Ahoy, squirts! Quint here with a ton of reviews for Guy Ritchie's REVOLVER, starring Jason Statham, Ray Liotta and Big Pussy. Got some positives and some negatives here... Both positive and negative say the movie doesn't make a lot of sense... the positives like it for not making tons of sense and the negatives... well, don't. The first one is on the positive side with very, very light spoilers. Enjoy!
Just got back from an afternoon screening of Guy Ritchie's new flick Revlover at Toronto.
From here on if I make reference to Guy Ritchie's "other films" that is in fact a reference to LOCK, STOCK AND TWO SMOKING BARRELS and SNATCH. Cause CLEARLY SWEPT AWAY doesn't count for shit!
Here we go...
Let me start by saying that this is Ritchie's artsiest film to date, it's confusing in parts and it probably isn't for a mass audience. I think a lot of people will probably hate it, but let's be honest the mass audience are mostly stupid so really who cares.
The film starts with Jake (MR. TRANSPORTER) getting out of prison, then it flashes to two years later with him going to one of Ray Liotta's casinos. There is bad blood between them and yadda yadda yadda one thing leads to another and Ray Liotta wants Jake dead.
This is where Andre 3000 and that dude from the sopranos come in and offer some help to Jake for a pretty steep price.
That's a really basic setup, but I'm sure other people are going to write in and explain it in much more detail.
This movie like ritchie's other films has some amazing scenes and characters. Visually I think it is Ritchie's best work. There is an amazing scene with Liotta being held under a table for safety reasons which is brilliant.
But the stand out of this film was Ray Liotta, his character was scarey and intimidating in some scenes then in other he was hilarious and foolish looking, he played them both well and the wo different character traits blended nicely into one.
Another really interesting thing that this film deals with is the paranoid schizophrenic tendencies that apparently come with being a "con man" It was handled very nicely, but at the same time I think these reasons are why wider audiences will ultimately hate the film.
Also Ritchie talked a bit after the movie about his next two projects, one was a animated kids film and the other about a dirty cop sent to prison which he described as a detective story.
I don't know how much of this was actually useful, but regardless there it is...
sincerely
Tight Pants, No Chance
Now this one... more spoilery and a lot more negative.
You think it can't be that bad.
The weather's nice. Slightly humid and warm, so even though the sun's down it's a little uncomfortable waiting in line with a couple thousand other people because Mr. and Mrs. Madonna showed up earlier than expected to the "World Premiere" of Mr. Madonna's new film Revolver, and there's no way they're going to let the plebes mill around uncontrolled in the theater while Madonna's coming in. No wonder Jason Statham didn't even bother showing up. The flashbulbs and applause and hooting and screaming aren't for anyone involved in the movie. Anyway.
You're not a fan of Mr. Madonna's last couple of movies, even Snatch, which you thought was pretty damned derivative of Mr. M's own Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels, which you liked.
So you stand in line. And wait. And sweat a little. And finally they let you in.
Guy Ritchie comes out on stage and introduces the film. Always nice when the director does that. He gives a little speech about how this is an "intelligent" film for "intelligent" people. It crosses your mind that maybe there's a little "Methinks he doth protest too much", but it passes. Then he introduces Luc Besson, then he the cast. Ray Liotta, just being cool. And Big Pussy from The Sopranos, who gets the biggest applause of all. (Yeah, I know his name, but you could hear the ripple of "It's Pussy from The Sopranos!" race through the audience.)
Then the lights go down, that ANNOYING FUCKING BARRY AVRICH TIFF TRAILER plays, and the movie starts.
Does it ever.
A roving camera over great production values and actors cold-packed to the balls in pure, unfiltered cool. An opening scene that, while sort of derivative of lots of other Oceans-Elevens-y casino caper scenes, is polished, and tells you that you're in for a well-managed ride.
So you watch. You get a little confused, because nothing anyone's doing, at all, makes sense.
[Some minor, early spoilers here]
You watch as a wig-wearing Jason Statham finds out he has three days to live and agrees to give all his money to two impossible cool con men. You think briefly, that you're going to find out why he does this. You're wrong, but you don't know this yet.
You watch as you get increasingly confused because no one does anything that makes any sense. The "caper" plot you thought you were going to see just never happens. Or if it did happen, the guy shooting it wasn't pointing the camera at it. Along the way, storywise and stylistically, Mr. M rips off everything from The Usual Suspects to Fight Club to Memento to Kill Bill. It's like he threw some graphic animated violence in for no apparent reason other than he was worried he wasn't as cool as Tarantino anymore.
Gotta tell you, Mr. M:
You're not.
So you continue to watch, AT LEAST HALF because you're in the middle of a long aisle and it would be rude to awkwardly crawl over everyone to get out. You are Canadian, after all.
