The Illusionist

I was very much up for seeing this film, it's one Adam had told me about way back in October, and had been released the other side of the Atlantic way before it was over here. Having loved the prestige, TA and I wanted to see if this would compare favourably!

The film begins with chief inspector Uhl (Giamatti) recounting the history of Eisenheim for Crown Prince Leopold, following Eisenheim's supposed spirit raising magic trick. Eisenheim (Aaron Johnson) was the son of a cabinetmaker, and one day he met a magician who performs several tricks for him and then, according to differing accounts, the magician and the tree he was sitting under disappear. Following this encounter, Eisenheim obsessed about magic tricks, but also falls for Sophie von Teschen (Biel), a duchess for whose family his father is a cabinetmaker. The two are forbidden from seeing each other but meet in secret in the woods, where Eisenheim tells of his plans to go to China to learn more magic and Sophie promises to go with him.

Eisenheim meets Sophie once again many years later at a performance when she is volunteered by the crown prince, as a participant in his trick. Eisenheim and Sophie plan to elope but first something must be done to stop Leopold, who is planning a coup d'etat to take control of Austria from his aging father, Emperor Franz Joseph, while using his engagement to win the support of Hungary. Uhl follows the couple and informs Leopold who kills Sophie in a drunken rage.

Leopold attends a show in disguise and Eisenheim summons the spirit of Sophie, who claims that someone present in the theater murdered her. Leopold orders Eisenheim's arrest, but when Uhl comes to arrest him during a show, Eisenheim's body fades and disappears, like a spirit.

Back to the first scene and Uhl has evidence of and informed the emperor's general staff of the murder and Leopold's plans to usurp the Austrian throne. When his father’s general staff arrive at the palace, Leopold shoots himself in despair. Upon leaving the palace, Uhl is given a folio by a child, explaining how Eisenheim created one of his tricks. Uhl is then able to put the facts together logically to reveal through a series of flashbacks, that in fact the entire series of events had been an elaborate illusion by Eisenheim to bring down Leopold and make off with Sophie as his love.

This was a well executed film and although in hindsight the ending should have been obvious, it eluded me throughout. 4 stars!

Letters from Iwo Jima

This is Clint Eastwoods second jaunt in to the WWII film direction, this time based on the brutal fight between the US and Japanese troops.

The island of Iwo Jima stands between the American military force and the home islands of Japan. Therefore the Imperial Japanese Army is desperate to prevent it from falling into American hands and providing a launching point for an invasion of Japan. General Tadamichi Kuribayashi is given command of the forces on the island and sets out to prepare for the imminent attack. General Kuribayashi, however, does not favor the rigid traditional approach recommended by his subordinates, and resentment and resistance fester among his staff. In the lower echelons, a young soldier, Saigo, a poor baker in civilian life, strives with his friends to survive the harsh regime of the Japanese army itself, all the while knowing that a fierce battle looms. When the American invasion begins, both Kuribayashi and Saigo find strength, honor, courage, and horrors beyond imagination.

This was a totally emotionally draining film showing just how pointless and painfull war is and it certainly gave me a different perspective into the war as it was in Japan.

Becoming Jane

Becoming Jane is a film adaptation of a book about the early life and times of Jane Austen, or what indeed the author Jon Spence speculated about actual events. I wasn't especially excited about this film, but TA consistanly pointed out all of the cast who had been in any Harry Potter films whenever the trailer came on - so naturally - she was very excited!

Jane Austen (Anne Hathaway) is the daughter of Rev. Austen (James Cromwell), a minister in a small rural community in Southern England with his wife (Julie Walters). Her older sister Cassandra (Anna Maxwell Martin) is engaged to be married, but Jane resists all efforts to partner her up with Mr. Wisley (Laurence Fox), a rich but boring nephew of Lady Gresham (Maggie Smith). Jane has aspirations to become a writer, although her family aren't so sure.

Jane then meets Tom Lefroy (James McAvoy), and she's intrigued; although he's critical of her writing style, he knows that she talent and he encourages her to experience more of the world, from more risqué literature to Tom's turn at boxing. Tom begins to court Jane, and she can't help but be ever more attracted to Tom, a poor but intelligent man. Jane realizes her own ideas about love and marriage is sometimes in conflict with the conventions of the society in which she lives.

A good performance and Hathaway did well for an American playing a Brit. Not one for DVD though - 3 Stars.

Dreamgirls

This was a film that I was really up for seeing but John was not really keen truth be told. John isn't a big Beyonce fan and this is her star turn (although the real star turned out to be Oscar winner Jennifer Hudson in the role of Effie White) It is based on the Broadway musical of the same name and the film includes many of the original songs along with some new ones just for the film.

