Mississippi Burning: Review of Mudbound

Mudbound

Director: Dee Rees

By Alex Watson

Dee Rees' Mudbound is a movie that is unafraid of tackling a dark point in US history. Among the muddy fields of Mississippi, the racial tension simmers. However, Rees also makes the human struggle element clear because this story is about how one piece of land causes a great divide among families. There is also a notion of brotherhood and two characters although worlds apart are drawn together by a terrible experience. The end result is an emotionally engaging piece.

Henry McAllan (Jason Clarke) leaves his idyllic city life in Memphis to pursue his dream of owning a farm in Mississippi. The move is hard on his wife Laura (Carey Mulligan) who struggle to adapt to living in a shack with no running water or electricity. She is also drawn to his war hero brother Jamie (Garrett Hedlund) who is affected by his combat experience. At the other end of the spectrum is sharecropper Hap (Rob Morgan) who has five children with wife Florence (Mary J Blige)- their son Ronsel (Jason Mitchell) has also returned home from WWII but faces another war altogether.

While six different characters providing narration does feel like overkill in places, there are few complaints to be had about Mudbound. Rees is able to draw us to each individual characters and bring them into their innermost thoughts. There is an unspoken sense of order through the early stages of this picture and from the moment Henry's family arrives, Hap knows their place in the world. His family has worked on the land for generations even though the land will never become his. " this character continually wonders about his place. While Henry is never outright hostile or unkind, his Pappy (a delightfully evil Jonathan Banks) is very much upfront with his hostility. Refusing to even sit next to Hap in the front of their car, his blunt hatred causes friction whenever he appears.

Jamie's arrival is one that stirs the pot. Permanently drunk and suffering from PTSD, he is saddled with a deep-seated guilt over the soldiers he failed to save in WWII. Laura is drawn to his kindness as he seems to embody everything her husband isn't. When meeting Ronsel for the first time, the pair do not see black or white but a fellow combat vet. Their friendship blossoms because they both understand the horrors of war. Sadly it also ignites a furious reaction from Pappy and what transpires is truly horrific. At the height of segregation, this friendship becomes the movie's heart and soul.  Laura's story is also one that brings a sadness to our hearts. A woman trying to make the most of the soggy and mud-filled land she occupies, she also chafes under the dominance of her unlikable father in law and her distance husband.

Rees's takes her audience into a time that most American audiences wish to forget. In 1940's deep south, there was an obvious social ladder and Hap and Florence's family unwittingly found themselves on the bottom rung. The intense hatred and hostility are at times also unbearable to watch. Especially during a tense sequence where Ronsel attempts to leave via the front door of a shop. Pappy and his equally racist pal are quick to ensure he knows to leave through the backdoor "I don't know what they let you do over there, but you're in Mississippi now!" Hap and Florence are bravely trying to build their own dream despite the odds being stacked against them. The notions of losing and keeping faith are strongly enforced- Laura is continually losing hope over her husband's perhaps foolish intentions.

While Carey Mulligan gives a stand-out turn as the struggling Laura, she is almost a background player in this story. Garrett Hedlund is outstanding in a strong supporting role and firmly captures a man wrestling with his conscience. Dismissed as drunk by both his brother and father, Jamie carries a burden few men understand. Hedlund is definitely Oscar-worthy here. Jason Mitchell's Ronsel is the character who will capture your heart. A brave soldier, he comes home to find the old problems that plagued his life are still there. Mitchell's barely contained disgust is mesmerizing to watch and on merit alone, he deserves to rewarded. Mary J Blige is the one tipped for Oscar glory and as in a powerful and less showy turn- she thoroughly lives up to the hype.

Mudbound is a movie that captures the struggles of everyday people trying to live a dream. It is also a powerful voice about a dark era of US history.

