Filmbrosis

In his first American project, Denis Villeneuve directs Prisoners, a dark, convoluted mystery about a father (Hugh Jackman) so desperate to find his kidnapped daughter he takes matters in his own hands, as well as the young detective (Jake Gyllenhaal) in charge of the investigation. Rebecca: Some (spoiler-free) things Prisoners teaches me: -Suburban Pennsylvania in the wintertime is the bleakest place on the planet. Only go there if you want terrible things to happen. Maybe […]

So this week we have two similar beasts: the Tom Cruise science-fiction vehicle Oblivion, which recently became available on DVD, and the Matt Damon dystopian feature Elysium.  Elysium comes from the director of District 9 and shares similarities with that film. In addition to liberally using shaky cam, director Neill Blomkamp again sets his near-future tale in bleak slums, and again his hero must overcome his own weaknesses, realizing his potential and sacrificing for the […]