Not been about here much recently, but thought I`d add my two cents on the last two films I saw at the flicks which I thought were mostly exceptional experiences. And I mean experiences. I`m not gonna go into either film in much detail, just that I highly recommend both.
Warrior will get compared to last years The Fighter which I suppose aesthetically it isn`t too far away from. One big difference is Warrior`s story is fictional, and the story is fairly ludicrous but because it`s approached at a character level and shot with grainy film stock with a fairly dull colour palate, not to mention excellent performances from Joel Edgerton, Tom Hardy and Nick Nolte, you just get immersed in this world. Ultimately it`s equally a family drama about two estranged brothers and their father and an MMA tournament. I`ll confess I haven`t actually watched UFC fighting before, but ****-me it`s pretty shocking what these guys do to each other, more exciting and unpredictable/technical than boxing. What it doesn`t do is offer anything new, and it does cover most of the fighting movie cliches, but it does so fleetingly and a lot of the scenes are tweaked just enough from what you`d expect to really ramp up the drama. It really is a case of the journey being more important than the destination and I will be picking up the blu ray for sure.
Drive shares some similarities to Warrior in that it doesn`t do anything groundbreaking, but it`s an exceptionally well directed, shot, edited and acted film. The soundtrack is also amazing, if you like 80s style synth (think Tangerine Dream with a hint of Daft Punk). The cinematography in this film is mesmerizing, not since Michael Mann`s Collateral have I seen LA`s essence captured so perfectly. Ryan Gosling is part-time stunt driver, sometimes getaway driver. He doesn`t say much but he`s a character that will get a cult following. It really does feel like a film from the 80s and there are so many great moments, some thrilling, some beautiful, shocking and bloody.
Anyway, keeping it short I was wowed by these two after a fairly average summer. Anyone else seen them?
---
RE: Warrior (2011) and Drive (2011)...
Watched Warrior yesterday and really enjoyed it.
Like Chewie says it follows the normal sports film underdog narrative and the story isn`t wholly believable but Egerton, Nolte and Hardy are all really good and help keep the film grounded and seem more believable than it should be.
I`m on phone so can`t do spoiler text, so will leave further comment for another time.
Definitely worth a watch and the fact it`s MMA rather than boxing shouldnt put anyone off, none of the people we went with watch it ever, but all really wanted to afterwards.
Also Tom Hardy is f*cking massive. I believe he`s actually even bigger to be Bane aswell which is mental, as he appears as big as his frame should be in this film.
www.last.fm/user/1mills