Tag Archives: 4 stars

Logan (2017)

08 Wednesday Mar 2017

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Credit – Johnny Cash

“And I heard, as it were, the noise of thunder
One of the four beasts saying,
‘Come and see.’ and I saw, and behold a white horse”
There’s a man goin’ ’round takin’ names
And he decides who to free and who to blame
Everybody won’t be treated all the same
There’ll be a golden ladder reachin’ down
When the man comes around”

The end credits of the movie Logan are accompanied by this song.   I cannot think of a more fitting song.  This movie is true genius in its entirety.  An antihero film on par with the Dark Knight.   Not a comic book movie, but a real film of note.  See it in a theater with the full on digital sound and video projection of Dolby Atmos.  You wont regret it.

Set in the near future, Logan is able to do something that most superhero films cant do, ground itself in humanity.  When I walk into a superhero film, I expect to be carried away for two hours by flying people, aliens, or some sort of magic.  But, I never forget that I am watching a superhero movie.  Logan is so grounded in muck and grime that it takes itself very seriously.  At times I forgot I was watching a movie about a man with claws, and that is an awesome achievement.

Hugh Jackman is a marvel in this film.   He really is Logan / Wolverine.  However, since Logan is world weary and worn out, Jackman plays him with a pained, damaged expression.  He is never really comfortable both emotionally and physically and Jackman gives him a limp to reinforce this fact.  His facial features are not those of youth, they are those of a person who has done too much, seen too much, and cannot forget.   Jackman should really win some sort of award for this role, even be nominated for next year’s Oscar, he is that good.

Patrick Stewart is a delight as a ninety plus year Professor Charles Xavier.   He caused a mass mutant catastrophe years back and is dealing with the inability to control his mind. One of the most powerful telekenetic mutants of all time is begin to lose control because of age and has devastating seizures that cause people to die.  Logan, because of his ability to heal, is one of the few remaining x-men that can be his caretaker.   The give and take between Logan and Professor X is a highlight and I can see the affection that the actors have for one another.

However, the real scene stealer is 12 year old, 4 foot tall Dafne Keen.  As mutant X-23 she it unforgettable.  Her fluidity of movement, ferociousness, and connection to Logan allow Keen to play this role as sidekick, pupil, and naive newcomer.  She acts with her eyes and it works wonders.   Just the right amount of side eye, eyes wide open, and eyes filled with anger allow Keen to hit every beat with her character.   I really hope they allow her to grow with the character as she could be the cornerstone of a new mutant franchise.

Director James Mangold makes every choice in the film perfectly.  From the locations, to the acting, editing, and the soundtrack, Logan comes alive with his every choice.   At one point, the movie Shane is playing in a background and becomes the perfect backdrop to this modern day western and road trip movie.

Enjoy this one folks, we will never again see Jackman as The Wolverine.

4 stars – A Hitting a Mark recommendation.

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Abruzzo’s Italian Restaurant & Lounge

30 Friday Dec 2016

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In my normal day job, I tend to travel a bit.  I work in various suburbs and towns around the Chicago metropolitan area.   I really like exploring the surrounding areas by the remote site offices, as there is usually something I run into by mistake and it leaves an impression.  The really fun part is when I make mention to my family about the place and we get to share the experience together.

The office I was working in would be considered a public transit island.  Meaning, you couldn’t easily travel to location by our local rail commuter service.   I tried multiple different ways to travel home via different streets, hoping to magically shave off 15 minutes from the car drive home.  (This never happened, the shaving of the 15 minutes)  But, while cutting through Melrose Park on Division Street, I ran into this lighted little area lined with little restaurants.  Abruzzo’s caught my eye.  It looked like the type of place that my wife and family would enjoy.

I always tell my wife that I am trying to make memories, because we need to live for the day   Abruzzo’s is a restaurant that allows you to do just that.   As we approached the building, both it and the street were beautifully decorated for the holidays.   Upon entering the dining area, we were seated with a table with white table cloths, perfect place settings, and wonderful decor.  In my imagination I could see and hear Frank Sinatra holding court in the corner booth.   The charm just came at you from every angle.  Looking around, I just smiled.   It was magnificent.

