Collaboration Week Part 5

Hello everyone, and welcome back to director/actor collaboration week.  The idea is simple, I’m looking at my top five favorite director/actor duos.  I’m not counting down, or deciding on any particular order, because frankly, I don’t think there’s a reasonable way to measure.  The only criteria is that the combo must have made at least three films together, and not in a series.  So let’s dive into the final pair:  Guy Ritchie and Jason Statham.

Jason Statham is well known for his roles as a driver, (The Italian Job, The Transporter 1, 2, and 3, Death Race,) but before all that, he made a name for himself with the help of one Guy Ritchie.  On the flip side of that coin, Guy Ritchie would never have made it had he not discovered the talent of Jason Statham.

I know what you’re thinking.  “Harry, did you just say that Jason Statham was talented?  I thought you wrote a whole post about why he was just an action star, and nothing more.  What’s the deal?”  Well, you are both right and wrong.  Yes, Jason Statham is now almost exclusively an action star.  But before his driving, stunts, and explosions, Statham portrayed low-life swindlers on the streets of London.

The first two collaborations between Ritchie and Statham (Lock, Stock, and Two Smoking barrels; Snatch)  are remarkably similar, and also fantastic.  The third, (Revolver,) kind of sucks.  My explanation is that Revolver was made after Statham had become a superstar action hero, and he had lost some of his touch as a savvy crook.

But let’s get back to the first two.  Lock, Stock, and Two Smoking Barrels is quite simply the best crime movie ever to be set in London.  It’s frenetic, funny, unbelievably well shot, and the acting is great.  Even if you don’t see the movie, I highly recommend you watch the opening monologue, deliver by none other than Jason Statham.  This was the first appearance for both men, and while it was very raw, the quality was undeniable.

Snatch was the further evolution of the same formula, with bigger name actors, but the same basic idea.  With Statham as the lead, the movie rocketed from scene to scene, grabbing viewers attention and not letting go.

Since that time, sadly both men have dropped in quality, but those first two showings more than make up for the third, poorer edition of their beautiful cinematic experience.

And that does it for combo week.  Feel free to sound off, and tell me your favorite combos.  Thanks for reading.

Until next time,
Harry

Collaboration Week Part 4

Hi there everyone, and welcome back to director/actor collaboration week.  If this is your first time tuning in, I’ll fill you in on what’s been going on.  This week I am exploring my favorite director/actor combos.  They have to have made three films together, not in a series, to be eligible.  Today, I’m going to look at the dynamic duo of David Fincher and Brad Pitt.

Admittedly, Fincher’s first film sucked.  (Alien 3.)  Since then, I would say that he has not made a single bad film.  Not one.  And his three collaborations with Brad Pitt are off the charts in terms of quality.  Those films are Se7en, Fight Club, and The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, which I have not seen in its entirety, but have seen enough of to comment on.

Brad Pitt, like Fincher, is as consistent as they come.  I can’t recall the last time I saw I movie with Pitt in it and said to myself, “He wasn’t very good in that film.”  In fact, I don’t think that has ever occurred.  But when he works with David Fincher, I always say to myself, “Wow, he was incredible in that film.”

For years, Fight Club was my number one favorite movie.  (It’s still in my top five.)  While Edward Norton was a significant contributor to that fact, there is no question that Pitt’s performance was outstanding.  And Fincher manages to bring the whole movie together in a way that is wonderful from start to finish.

Each of the two are very accomplished artists without the other, but it always seems that when they work together, they bring out the very best from each other.  I believe that Brad Pitt has never given a better performance than his role in Se7en, and David Fincher has never concocted a more brilliant film than Fight Club.  These two, when paired, put together some of the finest movies I have ever seen.  And that’s the bottom line.

Until next time,
Harry

Collaboration Week Part 3

Hey everybody, and welcome back to another installment in my ongoing Director/Actor collaboration week.  I’m exploring my five favorite actor/director combos, in no particular order.  Today I’ll be looking at Martin Scorsese and Leonardo DiCaprio.

To me, Leonardo DiCaprio was little more than a heartthrob for most of his early career.  With the possible exception of Romeo + Juliet, I don’t think he had any meaningful roles.  But then he teamed up with Martin Scorsese for Gangs Of New York, and hasn’t looked back since.

