Review: Rise of the Planet of the Apes

Rise of the Planet of the Apes

8/10/11

AMC Crossroads 24

Large Mr. Pibb

Plenty of A/C

I know what you are thinking, because I was too.  Most people I’ve talked to about this movie have said “I can’t believe you went to see that.”  The previous 4 installments in this franchise have left us with that taste in our mouth.  The “Apes” movies have become a joke, a punchline and the Tim Burton 2001 reboot didn’t help matters.  I went into this movie thinking it was going to totally suck.  My defense of originality in Hollywood finally has met its horrible end, I can no longer defend an institution that produces yet another cheap monkey costume story about horrible humans. 

You’re just going to have to trust me when I tell you we were all way off on this one.  I talk all the time about movies that absolutely surprise me and this is at the top of the list.  Forget surprised, let’s go with SHOCKED (pun intended….Peter Gabriel).  

Not knowing this going in, it turns out this is actually a prequel to the 1968 original film starring Charlton Heston.  As a refresher:  Heston’s team was on a mission to Mars and went through a time warp and landed on an alternate Earth in the future where primates were the dominant….and really only….species.  Without ruining it for you, let’s just say this movie pays constant homage to that one and actually sets up for not only sequels but for the original.  The Mars mission launch is actually shown on a background television and it’s disappearance referenced in a newspaper story. 

James Franco does a good enough job as the lead character, Will Rodman who is experimenting with a cure for Alzheimer’s which ails his Father.  His experiments on primates land him the cure he’s been waiting for, but the patient ends up going nuts and has to be put down.  Will finds a baby chimp in the mom’s cell and takes it home and raises it as his own.  “Cesar” turns out to have inherited the genetic benefits of higher brain function and becomes super-smart to the point that his intelligence lands him in a primate habitat when he runs into trouble.  Tom Felton, who played the infamous Draco Malfoy in the Potter films, takes another turn as a bad guy who abuses the primate inhabitants to the point of revolt. 

All of the performances are good in the movie but the real amazement is in the performance capture acting done by Andy Serkis (Gollum in LOTR) wearing a skinsuit with sensors attached.  You know CGI is amazing when you forget you’re watching something that isn’t real.  And I can hardly get my mind around knowing that Serkis is ACTUALLY there in all these scenes, acting out ape movements and expressions.  It’s absolutely shocking.  The movie is worth going to see just for this element.  Add in that the story is cool and sets up the very reason for the original Planet of the Apes.  Didn’t anyone ever wonder “how did the Apes take over in the first place?”  Question answered. 

Now something I NEVER thought I’d say going into Rise of the Planet of the Apes:  I can’t wait for the sequel.

My review: 

3/4, B+, See it in the theater

Review: Drive

Drive

9/21/11

Carmike Cinema 10

Medium Mr. Pibb

Plenty of A/C

Every now and then a movie comes along that just shocks the crap out of you.  Drive will undoubtedly be that movie for pretty much anyone who sees it.  It wasn’t remotely what I expected.  I’d imagine it’s going to polarize people.  I can see how someone could hate it.  But I can definitely see how someone could love it.

For one thing, I know who Ryan Gossling is and have seen The Notebook (hated it) and Remember the Titans (loved it).  Haven’t seen Crazy, Stupid Love yet but everyone I know swears by it.  All that being said, I’m not a huge fan or anything, he wasn’t particularly a draw.  For another thing, I know who Carey Mulligan is but have never seen or paid attention to her in anything.  So add it all up and really there wasn’t a terrific amount of “hey I gotta see that” to this movie.  Albert Brooks playing it straight was intriguing.  Christina Hendricks is hot in a “not afraid of her curves redhead” sort of way.  Then you throw in the “Winner:  Best Director, Cannes Film Festival 2011” and you start to wonder. Trailer looked good.  Let’s give it a try. 

Boom…..literally.

I was blown away by this movie.  The way it was made, the way it was shot, the acting, the soundtrack.  Blown away. 

The story is easy enough:  Driver (you never find out his real name) is a loner who works as a stunt driver for movies during the day in L.A. and as a getaway driver for hire at night.  He offers no involvement in whatever anyone is up to, simply to drive them away from the crime.  He gives you a five minute window and then he’s gone, whether you are finished or not.  He also moonlights at the garage owned by his troubled father figure and friend Shannon played brilliantly by Bryan Cranston.  He befriends the woman next door and her son who are living out their days until her husband gets out of prison, which he does, eventually hooking up with Driver on a job and causing all sorts of havoc. 

The soundtrack was crafted by Cliff Martinez who also did the music for Contagion which is out at the same time.  The synth vibe and songs included in the movie are part of what actually MAKE the movie what it is.  You know you’ve nailed it when that happens.  There’s a song on there by DJ College called “A Real Hero” that is hauntingly awesome. 

I will warn you:  the movie is really rough in places and has lots of blood and violence in spots.  It’s not for the weak of heart.  It has a very dark, sort of noir thriller feel to it that takes you back to another era.  This could have easily been a star vehicle for Steve McQueen.  Part of what make it so cool is the simplicity.  There are 20 minute or so periods of time where no one says a thing.  THAT is when you know you are dealing with awesome performances. 

Do yourself a favor and go see this.  You’re either going to love me or hate me for it. 

My review: 

3.5/4, A, See it in the theater