RMB: Movies, Books, Records
American Hustle
Loosely based on the Abscam scandal, American Hustle follows two con artists and lovers, Irving Rosenfeld and Sydney Prosser (Bale and Adams). After being caught by manic FBI officer Richie DiMaso, both are forced into helping the agency entrap corrupt politicians. They are, however, faced with a dilemma; who can one trust when every appearance is a façade and everyone is scamming someone else?
The movie deserves a special award of its own for having the most elaborate wigs and combovers ever seen on film. The stunning spectacles of the visual elements combine with outstanding performances throughout to create an immersive world of 1980s madness. It is a truly enjoyable film and delights in an elaborate scam that becomes more and more convoluted as greater numbers of ever more powerful people become entwined. Jennifer Lawrence completes a fiery love triangle as Irv’s crazed wife who.
There is a wonderful supporting cast with a standout performance from Louis CK as DiMaso’s exasperated and long suffering boss. The film only stumbles when it fails to deliver depth from some of the characters; in a film all about appearances, some of the heart is lost, which is a glaring omission when compared to director David O Russell’s last film Silver Linings Playbook.
Dawa Tshering
Lone Survivor
Director, Peter Burg, brings to the silver screen Marcus Luttrell’s first-hand account of Operation Redwing, a failed US Navy SEAL mission in Afghanistan tasked with tracking Taliban leader Ahmad Shah. The disastrous mission, which resulted in the deaths of nineteen US servicemen, was caused by the initial four man SEAL team (of which Luttrell was a member) being discovered by goat herders; the subsequent loss of communication and intense combat lead to the single greatest loss of life for Naval Special Warfare since World War II.
Lone Survivor is unabashedly patriotic; a heavy mix of self-sacrifice and heroism that, although disastrous, plays out like a piece of Navy propaganda. At times it’s comically close to Bart Simpson singing “Yvan eht nioj” in a music video. The film’s action is shot in such a way as to attempt to make war beautiful with plenty of slow motion shots, coupled with music from Explosions In The Sky crooning over the top. Apart from this heavily romanticised action, which can seem distasteful at times, the film still maintains a high level of excitement. The performances are fitting, and there is a clear attempt to honour the men who died on this doomed mission.
The key scene, where the SEALs have to decide whether or not to kill the herders who discover them, provokes a much wider debate on the rules of engagement and America’s role in the war at large. However, this is first and foremost an action film and it succeeds in being fast-paced and enjoyable.
Andy Harrop
The Lego Movie
Leave any preconceived notions at the door when approaching The Lego Movie. What initially looked to be a blatant corporate schmoozefest has turned out to be one of the funniest and smartest animations in recent memory. Emmet, a dissatisfied construction worker voiced by the hilarious Chris Pratt, becomes an accidental hero when the evil President Business, Will Ferrell, tries to destroy creativity in the Lego world. With the help of Wyldstyle and Batman, along with a host of other Lego staples (voiced by some of the best current sitcom actors and recognizable Hollywood names), Emmet must save the day.
The plot is whacky and silly, yet within minutes you are engrossed; any predilections are soon swept away by the breathtaking visuals and immersive world. The rectilinear style of Lego allows for some truly fascinating animation and brilliant gags. The dialogue is witty and there are levels of humour enjoyable to all audiences.
Anyone who grew up playing with Lego should have an immediate connection with this film and thankfully, much like Wreck It Ralph, it is acutely aware of its own corporate undertones and is able to satirise itself when they become too strong. This is either proof of a great relationship between the directors and Lego or an evil masterstroke of corporate judgment.
Whatever your age, there is something here for you. By the end of the film, you’ll be laughing and desperate to play with some Lego, which I’m going to go and do now.
Dawa Tshering
The Wolf Of Wall Street
Prepare yourself for a three-hour orgy of greed and excess as Martin Scorsese brings us his startling adaptation of the memoirs of Jordan Belfort. After the stock collapse of Black Monday, Belfort is forced to take a job selling penny stocks (lower value stocks with higher commissions and less regulations), and soon impresses with his aggressive and distasteful sales techniques. Eventually, he goes into business running his own brokerage firm and, as money starts flooding in, the methods used to sell become less and less legal; eventually becoming pump and dump schemes. His vast and illegal wealth soon attracts the attentions of the law but his excesses and moral deficiencies form the heart of the film.
If even one scene showed the suffering of one victim from Belfort’s actions, the film would have an entirely different feel, yet you never see the dark side of the tale from this perspective; the only fallout is the destruction of Belfort’s personal life and his troubles with the law. As an intensely amoral character, at no point do you want him to succeed; which is problematic, as it seems we are intended to be rooting for him. It is like watching a glittering train wreck in slow motion.
The film is hugely entertaining, the gluttonous wealth impossible to ignore and, if viewed as a dark comedy reflecting the lack of consequence for white-collar crime, it’s brilliant. But, its lack of a decisive moral position can leave a bitter aftertaste.
