Films in 100: Cosmopolis (2012)

Cosmopolis (2012, David Cronenberg)

Starring: Robert Pattinson, Sarah Gadon, Paul Giamatti, Juliette Binoche, Samantha Morton, Jay Baruchel, Kevin Durand and Emily Hampshire.

A fantastic, timely dissection of the consumerist society in which we live. The film charts Eric Packer as he makes his way across Manhattan to get a haircut. The casting of Robert Pattinson is genius, with delicious irony in the line “talent is erotic when it is wasted,” clearly comparing his frozen performances in the Twilight films and his revelatory performance here. Pattinson and the other cast are wonderful. The cold, stilted dialogue, confined space and framing provide a theatrical feel, claiming the audience and making them feel gloriously uncomfortable. This film is brilliant, but is too inaccessible to get the consideration and recognition it deserves. 

5/5

Films in 100: Pitch Perfect (2012)

Pitch Perfect (Jason Moore, 2012)

Starring: Anna Kendrick, Brittany Snow, Skylar Astin,  Rebel Wilson, Anna Camp and Ben Platt.

The similarities to Glee are clear; it's a musical comedy, it shows the rise of an unpopular group of misfits to success and an alumni from the original broadway cast of Spring Awakening is in one of the main roles (Astin). The dialogue is often quick witted but sometimes falls flat with Rebel Wilson improvising to provide the majority of the laughs. The generic romance at the centre of the narrative is sweet but nothing new, with the mashups so “mashed” that it is difficult to shake them out like a polaroid picture. Less Pitch Perfect more pitch predictable.

3/5

Films in 100: Beasts Of The Southern Wild (2012)

Beasts Of The Southern Wild (Benh Zeitlin, 2012)

Starring: Quvenzhane Wallis and Dwight Henry.
 

Beautiful story of wonder and belonging. Fantastical in a very real setting with relatable images of the post Hurricane Katrina South. The film follows six year old Hushpuppy as she must face the melting icecaps flooding the only home she has ever known and the failing health of her father, with bravery and courage. There are wonderful performances from the two leads, who are not professional actors providing an authenticity that may not have been achieved otherwise. Shot beautifully, great soundtrack and screenplay, with a heartbreaking finale. A true marvel.

5/5

Films in 100: Black Rock (2012)

Black Rock (Katie Aselton, 2012)

Starring: Katie Aselton, Lake Bell, Kate Bosworth, Will Bouvier, Jay Paulson and Anslem Richardson.

A horror, which sees three friends hunted by some bat shit crazy soldiers on a remote island. Some of the film seemed quite amusing, but only in the sense of how contrived the convention following was. The film reaches its peak when the two lead female character's clothes become drenched, which leads to them taking them all off if they have any hope ofsurvival. They then spend about fifteen minutes (a night in the narrative) wondering around naked and cold, only to put on their clothes in the morning which seem to have magically dried. Really? I am not even going to begin to make a feminist reading of this film. Terrible.

1/5

Films in 100: The Bourne Legacy (2012)

The Bourne Legacy (Tony Gilroy, 2012)

Starring: Jeremy Renner, Rachel Weiss and Edward Norton.

The beginning was a bit befuddling due to my ignorance to the set of of the Bourne films. Once the film got going it was quite good fun, with Jeremy Renner making a great action hero. However, the plot remained one dimensional throughout, charting Renner's escape and his quest for survival, eventually closing without a final act. The ending fight sequence was not spectacular enough to carry the end of the film, leaving me incredibly dissatisfied with the end product. Yes, it left me wanting more, not because it was so good, but because the story they were telling had not yet finished.

2/5

Films in 100: Big Boys Gone Bananas!* (2011)

Big Boys Gone Bananas!* (Fredrik Gertten, 2011)

This compelling documentary charts the struggle of two Swedish filmmakers as they find themselves battling Dole Food Company to show their film about a law suit against the company. The film is a fascinating look at attempts to quell free speech and its ultimate triumph, showing the extent to which you can undermine something with enough funds. The filmmaker's success ultimately stems from the support of their small country, something that others would not have had, leaving one to wonder how easily a different outcome could have been. Of course, this latest film leaves the filmmakers just as susceptible to another law suit. Let us hope their previous success put the company off.

4/5

Films in 100: Argo (2012)

Argo (Ben Affleck, 2012)
Starring: Ben Affleck, Bryan Cranston, Alan Arkin, and John Goodman.
 

An accomplished thriller about escapees from the American Embassy hostage situation in revolutionary Iran, and their rescue in an unlikely operation. An extraordinary tale of true events, the film racks up more tension in its final act than the whole latest season of Homeland. Affleck proves himself as a filmmaker, balancing effortlessly the threat of Iran with the comedy of the sequences in Hollywood, leaving a coherent narrative. The all American stance did leave a rather negative light on the Iranian people, but given the subject matter of the film, it is to be expected. All things considered, pretty great.

4/5