Charlotte Le Bon – We Are Movie Geeks

REALIVE – Review

REALIVE will be in Theaters on September 29th and on VOD and Digital HD on October 3rd

Review by Mark Longden

I expected not to like this. First up – it’s a SyFy movie, the channel that brought us “2 Lava 2 Lantula”, “Bermuda Tentacles” and “Space Twister”, among many many others. Second up – it prominently features a large group of young beautiful people partying and having the sort of perfect lives that adverts are made of. But then it ended up being an extremely profound movie about love, bad timing, loss, what you’d do when you knew exactly how long you had left, and the future. Flipping from a birth in 1982 to a “death” in 2015, moving between moments in a man’s life then showing his “rebirth” in 2084, it’s superbly edited and deeply moving.

Marc Jarvis (Tom Hughes) is an artist, sort of, in a relationship, sort of, with the extraordinary, perfect Naomi (Oona Chaplin). A voiceover, which is a constant presence, narrates their thoroughly modern journey through love, and we gradually get the information that he has a brain tumour which is completely inoperable.

He’s a self-admitted narcissist so rather than choosing to ebb away his life attached to tubes, as his father did, he chooses “cryonising” himself, and the whole discussion of giving up his life is superbly written. All this is happening at the same time as his technological marvel of a reawakening in the future, so we already know how these debates will end – he’s attached to a digital umbilical cord which keeps him alive, for instance. The internet has mutated into “MindWriter”, a set of glasses which allows you to broadcast your thoughts or record them and has replaced all forms of entertainment. It’s a pretty decent idea of what the internet will become, and the indication that even in 2017 it’s beginning to replace memory is writ large.

As he begins to very gradually recover, with the help of 2084 nurse / helper / lover Elizabeth (Charlotte Le Bon), he explores the history of “Project Lazarus” as he doesn’t believe he’s the first revivee. He also discovers a letter from Naomi in his personal effects which hugely affects his life in the future and the way he’s processing his memories.

Lots of elements of this future society are thrown out there, indicating a well-thought-out and rich backstory…or that this is all the last dream of a dying man. Because, as well as being an excellent story in its own right, it could also be read as his dream from back in 2015, re-ordering his memories as they begin to fade so they have more meaning for him (this idea of memory being a selective and distorting thing even becomes a minor plot point later). One could see the man he was in 2015 thinking this would be a perfect future to live in, until he actually had to live in it.

The central performances are all solid, but Oona Chaplin is just amazing as Naomi. One can totally believe a man giving up his entire dream of the future just to maintain the memories he has of her. She feels completely real, and the way that no character is without sometimes huge flaws is to the movie’s credit.

Director Mateo Gil has made a rare foray out of Spanish cinema with this – his original “Abre Los Ojos” in 1997 was the inspiration for the super-underrated Tom Cruise movie “Vanilla Sky”. One can only hope that this is a big enough hit so he’s given more money to bring his fascinating visions to the screen, although I sort of suspect it won’t be. But I think a lot of people who go to see this will love it.

Gigantic kudos to SyFy for funding such a dark, introspective movie that manages to talk about truths that are central to our human experience, pretty universal. Perhaps I’m giving it too much praise because of how much it resonated with me, but all I can say is please go and watch it on its upcoming cinema release, or watch it as soon as it comes to a VOD service near you.

THE PROMISE – Review

(l-r) Charlotte Le Bon as Ana, Oscar Isaac as Michael, and Christian Bale as Chris, in THE PROMISE. Photo by Jose Haro. Courtesy of Open Road ©

The Armenian genocide during World War I is the backdrop for THE PROMISE, tale of war and love starring Oscar Isaac, Charlotte Le Bon and Christian Bale.

A hundred years on, many people still know little about this early 20th century genocide in the waning days of Turkey’s Ottoman Empire, an event the Turkish government still refuses to acknowledge. It has been said that the world has so thoroughly forgotten the Armenian genocide only a few years afterward, that it encouraged Hitler to undertake his own genocide. But some Armenians did survive and the genocide is getting renewed attention after a century.

In director Terry George’s lush historical drama, Oscar Isaac plays Michael, a young Armenian man, the son of the local pharmacist, from a small village who travels to Constantinople to fulfill his life-long ambition to attend medical school. His pharmacist father is respected but poor, and the son becomes engaged to the daughter of a wealthy villager, using the dowry to pay for his education. The young couple barely know each other but the young man is confident they will learn to love each other.

