Reviews, Reports + Comments

Sunday, May 5, 2013

Review of film: “THE KINGS OF SUMMER” + Q&A with STARS of the film: MOISES, NICK & GABE




2013, 05-03:
 
Review of film:  THE KINGS OF SUMMER +  Q&A with STARS of the film:  MOISES, NICK & GABE



  [ + mentions ofDISCONNECT& MUD & THE WAY, WAY BACK]
 



 
As mentioned in my reviews of “DISCONNECT” [which can be found at =  http://voice-of-film.blogspot.com/2013/05/review-of-film-disconnect-mentions-of.html ] & re MUD [which can be found at = http://voice-of-film.blogspot.com/2013/05/review-of-film-mud-mentions-of.html ]:

...  For some unknown reason, this spring has shown an unusual profusion of EXCELLENTLY- ACTED film work by young and / or comparatively “unfamiliar” actors (in all the films mentioned above) -- people who I feel may well become some of the "UP-&-COMING" STARS of TOMORROW...

  Here’s a new “review / commentary” about another movie that especially impressed me, the R-rated (for language and some teen drinking) 93-minute comedy THE KINGS OF SUMMER (which opens nationwide around June 7th), directed by JORDAN VOGT-ROBERTS (who’s done work since 2009 on TV re a movie and various series;  see photo below)…


  Here’s some info on the basic plot of the film:

  NICK OFFERMAN has appeared in TV’s “PARKS & RECREATION” since 2009, & has appeared in movies such as 2005’s SIN CITYand “21 JUMP STREET” (as Deputy Chief Hardy) in 2012…


  In this film, Offerman plays Frank Toy, a single father who tends to be a “CONTROL FREAK” concerning his teenaged son Joe (played by NICK ROBINSON -- seen below -- , who’s been in some shorts, the 2012 TV movie “FRENEMIES”, & acted since 2010 as “Ryder Scanlon” in the TV series “MELISSA & JOEY”)…


  Nick’s (movie) sister Heather has to work hard to try to “IGNORE” their pushy dad Offerman (& she’s played by ALISON BRIE, who’s portrayed Trudy Campbell in TV’s “MAD MEN” since 2007 & Annie Edison in “COMMUNITY” since 2009)…

  Offerman is usually highly NEGATIVE towards everyone, and especially dismissive towards Alison's boyfriend who’s always "fawningly" trying to impress him (as seen below)…
 


  Nick’s best friend is Patrick Keenan (played by GABRIEL BASSO, who’s been Adam Jamison on the TV series “THE BIG C” since 2010, and played Martin in 2011’s feature film “SUPER 8”--  a review of which can be seen at = http://voice-of-film.blogspot.com/2011/06/review-of-film-super-8-produced-by.html )…

  Patrick tends to be driven “crazy” by his constantly-“hovering” mom (played by MEGAN MULLALLY, who was unforgettable as alcoholic rich lady Karen Walker in TV’s “WILL & GRACE” from 1998 thru 2006, & on numerous TV series since then, such as playing Tammy Swanson on “PARKS AND RECREATION” from 2009-2012 & the voice of Rose in “OUT THERE” in 2013)…


  As much as Megan “OVER-does” her involvement in Gabe’s life, his dad (played by MARC EVAN JACKSON) tends to “WIMP-out” & demur to whatever Megan wants…

  Being a teenager, NICK wants to do his “OWN thing” in life.  His dad Offerman tends to send him over the “EDGE” when he demands that Nick stay home & play a BOARD GAME with the “family” (including his dad's girlfriend & sis Alison, as shown below) rather than his plan of going out with Gabe


  That “last straw” incident convinces Nick he should LEAVE HOME, & he later works to try to convince GABE to JOIN him in his surprise plan--  which he purposely doesn’t go into “detail” about…  Gabe is “wishy-washy” about the general idea to join Nick, but he agrees to “TAG ALONG” as Nick takes him on an “outing”… 


  Nick starts to lead them into a heavily WOODED area--  & they’re suddenly accompanied by an “ODDBALL” short kid from high school named BIAGGIO who on his ownLATCHES ON” with them, wildly swinging a machete as they walk on (as shown below)…
 