Ewan Colledge
BOOKS
Orfeo
Richard Powers
W. W. Norton & Company
Throughout Orfeo, author, Richard Powers, tells the story of composer Peter Els, who one evening finds the police on his
doorstep. His latest experiment, a home microbiology lab, part of his life’s work of finding music in surprising patterns, has aroused the suspicions of Homeland Security. Panicked by the raid, Els turns into a fugitive. As a media circus erupts, the "Bioterrorist Bach" makes a journey to see the people he loves and those who shaped his musical career. With the help of these loved ones, Els creates a plan to turn this disastrous collision with the security state into a work of art designed to reawaken its audience to the sounds around them.
Only an author of such skill as Powers could attempt this sort of book. To be able to write about the complex nature of art and the ephemeral qualities of music is a gift few writers posses. It is a true sensory treat; one that displays Powers’ deep love of music and provides a unique reading experience. It offers a window into the world of music for the uninitiated
– inventive and beautiful.
A satisfying and rewarding finish closes what is a truly excellent piece of contemporary fiction from an author at the height of his career. His praise and accolades seem well won.
EwanColledge
This Dark Road To Mercy
Wiley Cash
William Morrow
After the sudden death of their mother, twelveyear- old Easter and her six-year-old sister Ruby are taken into the foster care system in Gastonia, North Carolina. As they begin to adjust to this new life, their absent father, Wade, who hasn’t seen the girls in years, suddenly re-enters the picture wanting to spend more time with them. However, Wade has signed away legal rights to his daughters, and the only way he can get Easter and Ruby back is to take them in the middle of the night. The problem for Wade is that it’s not only the law after him, but his shady past to boot.
The story is told through the eyes of three characters: 12 year old Easter, her court appointed guardian Brady Weller and Robert Pruitt, a man hunting Easter’s father. The multiple view points makes for an interesting structure, however, the execution can be a little flawed. The characters are alive and interesting, but clichéd at times. Although the story could have been edgy and unnerving, it falls into a predictable narrative that lacks the rawness that would have made it great. Writing from a child’s perspective can be challenging, however, Cash sidesteps this by making Easter wise beyond her years. It is a bit of a cheat, but works well. Her character is well formed and believable.
In the end, it is a capable novel that explores the nature of love and trust, whilst failing to excite as much as it could have.
Andy Harrop
RECORDS
Damien Jurado
Brothers And Sisters Of The Eternal Son
This is Damien Jurado’s eleventh album and third produced by Richard Swift. The pairing of these two indie stalwarts has helped créate a new otherworldly sound that has moved away from the sombre acoustic structure Jurado has been known for. On Brothers And Sisters Of The Eternal Son, a direct sequel to 2012’s Maraquopa, this new direction has developed even further, and to greater effect.
This is a concept album that attempts to tell a single story, albeit in a non-linear and esoteric fashion of “a guy who disappears on a search for himself and never goes home.” Themes wind and weave their way through the album, with direct references to Maraquopa. There are new funk overtones with Silver Timothy possessing a distinctive Latin quality. The album is a mix of delicate harmonies and crooning vocals crossed with the release of pent up groove. The lyrics are littered with religious and dream-like references that flesh out the selfreflective concept.
The renewed commitment to the development of Jurado’s sound has reaped its rewards. The album is an increasingly confident affair and the pairing with Swift is a clear success. A few tracks hark back to the fingerpicking acoustic sounds that old fans would recognize, but a man who consistently changes direction has left most of it behind. What is left is a beautiful and energetic record, uplifting and heartfelt.
Ewan Colledge
Mogwai
Rave Tapes
During the 90s Mogwai came to the fore as one of Scotland’s finest examples of the Post Rock genre. On this, their eighth full studio album, they continue to produce the same instrumental soundscapes that brought them to the public’s attention. The question must be asked, however, after 17 years, is enough, enough?
The album’s soaring guitar riffs and ethereal piano are grand in scale and masterfully executed; contorting and evolving over the course of the tracks, but it’s all very formulaic. There is very little in the sound to differentiate this work from earlier albums. This could be all some fans are looking for. However, the predictable nature of the tracks leads to a general level of disappointment in a revolutionary band becoming so tepid.
The initial single Remurdered, released before the album, seemed promising, employing vintage synths with an analogue approach that seemed refreshing, yet the album lacked commitment. There are flashes of development, but they are muted and disparate. Maybe that is their intention, or maybe they are changing and growing at a slower speed than what we have come to expect – it is hard to tell. If their next record fails to bring anything new to the table, we believe even hardcore fans will start asking questions.
If a conservative approach to change does not bother you, Rave Tapes will still have a lot to offer as the swells and falls of Mogwai are as strong as ever. It is still a highly enjoyable album, but a new and exciting edge is lacking.
Dawa Tshering
