Hey guys, how was your weekend? With the Easter day on Friday makes me (and all of us I guess) have a rather longer weekend than usual 
So, aside from doing homework and duty at work, I enjoyed a couple of nights with hubby watching Labor Day (2013) and Transcendence (2014) at late night cinema show. Out of my expectation, both have a little romance in it. I have both likes and hates on these two films, both almost have the same scores. Furthermore, you can read it below :
Labor Day (2013)
As a great fan of Up in The Air (2009) and enjoyed several movies directed by Jason Reitman, Labor Day (2013) is actually one of the movies I anticipated this year. Based on a novel by the same name written by Joyce Maynard, Reitman actually wanted to direct this movie before his previous movie, Young Adult (2011). And it seems, after bringing casual and smart stories, Reitman wanted to dive into a more mellow tone.
Henry (Gattlin Griffith) lives alone with her depressed mom, Adele (Kate Winslet). The story got tense with the existence of an ex-con, Frank (Josh Brolin) who insisted to rest a couple of hours at their house. As we feel that the little family shouldn’t experience any more problems, the guy showed more concern and genuine feelings, started as a kind gesture in return to staying at their house. The plan to only stay a couple of hours turned for a couple of days, as each of them begin to feel attached to one another. After all, Adele needs someone stronger in the house and Henry needs a real father figure. Ironically, everyone outside the house are searching for the escaped convict.
I had in my mind how Reitman always did a wonderful or smart picks on the stories he’d like to direct. But perhaps after gaining such success and image, he’d like to try a more of classic or family drama. Then he chose Labor Day. But, I can honestly say that this is the least movie I like from all of the movies in his filmography.
Since I said that it’s ‘classic’ story, then it can easily fall for cliches. Mellow, could easily categorized for lame. Or, the best word to describe it was sentimental. Only, it was directed by Reitman and starred by the astonishing Winslet and Brolin, with great performance by Griffith as the innocent and sensitive Henry. Tobey Maguire starred also as adult Henry. Simply put, it started out pretty intense and enticing, but have unsatisfying and cliche end. Which makes the performances wasted.
Of course, there’s this interesting turn out from feared ex-con Frank to a fatherly Frank. Frank’s background to be a murderer are told from the start, with pieces of images from himself and a woman from his past. While at the same time, Henry is turning to a teenager with its urges and curiosity towards women. His curiosity is often hidden because of his constant pressure to be a good boy in the house for his depressed mom. He also have a girl he have a crush on and pops in his imagination.
True there’s tiny pieces of stories that makes Labor Day isn’t just a regular drama, there’s layers of transition from depressed Adele to be a hopeful one, which makes us viewer glad and happy. The romance was a good flavor. I did love the three leading actors here; Winslet, Brolin and Griffith. But I just couldn’t help but notice how the climax have a tad dull flaws. Perhaps I am the one who already labeled Reitman as someone who features something less sentimental. So as a fan, I’m disappointed. But as drama lover, it’s an interesting movie (minus the bad ending). I’m sorry Mr. Reitman, but I will continue to wait for your exiting movie in the future.
Movie Score :
-
-
Transcendence (2014)
“The machines have taken over the world!” is the quote I thought in mind when I watched Transcendence halfway. How something or someone can take over the world isn’t exactly a new topic in movies. This concept always has been the idea behind most superhero movies. Transcendence does have a similar topic, only the basic was ‘to make a better Earth or future’. How to make a better life and world, is by adding conscience to technology. It means that they are no longer just an operator, but they also have creativity and initiative. This concept is developed by a genius scientist, Dr. Will Caster (Johnny Depp), with his partner and wife, Evelyn (Rebecca Hall).
Unfortunately, after the publication of this new technology, Will was shot by a member of RIFT, a group of protesters of his work. RIFT sees this invention as a threat because it shows too much control in human lives, or simply put, it sounded like a God. They shot Will with a nuclear material, which means Will only can live in 4 weeks. Evelyn tries to hold on, but suddenly have an idea to inject Will to his own work so he himself can live as a system. Though warned by best friend, Max (Paul Bettany), he eventually help Evelyn to run the idea. Just when they think it failed, as crazy as it seems, the idea worked.
At the beginning, Evelyn is happy with Will’s existence and blown away by his ability to learn all things by the web. Her husband and her dreams kept going, but soon Will’s ability felt too much and run too far. Evelyn’s friends soon recognize the threat and try to save her from her own husband, that soon expand his power to everyone and every living parts in the world.
Sci-fi movies have tendency to be over complicated that viewers couldn’t keep up. I might be one of them, especially when I digest Transcendence‘s early plot. Perhaps there’s a missing chain somewhere to explain why RIFT felt it was a threat, or why adding conscious to computers is a brilliant idea for Will and Evelyn. Because if you have seen Her (2013), computer system with feelings actually worked well and they even have relationships with humans. Transcendence‘s concept was too abstract and need a divider. Do all computers only have one personality or there are many? I have some questions in mind but the plot goes further and further.
Aside that factor, what makes Transcendence has more value to me is that it was built by team husband and wife. It was Evelyn’s dream to make a better Earth, and Will is willing to use all he can to make it happen. If you look deeper, it is exactly a force from Will’s affection to Evelyn. And that is what made me amazed by this film, even when the execution of the concept is deadly.
Transcendence starred by a great cast aside from Depp and Hall. There’s Morgan Freeman, Cillian Murphy and Paul Bettany, also Kate Mara as the leader of RIFT. Rebecca Hall’s profile in this movie reminded me a lot of Sofia Coppola, I love her outfits in here. There isn’t much expression for Depp as far as I can see, perhaps because he’s a serious man and he ended up as a computer system, which makes him scary at times. I loved Rebecca Hall’s performance, and can’t believe I actually have seen her in Vicky Cristina Barcelona. Nice to see Cillian Murphy as FBI agent, and Bettany and Freeman as the couple’s best friend. Kate Mara chose a rather different role from her usual sweet innocent roles, as a leader of rebel group.
This movie makes me think of how maybe we should turn off internet and our gadgets once in a while, not all the time, because you never know when someone is actually watching you. The ending’s a bit tragic and romantic, like Shakespeare’s stories but with futuristic setting. The visual effects were undoubtedly support the story well.
If you like Sci-fi, this movie can be your food. But some can look at this movie to be another readable sci-fi. Me however, felt inspired on how husband and wife can be a team and reach dreams together. But how big and successful the dreams are, they are still husband and wife first, a team later.
Movie Score :
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Readers, any thoughts? What did you watch last weekend?
