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  • Dune: The BRWC Review

    Dune: The BRWC Review

    Dune: The BRWC Review. By Alif Majeed.

    Two-parters can often be a tricky proposition for telling a complete story. There is always a risk that the story will remain unfinished if the sequel doesn’t get made. Allegiant was a recent example that killed off the franchise without completing the story. The major concern with the latest attempt to bring Dune to the big screen for me was whether the second part would come out. Given the epic nature of the original novel, it makes sense that they would divide the movie into two parts. (Tellingly, the film is titled Dune: Part One). It needed the breathing space that a two-parter can afford, provided they can tell the complete story.

    When it was announced that Denis Villeneuve would take a shot at bringing the infamously unfilmable sci-fi classic Dune to the bring screen, I mixed feelings about it. Dune, being his follow-up to Blade Runner 2049, a movie that deservedly got a lot of respect but ultimately was too slow and took too long to get to its point. But as the movie progressed, he more or less assuaged my fears as a fan of the book. The film still gets a little overlong, but Villeneuve has successfully brought Dune’s world to the big screen with stupendous gusto.

    The 1984 David Lynch adaptation was famously desperate trying to explain the various plot points through voiceover. But Denis gets plenty of time here to let the story breathe as he has one more movie (hopefully) to tell the complete story of the ascent of Paul Atreides. It also allows him to introduce the characters and the vast world of the Dune Universe properly.

    Explaining the story of Dune can get a little confusing, but the makers follow the story fairly faithfully. The patriarch of House Atreides, Duke Leto (Oscar Isaac), is assigned to be the ruler of the planet Arrakis by the Emperor of what is the Known universe. Allegories plenty abound; the rest of the story is about the various machinations of different groups trying to destroy the family and how the Duke’s son, Paul Atreides, accepts his destiny and fights back for his family.

    It was also great that he does very little hand-holding and lets the audience discover the world as the movie progresses. Apart from a short voiceover, in the beginning, he avoids it for the rest of the film. The downside of this is that newcomers to the Dune series might find it tricky to keep track. It requires your complete attention to ensure that you do not lose out on the details. Since it is part one of a continuing storyline, it ends in the inevitable cliffhanger, which might disappoint some who want closure in a single story.

    But the sheer scale of the world Villeneuve created is magnificent and gives it a feel of a grand sci-fi movie. The cinematographer Greig Fraser also avoids the campy look of its 80s predecessor, adding to its epic scale. Their confidence in the source material and assured stamp on the film is clear here.

    Another factor that helped in raising excitement for the movie is its stacked cast. And boy, is it stacked. Villeneuve has cast actors who make an impact irrespective of the screen time, ensuring that they shine.

    Timothée Chalamet is perfect as Paul Atreides and truly makes you believe he was destined to play this part. The story (at least in the first book) revolves around the evolution of his character in the classic hero’s journey, and Chalamet sells the gamut of emotions the character goes through throughout the movie. Rebecca Ferguson might seem dubious as Paul’s mother, but after the initial apprehension gets over, she complements Clement perfectly. Stellan Skarsgård as the villain Baron Harkonnen also makes an impact despite his short running time.

    Though some actors get very little screen time given the expanded nature of specific roles in the second half, the excitement level increases tremendously when all these brilliant actors share screen space. They ensure you want to continue the journey with them onto the sequel.

    Fans of the series would find much to rejoice with this adaptation, even if some newcomers to the series might be left cold. Some might even say that the movie adds nothing new to the sci-fi genre. That has nothing to say about the film itself. But say a lot about the original novel’s tremendous impact and how much of it inspired and has been imitated subsequently. One thing is sure, though, Denis Villeneuve has undoubtedly created the definitive version of the sci-fi masterpiece.

  • Ride The Eagle: Review

    Ride The Eagle: Review

    Ride The Eagle: Review. By Alif Majeed.

