Interstellar: Nothing In this Solar System Can Help Us

The secretive Christopher Nolan has been trickling out a few trailers since late last year.  Details of the plot are scarce but IMDB lists the synopsis as:

A group of explorers make use of a newly discovered wormhole to surpass the limitations on human space travel and conquer the vast distances involved in an interstellar voyage. 

Based on a script by his brother, Jonathan Nolan, and some additional elements that Christopher Nolan fleshed out, "Interstellar" is looking pretty epic at the moment.  The film stars  Academy Award Winner Matthew McConaughey of last year's "Dallas Buyers Club", Anne Hathaway from Nolan's "The Dark Knight Rises" as astronauts looking for a new planet to colonize.  

At Edwards Air Force Base in California, Chuck Yeager broke the sound barrier on  October 14, 1947.  On July 21, 1969 an American set foot on the moon. In December of 1972, was the last time a human stood on the moon's surface.  On July 8, 2011 the Atlantis was the last shuttle flown by the United States and the end of the American Space Shuttle program. The Americans specifically, and mankind in general, lost their pioneering spirit.  The pioneer spirit that built this land is gone.

Something is wrong with the planet Earth.  That much is obvious in the next trailer.  With massive climate change, food and other resources are becoming scarce.  After finding an opportunity to explore worlds beyond our own solar system, McConaughey's character must leave his children behind and save mankind.  

We're not meant to save the world, we're meant to leave it.  We must reach far beyond our own lifespans.   We must think, not as individuals, but as a species. We must confront the reality of interstellar travel.

"We used look up in the sky and wonder at our place in the stars.  Now we just look down and worry abour our place in the dirt."

Christopher Nolan's "Interstellar" is due out on November 7, 2014 in the United States,

Movie Data

Genre: Action, Adventure, Mystery, Sci-Fi 

Year:  2014

Staring:  Matthew McConaughey, Anne Hathaway, Jessica Chastain, Michael Caine 

Director: Christopher Nolan

Producer(s): Christopher Nolan, Lynda Obst, Emma Thomas

Writer: Jonathan Nolan, Christopher Nolan

Rating: Not Rated Yet

Running Time: Unknown

Release Date: 11/7/20144

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The Debt ~ a Review

Sometimes when you work hard and plan, and plan and practice to perfect an operation, the best - laid plans do not go as planned. That is the case to the characters in John Madden's ("Shakespeare in Love," "Proof") English version of "The Debt." Assaf Bernstein, Ido Rosenblum wrote and directed an Israeli version back in 2007. Madden, working with film veterans Helen Mirren ("The Queen," "Red") and Tom Wilkinson ("Michael Clayton," "The Patriot") put together a suspense thriller that takes places in two different decades about a group of people who made a mistake and for over 30 plus years have lived with that mistake. In addition, like a former President of the United States covered up a mistake with a lie. Evenly paced and told in two different times - periods, the mid 1960s and in the late 1990s. As young Mossad agents sent to Berlin to capture a former Nazi doctor and bring him to justice. If you like suspense and good solid acting then you will enjoy "The Debt." 

In 1997 Sarah Gold, the daughter of former Mossad agent Rachel Singer (Mirren) has written a book about her mother, her father and their partner who in the 1960s, while in their mid to late 20s were operatives in a mission to bring the Nazis to justice. National heroes, their story was now being told for all to hear. A problem arises as the time for the book's debut arrives, hoping to have all three of the original spies attend her daughters book release, the third member of the team, David Peretz (Ciarán Hinds), suddenly walks in front of a bus and is killed instantly. As the story unfolds and as we jump from the late 90s back to the mid-60s, we discover details of that mission so many years ago. Playing the three spies in their youth is Jessica Chastain ("The Tree of Life," "The Help") as Rachel Singer on her first mission in the field. Sam Worthington plays Peretz, idealistic and acts as Rachel's husband during the operation. Stephan Gold is the leader; Marton Csokas ("The Bourne Supremacy," "Æon Flux") plays the oldest of the three, who turns 29 during the beginning of the mission. During the war, Dieter Vogel (Jesper Christensen) was known as Surgeon of Birkenau. Like Mengele, Vogel did gruesome experiments on prisoners. Now a practicing physician under the name of Bernhardt in the city of Berlin, the group's job is to capture him, and smuggle him out of the country and back to Israel to be tried in world court for crimes against humanity. 