(    Biaggio -- shown in the foreground above, in front of Nick & Gabe -- is played by MOISES ARIAS, who portrayed “Rico” on TV’s “HANNAH MONTANAseries from 2006-2011, the movie by that name in 2009, and TV work such as being “Matt” in “THE MIDDLE” in 2012-13…)

  Moises strikes Nick & Gabe as being more than a little “STRANGE” in his demeanor, “attitude” & actions--  but, they’re generally “TOLERANT & easy-going about his “peculiarities”, even when he eventually comes up with a “plan” to claim they’ve all been “KIDNAPPED” from their homes…

  After leading them into the deep woods, Nick reveals that his MAIN plan is to live on their OWN, by building a make-shift HOUSE in the woods… 

  It seems outlandish...  But, being “enthusiastic”, never-give-up type kids, they calmly ACCEPT the idea, & start secretly SCAVENGING things from the town to CONSTRUCT their new “home” (after choosing to have NO direct contact with their PARENT figures)…


  Altho they have some “rough” times (like bad weather), the 3 guys “PERSEVERE”, & start to ENJOY their new-found freedom, going SWIMMING in the little lake (as shown below & in the poster for the film)…


  And relaxedly playing music (as shown by Gabe below)…


  The “signature” element of their being free-spirits is the way the 3 guys invent what might be called “OUR Tube, by walking atop a PIPELINE running thru “their” woods…


  Where you could find Nick & Gabe happily BANGING on the pipeline as a “DRUM”, as Moises goes thru a series of freestyle DANCE moves (as seen in the film’s trailer, indicated by some photos below)…




 


  Wanting to be the sort of “LEADER” of the troop & not appear “weak” in front of Gabe, Nick takes just MOISES with him to “SCOUT-OUT” their new “property”… 


  Nick’s “initial” idea is to try to be “men” & “HUNT” for some wild FOOD to eat…  But, he & Moises make an “UNEXPECTED” discovery at the “edge” of “their” land…


  And (as shown below) Nick devises a much EASIER way to handle a “CHICKEN-acquisition” strategy…
 


  What about the PARENTS of Nick & Gabe?...  Since the kids aren’t around in their “hair”, they seem generally content to “accept” the general idea that their boys are seemingly “SLEEPING over” at their FRIEND’S house…

  In time, Nick’s dad Offerman & Gabe’s parents Mullally & Jackson start to talk to each OTHER--  & realize the boys had NOT been sleeping at EITHER home… 

  Offerman seems sort of “UNCONCERNED” about the situation--  tho he eventually joins Gabe’s folks in “REPORTING” the situation to the Police...
 


  Tho (as indicated below) the “authorities” seem at a “LOSS” as to what to effectively do about the matter…



  In time, the forest-dwelling Tres Caballerosdecide they want to “SHARE” their new home a bit, & invite a GIRL Nick likes (namely, “Kelly”, played by ERIN MORIARITY) and a guitar-playing friend (seemingly Aaron, played by AUSTIN ABRAMS), etc., to their woody abode for a PARTY (as shown below)…
 


  Do you think Nick turns out “HAPPY” when he sees how well ERIN starts getting-along with GABE?...

          
  Will Nick’s mustache help provide what he’s really “SEEKING” in life?...


  Will there be a RECONCILIATION between the kids & their PARENTS?...

  Will the 3 guys still feel like “KINGS” when the SUMMER ENDS?!...


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       As the advance screening I attended at Chicago’s COLUMBIA COLLEGE on May 1 ended, there was very hearty APPLAUSE by the audience (which mostly seemed to consist of young film students & the like)…

  They were probably appreciative of what had been ACCOMPLISHED in the film we’d just seen:   written by CHRIS GALLETTA, it was an unusually SUCCESSFUL comedy:

  It had a good-natured “NUTTINESS”, rather than a mean-spirited gathering (like some of the “HANGOVER” films) where people seem to be frequently taking “STUPID” pills…

  The kids played their roles “STRAIGHT”:  Nick & Gabe were “REAL” in the way they reacted to their parental hassles & the like…  And “unforgettable” Moises was genuine in his inherent off-kilter KOOKINESS”.  (He may have seemed somewhat extreme & “threatening” to certain “outsiders”--  but, he was THEIR secret-weapon”)!

