Project Hail Mary starts with Dr Ryland Grace on a spaceship waking up from an induced coma designed to make the journey easier on the astronauts. Originally, Grace cannot remember who he is or what is going on, but soon things start to come back to him. He is part of “Project Hail Mary”, a worldwide effort to save Earth; the Sun is being eaten by a new form of life, and within decades, the resulting cooler temperature will make life on Earth impossible. This mission is a huge roll of the dice, a long-shot doomed to fail – the analogy of a “Hail Mary” pass in American football, something that will almost certainly not work, but what do you have to lose?

The film focuses on Grace on the Hail Mary spaceship as he travels to a distant star to find out why it isn’t being dimmed by these lifeforms, and is interspersed with Grace back on Earth. Starting with him as a middle school science teacher to being recruited to “Project Hail Mary” and the work done to get the project going.

The film is directed by Christopher Miller and Phil Lord, best known for directing The Lego Movie and the Spider-Verse animated films. While they have worked on live-action films before, animation has been their main concern. The film is a spectacle. They mix wonderfully created sets of spaceships with the immense beauty and desolation of open space. The film is full of breathtaking shots of stars, the atmosphere of distant planets, of rotating spaceships and the sky seemingly being on fire.

The trailer of the film was controversial in that it shared information many fans of the book thought should have remained secret, namely, the existence of Rocky. Rocky is an alien lifeform that Grace meets on his mission…who is on a similar mission for his own people. In scenes reminiscent of Arrival, Grace and Rocky spend some time simply trying to communicate with each other, both realising the other is there for the same reason. Rocky is so-called because, to Grace, he looks like a bunch of moving rocks. Most aliens in Star Trek, Star Wars etc are humanoid, similar in form to us; Rocky is not. Credit is due to the directors and Gosling for making us care so much about Rocky; they have a personality that is conveyed to us, and we become invested in their well-being and that of their planet. Rocky is created using puppetry rather than CGI and motion capture, which all involved have credited with a part of the reason people care about Rocky. Gosling is acting with something physical, not something that will be added using CGI later.

Ryan Gosling spends long sections of this film being the only actor on screen, and he easily holds our attention. The scenes on Earth show this rather unlikely saviour – an anxious, uneasy, kind, damaged person, who was severely punished when they tried to excel and so stopped trying to excel. The rest of the cast gets little time on screen; there is a mix of astronauts, scientists, and government figures who we meet and are in the background. The exception to this is Eva Stratt, played by Sandra Huller, the person running Project Hail Mary. She is an almost emotionless, stern, principled person trying to save the world; she has no time for jokes, doubt, procrastination or anything like that. This emotionless exterior is not a lie, but it becomes clear she is doing all this because of how much she cares and just what she is willing to sacrifice.

Project Hail Mary is one of those films that fulfils so much of the cinematic experience, a genuine visual spectacle, heart-wrenching, tense, funny, mind-opening and more. It is a film about trying, trying to do the right thing, trying to be better today than you were yesterday, trying to put others first and while we may not always succeed, there will be other opportunities.

Rating: (4 / 5)

The post Review: Project Hail Mary – A Bold, Emotional Sci-Fi Epic Worth the Journey appeared first on Big Picture Film Club.

Lars and the Real Girl

A slightly de-handsomed Gosling plays Lars, a lonely but pleasant enough man, who through a series of traumas and distant relationships ends up with various social disorders. After buying a “realistic” sex doll Lars begins to act like she is a real person, much to the shock of his brother and others. The family doctor comes to the conclusion that this behaviour is caused by a huge underlying psychological problem that needs to be addressed and advises his family, and the whole town, to act like Bianca – the doll – is a real person. Understandably some people do have a problem with this but relatively quickly the small town adjusts and treats Bianca as a real person, in order to help Lars. This is a surprisingly heartfelt film, especially when the concept could have led to some awful comedy, with Lars’ genuine love for Bianca being very touching.

Drive

Gosling plays the unnamed Driver, a very quiet, good-natured, loner whose only interest seems to be in driving cars – whether that is just out driving, being a stunt driver in films, or the getaway driver for crimes. His life changes upon meeting his neighbour Irene and her young son who he quickly begins to help out and get close to. It’s not long before things spiral out of control – Irene’s husband gets out of prison and in order to escape a debt from gangsters the Driver helps him in a heist. The film has truly unforgettable car chases and action scenes and Gosling is perfect as the usually quiet and mild-mannered man who explodes into action and violence when necessary. Most of the time emotion and feeling seem to have been drained from the Driver, especially in his expressions, but Gosling still manages to portray the complex motivations and feelings behind the character.