Each of the characters played by both sets of actors give off a sense of weight and share the burden of guilt for their sin. During the flashbacks between "the present" and the time of their mission, we see how they bonded, how they trained, how they lived, and how they decided together to lie when Vogel escapes from their custody. We see how Rachel and David are attracted to each other, and ultimately how Stephan takes control of the situation, and of Rachel. Knowing that Vogel will not dare resurface the three concoct a story where Rachel is the hero by killing Vogel as he tried to escape. Returning to Israel with their story of heroism the three lived out their lives dealing with the guilt in their own ways. David, the quiet one, internalized the guilt, it ate away at him, debilitating him, and in the end, he decided to commit suicide. Stephan continued his career with Mossad, even after a bomber blew off his legs. It is he who convinces Rachel that after all these years later, that she must step forward and become the hero she never really was. Helen Mirren gives a fantastic performance as a woman whose daughter is proud of her for the wrong reasons. Wilkinson shows the drive and determination as the elderly spy that Csokas displays with intensity as a young man in charge of an important mission. Jessica Chastain plays the younger Mirren who is scared, determined, and at the same time brave. Sam Worthington shines as the sensitive and quiet member of the team, whos parents were killed in the concentration camps. You see the sadness in his eyes and you believe him as a survivor. Ciarán Hinds ("Lara Croft Tomb Raider:" "The Cradle of Life") looks haggard, and worn from the years of knowing the truth and not being able to be free of the lie. Director Madden and Editor Alexander Berner cut the film together with short scenes to keep the pace moving. Slowing from time to time for the audience to catch some details, Madden focuses on subtle details giving us some clues in order to keep us on our toes. Berner's cutting between the different times was done well, without leaving the audience dazed and confused. 

I must say that when it comes to playing a Nazi, Jesper Christensen does an excellent job, portraying Vogel as Olivier did as Szell in "Marathon Man" (1976). Like Michael Myers, or Jason Voorhees, Christensen keeps coming back like a bad penny. Ultimately, we all pay for our sins. History is written by the winners, however, eventually, there comes a day when we can't hide from the things that we've done. "The Debt" is about atonement, and about freeing yourself from your sins. 

I think you will enjoy the 113 minutes (1 hour and 53 minutes) you spend watching "The Debt" is well worth your time. The MPAA rates the film R, but the violence and sex are at a minimum. What is at the maximum is good suspense, good acting, and a good story.

Movie Data

Genre: Drama, Thriller

Year:  2010

Staring: Helen Mirren, Tom Wilkinson, Ciarán Hinds,  Jessica Chastain, Marton Csokas, Sam Worthington

Director: John Madden

Producer(s): Eitan Evan, Eduardo Rossoff , Kris Thykier, Matthew Vaughn

Writer: Matthew Vaughn, Jane Goldman, Peter Straughan, Assaf Bernstein, Ido Rosenblum

Rating: R

Originally posted on Yahoo Voices on 1/26/2012

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Take Shelter: A Review

 "…listen up, there's a storm coming like nothing you've ever seen, and not a one of you is prepared for it."

Today, when someone has dreams of impending doom we tend to think the person is, if not insane, then not quite right in the head. However, long ago, if you had strange dreams about an upcoming storm or the end of the world, you may be crazy or you may be a saint. When John wrote about his revelations, early Christian church fathers took his writings and made them the last book of the New Testament. When Noah told friends and family about an upcoming flood, his neighbors thought he was crazy, but they were wrong. Early civilizations had a term for those who saw visions; they called them Shamans, today we call these people delusional. "Take Shelter" is writer and director Jeff Nichols' second film since his critically acclaimed 2007 offering titled "Shotgun Stories." "Take Shelter" is about a man who in the prime of his life is questioning not only his purpose in life as a husband and father, but also his sanity. 


