Lone Survivor

First Hit:  Knowing the end (title gives it away) before the film starts makes it difficult to watch.

When you know the end of the film before it starts, it can hurt the experience.

Here the audience has to sit through a small group (4) Navy Seals being slowly slaughtered because they consciously let 3 Afghan goat herders go. The decision allowed the Taliban to know the soldiers whereabouts and how to systematically kill the soldiers.

The film is supposed to show the fraternal and brotherly closeness of these Seals. To make this point the beginning of the film shows some of the training exercises the commandos go through to become a Seal.

As most of the candidates quit, by ringing a bell three times and leave their helmet on the ground, the ones who make it through to the end are very close. As the Seals are picked off one by one in horrible/bloody fashion I just sat waiting for the end to come. This film tries to bring the feeling of honor, bravery, and the rightness of the US being at war in Afghanistan – but to me these things do not justify the actions of war although I appreciate the closeness of their brotherhood.

From a story perspective this film might have been better served by not telegraphing the end. However, some of the dialogue was pointed and truly Seal like.

Mark Wahlberg as Marcus Luttrell was focused and fully engaged in this role. This was a typical “full on” performance by him. Taylor Kitsch as Michael Murphy was good as the leader of this group. Emile Hirsch was very good as Danny Dietz communications guy. Ben Foster was the best of the bunch in his part as Matt “Axe” Axelson. Peter Berg wrote and directed this based on Luttrell’s book. The dialogue was strong and cinematography was good but the focus on their struggle to survive the onslaught wasn’t my cup of tea.

Overall:  Not an easy film to watch, especially if killing is not your bag.

Killer Joe

First Hit:  A film that rides the edge of powerful, violent and absurd.

Chris Smith (Emile Hirsch) lives with his mom but, unseen, he throws her up against a refrigerator. He hates her and he wants to killer her for her insurance money which will go to his sister Dottie (Juno Temple).

Chris doesn't think anything thing through and the results of his actions surprise him. He needs money because he owes $8,000 on a gambling debt and they are out to kill him.

Dottie is oddly brilliant because she actually sees what is going on but everyone else thinks she is too sensitive and slow. Chris’ father Ansel (played by Thomas Haden Church) is even more stupid than Chris.

His responses at the end of the film to questions by Killer Joe (played by Matthew McConaughey) are priceless. Ansel is married Sharla (Gina Gershon) who cheats on Ansel and has fights with Chris. Chris and Ansel hire Killer Joe Cooper to kill Chris and Dottie’s mother for the insurance money.

The plan is to pay Joe his fee and split the remaining amongst the four of them. However, Joe requires his money up front, but decides to change his terms and to take Dottie as a retainer.

Their sensual and sexual scenes are very intensely shot. When the plot fails, Joe takes charge of the family and the scene of making Sharla suck a KFC chicken leg is grossly engaging.

Hirsch is wildly good because he moves from being foolhardy and protective with the same vigor. Temple is very strong as a girl wanting to stay innocent and grownup at the same time. Church is exceptional as a low IQ guy who just doesn’t fully see what really going on and, when lost, takes direction from others well. Gershon is good as a woman who fights for what she wants and is probably the smartest one in the family. McConaughey is fantastic as Joe. He is suave, partially sick in his actions, clear and concise in his instructions to the group as things begin to unfold. Tracy Letts wrote an interesting script. William Friedkin got a lot out of his actors and he made it edgy and oddly funny.

Overall: This is bizarre film, but its absurdity, oddly different script and powerful performances were entertaining.

Taking Woodstock

First Hit: It was an enjoyable and at times interesting, story but it left me wanting to go see the film Woodstock for the 4th time.

Based on a true story; Demetri Martin plays Elliot Tiber who, as the story would have it, saved the Woodstock Concert.

The film is about what happened to Elliot, his mother and father Sonia and Jake Teichberg (played by Imelda Staunton and Henry Goldman respectively) who were running a rundown resort in upper New York which was going into bank default when Elliot comes up with an idea to save the motel and the Woodstock festival. He had read that the concert was kicked out of one venue and was searching for a new one to hold its arts and music festival.

When Michael Lang (played by Jonathan Groff) flies to the motel in a helicopter while the other Woodstock Ventures personnel arrive in limos the cash begins to flow. Initially, the Woodstock Ventures group said Elliot’s open field land was unserviceable, however when Elliot introduces them to Max Yaugar (played by Eugene Levy) and they see his land, a deal is made.

The town’s people resent Max’s deal and Elliot for using the permit to let hundreds of thousands of hippies invade their town for the concert so they ostracize and picket them. However, they also take advantage of the invasion of young people and make money from the concert as well. As the concert date gets closer the activity around Elliot’s family motel increases which include his parents getting high on hash brownies, the hiring of an ex-Marine drag queen named Vilma (played by Liev Schreiber) for security, and Elliot’s coming out as a gay man.

None of the music of Woodstock is heard, and that does take away from the film as does a senseless and poorly acted Vietnam Veteran role played by Emile Hirsch.

Although I would have liked to have heard some of the music and seen some of the Woodstock acts, having a little insight to this critical background story was enjoyable and, at times, well acted.

Martin, is very good as Elliot. Goldman was effective as his quiet and resigned father. Staunton was outstanding as his scared, shrewd mother. Kudo’s to Schreiber as Vilma as he was clearly outstanding in the role as a drag queen and former Marine. As mentioned Hirsch was unbelievable as a Vietnam Vet (being one myself), and Levy was great as Yaugar. Ang Lee caught the flavor of Woodstock and some of the people who came to enjoy the music. Occasional scenes showing original news footage was effective and I loved seeing the VW vans, cars, and the carefree feeling of that period effectively represented.

Overall: It was a good film and I was a bit let down by the lack of the original Woodstock music, I found myself waiting to hear it.

Into the Wild

First Hit: An amazing adventure which touched me in my adventurer’s spirit.

Emile Hirsch does an extraordinary job of capturing the spirit of Christopher McCandless.

It is at the end of the film when Director Sean Penn shows a real life picture of Christopher sitting in front of the bus where he spent more than 100 days do you see how well Emile captured Christopher’s spirit. Their smiles are one and come from that deep joyful place of adventure and spirit.

During the film I counted three times when Emile looks directly at the camera. One is very up front and obvious the other two times are more a little more subtle, however I think this helps to set off the photograph of McCandless at the very end of the film.

The narrative part of the film is handled in two ways: 1) The voice of Jena Malone, Christopher’s sister, and 2) The writings of Christopher which appear on the screen from time to time. Jena’s narration speaks of the family history in which she and Christopher were brought up in. This is an important key to this film and helps the audience understand part of the motivation.

I did find the film a little long; however I was entranced with the scenes with Hal Holbrook who just may receive an Oscar supporting nod for his role.

Overall: This was a very very good film and Sean Penn does an outstanding job with the screenplay and direction of Jon Krakauer’s book.