Blade Runner 2049

Gosling starred in this sequel that was decades in the making, playing the blade runner Kay, who is also a replicant himself, although in 2049 replicants are allowed to exist on Earth. In playing a Blade Runner who is a replicant, Gosling risks having comparisons made to the brilliant performances of both Harrison Ford, as Deckard, and Rutger Hauer as Batty, who played a Blade Runner and replicant respectively. But Gosling pulls this off masterly. Kay is another Gosling who shows little emotion on the surface but can still break your heart, his conflicted existence as a Blade Runner replicant is clearly difficult for him. When he returns to his apartment his AI holographic girlfriend, Joi offers him solace. As Gosling gets drawn into a potentially world-changing plot and questioning everything in his life he continues to be brilliant.

The Big Short

There are few characters in cinema who are as immediately unlikeable and unpleasant as Jared Vennett, who in character seems to want those around him to hate him and will break the fourth wall simply to antagonise the audience. In a film full of characters trying to make money off the looming financial crash Vennett manages to clearly rise to the top of the people you hate. While virtually everyone else is shocked and appalled by the corruption and incompetence which is going to cause a global recession Vennett seems to take pleasure in displaying the awfulness of these people supposedly running the world economy. The only thing that comes close to a redeeming feature of Vennett is his honesty in his awfulness.

It is my hope that with Barbie Ryan Gosling goes on to do what Kevin Kline did in A Fish Called Wanda, give a sensational comic performance and get an Oscar for it, but even if he doesn’t Gosling has done more than enough to confirm him as one of the most talented actors of his generation.

Also Read: The Bizarre Case of Barbenheimer

Your contribution to Big Picture Film Club will allow us to continue to produce content. No matter the amount your contributions are greatly appreciated.

The post The Evolution of Ryan Gosling: A Master of Diverse Roles appeared first on Big Picture Film Club.

What’s Going On?

Barbie lives in Barbieland, a world made up primarily of the many different kinds of Barbies: doctors, writers, astronauts and of course Barbie (later referred to as Stereotypical Barbie, the Barbie you imagine if someone said Barbie). There are also the Kens, a group of usually well-meaning idiots with no agency or ambition, who exist as an accessory to the Barbies. Every day is a day of perfect happiness and effortless perfection until things start going wrong for Barbie; her feet do not arch, her shower is cold and she has thoughts of death. This leads Barbie (and Ken, who tags along) to journey to the Real World to solve the problem that is causing these issues.

Behind The Scenes

Barbie is a Mattel toy created by Ruth Handler in the 50s, the film is directed by Greta Gerwig and co-written by Gerwig and Noah Baumbach, both indie darlings. Gerwig originally found fame as an actor in films like Frances Ha and Damsels In Distress, before also moving into directing in films like Lady Bird and Little Women. Baumbach is a writer and director known for films like Marriage Story and Greenberg and Gerwig and Baumbach have worked together many times.

In Front Of The Camera

The film has a huge cast but first and foremost is Margot Robbie playing Barbie, she is the star and everyone else takes a backseat to her. Then there is Ryan Gosling playing Ken, America Ferrera as Gloria (a real-world Barbie fan), Kate McKinnon as Weird Barbie, a host of actors playing various Barbies and Kens (the credits usually just list them as Barbie or Ken), and Will Ferrell playing the clueless CEO of Mattel.

Does It Work?

Making a live-action Barbie movie in 2023 that wasn’t in some way awful was going to take a very ambitious and risky play, that’s what Greta Gerwig tried to do…and she did it. The opening scene of Barbie is a parody of the opening scene of 2001: A Space Odyssey, invoking such an iconic film is a risk, but Barbie pulls it off and this sets the tone for the rest of the movie. Barbie is a fun, intelligent, hilarious and moving film. It recognises the love many people have for Barbie but also the animosity many have toward it. It acknowledges the way there is a Barbie who can be anything: doctor, president, writer as very uplifting, but also recognises the Barbie whose unreal physical perfection damaged generations of children.