Leaving his fiancée behind, the young Armenian arrives in the big, cosmopolitan city of Constantinople, where he stays with a wealthy uncle and his family. Michael meets another medical student who is the son of a powerful Turkish official. His new friend introduces him to American journalist Chris (Welsh actor Christian Bale, once again sporting an American accent) and Chris’ Paris-raised Armenian girlfriend, a beauty named Ana (Charlotte Le Bon). Michael is smitten immediately, and while he grapples with his promise to the girl back home, war breaks out, disrupting all their lives.

Like in Germany a few decades later or Rwanda more recently, what seems to be a peaceful integration of different peoples suddenly gives way to a government persecution and open prejudice. In this case, the Muslim Turks who rule the Ottoman Empire turn on the Christian Armenian minority, subjecting them to a campaign of “ethnic cleansing” by removing them villages, followed by secret mass killings.

It is an appalling historical moment, the first genocide of the 20th century, and an event that needs to be better known. One of the most chilling scenes in the film is when an Ottoman official denies that fighting is taking place between Turkish troops and Armenian resisters. “There is no war,” he coolly claims.

The acting is strong in this historical drama but the personal story has a familiar feel. This romantic triangle, or maybe that should be a square or double triangle since four people are involved, for the provides the dramatic arc for a little history lesson in what happened to the Armenian people, in the style of HOTEL RWANDA. The film is beautifully shot, packed with period details and sweeping vistas, with Spain and Malta standing in for Turkey. It is a worthy subject, one that deserves the careful attention is gets in this historical drama, but the personal dramatic arc sometimes loses focus as the director concentrates on fitting in as many historical touch points as possible.

THE PROMISE is not a perfect drama but certainly is a worthwhile film for shining a spotlight on a too long forgotten shameful chapter in history.

Rating: 3 1/2 out of 5 stars

WAMG Giveaway – Win the Blu-ray of THE TAKE Starring Idris Elba

A rouge CIA agent helps a small-time criminal in the intense-action film, The Take, available now on Digital HD and on Blu-ray and DVD on February 7, 2017 from Universal Pictures Home Entertainment. This powerful story stars Idris Elba (Star Trek Beyond, Beast of No Nation) and Richard Madden (Game of Thrones).The Take Blu-ray^™ and DVD include exciting bonus content that take viewers on a journey behind-the-scenes and inside the making of the film.

Idris Elba stars as Sean Briar, a rogue CIA agent who isn’t afraid to step on a few toes to solve a case. While roaming the streets of Paris, a pickpocket (Richard Madden) swipes a bag containing a bomb and inadvertently ruins a bank heist attempt by corrupt French government officials. Now labeled as a terrorist threat and running for his life, the only person who can save him is Sean. This unlikely duo join forces to solve the case before they become victims in a devious plot of international conspiracy.

Now you can own the DVD of THE TAKE. We Are Movie Geeks has four copies to give away! All you have to do is leave a comment answering this question: What is your favorite movie that stars Idris Elba ? (mine is PROMETHEUS). It’s so easy!

Good Luck!

OFFICIAL RULES:

1. YOU MUST BE A US RESIDENT. PRIZE WILL ONLY BE SHIPPED TO US ADDRESSES. NO P.O. BOXES. NO DUPLICATE ADDRESSES.

2. WINNERS WILL BE CHOSEN FROM ALL QUALIFYING ENTRIES.

No purchase necessary

The film will be available on Blu-ray^™ and Digital HD with UltraViolet^™ and DVD.

BLU-RAY^™ unleashes the power of your HDTV and is the best way to watch movies at home, featuring 6x the picture resolution of DVD, exclusive extras and theater-quality surround sound.
DVD offers the flexibility and convenience of playing movies in more places, both at home and away.
DIGITAL HD with UltraViolet^™ lets you watch movies anywhere, on any device. Users can instantly stream or download movies to watch on iPad^®, iPhone^®, Android^™, smart TVs, connected Blu-ray^™ players, game consoles and more.

BONUS FEATURES ON BLU-RAY, DVD AND DIGITAL HD

Making The Take – Stars Idris Elba and Richard Madden discuss the characters and storyline at the center of The Take.