You watch as Jason Statham drones on in what must have been pages and pages of three inches of black ink running down the middle of the script of endless, homogeneous monologue. And his voice musta got tired, because then Andre 3000 joins in with pages and pages of rambling, and Ray Liotta does, too. I don't remember a word any of them muttered.
And then the movie ends. Cut to black. No credits. Curtains close. Confused audience applauds politely. Then louder, because they want to see Madonna and her wife stand up. And once they've done so, the applause ends abruptly. EERILY abruptly. And people file out, speaking together in muted whispers.
Fu-uck.
There may be a word in the English language that describes this movie better than "fu-uck", but I don't know it.
Around halfway through, when you're still thinking that the movie has gotten so completely confusing (yet at the same time predictable, because the only "twist" that you see coming a mile away actually plays out that way), you think Mr. M's going to pull even a ridiculously convoluted and contrived ending out of his ass.
But he doesn't.
When Guy Ritchie said it was an "intelligent" film for "intelligent" audiences, I think it was code for "Oh fuck, mates, I've made an incomprehensible piece of shit but the only defense is to make you think there's something there that's not, like some sort of David Lynch caper movie."
Characters just end up screaming a lot, mostly at themselves, in private, while crying, like a bad fucking student film.
And I defy anyone to remain entertained by Ray Liotta past the point where he's standing for about five minutes in his leopard-skin briefs, package bulging out, blubbering, snot streaming out his nose, yelling "FEAR ME!" at an empty elevator.
I would've written "SPOILER" above that last bit if I had any fucking idea whatsoever if it spoiled anything.
I did catch a glimpse of Madonna's hair, though.
Call me Medium Close-Up.
--MCU
"Fear me!" sounds awesome! Especially if it makes as little sense as MCU says it does. Here's another one, this one very positive!
Greetings Harry and fellow AICN fans!
Magoo here with a review of Guy Ritchie's return to the realm of great film making "Revolver". I, like most people, absoluty hated "Swept Away". Like many I thought Ritchie's promising film career was over. Well "Revolver" has more than redeemed the man, infact it has lifted his career to an all time high, this man will do great things in the future.
The movie starts of fairly simple, Jake Green (Jason Statham) is an ex-convict who has made quite a name for himself gambling. Infact he is so well known that no one will let him sit at their table, that is everyone except for mob boss and casino owner, Dorothy Macha(Ray Liota). Jake wins a substantial amount of money from Macha in a quick game of chance. Things are looking up for Jake until a freak accident winds him up in the hospital, and indierctly at the mercy of two Loan Sharks played by Vincent Pastore and Andre (3000) Benjamin. It's at about this point where the narative of the film takes a violent spiral into pure insanity.
Im going to be honest, this movie confussed the hell out of me. The entire movie is spent trying to peice things together and get an idea of what really is going on, but ya know what? It is executed brilliantly. Ritchie said before the screening that this is a thinking mans movie, nothing will be spelled out for the audience. In other words he's telling this story at 100mph and zig zaging in every possible direction, and it's up to the audience to keep up. Somehow he pulls it off without seeming pretentious. The ending does have a great pay off, and you will feel very satisfied. He doesnt quite spell it out for you, but he gives you enough information that with some deep reflection, you can figure it all out. I spent two or three hours in deep discussion with my friends afterwards, it took all of us racking our brains to peice together what exactly happened in the end of the movie. And yes, the movie does have a point to it, despite what a few whiners on certain internet message boards have to say.
The acting in this movie was top notch from all parties. Ray Liota gives an Oscar worthy performance as a tuff guy Casino owner, who slowly slips into the realm of insanity. Jason Stateham as well gives a great performance as a con man who may already be insane, although he just doesnt know it yet. There are times during this movie that you feel like your watching a Shakesperian play or an epic opera. The acting works in turn with the music and direction to make you feel like you are watching a film of monumental preportions.
Aside from the great plot and amazing acting, this movie is beautiful! At first I was a bit weary of the HD24P filming but within five minutes I realized that Ritchie was using the digital medium as a tool and not a crutch. He uses the digial medium in a way to paint a vivid sureal world where every frame is a work of art in itself. The chessgames between Stateham and Benjamin are some of the most brilliantly filmed scenes I have ever seen. The chess peices in perfect focus right in the foreground really bring about the metaphores of which the charactors are speaking. I never knew a game of chess could look so damned good in a movie! Ritchie also uses animation to his advantage in a certain scene. Although the animation isnt needed to tell the scene, it truely adds to the sureal world that he has created. Charactors look larger than life and are exagerated in every shape and form. In one animation sequence two body guards are shot in the head, leaving gaping holes which we see the shooter through, really great stuff!
