Non-stop: the perfect combo of action and thriller

An actor can get typecasted into a role, for example Tom Cruise after films like the Mission: Impossible franchise. Liam Neeson has begun to be identified as an action figure too after the epic Taken (2008), and aftermaths like Unknown, The A-Team, The Next Three Days and Christopher Nolan’s Batman. Contrary to Cruise, Neeson has the physicality required for that archetype and that’s partly why he’s been successful. This case of typecasting has been benefitial to Neeson.

Non-Stop tells the story of an Air Marshal, Bill Marks (Neeson) that receives mysterious messages while on a flight from New York to London. There’s a passenger on the plane that threatens to kill someone every 20 minutes unless there’s 150 million dollars deposited to an account. It turns out that it’s opened to his name, leading TSA to think he’s hijacking the plane. As he battles through the air he encounters the help of fellow passenger Kat Summers (Julianne Moore), and flight attendants Nancy (Michelle Dockery) and Gwen (Lupita Nyong’o).

This is one of those movies that you’ll have to watch more than once to fully understand it, the ending will leave you spinning. The pace is so fast, yet so slow; some very tense moments with great music but afterwards you feel as if it was only 5 minutes long.

The director is Jaume Collet-Serra, the spanish filmmaker who previously worked with Neeson in Unknown (2011). Collet-Serra has also done The House of Wax (2005) and Orphan (2009). The producers are Joel Silver, Alex Heineman, Steve Richards, Andrew Rona. Silver is the man behind Lethal Weapon and Die Hard, he created the production company Silver Pictures. The screenwriters are John W. Richardson, Chris Roach and Ryan Engle. After this heavy-weights in the action genre, you can expect a high quality movie.

Liam Neeson showed some depth to this character that we haven’t seen before in other action-packed flicks. It’s not more of the same. You’ll appreciate that he’s doing more of what he’s good at, as the saing says: “if it’s not broke don’t fix it”. Seems like Hollywood noticed that he and Julianne Moore have great chemistry, they paired them together again after Chloe (2009). The rest of the cast is great too, nice to see some new faces like Dockery and Nyong’o, they delivered.

If you think you can predict the ending of this movie, think again. As much as I tried to guess who was behind the phone, it was impossible. Until the very end it will keep you on the edge of your seat. This film is a great mix between a good script, first class actors and a memorable soundtrack. It shows off on some of the action sequences of technology, it couldn’t have been made in the previous century. Taken still remains as the best film Neeson’s made after Spielberg’s Schindler’s List, but Non-Stop is a close second. If Taken is 5/5, this one is 4.5/5.

Vivian Russo

Saving Mr. Banks: an insightful look into Mary Poppins

For a Disney fan there’s nothing more exciting than taking a look back into the work that took place to make an iconic movie. The plus is getting to see first-class actors like Tom Hanks and Emma Thompson take roles of memorable historic figures.

Saving Mr. Banks shows the 20-year process of Disney to acquire the film rights of the novel Mary Poppins. Although the actual film is remembered as an upbeat children’s musical, the author didn’t think of it as that originally. It takes place in London and Los Angeles in 1961 as the presente, and Australia in the early 1900’s through flashbacks.

The film is directed by John Lee Hancock, the same person that did The Rookie and The Blind Side. The writers are Kelly Marcel and Sue Smith, and the producers Alison Owen, Ian Collie and Philip Steuer.

Not only for Disney fans this movie is enjoyable, but also for film geeks that seek to see the process behind the silver screen. Nothing more legendary than Walt Disney himself.

Tom Hanks and Emma Thompson had remarkable performances, they should’ve been nominated in the respective acting categories for an Academy Award. Contrary to what people think, this is Hanks’ best role of 2013, not as Captain Phillips.

P.L. Travers is a mean yet kinda funny lady, saying everything she thinks like a true brit; as you learn more about her past she becomes more endearing. Maybe that was a bit of Thompson’s own self.

The sets are very believable, both in Australia, London and L.A. The mythical Disneyland makes an appearance and one can’t help but think back to their childhood. The happy music will make you sing along more than once. Saving Mr. Banks brings a whole lot of depth to the tales we thought were shallow and simple, after seeing this movie you’ll know Mary Poppins is nothing but plain.

Saving Mr. Banks was unfairly snubbed, along with the great film by Lee Daniels, The Butler. Collin Farrell also had a good participation. Other supporting performances include Ruth Wilson as Pamela’s mother, Paul Giamatti as the chauffeur Ralph, Bradley Whitford as  Don DaGradi, co-writer of the screenplay for Mary Poppins, and Jason Schwartzman and B.J. Novak as  music composers Richard and Robert Sherman.

If The Butler was 4.5/5, Saving Mr. Banks is 5/5.

Vivian Russo

Philomena: a heartbreaking true story

There have been many book adaptations into the big screen, a few can stand the test of time and become memorable. Philomena is very touching and shockingly true, many will dislike the extremist approach of the Catholic Church.

The film is named after the lead of the story, Philomena Lee (Judi Dench), an Irish lady that’s spend 50 years looking for her son. As she reveals her secret, journalist Martin Sixsmith (Steve Coogan) comes to the rescue to help her dig deeper. Along the way they encounter narrow-minded nuns that “helped” her as a young woman to give birth and the filthy business of adoption.

Coogan and Jeff Pope co-wrote the screenplay, and it was directed by Stephen Fears. The all-British crew is joined by Gabrielle Tana, Steve Coogan and Tracey Seaward as producers.

It’s not particularly slow but not fast either, the pace is good, completed with a perfect length of just over an hour and a half. Both characters are empathic, Martin is a cynic, nasty journalist and Philomena is the most endearing old lady ever. She endured hardship during her life for getting pregnant at a young age, yet she moved on with her life and doesn’t hold resentment towards anyone responsible.

Dench proves herself once again as a versatile actress and show why she got another Oscar nomination. If it wasn’t for Cate Blanchett, Dench might actually have a shot of winning.

The set designer was very accurate, it contrasted Ireland and the USA with different colors and people’s reactions, giving the viewer a sense of what each country stands for. On one hand Ireland is cold, grey and old-fashioned and the USA is bright, warm and full of opportunity. Philomena breaks the myth that British films can be boring, it’s an interesting movie. The film is a 5/5.

Vivian Russo