The Grey Review

I had heard great things about The Grey before heading into the theater, but every time someone I knew talked about it, they would say "You'll see." Until now, I wondered what it was. But i'll get to that in a minute.

The film revolves around a team of oil workers who survive a plane crash in the middle of Alaska. They are led by Liam Neeson's character who has an expertise in wolves. They band together to survive and make their way to safety, fighting the wolves that stalk the group along the way.

You may call it a re-hash of other Neeson films, but this is pure R-rated, fighting, cursing, and overall badassery. The characters aren't your usual one dimensional stock cronies like in the movie Predator. They all have their stories, their families back home, they have real conversations. They are well crafted, and conflicted. And its pure adventurism.

Here's the issue with the film, it has no ending. I'm not talking about the ending of Inception, where there is a conflict that is resolved, but the final shot is ambigous. In The Grey, there is exposition, rising conflict, but just as the climax is about to commence, the screen fades to black and you see "Directed by Joe Carnahan". There is a scene after the credits, but like Inception, you need to use your imagination about what you think happened. I won't give you details, that goes against my principles, but this is just a fair warning about what you should expect.

Until that point, the film is perfect.

Liam Neeson gives a heartwarming perfromance of a man who has nothing to look forward to back home, but makes the journey anyway. His wisdom shines through with every line. His inner badass is in every scene. He isn't fighting something in every moment, but with this film, he shows us that he is truly capable of drama rather than just constantly beating the crap of everything in sight. That is why he is this film's "Andrew's Standout"

I would say that whether or not you see this film is up to you. The film makes a great escape, yet you will feel quite unfulfilled. If you do end up seeing this movie, STAY after the credits. You can come up with your own ending.

B+

Die Hard Retro Review

There is no denying the effect something has when it enters popular culture. It appears on T-shirts, graffiti, people use catchphrases in everyday conversation, and sometimes it ends up in the Smithsonian. That's why my first retro review is on what (in my personal opinion) is one of the greatest action movies of all time: Die Hard.

The story is basic. New York City Cop John McClane flies to Los Angeles to spend Christmas with his estranged wife, Holly. While waiting for her at her office party, a gang of terrorists takes over the building and takes all the guests hostage. McClane manages to evade, and what results is a no holds barred war between one man, and very dangerous men.

Sure, it's not the most mentally engaging film ever made, but it's a ride unlike any other. It's a modern western standoff, the good guy in the tanktop and the bad guy in the John Phillips suit. No matter how cliche the story may seem, you can't admit that there is a moment when you're not cheering on our battered and bruised modern day hero who aspires to be like Roy Rogers. To put it frankly, "Yippie Kai Yay, Mother Fucker."

This isn't Bruce Willis' first film. But unless you truly acknowledge his two romantic comedy bombs that came before, THIS is his star maker. This is what took him from "friend of a producer" to a man who's noteriety for action movies puts him in direct contention amongst the names such as Sylvester Stallone and Arnold Schwarzenegger. The fact that he has a relaxed "I don't care" demeanor, during a time when most men would lose their heads make him cool. His sarcastic wit and humorous delivery at the appropriate moments make him a more developed hero than the larger action stars who need only carry a large gun. There is nay a man alive who has seen Die Hard and NOT fantasized about being John McClane. That is the power of Bruce Willis.

While many of our generation will remember Alan Rickman for his portrayal of the "switching sides like a tennis ball" Severus Snape in the Harry Potter series, I will always remember Rickman as the villainous Hans Gruber in Die Hard. Not only do you know for a fact that he is the villain, he does a hell of a job to make sure you know it. He is the classic foreign terrorist in the almost every action movie. His threats, his willingness to kill to get what he wants, his pure business approach to everything. Just the guy that you want to see go down in the end. And the fact you truly feel like this man is pure scum is the assurance that Alan Rickman is doing his job right. Not to mention the believeability you recieve when Jeremy Irons plays his brother Simon Gruber in Die Hard with a Vengeance, but thats a review for another day.

There should never be a moment when Die Hard is on and you're not watching it. And if you've never seen it, you're just hurting yourself.