The story follows Effie White (Hudson), Deena Jones (Knowles), and Lorrell Robinson - three friends from Chicago - who are a promising singing trio called The Dreamettes. Accompanied by their songwriter C.C. White (Effie's brother), they travel to New York to compete in a talent show at the Apollo Theatre. Although they lose out in the competition, they have the chance to sing back up for superstar James "Thunder" Early (Murphy) where their talent attracts an ambitious manager by the name of Curtis Taylor, Jr. (Foxx) who uses unscrupulous tactics to move the girls from backup singers to superstars of their own. Curtis reshapes the group to "crossover" from R & B to the lucrative pop music scene. Lead singer Effie gets replaced by the more attractive Deena, both in the band lineup and as Curtis' love interest and is eventually dropped from the trio. As the group evolves into a bestselling, slick group, The Dreams, with a lighter sound and chic look Effie is forgotten. They successfully attract a "whiter" audience and The Dreams rise to international stardom. The money, fame, and adulation, however, doesn't bring them happiness. A big show number at the end of the film see's the original Dreamettes lineup reunited in a suprisingly non sickening 'Happy Ending' way.

All in all I really enjoyed it, you can hum along and it was a film filled with music I enjoyed and a good cast with Jamie Foxx (who originally turned the part of Curtis down) Beyonce Knowles, Eddie Murphy and Jennifer Hudson and Danny Glover. I even think John enjoyed it!

Bobby

Bobby is a fictional drama written and directed by Emilio Estevez, and is set around the events of the 6th June 1968, California Presidential Primary, and the eventual assassination of Robert F. Kennedy at the Ambassador Hotel.

It has to be said, the cast list was impressive;

• John Casey (Anthony Hopkins) - The retired doorman, who never left, who's met any and all of the Hotel's famous residents.
• Diane Huber (Lindsay Lohan) and William Avary (Elijah Wood) - Diane is set to marry William, to prevent him being sent to the front line in Vietnam, but the arranged marriage becomes real when she truly falls for William.
• Tim Fallon (Emilio Estevez) and Virginia Fallon (Demi Moore) are entertainers, with both their careers and marriage dwindling.
• Mirriam Ebbers (Sharon Stone) plays a beautician married to the hotel manager Paul Ebbers (William H. Macy), who clashes with the hotel food and beverage manager, Timmons (Christian Slater). Timmons oversees numerous coloured staff members, but won’t let them out to vote, most of them are illegal, they can't vote anyway! Ebbers and Timmons clash, Timmons is fired, so is only too happy when revenge presents itself...
• Samantha (Helen Hunt) and Jack (Martin Sheen) are sponsors of the Kennedy campaign, and are attending the celebration party at the hotel.
• Wade (Joshua Jackson), Dwayne (Nick Cannon), Jimmy (Brian Geraghty), and Cooper (Shia LaBeouf) all play Kennedy volunteers working hard on the campaign trail. Or not so hard. Jimmy and Cooper spend the last day of campaigning vying for the affection of a waitress called Susan Taylor (Mary Elizabeth Winstead) and are easily distracted from their task by drug dealer called Fisher (Ashton Kutcher).
• Other characters include, Edward Robinson (Laurence Fishburne) who plays the head chef, busboys José Rojas (Freddy Rodriguez) and Miguel (Jacob Vargas) and the two switchboard operators Angela (Heather Graham) and Patricia (Joy Bryant). It is Angela's relationship with the Hotel manager, Paul Ebbers, that Timmons uses to his advantage, informing Mrs Ebbers of the affair as revenge.
• A Czech reporter is also present, Lenka Janacek (Svetlana Metkina) working in vain to get an interview with the Senator, by trying to prove herself to Wade. She eventually succeeds, but before she can meet the candidate, he's been shot.
• Finally there is Nelson (Harry Belafonte), the long-time friend of John Casey, the retired ex doorkeeper.

Each of the characters goes through their own experiences throughout that fated day, until all the character plots build into the victory party, where Senator Kennedy's electoral success is to be announced. After the announcement, the Senator is taken through the kitchen area, where many of the characters follow in a bid to meet the "Next President of the United States." From nowhere appears Sirhan Sirhan (David Kobzantsev), and shoots at Kennedy letting off several rounds. Kennedy falls to the floor fatally wounded, along with several others, William Avery, Jimmy, Cooper and Samantha.

I loved this film, I loved the way that you never saw the actor playing Kennedy's face, the only face we saw was Robert Kennedy's through a fantastic use of library footage, photographs, and recordings, melded perfectly into the story. The film doesn't pick up on any of the prosecution, trial or imprisonment of Shiran, and nor does it deign to comment on the numerous conspiracy theories. The film is purely about what America lost that day.

At the end of the film, you hear a speech by Robert Kennedy, over footage of the aftermath, and the effect it has on the characters in the film. I can't tell you what his speech was concerning, because I can't remember, but I can tell you that it was a very emotional ending.

4 Stars.

John