Tag: Chris Evans

Snowpiercer Film Review

Directed by Bong Joon Ho

Starring: Chris Evans, Song Kang-ho, Ed Harris

Rated R for violence, language and drug content

Snowpiercer is a sci-fi film directed by Bong Joon Ho. In 2014, in an attempt to stop climate change, a chemical is released that backfires. Now in 2031, the entire world is frozen and humanity is living on an everlasting moving train. In this train, the rich people live in the front of the train while the poor ones live on the back of the train in horrible conditions. Curtis (played by Chris Evans) is now leading a revolution with the help of the other passengers in that section of the train and plan to overtake the train.

The story of Snowpiercer is quite a creative one. Based on the graphic novel Le Transperceneige by Jacques Lob and Jean-Marc Rochette, the screenplay was written by Bong Joon Ho and Kelly Masterson. This is a creative story of how humanity now has to survive on a fast speeding train that never stops. The story is certainly filled with thrills and surprises for the audience. This screenplay also explores the idea of class divisions and how the poor have little to no opportunity to move up the financial ladder. This not only applies to the train the film and humanity in real life. This is a theme Bong Joon Ho would brilliantly later explore in his film, Parasite.

Chris Evans is of course excellent as the role of Curtis. Curtis is a man who has lived in the poor section of the train for 18 years. He is exhausted of living in poor condition. He leads a revolution to get the people he cares about to the front of the train and control it. He is joined by Tanya (played by Octavia Spencer) and Edgar (played by Jamie Bell) in an attempt to control the train. These characters interact with Minister Mason (played by Tilda Swinton), one of the high ranking officials on the train. Swinton certainly has fun with the character as she goes all out with the role. The only downside is that she is only in the first half of the film and doesn’t appear too much. I would have loved to see more of this character.

While this is an intriguing film, there is one downside to the film and it is a minor one. The CGI is not up to par to what it should be. Now I understand that visual effects are not the most important aspect in a character driven story. But this is a story that takes place in a future where the world is literally frozen. Sometimes seeing the outside world can take me out of the film because how it looks. But I said, it is a minor gripe and certainly does not drag the film down. But if there were a downside to the film, this would be it.

Overall, Snowpiercer is a creative story that is exciting and interesting. This all star cast from Chris Evans to Tilda Swinton and from Octavia Spencer and Song Kang-ho are on their A game in this Bong Joon Ho directed film. It goes without saying that Bong Joon Ho is a ingenious director and Snowpiercer proves this.

3.5/4

Knives Out Film Review

Directed by Rian Johnson

Starring Daniel Craig, Chris Evans, Ana de Armas

Rated PG-13 for thematic elements including brief violence, some strong language, sexual references, and drug material

Writer and director Rian Johnson is back to form after his divisive Star Wars film, “The Last Jedi”, with “Knives Out”. “Knives Out” is a whodunit film starring Daniel Craig as a private detective, Benoit Blanc, who is tasked with solving the mystery of what or who really killed novelist Harlan Thrombey (played by Christopher Plummer). Along the way, Detective Blanc’s investigation, along with Harlan’s nurse, Marta (played by Ana de Armas), goes through wild twists and turns.

I am a sucker for classic whodunits, even if they can be predictable at times. But “Knives Out” is a mystery film for the first act of the film, but soon enough the truth is revealed. The rest of the film is the mystery for the characters, but some it is a cover-up. Not that this direction that is taken is bad, but a classic whodunit should be having the audiences guessing on who did the crime. But I can certainly appreciate Johnson’s direction on the film and his screenplay as well. The film in the second and third act goes through so many twists and turns that is almost unexpected.

In addition to Johnson’s writing and directing, the A list cast that is displayed on the screen are great for the lines they are given. This film features such actors such as Jamie Lee Curtis, Michael Shannon, and Don Johnson and are quite well, unfortunately their role is very limited. I certainly enjoyed their presence on screen and the despicable characters they played. I also had fun watching Daniel Craig a private detective who is determined to get to the bottom of the case. His southern drawl was part amusing and part distracting, only because we all know he has his English accent. But his southern accent was excellent and proves Craig knows how to put on a good performance when given the right script.

Other highlights of the film include the production design. A good majority of the film takes place in the Thrombey mansion. Each room that is featured in the house looks amazing and is well designed. But one disadvantage of the film is how long it feels. The film is about two hours, which is average for a film run time, but the film feels dragged at times. But thinking back on the film, which scene would be best left on the cutting room floor? There is no scene in particular, but there could have been multiple scenes that could have been shortened.

Overall, “Knives Out” is an enjoyable mystery that takes the audience through twists and turns. The A list cast in the film give great performance, in particular Daniel Craig who does his best Francis Underwood impersonation. “Knives Out” is a fun film that audiences will enjoy and not expect the surprises it has in store.

3/4