Iron Man
****
In theatres
Iron Man is the first major hit of the summer, and deservedly so, an exciting, well-made adventure film based on the Marvel Comic hero. What a piece of inspired casting was Robert Downey Jr., as Tony Stark, aka Iron Man, the fabulously wealthy playboy who loves his life of creating weaponry for the military.
Upon showing off his latest creations he is kidnapped, the Americans are slaughtered, and he is taken hostage by Taliban-esque warriors and ordered to build them a weapon. He does, but not for them, instead using his time to create a suit of armour that will allow him to escape. Once back in society he has come to understand that there are more important things than power and money. Shaken by what he has seen, he decides to close down Stark Industries, which angers his partner, Stane (Jeff Bridges) who will become his mortal enemy. Stark creates a red and yellow suit of armour and becomes the latest super hero, Iron Man.
Downey brings a cocky confidence that is much needed for the role of Stark. Using his beautiful brown eyes to great effect, much of the film focuses on the reactions of Downey in the role of Stark. In casting a great actor they have covered themselves for any of the screenplay's weaknesses.
Equally good in the film is Bridges as the villain, a part he has not often played but that he understands to perfection. He threatens to steal every scene he is in and knows just how to do it.
Terence Howard and Gwyneth Paltrow have small, important roles in the film, each doing an excellent job with the little they have to do.
The visual effects are superb, and this is one piece of iron that does indeed fly. Director Jon Favreau establishes himself as a strong director with this film.
Speed Racer
*
In theatres
Speed Racer is a mess of a film from the get-go, all style over substance and leaving the viewer breathless over the imagery they have seen, but empty in that they have no characters to connect with. Based loosely on the old Japanese anime series of the 60s, the film is directed by the Wachowski Brothers, who had some success a few years ago with a little trilogy entitled The Matrix. Having never really been a fan of their work, I had no expectations of the film walking in, and walking out I was not terribly disappointed, other than bothered that Emile Hirsch, so good in Sean Penn's Into the Wild is all but wasted as Speed.
He is a hotshot race car driver, the child of a man who builds Mach One cars for a living, trying to live down the apparent death of his older son. Ah, but is he dead, or is he...? Never mind.
Suffice to say the film is colourful and sometimes breathtaking to watch when they are in full racing mode, but every other moment falls flat and is dull beyond belief. The film looks and sounds like a video game, with the same sort of character creation involved in that area as well. Matthew Fox, the mysterious other racer, who is more than he seems (got it yet?), is wasted, as are John Goodman and Susan Sarandon as Speed's supportive parents.
This was never meant to be a movie, as the brothers Wachowski were clearly trying to invent something different and failed rather miserably.
John Foote, director of the Toronto Film School, is a nationally known film historian/critic and a Port Perry resident. Get more reviews at www.footeonfilm.com. Contact him at jfoote@IAOD.com
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