Category Archives: action

“Cloud Atlas” by Tom Tykwer, Lana & Lilly Wachowski (USA, 2012)

The Art of the Wachowski (sisters)

Cloud Atlas

So many layers, so rich in visual surprises! As Roger Ebert put it, citing Churchill: “it is a riddle, wrapped in a mystery, inside an enigma.”

Cast: Halle Berry, Hugh Grant, Jim Broadbent, Hugh Weaving, Susan Sarandon, Tom Hanks
Directors: Tom Tykwer, Lana Wachowski, Lilly Wachowski
Writers: David Mitchell (novel); Lana Wachowski, Tom Tykwer, Lilly Wachowski
Music by Reinhold Heil, Johnny Klimek, Tom Tykwer
Cinematography by Frank Griebe, John Toll
Film Editing by Alexander Berner, Claus Wehlisch

“Jupiter Ascending” by Lana & Andy Wachowski (USA, 2015)

The Art of the Wachowski (sisters)

Jupiter Ascending

Excellent special effects but repetitive situations, long action sequences that do not bring anything forward, and weak gender representation

Cast: Channing Tatum, Mila Kunis, Eddie Redmayne, Tuppence Middleton, Sean Bean, Douglas Booth, Jo Osmond, Terry Gilliam, DooNa Bae, Vanessa Kirby, James D’Arcy
Director: Lana Wachowski, Andy Wachowski
Screenplay: Andy Wachowski, Lana Wachowski
Original Music Composer: Michael Giacchino

“Dunkirk” by Christopher Nolan (UK, 2017)

Dunkirk

Excellent direction / “This is a movie of vision and integrity made on an epic scale” writes Matt Zoller Seitz / A (British) patriotic movie in time of Brexit…

Cast: Kenneth Branagh, Fionn Whitehead, Mark Rylance, Tom Hardy. Cillian Murphy. Harry Styles
Director: Christopher Nolan
Writer: Christopher Nolan
Cinematographer: Hoyte van Hoytema
Editor: Lee Smith
Composer: Hans Zimmer

“Blade Runner 2049” by Denis Villeneuve (USA, 2017)

Blade Runner 2049

Stylish, clever, at times poetic, at times too contemplative / Some of the secondary personages are not really correlated to the core of the story

Cast: Ryan Gosling, Jared Leto, Harrison Ford, Ana de Armas, Dave Bautista, David Dastmalchian, Jared Leto, Mackenzie Davis, Barkhad Abdi, Carla Juri, Robin Wright
Director: Denis Villeneuve
Writer: Philip K. Dick, Hampton Fancher, Michael Green
Cinematographer: Roger Deakins
Editor: Joe Walker
Composer: Benjamin Wallfisch, Hans Zimmer

“What Happened To Monday” by Tommy Wirkola (UK, 2017)

What Happened To Monday

Some excellent moments alternating with loss of momentum and some ridiculously weak bad guys

Cast: Noomi Rapace, Glenn Close, Willem Dafoe
Director: Tommy Wirkola
Writer: Max Botkin, Kerry Williamson
Cinematographer: José David Montero
Editor: Martin Stoltz
Composer: Christian Wibe