Olson’s Observations

300, an adaptation of the graphic novel of the same name by Frank Miller, was one heck of a movie. I’ll admit when I originally saw the trailers I figured this movie was going to be completely over the top and cheesy while being also being very visually stunning. At least I got the second half right…

Director Zack Snyder certainly created a visual masterpiece that is worthy of much acclaim. The style and coloring/lighting was very impressive and effectively added to the mood of each scene. Honestly, it is hard to describe the visual nature of this film. It is simply one you have to see. That said, the visuals weren’t the only enjoyable thing in the movie. The story was also well laid out.

The story of 300 is based on the true story of the Battle of Thermopylae that took place in the month of August in 480 B.C. In the battle a group of 300 Spartans lead by King Leonidas along with some other small groups from other Greek city states held off a Persian army of over one million. The Persians were invading Greece with the intent to enslave the people of Greece and claim the Greek lands for the Persian Empire.

The 300 Spartans and others were able to defend against such a large army by being well trained, well prepared and by using the terrain to gain an advantage. The terrain based advantage they employed took the form of blocking the Thermopylae Pass, a road that sat between two large cliffs, which was the only route King Xerxes and his army could take to get to all of the Greek cities.

Although the 300 eventually fell their bravery and valor lived on and became known throughout Greece. In fact the story of the 300 was what no doubt inspired the rest of Greece to stand up and defeat the Persians. In fact, in the months after the Battle of Thermopylae the Greek city states really began to come together and fight as one which had never before been the case.

I find it interesting but not surprising that some have chastised the film for it’s historical inaccuracies. However, I am not sure that should be an argument against the film. In fact, I don’t think the filmmakers ever intended the movie to be be taken as historical fact. They simply wanted to blend the story of the 300 into a entertaining film and I think they did that very well.

The bottom line is if you’re looking for a movie with a great story and some outstanding visuals than 300 won’t disappoint. However, be prepared for the battle scenes. The film is rated R after all but I thought that even the battle scenes were done in a very artistic way and aren’t simply gory and bloody.

Always up for a creepy movie based on some sort of mystical belief or beliefs I knew I had to see The Number 23 as soon as I first saw the trailer but due to lack of time I ended up waiting for the DVD. After watching the DVD on my small screen I found myself wishing I took to the time to see it on the big screen because it would have been well worth the price of admission.

The Number 23 is a very character focused story that revolves around a book relating to the “23 Enigma.” The 23 Enigma is the Discordian belief that all events are connected to the number 23 but of course we all know that, with enough ingenuity, numbers can say whatever we want them to.

Walter Sparrow (Jim Carrey), a mild mannered Dog Catcher is the main man in 23 and he takes quite a journey in the 98 minutes of the film. After receiving a copy of a book with the same name as the film Sparrow slowly becomes obsessed with the number 23 and the storyline of the book as it seems to parallel his own life.

This obsession leads Sparrow into the tangled web of a murder where the body was never found and ultimately to a realization that shatters his world.

** Spoiler Alert **

The Number 23 follows a similar path to The Machinist wherein the main characters in both films have selectively forgotten killing someone. In the case of the former the killing was a deliberate and brutal murder and in the latter the killing was accidental. However, in the end of both films both main men end up turning themselves in after a brutal and haunting journey into their own minds.

** End Spoiler Alert **

The Number 23 is a fantastic psychological thriller that will keep you thinking to the very end. Don’t start thinking too much about the number 23 though lest you be sucked in as well.

Breach, directed by Billy Ray, is based on the true story of the take down of possibly the worst spy in American history, FBI Agent Robert Hanssen (Chris Cooper). Hanssen sold numerous U.S. secrets to the soviets over a 15 year time frame for about $1.4 million in cash and diamonds before being brought down.

Hanssen was ultimately brought down thanks in part to a valiant effort by young FBI upstart Eric O’Neill (Ryan Phillippe) who was undercover as Hanssen’s assistant and gathered the evidence the FBI had been seeking.

The movie takes O’Neill’s point of view through the months leading up to Hanssen’s take down and I think that choice leads to a very exciting and insightful film. Seeing things through O’Neill’s eyes gives us the chance to really see Hanssen as a person and it leads all of us to feel for him once he is finally brought down even though we know he deserves all he gets and more.

Chris Cooper does an incredible job playing Hanssen as well which really pulls the viewer into the story and the mind of a spy. I would even go as far as to say that Cooper’s portrayal of Hanssen is Oscar worthy.