    I realized Ride the Eagle was co-written by its star, Jack Johnson, only when I finished watching the movie. Though I did a double-take, it makes total sense as the lead character seems tailor-made to play to his biggest strengths. This is not unfamiliar territory to him, and checks all his trademark boxes and then ends up being pretty functional. That pretty much sums up the movie too.

    The movie begins with Johnson’s character Leif, getting a message that his mom has died, conditionally bestowing him with his mom’s old cabin house. It is conditional because to gain complete control of the property; he has to fulfill some conditions that she lays out through a videotape from across the grave. (Susan Sarandon having fun without barely ever getting up from the sofa).

    It is supposed to get her son, an overgrown man-child, to wake up and smell the roses. You know he is a man-child because he perpetually wakes up hungover and can barely feed himself and his dog. Also, he plays a “useless” instrument (a banjo here) in a band whose members are much younger than him. These are two facts they keep harping about throughout the movie. Now the tasks themselves are not shocking, even if the reactions of Leif suggest otherwise. It also does not have much range or variety, bordering on mundane and silly. One task involves going to the other side of the river in a canoe and breaking into a house to leave a screw you note. Another is about calling up an ex whose heart he broke and say sorry for what he did to her.

    Straight off the bat, it comes across as the life-affirming movie that, by the end, will teach the protagonist some life-affirming yet pretty superficial lessons. It almost sinks under the weight of its overall sweetness. But the central performance by Johnson is what holds together the film. He mainly interacts with people over the phone or through the tape (like his mother), and he somehow makes the whole thing work, like the scene where he first plays his mom’s video. Things get awkward when the reactions by Susan and his responses do not sync and quickly go into awkward silences mode. It is not a wholly original scene, but Johnson makes it pretty amusing. That he also got a decent stacked cast to get involved also shows their faith in him and the goodwill he enjoys.

    His interaction with D’Arcy Carden (from The Good Place and Barry), who plays his ex, is also natural and organic. There is undoubtedly some anger and coldness there, but you can believe that the conversation might have developed the way it plays out on screen. Their chemistry is also excellent despite constantly interacting through the phone, and it helps that the two actors on either end of their phones are people we wouldn’t mind rooting for.

    Ride the Eagle is not the best indie comedy that Jack Johnson was involved in (that could very well be Drinking Buddies). It might not also be wholly original, which might not be something the cast and crew were gunning for, anyway. It is a mostly harmless movie with a winsome cast that is not too taxing on your brain and time.

  • How To Make A Living As An Actor Without Moving To Hollywood

    How To Make A Living As An Actor Without Moving To Hollywood

    How to Make a Living as An Actor Without Moving to Hollywood – There’s a misconception that you have to live in Hollywood (or New York City) in order to make a living as an actor.

    While most starring roles are cast out of New York and the Los Angeles area, and many celebrities live in those cities, there are places across the country and beyond where films, TV series, and commercials are shot, not to mention local theaters that often cast actors for plays. That includes north of the border in Vancouver, B.C. where there’s a booming filming industry and everywhere from New Orleans, Nashville and Atlanta to San Francisco, Miami, and places in between. 

    The reality is, if you have the skills and put in the effort, you can make a living as an actor almost anywhere. 

    Put Together the Proper Marketing Materials

    No matter where you live, you’ve got to be able to market yourself which means you need a great 8X10 headshot and a resume that’s focused on the part you’re auditioning for which will give you credibility.

    Having a website is a must these days too as it acts as your portfolio and can include reviews, photos, your resume, and social media accounts. Social media is an excellent networking tool when used right – you can follow casting directors, industry leaders, media outlets, and more. Be sure to post interesting information related to the acting industry, including clips about your latest projects.

    Having a demo reel can show your confidence in front of the camera, highlight your acting skills and personality. Think of it as a commercial that’s selling yourself.

    Make It Easy For Casting Directors and Producers to Find You

    Having a good local agent who knows the market can be helpful as he or she will know about any projects in your area you may be able to audition for, but it also means someone else will be taking a cut off the money you earn.

