REVIEW: Labor Day

7/10 - I want to live with Kate Winslet and Josh Brolin forever. 

I read the Labor Day script some time last year, as a fan of Jason Reitman. I'm always impressed by the real sense of humanity he injects into his films.

Labor Day is a drama about a young boy with his agoraphobic mom who become entangled with an escaped prisoner over labor day weekend. It's one part coming of age story, one part suspense, and one part romance.

This is one of those movies that I really like, even though I'm aware it's not great. I really love the dimensional characters. Rarely do I enjoy child actors, but Gattlin Griffith is great at carrying this film. His character reflects the dimensions of a young boy who struggles with family, his need to care for his mentally unwell mother, his own growing feelings for his classmates.

This film presents a complicated scenario in simple ways. Scenes are in themselves quite boring but the slow development creates a wonderful bond with those characters. Labor Day is crafted in a way that the actions tell the story and the narrative enhances it, a rarity in films with prominent narration. The illustrations of pain and hope are really beautiful, and even though it sides on trite and predictable, For me it's saved by the sincerity of those characters who in-themselves might be contrived, but together are music.

To be perfectly honest, I probably would have rated this film higher if it wasn't for the constant up and downs between heart-jumping tension, and the mundane. The scenes intended to evoke powerful emotions were terrific but if left me wanting more from the scenes that were not. Labor Day feels like reading a novel (perhaps the one it's based on) as you delve entirely into the life of another, capturing so many details and small interactions. A wonderful idea but not necessarily great for impatient audiences.

If you're looking for a drama with a lot of big dramatic moments, look elsewhere. Moreso, if you are the least bit cynical this will be the best movie to watch and complain about for the next 3 months. The romantic adventure, healing past wounds side of this film borders on sugar-mountain cliche. I'm sure there are many who viewed it as being sickly sweet. I'm only cynical when it comes to the big action flicks, for this I was a hopeless romantic and totally bought in.

IMDb - Labor Day (6.9)
Wikipedia - Labor Day
Rotten Tomatoes - Labor Day (34%)
Amazon.ca - Labor Day

REVIEW: Contagion

8/10 - Gravy

Contagion is the story about a contagion that becomes contagious. I actually confused this with Quarantine before I saw the movie. How hilarious. Please don't watch Quarantine.

Really, it's a multi-linear story that uses several points of view to explore the devastation that happens globally during this event. The disease is the main character, no doubt.

I really like Steven Soderbergh and I never realized it until this year. It's a real genuine shame that he is retiring this year because the last batch of movies he has done have been really inspiring, bright, and intelligent. Many of Steve's movies have not been getting the hype they deserve and I think this is one of them.

It takes great skill and restraint to illustrate the widespread effects, with only those characters that appear on the poster. I was deeply invested in these people and had no idea it was happening. Contagion has a cold and calculated feel, from the calculated roll-out of the relief efforts. It's hyper realistic but heartfelt. There are no exaggerated wide camera shots of riots or violence for the sake of violence.

Certainly when there is a star studded cast, some actors don't shine like the others, but I didn't see that in this movie. It was an outstanding cast from clinical Kate Winslet who shines in quiet moments, to the complicated Jude Law who portrays a character you either hate or love. I think the only actor who I was unhappy with was surprisingly Matt Damon. I'm not sure he reached the emotional level to make me believe what was happening at the beginning of the movie. Granted, that's likely a writing or directional choice. I think Matty makes up for it with the rising panic, and he grounds the movie unlike any other character.

I'm not sure I have a whole lot else to say about Contagion. It was great, but maybe a little cold. I want more movies like this, with creative and unique stories. It's thoughtful, scary, fast paced and emotional. Everyone should see it.

IMDB - Contagion (6.7)
Wikipedia - Contagion
Rotten Tomatoes - Contagion (84%)
Amazon.ca - Contagion