar acting, but not a consistently engaging film. Although I doubt all viewers will feel the same way, I consider it a negative trait. The film is enjoyable, but disturbing, and I recommend it to those interested in psychology and human behaviour.

7.5/10.

Rated 15a, runtime 122 minutes.

Wendy and Lucy (Review)

Wendy and Lucy (Film Review) 2008

Directed by Kelly Reichardt

Starring Michelle Williams

Wendy and Lucy follows the journey of Wendy (Michelle Williams), and her canine companion Lucy to reach utopian Alaska, where labour is supposedly in need. Kelly Reichardt brings another slow-burning introspective film, with a minimalistic plot and stellar acting.

Wendy and Lucy acts as a frighteningly honest portrayal of capitalist America. ''You can't get an address without an address. You can't get a job without a job.'' This piece brings a new perspective to homelessness and poverty. Wendy is not a run-of-the-mill impoverished drug addict, she is a person with real emotions and issues, a character beautifully performed by Michelle Williams. She could simply be summarised as an unlucky person, being completely cheated by the cruelty of the American economy. It's also ironic that the addition of the dog brings more humanity to the story. There isn't much emotional release throughout the film, the constant negativity builds up in the viewer, and the character. Along with a minimalist plot, Williams' acting can be described with that exact word.

The film manages to capture the mundane landscape of the area, and create beautiful colouring and shots. Reichardt's mixture of close-ups (such as the one displayed above) and long-shots works brilliantly throughout the film. Some shots linger, and some shots are cut quickly. Overall, the film is quite slow, but I feel that this is a positive aspect to this particular film. I found the pacing to be quite strange, much like how I felt with Night Moves, but, again, this wasn't a negative. The film definitely holds back in all aspects. From the drama, plot, and the short runtime of 80 minutes.

Wendy and Lucy focuses on the reality of life. As stated, the situation which Wendy finds herself in is a realistic portrayal of the United States. Wendy's struggle stems from unluckiness, and a lack of monetary support from family. The film also highlights the realism of financial problems, and the sacrifices people must endure due to them. In this system, money is always prioritised.

In conclusion, Wendy and Lucy is a brilliant indie drama portraying the difficulties of capitalist America. Michelle Williams portrayed her intriguing character in her sleep, holding back on emotion for a final heartbreaking release.

9/10.

Rated 15, runtime 80 minutes.

We Need to Talk About Kevin (Review)

We Need to Talk About Kevin (Film Review) 2011

We Need to Talk About Kevin is a 2011 drama film directed by Lynne Ramsay, and starring Tilda Swinton, John. C Reilley, and Ezra Miller.

Eva (Tilda Swinton) lives in social seclusion following her son, Kevin's (Ezra Miller) monstrous crime. This crime against humanity is revealed near the end of the film. This puts emphasis on the aftermath of crime, rather than the crime itself, focusing solely on the psychological impact it had on Eva, and the events leading up to it. The narrative is mixed with a reverse-linear series of flashbacks leading up to the reveal, Kevin, from infancy to mid-teenage years.

The cinematography is extraordinary. The colours red and blue dictate the mood of every scene. Many colour cues are present all throughout the film, leading to very interesting analysis. The introduction scene is entirely red, a very interesting visual choice, but one that beautifully introduces the film. 

An outstanding performance from Tilda Swinton. Her character seems so genuine, and so genuinely psychologically disturbed. Likewise with Ezra Miller and Kevin. The child-actors for the flashback narrative are also great, very rare for serious films such as these. They all even look and act similar. I had no issues with John. C Reilly or any of the other cast.

The plot is skillfully constructed, along with being overall very intriguing and captivating. The film has a definite focus on psychology, exploring the reasons why Kevin committed such acts, along with the psychological damage of Eva. The question nature vs. nurture is explored throughout. Was Kevin born a psychopath, or socially excluded?

In conclusion, We Need to Talk About Kevin is a technically and visually superb film. Its exploration of psychology should intrigue those interested. The film is perfected by the performances of Tilda Swinton and Ezra Miller. Overall, an excellent film.

I give We Need to Talk About Kevin 10/10.

Rated 15, runtime 112 minutes.

The Lobster (Film Review) 2015

The Lobster (Film Review)

The Lobster is a 2015 comedy-drama directed by Yorgos Lanthimos (Dogtooth), and starring Colin Farell and Rachel Weisz.

The film's concept: all adults who have recently lost a partner through death or divorce are sent to a hotel, where if they do not fall in love within 45 days, they are surgically transformed into an animal of their choosing. ''A lobster's an excellent choice''.

I try not to explain the film's plot when somebody asks. Maybe this ridiculous concept is in reference to how ridiculous forcing someone to fall in love due to common interests is, or even just forcing someone to eventually get married. A comment on the societal pressures put on single adults. There are constant references and reminders to how even numbers are perfect, a couple. There is a further commentary on applying limiting labels and boxes to people, no half-sized shoes, etc.

Collin Farrell and Rachel Weisz, along with the many minor characters, all add to the film greatly. There are no weak actors which I could point out. The screen writing can be fast and witty at times, but I felt the ''quirkiness'' was definitely overdone. The robotic and monotonous speech pattern was generally funny but also overdone.

I have spoken to many people who do not enjoy this film, and I can definitely respect and understand their opinion. The Lobster is not for everyone, with it's strange plot, writing and imagery. It's script is similar to that of a Wes Anderson film, but still remains very dark, and at times disturbing. It is definitely a slow film which is heavily reliant on dialogue (which many people won't even find funny). A very strange film.