Our waiter was at out table side very quickly, suggested some drinks, and listened as our daughter explain her food allergies.  He quickly broke down what she should have and not have and customized a dish with her in mind.   Just fantastic service from the Abruzzo staff.

Abruzzo’s features both homemade sauces and noodles.  And neither disappointed.   My wife ordered the home-made flat noodles with crumbled sausage in vodka sauce.  This dish is called “Maltagliati all Vodka”.  From the first bite, she was in heaven.  The noodles were firm and cooked perfectly, the vodka sauce was savory and just the right amount of flavor, and the crumbled sausage was awesome.

I ordered Pappardelle noodles, meat sauce, and a meatball.  It was perfect.  The noodles and sauce complemented each other and the meatball added just the right amount of flavor.   Our daughter’s dish had baked gnocchi and was just delightful as well.

Did I mention the serving sizes were huge?  Two adults could easily split one dish, so we all had leftovers for the next day!   We finished the meal with two desserts.  Homemade cheesecake with blueberries and Sfingi with Rhum Baba.  Sfingi is an Italian Donut with whipped cream and rum.  Both desserts were absolutely delicious.

If you are in the Chicago area, do yourself a favor and make your way to Abruzzo’s in Melrose Park.

4 stars – A Hitting a Mark recommendation.

 

 

Rogue One: A Star Wars Story

17 Saturday Dec 2016

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When Disney bought Lucasfilm, I was a bit leery as to the direction the franchise was going to head in as a story.  Disney is driven by its excellence in Marketing and the firm’s ability to cross sell it’s products.   While the Marvel Cinematic Universe was built, the excellence in Disney’s ability to take a bit of a hands off approach gave me hope.    This was all a Star Wars junkie could want, especially after the blandness and wooden prequels were released.

While watching announcements about “mining the Star Wars Universe for stories”, I thought we were going to a sub par product.  “Mining” sounded like a money grab.  Something Disney was doing to turn a profit on their investment.   Then three things happened; George Lucas was announced to have no direct involvement in the future story building attempts, Gareth Edwards was hired to direct Rogue One, and The Force Awakens was released and it was a huge success.

In order to understand how huge the Gareth Edwards hiring was at the time, there is a story to tell.  Edwards is a huge Star Wars fanboy.  He estimates that he has seen Star Wars: A New Hope at lease 300 times.   For his 30th birthday, Edwards made the trek to Tunisia to spend the night in the same sand home that Luke Skywalker was shown in during the original Star Wars film.   That’s the type of director Edwards is and how much he loves Star Wars.

I will not spoil any part of the movie.  Rather, I will comment on the acting, directing, and story.  This movie is loaded with tons of cameos and they are terrific.   Felicity Jones is really good as heroine Jyn Erso.   She has just the right amount of earnest believability and connection to the rebel alliance.    Erso is raised to be a tough badass and boy can she bring the pain.  An Oscar nominated actress,  Jones is just wonderful and really connects with the audience.

But my main rule is to always base your review of a movie on how good the bad guys of the movies.  The two main baddies in the film are Darth Vader and Director Orson Krennic, head of the Imperial Weapons Program.   Krennic is played by Ben Mendelsohn.  He is excellent and brings just the right balance of deviousness and suck up weasel ambition to the role.  He could have overplayed this role, but really works hard to make it in the new Empire.

Edwards really gets the movie going in the second half, the first hour being used as a methodically paced setup and introduction of characters.  His eye for shot selection and setup of the visual effects is just stunning.  This is the best looking and most action packed Star Wars film to date.  He also is brilliant in the use of cameos and more than once I would audibly go “Wow, thats ******”.   As a total fanboy, this just made the experience extra special to me.

Finally, the story.   Based off an idea from the opening crawl of Star Wars:  A New Hope, Rogue One really gets the story right.   Nothing is wasted and after 30 years some things are explained and it causes your to think – “Huh, so thats why”.   It helps to close more than one story gap from the New Hope.   I cant divulge anymore, but know that you will not be dissappointed.

Overall, a remarkable achievement in film.

