High-Rise (2016). D: Ben Wheatley. DP: Laurie Rose. W: Amy Jump (adapted from J.G. Ballard’s novel). Starring: Tom Hiddleston/Jeremy Irons/Luke Evans/Sienna Miller/Elisabeth Moss/James Purefoy/Keeley Hawes/Dan Renton Skinner/Louis Suc. High-Rise is true to its name as the film explores the life and destructive times of residents of a new residential complex in 1970s era London presumably.…
The End to a Long Gesticulating Journey
The Hobbit: Battle of the Five Armies (2014). D: Peter Jackson. W: Fran Walsh, Philippa Boyens, Peter Jackson, Guillermo del Toro. DP: Andrew Lesnie. Starring: Martin Freeman/Ian McKellan/Richard Armitage/Orlando Bloom/Evangeline Lilly/Lee Pace/Luke Evans/John Bell/Billy Connolly and the voice talent of Benedict Cumberbatch. (Based on J.R.R. Tolkien’s book of the same name) When I sat down…
Sleeping with the Obvious
Dracula Untold (2014). D: Gary Shore. DP: John Schwartzman. W: Matt Samaza & Burk Sharpless. Starring: Luke Evans/Dominic Cooper/Sarah Gadon/Charles Dance/Art Parkinson/Ferdinand Kinglsey/Paul Kaye (based on Bram Stoker characters) It is such a struggle to find new words for origin stories or re-imaginings. Re-telling would be best as odds are there is hardly anything creative…