Tag: Robert D. Yeoman

SPY (2015)

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Written & Directed By: Paul Feig
Cinematography: Robert D. Yeoman 
Editor: Melissa Bretherton & Brent White 

Cast: Melissa McCarthy, Jason Statham, Jude Law, Rose Byrne, Miranda Hart, Allison Janney, Morena Baccarin, Carlos Ponce, Peter Serafinowicz, Bobby Cannavale, Michael McDonald, Sam Richardson, Zach Woods, Katie Dippold, Richard Brake, 

Susan Cooper is an unassuming, deskbound CIA analyst, and the unsung hero behind the Agency’s most dangerous missions. But when her partner falls off the grid and another top agent is compromised, she volunteers to go deep undercover to infiltrate the world of a deadly arms dealer, and prevent a global crisis.

This is for me so far the best comedy Melissa McCarthy has starred in. This doesn’t feel like one of her assembly line films that seem almost cranked out back to back, before the power of streaming made this a common occurrence for most stars. Though I give her credit for keeping trying original Comedic characters.

Luckily here her character is more identifiable for the audience and not so much mentally challenged. 

The film worked as a spoof comedy and an actual spy thriller where you care about what happens and you care about the characters. Who are actually memorable. As we in the audience are like the main character constantly wondering who we can trust.

The over-the-top villains and international characters are filled with so many strange details. It Is such a delight to watch.

Jason Statham is actually hilarious throughout. Having a kick for making fun of his previous roles. While doing what needs to be done action-wise. Which is what gives the film its energy is the constant duality of the actors, characters, and film. 

The film keeps you on your toes with Its surprises. As well as having a shocking amount of violence that is graphic. While  At heart the film is an action comedy. 

Everyone seems to give their character a certain spin. So it feels more like everyone has their own motivations, agenda, and trust issues. Yet all share a certain world and reality. 

This is a tight film but everyone feels loose and free. So that they get their moments to shine 

Grade: B+

MOONRISE KINGDOM (2012)

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Directed By: Wes Anderson 
Written By: Wes Anderson & Roman Coppola 
Cinematography: Robert D. Yeoman
Editor: Andrew Weisblum

Cast: Jared Gilman, Kara Hayward, Bruce Willis, Edward Norton, Harvey Keitel, Frances McDormand, Bill Murray, Jason Schwartzman, Tilda Swinton, Bob Balaban, Lucas Hedges 

Set on an island off the coast of New England in the 1960s, as a young boy and girl fall in love they are moved to run away together. Various factions of the town mobilize to search for them and the town is turned upside down – which might not be such a bad thing.

This film has quite a strange mix as it is more of a children’s tale as they fill out the cast but it also has some rather risqué scenes and material involving them. That fits the rebellious nature of the characters and the film. General,  it also as the film has an innocence and wholesomeness that is timeless. You never quite feel that there are any dastardly hidden levels or messages. It is all on the up and up. As the film is full of characters who all have character. 

As even the few villains that might be in the film. Aren’t malicious, they are just doing what they are supposed to despite the various facts and factions that might require them to abandon the rules.

As the film tries to be an ensemble it feels like the characters are in a dollhouse of sorts. Where they are all connected and there is melodrama but the film never gets bogged down and stays quite lively. Even if it feels at times mroe that everyone is on a playground and they have a connection. So that they constantly affect one another like dominoes being set up. When one falls it falls into another and changes its trajectory.

So while we have the young adult couple as the leads. We see how running away affects the status quo and the adult characters.

That rebellious nature is through the film as it offers some new wave filmmaking influences, moments, and obsessions. which are radical while it focuses on the first love between the main characters. Especially as two outsiders who find solace in each other at random. 

Though luckily for all of the influences on display here. The writer/director manages to make them his own original 

The movie is beautifully filmed. Which makes the scenes simple yet effective with constructed shots and angles. With sharp attention to detail and the time period are amazing, but are a few of the things writer/director Wes Anderson’s films are noted for.

As the film feels like a storybook throughout. As we constantly feel like we are in a fantasy or dream of a child. Even as the films show some maturity and a bit of sexuality. Which is dealt with so simply and carefully that thankfully it. Ever feels exploitive.

The film tries to give a view of the disappointments and sometimes tragedy of adulthood. Like you are missing something or have lost a certain perspective and quality of yourself. As the world is still cruel, but you Don’t know how to deal with it. You don’t challenge it or morph it to your sensibilities. It has morphed you and you realize it as you try to rational ways to deal with or distract from that revelation. 

The film is filled with whimsical cuteness. From a cast that seems more willing to let the harder edges of their performances that they usually bring and let themselves go and be softer and gentler. Surprisingly Bruce Willis is the most memorable in the supporting cast. One of his last memorable movie performances before returning due to health issues. 

The novice performances add to the innocence of the characters and situations. Even as they act older than they are, but are still kids at heart. Which makes their story a little more romantic and the adult ones are messy and sad. Yet can’t totally understand or are more envious and want to break it up. As if they can’t have one, why should they? 

The more you watch this film the deeper the appreciation of it begins. 

In the end, the film is charming and offbeat as it offers the hope and magic of romance. Dependent and understood only by the two involved. A belief that anything is possible when powered by love. As it is the two of you against the world and how relationships are adventures in of themselves even if just emotionally. Only here it is done more physically 

Grade: A+

GET HIM TO THE GREEK (2010)

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Written & Directed By: Nicholas Stoller 
Based on Characters Created by: Jason Segel
Cinematography: Robert D. Yeoman 
Editor: William Kerr & Michael L. Sale

Cast: Jonah Hill, Russell Brand, Sean Combs, Rose Byrne, Elisabeth Moss, Colm Meaney, Aziz Ansari, Kali Hawk, Nick Kroll, Carla Gallo, Ellie Kemper, Jake Johnson, Davone McDonald, T.J. Miller, Neal Brennan, Kristen Schaal, Lindsey Broad, Carlos Jacott, Pharrell Williams, P!NK

A record company intern is hired to accompany out-of-control British rock star Aldous Snow to a concert at L.A.’s Greek Theater.

