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.