Cast: Idris Elba, Richard Madden, Charlotte Le Bon, Kelly Reilly, Jose Garcia
Casting By: Michael Laguens, Julie Harkin CDG
Directed By: James Watkins
Written By: Andrew Baldwin, James Watkins
Executive Producers: Michael Dreyer, Fabrice Gianfermi, Guy Stodel, Steve Golin, Oliver Courson, Ron Halpern, Dan MacRae
Produced By: David Kanter, p.g.a., Bard Dorros, p.g.a., Philippe Rousselet , p.g.a.
Co-Producer: Raphael Benoliel
Director of Photography: Tim Maurice-Jones BSC
Production Designer: Paul Kirby
Edited By: Jon Harris
Music By: Alex Heffes
Costume Designer: Guy Speranza

ANTHROPOID – Review

The audiences that flocked to the multiplex for the return of JASON BOURNE may mean that there’s still a sizeable appetite for more reality-based espionage thrillers, rather than the more fantastic exploits of Bond and MI’s Hunt. What could be more reality-based than a true story, ripped from the source of some many tales of heroism, World War II? Like VALKYRIE, it’s the tale of an assassination plot against a very high-ranking Nazi, but not ole” Adolph once more. We’re talking the third in command, still a nasty despot (the main architect of the “final solution”). It’s a plot engineered by the resistance fighters of an occupied country, much as in the 2009 French docudrama ARMY OF CRIME. For this new film, the setting is not Paris but Prague as we meet the men and woman involved in operation: ANTHROPOID.

The story begins in late 1941, long after the forces of Nazi Germany have taken over Czechoslovakia. Two exiled Czech soldiers, Jan Kubis (Jamie Dornan) and Josef Gabcik (Cillian Murphy) parachute into a secluded forest in the dead of night. That next morning they sneak into Prague and meet with the other members of the resistance led by ‘Uncle’ Hajsky (Toby Jones). The mission assigned by their leaders now in the UK is to assassinate the “butcher of Prague” SS General Reinhard Heydrich. The men are given cover stories and sent to live with a local family. There they become romantically involved with two women, Marie (Charlotte Le Bon) and Lenka (Anna Geislerova), who also help the resistance. Jan and Josef continue to meet with the other agents, making weapons and mapping out Heydrich’s travel routines, this despite the lack of a real exit strategy. There will be no way out the country, but each is given a cyanide capsule in case of capture. A day of attack is agreed upon, but then comes word that the General will soon be sent back to Berlin. Despite conflicting top-secret messages, Josef moves up the time clock and is determined to complete the mission. What happens on the day and its repercussions help change the course of the war along with their beloved country’s destiny.

The main draw for the film may be the casting of Dornan, who made quite an impact last year as that lord of pain and romance, Christian Grey in FIFTY SHADES OF GREY. Many believed that he was more of a model than thespian in that “guilty pleasure”, but here Dornan really gets to create a believable, flawed character (although a real person) rather than a fantasy ideal. Jan may look like a standard movie spy, in the 007 mold, but his feet possess more than a hint of clay. Soon after chuting down he gets a bad case of the “jitters” when chasing down an enemy. Much later he’s prone to panic attacks, so Dornan’s giving us more than the expected cloak and dagger swagger. Luckily his partner is a calming influence, and Murphy plays Josef as the ultimate take charge “alpha dog”. The chain-smoking fighter is hyper-focused, which Murphy portrays as part of the man’s flaws. Once the mission has begun, Josef is only concerned about following through, his cohorts and casualties be damned. One big casualty is the budding romance he hesitantly begins with the timid, but also determined Lenka, who Geislerova plays as a reluctant warrior striving to prove herself. More assured is her “sister-in-arms” Marie who Le Bon portrays as a level-headed fighter who knows when to use her looks and her brains, tempting enemy thugs with a skirt adjustment so that the men can hide. Unlike Lenka, she falls whole-heartedly for the dashing, but emotionally damaged Jan. Jones is quite effective as the master planner who truly cares about the fate of his fighting friends, like an actual uncle, but, like them, will give his all for his revered land.

Many movie audience may initially be confused by the film’s title, thinking that this may be the start of monster franchise (“Anthropoid Vs. Mega-Shark” a future entry, perhaps), but those “in the know” will discover a brisk historical thriller from up and coming writer/director Sean Ellis (Anthony Frewin co-wrote this). He makes expert use of several real-life locations (some national landmarks), and the period cars and costumes have a gritty authenticity. The main problem is that this is a story, that of hidden agents facing an near-unstoppable enemy, told many times before (the exact incident was the basis for 1965’s THE ASSASSINATION), and aside from the top-notch actors, nothing new and fresh is brought to this telling. One problem may be the decision to have the cast speak in a heavily accented English, making the dialogue often tough to comprehend (a soft sound mix may be at fault). Maybe having them speak in their regular British accents would’ve worked better (Le Bon is French, while Geislerova is a true Czech) or doing the film in the Czech language with subtitles. And even though must of the facts are accurate, the protagonists seem like bumblers who succeed despite themselves (the mission’s execution is pretty “white knuckle” tense). The desired results of the mission are often murky. What would be gained by the general’s killing (The final title cards flesh things out more)? It all concludes with scenes of brutality (yes, we know these Nazis are vicious brutes) and hopelessness (the capsules are always at the ready). This WW II incident is worthy of honoring, but the real heroes of ANTHROPOID deserve a much more memorable and compelling cinematic treatment.