In terms of the cast everyone from Margot Robbie down knows exactly what their job is. Robbie is superb as the quintessential perfect Barbie who has a breakdown when her perfection slips, she is endearing and at times very vulnerable. Barbie’s mix of genuine intelligence, the naivety of the Real World when she lives in a perfect one, and her heartfelt desire to do right by people, especially the young girls who play with Barbies is charming. Ryan Gosling is never not funny, every second on screen he is putting in an amazing comic performance, the awful cloying puppy-dog attitude of following Barbie everywhere, his realisation that in the Real World women do not run everything (as they do in Barbieland) and demanding to be made a CEO or be allowed to perform operations simply because he is a man is hilarious. The transformation Ken undergoes on the return to Barbieland gets even funnier. Will Ferrell’s CEO is bizarrely funny, going between utterly idiotic, to spouting generic pro-women talking points like how there has been at least one…maybe two?…women CEOs of Mattel, to at one point sincerely declaring he didn’t become CEO of Mattel to make money to inspire young girl’s dreams only minutes after calling Barbie a jezebel.

Importantly, in Barbieland they believe that everything in the Real World has been fixed, especially in relation to women and men. The realisation that this isn’t the case is shocking and allows the film to confront the contradictions of Barbie as a role model over the generations. Gloria, the Real World Barbie fan, points out the daily struggles, impossible contradictions and hardships of being a woman. Stereotypical Barbie utterly collapses because she feels she isn’t enough and yet is introduced to the audience as flawless perfection, after a short time dealing with the Real World her confidence and belief in herself is shattered.

There has been a backlash against Barbie, and as with any film, its okay to not like it, for any number of reasons it might not be the film for you. But so much of this backlash is not about the quality of the film, but that it is “woke”, and it is telling when the first comments of a review are about dragging it into ridiculous culture war territory and not if it was any good. Barbie is a brilliant film and a film for anyone. Gerwig has done something truly spectacular in making this film work so well.

Rating: (4 / 5)

Also Read: “Little Women” & Cinema for the Self Partnered

Your contribution to Big Picture Film Club will allow us to continue to produce content. No matter the amount your contributions are greatly appreciated.

The post Review: Barbie appeared first on Big Picture Film Club.

Heath Ledger – The Joker (The Dark Knight)

Heath Ledger’s defining performance gets a lot of praise, and deservedly so. Even if you’re the one person in the world who isn’t a fan, you can’t deny how dedicated he was to the role. Ledger locked himself in a hotel room for a month to get himself into the headspace, as well as keeping a diary. He even directed the hostage videos Joker makes in the film. One of the best and subtle parts of his performance is the constant licking of his scars, as the Joker can feel them on the inside of his mouth and never quite gets used to them.

Christian Bale – Trevor Reznik (The Machinist)

This list could probably be filled with just Christian Bale roles, but this is one of his most dramatic transformations. Consuming just 200 calories a day, Bale lost over 25kg for his role as insomniac Trevor Reznik – and was willing to lose more before producers stepped in. Drinking whiskey and chainsmoking to lose weight. He consumed a single apple and tin of tuna during shooting. Perhaps most impressively, he then bulked up in a short six months to play Bruce Wayne in Batman Begins.

Ryan Gosling – Sebastian (La La Land)

Despite not transforming himself physically, Gosling still gives his all to his roles. His Oscar-nominated role in La La Land is no exception. Gosling learned to play the piano for the film, and all of the scenes of him playing are actually him. Practising for two hours, five days a week over the course of three months, Gosling learnt all of the pieces for the film by memory. On top of that, he also had to learn the dance choreography and the songs and his lines!

Meryl Streep – Sophie (Sophie’s Choice)

Meryl Streep is an incredible actress, we all know that. Any role she’s ever had could probably go on this list. But for Sophie’s Choice she took it one step further. Her character in the film is Polish, and not wanting to offend anyone, Streep wanted the accent to be authentic. So rather than go the usual route and work with a dialect coach, to make her accent authentic, she learnt the language. When she found out that the script would also require some German, she performed it in the Polish accent, same for lines in English.

Marlon Brando – Ken (The Men)

Another actor whose commitment doesn’t need to be questioned, his first film role shows his dedication. The Men is about a soldier who loses the use of his legs. So Brando (who was less recognisable at the time) checked himself into a veteran’s hospital as a paraplegic. After befriending some of the patients, he told them he was an actor, but most of them never knew. Amusingly, he even got out of the chair to prank someone in a bar with his new drinking buddies.

Also Read: Androids And The Actors That Play Them

The post 5 Captivating Performances From Method Actors appeared first on Big Picture Film Club.

The original Blade Runner has proved eerily predictive of many things for its 2019 setting. OK, there are no flying cars or high functioning androids. But the images of smog-choked streets, ruled by mega-corporations and a workforce that is treated as subhuman because of their origins feel very relevant today. And there was, of course, the unfortunate passing of actor Rutger Hauer. Who died in the same year that his character Roy Batty did.