While Hollywood usually over dramatizes “true stories” Breach was only dramatized in a handful of tasteful places to add to the suspense of the film but overall it seems to be very true to life. I highly recommend checking Breach out when out when you have a chance. It’s both a great film and a history lesson rolled into one.

Wicker Park has been on my list for a while and it started to make its’ way to the top when I moved to Chicago (it being a Chicago based movie and all). Needless to say I was excited when it showed up in the mail a couple weeks back but with all the traveling I have been doing and with the Tour de France in full effect I didn’t have a chance to watch it until this afternoon.

I wasn’t sure what to expect with the film since it could have easily been a cheesy love triangle piece but I have to say I was pleasantly surprised. The film had me on the edge of my seat the whole time and the plot never felt contrived to me.

What I loved about the story was that it was only as complicated as it needed to be. I thought at times it was going to over the David Lynch cliff and end up pretty out there but every time the film came back to center and the plot thickened causing me to pull closer to the TV.

I don’t want to say much more about this movie since I don’t want to spoil it but I will say that it is worth a watch. Wicker Park is a gripping thought provoking mystery that takes place amongst multiple love stories that will keep you on the edge to the very end.

The Agronomist is a documentary about Jean Dominique who was a Haitian radio journalist and human rights activist. The title of the film actually comes from Jean’s first profession. He was an agronomist, or an expert in soil management and field-crop production, in Haiti after receiving degrees in agriculture. However, there was more in store for Jean and cinema would be the first thing that lead him on his path to journalism and human rights.

Jean discovered cinema while in France and realized that it held a lot of power. Specifically it had the power to tell stories and effect change. Upon returning home to Haiti Jean started a club for people interested in cinema in Haiti and actually produced the first ever film filmed and produced by a Haitian in Haiti (that’s a mouthful).

Through his experiences with cinema he learned the power of the media and one day, while he was working at Radio Haiti, the owner of the station offered to sell the station to him. Jean accepted the offer and the rest, as we say, is history.

Jean went on to be the face of human rights in Haiti and will be forever known by the people of Haiti as a man of and for the people.

Since I was a child during a lot of the issues Haiti had I didn’t know much about the situation there and this documentary enlightened me on what happened there over the 70s, 80s and 90s. The movie was pretty fascinating and it’ll definitely pull the viewer outside of their comfort zone. I’d urge everyone to check this film out if they have a chance. It’s well worth it even though it isn’t a technical cinematic masterpiece.

Side note: To tie things into this blog - Jean was a media pioneer in Haiti the same way a lot of the New Media folks are today. If you are a new media person this is a film you should check out. I am sure it will inspire you.

I was a tad skeptical about Dreamgirls at first because it definitely had the potential to be a very cheesy musical but I decided to give it a view anyhow. My initial skepticism wasn’t warranted. The film was very entertaining and contained top notch acting, directing and singing.

The songs definitely stole the show though. It was a lot of fun to be transported back into the Motown days and to see the dark smoky clubs give way to the brightly light extravagant stages as the girls began to move up in the world all accompanied by some incredible music.

The story was decent as well although it was a bit cookie cutter and a tad predictable.

That said, I recommend Dreamgirls for a time when you simply want to sit down and have a great time watching a movie (it’s not “heady” at all). The film is also kid friendly and has a touching “feel good” ending. Check it out if you have a chance. You won’t regret it.

To say I was excited to see The Fountain would be an understatement. Not only did this film look like a very interesting one from the start but it was also directed by Darren Aronofsky (Requiem for a Dream and Pi). I love Darren’s previous stuff so I thought this would be no different and it wasn’t for the most part.

The film was well done in terms of effects, acting, music and cinematography (the lighting is great in particular as it parrallels Hugh Jackman’s character’s move from the dark to the light) but the story was lacking. This surprised me as Aronofsky is generally great at storytelling and since this was another situation in which he both wrote and directed the piece I expected it to be on par with his other work. My theory as to what happened here is that a lot of the film ended up on the cutting room floor due to studio constraints.

With the film tackling the subjects of life, death, love, spirituality and our existence in this world the 96 minute run time was just not enough. This film would have been much better if it was allowed to sit in a 2 to 2.5 hour time frame and I think that is probably how Aronofsky would have wanted it. Perhaps he’ll put out a directors cut someday so we can see the full piece in all its glory.

Either way I praise Aronofsky for being willing to take chances and expand the bounds of cinema. A lot of directors are OK with simply churning out the regular stuff and that’s a shame. The film wasn’t horrible in its final state and I would urge folks to check it out if only to see what groundbreaking cinema could be coming their way in the future.