michael keaton – NZ Film Freak

Spotlight

Director: Tom McCarthy
Writer: Tom McCarthy, Josh Singer
Starring: Mark Ruffalo, Michael Keaton, Rachel McAdams, Liev Schreiber, John Slattery, Stanley Tucci
Released: November 2015
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Based on the Pulitzer Prize-winning Boston Globe investigation, Spotlight follows the journey of a group of investigative journalists unearthing the child abuse within the Catholic Church.

Despite the heavy and disturbing subject matter, it is such a moving film. Just watching the trailer gives me chills; it is so well made.

I think the writers did a remarkable job of giving a lot of detail about the case without slowing the pace of the movie down. It moves at a steady pace where you are deep enough into the emotion without it being too overbearing.

The cast is brilliant, featuring one of my favourite actors Rachel McAdams who has been in journalistic-based films before (Morning Glory and State of Play). Stanley Tucci, Mark Ruffalo and Michael Keaton are absolutely brilliant too.

Sacha Pfeiffer (Rachel McAdams): I’m here because I care. We’re going to tell this story, we’re going to tell it right.

The year-long investigation takes the team through many difficulties, including the realisation that this is not a Boston-bound issue but a global one. That the church pay lawyers off to settle the child abuse cases unofficially and out of the public eye. Their uphill struggle through a thick web of lies and secrets leads them to the victims who have all been emotionally scarred by the abuse.

Walter ‘Robby’ Robinson (Michael Keaton): We’ve got two stories here: a story about degenerate clergy, and a story about a bunch of lawyers turning child abuse into a cottage industry. Which story do you want us to write? Because we’re writing one of them.

This film is very moving and is a brilliant documentation on what really went on in the Catholic Churches. Every character is brilliant, the script is remarkable and the subject matter is important.

Mitchell Garabedian (Stanley Tucci): If it takes a village to raise a child, it takes a village to abuse one.

I am so inspired by the characters – these are all based on real-life journalists who persisted at digging deeper and deeper into finding the truth. It puts the ‘click bait’ online media of today to shame. This is real journalism.

Michael Rezendes (Mark Ruffalo): They knew and they let it happen! It could have been you! It could have been me! It could have been any of us!

Spotlight is a meaningful, important and inspiring story and I’m so pleased they made a film about it because I never would have known this happened otherwise. That’s what I love about films; they educate and inform people using a medium of entertainment that is easily consumed. And the makers of Spotlight have certainly used film to portray this story impeccably well.

Mike Rezendes: Mitch, are you telling me that the Catholic Church removed legal documents from that courthouse?
Mitchell Garabedian: Look, I’m not crazy, I’m not paranoid. I’m experienced. Check the docket. You’ll see. They control everything.

The script is brilliant – I keep finding more and more quotes I want to include in this review but I’ll end up with the entire script on here if I don’t stop now.

You must watch this.

Jodie’s rating: 8/10

The Founder

Director: John Lee Hancock
Writer: Robert D. Siegel
Released: January 2017
Starring: Michael Keaton, Nick Offerman, John Carroll Lynch, Linda Cardellini, Patrick Wilson, B. J. Novak and Laura Dern
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I’m sure there’s a documentary or two out there about the history of McDonald’s. But if you’d rather watch a snappy film about it, choose The Founder.

It’s an account of Ray Kroc’s (Michael Keaton) greed, and the sadness and destruction he left in his wake.

I knew Ray Kroc was a bit of a wheeling-dealing businessman, but I didn’t realise what an underhanded tyrant he was until I watched this film. He completely swindled the actual founders of McDonald’s – brothers, Mac and Dick McDonald (John Caroll Lynch and Nick Offerman) – out of the success and profit of the company.

Ray Kroc: If I saw a competitor drowning, I’d shove a hose in his throat

He not only hijacked the business, he took every shortcut available to him. For example, real milkshakes made from real ice cream, became powdered milk, emulsifiers and flavourings in order to cut costs and increase production. The personal touch that the McDonald’s brothers gave to the business, was tarnished.

Dick McDonald: If phony powdered milkshakes is your idea of progress, you have a profound misunderstanding of what McDonald’s is about.

the_founder3

I don’t know if it was my imagination, but the film began with bright lighting and sunny skies. But as Ray Kroc got his hands into the business, I swear the overall lighting got dimmer. Which I liked, because it reflected the amount of stress he inflicted on the brothers.

I’m not surprised McDonald’s has become the controversial empire that it has become today, when you see how the humble, family business was manipulated by Kroc.

Michael Keaton did a terrific job. He portrayed the manic and flippant, money-hungry man that is Ray Kroc very well indeed. Money came before family, ethics and genuine products.

Ray Kroc: You know what – contracts are like hearts, they are made to be broken.

It’s sad tale, really, because although McDonald’s is undoubtedly a successful brand, it’s not without blood on its hands. I can see how that came to be the case now, as the foundations of this business is a greedy one. But, as stated on the front of the DVD cover: ‘you can’t start a fast food empire without getting a little greedy’.

the_founder2

It’s an upsetting film because I unfortunately know that these people walk among us. The kind of business person who does anything possible to make money at any cost. But, maybe that really is the attitude you need to have to become successful… I hope that isn’t true.

