JULY, 12


THE SHERIFF, SALOON AND THE STORM

Western
Cast: Al Pacino, Bruce Willis, Marion Cotillard, Emile Hirsh, Emma Stone, Steve Buscemi, Joshua Jackson
Director: Steven Soderbergh
Screenwriter: Dawson Edwards

Box Office: 41 mill.
Net Gains: 23 mill.

Stark’s Reaction:
As usual, westerns have a hard time at box office, no matter its quality. Well, all I can say is that at least this one made net gains.

UNCHARTED 2: AMONG THIEVES

Action Adventure
Cast: Gerard Butler, Jessica Biel, Christoph Waltz, Kelly Brook, Jason Patric, Jeffrey Dean Morgan
Director: Stephen Sommers
Screenwriter: Steve Connors

Box Office: 249 mill.
Net Gains: 215 mill.

Stark’s Reaction:
Extraordinary numbers for this sequel! After the poor numbers made by the first movie of this franchise, I wasn’t confident this could happen. But, after all, the movie had it all to become a huge blockbuster like this.

MAN OF SEA

Drama / Adventure
Cast: Jim Carrey, Robin Wright-Penn, Max Records
Director: Spike Jonze
Screenwriter: Chad Taylor



Box Office: 55 mill.
Net Gains: 67 mill.

Stark’s Reaction:
Wow! I never expected this movie to make such correct numbers! I was almost sure we would not be able to avoid net losses here. So this is a more than nice surprise!


THE SHERIFF, SALOON AND THE STORM

‘Steven Sorderbergh has made something as difficult as an artsy western. Retaking classic elements from the genre – you can find references here to classic westerns like ‘High Noon’, ‘Gunfight at the o.k. corral’ or ‘Rio Bravo’, among others -, Soderbergh uses them and at the same time tries to update the genre to a more modern cinematic language. Saving all the differences, it is a similar kind of experiment to what Quentin Tarantino already made in CMP with ‘Legends Of The West’. And the final result partially works. The film is visually appealing, Soderbergh’s directional style is a creative and interesting work, the violence sequences are very much impressive… but, at the same time, you miss the charm of old westerns and you get the feeling that there is something missing in the story that keeps you away from definitely getting into it.’
-Charlie Kiggs

‘One of the strengths of this film is the cast. Edwards has bet safe when choosing it. Al Pacino has this powerful screen presence that perfectly adapts to that decadent sheriff (even though he may be a bit too aged for his character). Willis is always efficient playing a tough guy when the movie director keeps him away from the temptation of any acting excess. Marion Cotillard shines again with her mix of innocence and sex appeal. And maybe it could have been taken more from Emile Hirsh and Emma Stone, whose characters do not give them the chance to shine that much. But all in all it is the screen presence of the talents involved what provides the film with the energy the story demanded.’
-Vic Carter

‘I could not help remembering ‘The Cool’ when watching this new Dawson Edwards’ story. These tough characters, the way they relate to each other, the sharp dialogues, the graphic way of exposing violence… Everything in the movie made me remember the atmosphere of ‘The Cool’, as if the gangsta universe would have been moved to the far west days. Edwards and Soderbergh recreate the far west in a way that you just cannot imagine John Wayne in it. It is Al Pacino playing again characters he has played before – the skeptical cop he played in ‘Heat’ or the tired Corleone he played in ‘The Godfather Part III’ – who fits in this violent far west where gunfights turn into bloody massacres and not into heroic and noble duels. Just like it happens nowadays with gangs fights.’
-Andrew Stanton

UNCHARTED 2: AMONG THIEVES

‘Stephen Sommers has always pretended to be a heir of Steven Spielberg’s style. And, same way he already did with the first ‘Uncharted’ movie, he has tried again with this sequel to resurrect the spirit of Indiana Jones’ movies. And he has made a perfect imitation of it. Exotic locations, non-stop action, a slight sense of humor, mysterious objects, hidden temples, strange human creatures, indecipherable maps and female partners for a hero with unrealistic skills to survive to any danger… All that was Indy’s movies and that is this one too. If you ignore the lack of originality, here you have one of the most entertaining adventure movies made since ‘Raiders Of The Lost Ark’. A wonderful cinematic show that could have been a much better ‘Indy 4’ than the disappointing ‘Kingdom of the Crystal Skull’.’
-Roy Winslow

‘Excellent popcorn movie. Sommers and Connors have put up a brilliant show looking for nothing more than entertainment. This is one of those movies that will keep you at the edge of your seat wondering what will happen next. There are no holes in the perfect action pace of the movie. Not a single second to take a break. And the film only appeals to classic adventures elements like chases, fights, shootings, falls and simple mysteries to build the show, not needing to create complex universes or to resort to sophisticated pretexts. The classic formulas always work and never get old. And Sommers and Connors have built up a brilliant and classic adventure movie that will entertain all kind of audiences for a very long time.’
-Anne Roman

‘I had so much fun watching this very entertaining movie. The amazing box office made by the film is fully justified. Connors and Sommers have polished the deficiencies of the first ‘Uncharted’ movie. This sequel has a more consistent and elaborated plot and much more spectacular action sequences than the first film. It is understandable that audiences have finally supported this franchise. Gerard Butler joins with this film the hall of fame of action heroes and the sexy presence of Jessica Biel and Kelly Brook have provided the movie with the needed glamour this kind of films demand. Movies like this can be considered just as a ‘product’ conceived to make money but, anyway, the truth is that this time the product has been so well made to achieve its objective.’
-Jackie O’Callaghan

MAN OF SEA

‘Chad Taylor has put up this time a minimalist drama focused on the usual essential questions any person has: who I am?, where do I come from?, where am I going? You know what I mean… The idea of the film is to make you feel identified with Carrey’s character and to follow him in his intimate search for himself. ‘Man Of Sea’ undoubtedly is a thought-provoking film. The problem is that it is also a very boring film. The absolutely lack of pace, the reiterative and monotonous sequences of Carrey in the boat and the too evident moral of the story makes you end up dealing with those essential questions and just yawning.’
-Tim Reeve

‘I am one of those people that simply hate Jim Carrey. I have always found him a most irritating guy, no matter if he is making a drama or a comedy. In fact, movies like ‘The Truman Show’ or ‘Eternal Sunshine Of The Spotless Mind’ would probably be some of my alltimes favorite movies if simply Carrey wasn’t starring them. So if you take me to watch a movie where Carrey is on screen each and every single second of it… what can you expect? I swear I am trying to figure out what would have I thought of ‘Man Of Sea’ if it was starred by any other actor. But being as it is a one-man-show of Carrey, I just could not stand it.’
-Amy Ratched

‘Taylor has faced a risky creative challenge with this very peculiar story. Too risky and too difficult. Besides the introduction and the flashbacks, most of the film is focused on a man alone in a boat. A hard premise for a movie. Hemingway did something like that with ‘The Old Man And The Sea’ and that was one of the reasons why he won the Noble Prize of Literature. But no, I am afraid that Chad Taylor’s screenplay is not as good as Hemingway’s book. Certainly, Spike Jonze has shot the story taking the best of it. The cinematography of some sequences is amazingly beautiful. And Carrey works hard to make a rich and versatile acting work. But none of its virtues avoids this film from not being engrossing at all. If I want to watch a good movie focused on a man alone I would rather watch again Tom Hanks in ‘Castaway’. And if I want to reflect on family dramas, I would rather watch again some Josh Collins’ films.’
-Chris Burgess