3 Out of 5

THE WALK – The Review

By Cate Marquis

In 1974, a high-wire walker strung a line between the twin towers of the newly-built World Trade Center and the walked to distance between the 110 story buildings. More than once.

THE WALK portrays the dramatic, audacious and illegal one-time event when a young French street performer named Philippe Petit walked between the World Trade Towers at dawn. This story has been told in the excellent documentary “Man on Wire,” with Petit recalling his amazing stunt and with the film showing recreations of his preparations for his remarkable stunt. THE WALK covers generally the same story as the documentary, of how Petit became obsessed with the World Trade Center towers and how he worked out how to do this inconceivable stunt, but THE WALK increases the dramatic effect by immersing us in the story by presenting it in amazing 3D images.

This is the kind of story that 3D films were born to tell. THE WALK is creative, imaginative, and gripping, but the 3D effects take us out on the wire with Petit, with mind-blowing results.

Joseph Gordon-Levitt plays high-wire walker Philippe Petit, who became obsessed with the idea of walking between the twin towers upon seeing an photo in an article promoting the new buildings. At the time, Petit had just wire-walked between the two towers of the Notre Dame cathedral in Paris. Robert Zemeckis directs this thrilling film which also stars Ben Kingsley as Petit’s mentor, and Charlotte Le Bon and James Badge Dale as his accomplices.

Gordon-Levitt does an outstanding job as Petit, by turns charming and outrageous, a man of relentless confidence and determination. In reoccurring segments, the Frenchman narrates his story, as the real Petit does in the award-winning documentary, but with a twist – he does so from the torch on the Statue of Liberty. The location is visually appealing but also appropriate – a high perch on an iconic New York landmark, one that was a gift from France to the U.S. That clever touch is typical of this wonderfully entertaining thriller, and the director’s skillful use of 3D to enhance his storytelling.

All the performances are good, but Gordon-Levitt and Ben Kingsley, as Petit’s mentor Papa Rudy, a member of a legendary family of circus high-wire performers, are particular stand-outs. Petit prefers street performance to circuses but works with Papa Rudy to learn the rigging and other secrets of the world’s best high-wire acts. Petit and Papa Rudy are both strong willed, stubborn, big personalities, and inevitably sparks fly. In fact, Petit’s combination of equal parts charm and unreasoning obsession draw people to him and also make working with him a challenging proposition. Petit has exacting standards, a bracing fearlessness and an unshakeable determination.

As the film’s notes point out, 12 people have walked on the Moon but Petit is the only one to walk between the WTC towers. The film notes that New Yorkers were ambiguous about the new towers at the time they were built in the 1970s, with many feeling they were too big. Petit’s stunt helped endear the towers to New Yorkers and also cement their place as iconic elements of the city. The documentary featured the real Petit commenting on his emotional reaction to the twin towers’ fate in 9/11 but THE WALK stays in the 1970s time period, leaving this unspoken.

With breathtaking 3D images, Zemeckis’ skillful direction and a strong performance by Joseph Gordon-Levitt, THE WALK is a big-screen real-life thriller you don’t want to miss.

THE WALK opens in IMAX 3D and large format screens on Sept. 30 and everywhere October 8.

OVERALL RATING: 4 1/2 OUT OF 5 STARS

Win Passes To The Advance Screening Of THE WALK In St. Louis

WAMG has your passes to one of 2015’s most anticipated films, THE WALK.

Twelve people have walked on the moon. Only one has ever, or will ever, walk in the immense void between the World Trade Center towers.

Philippe Petit (Joseph Gordon-Levitt), guided by his real-life mentor, Papa Rudy (Ben Kingsley), is aided by an unlikely band of international recruits, who overcome long odds, betrayals, dissension and countless close calls to conceive and execute their mad plan. Robert Zemeckis, the master director of such marvels as Forrest Gump, Cast Away, Back to the Future, Polar Express and Flight, again uses cutting edge technology in the service of an emotional, character-driven story.

With innovative photorealistic techniques and IMAX® 3D wizardry, The Walk is genuine big-screen cinema, a chance for moviegoers to viscerally experience the feeling of reaching the clouds.

