Cinematic Smackdown: Four in One

I'm trying to get away from this site strictly being used for media review and criticism, so don't be surprised if feature-length critiques become rarefied and combined with other short reviews. There are just so many interesting ideas and topics to discuss - I don't want to strictly be seen as a "movie guy."

Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows - 2.5/5
(dir. Guy Ritchie)

Well, you can tell it's a Guy Ritchie movie. This latest adventure of Holmes & Co sees the world's most beloved detective go up against rival intellect Professor Moriarty (whose plots are so convoluted and clandestine it's a wonder they're so effective), kicking ass and bringing laughs along the way. How nice it would have been were Robert Downey Jr actually portraying Doyle's Sherlock Holmes rather than this cheap, nominal imitation.

As it would be totally unfair to fault the entire production for simply having no interest in being true to the source, let me say that Guy Ritchie's steampunk interpretation is entirely watchable, interesting, and fairly entertaining in spite of itself. The film goes on much too long, the plot is near incomprehensible, a number of bits just don't work, and the music video-like inserts which explicate Holmes's particular martial art form (something I'm referring to as "prescient obviation") reach redundancy after only one scene, nicely photographed though they are. The movies coasts on the charms of its lovable, diverse cast - Downey Jr and Jared Harris are particularly good - and a number of set pieces and jokes coalesce to a satisfying whole, vapid though they may be. Additionally, Ritchie's particular cinematic style, while at times grating and even desperate, is a nice change from the likes of Michael Bay or other big Hollywood action filmmakers, who have no sense of style, rhythm, or composition. You could do better at the cinema, but you could also do a lot worse.

The Social Network - 4/5
(dir. David Fincher)

Question: What sort of rating do you give a film which is technically and thematically perfect, yet fails to "grab" you in that all-important, intangible way? Director David Fincher proves yet again that he is perhaps peerless in terms of filmmaking craft. Every shot, every line delivery, even small things like music cues and the expressions on the faces of background extras - all of it polished and refined to remove any sort of blemish.

The only problem, then, is that The Social Network has been so finely crafted and exquisitely made that it's like a piece of machinery: every cog works together the way it's supposed to, the end result is just what you would want and expect, and it even amounts to a larger statement of the times like some premature zeitgeist... but there is only the veneer of a soul. The product is just so cold and anesthetized that you feel next to nothing for the characters or what they're going through, even though you find yourself caught up in the film at the time nonetheless. The Andrew Garfield character is an attempt to rectify this trend, but he is too cloying, too quick to cry and look out windows desperately. The Social Network meets its goals, but it comes short of greatness by achieving perfection.

Blue Valentine - 4.5/5
(dir. Derek Cianfrance)

Blue Valentine is a must for anyone who has ever been in love, fallen out of love, or been in any sort of meaningful relationship. Along with Two for the Road and Annie Hall, it is one of the only films that dares to capture the breadth of experiences felt during an adult relationship.

And capture it does. Feeling more like a found home movie than a fictional production, Blue Valentine is raw, messy, and powerful. It throws these characters under a microscope, exposing their faults and their strengths, their joys and their sorrows. It is the tale of a couple who are perfect for each other and are great together, but who nonetheless struggle to get along and more often would prefer to be alone together than actually interact with each other. Ryan Gosling is great, but the standout is Michelle Williams, who cements herself as perhaps the best actress of her generation. A devastating, heartbreaking performance.

Hellboy II: The Golden Army - 4.5/5
(dir. Guillermo del Toro)

I was not the biggest fan of the first Hellboy, but I can happily say that this installment is like comparing Blade II to Blade - the sequel is so much better you might as well not watch the first. Guillermo del Toro casts his unique perspective on this strange group of characters once again, and this time (using his own script) concocts some sort of mad popcorn masterpiece. Hellboy II is, simply, exactly what a big action movie should be: funny, exciting, intriguing, fast-paced, fun to watch, and fairly "light" while nevertheless being prone to moments of fancy and gravitas. The film is just tons of fun - can't to see what del Toro does next.