  Altho they were all “different” people in certain respects, they learned to get ALONG & work TOGETHER towards their near-term “goals”…  Some of their ways of doing things may’ve been “silly” in part, but, it “FIT” the age & “times” they were in…

  Thus, you ended up LIKING the young guys you’d just seen (all of whom may well be UP-&-COMING STARS in the future), & “PULLING” for them…  (I’d like to see the “R” rating CHANGED to something less restrictive, as it seems in-apropos overall)…

  The ACTING was unusually EFFECTIVE by ALL the characters (young & old), there were loads of really FUNNY elements in the film, &, because it “WORKED” so well, I’m rating it at 8.25 of 10 stars...




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Q&A with STARS of the film:  MOISES, NICK & GABE
 

  You can see the detailed QUESTION-&-ANSWER talk by the 3 young stars of the above movie (including a number of exclusive PHOTOS) by going to:  http://voice-of-film.blogspot.com/2013/06/report-on-film-kings-of-summer-q-with.html ...



...  Another "UP-&-COMING possible stars of tomorrow" Review can be seen as follows:


...  "THE WAY, WAY BACK" can be found at =  http://voice-of-film.blogspot.com/2013/07/review-of-film-way-way-back.html ...

Saturday, May 4, 2013

Review of film: “MUD” [+ mentions of “DISCONNECT” & “THE KINGS OF SUMMER” & “THE WAY, WAY BACK” ]



2013, 05-03:


Review of film: MUD”  [+ mentions ofDISCONNECT&THE KINGS OF SUMMER& THE WAY, WAY BACK]




As mentioned in my review of “DISCONNECT” [which can be found at =  http://voice-of-film.blogspot.com/2013/05/review-of-film-disconnect-mentions-of.html ], for some unknown reason, this spring has shown an unusual profusion of EXCELLENTLY- ACTED film work by young and / or comparatively “unfamiliar” actors (in all the films mentioned above)--
people who I feel may well become some of the "UP-&-COMING" STARS of TOMORROW... 

  Here’s a new “mini”-review / commentary about another movie that especially impressed me, the PG-13-rated, 130-minute film “MUD” (which opened April 26th), directed by JEFF NICHOLS (who did 2011’s finely-done “TAKE SHELTERstarring MICHAEL SHANNON & JESSICA CHASTAIN;  that has this synopsis:  Plagued by a series of apocalyptic visions, a young husband and father questions whether to shelter his family from a coming storm, or from himself…”)…



… The film company describes its “MUD” movie this way (with emphasis & “[ ]” interjections being mine):

14 year-old Ellis (TYE SHERIDAN, seen previously as Steve in “THE TREE OF LIFE””) lives on a makeshift houseboat on the banks of a river in Arkansas with his parents [who are having domestic PROBLEMS], Mary Lee (SARAH PAULSON) and Senior (RAY McKINNON)…

    [TYE] sneaks out early one morning to meet his best friend, Neckbone (JACOB LOFLAND).  [JACOB], also 14, lives with his uncle, Galen (MICHAEL SHANNON), who makes a hardscrabble living diving for oysters

    The two boys set out [in TYE’S motorized boat] to an island on the Mississippi River, where [JACOB] has discovered an unusual sight-- a [fancy CABIN-style] BOAT, suspended high in the trees, a remnant of an extreme flood some time in the past…

    They climb the tree and into the boat only to find fresh bread and fresh footprints. Realizing that they are not the only ones who have discovered the treehouse boat, they decide to leave

    When they reach [TYE’S small boat pulled-up on] the shore, they find the same [distinctive shoe] footprint IN their boat. And that's when they meet MUD (MATTHEW McCONAUGHEY).  MUD is a gritty, superstitious character; his clothes are dirty, his tooth is cracked, and he needs help


    [MATTHEW] tells the boys he will give them the treehouse boat, his current hideout, in exchange for food.  [JACOB] is reluctant, but [, after a discussion, TYE] brings food to MUD, and they develop a tentative friendship [tho JACOB seems a bit concerned that it may be a “ONE-SIDED” situation]…

    [TYE] learns that MUD has killed a man in Texas, and police and bounty hunters are LOOKING for him…  But MUD is more concerned about reuniting with his longtime LOVE, Juniper ([played by] REESE WITHERSPOON) [who he “expects” he’ll soon MEET in the area]…