4 Stars – A Hitting a Mark recommendation.

 

 

The Jungle Book – 2016

16 Saturday Apr 2016

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The Jungle Book (2016) is a live action remake and update of the iconic Disney cartoon that was released in 1967.   The cartoon version of the Jungle Book was the last movie that Walt Disney worked on before he died.  This film pulls story and structure from both the cartoon and Rudyard Kipling’s original source material.   To put this together into a film that simply works is an enormous amount of pressure.  Such a daunting task was given to Jon Favreau, who was tapped to be the director of the film.   Does he succeed?  With a resounding Yes!  This film is magical (Excuse the obvious Disney pun).

Director Jon Favreau puts together his finest film to date, better than Iron Man and Chef. To see this film and realize none of it is real, all computer generated graphics, just made me shake my head in wonder.  The stunning world created by Favreau and the wizards of the effects team is just fantastic.  When watching this film, you are totally immersed in the jungle.   There was not a point in the film when I noticed it was computer animation.   It just exists.

Neel Sethi, the lone human actor, plays Mowgli the man cub.  He interacts with the computer animated world like a pro who has been doing it for years.  The credit for the manner in which the film is shot, and the young actors seamless connectivity to all of the computer animated characters has to go to Favreau.  His direction is flawless, with every choice shown on the screen just pitch perfect.  However, keep an eye out for this actor, as I can predict good things to come for him.

Every choice of each actor who provided voices for the animated characters is perfect.

Idris Elba is Shere Khan.  And boy does he produce the right amount of menace, sheer terror, and a bullying presence as the evil tiger.

Ben Kingsley is Bagheera.  His steady voice and sheer majestic presence as Mowgli’s guiding hand is just fantastic.  His voice and the smooth moves of the panther just go together.

Bill Murray is Baloo.  The moment Baloo is on screen and Murray’s voice comes out of the bear’s mouth, adults were laughing.  Kids caught up to Baloo’s antics, but this is inspired casting.  Murray just injects the film with a bit of whimsy and silliness and it is perfect.

Christopher Walken is King Louie.  Inspired casting?  Nope, PERFECT casting.   Walken just brings it as King Louie.   He has a plan to use the red flower (fire) with bad intentions.   His giant ape is not to be trifled with and it takes some effort to pry Mowgli away from him.

There are many other voice actors who are outstanding.  But I would be remiss if I didn’t mention that everything really looks like live action and real animals.  When deaths occur,  the animals attack with ferocity.   So please note – anyone under the age of 6 may have a bit of a hard time with the more intense scenes in the film.  Parents, you may need to explain that this happens in the real jungle the same way, as it is that realistic.

Finally, if this movie is not nominated for Best Picture, I will be disappointed.  The effects teams should all be nominated as should Favreau.  Enjoy this film, I know I sure did.  4 stars – A Hitting a Mark recommendation.

 

 

Star Wars: The Force Awakens

19 Saturday Dec 2015

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My love of movies began with seeing The Empire Strikes Back in a packed movie theater.  The crowd was rowdy, it was truly the first time I could feel an energy while waiting to see a film.  Anticipation, excitement, and wonder were all around.  When Yoda tells Luke – “For my ally is the Force, and a powerful ally it is. Life creates it, makes it grow. Its energy surrounds us and binds us. Luminous beings are we, not this crude matter. You must feel the Force around you; here, between you, me, the tree, the rock, everywhere, yes. Even between the land and the ship”, I truly understood what he meant because of the way the crowd reacted to the movie.

Nostalgia is good and bad.  It can be good because it comforts us, providing memories of better times.   It can also be bad, as we tend to focus on only the best and loving memories, glossing over the problems or issues with the experience that we are having in the current moment.    The Force Awakens provides nostalgia in whopping amounts, hitting the viewer again and again.   And because Star Wars figured so prominently in my childhood, I never stopped smiling (and shedding a tear of joy or two).

JJ Abrams did it.  As the director of the first movie under Disney, who paid George Lucas 4 billion dollars(!!) to the rights for Star Wars, he had a monumental task.   I am very happy that Disney gave the reigns to JJ as he is a fellow Star Wars geek.    He truly loved the first set of movies.  And in this movie he lovingly takes from the first set and places it again up on screen for all to see.   He makes several brilliant decisions with this movie, bringing back the old cast, using practical effects, and simply casting new leads of whom the viewer can be invested in.  A fantastic job by JJ.