Scorsese on the other hand, has been making great movies for quite some time.  Purists will probably tell me that he collaborated better with Robert De Niro, but I disagree.  I feel that once he started working with DiCaprio, he found a new level of excellence.

These two have now worked on four projects together, them being Gangs Of New York, The Aviator, The Departed, and Shutter Island.  Each one of these films is excellent in its own right, but for me, The Departed is their best collaborative work.

Even though The Departed features a great ensemble cast, there is no question that DiCaprio is the lead.  Throughout the film, Leonardo maintains a level of quality that is unmatched by any of his previous performances.  And Scorsese manages to intertwine the many varying storylines, twists, and complexities of the story in a way that makes it accessible, while still being about as complicated as it can reasonably get.

For me, Shutter Island is the low point of their combo, which is saying something, because I saw Shutter Island twice in theaters.  (An obvious sign of quality.)  That movie, fantastic though it was, lacked just a bit of the punch provided by their previous three films.

That being said, their work together has been consistently phenomenal.  Scorsese transformed DiCaprio from just another pretty face to one of the most talented actors in Hollywood, while DiCaprio challenged Scorsese to raise his level of cinematic quality to heights that he had never reached in the past.  And that is what puts this duo on my top five list of actor/director combos.

Until next time,
Harry

Collaboration Week Part 2

Hello, and welcome back to Collaboration Week, wherein I am exploring the best direct/actor collaborations of all time.  Today I’ll be looking at a director who has defined cinema for generations, and the actor that he works best with.  This combination is... Steven Spielberg and Tom Hanks!

In terms of director/actor combos, these two have only teamed up thrice, with Saving Private Ryan, Catch Me If You Can, and The Terminal.  (I have only seen the first two.  Don’t hold it against me.)  As producers, they also created the two hit HBO miniseries’ Band Of Brothers and The Pacific.

Spielberg is one of the most widely recognized names in movie history.  He’s been in Hollywood forever, cranking out hit after brilliant hit.  But when he found Tom Hanks to play Captain John Miller in Saving Private Ryan, he struck gold.  Not only is Saving Private Ryan the greatest war movie ever, (it is, by the way,) but it also had a monumental influence on every war movie that has been created since.

Tom Hanks is no slouch in the fame department either.  He’s been in starring roles since before I knew how to spell my own name.  His range as an actor is phenomenal, and his roles in Spielberg movies are a testament to that fact.  Every part that Hanks has played under the direction of Spielberg is wildly different, which is unusual for collaborators, as they can sometimes fall into a rhythm that is hard to break from.

Even though this isn’t really on topic, it is absolutely worth mentioning how much these two have given to the community of U.S. veterans.  Their work on Saving Private Ryan seems to have inspired these two to take action to help our veterans, particularly WWII veterans.  And like I mentioned earlier, their work on Band Of Brothers and The Pacific are equally as magnificent as any war movie I have seen.

Until next time,
Harry

Collaboration Week Part 1

Hey everybody, and welcome to Collaboration Week!  This week I’ll be checking out the best director/actor collaborations of all time.  (Not in any order.)  The requirements are that the pair must have collaborated on at least three films, not in a series.  So let’s get the ball rolling, with director Tony Scott and actor Denzel Washington.

Come November, Scott and Washington will have collaborated on five movies, them being Crimson Tide, Man On Fire, Deja Vu, The Taking of Pelham 1 2 3, and Unstoppable.  I obviously have not seen Unstoppable, as it has yet to be released.  I have seen half of Crimson Tide, and the other three I have seen in their entirety multiple times.

One reason that this duo is so dynamic is that there is tremendous individual talent from both parties.  Washington holds a Best Actor Oscar for Training Day.  Scott, though never honored by the Academy, has created a unique visual style for is movies that is often imitated, though never duplicated.

Each part of the partnership was already an established name in Hollywood when they started working together.  (Denzel less so.)  So like any superstar tag-team, there is the worry that one may try to upstage the other.  But in all of their films together, it always seems as though Denzel fits perfectly into every shot, while still commanding the attention of the viewer.  What I’m trying to say is that each of them showcase their skills brilliantly without detracting from the performance of the other.

