“Taken” Jack Bauer in meaner

In this highly adrenalined action film, the daughter of an ex-Special Forces agent goes in a trip with her friend to France. Arrived there, they get kidnapped as the daughter, hidden under the bed describes what’s happening to her father, on the phone. He will be ready to do anything to get his daughter back, even to put Paris on fire. If the mix of American actors and French ones is a bit awkward by moment ( two different acting schools), it is well covered by spectacular scenes and a dynamic edit. The path of the film and the fighting skills of Liam Neeson, reminds of Jack Bauer in “24″ but angrier. Before being a director, Pierre Morel has been a cinematographer and camera operator for several Europa Corp productions. “Taken” is his second feature, the first being “District 13″.

“Taken” directed by Pierre Morel, the last EuropaCorp ( Luc Besson) production will be released end of February.

I walk ” Into The Wild”….

  Based on a true story, “Into The Wild” narrates the introspective journey of Christopher ( 23) in quest of happiness and what makes it reel. He back packs through the USA, meeting all kind of people, affecting their life in some ways.  Like in ” I am Legend,  ”Into the Wild” deals with a character who’s by himself in a deserted environment. Thus the use of parallel editing is more than justified. It allows  to show the reasons why he left for this journey, and who he met until he arrives to his final destination: Alaska. Also, it allows to dynamize the moments of loneliness and contemplations. ” Into The Wild” invites to see what’s happening in the outside world to find who we are.

“I am Legend”, The last man on earth

 

“I am Legend” is the second feature film of Francis Lawrence, important music videos director ( Britney Spears, Aerosmith) but also of “Constantine”. “Legend” starring Will Smith who plays the role of the last man on Earth, scientist still searching for a cure to a virus (created by the Man) that annihilated Earth. 

In this new film, Lawrence approaches the theme of the last man on earth. “legend”, coming from Latin “legenda” or ” thing to be read”, shows well the projection of the audience in the future and the not-to-far status of the man. The film is intercut between scenes of  Robert Neville’s lonely daily life in NYC, trying to find a cure, an between flashbacks showing the end of the days. The showing a NYC full of life ( flashbacks), next to a completely empty one with wilderness taking over the city, creates a very interesting contrast.

This film shows the Man should fear himself more than the end of times, or the Sun extinction.

Eastern Promises

David Cronenberg’s Eastern Promises portraits the relations within the slavic mafia. After the birth of a baby whose mother died giving life to her, a foreign nurse tries to find the family of this newly born, without knowing where she is puting her feet into. Beautifully photographed by long time Cronenberg’s DP Peter Suschitzky, he gives the cold look of the Eastern Europe feel. A long research on the tattoos used in the film, has been done on Viggo Mortensen’ s suggestion during his own research for the role. Featuring Viggo Mortensen, Naomi Watts, and French actor Vincent Cassel.

“The Moonlit Road”, a modern tale adaptation

When Ambrose Bierce wrote “The Moonlit Road” in 1907, he surely did not think it would have been adapted into a modern motion picture a hundred years later. Young director Leor Baum adapted and directed what is now a modern tale adaptation. Modern yet poetic, the audience is taken through several time travels. Different families inhabiting the same space at different times, but facing the same problem: the divided family. Young French cinematographer Sebastien Hameline contributed to the look of the film, giving it an atmospherical look, and at the same time dynamic. Keeping this current subject of family issue mixed with ghost stories and lyricism, Leor Baum gives us a breeze of freshness ( and spookyness), in today’s short films. Trailer at www.myspace.com/themoonlitroad

Welcome on The Indie Film Reviewer

Passionate film lovers writing about films . What to see. Who to discover. There are so many films released every week around the world, it is hard to process all these new materials. IFR is here for that. From short films to features. We’re currently looking for some extra help to review films so, don’t hesitate to write us!