The reception after the screening was overwealming, a standing ovation throught the entire theater. I spoke to many of my fellow film goers to see what they had to say about it, and everyone had the same reaction, usually something along the lines of "I loved it! But give me a few hours to absorb it all"
It will be interesing to see what the regular film going audience thinks of "Revolver". Its a movie that doesnt have everything spelt out for you, you really have to use your brain or your just going to get lost within the first 20 minutes and spend the entire film pissed off. Even more important than the audience, I cant wait to see what the critics have to say. I can tell you for one thing, this armchair critic loved "Revolver". It has taken the top spot of my favourite movie of 2005!
God Speed You Black Emperor
mrmagoo
And another!
REVOLVER was written and directed by Guy Ritchie with a principal cast of Jason Statham, Ray Liotta, Vincent Pastore and Andre Benjamin. After seven years in jail, Jake Green (Statham) is gunning for Macha (Liotta), a ruthless criminal and casino owner who killed his sister-in-law. Macha retaliates but to no avail as a mysterious pair Avi (Benjamin) and Zach (Pastore) saves Green's life more than once. Amid the brutal gang warfare between Macha and Chinese crimelords, extortion, loan sharks, drug deals gone wrong and attempted assassinations is the omnipresent criminal mastermind, Sam Gold.
REVOLVER had elements of Friedrich Nietzsche, Sigmund Freud, existential themes, schizophrenia and a good measure of brutal gunplay. Statham was prefectly cast with his brooding inner monologues and gruff screen persona. Liotta's portrayal was nicely done as a ganster with a seething manic rage. Benjamin's suave delivery played well against Pastore's take-no-bullshit attitude. The supporting cast was also quite good and telling too much would be spoiling the fun. Suffice to say, however, is audience favourite Sorter (played by follow UK native Mark Strong) an expert marksman that guns for the kill with supreme efficiently.
REVOLVER does give the audience a total and absolute mindfuck as it delves into layers of psychosis, manipulation, deceit, the ultimate con and the game within a game within a game. REVOLVER is a wickedly fun film and is far, far more cerebral than what the trailers make it out to be. The film was not named after a type of gun but, rather, it represents what happens when lives get caught within the vicious cycle of deception.
After the screening Guy Ritchie spent about 20 minutes answering audience questions. Dressed casually in jeans, t-shirt and sporting a trucker hat Ritchie was very good natured in his responses. The questions were mainly about the film but two audience members managed to coax from the director some clues about an upcoming project: an animated detective story. Guy Ritchie making a film rendered in Japanese anime you say?!?!? It's a possiblity and, yeah, WTF is right!!!
Uno mas!
Hey Harry... so, today I saw Revolver, the latest from Guy Ritchie, at the Toronto Film Festival. I thought it was decent, and after Guy Ritchie explained a lot of it in the Q&A that followed the film, I thought it was pretty near great. I don't expect that many of you will have the luxury of hearing Mr. Ritchie talk at length about it afterwards, so I'm not entirely sure that everyone's going to like it as much as I did, but I did quite like it.
At it's most succinct... the movie's about the head games people play between each other and themselves. It's not really just one movie... there's a fairly simple heist flick going on about Jason Statham fucking Ray Liotta out of lots of money because Ray screwed up Jason's life. And that movie works very well, in typical Ritchie style with all sorts of awesome bells and whistles and clever camerawork. A couple of sequences are easily the best things Ritchie's put to film... and while I don't want to spoil anything... there's a tense scene in a restaurant that is absolutely riveting. The basic heist movie is tigher, simpler, and cleaner than anything Ritchie's done so far.
However... that heist movie is buried a whole other movie that involes a LOT of head games, mostly with yourself. If the main movie was a man vs. man conflict, this movie is a man vs. self conflict. I can't really go into detail on this part of the movie with engaging in massive spoilers so I won't... but a few of the twists on this side of the movie are pretty predictable. I had most of them figured out in the first half of the movie... and the only one I didn't see coming I didn't see because I thought it was so derivative, so done-to-death, and so lame that Guy couldn't possibly stoop to including it in the script... except he did. The fact that he drops that crap twist right after the slightly clever one... just felt like a slap in the face.
And because that's just not enough... there's another entire layer of subtext that rears its head in a few scenes just to make things even more confusing.
On the whole... you don't need to understand it to enjoy it, which is good because you probably won't understand it in just one or two viewings. There's a lot of cool moments in the film that work on their own without needing greater understanding, and those cool moments justify tracking the movie down and seeing it. But this is a much deeper work than either of Guy Ritchie's previous films, and if you can get below the surface and start to figure things out you'll find yourself impressed with the effort that clearly went into its conception... as well as a sense that a few times they just tried too hard. Of course, then you'll remember all the great bits in the simple film and you'll let yourself forget about all the cerebral bits that didn't quite add up.
Guy Ritchie's Q&A afterwards was awesome, and he took the time to answer everyone's questions. He seemed to really care about what we had to say about his film and really enjoyed the crowd's energy. It was great... but unfortunately, film festival stuff cut him off after about 20 minutes.
If you use this, call me El Fuego.
