Harsh Times and Deja Vu and Deja Vu

Have I ever mentioned that I enjoy going to movies. Movies can be an escape and movies can make you think. Sometimes both happen at the same time. "Harsh Times" hasn't gottten much advertising, but I saw a poster for it and thought it might be alright. It is directed by David Ayer, the guy who wrote "Training Day", and it stars Christian Bale. Bale plays a former Army Ranger, living in Los Angeles, who is mixed up in gangs and drugs, and has just been accepted to work for Homeland Security. That in and of itself is a pretty interesting setup, but what makes the movie is Bales perfomance. Just like "Training Day", the antihero is what the film is about, not the inticate plot. Of course, as with "Training Day" there isn't much hope for a "happy" ending. Maybe for his next film Ayer should throw us all off by developing his character from antihero to hero, kind of like Bogart in "Key Largo". So here's my final analysis: "Key Largo", "Training Day" then "Harsh Times". The order in which I rate these films and the order in which they should be viewed.

Nate and I have been looking forward to "Deja Vu" for quite some time now. Aside from the mere fact that Denzel Washington stars and Tony Scott directs, this movie had one of the best trailers in a long, long time. Let's start with that I really enjoyed watching this film. Let's continue by addressing the films strengths next. Amazing direction and cinematography. Scott has complete control over every moment of film that we see. There is so much information in this movie, yet we see and hear every little detail so clearly. Also, the way the story unfolds, and the way concepts are explained and explored is interesting and keeps your attention. Denzel, Val Kilmer and the supporting characters don't just follow scripted paths, they discuss motivations, express emotion and deal with the complications of their circumstance. Now are you ready for my complaint? For some this may be a petty nitpick, but for me it's pretty big. There has only ever been one "time travel" movie that has been true to my Calvanist beliefs, and that was "12 Monkeys" Of course I enjoyed, and still do the "Back to the Future" trilogy, but there are so may holes in the logic of those films that it's best not even to think about. That is true as well with "Deju Vu". If you could go back in time to affect the past in order to change the future, logically you have begun a cicle that must be maintained. "Deja Vu" ignores that one point, which in a film so concerned with details and tying up loose ends, is unforgivable. "12 Monkeys" doesn't specifically say that God is in control, but it at least recognizes that we are not. "Deja Vu" discusses God's omnipotence, yet seems to conclude that we are masters of our own fate, now that's a scary thought.

Nate and I have been looking forward to "Deja Vu" for quite some time now. Aside from the mere fact that Denzel Washington stars and Tony Scott directs, this movie had one of the best trailers in a long, long time. Let's start with that I really enjoyed watching this film. Let's continue by addressing the films strengths next. Amazing direction and cinematography. Scott has complete control over every moment of film that we see. There is so much information in this movie, yet we see and hear every little detail so clearly. Also, the way the story unfolds, and the way concepts are explained and explored is interesting and keeps your attention. Denzel, Val Kilmer and the supporting characters don't just follow scripted paths, they discuss motivations, express emotion and deal with the complications of their circumstance. Now are you ready for my complaint? For some this may be a petty nitpick, but for me it's pretty big. There has only ever been one "time travel" movie that has been true to my Calvanist beliefs, and that was "12 Monkeys" Of course I enjoyed, and still do the "Back to the Future" trilogy, but there are so may holes in the logic of those films that it's best not even to think about. That is true as well with "Deju Vu". If you could go back in time to affect the past in order to change the future, logically you have begun a cicle that must be maintained. "Deja Vu" ignores that one point, which in a film so concerned with details and tying up loose ends, is unforgivable. "12 Monkeys" doesn't specifically say that God is in control, but it at least recognizes that we are not. "Deja Vu" discusses God's omnipotence, yet seems to conclude that we are masters of our own fate, now that's a scary thought.

Casino Royale

James Bond was defined for me by Pierce Brosnan's portrayal in "Goldeneye". I have seen the other actors, and although Sean Connery does a good job, the films are very dated. Although I think Brosnan was great as Bond, the films after "Goldeneye" were not very good at all. Jess and I just watched "The World Is Not Enough" and "Die Another Day", both of which had some good moments, but otherwise were a dissapointment. I believe that the director of the film is probably just as important as the the man playing Bond.

That brings me to "Casino Royale", the new Bond film with a new Bond (Daniel Craig) and a veteran Bond director (Martin Campbell). Campbell directed "Goldeneye", and in "Casino Royale", he fills in the character aspect that was lacking in the first film. This isn't a James Bond adventure, this is about James Bond. The James Bond we all have seen before is shallow, and consistently so. This new film shows us what drove Bond to adapt that defense mechanism. I still think "Goldeneye" is the best Bond film, but this is a good second, perhaps leaving no need for any more.

Luther

As you know, rarely do I review something I see on video, but "Luther" gives good reason for an exception. Jess and I watched this film on Halloween night, or Reformation Day night, depending on who your dad is... I had heard good things about this 2003 version, but for whatever reason, I had not yet seen it. The film is directed by Eric Till, who has mostly directed television (like Fraggle Rock) and it stars Joseph Fiennes, probably best known for "Shakespeare In Love". I know that I have talked to some brothers about my special ability to spot bad movies, cheesy movies, and poorly produced Christian movies from a mile away. "End of the Spear" falls into the latter category unfortunately, and I would have assumed that "Luther" could have as well, but happily I was wrong. "Luther" isn't a glitzy, Hollywoodized account of Luther's life, rather the filming techniques, the casting, the locations and the story all work together to convey a gripping account of Luther's actions and motivations. In retrospect, my favorite part of the movie was the posting of the 95 theses. After seeing, and struggling with differnces he had with the Catholic Church, Luther writes down his concerns, walks over to the church door, quickly nails up the paper (with all the other postings) and walks away. The point of the scene is that he is genuinely distraught, and feels it important to publicly express his concern. Of course Martin Luther believed what he wrote, and when faced with a choice of sticking with his convictions, or retracting his statements, he had to do what is right. He was not a revolutionary because he wanted to change the world, he was one man who stuck to God's Word and just would not back down. I think the film did an excellent job of portraying this, God's working through a man who wasn't self-confident, and recognized his many weaknesses. In a world that lifts up the popular, the strong, and the vain, isn't it nice to know that God doesn't comply to our standards.