Premium Rush: Some Action Films Do Deserve Three and a Half Stars

BY: ORANGECHAIR

I was torn when it came to making the final decision on what to name this post. Clearly I chose what I chose because it was the point I wanted to get across but my other option was “Premium Rush: Joseph Gordon Levitt Can Pretty Much Do Anything.” When I first saw previews for Premium Rush, I almost wanted to laugh at them. I couldn’t understand why Joseph Gordon-Levitt would do a movie that look like a generic, bad action movie. The only reason I ended up going to see this film was because of an article in the Chicago Tribune written by Michael Phillips (the movie reviewer not the swimmer) in which he gave the film three and a half stars. Trusting Phillips opinion, I went and saw the film and learned that action films really can deserve three and a half stars.

Technically, this film follows New York City bike messenger Wilee (Joseph Gordon-Levitt) as its main character but writers David Koepp and John Kamps make it very obvious early on in the film that Wilee is not the only focus. It only takes about five minutes for the audience to be caught in a web of characters. Wilee works for a company called Security Currier, run by the hilarious Raj (Aasif Mandvi). Also working there is Wilee’s ex-girlfriend, Vanessa (Dania Ramirez), and his arch rival Manny (Wole Parks), who has attempted to seal Wilee’s job and Vanessa. When Nima (Jamie Chung), Vanessa’s roommate and Wilee’s old law school classmate, calls to have a package deliver, the plot escalates. The films villain Bob Monday (Michael Shannon), who reminded me of a violent cartoon villain, comes to life. Punctuating many of his comments with a crazy, high-pitched giggle, Monday tears through the film with a quick temper and a tendency for violence. The package in question contains a single piece of paper worth quite a bit of money. A police officer in massive debt, Monday goes to extreme lengths to take the package from Wilee while Wilee goes to extreme lengths to protect it while staying alive.

Though the plot of the film seems somewhat simple, director/writer David Koepp uses his wide array of amusing characters to complicate things. As he attempts to escape Monday, Wilee pisses off a bike cop who spends all his time on screen chasing him. At one point, Manny has taken the package from Wilee so Wilee chases him down to get it back. While chasing Manny, Wilee is also being chased by the bike cop while trying to avoid Officer Monday. Scenes became funny and intense at the same time as the characters fly through the dangerous streets of New York City, Wilee leading his pursuers through obstacles and traps he can overcome but they can’t. As my friend who I saw the film with pointed out, the movie had a roadrunner and coyote feel to it. The coyotes, Detective Monday and the bike cop, relentlessly attempt to capture the roadrunner, ironically named Wilee, even though every attempt ends in pain for the coyotes. The humor and intensity Koepp managed to cultivate in almost every scene made this film pure fun to watch.

One other aspect of the film that was very interesting was the secret world that the film let the audience see. I do not know quite how accurately the film portrayed the underground world of the New York City bike messengers but according to an interview with Joseph Gordon-Levitt, who trained as a bike messenger for four months, the actors said that the portrayal was accurate. While there are a number of different currier services that all compete for business, the bike messengers and their bosses are look out for one another. They all hang out at the same bars, they all help each other get around and most of all, as is shown by the climax of the film, they help one another when they get in trouble. It was a fascinating aspect of New York City to be allowed to see.

Still, a full twenty-four hours after seeing the film, I’m somewhat in shock of how much I enjoyed it. I’m not going to bore those of you who have read a lot of my posts by giving you my full philosophy on expectations but I think they had a lot to do with my reaction to this film. I expected to be upset with the film and when it came down to it, I thought this was a very well done film. Even the way the film was presented was amusing, using a series of flashbacks and flash forwards. It was like watching a puzzle come together; pieces continued to fall into place until suddenly the entire plot fit together perfectly. As far as entertainment value goes, I give this film a 5 out of 5. Looking at it being a good film, looking at shots, acting, directing and plot, I give this film a 3 out of 5 giving an overall 8 out of 10. I strongly recommend seeing this one in theaters keeping in mind that yes, it is true. An action film really can deserve three and a half stars.