It is also one of the more rare live-action films that is a PG-rated, all-audience entertainment for moviegoers 8 to 80 – and a true story to boot. It is unlike anything audiences have seen before, a love letter to Paris and New York City in the 1970s, but most of all, to the Towers of the World Trade Center.

The edge of impossible. The edge of danger. The edge of your seat. Experience the first step of the impossible dream of THE WALK in IMAX 3D and large format screens on Sept. 30 and everywhere October 8!

WAMG invites you to enter for a chance to win a pass (Good for 2) to the advance screening of THE WALK on Monday, September 28th at 7PM in the St. Louis area.

We will contact the winners by email.

Answer the following:

How many feet above the ground was Philippe Petit when he stepped out on a wire rigged between New York’s twin towers on August 7th 1974?

a.) 1,503 feet
b.) 1,035 feet
c.) 1,350 feet

TO ENTER, ADD YOUR NAME, ANSWER AND EMAIL IN OUR COMMENTS SECTION BELOW.

OFFICIAL RULES:

1. YOU MUST BE IN THE ST. LOUIS AREA THE DAY OF THE SCREENING.

2. A pass does not guarantee a seat at a screening. Seating is on a first-come, first served basis. The theater is overbooked to assure a full house. The theater is not responsible for overbooking.

3. No purchase necessary.

Rated PG for thematic elements involving perilous situations, and for some nudity, language, brief drug references and smoking.

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MOOD INDIGO New Clip And NY Q&As With Director Michel Gondry & Audrey Tautou

Courtesy of Drafthouse Films

Check out Audrey Tautou, Romain Duris & Omar Sy in a new clip from director Michel Gondry’s fantasy/romance MOOD INDIGO – opening in select theaters tomorrow.

If you’re in New York, make sure to catch Audrey & Michel at the Landmark Sunshine tonight, tomorrow & Saturday for exclusive Q&As.

Mood Indigo Clip Honeymoon from We Are Movie Geeks on Vimeo.

Director Michel Gondry will appear in person on Thursday, July 17 for a Q&A after the 7:30pm show.

He will also appear with actress Audrey Tautou on Friday, July 18 for Q&As after the 5:00pm and 7:15pm shows and to introduce the 9:30pm show. On Saturday, July 19, Michel Gondry will appear in person for Q&As after the 4:00pm and 6:00pm shows.

In her review, Amy Nicholson (LA Weekly) writes the film is, “bitter candy, a heartbreaker that uses sugar as a trap.”

http://www.laweekly.com/2014-07-17/filmtv/michel-gondrys-mood-indigo-gets-richer-as-it-gets-less-bizarre/

MOOD INDIGO was nominated for three 2014 César Awards: Étienne Charry (Best Original Music), Florence Fontaine (Best Costume) and Stéphane Rozenbaum (Best Production Design).

Head over to SLATE where you can read their article about production designer Stéphane Rozenbaum’s work on the film:

“He won a 2014 César Award (the French equivalent of an Oscar) for his work on MOOD INDIGO and previously worked with Gondry on The Science of Sleep. Rozenbaum was interviewed via phone from the set of Gondry’s next film about creating the show-stealing designs for MOOD INDIGO. Rozenbaum also shared several personal photos that he took on the set during film production.”

http://www.slate.com/blogs/the_eye/2014/07/17/michel_gondry_mood_indigo_production_designer_st_phane_rozenbaum_takes_us.html

Eminently inventive Michel Gondry finds inspiration from French novelist Boris Vian’s cult novel to provide the foundation for this visionary and romantic love story starring Audrey Tautou (Amélie, Coco Before Chanel) and Romain Duris (The Beat My Heart Skipped).

Set in a charmingly surreal Paris, Duris plays wealthy bachelor Colin, whose hobbies include developing his pianocktail (a cocktail-making piano) and devouring otherworldly dishes prepared by his trusty chef Nicolas (Omar Sy, The Intouchables). When Colin learns that his best friend Chick (Gad Elmaleh, The Valet), a fellow acolyte of the philosopher Jean-Sol Partre, has a new American girlfriend, our lonely hero attends a friend’s party in hopes of falling in love himself.

He soon meets Chloé (Audrey Tautou) and, before they know it, they’re dancing to Duke Ellington and plunging headfirst into a romance that Gondry rapturously depicts as only he can. Their whirlwind courtship is tested when an unusual illness plagues Chloe; a flower begins to grow in her lungs. To save her, Colin discovers the only cure is to surround Chloe with a never-ending supply of fresh flowers.