Michael Sheen ("Bug," "Shotgun Stories," Boardwalk Empire") stars in "Take Shelter" as Curtis LaForche, a young family man who lives in rural Ohio. Curtis's wife Samantha, is played by Jessica Chastain ("The Debt," "The Tree of Life") who, like any wife and mother, is the rock that holds their home together. Their child Hannah (Tova Stewart), is about four years-old and is deaf. Going about his day as a construction worker, Curtis starts to slowly, and insidiously focus on storms on the horizon. The flat landscape provides a beautiful panorama view of ominous clouds forming on the horizon. Director Nichols, slowly and carefully builds a sense of foreboding and impending doom throughout the film not with frenzied camera shots and quick editing, but with long shots of Sheen's face and the look of worry, conflict, and deep-rooted fear. Couple these scenes with vivid nightmares that Curtis experiences of people covered in this oily rain substance trying to kill him. Curtis even envisions his dog, Red, turning on him and practically biting his arm off. As these dreams occur, his obsession with preparing his storm shelter grows, while Curtis withdraws into himself as he contemplates his own mental state. 


As it turns out, when Curtis was 10 years-old his mother (Kathy Baker) had to be committed to a mental institution. Of course, Curtis is worried that he is going down the same path. Nightmares, panic attacks, lack of sleep, visions of the horrible storm that rains an oily substance that drives people mad. Of course, he is worried. Michael Shannon plays Curtis in such a believable way, that the audience will feel his worry, his fear, and ultimately his shame. Jessica Chastain plays his wife Samantha that is also believable. A stay at home mom, Samantha's primary role is to care for and teach their daughter how to sign and fit into this world. She also sells her needlecraft and sewing on the weekends to help financially. The LaForches seem to be a typical modern mid-western family whose goals are the simple things in life, like paying their bills and trying to get a surgery for their daughter so that she may have a chance of hearing. Of course, Curtis's obsession gets in the way of all this. 


This is not an action adventure thriller. "Take Shelter" is a film for those who like to see the actor's emotions, feel their feelings, and watch a story unfold while they reflect what they may do in the main character's place. The film builds up quietly to a point before the end where the family is at a Lion's Club dinner, a former co-worker (Curtis is fired from his job) antagonizes him about his obsession. After taking a few licks from his former friend, Curtis erupts in a fit of rage and tells all present that he is not crazy and to "…listen up, there's a storm coming like nothing you've ever seen, and not a one of you is prepared for it." 


Jeff Nichols's story is clever and although I'm not a "doomsday prepper" myself, however, it is not hard to imagine that there is something bad on the horizon. After all something has to give and 2012 is the year for it. This is a great film for those who like stories about everyday people who must rise above the ordinary.

Movie Data

Genre: Drama, Thriller

Year: 2011

Staring: Michael Shannon, Jessica Chastain

Director: Jeff Nichols

Producer(s): Tyler Davidson, Sophia Lin,

Writer: Jeff Nichols

Rating: R

Originally posted on Yahoo Voices on Feb 23, 2012

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Mama - The Creepy Factor

We all have to start the big leagues of film making somewhere, and for the director of "Mama," this film is a great place to start.  Based on his own short film, director Andres Muschiett, while under the watchful eye of Executive Producer Guillermo Del Toro, has brought us a horror film, that although is not perfect, does deliver what we go to see films like this for, shock and fear.  Like other films, that Del Toro has attached himself to, this one also involves children, as well as a mysterious, and typically malevolent being that has a hold on two young girls.  The film stars Nikolaj Coster-Waldau ("Game of Thrones"'), and Oscar Nominee Jessica Chastain ("Zero Dark Thirty," "Lawless," "The Help,"
 and "The Debt") and two young actresses that just exude an aura of creepiness. "Mama" is about two young children left in a cabin in the woods for five years, and have finally reentered society. However, they brought something back with them.  Like other recent horror films, 'Mama,' is rated PG 13.

