Captain Fantastic is well-acted and entertaining, but its success rests largely on viewer response to the polarising lead character. Blinkered leftist alternative types will love him and the film; others may be less enthused.
Tag Archives: Viggo Mortensen
Far From Men movie review
Featuring: Viggo Mortensen, Reda Kateb
Director: David Oelhoffen
Writer: David Oelhoffen, Antoine Lacomblez (collaboration), adapted from Albert Camus’ short story L’Hôte (The Guest)
Movie website: www.palacefilms.com.au/farfrommen/
Australian release date: Thu 30 July
Reviewer: rolanstein
Verdict: Terrific high-stakes cinema with a classic feel, featuring rivetting lead performances from Viggo Mortensen and Reda Kateb.
Review:
This brooding slow-burner has the feel of classic cinema about it. Director David Oelhoffen plays straight stylistically – he’s aiming for bare bones realism and achieves it. Yet beneath the deceptively simple surface, Big Questions of morality swirl, answers lurking like the Minotaur behind twin doors. Life or death? The stakes don’t get any higher than that. And of course, this sets up the movie with the sort of dramatic tension and conflict that is a driving force of good cinema, but too often lacking in contemporary product steered by directors aiming for “originality” and sophistication of form. Continue reading Far From Men movie review
On The Road Movie Review
Featuring: Garrett Hedlund, Sam Riley, Kristen Stewart, Viggo Mortensen, Tom Sturridge, Kirsten Dunst, Amy Adams
Director: Walter Salles
Writer: Jose Rivera (based on Jack Kerouac’s novel On The Road)
Australian release date: Thursday, 27th September 2012
Review 1: rolanstein (one-word verdict: great)
Review 2: Karen (one-word verdict: pointless)
Story:
In late 40s America, young aspiring writer Sal Paradise hits the road in search of inspiration and adventure. His hipster travelling companions include the magnetic Dean Moriarty, hyperactive ex-jailbird, mad genius driver, sex fiend extraordinaire. Embracing black jazz culture and the dissolute lifestyle that goes with it, Sal, Dean, wife/ex-wife/lover Marylou (Kristen Stewart) and crew criss-cross the country as their fancy takes them, plunging with reckless and initially joyful abandon into a drink, drug and sex-fuelled odyssey of sensual excess.
Review 1: (rolanstein)
Apparently Francis Ford Coppola bought the movie rights to On The Road decades ago, intending to write and direct the film himself. He made several false starts over the years, eventually abandoning taking on the crafting aspects. His efforts to handball the writing and directing to others almost came off several times, but obstacles kept popping up. Finally, he found his man, Walter Salles (director of The Motorcycle Diaries). Sucked in, Walter. Continue reading On The Road Movie Review