I remember loving this movie when it came out in theaters and being surprised at Its risqué drug humor at the time. That now seems to come along once in a while when a movie wants to be more lowbrow and challenging.

Recently rewatching this film. It still doubles down on Its shocking humor, but even as hard as it tries to be provocative. Now it seems more than ever to be reaching it. if letting it happen naturally. Which kind of weakens it.

It does stand up as a perfect time capsule of the trends of the time especially when it comes to the music industry. The film tries to make Russell Brand’s character more of a classic rock star but he still comes across as more of a forgettable star of the time period. Which only makes the film feel like a more artificial lake

This is one of the two Russel Brand performances that really took hold at the time. FORGETTING SARAH MARSHALL is the other. Where his character Aldous Snow from this film was only a supporting character. Whose outrageous character stole the show. So this is his spin-off and the movie was supposed to make Brand a big comedic star In America. 

This film more shows his character’s downfall though ultimately was Brand’s one big hurrah at the box office. As he did a remake of the film ARTHUR and some smaller film roles and seems to have retired from comedy and acting.

Here his character seems inspired by brand’s public persona at the time and previously. Living a kind of debaucherous hedonistic extravagant exhibitionistic lifestyle. Which he has changed, now to a cleaner and focused one. So once again a time capsule to a precious time. 

Sean Combs does a serviceable job in his role as the record company owner. It’s nice to see him having fun with his public image and showing a sense of humor. Making the film even more meta. Though he still comes off stiff. It feels that if a more experienced actor had played the role. It feels as if the character would have more opportunities to be outrageous and unhinged, no holding back.  

Even as you would expect combs to be more natural. As he is playing a version of himself under a different name. Though he does bring more of an audience to the film. Who has come to see him be comedic.

The film leaves Jonah Hill with little to do to make an Impression other than playing the nebbish straight man and worrywart. Who ends up being punished for most of the film for the shenanigans of others. This comes off more like an acting performance than a comedic one or even having a comedic persona. 

This is definitely a hard R Rated film that shockingly holds back in showing anything that would feel exploitive but still a little shocked of the material used in such a mainstream aimed film. Mostly drug-related and sex Jokes but barely any real sex scenes and when there is they are obscured and no nudity.

There is plenty of inspired humor and shocks but somehow anytime it seems to aim for audacious. It ends up mediocre. It comes off that way. So that it feels watered down or at least played by numbers at times. It also comes off as a film where you want to live out the film rather than watch it. As it seems to offer wishes it just can’t grant.

This is a film that is probably better and funnier under the influence. 

GRADE: B-

DOWN TO YOU (2000)

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Written & Directed by: Kris Issacson 
Cinematography: Robert D. Yeoman
Editor: Stephen A. Rooter

Cast: Freddie Prinze Jr., Julia Stiles, Selma Blair, Rosario Dawson, Shawn Hatosy, Zak Orth, Ashton Kutcher, Henry Winkler, Lucie Arnaz, Lauren German, Lola Glaudini, Adam Carolla, Jimmy Kimmel 

A young man wins and loses the first serious love of his life. Al Connelly falls in love with the girl of his dreams. After the summer she breaks up with him. As he tries to recover Al goes to desperate measures.

This was after Miramax studios had a hit with the movie SHE’S ALL THAT and seemingly green-lit a bunch of teen aimed romantic comedies. Usually starring their golden boy at the time Freddie Prinze Jr.

This feels like a budgeted student film for a studio release. Everything looks cheap and garish. As it feels amateurish in direction and story.

The film is a simple romance story about a relationship and distractions as well as temptations and the influence of friends who rotate around them.

Selma Blair plays a temptress and Freddie Prinze Jr’s crush but the film Never makes her look that attractive or tempting. Maybe because they make her more television teen movie friendly, a woman of the world supposedly who comes off like the movie and it’s character pretentious but have nothing to even back any of that up with. 

Rosario Dawson seems to be cast only to add some diversity, for Julia Stiles’ character to have one constant friend of her own. Even Dawson is barely used except to add stoner humor to the film. Why the only minority character for that? 

You have seen this type of film a thousand times, much better. This adds nothing new or original to the formula.

The worst is that the film believes itself witty. When it is clearly not. As obviously this film again is made more for teens than the older ones? Just going by subject matter. Though plays more for a younger audience as their ultimate idea of love and romance.

Maybe because it is set in college that everything comes off as what college can be frugal, fun, and messy with bad taste. Yet believing yourself sophisticated with glaze drunken confidence and room For plenty of overcompensation. 

Mainly because we get to know these characters. Yet never become interested in them. 

The film tries to be true to and force the time periods and is adorable. Like putting them In a blender filled with the then-current themes and styles. Trying to be naughty or edgy yet cool but so watered down to make it feel dormant and dull.

The film has a particularly uninspired music Video playback that feels like how one would play if the director needed to over compose with dialogue for lacking any visual panache or he’s forced into that Miramax/Dimension romantic teen comedy formula. 

The soundtrack is filled with basic or generic general music that might have been popular at the time. Except for a song from the band  Cibo Matto

To give the film a kind of indie feel. Not to mention matching its College setting and fits the film’s mindset. 

The film is a familiar tale where all the fun feels taken out of the way. While trying to seem fun. Including somehow cross-promoting with THE MAN SHOW.

The film does offer some creative touches and luckily has a cast of recognizable actors before and during their popularity. 

GRADE: D