The first act begins about five years ago in about 2008 during that horrible economy we all remember like a bad memory, with the father of the two young girls killing his financial partners and then his ex-wife. The girls, waiting in their pink girly innocently decorated bedroom, unaware of the violence going around them, finally see their father, who in a frenzied state, takes them on a wild ride into the snow covered mountains where they finally end up crashing their car off the side of a cliff.  Finding shelter in a run-down cabin, the father plans to commit murder-suicide.  At that moment, a hideous, dark, mysterious creature whisks the father away and prevents him from committing a horrible crime. A note here to the viewer;  the girls, played by two or three actresses each,  Victoria the oldest is played first as a three year-old by Morgan McGarry, and by then by Megan Charpentier ("Resident Evil: Retribution," "Red Riding Hood") and the younger child, Lilly, as a baby is played by twins Maya and Sierra Dawe. As a six year-old Lilly, she is played creepily by Isabelle Nélisse. Horror movies, especially ones where Guillermo Del Torro is involved, seem to want to capture an innocence lost, or in this case, the bonds between a child and the need for a parental figure in their life.  In 'Pan's Labrinth', the loss was a loving father, in "Don't Be Afraid of the Dark," the loss is of a loving mother figure, and here in 'Mama,' the figure missing is the mother.

"Mama's" second act starts five years later in the present day, and the children's uncle Lucas (Coster-Waldau plays both the uncle and the father, Jeffery), and Annabel Chastain), his dark, bass playing, hard rock, tattooed girlfriend take in the two feral children.  Lucas and Annabel are both artists whos lifestyle is not necessarily conducive to child rearing  are also having their own fears about starting a family.  The girls, as part of their transition back into civilization, become the research subjects of Dr. Gerald Dreyfuss (Daniel Kash - "Aliens"), a child psychiatrist whose motives seem questionable at times.  Especially when he agrees to support Lucas and Annabel in a custody lawsuit against Jean, the aunt of the girls dead mother.  Dreyfuss wants complete access to the kids for his research project and later a book, in return he offers Lucas and Annabel the All-American suburban setting -- house and all. 

What becomes apparent in this act is the fact that although the girls are adjusting out of their feral ways and acting more human, Lilly, is struggling with her new settings and is downright strange.  Older sister, Victoria, who has had bad eyesight since she was three, and had lost her glasses during the car crash with her dad five years earlier seems torn between her loyalties to her uncle and her new mommy figure Annabel, and the mysterious entity the girls call Mama. 

The first and second acts do their jobs very well, they introduce the plot, build the characters, and shows us the need for the children to live normal and happy lives. We see Lucas malevolently man-handled and who ends up in the hospital, leaving the child rearing to Annabel.  Annabel, a person who not only doubts herself as a mother figure, but also doubts herself as an adult.  Clearly in her thirties or quickly approaching thirty, she struggles with her inability to bond with a child and clearly sees this as a reason why she an Lucas have not started a family. Because of the quick pace, that director Muschietti and Editor Michele Conroy keep through the first and second acts we don't explore Annabel's emotions too deeply and perhaps that is what keeps this film from going a level deeper.

'Mama's' third act continues at a wild pace but quickly slows down and allows the reader to catch his or her breath.  The climax of "Mama" is, in my opinion, mixed.  There are parts of this film that seem inconsistent in both story and in the acting.  However, in the third act is where the film is made or unmade.  We come to understand the relationship the girls have with Mama, we see certain things that explain who this creature is and its need for the children, and Chastain's character’s need to find the mother within and save the children.  There is a Lovecraftian notion to never show too much of the monster, just hint at it.  Muschietti does an excellent job of this for the first two acts, using real life creatures and makeup to display his horror, however, it is at the end that he filmmaker tend to rely too much on CGI to tell the story for them.  I enjoyed a great deal of the one hour and forty minutes, and although the ending was not a complete letdown, I did wish for something  a bit more.

My personal notion is that if you are going to make a horror film, go all the way and make it R-rated and pull out all the stops.  Hell, even if it is cheesy and gory take out all the stops.  'Mama,' on the other hand is rated PG-13, however, "Mama" does provide the audience with the thrills, the shock, the horror, and catharsis that we go to see films like "Mama" for.

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