Tag: Mark Livolsi

FRED CLAUS (2007)

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Directed By: David Dobkin

Written By: Dan Fogelman

Story By: Jessie Nelson and Dan Fogelman

Cinematography: Remi Adefarasin

Editor: Mark Livolsi

Cast: Vince Vaughn, Paul Giamatti, Kevin Spacey, Rachel Weisz, John Michael Higgins, Elizabeth Banks, Kathy Bates, Miranda Richardson, Chris ‘Ludacris’ Bridges, Bobb’e J. Thompson

Always living in the shadow of his younger and utterly popular brother, Nicholas–or the one and only, Santa Claus–the polar opposite of his holy sibling, Fred Claus, now faces an unforeseen predicament that drags him all the way up to the frozen North Pole to beg for Santa’s help. However, there’s a catch. To get off the hook, Fred must work his fingers to the bone along with the jolly elves during the hectic pre-Christmas Eve period, against the backdrop of a thorough and merciless efficiency inspection. Can the wayward brother Fred save himself, and above all, Christmas?

This film has very few factors going for it. The Christmas morning scene is the only time this film truly feels believable and shows the beauty and heartwarming side of Christmas. It’s about family, magic, happiness, and amazement, and that one scene finally touches what the whole film is supposed to be about.

What comes before is more of a shallow exercise that wants to be heartwarming but comes across as conniving and faking the funk.

The problem is that it builds up this whole fantasy realm and lower, but doesn’t exactly quite explain it or give the rules so that’s your loss so that you can just throw anything in there. sort of like Vince Vaughn is supposed to be the older brother of Santa Claus, but they never quite explain how long Santa Claus has been in his current position except that he was born for it. Even in a certain part of the movie remember that a certain character wanted a gift way back in 1968 but Vince Vaughn is the older brother has he been away from the North Pole and living in the real world and why doesn’t he age or have any certain magical powers, that he pretty much struggling for the most part and afraid to get into a romantic relationship.

That last part helps when it comes to explaining his mentality thinking he’s afraid of attachments because he’s on the out with his family so he doesn’t really trust anyone even the people he should because he’s all out for himself but throughout the movie learns to love his family, who have always just wanted the best for him And others and together for greater cause.

Which is a great message. You just wish that the film had bothered you. To find a plausible and more believable way there. it just feels like a comedy built around the holiday built around the persona of star Vince Vaughn. He is a good actor and works well as a fast-talking hustler as that is his stick so it’s no surprise to find out that most of his lines were the result of improv.

However, that style doesn’t quite match the material as it’s better in his more R-rated juvenile comedies rather than a family film as it just makes him seem more like a bumbling liar half the time or a bumbling man. One who would never believe.

Kevin Spacey makes no sense as an efficiency expert but who sent him that’s never explained. Why is he hell-bent on taking down Santa and what was he going to replace the North Pole in the factory with never explained how to get away with his plan at parts and times he even cheats to sabotage Santa. So you would think the powers that be if let’s say this word to become a religious film when they see that and Disapprove?

Understandably these are things you’re not supposed to think of when watching this film but the shenanigans that the film produces you can’t help but think that. One this is obviously made for children and families. There should still be some explanation rather than feeling like the film is like the main character making up things on the spot.

I don’t want to be a Grinch. The cast tries Vince Vaughn, whose movies can be hit or miss nearly seems like for the most part. He isn’t sleepwalking through this role, but he doesn’t seem that enthusiastic all the time to be there so he does bother to put in high energy, this just wasn’t the material for him.

It’s rare that a scene works sort of like when he goes to therapy for brothers who don’t feel they get enough credit as their more famous brothers that was funny but could have gone a bit over the top and been funnier, but it feels like it’s holding back mainly because it’s a family film, but also exposes the film as being more of a series of skits with an overall story rather than a true film.

Grade: D

PIECES OF APRIL (2003)

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Written & Directed By: Peter Hedges 

Cinematography: Tami Reiker

Editor: Mark Livolsi 

Cast: Katie Holmes, Derek Luke, Oliver Platt, Patricia Clarkson, Alison Pill, John Gallagher Jr., Alice Drummond, Sisqo, Isiah Whitlock Jr., Sean Hayes, Lillias White, Adrian Martinez 

April Burns invites her family to Thanksgiving dinner at her teeny apartment on New York’s Lower East Side. As they make their way to the city from suburban Pennsylvania, April must endure a comedy of errors – like finding out her oven doesn’t work – to pull off the big event.

The problem with this film is that for all its earnestness feel-good moments. It feels emotionally manipulative and I’m sure there are families and similar situations but the story development and characters feel more or less calculated than Flesh and Blood Real.