The Residents of the Best Exotic Marigold Hotel for the Elderly and Beautiful

BY: ORANGECHAIR
If I had to describe the film The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel in one work it would be charming. It is the story of seven elderly British men and women who, for different reasons, decide to retire to a hotel in India. Upon arrival, they realize that the hotel’s owner may have over exaggerated the quality of the hotel. The film chronicles the hotel’s new residents’ experiences coping with their old age while acclimating to a new country and a new living situation that is slightly more exotic than they expected. I’d like to take a moment to introduce you to the residents.

• The Manager: Sonny Kapoor (Dev Patel) Desperately trying to keep the failing hotel alive after his father, who was unable to make the hotel a success, left the building to him and his brothers. His brothers want no part in the business and have traveled elsewhere to make their fortunes. Fighting against his mother’s traditional Indian ideas, Sonny is trying to keep his mother from selling the hotel as well as trying to avoid an arranged marriage so he can marry the woman that he loves. Sonny represents Change and Optimism.

• The Recently Widowed: Evelyn Greenslade (Judi Dench) After her husband of many years passed away and left her in massive debt, Evelyn found that she did not have the money to support herself. Always living with her husband and doing nothing out of the ordinary, Evelyn decides to travel to India as the adventure of a lifetime. Obtaining her first real job and supporting herself, Evelyn sets up a new life in India. Upon learning from her new life and experiences, Evelyn realizes that while she put all her faith and trust into her husband, he put none of the same into her. Narrating the film through her blog, Evelyn learns not only how to live and to be trusted by others but she also manages to find second love in India. Evelyn represents Life and Growth.

• The Unhappy Couple: Douglas and Jean Ainslie (Bill Nighy and Penelope Wilton) Trapped in an unhappy marriage and an unhappy life, Douglas has not managed to save up enough money for Jean to retire them to a “nice enough” retirement home. Upon seeing the less than truthful brochures, Jean becomes excited about India but hates it when she arrives. Douglas tries to make the best of the situation and ends up, much like Evelyn, how to truly live in India. As the two drift further and further into unhappiness, both set their sights on new significant others (Douglas’ being Evelyn) and are forced to confront the state of their relationship. Throughout the film Douglas, like Evelyn, seems to represent Life as well as Dedication while Jean represents Acceptance.

• The Off the Straight and Narrow: Graham Dashwood (Tom Wilkinson) Quitting his job on what seems to be a whim in the opening of the film. Of all the characters, we find out the Graham is the only person actually returning to India. Returning to the world where he grew up, we eventually find Graham is gay and then he has returned to find an lover from long ago whom he fears he has scorned. While his entire story represents a strong Dedication, Graham also represents Risk.

• The Cougar: Madge Hardcastle (Celia Imrie) Not ready to be done with men, Madge spends the majority of her time in India trying to find a suitable rich gentlemen with which she can settle down. Though hilariously amusing and charming, Madge hits speed bumps left and right until she doubts that she will ever be able to find another man. India, and the people there, however quickly teach her to never give up and help Madge to continue to represent Hope.

• The Playboy: Norman Cousins (Ronald Pickup) A very similar character to Madge, Norman is constantly on the prowl, searching for suitable women to spend a night and the rest of his life with. Norman, at his core, is just a lonely guy that is not ready to give up on a future with a relationship. With the help of Madge, Norman is able to find a special someone, proving that his character represents the idea of Youth (not in the literal sense). Just because someone has gotten on in years does not mean they are old at heart. Youth is a state of mind, the state of mind Norman lives in.

• The Broken Spirited: Muriel Donnelly (Maggie Smith) A racist bitter old woman, Muriel is forced to travel to India to receive a hip replacement. Forced into a trial by fire situation, we watch as Muriel is forced to interact with the people she had always avoided due to her racist thoughts. As she grows from the experiences she has feared most, we learn that Muriel desperately needs to be needed. Her past career was a housekeep for a family that, after years of service, traded her in for a younger model leaving Muriel with nothing to live for. Though the most difficult character to find redemption in at the start of the film, Muriel becomes the character that I feel the worst for and end up liking the best. Representing Understanding and the simple, human need of Being Needed, Muriel is the character that changes the most, in the process becoming the only person that can save the Best Exotic Marigold Hotel.

When I went to see this film in theaters, I really had no idea what it was about and I have to say I was amazing. Funny, charming, heartbreaking and satisfying all at once, this film is a must see. With a cast of brilliant British actors and actresses, the acting is outstanding and the stories are well developed and compelling. I give the film an 8.5 out of 10 and urge you to go and see it.