    You should put yourself out there to those looking for actors for hire by taking advantage of a booking app. That eliminates the middleman while helping to spread the word that you’re available for jobs. And, you won’t have to pay commissions and other fees to an agent. 

    Contact Local Casting Directors

    Don’t simply wait for someone to find you, your job is to sell yourself which means you should contact local casting directors, submitting your headshot and resume with the link to your website. Include a cover letter that’s short and to the point, ensuring that all of your contact information is included.

    Audition for Student Films and Community Theater Roles

    If your local community college or another place of learning offers classes in filmmaking or others that require students to shoot films, talk to the instructor to find out how you can audition. 

    It’s a great way to build up your resume, getting experience in front of the camera, and if the end result is good you can use it for an acting reel. Plus, a student director could very well end up casting for a future film and remember your talent. 

    Don’t dismiss your town’s community theater either. You can add the experience to your resume and perhaps make some decent money at the same time. 

  • Prisoners Of The Ghostland: Review

    Prisoners Of The Ghostland: Review

    Prisoners Of The Ghostland: Review. By Alif Majeed.

    A while ago, I read the Mario Vargas novel called Aunt Julia and the Scriptwriter, where the main character befriends a radio writer who gets so overworked that eventually, his characters and stories bleed into each other. This was the confusion I experienced when I started watching Prisoners of the Ghostland. It felt similar to that other Nicolas Cage movie from earlier this year with Willie in Wonderland. By the time I finished, though, that thought was assuaged, but there was deja vu for many similar movies that came before it.

    For most parts, Prisoners come across as an amalgamation of the Mad Max movies and the worse parts of the 90s Kevin Costner indulgent movies like Waterworld and The Postman. The primary villain, called The Governor, with his tendencies to raise sex slaves and calling them his granddaughters, comes straight from Mad Max: Fury Road. The post-apocalyptic weirdness that populates the wasteland is also mostly done by making it look dust brown and dirty.

    As the movie starts, The Governor hires Nicolas Cage’s character (too similar to Mad Max and Waterworld era Kevin Costner), simply named Hero, to find his missing, ahem, granddaughter. She has run away into the wilderness of the nuclear wasteland to avoid the cruelties of her grandfather cum owner, who rules the town or what remains of it with a pretty mean fist. It looks like the prosperous side of a nuclear bomb-affected wasteland and is supposed to be thriving as it looks bright, and everyone either dresses as gentle southern folks or like they live in 18th century affluent Japanese. (The movie plays hard and fast with the timeline.).

    They fit small timed bombs across his body to ensure that Cage doesn’t stray from his mission or misbehave with the granddaughter once he finds her, including two on his testicles. (or as he puts it, TESTICAAALS, in a moment of pure Nicolas Cage madness). What happens when he finds the girl and if he decides to help her is not a hard guess to make from there.

    The main issue with the movie is that Sion Sono is a director whose visual style and sensibilities are often something others would like to emulate. But here, it plays out like a watered-down version of Sino’s weirdest idiosyncratic tendencies, despite having a game Nicolas Cage at his disposal. You often ended up wishing he went all in, like some of his best movies. This movie still gets way too overlong for me despite having sat down watching fascinated by his admittedly indulgent 4-hour epic, Love, Exposure.

    This is saddening as Sono, who has rightly earned his place as a genre auteur, even while being indulgent, was a perfect fit with Nicolas Cage’s sensibilities. They are in perfect sync as a director-actor duo, even if it could have been for a far better genre movie.

    Not that his usual flourishes are missing here in this movie. The oracles who keep narrating the story beside visual sign boards are a wonderful stroke on his part. The opening scene with Cage robbing a bank is also pure Sono. It is the kind of scene that videos playing on display televisions in an electronic store are made for until the sudden burst of violence kicks in. Vibrant and interesting visuals pop out in that sequence that sets up the tone for the rest of the movie.

