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Reviews
The Wolf of Wall Street (2013)
Sex, drugs, and... penny stocks
It's safe to say this wasn't what I expected it to be. I did not go into this movie expecting it to be as comedic as it was, so I was a little thrown off when (without giving away any details) it drew laughs during some of the most dramatic sequences. I also was not anticipating it to be quite so obscene (it does not go 20 minutes without showing breasts nor 30 seconds without saying "fuck.")
What I was expecting was more of a typical, up and down drama in which Dicaprio bends but does not break under pressure as he methodically conquers his enemies. Sure, some of that is there, but this is not a movie about up and down action. Almost all of the three hours focus on the "up," and rightfully so. It seems that the idea was to take the audience on a fun-filled ride like the one the main character is experiencing- with very few thoughts of consequences and plenty of debauchery. The Wolf of Wall Street is over the top and apologetically so, and the mood and pacing fit the message that it ultimately conveys.
Boy Wonder (2010)
Worth a Watch
This movie is certainly worth a watch, especially if you have Netflix being as that it is available to stream instantly to your computer or game console. Though it does not exactly possess a first-rate script, you cannot ask for much more out of an indie crime drama than what this film has to offer. Steinmeyer is solid and pretty realistic as the driven and confused protagonist while Bill Sage is effective as his conflicted and multi-dimensional father; however, the real driving force behind this film is the plot. Rather than falling into general climactic and ending sequences, Boy Wonder provides a twisted plot while remaining clear in the minds of viewers. That being said, this movie is far from perfect. Some of the supporting roles such as the other officers at the police station besides Ames are unconvincing, some of the dialogue is choppy and unappealing, and certain parts of the story seem slightly unbelievable in an otherwise credible and realistic world. All in all, this movie deserves more praise than it seems to receive. The directing and editing were great despite the uninspiring script. Had this film been produced by a Hollywood cast and crew, it certainly would have received plenty of attention for its originality and daring nature for which, if nothing else, it is worth watching.
The Amazing Spider-Man (2012)
A Whole New Perspective on Spidey
This is a different brand of Spider-man movie than what we've seen so far. Whereas the first three films sought to create a cinematic version of the characters and sentiments of the original comic books, this reboot changes it up. Hate it or love it, we are shown an entirely new angle on Spider-man. Though Peter Parker is still loosely the same, (smart, goofy photographer on the outside of high school social life)his characterization goes much deeper in one film than anything that came of the entire Raimi trilogy. Now, certainly we all have our preferences; while some would scold the movie for its slight deviation from the original Parker, others would praise it for making Peter more believable and thorough while still maintaining the basis of the original character. In The Amazing Spider-man, Peter is presented as conflicted over an event in his past (his abandonment by his parents.) While most cannot understand such a sentiment to the degree of Peter, a sense of internal conflict over our past trials and traumas is something that nearly all can attest to feeling, especially confused and maturing teenage boys. Additionally, Peter's status as an outsider appeals to the idea in the minds of many that they are misunderstood by almost everyone, even those close to them. All in all, the latest characterization of the web-slinger outside the suit is easy to relate to for the introverted, intellectual teens of today just as the original comic book version was to the same types of teens in previous decades.
The characters and the sequences in this film operate on a level of emotional depth that is several notches deeper than that in the first three Spidey-flicks. The most glaring reflection of this comes from the romance between Garfield's Peter Parker and Stone's Gwen Stacy; from the natural, warm smiling moments to the awkwardness of the first date proposal and mom opening the door mid-kiss, this is very much a real-world type of teenage romance that everyone has experienced at least once. The solace and unique understanding that Peter finds in Gwen is, although not necessarily true to comic book storyline, yet another element of the film that is very palpable and very real.
One area of the film that seems to have left many wanting is the storyline involving Dr. Curt Conners/ the Lizard. Certainly Dr. Conners wishes to turn everyone in the world into mutant lizard-people was not nearly as believable or sensible as other elements of the story, and it seemed as though the idea was forced to make the film seem more "comic-bookish." Thought that basis of the story was not quite perfect, I believe it is an issue that will be resolved in the sequels. As stated previously, this is a whole different kind of Spider-man film that what we're used to. Rather than striving to create a cinematic graphic novel, this film's crew set out to create a believable and sentimental cast with depth and motivation, something that will make the later movies in the series even more compelling. This a is a new type of hero movie (a la Nolan) that gives us more than grueling duels with baddies, but also palpable inner-conflict that comes along with the super sweet stretch-suit. The Amazing Spider-man was so much more than I expected it to be, and my hopes are extremely high for what is to come for this series in the next few years.