With the first film making a monumental impact on popular culture, and it’s increasing relevance based on unfortunate happenstance I thought I would take the opportunity to look back at the long-awaited sequel to blade runner. Which picked up the story 30 years later and took 35 years to be released.

It’s always difficult making a sequel to critically acclaimed films, especially when they are released so long after the original. But during its release, Blade Runner 2049 was called one of the best sequels ever made. Perhaps even better than the original. But two years on does the sequel still stand as sturdily as its predecessor?

Synopsis

In 2049 old replicants (human-like androids used for manual labour) are being hunted down and killed by newer models. However, when K (Ryan Gosling), a replicant employed by the police to retire other replicants, discovers that a replicant was able to produce a child he begins to tug on the threads of the mystery. Eventually leading to him to the attention of Niander Wallace (Jared Leto) and his nefarious forces. And into the path of former blade runner, Rick Deckard (Harrison Ford).

What did I like?

Firstly, Blade Runner 2049 continues the originals trend for stunning visuals. Everything about this movie looks amazing. Whether it’s the set design that perfectly blends the futuristic, the modern and the mythical into a unique world that feels thematically appropriate for the characters and story or the beautiful Oscar-winning cinematography from Roger Deakins. Which makes every frame look like a piece of art. Or the special effects that never once look fake or out of place. Everything in this world feels authentic and organic, doing a lot to tell the story without dialogue.

The cast is also fantastic. Everyone does a great job inhabiting their roles. Making their characters feel like characters and not merely actors reciting lines to you. The standouts are Ryan Gosling, who does a great job inhabiting the stoic replicant K and Harrison Ford who reprises his iconic role as Rick Deckard; even with his comparatively limited screen time, Ford still manages to steal the show.

And like the first film, 2049 also concentrates on both weighty philosophical questions about identity, technology and corporate greed that feel truly relevant to today’s world. But it also incorporates spectacular action sequences. Which makes for a very entertaining and thought-provoking watch. There are some very interesting set pieces and concepts peppered throughout this film which will give you much to think about and remember long after the ending credits. Including, holographic AI and the question of their sentience. Underground replicant resistances and a tense fight scene taking place in a glitching hologram nightclub.

In fact, as its own standalone film, 2049 works quite well. Creating a fully functioning world with some good performance and great philosophical ambitions. While never forgetting to be an entertaining movie.

What did I not like?

However, as a sequel to Blade Runner (1982), 2049 really falls short. With the main problems being the story, pacing and characters.

2049’s story is unfortunately bogged down by lots of exposition. With several characters frequently explaining the plot to each other, something noticeably minimal in the original Blade Runner. And it never fails to draw the viewer out of the experience because of how obvious it is. The story is also rather lightweight because of the lack of significant consequences. For example, we are told that replicant reproduction will break the world. But aside from one scene with the replicant resistance, nothing in the film’s world indicates that our characters actions are having any impact. Lessening the tension of the film’s story.

There are also plot elements that feel extraneous e.g. K’s hologram girlfriend who can almost pass for being human. An interesting concept, but it serves no narrative purpose aside from illustrating that no one is special. Something which is already dealt with when K learns his true origins. This concept feels like padding. Which makes the narrative feel unfocused and causes the pacing to drag significantly.

Lastly, 2049 suffers from bland characterisation. K is a boring lead. He’s stoic and by-the-books, lacking the edge that made Deckard a compelling protagonist. The occasions when he emotionally conflicts with himself are too few and far between to make him engaging. And because he’s a virtually invulnerable replicant, the movie lacks any sort of tension on a character level. But the worst offender of flat characterisation are the villains. Niander Wallace is a typical capitalist with a god complex and Luv (Sylvia Hoeks) is your typical hard staring badass. Compared to Blade Runner’s replicants who had relatable goals, wanting more time to live their lives, these villains just come across as dull.

Verdict

Blade Runner 2049 is not a bad movie. The set design, cinematography and special effects are all fantastic. Nothing feels out of place in the world they’ve created, and it makes for very stimulating viewing. Everyone in the cast gives a good performance with Ryan Gosling really fitting the part of K and Harrison Ford doing particular justice to his iconic role from the original blade runner. And the blend of action and interesting concepts will definitely keep you entertained.

The problems come when you begin viewing the film as a sequel to blade runner. When faced with the memorable characters, cinematic storytelling and overall cohesiveness of the original, Blade Runner 2049 really feels like an unfocussed pale imitation.

Rating: (3 / 5)

Also Read: Harrison Ford: Nerf Herder or the Grave Robber?

The post Retro Review: Blade Runner 2049 (Spoilers) appeared first on Big Picture Film Club.