A+

Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close Review

There have only been 4 movies that have ever made me cry: Captain America: The First Avenger, Tron: Legacy, Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan, and now Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close.

The film deals with incredibly sensitive subject matter, and that is no simple task for anyone to do without offending somebody. Be it an author, a musician, or a director. Luckily, Stephen Daldry gives us his best. We see the film with the innocence of a child. We hear 9/11 being referred to as "the worst day", we see Oskar ask why they bury a coffin despite not having his father's remains, and more importantly, we see him try to cope with something that so many had to deal with that day, something which no one (especially someone so young) should have to do.

I did not read the book, so I have no idea how faithful the movie is. But the story is pure magic. A year after the tragic events, Oskar enters his fathers closet and finds a key in an envelope that says "Black". He sets out to find out what this unlocks, but along the way he finds that everyone has stories to tell.

Thomas Horn plays the 9 year old Oskar, and also serves as the narrator. He was not an actor. When I say that, I mean that THIS IS his acting debut. Other than one episode of Jeopardy in 2010, he has never been in front of a camera. What I can say is that if his films that follow contain such moving, heartfelt performances, Mr. Horn will have quite the promising career.

Tom Hanks plays the father who unfortunately passes away during "the worst day". To this day, I have never seen a bad performance from Tom Hanks. He retains the charm and wisdom that have made him the star he is today, and in doing so, adds a sense of fatherly that remains when his character is but a memory in Oskar's mind.

Sandra Bullock particularly stood out because she reminded so much of my own mother. She deals with the loss of her husband and the struggles of caring after her son who grows distant with each passing day. The tears on her face are real, and her emotions are touching. Just when you think you won't be seeing her onscreen again, she comes back with more that just makes you want to get out of the theater, call your own mother, and tell her "I love you mom."

Now we come to "Andrew's Standout", and for Extremely Loud &Incredibly Close, that would be Max von Sydow. He plays a character known only as "The Renter". He rents an apartment from Oskar's grandmother. But what you need to know is that he doesn't talk. He isn't mute, he chooses not to talk. He writes his dialogue on his paper and hands it to you. The fact that you can't say how you feel makes it more important to act with your body. Max goes to and beyond physical acting, to the point where you can truly read his face and feel his pain. Not since Chaplin have I seen an actor go to that length and create such a loud silent character. (That's an oxymoron. see the movie to know why that's relevant.)

See this movie. Not just because it's a Best Picture nominee, but because it reminds us all that we have something to look for.

A

Haywire Review

Hi everyone! This is the first review. And luckily, this is a positive review. Sure, the story isn't a new one. A secret agent is betrayed, and has to figure out why and get revenge, blah blah blah. But the way that director Steven Soderbergh executes in his own style is what keeps you from falling asleep. The fight sequences are silent. No background music. Better? No. But once you realise that there is nothing playing in the background, it strikes you as odd, it catches your attention. That is the goal every director since the days of Georges Méliès. The twists and turns along the way are like riding a roller coaster while wearing an eyepatch. Its a little uneasy, and hard to understand, but it's still fantastic fun.

Gina Carano is a charming young woman who not only showcases that athletes CAN in fact act (i'm talking to you Shaquille O'Neal), but uses her unique martial arts abilities to add another layer of believeability to the role.

Michael Fassbender is only present briefly in the film, but despite this, he shines as bright as ever. His calm, poised, James Bond-esque demeanor truly fits in this film more than anywhere else.

Michael Douglas is the one to beat performance wise. His age, and wisdom fit in with the stereotypical office recluse, but the fact that you never truly know where his allegiance lies makes him more than just a stock character. He is my pick for "Andrew's Standout."

I say see it. It may not be the most memorable movie, but it's a great escape from reality.

A-

Welcome

Hello everyone. This is the Andrew Woltman FIlm Blog. Instead of people messaging me for film reviews or movie advice, I decided to create this website. Everytime I see a movie I will write a review on here, or if I  just want to give you some tips or suggestions for a movie night at home, this is the place.

If you ever have any questions about movies or anything, just reach out. I never say no.