I have decided this year that, being a film student, I should invest in more movies and cinema experiences. Since I made that choice, I have also decided that I should review and rate them, and why not do so where all may be able to see?
In the last two weeks I have seen both The Wolf of Wall Street and The Secret Life of Walter Mitty. I will now share my personal opinion on both of these films. However, just to be clear, I am not comparing or contrasting these two. They are way too vitally different from each other for me to properly do that anyway. With that being said, I shall move on.
The Wolf of Wall Street, starring Leonardo DiCaprio and Jonah Hill, was not what I expected (to say the least). To be honest, I did not pay close attention to the listed rating nor did I notice the reasons behind why it had such a high rating. I wanted to see it for mainly two reasons; Leonardo DiCaprio, and Leonardo DiCaprio in a suit. I was in for quite a shock, however. For one, almost every other word out of anyone on screen were curse words, there was vulgar nudity, and a large focus on drug abuse. If I had only paid attention to the ratings, I would have probably been more prepared for what I witnessed. Would I still have gone if I had known? Yes, and Here's why: Although I did not quite enjoy the over-use of swears and nudity, DiCaprio did (as he always does) a phenomenal job! If anyone out there is a DiCaprio fan, I would recommend they view The Wolf of Wall Street at least once.
Now, from a film-student's point of view, this movie definitely had it's moments. It was beautifully directed, and there were amazing close-ups and a variety of other camera shots that clearly emphasized on whatever needed to be focused on. The way the scenes transitioned, or how the narration was done were just amazing! I realize this is a rather vague review, and I apologize for that. It's been over a week, so the film isn't quite fresh in my memory anymore. Also, I don't want to spoil anything for those who have yet to see it.
I give The Wolf of Wall Street a 6.5 out of 10.
Now for The Secret Life of Walter Mitty. I was quite hesitant to see this movie. I have never been a Ben Stiller fan. The roles he normally plays are usually in sick-humour films, and I am just not into that. However, I do not believe I have words to begin to express how fantastic that movie is. The story starts off in Mitty's home with him fiddling on his computer, debating whether or not to send a "wink" to a someone on e-Harmony. Unfortunately, the "wink" doesn't go through. so he calls the website's tech support for help. Although the beginning seems like it could be insignificant, it later ties in to the rest of the story. Every detail or transition or scene-change is smoothly done, sometimes in very subtle and/or unique ways. I often had a difficult time deciphering between was was the movie's reality and what was going on inside Mitty's head, which I'm sure was how Stiller wanted it. There are quite a bit of long-shot camera angles, perhaps to signify how unimportant Mitty believes he is. His apparent insignificance is rather ironic as the story progresses, since it later shows that he was part of the very backbone of his company.
From a film-student perspective, there are tons of beautiful landscape shots, close-up and not, and just intense panning and tilting shots and...it's just amazing. There really are no words. One of my favorite moments in the entire film was when Mitty trades his childhood toy for a long-board in Iceland and skateboards down a long winding road on a gradual hill towards a small village. The way they shot that scene; the camera angles, the movement...it just made me feel like I was the one skateboarding in Iceland. A very cool feeling.
Like I said, I have never been a fan of Ben Stiller, but he is a spectacular director. I wish this had been the first movie I had seen of him. If it had, my whole opinion of him would be entirely different.
I give The Secret Life of Walter Mitty a 8.5 out of 10.
In the last two weeks I have seen both The Wolf of Wall Street and The Secret Life of Walter Mitty. I will now share my personal opinion on both of these films. However, just to be clear, I am not comparing or contrasting these two. They are way too vitally different from each other for me to properly do that anyway. With that being said, I shall move on.
The Wolf of Wall Street, starring Leonardo DiCaprio and Jonah Hill, was not what I expected (to say the least). To be honest, I did not pay close attention to the listed rating nor did I notice the reasons behind why it had such a high rating. I wanted to see it for mainly two reasons; Leonardo DiCaprio, and Leonardo DiCaprio in a suit. I was in for quite a shock, however. For one, almost every other word out of anyone on screen were curse words, there was vulgar nudity, and a large focus on drug abuse. If I had only paid attention to the ratings, I would have probably been more prepared for what I witnessed. Would I still have gone if I had known? Yes, and Here's why: Although I did not quite enjoy the over-use of swears and nudity, DiCaprio did (as he always does) a phenomenal job! If anyone out there is a DiCaprio fan, I would recommend they view The Wolf of Wall Street at least once.
Now, from a film-student's point of view, this movie definitely had it's moments. It was beautifully directed, and there were amazing close-ups and a variety of other camera shots that clearly emphasized on whatever needed to be focused on. The way the scenes transitioned, or how the narration was done were just amazing! I realize this is a rather vague review, and I apologize for that. It's been over a week, so the film isn't quite fresh in my memory anymore. Also, I don't want to spoil anything for those who have yet to see it.
I give The Wolf of Wall Street a 6.5 out of 10.
Now for The Secret Life of Walter Mitty. I was quite hesitant to see this movie. I have never been a Ben Stiller fan. The roles he normally plays are usually in sick-humour films, and I am just not into that. However, I do not believe I have words to begin to express how fantastic that movie is. The story starts off in Mitty's home with him fiddling on his computer, debating whether or not to send a "wink" to a someone on e-Harmony. Unfortunately, the "wink" doesn't go through. so he calls the website's tech support for help. Although the beginning seems like it could be insignificant, it later ties in to the rest of the story. Every detail or transition or scene-change is smoothly done, sometimes in very subtle and/or unique ways. I often had a difficult time deciphering between was was the movie's reality and what was going on inside Mitty's head, which I'm sure was how Stiller wanted it. There are quite a bit of long-shot camera angles, perhaps to signify how unimportant Mitty believes he is. His apparent insignificance is rather ironic as the story progresses, since it later shows that he was part of the very backbone of his company.
From a film-student perspective, there are tons of beautiful landscape shots, close-up and not, and just intense panning and tilting shots and...it's just amazing. There really are no words. One of my favorite moments in the entire film was when Mitty trades his childhood toy for a long-board in Iceland and skateboards down a long winding road on a gradual hill towards a small village. The way they shot that scene; the camera angles, the movement...it just made me feel like I was the one skateboarding in Iceland. A very cool feeling.
Like I said, I have never been a fan of Ben Stiller, but he is a spectacular director. I wish this had been the first movie I had seen of him. If it had, my whole opinion of him would be entirely different.
I give The Secret Life of Walter Mitty a 8.5 out of 10.
