So, I saw the movie "The Hundred-Foot Journey" this afternoon. I just finished reading the book by Richard Morais. Now, before you make the leap and say: "Well, the book is ALWAYS better than the movie", I must protest at such a statement. "Revolutionary Road", "Silver Linings Playbook", The Godfather movies, and the James Bond series all are fine examples of movies that either are as good or outshine their book origins. Frankly, I simply don't know what book Steven Knight, the screenplay writer for "The Hundred-Foot Journey", read, but it sure wasn't the book that I finished. Steven Spielberg and Oprah Winfrey made a completely different story out of Morais' finely crafted novel. As I sit and think more deeply about the movie, the more disappointed I am with the "Hollywoodizing" of the book. Themes of competition, dissatisfaction with progressing to larger vistas and opportunities plagued the film that were not present at all in the book. A central romantic story is simply not played out as it is in the movie. Characters are missing, some live throughout the movie despite their distinct demise in the novel. The theme of flavour reflecting the "ghosts" of the ingredients in a dish and the attached theme of ghosts is handled rather crudely and not extended to characters that are central to Hasan's maturation. Most characters were reduced to caricatures and left as hollow representations of their literary counterparts. Actions and reasons for the procession of the plot are vastly changed from the novel, rendering the film much less a story about human beings and more a shrill, forceful, brutish preaching of ideals that are held by Hollywood but not promoted in the LEAST by Richard Morais in his eloquent and delicately written novel. As a film, "The Hundred-Foot Journey" is enjoyable, but is simply a non-substantial entry as yet another film, ripe with a maudlin undertone and riding on the star-power of one of the actors, Helen Mirren. To be fair, Mirren, as always, delivers a stellar performance as do the rest of the actors, but the lack of sophistication in the script when compared to the elegant novel that the film is "based on" leaves the aftertaste of a McHappy Meal, rather than a Coq au Vin et un Salade Aveyronaise et conclude avec Tarte Tropezienne.
Reviews
3 Reviews
The Hundred-Foot Journey
(2014)
A Veering From the Novel... but still OK.
19 August 2014
Warning: Spoilers
Cas & Dylan
(2013)
Canadian Moments for the Soul
8 March 2014
As a Canadian, I have a soft spot for films that depict my country. Cas & Dylan is a remarkable film starring Dreyfuss who made his international debut in The Apprenticeship of Duddy Kravitz, another great Canadian movie. I feel that Dreyfuss should be given some Canadian award for the work he's done here, because Cas & Dylan is a great depiction of Canada as far as Canadian sensibilities to the issues that are brought forth in this film. This could not have been filmed in the US. It simply wouldn't have worked. Throughout the movie, you are brought along on a journey of discovery, a journey that culminates in a surprisingly positive vibe. This is a journey not only across my beautiful country, but a journey through the souls of two peculiarly matched characters. For fans of Dreyfuss, this is a treat. Overall, this film is geared toward filling your heart and soul. Highly recommended.
Elysium
(I) (2013)
Worst movie since The Wolfman with Benicio Del Toro
14 August 2013
Warning: Spoilers
I strongly advise against seeing the movie Elysium. I haven't seen something that bad since "The Wolfman" with Benicio Del Toro in 2010. Shame on Jodie Foster for acting so poorly and having a totally laughable accent. Matt Damon needs to assess what scripts he will support. Elysium enters the Top 10 worst movies I have ever seen.
None of the characters are believable. Remember, people, a movie starts and finishes on the story and the pathos the audience has for the characters. The storyline is a flawed patchwork of logic-free nonsense, especially toward the end of the film. The weaknesses just keep adding up on this monstrosity of sophomore filmmaking. What a waste of great technical effects! If this is state of the art sci-fi, I would rather watch The Valley of Gwangi. At least with that movie I get to laugh at the campiness.
There is no chemistry between Damon and his love interest whatsoever. The acting ranges from grossly overacted, like when we first meet Spider, Diego Luna's character, to catatonic drudgery, most of the shots of Jodie Foster.
And, by the way, when you blow off 2/3 of a guy's face and expect me to believe that his brain function is "normal" after being in that condition for about 10 minutes, then you are completely insane. That is not left to "suspended disbelief", but ranks amongst the script idiocies like how a shark can outrun a jet, like in Jaws IV (or V, can't remember). Neil Blomkamp should be run out of Hollywood on a rail. This is the second attempt at a movie he has made, and while District 9 may have been watchable, it was excessively boring for a sci- fi. This travesty called Elysium is totally without merit.
I'm sure the checks all cleared the bank, but Damon and Foster should not sleep well at night after this fiasco. Their careers should be in question now that they have decided that this is the kind of trite that they are okay starring in. This is 109 minutes of my life that I will never get back. Damon's character had 5 days. Too bad. He should have had 5 minutes.
Interesting to note that Diego Luna entered the movie without reading the script. I wonder if Damon read it? Is this the type of movie that the guy who wrote and starred in Good Will Hunting is up to now? Sad.
None of the characters are believable. Remember, people, a movie starts and finishes on the story and the pathos the audience has for the characters. The storyline is a flawed patchwork of logic-free nonsense, especially toward the end of the film. The weaknesses just keep adding up on this monstrosity of sophomore filmmaking. What a waste of great technical effects! If this is state of the art sci-fi, I would rather watch The Valley of Gwangi. At least with that movie I get to laugh at the campiness.
There is no chemistry between Damon and his love interest whatsoever. The acting ranges from grossly overacted, like when we first meet Spider, Diego Luna's character, to catatonic drudgery, most of the shots of Jodie Foster.
And, by the way, when you blow off 2/3 of a guy's face and expect me to believe that his brain function is "normal" after being in that condition for about 10 minutes, then you are completely insane. That is not left to "suspended disbelief", but ranks amongst the script idiocies like how a shark can outrun a jet, like in Jaws IV (or V, can't remember). Neil Blomkamp should be run out of Hollywood on a rail. This is the second attempt at a movie he has made, and while District 9 may have been watchable, it was excessively boring for a sci- fi. This travesty called Elysium is totally without merit.
I'm sure the checks all cleared the bank, but Damon and Foster should not sleep well at night after this fiasco. Their careers should be in question now that they have decided that this is the kind of trite that they are okay starring in. This is 109 minutes of my life that I will never get back. Damon's character had 5 days. Too bad. He should have had 5 minutes.
Interesting to note that Diego Luna entered the movie without reading the script. I wonder if Damon read it? Is this the type of movie that the guy who wrote and starred in Good Will Hunting is up to now? Sad.
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