I give The Lobster 7.5/10

Rated 15, runtime 120 minutes

The Revenant (Film Review) 2016

The Revenant (Film Review)

The Revenant is a 2016 historical action adventure drama directed by Alejandro G. Iñárritu, and starring Leonardo DiCaprio, Domhnall Gleeson and Tom Hardy. The Revenant has been nominated for 12 Academy Awards, including Best Picture, Lead Actor, and Director. 

The story follows Hugh Glass (Leonardo DiCaprio) and his survival in the wilderness following a bear attack. He has been abandoned by his team, and must survive with life-threatening injuries on his own.

The Revenant is primarily a survival film. I found that the amount of filler in the film was huge. While the cinematography was great, there was only so much of Leonardo DiCaprio crawling through a forest that I could be interested in. The performances from both Tom Hardy and Leonardo DiCaprio were very strong. The acting and cinematography of The Revenant was definitely its strong suits. The choreography of various fight scenes was also impressive, along with the special effects and make-up used.

The story was not very strong, in my opinion. I could see most of the cinema checking their phones or speaking to each other throughout. While the way in which it was filmed, and how the film looks is of very high quality (most likely to win Best Cinematography, etc.), I found the film to be very slow overall.

I give The Revenant 7/10. 

Rated 16, runtime 156 minutes.

Room (Film Review) 2016

Room (Film Review)

Room is a 2016 drama directed by Lenny Abrahamson, and starring Brie Larson. Both Abrahamson and Larson have been nominated for Academy Awards for this film. 

                                                                                               

The story follows Joy (Brie Larson) and Jack (Jacob Tremblay) who are captives of a man whom they call ''Old Nick'', in a garden shed. Joy had been in captivity for 2 years, and then she had Jack. Jack is 5 years old when the story begins, and ''Room'' is all he knows. 

The plot is very well developed and executed perfectly. It is adapted from the novel of the same name by Emma Donoghue, and is very likely to win the Academy Award for Best Adapted Screenplay. The claustrophobia of ''Room'' is portrayed very well, through cinematography, and the very natural acting of both Brie Larson and Jacob Tremblay. Brie Larson definitely never over-acts, and I definitely expect her to win the Academy Award for Best Lead Actress. The characters all felt completely real.

The story is so well developed and interesting that there is not a single moment when anyone could feel bored. 

Overall, I have no major criticisms. The film is very moving, and it is so dark that many people may find it disturbing. But this reflects the subject matter.      

I give Room 9/10. 

Room was nominated for Best Director (Lenny Abrahamson), Best Lead Actress (Brie Larson), Best Adapted Screenplay and Best Picture. It was nominated for 3 Golden Globes and 2 BAFTAs.

Rated 15, runtime 118 minutes.

TRAILER CONTAINS SPOILERS

                                   

A Serious Man (Film Review) 2009

A Serious Man (Film Review)

A Serious Man is a 2009 dark comedy directed by the Coen Brothers. Starring Michael Stuhlbarg, Sari Lennick, Richard Kind and Fred Melamed.

The story follows Lawrence Gopnik (Michael Stuhlbarg), a Jewish Minnesotan Physics teacher facing a divorce. This came as a complete surprise to him, and destroys him emotionally. He is even being doubted by his workplace as a complaint comes in after he didn't accept a bribe from one of his failing students.  He begins to doubt his faith heavily. 

The story is set in the 60s, and the set designers definitely succeeded in doing this. The colours of the clothing, set, and props is very vivid. The acting from all characters is also very sincere, with lots of witty dialogue. The film definitely relies on dialogue, so the dialogue is very strong. 

Like most Coen Brother films, the film is not overly exciting, but is of very high quality, notably very high quality dialogue.

I give this film 9/10.

A Serious Man was nominated for two Academy Awards - Best Picture and Best Original Screenplay. It was also nominated for a BAFTA and Golden Globe.

Rated 15, runtime 106 minutes.

Night Moves (Film Review) 2014

Night Moves (Film Review)

Night Moves is a 2014 film directed by Kelly Reichardt, and starring Jesse Eisenberg, Dakota Fanning, and Peter Sarsgaard.

The story follows a group of radical environmentalists. Dakota Fanning (Dena) plays the less experienced radical of the group, while Peter Sarsgaard (Harmon) plays the group leader. Jesse Eisenberg (Josh) has just introduced Dena to the group, and has gone into detail of Josh and Harmon's plans to blow up a city dam, as he believes people's need for electricity shouldn't be prioritized over the lives of animals and their habitats. Harmon doubts Dena's sincerity, but Josh convinces him to allow her entrance into their group.

The majority of the film focuses on the journey to destroying the dam. Suspense is built through the use of subtle music and tight shots. All of the actors in the film are very sincere and there is no over-dramatisation. The cinematography is great, the shots, especially around the lake at night-time look brilliant. All of the actors' performances are great, especially Oscar Nominee Jesse Eisenberg (The Social Network). 

It's downfall is pacing. It is not free of filler, and the pacing seems slightly uneven. Many sequences are quite monotonous, although these add great realism and grit to the film. I wouldn't say the movie is exciting throughout, but it is definitely filled with some very tense scenes and beautiful cinematography.

I give this film 7.5/10.

Night Moves won a Black Pearl Award and Grand Special Prize.

Rated 15, runtime 112 minutes.