The hurdles everyone must get over just feel poured on a bit too much all at once. Especially for a film that takes place in one day. I could understand if this all happened over a weekend but all this emotional and physical baggage in one day is a bit too much. 

That having been said, the film is enjoyable, It is more of a warmer, tailed Indie film, especially since by the end not everything is solved, but there is at least peace. not offering total care or answers for everything. 

The film is a heartwarming story that tries to add an edge to certain situations and characters but finds itself going back to its emotional roots. It’s a downtown tail told about a bunch of outsiders. That gives it the feel of a lost recent error of the time.

This feels like a good novella stretched to its limits as it tries to make itself different like a teenager going through self-discovery. At first, it wants to be special, so it goes about trying to be different. Then it looks at itself in the mirror and comes to the realization That it must be true to itself. That is what will make you stand out.

The film is low budget with a big name, cast for its budget, who are all good and throw themselves into their roles. I even recognize many of the locations from my days working downtown at Tower video. They even filmed in one of my coworkers’ buildings, which gave me a strange strange connection to the film.

The stand out in the cast is the assured performance of Katie Holmes in the lead role. That easily could have been a stepping-stone film that revolved around her. So even though the title character. The film is more of an ensemble effort 

I wish she would have kept doing roles such as this one. She would’ve had a more respectable and maybe bigger career because underneath what appears to be blandish she surprised you with a powerful skill that peeks out at times. You see that glimmer.

The film put a spin on your typical family dinner film for the holidays. It succeeds due to some sly humor and a playful cast. 

Watching it recently puts me in mind of a certain time and place in my life. Which surprisingly makes it a nostalgic reminder of a certain time and place in my life. 

Grade: B-

THE BLIND SIDE (2009)

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Written & Directed By: John Lee Hancock 
Based on the book “THE BLIND SIDE: EVOLUTION OF A GAME” By: Michael Lewis 
Cinematography: Alar Kivilo 
Editor: Mark Livolsi 

Cast: Sandra Bullock, Kathy Bates, Quinton Aaron, Tim McGraw, Kim Dickens, Lily Collins, Ray McKinnon, Irone Singleton, Omar J. Dorsey, Adriane Lenox

The story of Michael Oher, a homeless and traumatized boy who became an All-American football player and first-round NFL draft pick with the help of a caring woman and her family.

I can’t help it. I am a sucker for a lot of tearjerkers. I know the emotional manipulation techniques they use. The emphasis on all the good things that are done.

This one is pretty standard except it also contains the tags to riches story, the orphan story, overcoming The odds, and helping lead the team to victory. In the wrong hands, this could have been just another faith-based movie 

The film is based On The true story of football player Michael Oher,

Now I am a Sandra Bullock fan for the most part and here she gives a strong performance in the less glamorized fresh prince of bel Air-like story.

The film is pretty basic and hits all the right familiar notes. Not too much you haven’t seen before. It’s good family entertainment and inspiration.

One of the problems one has with the movie is that there are scenes that have Michael bond with each individual member of the family alone throughout the film, even bonding with his teacher and tutor, but when it comes to the father in the family. He only bonds with him when the whole family is surrounded. Which seems more forced. It’s a nitpick but it bothered me and made me feel like the father went with the flow. But I didn’t necessarily want to adopt him.

The film also could have been a little fairer to Michael’s character by making him more of a character. Allowing him to show more emotions. Here he is played as the familiar screen type for African Americans. The gentle giant and while he might be in real life. I’m sure there is more to his character than What is presented on screen. Which is simple and all things to all people. The saintly black character helps all The Caucasian characters with their problems.

Especially when most of the African American characters shown in the film aren’t exactly positive characterizations. In fact, more than is needed are more villainous than anything. This is disturbing especially when it is not the same way when it comes to the Caucasian characters

I will give the film credit that it has an absence of real conflict. As everything seems to happen smoothly and successfully. Conflict only occurs towards the end and at that point, it feels more minor.

Maybe the reason it is left out is to show both the family and him coping with these strangers around the.

And how they go against the wishes of their friends to do what they feel is right.

It makes almost everyone come off as saintly. Which would be fine as a movie of the week or a Disney film. While I enjoy the film. I think there is a strong enough story to make a better film. All parties involved do their job.

Some Like Ms. Bullock go above and beyond. While not the most powerful of actresses, she is always a likable screen presence. A star can still disappear at times inside of a character. So it’s nice when she decides to stretch past the romantic comedies that are her forte and actually invest herself in a drama. Lightweight as it might be, but at least she tries and in this case succeeds.

Grade: C+