Man On Fire is easily in my top twenty films of all time, perhaps cracking the top ten, depending on my mood.  That film to me represents a perfect combination of a superb dramatic performance with a spectacular visual experience that overwhelms you with both its beauty and power.  (It’s also Dakota Fanning’s best performance, but that’s beside the point.)  The point is that when these two powerhouses meet, you know that you’re in for one heck of a movie.  And that’s why this collaboration is in my top five.

Until next time,
Harry

Sunday Update 9/5/10

Hey everybody.  The other day, as I was wandering through the vast reaches of the internet, looking at upcoming movie trailers, I saw one that grabbed my attention.  The movie is called Unstoppable, and you can check out the trailer here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JM-0Ywc7wNY

In addition to being an awesome trailer, it will also be the fifth collaboration between director Tony Scott and actor Denzel Washington.  Which brings me to this week’s topic:  What/who are the greatest director/actor pairings of all time?  I will be looking at my top five, in no particular order.

Disclaimer:  I have not seen every movie that I will be mentioning this week.  I will only be talking in detail about the ones that I have seen. (Duh.)  This is not meant to be a review of every single movie that the collaborators have done.  This is a commentary on why they make a good team.

My criteria for the duo’s are simple.  The director must have directed the actor at least three times, and not in a series.  Each movie must be a separate work.

I’ll tell you which ones I’m doing in advance this time, because it’s not a countdown.  It’s just a list.  So here are my top five:

-Tony Scott/Denzel Washington
-Steven Spielberg/Tom Hanks
-Martin Scorsese/Leonardo DiCaprio
-David Fincher/Brad Pitt
-Guy Ritchie/Jason Statham

I’ll be going into each one in more detail throughout the week.  Stay tuned!

Until next time,
Harry

P.S.  Feel free to sound off about your favorite collaborations.

Worst. Movie. Ever.

Hey everybody!  I hope you enjoyed my week on video game trailers.  I’m still on a video game kick, but I will be getting back to movies.  And today I want to talk to you about a movie I watched two nights ago.  It actually was based on a video game.  (No, it’s not DOOM.  I’ll cover that later.)  It’s called Far Cry, and it is, to date, the single worst movie I have ever seen.  And I’ve seen some pretty bad ones in my day.

If you don’t understand the concept of an Epic Fail, let me explain it to you.  It is a failure (of any type) so monumental in stature that there is literally only one way to explain it, and that is by saying it is an Epic Fail.  It must be so terrible that there are absolutely zero redeeming qualities to it, and nothing about it can by worthy of even the tiniest shred of praise.  An epic fail is something so horrible that it can take your breath away, knock your socks off, blow your hair back, and any other expression you choose to describe your surprise at how unbelievably, shockingly, and disturbingly bad it is.

Now that we understand that idea, I’m going to tell you what I think of Far Cry.  It is not an Epic Fail.  It’s worse than that.  That’s right.  Worse.  Far Cry was such a far cry from decency  (see what I did there?) that I almost couldn’t watch it.  But, like any train wreck where every car on the train is filled with bunnies or starving children, I just could not look away.  It caught me in it’s horrible clutches and simply would not let go.  In the famous words of Admiral Ackbar, “It’s a trap!”

The director of this abomination is a man by the name of Uwe Boll.  For some reason, idiots keep giving him the rights to video games so he can turn them into awful movies.  (See also:  Bloodrayne and Dungeon Siege.)  But unlike those two movies, where the cheesiness was so over the top that it was kind of hilarious, Far Cry manages to take itself just seriously enough to take the deliciously cheesy aspect away.  It would be like having a cheeseburger with no cheese.  Or burger.  Or bun or condiments for that matter.  Like the meal I have just described, Far Cry is nothing.  It is an hour and a half of absolute nothing.

The action (if you can call it that) is lame, the story so bad that it’s actually not funny at all, the acting so piss-poor that I practically cried, and the attempts at humor trips over itself like a blind man whose shoelaces have been tied together.  (And equally as cruel.)  In summation, Far Cry, simply put, is the Worst Movie Ever.  You’ve been warned.

Until next time,
Harry