My one concern is the number of times they re-used portions of the first trilogy in this movie.   And I get why they did it.  Wash away the bad taste in everyone’s mouth from the prequels.   Use the older films to start off the new series of films because everyone loves them.  OK, JJ and Co, that’s it. No more re-treads.   If a Death Star like weapon in the next movie, I am docking the film two stars right off the bat.

You gotta feel both nervous and glad for director and writer Rian Johnson. He will get a chance to take Episode 8 and go in  a different direction.   Nervous, because he gets this shiny new r Star Wars universe to play with and he also has the new and old cast in an original story.  Glad, because the story can be told with a fresh set of ideas and doesn’t have to mimic the old set of films.

I am going to avoid writing about any spoilers in this review.  Some other media outlets can do that.  I truly want all of you to experience this movie first hand.  The scale of the film is excellent and sound and cinematography are fantastic and deserve Academy Award nominations.

As I mentioned before, the idea of casting the older stars and mixing them in with a fresh crop of stars is brilliant.   Seeing the old characters on film just made me smile again and again.  From Chewbacca to Admiral Ackbar, I just kept being reminded about what was good with the first films.  And the supporting characters are excellent in this film.  Chewbacca is funny, imposing, and just a delight to see on screen.  R2 D2 and C3PO provide just the right touches at the right moments in the film.

Carrie Fisher as General Leia Organa is a wonder.  Fisher plays her with such a sense of responsibility and weariness.  When she is on screen, the movie settles into the drama it needs to be,  giving the viewer a sense of the enormity of the decisions as well as her investment personally in the Rebellion and Resistance.

Mark Hamill is fantastic.  His facial expressions and eyes show the pain, guilt, and loss he has felt.   Hamill is a wonder on screen and gives us a taste of the excitement and good things to come.  He just pops and has us wondering how soon Episode 8 will be here!  May 26th, 2017 for all of you wondering…

Harrison Ford.  Harrison Ford.  Nope that is not a typo.  I had to write it twice because the director hitched his wagon to Ford and he delivers.   JJ knows Harrison has a blockbuster or two under his belt, so a good portion of the movie is him and the new cast.  And what a wonder it is.  He just kills it. He as depth to him and when he talks about the Jedi and Dark Side, you get the feeling from him that he is still thinking “I have seen these things, but still don’t believe them”.  Ford is the MVP of the movie, giving it a grounded feeling while still provide the smirking, smart ass attitude of Han Solo.

Oscar Isaac is very good as the best pilot in the Resistance, Poe Dameron. He is confident and brash, very capable and truly forms a bromance with John Boyega’s Finn.  It will be interesting to see where they go with this character in future films as he has so much promise.

John Boyega as the Finn is fantastic.  His comedic timing is perfect and he has a “what the heck did I get myself into” attitude throughout the film.  He provides just the right touch of drama and really plays off Daisy Ridley’s character, Rey, very well.

Adam Driver.   Wow.   Just Wow.  His dark side driven Kylo Ren is fantastic. He just chews up every scene he is in.  I always judge a movie by how good a villain is and he is very good.   His portrayal is frightening.  Up until now, every Star Wars bad guy moved with a purpose, a sense of deviousness and plodding methodology.  What happens if a dark side baddie was overly emotional?  Well, here is your answer.  When he is mad, look out.  Oh and Driver is just brilliant with his physical movements. A few times he turned while in costume with the mask and I thought “Uh Oh, here is comes”.  He was able to convey a sense of dread and evil just by how he moves in the film.

Daisy Ridley is a revelation.  She provides such a fresh face and sense of wonder to the film.  And how awesome is it that she is an action star.  I really hope they explain how she got her moves, but she is the heroine that this new set of films can rely on going forward.  She really connects with us, allowing us to invest in her character and at the same time, watch her grow with a wide eyed wonderment.  She also provides the best instant classic line in the movie – “Oh that’s just a piece of garbage”.   Them the camera swings to reveal the Millennium Falcon!   Ridley is going to explode after this movie, if she handle everything right, every nerd will love her, girls will adore her, and she will have legions of fans.