    [TYE], who has recently developed his own crush [on a girl in town named MAY PEARL, played by BONNIE STURDIVANT], agrees to help MUD ESCAPE with [REESE]…  

    [TYE & JACOB] carry out bold schemes in an effort to protect MUD and relay messages to [REESE], who is holed up in a fleabag motel, under constant surveillance by Carver (PAUL SPARKS), a Texas bounty hunter


    [SPARKS] and his gang are intent on capturing MUD, on orders from the cold-blooded King (played by JOE DON BAKER)…

    As the boys risk everything to reunite these seeming mythical lovers, [TYE’S]  own ideas about love and romance are challenged by the strains in the relationships closest to him:  his PARENTS’ marriage is DISSOLVING while he himself falters in his efforts to impress [his seeming girlfriend BONNIE]…

    Through it all, [TYE] struggles to look for an example of love that he can believe in, learning about the unspoken rules and RISKS of love and the reality of heartbreak… ”

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Who is the mysterious character TOM BLANKENSHIP (played by SAM SHEPARD)?...  Does he have some “connection” to MUD, &, if so, what IS it?...  What possible “INVOLVEMENT” will he have in the overall story & it’s OUTCOME?...

  What will happen to MUD (MATTHEW)?...  What will happen to TYE & JACOB & their family members?!...

  In this film, Matthew continues his recent series of unusually FINE work (such as in “THE LINCOLN LAWYER”, “KILLER JOE” & “MAGIC MIKE”), effectively “immersing” himself into his memorable and believable CHARACTER

  Equally striking is the work by TYE & JACOB (the latter whom had NEVER ACTED in a movie before, & was chosen from like 2000 boys the producers interviewed)…

  Oftentimes, people playing kids (like their 14-year-old characters) are given very “STEREOTYPED” roles.  But, in part thanks to some fine WRITING (by director JEFF NICHOLS), these guys come across as completely “REAL” individuals--  guys who’ve had HARD lives & are each other’s BEST friend:

  They really discuss things with each other.  They may not always agree with each other, but they talk over things in an HONEST & “RESPECTFUL” (rather than hurtful) way when they disagree…

  TYE has the little motorboat (which he’s happy to use for PROJECTS the 2 of them come up with), & JACOB has a MOTORCYCLE with a sort of “trailer” on the back for carrying around a fish cooler (& other items)--  which he also readily makes available (when asked)… 

  But, they really DISCUSS what they’re thinking of doing (rather than one of them “forcing” an issue)…  Even when they disagree on certain things (like the degree of HELP one of them wants to give to MUD), they do it in a KIND rather than “hurtful” way…

  In other words, it seems to be important to each to “LOOK OUT for the other & his feelings & existence, as they seem to understand they’re often “IN” things “TOGETHER” in their hard-life world…

  Both boys are unusually “STRAIGHT-FORWARD” & “MATTER-OF-FACT” in dealings with other people (like girlfriends, MATTHEW / “MUD” & others):  they avoid dealing in “political CORRECTNESS”, & instead BLUNTLY speak-up when they want to KNOW or state something they feel is important  They take “RISKS” for what they believe in…


  All that helps the guys come across as incredibly “BELIEVABLE” in their characters, & thus aids in their very effectively “SELLING” the whole movie (as do all the OLDER actors)…    

  Accordingly, I’m rating the film as 8.50 stars out of 10 for its wonderfully convincing emotion-tinged drama of growing-up in less-than-ideal circumstances… 

  And, a “FOLLOW-UP” movie with the “CONTINUING” story the main characters would be something I’d LOOK FORWARD to seeing!...



...  Other "UP-&-COMING possible stars of tomorrow" Reviews can be seen as follows:


  THE KINGS OF SUMMERis covered not only in my REVIEW of the film at = http://voice-of-film.blogspot.com/2013/05/review-of-film-kings-of-summer-q-with.html , but also in my REPORT on the Q&A by the 3 young male stars in it [which can be found at =  http://voice-of-film.blogspot.com/2013/06/report-on-film-kings-of-summer-q-with.html ]…
 
...  "THE WAY, WAY BACK" can be found at =  http://voice-of-film.blogspot.com/2013/07/review-of-film-way-way-back.html ...
 
 
 
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