    Now it may seem like Nicolas Cage might be back to his do-movie-to-pay-off taxes phase, but all the three movies he did this year, Willie’s Wonderland, Pig, and this one looks like pure artistic choices he made. He doesn’t come across as bored in any of them and is committed to taking them all the way. Even though the result here is mixed, you sure will be glad to know now what a team-up between Cage and Sono would like. It makes me wonder what would happen if he teams up with Takashi Miike, another legendary Japanese genre auteur, in the future.

  • The Best Films That Capture And Exemplify Irish Culture

    The Best Films That Capture And Exemplify Irish Culture

    The Best Films That Capture and Exemplify Irish Culture.

    Synonymous with beautiful landscapes and unforgettable celebrations such as St. Patrick’s Day, Ireland is a country that has always enchanted the imagination of those who are passionate about cinema. As result, there are several on-screen stories set in this mythical country. For those who may have Irish heritage, or simply just want to embrace the culture more, several films capture the quintessential culture and mood of Ireland.

    Finian’s Rainbow (1968)

    Ireland is famous for many things, but its biggest symbol is the famous leprechaun. This mythological figure derives from Irish folklore and is considered the guardian of many hidden treasures. Leprechauns are frequently associated with luck and shamrocks and are a symbol of Ireland around the world.

    This popular theme has also inspired films, namely Finian’s Rainbow. The film is based on a play written by EY Harburg and Fred Saidy and was adapted to the screen in 1968. Directed by the then-rookie director Francis Ford Coppola, who was only 29 years old at the time, the movie is a fantasy musical/fairy tale. It features an authentic Irish leprechaun and a magical pot of gold in a narrative hinting at themes such as racism and social injustices.

    Not only that, but the culture of Ireland has also transcended into other areas of entertainment. The imagery and mood of Ireland are also captured in Rainbow Riches. This slot game has everything you would expect, rainbows, leprechauns and even more. In a way, it’s somewhat fitting that this theme is applied to a slots game. Typically, games of this theme will adopt imagery related to rainbows, shamrocks, pots of gold and even the Irish woodlands. The same applies to Rainbow Riches too

    Fred Astaire plays Finian McLonergan in this film, a man who left Ireland with his daughter, a pile of suitcases and also a pot of gold stolen from a goblin. Upon arriving in the United States, McLonergan buries the pot of gold, but soon enough the goblin he had stolen the gold from appears looking for it.  This film, which was Fred Astaire’s last musical, features beautiful dance scenes and plenty of irony.

    Frank (2014)

    John Burroughs (Domhnall Gleeson) dreams of being a keyboard player and songwriter for a big band. One day, an accident offers him the opportunity to play in a group led by Frank (Michael Fassbender). John is fascinated by the vocalist, a generous and strange figure who has a peculiarity: Frank wears a gigantic artificial head which he never removes, not even to eat, bathe or sleep. 

    Soon, John, Frank and the other members of The Soronprfbs retire to a cabin to test out new sounds, get to know each other and produce the best album possible. However, the interactions between the band are not always easy. 

    This indie black comedy premiered at the Sundance Film Festival and was met with very positive reviews.

    Once (2007)

    This captivating romance is set in the capital of Ireland, Dublin. The film tells the story of a musician and composer Glen Hansard who plays in the streets of Dublin while maintaining a steady job as a vacuum cleaner repairman in his father’s shop. After meeting a Czech pianist (Markéta Irglová), they work together to make a demo disc to try and secure a deal with a producer.

    Bound by their dreams and yearnings, they share a relationship based on support and understanding. As a result, the opportunity to compose songs together also gives way for a love affair to emerge. This simple but profound musical received very favourable critics and won the Academy Award for Best Original Song.

    If you haven’t had the chance to watch all of these films, we highly recommend you do. We’re certain you’ll fall in love with Ireland, and if you do, you should visit.

    The Best Films That Capture And Exemplify Irish Culture