The visuals in the movie are award worthy.   The way they shot the flying scenes with the Millennium Falcon are just awe inspiring.  Some of the best scenes are the Falcon flying and how much they beat the daylights out of the ship.   No wonder it keeps breaking down!

That being said – the film is a triumph!  4 stars – A Hitting a Mark Recommendation!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Martian

11 Sunday Oct 2015

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The Martian is a brilliant movie.   The acting, screenplay, direction, and cinematography are just brilliant.  This is the best word I can think of that describes the movie and the world that is created by director Ridley Scott.  This is an experience and not just a movie, that’s how good it is.

Matt Damon play Mark Watney, an botanist astronaut who is part of the six person crew exploring Mars.   Because of a freak storm and accident, the crew abandons the mission and he is left behind, thought for dead.   However, he does wake up and begins to address the situation of his abandonment.  His greatest challenge is time.  He needs to have food and water that will allow him to last the time needed to survive until the next mission arrives.

Damon play the part as a astronaut and botanist would do, he works through the supplies he has, figures out what he has and how he can make them last, and “sciences the hell” out of the situation.  He faces the situation with tongue in cheek humor, while coming up with some pretty impressive solutions to the challenges put before him.

The rest of the cast are just phenomenal.  Jessica Chastain, Michael Pena, Kate Mara, Jeff Daniels, Kristen Wiig, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Sean Bean, and Donald Glover are just fantastic in each of their parts.   They bring just the right amount of emotion to each scene.   They all play off one another and their interactions show the right amount of despair, humor, pain, anxiety, and determination.   Just a fantastic cast.

Director Ridley Scott deserves an Academy Award nomination for his efforts on this movie.  To oversee the editing, visual effects, sound effects, and actors show just a master at the peak of his skills.   Every single choice in the movie is a win.

Do not wait to see this movie.  See it on a large format screen with digital sound.

4 stars – a Hitting a Mark recommendation.

The Raid – Redemption

28 Tuesday Jul 2015

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This is one of the best martial arts films I have ever seen.   Set in Indonesia, this movie is pretty much non-stop action.   Be warned, there are sub-titles.  Do not let that deter you, take the time to see this movie.   The enjoyment is just off the charts.

Set in a 15 story building, in a raid organized to go after a brutal crime lord who uses the building as his headquarters, The Raid: Redemption puts the Police Swat team against overwhelming, impossible odds.   To add the to the lunacy, the bad guys been tipped off and the battle is on.  Nothing, I mean nothing, is not used to beat the living bejeesus out of your opponent.   The action just never stops.

This is filled with first time actors and the plot is simple.  Go in, kick butt, survive, get the bad guy.   Impressively, the movie was made for only a little over a million dollars.

The music is another plus.   It adds a pounding pulse to the film, enhancing the action and has you sitting on the edge of your seat.   Also, the fight choreography is just outstanding.   The fights are incredibly well choreographed and the director had to work overtime on the shot selection and editing.  That alone is enough of a reason to enjoy the film.

4 starts – A Hitting a Mark Recommendation.

Ant-Man

18 Saturday Jul 2015

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Ant-Man is a wonderful film.   It is charming, action packed, suspenseful, and just plain out fun to watch.   While there have been gripes about the Marvel “movie structure” being in place, the film serves to kick start Marvel’s “Phase 3” in glorious fashion.  This reviewer is simply enjoying the greatest collection of films brought together in a timely manner.   And ther is nothing wrong with that structure being in place.

Paul Rudd is brilliantly chosen as the lead.  His character, Scott Lang, is charming, good looking, a master thief, and really has great comedic skills.   The movie is the funniest of the Marvel films to date and never over extends itself.    Rudd really cares and his efforts to become the hero are grounded in his reality. He needs to show his daughter that he something more than a burglar.  That he wants her to know him as a good guy.

Evangeline Lilly is fantastic his martial arts teacher and romantic interest.    She really gives a excellent performance showing angst, comedy chops, and making you feel her pain.   Her Hope van Dyne is expressive and very much the equal to Scott Lang.  The future is bright for them.

Michael Douglas is a revelation.  This is his first ever big effects movie and boy it is a delight to watch him with the other actors. He jus a master on screen and just connects with the audience and the story.   He is the original Ant-Man and the brilliant inventor of the Pym particle.