Finding Neverland: Review of Pan

Pan

Director: Joe Wright

By Alex Watson

You really want to love Joe Wright's movie Pan and on a technical level this is a beautiful adventure that brings the Neverland to life in a way never seen. Tragically underneath the dazzling façade lies a painful and very misguided picture. Wright who so wonderfully entranced in his film-making magic in Anna Karenina and Atonement feels literally all at sea. Despite Hugh Jackman taking large bites out of the scenery, this movie cannot make up for the lack of character depth which sinks this lifeless prequel to the mermaid filled waters below. 

Peter Pan (Levi Miller) is an orphan living in London during the WWI, abandoned by his mother Mary (Amanda Seyfried) he still hopes to reunited with her some day. Snatched from his bed along with other boys by pirates and transported to Neverland. There he discover a land ruled with an iron fist by pirate Blackbeard who forces them to mine the land for fairy dust. Through random events he becomes acquainted with an ambitious miner, James Hook (Garrett Hedlund) and a warrior princess named Tiger Lily (Rooney Mara). 

Possibly the worse crime about Wright's take on JM Barrie's world is that the story in Pan is so torn to pieces we have no idea what we are viewing? Hook in this one feel like a cookie cutter version of Indiana Jones (complete with Fedora hat) who is more of a jerk than a franchise changing villain. Peter Pan comes off as a rather smart mouth street punk. In the opening ten minutes we see Peter taken from London by a flying pirate ship that transports him to land where a crowd singing 'Smells Like Teen Spirit' by Nirvana greets them. Wires become frantically crossed and as annoyed parents stare at the screen is disbelief, your faith in this picture has disappeared before you know it. 

From a cinema perspective the world is gorgeous to look at and the photography by John Mathieson and Seamus McGarvey injects some life into an otherwise dull affair. There are moments that give this movie some fun, Hook in this picture is afraid of crocodiles. Wright seems to have to keep us blind to the wreck that lies beneath the coat of gloss. Story wise there is little to really arouse the mind, although the side plot of why precisely Blackbeard wants the fairy dust so badly so give a darker undertone. Tiger Lilly is given little purpose in this movie and Rooney Mara in a one note role becomes wasted. Her headdress is interesting but they reduce Tiger Lilly to simply acting as a story-teller than a warrior princess. 

This lack of development hinders the film and the splicing and dicing of ideas creates a whole new beast. Wright shows he has taken notes from the Avengers but having a finale based up in the air. After two hours of shifting in our chairs, finally we are given so vague entertainment as Peter leads the fairies in an attack against Blackbeard. Reaching this point takes sheer will power and as you often eye the exit door there is a blessed relief when the credits finally roll. Though your heart does sink when you realize that there will likely be another outing in the pipeline.

Hugh Jackman has a ball playing the theatrical Blackbeard, but sadly he feels so over the top that it feel his lid blew away long before. Although he does giving a decent campy menace, this is not one of Jackman's finest outings. Levi Miller does a good enough job as the young rascal Peter and his youthful sense of wonder enlightens things some. Garrett Hedlund on paper should have made a fine Hook, but his role is one that is criminally underwritten. Hedlund has some great moments of humour but enough to record the save. 

Pan is an effort that wasn't entirely necessary from Joe Wright and despite some clever visuals we are left with a rather embarrassing picture. I can respect his want to bring a new spin on heavily adapted tale, but his jokey and strange approach to this prequel will only alienate hardcore fans.  

Three Best Ice Bucket Challenges

Hugh Jackman, Garrett Hedlund, Rooney Mara & Entire Cast/Crew of Pan

Out of all the ALS Ice Bucket Challenges, this one had the most party atmosphere to it as Hugh Jackman, taking centre stage brings basically everyone but the Janitor into frame to accept the challenge! Now that's what you call an interesting work day!

Tom Cruise & Chris McQuarrie

The long time collaborators founded themselves challenged by Jackman & Co to undertake the challenge- but as they point out most the crew isn't there so they decide to take the hit for them. Have to say for sheer determination these two do well, you almost feel their strain by the end!

Steven Spielberg

From the varying reactions on show, the legendary directors one was the most cool and collected (except for maybe Chris Hemsworth, though we are still waiting for JJ Abrams to dump the bucket over his head!