Ray Kroc: …persistence. Nothing in this world can take the place of good old persistence. Talent won’t. Nothing’s more common than an unsuccessful man with talent.

As I said, it’s possibly a more entertaining way to learn about how the Gold Arches started out. But it does leave you with a bitter taste in your mouth.

Circling back to the film itself, it does lack a climax and is a bit of a flat film in some parts. But overall, worth a watch for the educational enlightenment.

But don’t expect to feel okay with the world afterwards. Especially during the credits when they show clips of the real Ray Kroc.

Jodie’s rating: 6/10

The Oscars 2015

I’m basically doing my homework the night before it’s due…

I am very behind with all of this nonsense as the nominees were released on January 15th… and The Oscars are tomorrow. But just in case, like me, these things slip under your radar, I thought I should update you on who is in the running.

Before we begin: Just in case you’re as inept with modern culture as I, here is a quick differentiation between the entertainment award ceremonies:

Academy Award (rebranded as The Oscars in 2013) – Award in the Film Industry
Golden Globe Award – Award in Motion Picture and Televison
Emmy Award – Award in Televison
Grammy Award – Award in Music
Tony Award – Award in Theatre

Right! So now we are clued up on the ceremonies, here are the nominees:
*Update: the winners are in bold

Best Picture (Drama)
Boyhood
Foxcatcher
The Imitation Game
Selma
The Theory of Everything

Best Picture (Musical/Comedy)
The Grand Budapest Hotel
Birdman
Into the Woods
Pride
St. Vincent

Best Animated Film
How to Train Your Dragon 2
The Tale of Princess Kaguya
The Boxtrolls
Big Hero 6
Song of the Sea

Best Actress (Drama)
Julianne Moore (Still Alice)
Felicity Jones (The Theory of Everything)
Jennifer Aniston (Cake)
Reese Witherspoon (Wild)
Rosamund Pike (Gone Girl)

Best Actress (Musical/Comedy)
Amy Adams (Big Eyes)
Emily Blunt (Into the Woods)
Helen Mirren (The Hundred-Foot Journey)
Julianne Moore (Maps to the Stars)
Quvenzhané Wallis (Annie)

Best Supporting Actress (Drama)
Patricia Arquette (Boyhood)
Emma Stone (Birdman)
Meryl Streep (Into the Woods)
Laura Dern (Wild)
Keira Knightley (The Imitation Game)

Best Actor (Drama)
Eddie Redmayne (The Theory of Everything)
Steve Carell – (Foxcatcher)
Benedict Cumberbatch (The Imitation Game)
Jake Gyllenhaal (Nightcrawler)
David Oyelowo (Selma)

Best Actor (Musical/Comedy)
Michael Keaton (Birdman)
Ralph Fiennes (The Grand Budapest Hotel)
Bill Murray (St. Vincent)
Joaquin Phoenix (Inherent Vice)
Christoph Waltz (Big Eyes)

Best Supporting Actor
J.K. Simmons (Whiplash)
Mark Ruffalo (Foxcatcher)
Edward Norton (Birdman)
Robert Duvall (The Judge)
Ethan Hawke (Boyhood)

Best Director
Richard Linklater (Boyhood)
Morten Tyldum (The Imitation Game)
Bennett Miller (Foxcatcher)
Alejandro González Iñárritu (Birdman)
Wes Anderson (The Grand Budapest Hotel)

There’s quite a few more sub-categories including Best Sound Editing, Best Film Editing, Best Costume Design and Best Makeup… The list goes on!

PUMPED! Let’s watch some rich people get awards!

Jodie.

ANOTHER King Kong Movie… Ugh!

Old King Kong film We’ve had so many Kong movies, and now they want another!

It began in America in 1933: King Kong
Nine months later came the little-known sequel: The Son of Kong
A Japanese remake called Kong vs Godzilla in 1962
Another Japanese remake, King Kong Escapes, released in 1968
Then another American remake, King Kong, in 1976.
Queen Kong was a British spoof that encountered legal problems in 1976 (resulting in a limited release).
King Kong Lives was made in 1986
The Mighty Kong was a straight-to-video animation in 1998
I assumed Peter Jackson’s remake in 2005 would put an end to it. It was certainly long enough!

But good Lord, here comes another. Kong: Skull Island is expected to hit screens in early 2017, with stars such as the glorious J.K. Simmons and Tom Hiddleson confirmed to be a part of it, with potentially Michael Keaton too.

It’s to be directed by Jordan Vogt-Roberts, who, after checking wikipedia, hasn’t done a huge amount of directing. The film he’s suposed to be known for is a Sundance film called The Kings of Summer.

Are they trying to compete with Planet of the Apes? That’s been remade and/or sequelled eight times since 1968 – with a ninth (a sequel to Dawn of the Planet of the Apes) also reaching cinemas in 2017!!

Is this really necessary?? What’s this obsession we have?

No, I say. No!

Edit in March 2018: News flash! Godzilla vs. Kong is expected to be released in 2020. God help us all.

Jodie.