Wednesday, May 13, 2015

Crisp Criticism - "Ex Machina", "Pitch Perfect 2", "Woman in Gold"

by
Julien Faddoul













Ex Machina *

A young programmer is selected to participate in a breakthrough experiment in artificial intelligence by evaluating the human qualities of a female robot.
Outrageously overrated science exploration on artificial intelligence and the power/allure of women that, despite establishing its world deftly, offers nothing particularly new and is consistently and frustratingly undercut by arbitrariness throughout.

wd – Alex Garland
ph – Rob Hardy
pd – Mark Digby
m – Geoff Barrow, Ben Salisbury
ed – Mark Day
cos – Sammy Sheldon Differ

p – Andrew Macdonald, Allon Reich

Cast: Domhnall Gleeson, Alicia Vikander, Oscar Isaac, Sonoya Mizuno














Pitch Perfect 2

Collegiate a cappella group the Barden Bellas enter into an international competition that no American team has ever won.
Obnoxious comedy with little time for logic or character, though the sheer quantity of jokes will satisfy some.

d – Elizabeth Banks
w – Kay Cannon   (Based on the Characters by Mickey Rapkin)
ph – Jim Denault
pd – Toby Corbett
m – Mark Mothersbaugh
ed – Craig Alpert
cos – Salvador Perez Jr

p – Paul Brooks, Elizabeth Banks, Jason Moore

Cast: Anna Kendrick, Rebel Wilson, Brittany Snow, Hailee Steinfeld, Hana Mae Lee, Shelley Regner, Katey Sagal, Ester Dean, Kelley Jakle, Alexis Knapp, Anna Camp, Skylar Astin, Elizabeth Banks













Woman in Gold

An octogenarian Jewish refugee takes on the government to recover artwork she believes rightfully belongs to her family.
Painfully dull drama with everyone concerned putting in as little energy as possible.

d – Simon Curtis
w – Alexi Kaye Campbell
ph – Ross Emery
pd – Jim Clay
m – Martin Phipps, Hans Zimmer
ed – Peter Lambert

p – David M. Thompson, Kris Thykier

Cast: Helen Mirren, Ryan Reynolds, Tatiana Maslany, Katie Holmes, Max Irons, Charles Dance, Daniel Brühl, Elizabeth McGovern




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