A Head Full of Dreams: Review of The Mercy

The Mercy

Director: James Marsh

By Alex Watson

While this is perhaps a more restrained effort than expected, James Marsh does an excellent job of showing the plight of sailor Donald Crowhurst. The Mercy show demonstrates that the of dreams is very much the subject matter here and thanks to a wonderful measured turn by Colin Firth, we see first hand how sometimes risks do not pay off. The open oceans are the real villain of this piece and Marsh shows us that when facing nature- man is always powerless.

Donald Crowhurst (Colin Firth) is a struggling businessman and sailing enthusiast. Desperate to keep his failing business afloat, Crowhurst decides an around the world race to win a 5000 cash prize. Hopelessly inexperienced and sailing a boat seemingly doomed for failure, Donald still pushes on. When finally out in the ocean, he soon realizes he either faces ruin by turning back or certain death by continuing. Keen not to face oblivion, Crowhurst decides to make fake entries in his log book to hide his failure. 

The Mercy is a movie that puts both its audience and its main star through the emotional wringer. Early on, we realize that Crowhurst is a man of big dreams, but thinking big doesn't always equal success. His loving and devoted wife Clare (Rachel Weisz) clearly dreads the prospect of her husband sailing away into the unknown. Woefully underprepared, Crowhurst is more or less a weekend sailor taking the biggest risk of his life. Seeing an opportunity, sneaky publicist Rodney Hallworth (David Thewlis) comes forward and begins promoting Crowhurst's race as the ultimate underdog story. In reality, it is little more than a suicide mission and this man is a lot of more than bragging rights at stake. In the early stages, Marsh does an excellent job of mixing a bright optimistic outlook with a sense of swirling gloom overhead.

When this picture finally embarks on its open water voyage, it doesn't take long for the audience to realize that Crowhurst is in way over his head. His boat quickly falls apart and he appears set for certain failure. When he decides to fake his log book positions, he turns from being a plucky underdog to a forward-thinking survivor. His boat will not stay together in the condition it is in, but he also has to be careful. He cannot win the race but he also cannot come higher than last as it will arouse suspicion. While at sea, there is perhaps too much restraint and while Marsh does a fine job of conveying the sense of fear and desperation by Crowhurst, we don't feel the mania and isolation that would eventually result in his downfall. Simon Rumney's upcoming biopic 'Crowhurst' reportedly has this in spades. His pride is shown as the real driving force and having signed over everything to sponsor Stanley Best (Ken Stott), he has little option.

Few will be prepared for the devastating blow that The Mercy delivers in its final act. Throughout this picture we see Crowhurst keen to protect his family from embarrassment. His phone calls to them through Marsh's film have a resounding emotion to them. We can almost feel the shame radiating off our hero as he hears the pride in their voice. In reality, our hero is a man pushed into a dangerous situation simply to prove his worth. The context in which we should view Crowhurst as the victim is debatable and many different adaptations have put their own unique spin on things. This one is a lot more simple and paints the picture of a man just wanting his family to survive.

Colin Firth delivers a performance that is up there with some of his best. During the movie's key points he wonderful underplays the mania which Donald Crowhurst apparently descended into. He still maintains his typical stiff upper lip but he does a fine job of showing the continuous emotions washing across his face. Rachel Weisz is also strong despite limited screen time. Playing a wife who knows her husband may not make the trip, but is determined to support him anyhow, Weisz, as usual, is remarkable.

The Mercy is a movie which shows to devastating effect how even the best intentions can lead us down the wrong roads.

Hollywood Romance: Review of Cafe Society

Cafe Society

Director: Woody Allen

By Alex Watson

Cafe Society is an enjoyable but not particularly spectacular Woody Allen outing, he gets to grips with the golden age movies easily but although charming doesn't go deep enough. Boast a set of fine performances from consistent Jesse Eisenberg and the always improving Kristen Stewart, Allen sets up this doomed romance nicely. Vittorio Storaro's photography is likely a gorgeous and welcoming postcard through but aside from the glamour, there just isn't the hook in the story that should draw us in.

Bobby (Jesse Eisenberg) has recently relocated from his native New York where he was tired of working for his father's jewelry business to Los Angeles. Hoping to work for famous Hollywood producer uncle Phil Stern (Steve Carrell), Bobby is introduced to his attractive secretary Vonnie (Kristen Stewart). When his life turns into turmoil on the West Coast, the young returns to the Big Apple where he begins to run a nightclub, though the past keeps catching up.

It is easy to be seduced by the beauty of Cafe Society and when Bobby arrives in the City of Angels it is a breathtaking world away from his dreary Bronx life. Desperate to be involved in the Hollywood dream, Bobby is grudgingly given an errand boy position by Phil. While his attraction to Vonnie blossoms quickly there is a certain shock going on behind the scenes that quickly turns things south. Bobby is a sweet and honest young man and having his heart ripped out early makes him grow up very fast indeed. It is under the sunshine of LA where Allen's picture feels at its strongest and we learn lessons of love, relationships, and their eventual consequences. It makes us want to quit our lives and be transported back an era where stardom wasn't born on Youtube.

Moving the story back to New York both pushes forwards and stunts the grow the movie. Bobby enters into the nightclub business with his ruthless gangster brother Ben (Corey Stoll). Quickly his brother's violent exploits such burying enemies in a shallow concrete graves have them being closely watched by the law, though business thrives immediately as Bobby learns the to get over his broken heart through learning the ropes of ownership. There is a sweet, but not particularly fulfilling side romance between him and future wife Veronica (Blake Lively) who catches his eye and his heart. Our hearts glow while this pair gets acquainted but Allen loses his footing with the reintroduction of Vonnie. While they still have attraction, we're still not completely sure why Bobby is even still listening to her when she trampled all over his feelings years prior?

The final act of Cafe Society neatly ties things up in a bundle, though it does give some potent lessons about listening to our hearts. Although we find our interest in Bobby's new world going up and down, especially since Allen's engaging narration resorts to talking about the famous figures that enter the nightclub, we still hope that Bobby will find a way to reunite with his lost love. Allen smartly shows us how time is both a healer and also a destroyer, Vonnie knows she has made her bed in life and though she claims to love the choices she made there is also a big 'what if' hanging over her head. Happily married, Bobby has it all in the life, but underneath the successful facade, he is more like his continually stressed and unsatisfied Uncle Phil every day. Life is a cruel mistress, but through Allen's eyes, it can be beguiling as well.

Jesse Eisenberg gives what could be his strongest turn yet as the impressionable Bobby. Having lost points for his frankly embarrassing turn as Lex Luthor in Batman vs Superman, Eisenberg shows how engaging he can be with the right material. He doesn't play Bobby as a wounded puppy but as a young who has to learn life's lessons the hard way. During the first act, he gives this character a sweetness that goes all the way to the audience heart but gradually he gives Bobby a wiseness that carries him well in the later stages. Kristen Stewart is also alluring as the well-meaning but bad choice making Vonnie. Her time on screen with Eisenberg does sweep us off our feet but makes away from a near-devastating blow. A seductive yet soulful mistress, Stewart once more earns credibility post-Twilight.

Cafe Society is a good middle of the road Woody Allen production which make not blow you away but certain warms you inside.