However, Marvel movies only are ever as good as their villains.   The fantastic Corey Stoll plays Darren Cross.   And he just gives the character layers of emotion and some of the best acting with eyes since Mickey Rourke in Iron Man 2.

Director Peyton Reed just hits all the marks correctly and really uses visual effects to the full extent.  See this movie in 3D and in IMAX.   The sound and effects are phenomenal and just blew me away.  So make your way to see this film, you won’t be disappointed.

4 stars – A Hitting a Mark recommendation.

Daredevil – Netflix

04 Thursday Jun 2015

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Marvel is in a unique situation.  They have had so many hit movies and are on such a roll with the MCU (Marvel Cinematic Universe).   There is a massive catalogue of heroes to choose from, both super and non-super.   When Marvel sold its most marketable characters, Spider-Man, The X-Men, and Fantastic Four in order to get itself out of debt, it took a tremendous chance on its B roster.  Notably, the use of Iron Man as a central character.  And since then, they have not had a failure in any of the movies they have released.

All of the Marvel movies are basically stuck being in the most marketable rating a movie can be assigned.  The PG-13 rating.    It allows for cursing and suggestive material while not segregating a block of viewership with an R rating. But some characters are really at their best and have been most popular in a graphic novel format.  Such is the situation with Daredevil.

Marvel now is so popular and it’s Avenger’s series is the driving force behind the success of its current theatrical franchise.  However, it also has a group of heroes known as the Defenders.   They protect various parts of New York City.  Marvel and Netflix have a deal to produce four individual series based on the Defenders series.  And if Daredevil is going to represent the quality we are about to see in this group, Marvel has set itself up for another round of successes.

Daredevil is gritty, grounded, and real.   He get hurt and takes a tremendous realistic beating.   He has to be stitched up and has limitations to his movement.   Having learned martial arts and a sort of parkour movements, he can’t fly and doesn’t have super strength.    After an accident with some radioactive chemical materials, he is blind.  But, his remaining senses are heightened to the point where his blindness doesn’t inhibit his daily activities.   The blindness is his cover as well.  Who could suspect a blind hero?

I have said this many times, and it is always true.  A hero is only as good as the villain.   In this case, an inspired choice of casting was done.   Vincent D’Onofrio is downright fantastic as Wilson Fisk (the Kingpin).  His want of a better Hell’s Kitchen comes from the pain of his youth.  It has warped him and he typically is quite contemplative about all of the events in his life.   However, when he loses his composure, he is vicious, violent, and pure rage.   The transformation is inspired acting.  Fisk is second only to Loki in terms of great villains in the MCU.

Strong scripts, excellent acting, and great direction really have this series pointed in the right direction.   Sit back, enjoy, and relax.  It’s a heck of a ride.

4 Stars – A Hitting A Mark recommendation.

The Imitation Game

19 Tuesday May 2015

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I am fascinated to learn about a subject that I had utterly no clue existed.   It is when I am most engaged in whatever forum or event I am participating in a that moment.   The Imitation Game brings to light the incredible story of Alan Turing.   Alan Turning was a brilliant mathematician who invented a computer to break the Nazi’s enigma code.  The code was thought to be completely unbreakable.  He was also a gay man, at a time in history when it was illegal to be gay in Britain

Winston Churchill said the he made the single greatest contribution to Britain’s war effort. It is estimated that he ended the war two years early and saved millions of lives.  He was also highly confrontational due to his possibley having Asperger’s syndrome. A malady that would make him be described as highly anti-social at times.

This is a brilliant acting performance by Benedict Cumberbatch. He gets all the nuances right, the portrayal correct. Cumberbatch is a fantastic actor in everything he is in.  His interplay with Kiera Knightley is inspired.  And with the rest of the cast, for a fantastic dynamic and really bring the film alive.

Another Oscar worthy item to note is the set pieces.   A set design and costume design can fill the film with life.  The costumes and sets in the film not only seem to give a tone, but they seem alive.   They just jump out at you.   They help to provide the viewer with a fantastic movie watching experience.

4 stars – A Hitting a Mark recommendation.