The Monuments Men

Mini Review

 

http://www.monumentsmenmovie.com/site/

The Monuments Men tells the true story of the band of architects, art historians, and art appreciators, who were tasked with protecting art in any form during the Second World War. Specifically, they wanted to stop it from falling into enemy hands and being destroyed, because what good is it winning the war if man's greatest achievements are lost?
 
I liked the initial idea of The Monuments Men, and for the most part, I liked the film too. I can't help but feel like it's just been released at a bad time, and much like The Book Thief, it has been swallowed up in the barrage of Oscar nominated movies that are all released at this time of year.
 
It's got a likeable and recognisable cast of good, solid actors, it's essentially about the Americans winning the war, which always goes down well, and it's safe to take your mother to, as there is no sex or swearing and very little violence, except for things you would expect in a war movie, such as people stepping on land-mines. 

Although the acting is good amongst the ensemble cast, I did not feel an overwhelming emotional connection to any of the characters. Therefore, I wasn't particularly concerned or upset when they were in danger. And whilst that is a fairly sizable flaw in the Monuments Men's armor, it's the only thing I can put my finger on that was missing.

What I will say is that if The Monuments Men sounds like your cup of tea, then don't let me put you off, I'm sure you will enjoy it just fine. Just don't expect to have your socks knocked off. 7 out of 10.

Viewing Date - 24th February 2014

UK Release Date - 14th February 2014

Cast Overview:

Frank Stokes ~ George Clooney

James Granger ~ Matt Damon

Richard Campbell ~ Bill Murray

Claire Simone ~ Cate Blanchett

Walter Garfield ~ John Goodman

Jean Claude Clermont ~ Jean Dujardin

Donald Jeffries ~ Hugh Bonneville

Preston Savitz ~ Bob Balaban

Sam Epstein ~ Dimitri Leonidas

Director ~ George Clooney

Writer(s) ~ George Clooney (Screenplay), Grant Heslov (Screenplay), Robert M Edsei (Book) and Bret Witter (Book)

Argo

http://argothemovie.warnerbros.com/

I went to see Ben Affleck's directorial debut Gone Baby Gone with my good friend and occasional guest reviewer, Faye. As you might have guessed from her reviews, she is not a woman of many words. But what she does say does tend to resonate and have meaning. Needless to say we both loved Gone Baby Gone and when we discovered Ben had made another film, The Town, we went to see that one too. And loved it. 

When we discovered that a third film had been directed by Mr Affleck we again had to see it, together, as we had the two previous films. But this time we allowed a third person into the mix, a person who had not seen the two previous Ben Affleck directed movies. So the other night we set about rectifying this with a screening of his first film Gone Baby Gone. As we settled down to watch it I commented that I felt like our friendship had formed over a mutual love of Ben Affleck movies. And in a sense I believe it was. 

I hadn't seen Gone Baby Gone since the initial viewing at the cinema and neither had Faye. But it was just as good as we remembered and I urge anyone who's not seen that or The Town to rent them at the first available opportunity. 

Argo, on the other hand is a very different beast to those first two movies which are set in present day Boston. Argo is set in late 70s, and the location is split between Iran and Hollywood. Not exactly two places that you would expect to go hand in hand. But then this movie is based on a true story. One of US Embassy Diplomats working in Iran, who escape the Embassy when it's raided by Iranian revolutionaries, and who hide out in the home of the Canadian Ambassador. In order to get them safely out of Iran, the CIA's top extraction expert Tony Mendez (Ben Affleck), concocts a cover story of them being a team of Hollywood hotshots, on a location scout for a science fiction film called Argo. Will this hair brained idea actually work?

Well I won't spoil it of course, but what I will say is that the 30 or so minutes set in the airport at the end of the movie, were so intense that I not only held my own hand to get me through it, I don't think I breathed! 

The cast is a tight ensemble and film is as well acted, scripted, shot and produced as any of Affleck's previous movies. The difference for me was that you feel like you've learned something when you walk out of the cinema from seeing Argo. And in my book, that is never a bad thing. So see his other movies but most importantly, see Argo. And you'll forever be saying "Argo f*ck yourself" to those you've seen it with. 9 out of 10.

Viewing Date - 8th November 2012

UK Release Date - 7th November 2012

Cast Overview:

Ben Affleck ~ Tony Mendez

Bryan Cranston ~ Jack O'Donnell

Alan Arkin ~ Lester Siegel

John Goodman ~ John Chambers

Victor Garber ~ Ken Taylor

Tate Donovan ~ Bob Anders

Clea DuVall ~ Cora Lijek

Christopher Denham ~ Mark Lijek

Scoot McNairy ~ Joe Stafford

Kerry Bishe ~ Kathy Stafford

Rory Cochrane ~ Lee Schatz

Kyle Chandler ~ Hamilton Jordan

Director ~ Ben Affleck

Writer(s) ~ Chris Terrio (Screenplay) and Joshuah Bearman (Article)